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November, 2008
HEAR YE! HEAR YE! The monthly Membership Meetings for the Allegheny County Chapter, A.B.A.T.E. of PA will be on the second THURSDAY of every month beginning on NOVEMBER 13, 2008 at the same location, the Birmingham Bridge Tavern and the same time, 7:30 PM.
Hello Sturgeon!
OK. How many of you know where Sturgeon, PA is? If you live in Sturgeon, you know where you are. And that is all that matters. One thing is for sure: it's in Allegheny County.
Reviewing Septermber, it was a very good month for A.B.A.T.E. of PA motorcycling events. Sunday, the 7th, was the Flight 93 Memorial Run. I met John Duray in Monroeville at 11:00 (OK. I was there then, he showed up at 11:20) and we had a pleasant ride on Rt. 130 to Rt. 982 to Rt. 31 to a delicious lunch stop at Brady's Restaurant in Acme, PA. I don't think they make all of the gadgets and bombs that Wiley Coyote uses, but they sure have some fine home cookin'! Arriving at Highland Harley-Davidson around 1:45 PM (We were both early. How 'bout that!), we met up with about 200 other motorcycles for the ride to the Memorial site. Always a solemn, moving experience, this visit was no exception. We also had a proud moment with the annual check-presentation to a victim's family member for their new Memorial fund. I rode back with Sparky (Tim) and Bubbles (Leslie) Moore with a delightful stop at the Oakhurst Tea Room. You'll recall that Bubbles was stricken with breast cancer last year and has recovered from the surgery wonderfully! Heck, she's not just good as new, she's better!! Hooray for Les!
On September 20, after picking up Lynn's daughter, Tara, we attended Worshington County Chapter's Andrew Latta Memorial Run & Dinner. It's a 2 hour ride each way (Rt. 88 to Rt. 136 to Rt. 917: nice riding!), so that was our "run", but the dinner was a wonderful time. Just like they warned me at the last two runs I did with them, there's too much food! And food there was. If I could eat as much food as I want to, I'd be fat! I keep trying, but just get a big, full tummy and have to quit. Another great time with great people! Thanks to Cliff from Imperial for attending too. Always a pleasure to see ya, brother!
Next week (September 27) was a rather damp Readshaw's Raiders ride. I left Monroeville at 7:15 AM, breakfast at Dean's Diner in Blairsville and a lengthy (sometimes wet and foggy) ride out Rt. 22 to Harrisburg. I arrived at noon and volunteered for road guard duty. The ride captain had a stack of map/sheets with a different intersection on each one. Very organinzed! All of the guards got one and arrived at our posts before the group left. Looked like about 150 bikes (would have been more if the weather was better, I'm sure), and after the first half of the ride to Gettysburg in the rain, we had a dry spell the rest of the way to Battlefield Harley-Davidson. After we all got there, the rain hit again as we enjoyed the BBQ chicken lunch under the pavillion. It was a wonderful treat to see our dear friend and fellow Freedom Fighter, Theresa Forcier. I left there at 4 PM to visit a friend in Chambersburg. After a lengthy chit-chat at the local Ruby Tuesday, the sky was dark and the weather was raining. I waited for the rain to let up (about 10 PM) and headed west on Rt. 30. Of course as soon as I got out of town, the rain started again. Thank God I took my full face helmet (second time I've worn one in 5 years). With my chainsaw (wet and cold too) resistant pants, down vest and leather jacket, the rain really didn't bother me a bit. I uttered two words out loud the whole trip: as I was heading down the mountain in pea-soup thick fog, riding down the double-yellow line just to make sure I stayed on the road, I saw a sign that said "Fog Area". My response: "No Shit!" Maybe it was the adrenaline rush, but I enjoyed a very challenging ride over the mountains to Breezewood were I sloshed my way into the Gateway Restaurant for a cuppa (three) coffee and a big slice of (warm) cherry pie. I bullshat with a trucker named Dan from Connecticut hoping the rain would let up. It didn't and by midnight, I was westbound in the rain on the 'ol Greenstamp (that's the PA Turnpike for those of you in Pitcairn). At first, I thought I would take it easy, but that good 'ol adrenaline kicked in again and I flew the whole way back passing every vehicle I encountered (warp 7.5, Scotty) and parked the 'ol Kamakazi in my garage at 2 AM. For a 1982 motorcycle that I paid $800 for 3 years ago, that baby didn't miss a beat.
