2.3 Billion Dollars of Financial help given to Harley-Davidson? EXCUSE ME?

<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well folks - I gotta tell yah that I am more disillusioned than ever by this tax stimulus and bail out in the US and Harley-Davidson's role in it all.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Remember a while back I wrote about their the news stories that told about the threats and strong arm tactics? Remember how they told the people of the City of Milwaukee, the State of Wisconsin that you know what folks  - you employees are either gonna take this MASSIVE pay & Benefits cut or we are leaving the state...(and yes...there were other states and cities that got ultimatums too)</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is the same company that hosted the Bikes over Baghdad for the US troops and gives away bikes to the troops... which to be honest - is looking more and more to me to be another of their famous marketing ploys backed with little honesty or sincerity...or maybe I am just getting really cynical in my old age. (Just for the record - I do ride an H-D - and I do drive a Chrysler - to support the north American economy)</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now we find out through a variety of sources - Canada dot Com, Hell for Leather etc - I linked to the Motorcycle News dot Com article....</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The US Federal Government <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-business/303-businessindustry-news-canada/8003-feds-loaned-harley-davidson-23b-commercial-paper-purchased-during-financial-crisis">loaned Harley-Davidson 2.3 BILLION Dollars</a></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In this day and age when little business people like me can't get a loan to grow our businesses and people are loosing their homes because of the greed and avarice in the banking sector - when Multi National Corporations like Harley are telling employees - suck it up - YOU HAVE NO CHOICE...something is really wrong with this picture folks...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When you see the little guy paying the price at every turn...it is kind of hard to  be in love with capitalism. Our social safety nets and laws are not protecting the right people if you ask me (And that goes for both sides of the border).</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why should the little guy - the tax payer - bail H-D out for it's stupid/ill advised and or DUMB ASSED, GREED DRIVEN Mistakes in lending money (so they could buy a motorcycle) to people they had no right to be lending to in the first place? Sub Prime Debt I think it is called?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Like I said, maybe it's just senility kicking in but something about this whole financial crisis/stimulus thing REALLY, REALLY stinks.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Being a Canadian I know that our stimulus package deal is not helping the way people thought it would - it only seems to be helping the rich get richer and if you watched the news yesterday the PM is trying to defend what he did in spending all that money.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And from where I am sitting- it appears to be even worse elsewhere. Money & Politics...Greed and Avarice - the fat keep getting fatter and we, the tax paying fools of the world keep letting the "Smart" people do this to us. Yes - me thinks it is time for change.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And that would be my two cents worth for the day.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As always - I would welcome your feed back on this topic...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The discussions take place in our Forums on <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com%20/">www.beltdrivebetty.com </a>on my personal FB page and on our Belt Drive Betty & The Busted Knuckle Chronicles Fan Page and right here in my blog!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please drive safely...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Editor & Rider</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bustedknucklechronicles.com/">www.bustedknucklechronicles.com</a></span>

2.3 Billion Dollars of Financial help given to Harley-Davidson? EXCUSE ME?

Well folks - I gotta tell yah that I am more disillusioned than ever by this tax stimulus and bail out in the US and Harley-Davidson's r...

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Sometimes you have to ask "What was the point to that!"

