Belt Drive Betty's Blog

Motorcycle Awareness and a time to come out of hibernation!

Belt Drive 0 Canadian Motorcycle events, Community, Motorcycle Awareness 6:37 AM

Our motorcycle awareness kick off event is today at Rock City and tomorrow at Centre 2000 here in Grande Prairie. 
 
Many riders will be coming out to sell old parts, show off their ride and reconnect with friends that they haven't seen since they put their bike to bed last fall or the last motorcycle show in January! 
 
I am looking forward to the weekend. I live in a community that has a large number of riders. It is going to be a great day - how do I know? 
 
Mother Nature has decided to smile on us! It's going to be 19 today and 21 tomorrow...No more whining about snow around here! 
 
I am still wearing a perma-grin after having been out on my machine with my favorite riding partner right beside me! 
 
My hubby got off work a couple of hours early so we went for a nice 130 km putt before our AIM-Can meeting for today's event! 
 
Yes - riding season has finally arrive just in time for Motorcycle Awareness Month. 
 
Ride with respect and consideration and ride safe - like everyone around you is blind! 
 
Belt Drive Betty

Motorcycle Awareness and a time to come out of hibernation!

Belt Drive 0 Canadian Motorcycle events, Community, Motorcycle Awareness 6:37 AM

Our motorcycle awareness kick off event is today at Rock City and tomorrow at Centre 2000 here in Grande Prairie. Many riders will be coming out to sell old parts, show off their ride and reconnect with friends that they haven't seen since they put t… Read more »

02May2009

Stakeholders wanted

Belt Drive 0 Community 6:08 AM

The time has come for me to reach out to our community to ask for help. 
 
I need financing to keep this thing growing. 
I need either partners, investors or a loan. 
 
Does anyone out there have any recommendations, connections? 
Is there a rider out there who sees the viability of rider communication tools and has some cash to invest? 
 
I have a newly completed business plan and forecast, now I need the right people. 
I need a team of good and talented people. 
 
I also need stakeholders to come forward for the province of Alberta to assist with the formation of a provincial non profit body that will bring together cruiser/tourers, dirt and off road and dual sport riders together for lobbying and marketing under one umbrella not unlike BCCOM in BC. 
 
If you have any expertise - we'd love to hear from you! 
 
Ride like everyone around you is blind... 
 
Belt Drive Betty

Stakeholders wanted

Belt Drive 0 Community 6:08 AM

The time has come for me to reach out to our community to ask for help. I need financing to keep this thing growing. I need either partners, investors or a loan. Does anyone out there have any recommendations, connections? Is there a rider out ther… Read more »

01May2009

AIM-Can Motorcycle Awareness - this weekend

Belt Drive 0 Motorcycle Awareness, riding community 10:35 AM

There are 2 motorcycle awareness events taking place in the Peace Regions of Alberta and BC. 
 
One in Prince George at the mall and one in Grande Prairie at Rock City & Grande Prairie Regional Tourism. Please check out on line calendar for all the info on Prince George at: <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a> 
 
Here are the details for Grande Prairie: 
 
Wide Open Roads of the North Motorcycle Awareness Weekend 
Hosted by AIM-Can Peace Country Chapter & Grande Prairie Regional Tourism 
Sponsored by Rock City 
 
May 2nd – at Rock City: 10 AM to 5 PM – Free to the Public – Donations Greatly Appreciated 
Swap Meet, Trade Show, Show ‘n’ Shine 
Dinner, Dance & Silent Auction: $20 per person 
Cocktails 5:00 pm 
Silent Auction from 5:30 pm 
Dinner – 6pm – 7:30pm – Sponsored by Wapiti Gravel Suppliers 
& Joe Fournier - Remax 
Comedian – Daryl Makk – Sponsored by Showgirls– 8 pm 
Dance – 9 pm - Dance to the music of 100 Proof - Sponsored by Predator Oilfield 
 
May 3rd – Poker Run in support of GPRTA 
Centre 2000 – Grande Prairie 
 
$20 per hand 
 
Registrations from 11 am to 1pm 
Ride at your own pace - Pick your cards at: 
Centre 2000 
Beaverlodge 
Valhalla 
Sexsmith 
Centre 2000 
– Poker Hand winners will be announced between 4-4:30pm (Must be present to collect winnings) 
– Other fabulous prizes will be available to be won (Do not need to be present to win) 
BBQ at Centre 2000 from 2 pm to 5 pm 
 