Do any of those rides sound like fun? You want to do it too? Allright, maybe without the rain. The first two rides were dry so (as Meatloaf says) two out of three ain't bad. The Gettysburg ride was 19 hours, I rode 500 miles (450 in the rain) and spent $60.81 for food and gas (that includes the $10 for the run. The pin is way cool!). Make your plans now for next year. It will be here sooner than you think!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Jim Barr, Donna Bendel, Merina Brayooc, Bob Carlson, Linda Chamberlin, John Chamberlin, Ronnie Dudek, Jeffrey Eisenhart, Ronald Klemm, Annie Lyons, Stephanie Prosdocimo, Patricia Sommers
and Kevin White. Hey! That's a lot! THANK YOU RENEWALS: Michael Duray, Kathy Kaiser, Dustin Lenkner, Jeffrey Miller, Tara Oswald, Corl Rowe, Lori Walker, Steve Walker and Nikki White. We are all the blood that flows through A.B.A.T.E. of PA's veins! Many thanks to Bob Challinor for making the effort to contact expired members and bringing them back "into the fold". YEE HAW! Sorry if I spelled your name backwards, boB.
COMING EVENTS: Do you like to laugh? Make plans NOW for our second annual "Laugh Your Balls Off Ball" at the Slapsticks Comedy Loft, above the Royal Place Restaurant on Saturday, November 15, 2008. It's at 2660 Library Rd. (Rt. 88) just a 1/2 mile south of Rt. 51. Doors open at 7 PM and the show starts at 8 PM. Admission is only $15 a head or $25 a couple. Any questions? Call Dave Sullivan at 412-848-9461 or check out www.slapstickscomedy.com.
NOW HEAR THIS: A.B.A.T.E. elections will be at our December 11, 2008 meeting. As per our State COPs, we have to announce the change in date two months in advance. Here's your first notice. Next one is next month (duh). By the time you read this, nominations for Officer positions will be closed. YOU CAN STILL BE INVOLVED! Just come to a monthly Membership meeting or call one of our illustrious Officers. Contact info is on our website.
GOTTA COMPUTER? Please check out our website: www.alleghenyabate.org.
BIKEPAC: As your new BIKEPAC Officer, I am open to suggestions for a fund-raiser or two so we can continue to put our money where our mouths are (and our legislators' ears) and grow the BIKEPAC contribution. Send any ideas to AlleghenyABATE@verizon.net.
GAS CARD: Speaking of raising funds, your Chapter is selling raffle tickets for a $500 gas card. Tickets are only $2 each and are available NOW. The drawing will be on December 31, 2008. Get your tickets to buy and SELL at the November 13 or December 11 meetings. Call Bill Foley (412-922-1090) and he can send you some in the mail. If you are real nice to him, maybe he'll send you a cigar too!
It's a good thing some of the Chapters don't submit a report for the newsletter. That gives me more room to type shit! Thanks!
DON'T FORGET: Freedom of Choice is a WONDERFUL thing. But helmet laws still SUCK! Be vigilant and protect your rights. Get others to help too. On November 4, please vote for the RIGHT candidate
See you on the backroads,
Lenny
October, 2008
Hello Scott Township!
Here it is October and what I call, "riding through a postcard" time. Get on out and check out the work of the greatest artist in the Universe! The Man sure knows what he's doing. How about those bright yellow maple leaves against the background of the dark blue nitrogen-sky? It doesn't get any better than that. One of my most memorable routes is PA Rt. 381 near Normalville and Seven Springs. Any backroad in the Commonwealth is great. Check it out...