<span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Before I get started today - Congrats to Timothy the Long Rider and Boo Boo for winning our Photo Contest. We will be contacting him to see if he wants hotel rooms or Christmas Cash!</span></i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Jeff LeGrand submitted a link to a YouTube video that had me asking what in the HE Double Hockey Sticks was the point....</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The video doesn't want to embed properly so here is the link to the video on You Tube:</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivPheV77JcU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivPheV77JcU</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">OK - now I realize this HAS to be a guy thing but really, truly what in the heck were they thinking when the built that thing? The TRON - be a cool name for a "transformer" toy I suppose.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was amazed and dumbfounded at how the thing can't turn, there are no pegs for the riders feet...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">yah - another piece of nonfunctional rolling art...what in the heck was the point?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">According to some of the web  sites that are pitching this thing:</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span id="intelliTxt" name="intelliTxt">To celebrate the upcoming release of the major motion picture <i>TRON: Legacy</i> from Disney, Parker Brothers Choppers decided to build ten ridiculously exclusive light cycles. Thankfully, each of the bikes are perfectly legal, which means you can drive it around to show off to all of your friends. The bikes are constructed from steel frames, and feature a fiberglass bodywork. Inside, you’ll find a Suzuki TLR-1000 V-twin engine (<a href="http://www.slashgear.com/">www.slashgear.com</a></span></i>    <a href="http://www.slashgear.com/parker-brothers-choppers-creates-10-tron-legacy-light-cycles-only-4-left-video-01117097">http://www.slashgear.com/parker-brothers-choppers-creates-10-tron-legacy-light-cycles-only-4-left-video-01117097</a>/)</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME - this thing, street legal?</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sorry - maybe it's just a girl thing but...I see a huge, UGLY "machine" that should be a park bench in a futuristic theme park - or one that should have stayed on TV as part of fiction and props - not a motorcycle that should be on the street. In my humble opinion this bike gets a 0 out of 5 kernels of popcorn.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>The next think in the YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME FILE...</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One of the SCARIEST things to hit your wallet or purse - credit card information theft with out ever using a computer or touching YOU...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Watch this video: </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here is the Link: <a href="http://www.wreg.com/videobeta/d2ba125f-64a3-4c49-8c15-0d86d38c8f18/News/Stealing-Credit-Card-Numbers-On-Beale-Tonight-At-10">http://www.wreg.com/videobeta/d2ba125f-64a3-4c49-8c15-0d86d38c8f18/News/Stealing-Credit-Card-Numbers-On-Beale-Tonight-At-10</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now if that doesn't scare the bejeebers out of you ....</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I became a member of Pre Paid legal to protect my business. I also got their Identity Theft Product called Identity Shield - (<a href="https://www.prepaidlegal.com/Multisite/Multisite?site=idt&assoc=charbonneau7"> https://www.prepaidlegal.com/Multisite/Multisite?site=idt&assoc=charbonneau7</a>)</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am sure glad that I have that - especially after watching the video - holy crap batman - I am not in love with all this technology....it is scary how easy thieves can rip you off...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I would love to hear what your thoughts are on TRON the "Motorcycle"  and this new form of theft.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Join the discussion over in our forums at: www.beltdrivebetty.com - of Face Book on our Fan Page or my personal page OR right here in my blog...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Now on to the other news of the day:</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Harley's expanding in Brazil adds <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-business/305-businessindustry-news-international/7990-harley-davidson-shares-gain-on-deal-to-expand-dealer-network-in-brazil">more money to their shares.</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Ontario a young racer <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-sports-canadian/343-candian-motocross/7989-motorcycle-racer-ends-season-with-big-win-in-arizona-">finished BIG!</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Also in Ontario they are giving <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-on-news/296-motorcycle-television/7986-cash-harley-up-for-grabs">away a Harley...</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A few more bike reviews</span><br /> <ul class="latestnews"> <li class="latestnews"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a class="latestnews" href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-lifestyle/446-motorcycle-reviews-/7982-2011-ktm-990-adventure-r-bike-test"> 2011 KTM 990 Adventure R Bike Test</a></span></li> <li class="latestnews"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">  <a class="latestnews" href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-lifestyle/446-motorcycle-reviews-/7991-typhon-1190-from-pegasus-race-team-and-gruner-engineering">Typhon 1190 from Pegasus Race Team and Gruner Engineering</a></span></li> <li class="latestnews"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a class="latestnews" href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-lifestyle/446-motorcycle-reviews-/7981-new-aprilia-tuono-v4r-reaction"> New Aprilia Tuono V4R reaction</a></span></li> </ul> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please drive safely...</span><br /> <br /> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span></b></i><br /> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Editor & Rider</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bustedknucklechronicles.com/">www.bustedknucklechronicles.com</a></span>

Sometimes you have to ask "What was the point to that!"

Before I get started today - Congrats to Timothy the Long Rider and Boo Boo for winning our Photo Contest. We will be contacting him to see ...

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David VS Goliath, the little guy VS the big guy.

