When the cause you support appears to be forgotten...

Have you ever been a part of a motorcycle club or group?
Have you ever been a member of any kind of volunteer association?
Then you probably understand why volunteerism is at an all time low.

Politics and personal agendas seem to be a big reason why so many people leave groups and quit volunteering. No matter how much people believe in the cause that they originally sought to support, when the directors decide that they are all powerful or they somehow start viewing the organization as their personal sand box and forget the true reason why they are part of an organization - volunteerism tends to go for crap - at least that has been my personal experience.

I have stepped down from my position of VP in Charge of Marketing for the Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists Canada for one reason and one reason alone: what I deem to be wrong minded politics.

There is currently a lawsuit going on between the founding chapter of A.I.M. and A.I.M. Can (A.I.M. Can is a federally registered and trade marked organization and is the governing body of A.I.M.). The court fight is over the use of the name A.I.M.


I will let those in the thick of this fight describe and explain away why they feel this fight is an honorable fight to take on should any of them decide to do so - I for one do not believe that there is anything honorable about such a court case amongst two organizations that are joined in the way that A.I.M. and A.I.M. Can have been.

I think it is sad and tragic that the purpose and reason for these two organizations  existence appears to have been forgotten:  Injured Riders and their families...support and awareness.

To my way of thinking any organization that would spend money, time and resources to initiate a fight like this the way the founding chapter of A.I.M. did is wrong minded.

A.I.M. Can had responded to the court documents by asking to the courts to allow them to represent themselves in court (without benefit or cost of a lawyer) - the court denied the motion and charged A.I.M. Can $700 for their efforts at self defense.

The A.I.M. Can board had a meeting over the phone where in we had a vote on what to do and it was decided and voted on to fold A.I.M. Can - the consensus was we would re emerge with a new name - same mission - to assist injured riders and their families.

One of the members of the board of governors has decided to file an appeal to the courts and ask yet again for the courts to allow A.I.M. Can to represent itself in this court battle. As a member of the board I was never consulted as to what I thought about the idea of an appeal. I was never shown the paper work. I have no idea if there will be costs associated with an appeal of the court's decision - I hope not.

I believe in the cause of supporting injured riders and their families when the need arises, I always have, always will. My motto is "There but for the grace of God go I, the next rider needing help could be me." A court battle over a name is not worth pursuing at the cost of those injured riders or their families, at least not in my humble and very personal opinion.

So there you have it, the reason for my resignation.

One of my national sponsors - Intergy has provided me with a way for the Belt Drive Betty Foundation to assist riders in need. If you book your hotel/motel through them not only will you save 15%  on the room you book- but $5 from every room booked goes into a fund that I will be using to donate to injured riders and their families. (www.gotravelcanada.com/belt_drive_betty) I haven't yet figured out what that will look like or how we will vet applications etc but - it is a place to start - to do what I believe in - supporting my community. Hopefully we will raise some decent funds through this opportunity and be able to make a difference.

In the news today:

I hope that you will not forget about Adelle's Fabulous Book Contest. You have until tomorrow night to throw your name in for the signed trilogy book giveaway.

It appears that the truck driver may have been doing/shuffling paperwork in the cab of hs truck when he struck the 8 motorcycles two days ago killing 3 riders. Although not yet confirmed, that is the statement from one eye witness. Distracted driving kills again?
It's beginning to look that way.

Randy Young from Friends of Veterans could use some help.

Manitoba is moving to make it illegal to wear body armor and have armored vehicles.

A motorcycle accident in Newfoundland is under investigation.

BC's proposed new laws for motorcyclists is in the news again.

The idiot of the day award goes to the rider in Edmonton who not only was involved in a high speed chase but crashed his motorcycle into a parked police cruiser.

If you are riding today - PLEASE people - ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and are out to get you - and use some respect with that right hand. PLEASE, for all our sakes ride proud not loud!

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
A MAX Award winning web site!
www.bustedknucklenews.com
www.canadianriders.ca
www.riderfriendly.ca

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Horrific and Tragic - I am at a loss for other words

Are there any words to describe the accident that happened North of Phoenix yesterday on the Carefree Highway where in three motorcyclists have died and 6 others are in hospital after they were mowed over by a garbage truck?

I can't seem to find ones that strongly enough convey what I feel.
Revulsion, anger, disgust, confusion...