Let's rewind to August a moment as I commend (and apologize for omitting last month) our wonderful neighbors to the east: Westmoreland County Chapter! They took care of all the logistics for the District III (that's 3 for those of you in Pitcairn) party and did a damn good job of it! Lids off to ya! I'll let the secret out now so everyone who didn't attend this year can plan ahead for next year: We all had a REAL good time! See you there, then.
Also in August, on the 17th, was Worshington County Chapter's "Grilled Steak Dinner" fundraiser. I don't know what's better: the ride there and back (on the backroads, of course) or the great time eating the great food with the great people of the Chapter! It's ALL GOOD! Thanks to Bob and all the great folks from his Chapter. At least we doubled the turnout from Allegheny County Chapter! We had 4 members! The two usual suspects (Cliff from Imperial and myself) and Lynn with her daughter, Tara.
Did anyone notice my picture was in the September newsletter not once, but twice! You can get in line now: my autographs are only $25 each now. Wait 'til I get that million-dollar contract from Hollywood!! The phone hasn't rung yet, but it will! Seriously, maybe that can be an inspiration to you other "closet members" to get out, stand up and speak out to support motorcyclists' rights. If you need inspiration, venues or talking points, contact Lynn (here in Allegheny County), Tom Christofes (State LC), Steve Zurl (State PR), or Charles Umbenhauer (State Lobbyist). The contact info is on page two of every newlsletter. I've been doing this lobbying gig for over twenty years. Like most other things, it's not easy at first, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you get. Try it, you'll like it! (Trivia question: What TV commercial from the 60's or 70's is that expression from?)
Shameless plug: Check out your Chapter's website: www.alleghenyabate.org. Don't have a computer? Don't be a moron! Go out and buy one! Hey, it's 2008 Rip Van Winkle!
You know what they say in China every November: "It's erection time!" Well, we are here in the good-'ol U.S.A. so we call it ELECTION TIME. The general election is November 4. Your Chapter's elections are December11. NOW GET OUT AND VOTE, DAMN IT!! I won't tell you who to vote for, but let's just say you need to vote for the RIGHT candidate, not the left one. When you come to your Chapter's elections, BRING YOUR A.B.A.T.E. OF PA. MEMBERSHIP CARD. It's not rocket science, kiddies. But if you want to vote (as per thte A.B.A.T.E. C.O.P.s) you have to present your "voter's credential" (current membership card). You have a month and a half to get it together. No bitching or moaning, please. Nominations can still be offered at the October 8 meeting. Remember, the nominee MUST be at the meeting to accept or decline the nomination. I know we have a lot of talented individuals out there in A.B.A.T.E.-land. If elected, you will not be alone. The other Officers are very supportive and will "hold your hand" to get started. Hey, before you ever turned a throttle on a motorcycle, you rode a bicycle with training wheels just like everyone else. You gotta start somewhere. Now is the time and the Chapter is the place. See page 20 of the September newsletter for all the details.
In the "Get Well" department (with my apologies for not mentioning this last month), we wish a hearty GET WELL to our Sergeant At Arms, Brian Weir. He recently had a mishap on his scooter (it ain't no Vespa), and spent a couple of weeks in the hospital. He is recuperating well and just wants to get on his bike and ride!! Now that's who I call "A Real Biker"!! He's not completely out of the woods yet, so put Brian on your prayer list and we'll see him again soon with that "rubber side down!!"
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Earl and Victoria Barker, Monica Douglas (please support her campaign at www.monicadouglas.com), and Barbara Nicholas. THANK YOU RENEWING MEMBERS: Dan DiBartola, Debra (Buzz) Foley (now a Lifetime member. Paid for 25 years), Daniel & Leslie Olszewski, Harry Soles and Joe Taksel. Plaese come to our meetings and get involved. Your Chpater will appreciate you and you'll feel GOOD about yourself. A win-win situation indeed!! As I always emphatically exclaim, "Thanks for giving a damn about motorcyclists' rights!!"