Host Hotels: The Stonebridge Grande Prairie 
Holiday Inn Express Grande Prairie 
 
Posters and tickets were sponsored by The Print Shop 
Secured Motorcycle Parking Cage Sponsored by: CAT Rentals 
Tables & Chairs sponsored by Clinton Hill Trucking 
 
If you are riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you. 
Belt Drive Betty

AIM-Can Motorcycle Awareness - this weekend

Belt Drive 0 Motorcycle Awareness, riding community 10:35 AM

There are 2 motorcycle awareness events taking place in the Peace Regions of Alberta and BC. One in Prince George at the mall and one in Grande Prairie at Rock City & Grande Prairie Regional Tourism. Please check out on line calendar for all the inf… Read more »

30Apr2009

Communication and participation...

Belt Drive 0 Canadian Riders, Community 6:05 AM

Our community seems to have a tough time communicating with each other. (I do know that this is not an exclusive situation - many, many other "communities" experience the same thing.) 
 
It appears to me however, that because our community seems to be filled with "A" type personalities that we have a tendency to "Go it alone" and hence we have a bit of a rougher time getting assistance. 
 
I have been working at building communication tools for riders for 6 years now and over those six years I have heard one common comment over and over... 
We have 100 members but only 5 or 6 seem to do all of the work, or we have 1000 members and only have 10 that are active, present and involved. 
 
Why is that? I know lives are busy but honestly, if you had the desire to join a group or support a cause then why wouldn't you want to be involved? Signing up and paying a membership fee is not where the participation should end. It takes far more than just money to make an event successful or a ride or a riding club, group or association successful. 
 
It takes people - actively participating, bringing forth ideas, assisting with the fund raising, sponsorship, set up and tear down and all of the myriad of details that go with any kind of community event or recreational event. 
 
Events do not happen by themselves. Neither do ride nights, or anything else. 
 
If we want our communities to benefit, if we want events to attend, we need to be engaged. The old adage that A burden shared is a burden lightened is very true. 
 
Take our local AIM-Can event coming up this weekend at Rock City and Centre 2000 this weekend... 
 
We have somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 members. 
 
We have had very little assistance from the membership at large - yet we have a wonderful event planned...Our board of directors has worked hard to get it together BUT I found something out yesterday when I was making calls to all of our membership. 
 
If you actually ask for the help, pick up the phone and get members engaged and make them feel like their input is wanted, needed and valued - there are many who will step up to help. 
 
We have a lot more people who would have helped out had we simply asked the question. 
Forums, newsletters, newspapers, web sites are all wonderful for informing people about something that is happening HOWEVER - there is nothing like picking up the telephone and TALKING to people. 
 
Another thing I learned is that some people are small and petty minded and NO AMOUNT of talking is going to change them or their opinions and you can't let those type of people get you down or discourage you, not if you really and truly believe in what you are trying to accomplish. Some people's sole purpose in life seems to be to knock down everything else that others do. 
 
They attend an event and then whine, snivel and complain when things are not to their liking but when you challenge them to get involved - to be a part of the solution....they very seldom do - they are content with pointing out the faults or shortcomings of others. 
 
I believe in the Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists - a network of people who help fellow riders when the worst thing happens and you go down. I believe in Toys for Tots - helping our children to know they are special, loved and cherished. 
 
I work for these causes because I believe in them - they have touched my life at one point or another and for me it's not about me - my ego or anything else - I am involved because it feels good to make a difference - it's NOT about me and whether I like the volunteer I work beside - I do what I do because I believe in the cause and the impact it has to the community at large. While I can not attend every meeting or every event - I do everything I can to help. I make the time because these two causes are extremely important to my heart. 
 
So what does it take to get people active, engaged and on board? 
A cause they believe in, and a Board of Directors that is willing to ASK their members for help, input and information. 
 
We have to work the phones, and we have to be consistent at it. 
We have to put some FUN into it and we have to tug at their heart strings. 
 
Communication is an art that we all need to be better at, myself included... 
 
Another lesson learned - ASK the question and you might be surprised at what you can learn and the assistance you might glean! 
 
If you are riding today, PLEASE - ride like everyone around you is blind... 
 
Belt Drive Betty

Communication and participation...

Belt Drive 0 Canadian Riders, Community 6:05 AM

Our community seems to have a tough time communicating with each other. (I do know that this is not an exclusive situation - many, many other "communities" experience the same thing.) It appears to me however, that because our community seems to be f… Read more »

29Apr2009

Staying Positive

Belt Drive 0 Community 7:46 AM

I have had some tough times and staying positive during those times has required help and education. 
 