<b><span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">David VS Goliath, the little guy VS the big guy.</span></i></span></b><br /> <span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is an age old "fight"...today the David is your little leather shop, repair shop or some other small owner operator type of business vs that of the multi-national corporation.</span></i></span><br /> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></i> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With the economy being what it is and the little guy not having the buying power of the big box store many people are shopping with the big box store or on line where they feel the prices are better.</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know we all need to make our dollar stretch as far as possible so what can you as a customer tell the little business owner that you need from them? What can you tell them about your needs as a consumer?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And for the business owner...</span><br /> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Is there anything that your little business can do in this economy to compete?</span></i><br /> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Is there anything that you, the little guy can offer that the big box stores can not?</span></i><br /> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With a global economy HOW do you set yourself apart? </span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I recently had a conversation with a business man who realized after he had invested thousands and thousands of dollars into a product line that he loved, that the product was too expensive for the market place no matter how finely crafted it is.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Facing financial disaster because of a unwise choice is a reality of the small business person.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sadly, too many people are getting into business for themselves and are underfunded, over priced and not at all prepared for the reality of being in business. They haven't done their research. There are a ton of courses one can take that will help you on assessing the market place...check out your local community futures office.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One of the tools I have found helpful for planning and managing my business is Pre Paid Legal- they have some new resources for the small business owner - everything from HR forms to business planing tools and resources. The portal "GoSmallBiz" has an incredible wealth of tools at your finger tips! (The Identity Theft product is great too.)</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have become a Pre Paid Legal member and have learned how to protect myself in business and do so through Pre Paid Legal. It's affordable and EFFECTIVE and every small business can benefit from being a member! I now have a lawyer on "staff" to give me guidance and go over contracts as well as having access to things like contracts and confidentiality agreements etc at my disposal to use. </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.prepaidlegal.com/Multisite/Multisite?site=hub&assoc=wwald">Visit Wayne Wald's site </a>- Wayne is an RFBA Member Business Owner and has all of the training on Pre Paid Legal, Identity Theft Protection and the Go Small Biz programs that I do not. He can coach and guide you as the the best avenues for you to protect and grow your business using the Pre Paid Legal Service.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then of course there are the myriad of Government tools and reosources for learning and planning when in business.  In Canada this is your portal to a wealth of knowledge: <a href="http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/">http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Being a little guy in a big pond can be scary, being well informed as to the challenges, pitfalls and risks can make it less scary and far more rewarding...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>And to all of the non business owners who have stuck it out reading this blog today.</b>..please consider shopping with the little guy - especially those who sponsor our community events, remember - without them we have no events! </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Like everyday I welcome your feedback and input on this topic - by sharing our experiences with others - well  you just never know who will benefit!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>In the News today:</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>IN BC </b>- The Hell's Angels <a href="warning:%20Invalid%20argument%20supplied%20for%20foreach%28%29%20in%20/home/bdbetty1/public_html/components/com_comment/joscomment/comment.class.php%20on%20line%20366">loose their bid to regain</a> their clubhouse</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">        - The suspect involved in <a href="warning:%20Invalid%20argument%20supplied%20for%20foreach%28%29%20in%20/home/bdbetty1/public_html/components/com_comment/joscomment/comment.class.php%20on%20line%20366">the crash that saw two island riders </a>killed appears in court in February.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">        - An appeal to see <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-law-and-politics/359-contacts/7976--trial-judge-erred-in-ruling-against-two-hells-angels-crown-argues-">gangsterism charges pursued</a> against two members of the Hells Angels</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>In Ontario </b>two veterans are honored: <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-suport-our-troops/422-contacts/7980-two-local-veterans-are-honoured-in-ottawa-">one of them a motorcycle group founder. </a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>In New Brunswick</b> a family is <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-lifestyle/444-rider-training-and-safety/7972-crash-victims-family-raises-concerns-about-motorcycle-safety">alarmed that motorcycles are not being safety checked </a>after their loved one was killed  by a motorcyclist who lost control of his bike.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>In Industry News:</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the UK they are using a simulator to guide <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-lifestyle/444-rider-training-and-safety/7978-motorcycle-simulator-gives-new-clues-to-road-safety">them regarding motorcycle safety</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because of the Carol Nash Show there are a lot of motorcycle reviews to read up on, check out the Lifestyles section: <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/news/lifestyle/motorcycle-news-a-reviews">Motorcycle Reviews and News.</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please drive safely...</span><br /> <br /> <b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span></i></b><br /> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Editor & Rider</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bustedknucklechronicles.com/">www.bustedknucklechronicles.com</a></span>

David VS Goliath, the little guy VS the big guy.