I want to extend a sincere thanks and a big hug to Sue Flack, our tireless and accurate treasurer (since Bob O'Hare retired) and wonderful kitchen captain (for many years). Whenever we had an event that needed food and refreshment, Sue was the "go-to" girl and made sure we had good food and plenty of it!! She hosted (hostessed?) many Officer and committee meetings right at her house. With a cigarette in her mouth and a knife in her hand, Sue was the "hopitality-extraordinaire". We miss you and wish you good luck and God's help with all your issues.
People say, "The summer goes by so fast!" Let me give you a dose of reality-lite: It's as fast now as it was for the frickin' cavemen! It's all the stuff we do that we don't have time for everything that makes us THINK it goes by fast. I didn't do a whole lot of riding this year (same every year: about 2-3,000 miles), but it was QUALITY riding. I hope you had the same riding (if not, more) too. Get out your "gutkes and babushkas". You're gonna need them!
See you on the backroads,
Lenny
P.S. Comment on this (or previous) report can be sent to alleghenyabate@verizon.net
SEPTEMBER EVENTS:
Sunday, Septermber 7: Flight 93 Memorial Run.
Wednesday, September 10: Chapter Meeting.
Saturday, September 27: Readshaw's Raiders Ride to Gettysburg.
Hello Sewickley Heights!
There has been so much going on lately, I almost don't know where to start.
Let's talk about NOISE. Loud pipes DON'T save lives. They just piss people off. There are countless examples of cities, housing developements, business districts, etc. not just asking vehicular operators to self-restrict their noise production, they just outright ban the vehicles (usually motorcycles exclusively) altogether. Remember this appropriate expression: If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. It all boils down to basic public relations. Don't do something to upset others and (likely) they won't do things to upset you. Of course, the opposite applies too. I have faith in your intelligence and common sense, so I won't try to tell you what to do. You figure it out. It ain't rocket science...
On July 12, I had the esteemed pleasure of participating in Washington County Chapter's Poker Run. The bad news: I probably had the worst poker hand. The good news: Bob Handwork and his crew REALLY know how to do this right!! I could really stretch it and say he was responsible for the beautiful riding weather too, but I won't. My sincere thanks to the Worshington (as my mother says) County folks for probably one of the best motorcycling times I'll have all summer. Guess how many Allegheny County Chapter members showed up.... 2. Not only was Cliff from Imperial the only other A.C. Chapter member there, he had the best poker hand too!! Congratulations, Cliff!! Does anybody read this report? Am I shouting from the mountain in the middle of the wilderness? Did anybody hear me at the July 9 Chapter meeting? OK. You're busy. You've got better things to do. Maybe next time...
Speaking of almost nobody showing up, the District 3 party on August 1 & 2 was a great time for the 40 or so people who attended and a disgrace that there were so few participants. Thank God the band didn't show up. Maybe the Distrcit actually broke even. Thanks (again) to Worshington County Chapter for travelling the distance and adding to the festivities. White Valley Park was the perfect place for this gig as we made noise (Thanks, Floyd, for the excellent D.J.ing) way into the wee hours without bothering a soul. It really seemed like a mini-Hazen. Maybe next year...
It's always a pleasure to see Phil and Mary Ellen selling their stuff. They set up at both the above mentioned events and always have a nice selection. In fact, they are usually set up at our Chapter meetings too. Please help them out and buy shit. Phil has mentioned on more than one occasion that he would like to see someone else take over the Chapter Products position. Check the website and give him a call if you are interested.
Speaking of the website, we have had a few glitches recently, but it is up and running and looking good. Please browse around www.alleghenyabate.org and check it out. If you have any comments or suggestions, contact any of our Officers and let them know.
A hearty welcome to our NEW MEMBERS; Stephanie Buka, Keith Calhoun (bought a five year program) and Ronan Jones. Thank you to RENEWALS: Mike Barry, Doak Borst, James Cairns, Cliff Francis, James Tedesco, Jr. and Sean Weir. Remember folks, when your membership is up for renewal, either do it right away or do what I did in 1990: get yourself a Lifetime membership (At that time, it cost $100 and I used my PAMSP Instructor fee reimbursement). A note to all present and future Lifetime members: You are not off the hook. Please buy a gift membership for at least one new member each year. We still need that annual jingle to make A.B.A.T.E. of PA tingle.