How did this driver run these people over - literally? They claim alcohol was not a factor, so what the hell happened? The riders were stopped behind an SUV and the truck ran over them and into the SUV...did his brakes fail? Was he on the phone? Like so many other people I am looking for answers that just aren't there yet.

The American news feeds are so filled with accidents involving motorcyclists that I seldom report on them - there are simply too many for one person to add them all to our feeds but this accident....I have no words... My heart and my prayers go out to all involved.


There is so much in the news today:

The rock slide at the Tail of the Dragon could keep the highway closed until the end of July.

KTM has unveiled it's new electric motorcycles.

Michigan has voted to repeal the helmet law there however the law has gone to the next round in the senate where the Governor can and most likely will veto it.

The MAC rally is a go again this summer

Simon "Moose" Buckley, co-founder of the team Ride Right Round, died on Saturday, March 13, in a single-vehicle accident in Argentina when the rear tire of his motorcycle blew.

Don't forget the "Book Tour" that author Adelle Laudan has been on - she's been blogging around the internet to promote her trilogy "The Iron Horse Rider" Adelle has bestowed a very special honor to our readers - one lucky person is going to win the complete trilogy signed by Adelle and one luck person will win the E Version.

It's simple to win...read yesterday's blog post to find out what it's all about!

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today - PLEASE - PLEASE - ride like everyone is out to get you and they are all blind.

Belt Drive Betty

www.beltdrivebetty.com
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP - A.I.M.Can - Watch for our new name coming soon
www.aim-can.com
www.bustedknucklenews.com
www.canadianriders.ca
www.riderfriendly.ca

A wonderful contest from a fabulous Biker Author!

I’m thrilled to have you all help me celebrate the release of Iron Horse Rider 3 & also having all three books now in print. This is a dream come true for me. Since the beginning, I’ve made it a priority to change people’s perceptions of bikers. Not all of us are hardened, bad-assed riders who have little respect for ‘citizens/outsiders’ or the law. I want to show the ‘real deal’, no pretences, and no facades. The men and women who raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for charity...who share the common love of being in the wind...the men and women who believe family comes first above all, whether it be by blood or by heart.

~Adelle Laudan

About the Series:
After losing his wife in a terrible motorcycle accident, Shane flees from everything and everyone that reminds him of Kelly. He discovers solace in a summer Micmac camp, and with the aid of Chief Gray Owl and the beautiful Tia, Shane’s heart begins to heal. On his journey he is introduced to a world of fire breathers, belly dancers, crystal balls and ghosts from his past.
A powerful evil presence descends upon the unsuspecting Micmac camp, and Shane joins forces with the spirit world to confront this threat and defend all he has come to know and love. Is Shane strong enough to face such a merciless entity, or is he destined to a life alone, riding in the wind?
About Adelle:
Adelle Laudan lives in Southern Ontario with two of her four children still under wing. Life as a single mom of two teenage daughters is ‘interesting’, to say the least, but a life she wouldn’t trade for all the money in the world. When most little girls dreamed of being a princess in a castle, waiting for their Prince Charming, Adelle dreamed of riding off into the sunset with a leather clad hero on a vintage motorcycle.
There are three things in life Adelle is most passionate about; family, writing, and motorcycles. Come ride the many twists and turns her stories will take you. Be sure to fasten your seatbelt, it’s going to be the ride you’ll not soon forget.

My books are also available at wholesale prices to any retailers. I’d love to see my books on the shelves of every leather/accessory shop for miles. LOL Okay maybe I’m exaggerating just a tad, but you get the general idea.

Go here: http://adellelaudan.com for more info and how you can purchase any of my books.
Or, send me an email : adellelaudan @ adellelaudan.com  (fix the spacing around the @ to send an email)

CONTEST:
All you have to do is chime in and say hello, ask a question or leave a comment to be included in the draw. If you’d like an extra entry, shout out about this contest and leave the link in your comment. Good luck to everyone!
1 set of signed/print copies of Iron Horse 1 2 3. I haven’t offered this prize anywhere else on my tour.
I’ll also pick one winner of 1 set of EBook copies of Iron Horse 1 2 3.

Orion Hutchison - Coroners Report says he was over legal limit

The Coroners report is finally in in the Orion Hutchison case.
While the report finds the Cpl Monty Robinson is partially responsible for his death, the report claims that Orion was over the limit and speeding. Now Robinson has plead not guilty to obstruction charges.

