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03 Jul 2008, 12:05 am / Eager to ride
Hello, Friends--
I hope this finds all of you well, and that you're getting ready for a fun Fourth of July weekend. A bunch of riders are gearing up for a good time at the Oklahoma State Harley Owners Group Rally in Tulsa this coming weekend, and I trust all attendees will have a blast--be safe in T-Town, and throughout the state! Summer's been looking better already, after spending a terrific couple of days at Sparks America. I'd like to thank Tony Ward for his hospitality--Atlanta Rhythm Section played some awesome music, and I was glad not to see the police harassment riders experienced last year. I'm sending along my Tiger Tales article for July, and I hope you find it informative and enjoyable. I have an appointment coming up next week with the doctor on bilateral Hip Replacement surgery, so I'll give you a heads-up as that approaches. I'm having a lot tougher time getting around, so I sure hope it does me some good. As I write this, I recently got the unfortunate news that Gov. Granholm in Michigan again vetoed the Freedom Of Choice bill for adult riders, after overwhelming approval by the State Legislature. This veto announcement was again accompanied by distorted statistics regarding biker deaths and injuries, as happens often when Politics, Profit Margins, and Control Issues are involved. In that vein, I want to give folks a heads-up that ABATE's own John Pierce, who's active in the Tulsa Chapter and is Membership Chairperson for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, will soon be providing a presentation on how accident statistics are compiled and can be manipulated. Knowledge is Power, and the Riding Community needs to be aware of what we're up against regarding recent assaults on our Riding Liberty on the Federal and State level. I look forward to seeing what he'll be coming out with. You know, our latest numbers show there are over 119,000 registered motorcycles in Oklahoma. If less than ten percent of those owners worked and voted together on a Common Purpose, we could accomplish pretty much anything we want regarding improvement of Quality of Life for Sooner State motorcyclists and trikers. That's something to think about and strive for! Hey--I also want to thank the guys at BACA Nation Biker Radio for their hospitality when I was on the show last Sunday. Their radio program is very informative, funny, and thought-provoking, and is well worth your checking out. Take a look at their website at: www.bacanation.com Ride safely, responsibly, sober and aware, and I'll see you on the Road.
Yours in Freedom, Tiger Mike State Coordinator, ABATE of Oklahoma, Inc.
TIGER TALES - JULY, 2008
Howdy to all my Riding Friends out there! I hope everybody is enjoying themselves as the height of the Summer is upon us. Hopefully, all who are Dads out there celebrated a Happy Father’s Day with family and friends. I’ve heard it described that a Father is someone who carries snapshots in his wallet where the money used to be! All I know is that it takes a very special person to be a good Dad, so kudos to you out there who fit that description. Remember as we progress through the 101 Critical Days of Summer to cruise with a heightened sense of awareness, and watch out for the motorists who aren’t looking out for you! I’ve always felt that we should keep in the mind-set that we’re invisible out there in the River of Steel, because in most cases that’s exactly the way it is! In keeping with this point, I’m pleased to share some important information with you. We had some good news come up for the Biker Community on Friday, May 23, the very last day of the Legislative Session when SB 2086 was passed. This bill changes the wording of Title 47, Oklahoma's Motorcycle Safety Equipment Statute, to allow riders to use their auxiliary lighting in addition to their headlights. Now, riders can increase their visibility and their Margin of Safety without getting ticketed for an equipment violation. Many thanks to our Rogers County Chapter ABATE members and others who interfaced with their legislators to make this happen, and who urged the Governor to sign the bill into law. This provided ABATE with a last-minute legislative success for 2008 in the light of so many of our issues going down to defeat this year. We'll keep plugging away as ABATE keeps fighting for YOUR rights in the future--you can count on that! I’m sure all of you are getting ready for a fun Fourth of July weekend, maybe taking part in the Oklahoma State HOG Rally in Tulsa. As we celebrate the anniversary of America’s independence, I want to take the opportunity to thank all of you who were able