The GUNNY'S SACK

November 2004 I just returned from the annual West Coast Regional Meeting of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), this year in Federal Way, Washington. We were guests of the La Quinta Inn and I had the nicest room ever for the weekend.

As always, this was an eye-opening experience. NCOM flew in Jim "Putt" Putnam from South Dakota, a biker and State Senator, to talk about how to get our people elected to public office.

Oregon AIM Attorney Sam Hochberg talked more about the value of having high limits of liability coverage on our bikes, in order to take advantage of what is usually matching under-insured and uninsured coverage. This extra coverage must be specifically requested, and is fairly inexpensive.

NCOM also paid to fly in our AIM Attorney (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists) from the great state of Wisconsin, Michael Mandleman, concerning the effects of the "Patriot Act" on bikers. That's the one that "protects the citizen from himself;" the legislation that flew through congress shortly after 9-11.

This is one of the scariest pieces of freedom-grabbing legislation I've ever heard of. Thank God there is a sunset clause that is supposed to let it die a natural death...unless, of course, Patriot II passes and REMOVES the Sunset provision. Make sure your congressman knows how you feel about it, because there WILL be some fighting to EXTEND these un-Warranted (literally) intrusions into our private lives and usurping of our civil liberties!

There was also a terrific seminar on the current state of the law for bikers here in Oregon and Washington, with AIM lawyers Sam Hochberg for Oregon, and Marty Fox for Washington, along with Carla Starr, the AIM Criminal Defense lawyer (Aid to Incarcerated Motorcyclists) for Washington.

After the seminars, there was a region-wide Confederations of Clubs meeting that brought us up to date on judicial happenings around the region.

The Washington State Confederation of Clubs and ABATE of Washington then topped it all off with a spaghetti feed and hosted us for drinks and a band after our business day was over.

All in all the whole thing was a great success. Be sure and attend your Regional Conferences when they come your way. They're a regular feature of NCOM, and you can contact NCOM for more, at www.aimncom.com or www.On-A-Bike.com. They will light yur fire.

Even more important, at least in my mind, is getting ready to attend the 20th Annual National Coalition of Motorcyclists Convention the 5th thru the 7th of May 2005 in "NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE". This'ns gonna be a doozie. It’s being hosted by the Concerned Motorcyclists of Tennessee CMT/ABATE, and the Tennessee Confederation of Clubs. The host hotel is the Sheraton Music City Hotel, located at 777 McGavock Pike in Nashville, and you need to reserve your room by April 3rd for the special NCOM rate of $79 single or double. The hotel’s number is (615) 885-2200, and to pre-register for the Convention you can call NCOM at (800) 525-5355. Registration fees are $75 for the Convention and Silver Spoke Awards Banquet, or just 40 bucks for the Convention only.

NEWSBITS ‘N' PIECES:

LONDON, ENGLAND: British singer Marc Almond, who had a worldwide hit in 1981 with "Tainted Love" is reported to be recovering in a hospital after a motorcycle crash. He was a passenger on the bike. The rider was also in the hospital.

It's amazing to me that famous people get press when they are involved in an accident but the rest of us are ignored unless we're killed. Then they infer "Well it was just a biker and they tempt death every time they get on one of those Donor-Cycles." It really aggravates me. ALL of us bleed the same, whether you’re famous or not-so-well-known. Bottom line is to try to stop the injuries and pain for ALL of us.

ST. PAUL, MINN: Honda motor corp and the Retail Sales unit of GE Consumer Finance have a multi-year agreement that allows folks to finance Honda power Sports equipment with more attractive interest rates. It's called the Honda Card Financing Program. Look into it, just might save a dime or two. You can buy a new motorcycle even. Honda also provides Rider Safety Training in or near their sales facilities.

DANA POINT, CA.: As part of a Global expansion plan Patriot Motorcycles now has the exclusive rights to Sell and Promote the sales of Yamoto Motor Corp Motorcycles, and ATV rigs in Mexico. That's a feather in their cap. Gonna make some pesos there.

GOA: The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is mostly a European motorcycle political action group, and they have leaped to the defense of riders in Goa, because the riders are being actively harassed by police, and MAG aims to bring it to a stop. If they succeed, I'd like their formula so we can use it in this country.

GUNNY AGAIN: As always I remind all my brothers and sisters the AIM attorneys in our organizations work for us and many times it doesn't cost us a dime. If you find yourself in a pickle grab a phone and call your nearest AIM guy. He isn't one of those people who don’t know a bike from a can of peanuts. These folks ride with us and defend us from all manner of grief including those rare occasions when we are wrapped up in something criminal, or get wrapped around a car. If you don't know your AIM attorney's name and number, just call 1-800-On-A-Bike, or get online and go to www.On-A-Bike.com.