All of you social bugs who attened a bike night or 30 thourghout the riding season, please have at least a dozen or more A.B.A.T.E. of PA membership applications (see Lynn or I for some MRF apps if you'd like) to hand out to all of the non-affiliated bikers out there. Get some of those nifty calling cards too (contact Bill or the State Office) so you can tell the helmet-less the obvious: If you choose to ride without a helmet, thank A.B.A.T.E. If you want to continue to ride without a helmet, JOIN A.B.A.T.E.!!
What did you do with your "Economic Stimulus Check"? For my $600, I called it my "Freedom Stimulus Check" and wrote six checks for $100 and sent them to different "Freedom Fighter" groups (one of course to BIKEPAC). Think it is a good idea? Go ahead and do it yourself! It doesn't hurt and you'll feel better that you helped some very worthy causes.
Do you think we can get a decent turnout for the Flight 93 Memorial ride on Septermber 7? I hope so. How about the Readshaw's Raiders Gettysburg run on September 27? I hope so. If not, you may need to get someone else to write these reports. My efforts to not be disappointed are wearing thin.
Check out the September issue of American Motorcyclist Magazine (official publication of the AMA). Recognize that handsome mug on the cover? Wow! What an honor. Congratulations, Charles! Next time we meet, I want your autograph! If you are not a member yet, JOIN! Check out their website at www.amadirectlink.com.
It has been quite an experience in Government Relations by participating in the County Council fiasco. I will not elaborate here, as Lynn has this one by the balls. Check out her column or give her a call. As a note of inspiration for those reading this thinking, "I want to get more involved but just don't have the time"...I, mysleft, DON'T have the time, but I still get involved. You can too. Remember this, my friend, "Freedom of Choice is great, but helmet laws STILL suck!"
See you on the backroads,
Lenny
August,
2008
Hello Pennsbury
Village!
Welcome to the
halfway point of our glorious riding
season. I hope you are having a safe and
enjoyable summer.
Well, the Freedom
Fest has come and gone. With a steady
rain most of the afternoon, the only
shame is that more people didn't show
up. Yes, we lost money, but like most
other events, those who showed up had a
good time. The band was pretty good
(Thanks to Jobo for booking them), and
the food was warm and tasty (Thanks,
Candy) Thanks to Merle for donating the
proceeds from his pin sale to the
Chapter. Thanks to Al for bringing his
generator and helping with the bike
judging. Our neighboring Chapters had a
wonderful showing too (according to
Lynn): Washington County, Washington
County, Washington County, Washington
County and Washington County. Thanks for
your support. We need it!! Thanks to
Phil and Mary Ellen for setting up our
Chapter (and his) shit for sale. I know
it's not easy and we appreciate their
efforts.
WELCOME to our NEW MEMBERS: Glenn Avick,
Shirley Dzugan, Christina Foley, Nichole
Martinez, Ron Montesano, Bonnie Okinski
and John Wehner. WELCOME BACK to our
June renewals: Ronald Adams, David
Campbell, Anthony Dangelo, Jeffrey
Davison, Mark Foley, Joseph Foley, Todd
Ford, Tom Havash, William Heh, Joseph
Heh, Bob Karnes, Bill McIntyre, Al
Okinski, Dave Sullivan and Kris Wilson.
At our June 11
meeting, we had a lot of members,
including some smiling new faces. As
those in attendance will attest, we had
the airing of some dirty laundry. This
is NOT staus quo for our meetings as
they are usually upbeat and laidback
(like me). Two points: 1.) To anyone who
felt ill about our Chapter because of
the out-of-order discussion, I (and many
others) will apologize. We are in this
gig to promote and encourage others to
get involved with protecting
motorcyclists' rights. Period. Anything
else is irrelevant. 2.) Just like the
incident at the Biker's Ball that
started all of this horseshit: you got a
beef? Take it outside and leave us
alone.