to take time out of your busy schedules to participate in our annual ABATE War Memorial Run this year. We had over 400 motorcycles and trikes take part in the parade, and a number of folks met us at the State Capitol Veterans Memorial Park, including a number who rode over after stopping by the 45th Infantry Division Museum's services. I also want to take the time to thank the American Legion Riders Post #1340 for providing outriders who function as such a critical part of the event's success, as well as others who volunteered for this important duty. Additionally, I want to express my deep appreciation to the Legion Riders for once again hosting the Memorial Day cookout, and to Charley's Last Stand for their friendliness and hospitality. If you weren't able to join us, I hope you were able to take some time to reflect on those who Memorial Day is all about--our Armed Forces members who died in our Nation's wars to keep Freedom alive. Remember that they gave of their tomorrows so we might enjoy Liberty today! ABATE hosts a Bike Parade every Veterans’ Day as well, so make plans to join us on November 11 to honor all those who’ve donned the uniform to defend our Rights and keep us safe. The Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs, of which ABATE is a member, is gearing up for the July meeting, where motorcyclists and trikers from all backgrounds get together in a spirit of unity and cooperation to address issues common to and threats facing all of our Motorcycling Community. This important meeting, which will deal with a number of vital topics, chief among them a presentation of the COC State Defenders Program, designed to increase the legislative responsiveness and political effectiveness of the statewide Biker Community. This innovative program, which was introduced by the Texas COC at the 2008 NCOM Convention in Houston, can prove a powerful, valuable tool for every state's Confederation, and I think it can produce more consolidated, broad-based involvement by riders in lobbying pro-Motorcycling Quality Of Life issues. I’ll provide more updates on this in the future. Also, I hope those who attended had a good time at the Oklahoma COC Party at OKC Biker Park June 28. Many thanks to the COC member clubs, organizations and associations who worked hard on this event. I've been busy sorting things out at my house after heading down to San Antonio on an extended business trip, then out to Tennessee to attend to my parents, both of whom were sick. My dad was in the hospital, but is fortunately back at home now, and is expected to recover fully. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you fellow members for stepping up and conducting a successful ABATE State Board Meeting in June, and especially to my Right Arm, Garry, for chairing it in my absence. I look forward to again joining you wonderful folks at the next meeting on July 12. Folks like Garry and Brook, our State Sgt-at-Arms and Secretary, represent ABATE's bright future, whereas I, as an aging dinosaur, feel sometimes like I represent ABATE's honored past! I draw a lot of energy from the efforts of some of our younger, more vibrant Members (that's why I'm so enthusiastic about ABATE's Youth Coordination idea, and hopes it goes somewhere!). These past two months represent the first time in the entire 10-year period I've held State Office as your Sgt-at-Arms, then State Coordinator, where I've had to miss two State Meetings in a row, and I wish the circumstances were different where I didn't have to. That said, I think I represented ABATE of Oklahoma well at the NCOM Board Meeting and Convention May 8-11 in Houston, as I continue to do. For those not aware, ABATE of Oklahoma commands a high degree of respect nationwide with Rights organizations to include NCOM, MRF, and AMA, and rightfully so, due to the strenuous and successful efforts of dedicated Freedom Fighters like yourselves. Two days after my return on June 16, I visited the Oklahoma Spine Center for a consult on my back and for Pain Management issues. After the tough time I had getting around during the Memorial Day Run, I decided to renew my efforts to take care of business, medically. While there, I played "Squeaky Wheel" regarding my hips, since my provider hadn't requested any tests. You Veterans out there might be knowledgeable as to what a hard time we can have getting quality responses through the Tricare system (which some Military refer to as "Try and get Care!"). In response, they preformed hip X-rays and an MRI at the Spine Center, and discovered what my ABATE Brothers and Sisters who've seen me gimping around probably figured out by now: that both my hips are pretty well destroyed by advanced