David VS Goliath, the little guy VS the big guy. It is an age old "fight"...today the David is your little leather shop, repair s...

Read more »

Marketing your motorcycle event, your group or your business

<span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For those of you who don't know me or are just beginning to follow what I have to say...(it still amazes me that anyone cares what I think...LMAO)</span></i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am a non professional. I have never gone to school to learn marketing or journalism, I have no college degree except the ones for modeling and modeling instructor from John Casablancas Model Management from many, many moons ago.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">8 years ago, I saw a real lacking in our community - there were zilch for true communications tools...today that has changed with the advent of Face Book and Twitter.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While no seasoned vet, I have learned a lot about the publishing and marketing industries - in some ways I think our team and business would be bigger had I gone to school to learn the advertising and marketing world and yet....I think I have been brought the right people at the right time to teach me the right things! </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are some things about marketing that I have learned from seminars I have taken, books I have read, on line courses and of course my most abundant and well educated teacher - the school of hard knocks. There rest - well , I love my community and as a rider, I think I understand what at least some people are looking for by way of information and tools.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It has taken me 7 and a half years of being in business before one kind soul from the Alberta Lonewolves told me about how I could attract top brand name advertisers to our web site.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I did what he counseled - I was listed on Friday and had my first inquiry yesterday!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is another avenue with which to grow the web site and newspaper's presence and allow us to  market your groups, riding clubs, causes, events and businesses to a broader audience.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We all know that in order to be a success out there we have to market be we business, event or riding club - in order to grow you have to market. BUT - we compete with thousands and thousands of bits of information going out to people all of the time. Just think of all of the information you have to absorb everyday. How many times have you forgotten a meeting, appointment, birthday or event? How many times have you forgotten a coupon or a sale you wanted to attend? <i><b>If you and I have ANY common ground as humans your answer will be at least sometimes....it has happened to us all.</b></i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have a lot of little business partners that are pushed against the wall time wise and can't find the time to work ON their businesses - one of the services I would like to be able to offer in the future is a data  entry service that can help them take care of their on line marketing. OMG Face Book and Twitter - to do them well take a lot of time.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For myself - I spend three hours of my day writing things like this blog, hunting the news feeds for the days top stories...it's nuts - rewarding but nuts!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So - in order to help people be they volunteers or riding club members with little time or small business people with little time, Ali and I have worked hard to find tools and components for our web site that can help you market YOUR business, event or riding clubs faster and more efficient than before!  When you log in on our web site - go to your profile page and edit and up date your info and photo...you can manage your friendships </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>and on the right hand side of the page under your profile picture is a tool box that allows you to quickly manage or track what you have done on our web site and see what results you are getting.</b></i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If for example you want to submit a classified ad - you go right to the tab for classifieds and submit your ad right there...no hunting - no wasting time - just make sure your pictures for the ad are web sized...and you'll have no problem - our twitter feed will pick that ad up and share it to our Twitter followers and my Face Book Pages - so you now have the potential for my network of some 11K riders  (Plus the 35,000 riders who use our site that are not members) seeing your ad. Who ever is on line at the time coupled with their level of interest in what you are offering has some potential for serious impact.  You can also see how many hits the ad has had and if you aren't getting the feedback or response you desire - maybe you need to rethink your wording? Now you have some tools to make decisions by!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are a ton of time saving tools in that tool box...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then there are the event calendars - shareable to over 80 social networks, by email, to Face Book and Twitter and shareable to 5 other styles of calendars OUR events calendars are one of the most effective ways to get your events message out there!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We can make you an event admin for your riding club or business so that your events go live the minute you submit them OR we can just let Sally - (our version of a Calendar girl) check your event over and ensure that no information is missing etc...once she has checked it over and made it live you get an email that tells you it's live and now you can go ahead and start promoting!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Make sure you add your poster, registration forms, pictures etc - because everything attached to the event goes to the person you are emailing or IM'ing and if you have the physical land location or the postal code and street address - there's even a Google map for people to find the location by.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Either way - once the event is live you can share it to everyone in your net work and so can the riders who use the calendars - we have on average 38,000 riders using our web site for news and information...if you add your network and my network and every other riders network - you see what happens? Now we have an information highway!!!!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you are a member of our Rider Friendly<span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span> Business Association we can help you advertise and market for as little as $130.00 a year plus taxes! That's right for as little as 36 cents a day you small business people can be marketing your business to riders.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Email me at : bdbetty @ gmail.com  (remove the spaces to send your email to me) and I can send you the low down!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All riders who are a member of the BDB Club benefit because as a member of the RFBA (Rider Friendly<span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span> Business Association) you offer them a special, a discount or a special service...we all win...Because when you work with us - the riders get free information and tools that serve them in their day to day lives be it riding season or not. </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you are a riding club we have many FREE  and cooperative marketing opportunities to share with you. </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I hope you will join us either as a member of our site and hopefully as a subscriber to our newspaper, as a business partner and advertiser or as a riding club...sharing our community stories, helping our small businesses and events by giving them a targeted and affordable - time saving and pleasurable way of marketing (it's like we are talking to friends and family cause at the end of the day - that's exactly what we are doing - sharing with friends and family.) </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty & The Busted Knuckle Chronicles are working hard to give the riding community in Canada and those curious about Canada as a riding destination some fabulous tools...join us as we share and grow!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As always I welcome your feedback and input on this topic and every other thing we discuss - it is through sharing that our community will become the united and strong!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There's not a ton in the news feeds today but what is there is pretty choice!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Check it out at <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please drive safely...</span><br /> <br /> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span></b></i><br /> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Editor & Rider</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bustedknucklechronicles.com/">www.bustedknucklechronicles.com</a></span>