I do not get how it can take 18 months to get a coroners report. That to me, is just ridiculous.

Then there's the new law going into effect in New Brunswick soon - the Civil Forfeiture Act.
If people here have any doubt about the move towards Canada becoming a police state, think again people.
"The act will give the attorney general the power to apply to seize property that was acquired through or used in unlawful activity even if no one has been charged with a crime." They claim citizens rights won't get trampled on - yeah right, how many times have we heard that and then seen innocent people have to spend thousands of dollars and tons of their life trying to clear their names?

In Michigan, this year, like every year, motorcyclists are trying to get the helmet law repealed, however, according to the AAA the costs of repealing the law are astronomical.

The fight between AIM Vancouver and its National body AIM Can is now officially done.
The courts ruled that AIM Can can not defend itself in court but must hire a lawyer to fight the suit brought against them by the Association for Injured Motorcyclists Vancouver Chapter. The decision by the National Board of Governors on the subject was that the monies raised by the organization is meant to assist injured riders so sooner that spend money on a lawyer the decision was made to rename the organization and continue on doing the good work that it does. The fight started because of a dispute over who had the right to use the name AIM and even thought the national group is trademarked - the courts not allowing AIM Can to defend itself without legal council killed the fight. 

As National VP of AIM Can in charge of marketing I will say only this: IN MY HUMBLE OPINION - It is a sad day when the national organizing body gets sued by a chapter because they apparently/allegedly don't like the fact we are growing the organization. So in light of that fact we are just renaming ourselves and moving on. In my humble opinion  we need to put as much distance between ourselves and the Vancouver Chapter as possible. It appears that the person heading up the Vancouver chapter - again in my humble opinion, thinks that injured riders elsewhere don't deserve help. He apparently/allegedly resented the fact that we wanted to bring the Association and the Alliance under one name to eliminate any confusion from the community and make it easier to grow the organization.

Oh well - its just another sad day in the motorcycle community - a community where everyone wants to do their own thing and no one appears to know how to work together. I have an old adage I have lived by for a long time - United we stand, divided we fall - and just like so many once strong and powerful communities - if we don't start working together for the common good, I see a community that will become like that of the   North American Indian, fondly remembered for its once powerful place in the world, but sadly fractured, relatively ineffective and virtually powerless none the less.
But hey, what the heck do I know, I am just one person with strong opinions.

In the rest of the news today:

The Toronto International Super Show is going to be hosting a food drive for homeless vets.

BCCOM has a motorcycle parking initiative they want your help on.

A 58 year old prospect of the Hells Angels lands himself in jail with a 15 year sentence.

If you live where mother nature hasn't dumped on you and you can ride - PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you, is out to get you and use some respect with that right hand and oh yah - think about getting involved in some of the riders rights issues that are on the burner right now - if you don't get involved - who will and what will happen when we have no rights left?

Belt Drive Betty
National VP A.I.M. Can - Watch for our new name coming soon
www.aim-can.com
Western Canadian MotoRescue Representative
www.motorescue.ca
www.beltdrivebetty.com
A MAX Award Winning Web Site

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YOU, make it a great day!

Lord, please keep Your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth! Amen

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Tackle Problem Drivers

There are two very well written articles in the news today from riders who write for the Times Colonist in BC.

Both writers express that the knee jerk reaction of the government of BC to the rise in deaths and injuries to motorcyclists are not only unfair and wrong minded but that the laws as suggested will have NO impact on changing the accident statistics.

It would appear that many people who ride are finally getting good and mad and are starting to have their say - starting to be vocal and pushing back on laws that are unresponsive to the true reason why motorcycle accidents and fatalities are on the ride. Inattentive Automobile drivers.

I am so happy to see the level headed and thoughtful approach that these two writing riders have taken and hope to see more riders getting involved in the fight to protect our rights and see less discrimination.  The notion of only motorcyclists needing mandatory training is a contentious one.

In other news:
 
A rock slide at on US 129 has not only cut of part of the Tail of the Dragon but business has come to a grinding halt.

Check out all of the latest news over on www.beltdrivebetty.com

 Have a great day!

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP - A.I.M.Can (Watch for our new name coming soon)
www.aim-can.com
www.bustedknucklenews.com
www.canadianriders.ca
www.riderfriendly.ca