04-22-2004

04LR04 - April 22, 2004

MRF LEADERS' REPORT
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
P.O. Box 1808
Washington, DC 20013-1808
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
mrfwash@mrf.org (e-mail)
http://www.mrf.org (website)

#04LR04 - MRF LEADERS' REPORT - Ride With The LeadersTM - April 22, 2004

TO: The Leaders of the American Motorcyclists' Rights Movement

FROM: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice President - Government Relations

DC OFFICE IS RUNNING BETTER THAN EVER - The Motorcycle Riders Foundation's (MRF) new and improved Washington DC office is now fully functional. With the addition of a new computer workstation and a high-speed Internet line, the office can now work at lightning speed to meet all of your needs, utilizing our new computer network instead of several stand-alone machines. Being able to share printers and connections means less mess and the ability for more than one person to access the Internet at a time. Office manager extraordinaire Lynn Oldenburg has organized the office in an extremely efficient fashion. Everything has its own place - we have gone from piles to files. With the assistance of MRF Board Member JD DePaolantonio, Lynn has also made great strides to streamline processes and cut costs on various sorts of unnecessary expenditures. Hats off to Lynn and JD! Saving time and money means our resources can reach further than ever before.

ABATE OF ILLINOIS COMES TO DC AGAIN - ABATE of Illinois is in Washington DC this week for their third trip this year. Cheryl Pearre, Legislative Coordinator for ABATE of Illinois and longtime lobbyist, brought Paulette Pinkham and Randy Scott for their first trip to DC, and they have done an outstanding job in several very productive meetings with members of the Illinois Congressional delegation. After a meeting with Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL), they noticed that House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young's (R-AK) office was directly across the hall. They dropped by, introduced themselves and told the staff that they just wanted to say thanks to Mr. Young for all he does for motorcyclists across the country. Mr. Young happened to be in his office and came out to warmly greet them and tell them that he was glad to help the motorcycling community. This is a particularly important impromptu meeting, because it drives home the fact that bikers come to DC to make sure their rights are preserved. Mr. Young is our chief champion of the MRF language in the House-passed version of the transportation bill, and with the conferencing of the bill coming soon, this chance meeting should bolster our support from Mr. Young.

BEAST OF THE EAST - With the MRF's BEAST conference just around the corner, I am starting to get really excited. Over 180 participants have pre-registered and I am sure even more will show up in Canandaigua, New York for the conference. For those of you who will be attending, I am looking forward to meeting you. This being my first conference with the MRF, I am eager to become familiar with all of you involved in motorcyclists' rights. For those not yet registered, it is not too late. Simply visit the MRF website at www.mrf.org/events.php to register online, or call the MRF office at 202-546-0983 and Lynn will be happy to fix you up!

MRF YOUNG ACTIVIST SCHOLARSHIP FUND - Speaking of MRF conferences, rider activists have recognized for some time that our membership and leaders are aging, and that there is a need to encourage younger people to become involved in motorcyclists' rights. To that end, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation created a scholarship fund to recognize deserving candidates under the age of 31 who otherwise may not be able to attend the MRF's Meeting of the Minds conference. Nominations for qualified candidates will be accepted through July 15, 2004. To learn more about this scholarship fund, or to nominate a deserving candidate, visit the MRF website at www.mrf.org and click on the MRF Young Activist Scholarship link. The MRF has dedicated a limited amount of seed money to the fund to get things rolling, and is looking for additional contributions from individuals, national, state and local organizations and businesses that would like to participate in the program. Contributions can be made online, or by sending a check made out to the MRF Young Activist Scholarship Fund to: MRF Young Activist Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1808, Washington, DC 20013. Please consider making a contribution to this worthwhile program.

IMPROVING MRF COMMUNICATIONS WITH SMROs - In an ongoing effort to expand the MRF's ability to communicate with state organizations more effectively, we are gathering State Coordinator contact information, specifically the email address and phone number, for every SMRO. We do a great job disseminating information already, but having this contact information will be valuable in contacting SMRO leadership in a timely manner when necessary. We need your assistance in compiling the most complete list possible. Please send the SMRO name, as well as the State Coordinator's name, phone number, and e-mail address to jd@mrf.org. Thanks in advance for your help.

LEGISLATION TO WATCH - Last, but not least, on March 29, Senator Daschle (D-SD) introduced S.2254, The Cristen O'Donnell Equestrian Helmet Safety Act of 2004, on behalf of Senators Dodd (D-CT) and Chafee (R-RI). This bill would encourage and ensure the use of safe equestrian helmets, and would give the Secretary of Commerce authority to award grants to States, political subdivisions of States, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, public organizations, and private nonprofit organizations for activities that encourage individuals to wear approved equestrian helmets. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and currently has one co-sponsor. The MRF is closely monitoring the status of this legislation.

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For an attached file of this news release, reply to MRF-Releases@mrf.org and request by file name:

04LR04.txt (text file)
04LR04.rtf (rich text format)
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(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists' rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists' rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.


The MRF Reports is an official publication of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. The print version is published six times per year and distributed nationwide.

Articles from the MRF Reports which are posted here may be reprinted, with attribution to the author and to the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, for non-profit uses.

Opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation or its officers.
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