Marketing your motorcycle event, your group or your business

For those of you who don't know me or are just beginning to follow what I have to say...(it still amazes me that anyone cares what I thi...

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The Concept of working together

<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The riding community is a community that was built on the premise of working together, of being family.</span></span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Families do not always agree. But as a general rule, when the chips are down, family pulls together. It used to be, that although this community is filled the A type personalities we tended to be able to put our differences of opinion aside when the chips were truly down for one of our own - or when a specific cause forced us to unite.</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our community has exploded in size and for a time we lost a sense of community, the pendulum appears to be swinging though - like it does with every big trend, and we are settling in to a bit more of a sense of family again. You can sense the shift, people are trying to find a way to connect in a broader way...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On so many fronts the riding community, now more than ever needs to start pulling together. There are so many outside forces working on us and in many ways we have been like the North American Indian Community was so long ago - a community of great pride, incredible depth and talent and a seeming inability to work together for the common good.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Be it looking out for our rights, supporting the rider owned and Rider Friendly <span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span> Businesses of our communities or supporting the events that support our causes, our communities and bring us together - we riders truly need to find a way to put down our differences or our protectionistic ways - our "independence" if you will and we need to learn how to support each other.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our economy is only a minute part of the overall economy. The economy of the  riding community is being impacted exactly like many other micro economies.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our little business people are hurting and when I say our little businesses I mean everyone from the leather goods shop that donates a half a dozen vests to support a cause (TJ & The Bear Biker Wear in Spruce Grove is but one of many that come to mind) or the pub that donates it's staff, uses it's resources and connections (going to suppliers for donations - Electric Rodeo, Ceili's, Bo'Diddly's, Rock City and how many hundreds of others can I think of?) to ensure that a cause get's all of the proceeds from a BBQ...or the trucking company that donates a stage (usually a trailer) so that an event has a place for a band and an EMCEE...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We are all quick to ask for the donation, after all our cause is important and affects the community...but how often do we really thank these people and I don't mean just in the newspaper but by walking into their shops and buying something we need or using their trucking company to haul something for our own business?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you don't support them, why would they want to support your event, charity or riding club?</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When sales are good, these people generously give to all kinds of groups and events - when sales are less than good they tend to give to those who support them - makes sense doesn't it?</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When a community shops within, promotes with in, it becomes strong and healthy.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When a community communicates and makes sure it's members are WELL informed, when it's members are active and vibrant and engaged in the matters of the community - the community becomes strong and powerful.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you doubt what I say, look at the Sikh community in this country - they are a powerful minority - they work together, shop with the people in their community and promote those people who help them.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The whole premise of the Busted Knuckle Chronicles was to give the riding community a place to share it's stories, to celebrate it's volunteers, it's success, it's failures, it's hopes and it's dreams. It is meant for all who ride, no matter what you ride. And it's NATIONAL and LOCAL all at the same time!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty dot Com was meant to be a clearinghouse, a place you could come to find anything and everything about riding in Canada or things that impact us as riders - kind of our own gathering place like an internet cafe....you come, visit, read the news, find out about the events, plan your holidays and find the tools and resources you need to make your riding season the best it can be and hook up with friends and meet new ones.