The Law of Attraction states that what you focus on you will receive, energy flows where attention goes. 
 
So how do you keep a positive attitude. How do you focus on the things you really want instead of all that bothers or worries you? 
 
I have found the Secret CD's, the movie and various books on the Law of Attraction very helpful. Visit the <a href="http://www.thesecret.tv/">Secret Site</a>. 
 
I found another "tool" to use in my arsenal today. Dr. Vik, the Zappos Coach. 
 
You may have heard me speak of Tony the CEO of Zappos and the whole culture at Zappos. 
 
The people who work there are encouraged to push the envelope, have fun and be thinkers, doers...as the boss man there says "A happy employee is a productive employee." 
 
I want to learn how to be more lighthearted, more joyful, positive, loving and giving. I want to be kind and generous. My background taught me things that might have served me well at one time but no longer serve me today. In fact, many of the self defense mechanisms I learned have become self destructive. 
 
So how do you turn it around? How do you learn new things that can serve you better during your worst of times? Practice. Like any skill we learn, turning around the way you think is accomplished by doing. 
 
Dr. Vik says: 
 
Usually, nothing comes today... 
 
But today. 
 
And that's the very reason we need to keep at it - for the things we 
want. 
 
We like to call it - "Focus - Time - Repetition". 
 
"Focus" on what we want, give it "Time", and with "Repetition" - we can 
achieve anything. 
 
Want a better body? Great - "Focus" on what will make it better, give it 
'Time" and then "Repeat". 
 
The same is true for anything in our lives, business or personal. 
 
Yours in "Focus - Time - Repetition" - Coach 
 
His blog can be seen here:<a href="http://blogs.zappos.com/blogs/coach">Zappos Coach</a> 
 
The power of positive thinking...the power of love - changes you profoundly! 
 
I am doing one other proactive thing in this retraining of my brain. 
 
I am feeding my body better. Just like feeding your brain with healthy information, feeding your body allows you to grow, evolve and change faster, easier. 
I take <a href="https://www.blogger.com/bdbetty@lifemax.net">Mila from Lifemax.</a> I can not tell you what this stuff has done for me! 
 
The benefits I have received from this stuff, the pain relief, the good sound sleeps I now enjoy... 
 
Feed the body and the mind - the soul with flourish. 
 
If you are riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you! 
 
Belt Drive Betty

Staying Positive

Belt Drive 0 Community 7:46 AM

I have had some tough times and staying positive during those times has required help and education. The Law of Attraction states that what you focus on you will receive, energy flows where attention goes. So how do you keep a positive attitude. How … Read more »

28Apr2009

Snow is a FOUR LETTER WORD!

Belt Drive 0 Community 5:24 PM

OK, Really - where is spring? 
 
The third morning in a row waking up to snow and having it snow off and on all day? 
 
Does anyone know a sunshine dance or chant? Maybe a prayer? 
 
Come on folks - if you live where it is warm and sunny can you send some decent weather up here to the north Peace? 
 
PLEASE? 
 
If you are lucky enough to be riding, please ride like everyone around you is blind. 
 
Belt Drive Betty

Snow is a FOUR LETTER WORD!

Belt Drive 0 Community 5:24 PM

OK, Really - where is spring? The third morning in a row waking up to snow and having it snow off and on all day? Does anyone know a sunshine dance or chant? Maybe a prayer? Come on folks - if you live where it is warm and sunny can you send some dec… Read more »

27Apr2009

Where is spring?

Belt Drive 1 Motorcycle Community 5:38 AM

Two mornings in a row now I have awoke to SNOW. 
That awful 4 letter word that no rider wants to hear this time of the year. 
 
At the rate things are going I will be driving my cage to Slack Alice's and that thought does not impress me much! 
 
My new rear tire is on my bike, my trunk latch for my tour pack is here and both I and my bike are ready to go. So what gives? 
 
Last year were out on the bikes beginning in March, this year it was mid April. 
 
The wind is so cold that riding the highway is not so pleasurable.... 
 
Mother Nature - she's a force to be reckoned with and she can cause us untold grief...or give us untold joy. I am truly hoping the joy is just around the corner. 
 
Stay safe and ride like everyone around you is blind. 
 
Belt Drive Betty

Where is spring?