Please try to
attend our next meeting on Wednesday,
August 13. We will be opening up
nominations for the elected officers in
our Chapter. It's not rocket science,
but you have to have your heart in the
"right" place.
See you on the back
roads,
Lenny
July,
2008
Hello Forest Hills!
First,
let's thank the following members for
giving enough of a damn about
Motorcyclists' Rights to show up at the
annual Motorcyclists' Rights Rally in
Harrisburg on May 19: Bill Foley, Bill
Foley Jr., Lynn Wesley, Dave Watkins,
Dave Tuschel, Joe Heh, Candy Benish,
Joseph Bokor and Lenny Young. Let's do
the math. That's 9 members out of 164.
That's 18.2 percent. Extrapolating even
further, there should have been about
1092 A.B.A.T.E. members at the Rally. I
don't have an exact count, but as
disappointed as I was about our Chapter
(lack of) participation, the total
attendees was rather lackluster. The
weather was somewhat dismal that weekend
but let's do the simple math: A day off
work plus a vehicle (4 wheels is
acceptable) equals BEING THERE! I try to
keep these reports upbeat, but the fact
remains that the fewer of us
Motorcyclist Rights' Acitvists who are
INVOLVED in the movement, the more of
our rights will be taken away. I (and
many others) have fought way too hard
over the years to attain the rights we
enjoy today. It would be a shame to lose
them because of apathy. You've heard it
all before and I'm tired of saying it. 'Nough
said.
WELCOME to our new member,
Russell Sulecki! WELCOME BACK to
renewing members Christopher Holt, Leroy
Mittenzwey, Mike Sanderson. and transfer
of Jayne Challinor from Westmoreland
Chapter.
By the
time you read this, FREEDOM FEST will be
in the can. I hope it was successful.
Although we don't have any organized A.C.
Chapter events over the summer, other
A.B.A.T.E. Chapters have things going on
all summer long. PLEASE get out and
support them and most likely, you'll
have a great ride/time too.
See you on the back
roads,
Lenny
May,
2008
Hello O'Hara!
April showers
certainly bring May flowers, but I will
tell you that the early bloomers sure
look good this year! Welcome Spring!!
Please be sure to maintain the 'ol Iron
Horse before heading out into the "wild
frontier" of the area roads. And
remember to maintain your probably-rusty
riding skills. Go to a local parking lot
with no cars or traffic and practice the
basics: turning, braking and swerving.
If you have taken the PA M.S.P. course,
just review some of the exercises. If
you haven't, sign up now. I took the
course last year (5th time since my
introduction to the program in 1986) and
strongly recommend it to novice and
verteran riders alike. Visit
www.pamsp.com. It's that easy...
Just like the
spring flowers, our blue "Motorcycles
Are Everywhere" signs are popping up all
over the place. Come to our next meeting
(5-14-08) and get one if you haven't
already. I put out several last year,
but some degenerate dickhead keeps
stealing them. So I'll be posting
several at other strategic locations
thoughout the 'Ville. I (as I'm sure you
too if necessary) will ask the property
owner for permission first.
THANK YOU to Tom
Czwalga and Bob O'Leary (our wonderful
Treasurer for many years in the
not-so-distant past) for renewing your
memberships in our Chapter.
Get your HAZEN
tickets and State Bike Raffle tickets
from Bill at the next meeting (see
above). This is the biggest fundraiser
of the year for A.B.A.T.E. of PA. THAT'S
US!!! Please help to support YOUR
motorcyclists' rights organization.
While you're at it, throw a few of your
hard-earned buckaroos to BIKEPAC too.
You've heard it all before, but I'll
tell you again: FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!! You
gotta buy it!!
If member Bill
Owens was at our March Membership
Meeting, he would have been able to buy
us all a round of drinks from the $69.50
he WOULD HAVE WON. The April drawing was
worth $80.50. Tune in next month for the
update.