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We are linked to over 400 Canadian Riding Clubs...there's bound to be someone of like mind for you to connect to!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you love the motorcycle - if you have that bike hole in your heart - then you are a member of this community. We invite you to tell the stories of you community - after all, that is what a community newspaper and a community web site does...it gives you a place to share those stories...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If your community is not represented - or your interests are not represented - what are you waiting for? Share, talk to us - what you have to say will probably be of interest to at least 25% of the community. (Supposedly that is the statistic - that one in 4 will be interested in what you have to say) Submit your stuff to the web site or email it to me for the newspaper...but share it...PLEASE!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My dream - my vision when I started this thing almost 8 years ago, was to see this community start talking to each other, sharing their stories, creating a sense of community, belonging and family unity.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Our FREE tools and resources for BDB Club Members include:</b></span><br /> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.riderfriendly.ca/">The Rider Friendly <span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span> Business Association </a>- is a consortia of some 275 businesses (and growing) that WANT your support because they support the community  - they offer discounts, specials and or special services to BDB Club members; <b>IE:</b> MotoRescue has teamed up with us to provide membership in their road side assistance program for $39.95 per year plus taxes - we need a minimum of 50 people signing up at a time to qualify for that rate...compare that to what the retail rate is! (<a href="http://www.motorescue.ca/en/home.asp">www.motorescue.ca</a>)</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> The <a href="http://www.canadianriders.ca/">Canadian Riders Support Network </a>that we inherited from Peter of the SCRC</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> The Never Ride Alone Program from Intercon Messaging </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our NATIONAL Motorcycle Events Calendars that are broken out by province and shareable to over 80 social networks and 5 other styles of calendars and host an average of 900 CANADIAN events information!</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Forums, contests, photo galleries, groups and other social networking tools</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Free Classified Ads and more!</span></li> </ul> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All of these FREE tools were created to see my vision, my dream become a reality - that the Canadian Riding Community and VISITORS TO THIS COUNTRY OF OURS would have the same tools and resources that other motorcycle communities around the world have.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's been a long hard road filled with all kinds of learning curves and pit falls but folks we are here!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When you see the 2011 Phone Book you will truly understand what I mean...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I feel like a proud momma when I look at it. This vision that has danced in my head of a CAA style set of services for our community - it's here, and it's real and now all it needs is YOU!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Your free membership on our site (<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a>) gives you access to all of those FREE resources - and if you decide you like the tools and would like to support us then get a subscription to our newspaper - it's only $17.50 a year plus tax! Or buy a license plate or sign, but most of all - USE YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARDS - OFTEN and support those who support our community - from coast to coast to coast!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As always, I welcome your feedback - input and the discussions!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Join us in our forums or on Face Book - or right here in our blog!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The news feeds are fairly quiet so far today, RIP Leslie Nielson - your humor lit up the hearts of many....</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please drive safely...</span><br /> <br /> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span></b></i><br /> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Editor & Rider</span></b></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bustedknucklechronicles.com/">www.bustedknucklechronicles.com</a></span>

The Concept of working together

The riding community is a community that was built on the premise of working together, of being family. Families do not always agree. But ...

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