President ~ Vince Consiglio

Phone: 269 435 2058  

Email: abatensf@tir.com

From the Prez   Thanks, for giving a Hoot and showing up for the “Freedom Rally” in Lansing, June 1st.  The best showing we have had in years.  At rally time the crowd was from the stairs to the statue in front of the capital.   It’s been some time since we have had that kind of turnout.   Ten Years of, “Riding FREE”!!  Hell YA!!  It was a long time coming and it could easily disappear if we fall asleep at the wheel.  We had a record setting 102 demonstrations of the state riding test on the capital grounds before the rally.  I want to thank Mark Reutter, Rich Lasko, and Jerry Makkonen for their help in the riding demo.  Could be the last time we do it according to the capital grounds.  We do that demo to show how easy it can be done and emphasis the importance of getting a motorcycle endorsement.  In pre-Covid years the unendorsed riders were around 33 fatalities.  In 2020, according to the Michigan State Police, the unendorsed rider count was 86 unendorsed motorcycle fatalities.  That’s quite a difference.  That’s why we do the demo and stress getting legal to ride.  In the ten years since the law was repealed, nine out of ten years, more riders died wearing helmets than not wearing helmets according to stats provided by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety (OHSP).  I am not saying it wasn’t close or lop sided but you know the other side would be Hooping and Howling putting the LIDS back on ALL motorcycle riders if the stats were the other way!!  Region 15, won the regional shoot out contest but it was close.  We had to do a run-off to get the winner.  Congrats to Region 15 for being Loud and Proud.   Region 13 may have had the most riders from a region with over 30 riders.  Thanks to all who rode there and all who were there letting Lansing know that Freedom is Important.  HB 5370 has been signed by the governor and is now law.  Thanks to Representative VanSingel for sponsoring the bill.  The senate was not too excited about the bill and it dragged in the senate for months.  Senate Transportation Committee finally took up the bill thanks to Senator Barrett and it was voted out in May.  My shortest testimony in history, was less than 30 seconds.  We have to be aware of the primary elections coming up in August.  We have friends like Barrett who is running for congress and our state champion, Walberg, whose district goes from Lake Erie to Lake Michigan.  Now is the time to put signs out for these candidates who support us.  We will be sending “something” out to those in key districts by either email, phone chain, sign requests etc. We can’t afford to lose friends. Ride Safe and Free, Vince