You've seen the
advertisement. You've heard the call to
arms. You know it's something you HAVE
to do! Get your excuse-less ass out to
our annual RIGHTS RALLY on Monday, May
19 in Harrisburg. If possible, do the
camping thing at Shellsville for FREEDOM
WEEKEND. It's a nice, generally laidback
time that will probably be your first
camping experience of the year. After
this long cold winter, a weekend in the
(hopefully) mild weather will be real
refreshing. Lynn (412-513-6979) is going
out Friday evening and I (412-372-5215)
plan on departing the 'Ville on Sunday
morning ( if my slave-driver boss will
let me). Call us if you want to caravan/carabike.
So you like the
posters that say, "If you ride without a
helmet, thank A.B.A.T.E. If you want to
continue to ride without a helmet, JOIN
A.B.A.T.E." Well, our dedicated and
resourceful Lobbyist, Charles
Umbenhauer, has taken his lobbying one
step further: CALLING CARDS that have
this phrase printed on them so we can
distribute them to the (way too many)
helmet-less, non-members that we
encounter on a day-to-day basis. Do you
frequent a Bike Night or two? Get a
gaggle of cards and membership
applications and SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS
about A.B.A.T.E.!! Remember, if you
don't ask, they won't join!
Freedom Fest is
right around the corner on June 14.
Please show up at the meeting or call
Bill (412-922-1090) to see what you can
do to help. But at least SPREAD THE
WORD!! Joe has a printable version of
the flyer on our website
(www.alleghenyabate.org). Check it out,
print about a dozen and go paste 'em up
all over the place (again, ask first).
Another great Bike Night giveaway!!
Well kiddies,
that's it for now. Until next time, sign
up a new member, renew yours or buy one
for someone as a gift!! As Jayne says,
"It's simple as Simon!" on the website (www.abatepa.org).
Have fun, be safe, and God bless...
See you on the
backroads,
Lenny
February, 2008
Hello Millvale!
After my 8 month hiatus, I’m
back to educate you filthy, rotten
bikers about the goins-on in our
glorious Allegheny County Chapter. Many
thanks to NSNG Dave for filling these
lines with his provocative prose. Please
look for (and read) his column about
Motorcyclists’ Rights elsewhere in
“Between The Lines”. At tonight’s
Officers’ meeting, Joe determined the
column to be called “Tuschel’s Two
Cents”. Catchy name. Now go catch it...
Got members? We do!! Welcome
to NEW members John Caseber and Alan
Hersho. Thanks to RENEW members Bill &
Terry Owens and our Membership dude, Dan
Providant. A big silky kiss to one of
our regular pretty ladies, Michele
Husosky for stepping up to LIFETIME
Membership! Remember folks, if you don’t
ask someone to join A.B.A.T.E., they
won’t join! Get out and ASK! As was
pointed out last month, they make great
gifts too.
Got
Computer? Good. Go to it after reading
this and visit www.alleghenyabate.org
and check out the excellent work of our
Public Relations Officer, Joe Heh. Not
only has Joe set up this beautiful work
of art, he MAINTAINS it too!! How many
times have you checked out websites only
to find the same old shit? Not so here!
Go to the Officers page and send a note
to Joe with your appreciation. While
there, check out the info about our
upcoming...
BIKER’S BALL!! Yes, folks.
Saturday February 23, 2008 is right
around the corner. Bring your wife,
girlfriend, husband, boyfriend, mom,
dad, rugrat (21 or older), pet rock,
friend, foe (they’ll like you by the end
of the night), or anyone else who has
$15 to spend on themselves (only $25 for
a couple) for a hell-of-a-good-time on a
cold winter’s night. The gig starts at
7:00 PM and is at the Pittsburgh Elks
#11, 5800 Buttermilk Hollow Rd. between
Lincoln Place and West Mifflin. Need a
place to rest your weary head
afterwards? Make a reservation now at
the Holiday Inn Express, 3122 Lebanon
Chuch Rd., W. Mifflin, PA 15122,
412-469-1900. Other excellent reasons
to attend: Formal or casual attire, hors
d’oeuvres (did I spell that right?),
soda/adult refreshments (cash bar also
available), TWO LIVE BANDS: The
Cocktail Shakers, and The Crop
Dusters, silent auction, door
prizes, and a LOT of good people there
for a good time. Need more info? Contact
Lynn: 412-513-6979 (mrflmw@comcast.net)
or Joe: 412-901-9737 (jheh0271@comcast.net).
