ABATE of Michigan President ~ Gary Kopta

 Part of my job as president is to attend different functions. Unfortunately sometimes it is a memorial. This last Sunday I rode down to Ohio to attend the memorial for Mike Stock who was the chairman of the board for ABATE of Ohio. Mike was a big supporter of ABATE of Michigan. I seen him along with Ed Schetter who is the Executive Director and a few others at our seminars over the years. 

  When I arrived at the venue I noticed Jay Jackson who is the Executive Director of ABATE of Indiana as well as Vice President of the MRF. He arrived about the same time as I did. After talking outside for a while we made our way inside where we talked a little more and found a place to sit. After a while Ed came and sat with us and while we were all sitting there I got to thinking about how nice it is to see members from other states coming together for a memorial. It's part of our culture.

  So as I'm driving back home that afternoon it got me thinking about different things like you never know how much time you have left and what people will remember about you. I am willing to bet that Mike wasn't concerned about the fact that I would remember him at our seminars. Coming to our seminars may be something Mike thought he should do.

  I guess the point I'm trying to get too here is have I done everything this year that I should've done? I would have to say no I haven't. There were a couple functions I should've done but I didn't get to them. Either something came up or something was already planned. 

  My next question to you is why did you join ABATE of Michigan? Was it for the camaraderie? Was it to support our way of life? I hope it was both reasons. Have you done the different things to get involved with ABATE? Have you attended a meeting to show support or bought bike raffle tickets? 

  My point to all of this is don't let time pass by before it's too late. Make the phone calls to the reps when your asked too. At least buy the tickets that are sent to your home. Go to meet your reps at coffee hours. I don't know how many times I have sat with the rep and I was the only one there. They remember that.

   R.I.P. Mike ride with the wind.             

                                         Gary