arthritis, and that I'll need Hip Replacement surgery straight away. The spine specialist feels that prioritizing getting this done will also remedy some of my back issues as well. So, I'm actually working on heading down this road now, starting with a consult on June 24 to get a referral ASAP with a hip specialist who takes my insurance (he's got a Lawn Mower Repair Shop in Slaughterville--just kidding! LOL). This doctor is supposed to be a really good Orthopedic Surgeon who works at St. Anthony's and Bone & Joint Hospitals in Oklahoma City. I expect to get fast-tracked on this once I get my referral. I seriously doubt that I can get 'em both done at the same time, so this is probably going to evolve into a journey of several months, where I'm going to be laid up in the hospital, at home, and in rehab. To be honest, that might've contributed to my putting it off, and I have a great fear of the unknown regarding this. However, I need to have faith in the Lord, and in the medics who I'm going to be involved with, so I can get past this and restore my Quality of Life, which includes regularly getting back on a motorcycle and riding more! So, that's the latest status on me, my friends, and I'll update you as to the results of my subsequent doctor visits and approaching surgery. This is why I stressed the point during the ABATE of Oklahoma State Officer elections last year that the folks we chose to serve are going to play a critical role by stepping up to fill in and take care of ABATE while I'm recuperating. Judging by how the last two months' meetings went, and by some of the message traffic I've been reading from State Board Members, I'm supremely confident that ABATE of Oklahoma will be in good hands in my absence. Things haven't happened yet, though, so I look forward to continuing to working closely with you to defend Biker Freedom on our state until I will be physically unable to for awhile. As the country song goes, "We'll burn that Bridge when we get there!" For now, I'd appreciate it if you'd remember me in your prayers. Enjoy the warm weekends of Summer, and I'll be interacting with you on a regular basis. I have a phone, computer, and a mailbox, so please contact me if you have any questions, comments, or helpful information. I'm not normally given to asking for help, but I may need some assistance from my Biker Family in the future regarding little stuff like letting my dog out, etc. I won't know exactly what help I might need until I get started with this, so thanks in advance for your support. May God richly bless each and every one of you. Tiger's Tip O' The Month: With all the large-scale bike events going on, it's remarkable how many riders out there experience difficulty riding in groups. Be aware of the planned route for the event before rolling, so you don't ride confused or distracted. Remember to stagger your riding position, use hand signals and follow Road Captains' directions. One mistake in a large group can cause a train-wreck that would not only be monumentally tragic, but also would cause non-bikers to paint the entire riding community with a negative broad brush. Of course, taking an Experienced Riders' Course can refresh you with the dynamics associated with group riding. We still need to be ever-watchful for the inattentive and negligent motorists out there, too. Before I head out, I’d like to ask all of you out there to remember Doug Carter in your prayers. Doug’s a longtime Oklahoma City HOG Chapter member who’s also very active with the American Legion Riders Post #1340. Currently, he’s working alongside our troops in Iraq, and faces similar threats and challenges. Please keep a good thought for him, and for all Americans in harm’s way far from home. I'm also deeply saddened to pass along the news that Bob Truitt, an old buddy of mine, was killed in a bike wreck at the ROT Rally in Texas last month. I was at Will Rogers Airport on May 8, headed to Houston for the NCOM Convention, and I bumped into Bob in the line headed for the Security Checkpoint. We had the nicest conversation, caught up on the latest news, talked about old times, then parted company. Bob was also a longtime active member of the Oklahoma City HOG Chapter, was a great guy, and really loved motorcycling. He was a dear friend, and we did a lot of riding together--I'll miss him terribly. His memorial service took place in Arkansas, and I hope you'll remember his family in thought and prayer. Ride Free Forever, Bob! Thanks for listening, continue to Ride Free and Safely, and remember as you celebrate Independence Day that Freedom isn’t Free!! Keep It On The Black Strip Between The Trees, Tiger Mike
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