Joe has also spent a lot of sleepless
nights promoting this event by
contacting all sorts of media outlets
and soliciting donations too. WAY TO GO
JOE!! As you may or may not know, we are
not doing our annual Jewelry Bash this
year and the BIKER’S BALL has become our
No. 1 fundraiser. BE THERE and SPREAD
THE WORD!!
Other things to look forward
to (besides WARMER WEATHER) are
Allegheny County Chapter’s very own
FREEDOM FEST set for Saturday, June 14,
2008 at Settlers’ Cabin Park in Robinson
Township (same ‘ol place). Wanna help?
(We need you) Show up at the next
meeting (Wednesday, February 13) and let
us know.
Pardon me while I step up on
the soapbox: Last year (2007), I spent
two days in Harrisburg (March and May)
and two days in Washington, D.C. (March
and November). I went there to lobby on
behalf of Motorcyclists’ Rights to our
Legislators. I know that, for whatever
reason, a lot of my fellow motorcyclists
can not or will not do this. That’s OK
with me. What I really urge others to do
is make a new goal for 2008 to turn up
your political involvement a notch or
two. Find out who your state and federal
legislators are (if you don’t know
already). Locate their “constituent
service center” which is in or near your
community. Call Lynn (412-513-6979) and
tell her that you are “ready to make
contact”. She’ll help you with the rest.
It doesn’t hurt a bit, and you’ll feel
much better that you are now “doing your
part”. I started over 20 years ago and
it still feels good too.
See you
on the back roads,
Lenny
January, 2008
We have to begin this month’s report with the
acknowledgement of Lenny Young, our chapter member who accompanied
Mark Schultz and Steve Zurl on an impromptu but important trip to
Washington D.C. This trip was in response to the recent recommendations
of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that all 50 states
enact helmet laws enforcing their use by all riders. (Does it really
require vigilant citizens like Lenny, Mark and Steve to remind members
of Congress that the United States is a federal republic and
that powers not enumerated to either the President or Congress in
the Constitution belong to either the individual states or the people?)
Lenny reported on his Washington trip at the November meeting of
our chapter, and he made it quite clear that A.B.A.T.E. and other
state motorcycle rights organizations need to be watchful of the
encroachment of federal government regulations and legislations
on the rights of bikers. If any readers of this report think that
A.B.A.T.E. members are overreacting or indulging paranoia, a little
history from the 1970s may be helpful. I was a teenager living in
Wisconsin at the time Jimmy Carter was President and Joan Claybrook
was his appointed head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA). Under Claybrook, who is still active in politics as a so-called
public safety advocate, federal funds legislated by Congress to
the states for highway maintenance and repair were made by NHTSA contingent
upon the states having helmet laws requiring their use by all riders.
Such contingencies were not part of the highway funding legislation
that was passed, and those restrictions on the distribution of funds
legislated by Congress was an exercise of raw power by the executive
branch. Bikers in Wisconsin and across the country were outraged
by such blackmail of the 50 state governments and particularly that
it had originated in one department of the federal government.
Ultimately, we were successful in removing these unlawful (and probably
unconstitutional) contingencies that were not even part of the original
federal legislation signed into law.
The historical lesson here is that we
must continue to be vigilant about our rights and encroachment upon
them by any branch or department of government, state or
federal. My personal experience has taught me that today’s
recommendation by the NTSB can become tomorrow’s enforcement
through contingencies (i.e., blackmail) placed upon federal
funds to the individual states. We have all heard the expression
that history repeats itself. Vigilance regarding activities in Washington
D.C. as well as Harrisburg is required if we want to be sure that,
in this instance regarding the rights of bikers, history does not
repeat itself.
Dave Tuschel
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