ABATE of Michigan President ~ Gary Kopta

Hello everyone, 

 Finally, the weather is changing for the better. I'm seeing many more riders going past my house. It's a great sight to see. I put my look twice save a life signs out last week and I hope everyone is out talking to their families about looking twice to save maybe your life.

 First things first. I am getting a few questions regarding the cash raffle. Our records for the bike raffle go back to 2014. Since 2014 only three years (2021,2022 and 2023) were the only years that we made enough to pay our lobbyist. Last year was our all time lowest amount of money we made on the raffle. In response to that I asked our operations officer Woody do a survey from each RC regarding a bike raffle or cash raffle. By a large majority more regions wanted to do a cash raffle. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expecting different results so when I seen the lack of participation with the bike raffle I brought the idea of a cash raffle to the board and it was voted on and passed to do the cash raffle. Every year this is voted on and if the cash raffle doesn't do well we will go back to the bike raffle or try something else. I just hope some members don't try to sabotage the raffle because it's not a bike raffle by not selling tickets because they didn't get their way. 

  Looks like June 10th will be the freedom rally. I would like to see a big turnout this year. Everyone should come to Lansing for the rally, hang out around all the big logging machinery and eat some of the best fish I have ever had. That's right our new friends in the logging industry will be at the event just like last year. Check out the flyer in the Michigan Rider and on facebook.

 Also in June come to the field meet from the 12th to the 14th. Merry and her committee have been working hard on this event and I am sure it will be a blast. I guess I have been volunteered to be in a dunk tank. Who wouldn't love to take a shot at dunking me and a few others. I'm hoping for warm weather. Looks like there will be bike games and Vern our state treasurer has purchased a pig to be roasted so this year should be fun. (Thanks Vern) Hope to see everyone there.

Ride like you're invisible because to some drivers we are.