Belt Drive Betty's Blog

Tourism & GREED

Belt Drive 1 Community, Tourism 11:18 AM

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<span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Well - true to form the <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/308-bc-motorcycle-events/8848-council-seeks-citizen-input-on-special-events-payback">City of Salmon Arm </a>is following the path of so many communities in the greed factor from what I am reading today in the Salmon Arm Observer. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <i>Approve an event and then start gouging it. Way to go Salmon Arm!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It would appear that the thought of having all of the hotels, motels and campgrounds for miles around full, the restaurants and stores busy - all of the gas stations, car washes and convenience stores well utilized is not enough of an economic benefit to Salmon Arm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The average motorcyclist is going to spend somewhere in the neighbourhood of  $470 - MINIMUM outside of the event ticket costs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If 10,000 people show up that translates to 4.7 million dollars of new money coming in to the town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here is a quote from Councillor Harrison of the City of Salmon Arm (from the SA Observer): </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">"Harrison emphasized the reason council is looking at the bylaw is  because of the for-profit Sturgis North motorcycle rally expected to be  held in Salmon Arm this summer. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">“In my mind, the line is that public taxpayers should not be  subsidizing for-profit, privately run events; that’s where my line is,”  commented Harrison. “So that’s what I want the bylaw to read. That would  solve the problem we’re all talking about.”"</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It is my understanding from talking to the organizers that they have the Fraser Valley Thunder running the charitable side of the event - that they have donated space to the veterans and have their own security, medics and a well thought out fire and safety plan. They are providing shuttle buses to ease the security and policing needs and to keep show goers and their drivers licenses safe. From everything I have heard on this issue, the organizers are putting safety and security first - I am not sure I understand why this city is NOW wanting to put bylaws in place to further restrict this event or others from bringing in tourism dollars but it would appear yet again that tourism and government are at odds with each other. It would also appear that a number of hoteliers have jacked up their prices for that week - hmmmm - I get supply and demand but I think like everyone else out there that greed will get you something now, but what about later?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I, myself, have held these types of events before and know only too well how greedy communities and police services can get - it's all about their budgets and to heck with the small business people who own local businesses that benefit and the employees who will get a paycheck out of the deal. The community administration will spin the worst face they can on any event so that they can build their coffers as well as those of the police services...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you read what is being proposed you would swear that a for profit event is a bad thing and needs to be held to a different standard than the non profit events (do people in large numbers become less thoughtless and stupid at a non for profit event than they do at a for profit event?) - you would swear that we riders are going to come in and destroy their town - it saddens me that great ideas and great events get penalized in this tragic way. In these economic times you would think that the community of Salmon Arm, a community that is economically depressed like so many others, would be happy to have the outside funds coming in so that small business can pay it's taxes and it's employees (and in the case of some of those businesses - really line their pockets.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If the City of Salmon Arm was smart - they would impose a $2 per  bike charge for the week and offer a sticker for the bike that says  the bike owner has paid the $2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>And CITY personnel </b>should do the  collecting - then they would know exactly how many bikes came. If this  was done, the city administration would share in the benefit of the riders being there and they would share in the risks of hosting the event. They would be more  invested and have the ways and means to deal with the "costs" from a  municipal level.  </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">GREED stops so many great things from happening - I pray that the team of Sturgis North is able to negotiate and navigate the land mines of these last minute proposals well and perhaps next year consider moving the event to a place like <a href="http://www.townofsturgis.com/">Sturgis Saskatchewan</a>...bet they'd love to have this event in their community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I hope that the charities this event is supporting get on board with promoting this event to the powers that be at city hall and that the show goers are going to support the event coordinators by showing up en mass, by not being disrespectful, by treating the community of Salmon Arm like it is our own and leaving it clean and better than when we arrived. If WE - the riding community use this event and community well, they will want us back - if not - we could further destroy our image and community and make it harder and harder for great motorcycle events in Canada not just in BC.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The onus of having a great event is on the city and the way it conducts itself, the police services and the way they treat visitors, the businesses and how visitors perceive the value and treatment they get, the show coordinators for how well organized they are and how the visitor perceives the quality and value of the entertainment and lastly the visitor plays a part as well. How those who are non riders conduct themselves will be just as important as how we riders conduct ourselves. EVERYONE plays a part in this event's success.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The organizers of this event stand to loose their investment in the event and the infrastructure - they alone bare the risk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I lost $130K hosting a custom motorcycle show - I know better than many the potential for financial ruin - no one has stepped up to help me pay that debt back and they sure didn't turn down the cash they made either.  </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Everyone can share in the benefits of a well run event - but only the event coordinator/host looses if the other parties don't do their part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">That's my humble opinion - I would love to hear your thoughts.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Lost of news in the feeds today - visit<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com%20/"> www.beltdrivebetty.com </a>to get caught up on what is happening around the world.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Have a great day everyone!</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Belt Drive Betty<br />
Editor & Rider</b></i><br />
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bustedknucklechronicles.com/">www.bustedknucklechronicles.com</a></span></h3>

Tourism & GREED

Well - true to form the City of Salmon Arm is following the path of so many communities in the greed factor from what I am reading today in...

Motorcycle Only Parking - Handicapped Parking Spots etc...

Belt Drive 0 Community, Grande Prairie 11:53 AM

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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">In Australia, <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/lastest-international/286-news-international-/8826-ulysses-bikers-pizza-parking-exemption-annoys-motorists">motorists who get caught parking in motorcycle only parking spots</a> in front of a rider owned pizza parlor are complaining and snivelling about the fines they are getting.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I do not understand that personally....</span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">If a sign says handicapped only or motorcycle only or taxi's only or delivery only or customer of  - why do you even bother whining when you get ticketed for parking there?  The signs are there for a reason. It is the same as those who get ticketed for being on their cell phone instead of using hands free.  What is it about the human race that we think we are entitled to be treated differently than the next guy - that we are somehow special? It is to me, a major sign of the ills of our society and world. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As I get older, I am beginning to shed that selfish, self involved way of thinking and learning to put empathy into play. I don't succeed all of the time, but I am far better than I used to be. Like my good friend Wyzwmn who stated - Wyzwmn is an ever evolving work...well that's how I feel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I feel like I am on an accelerated learning curve - constantly being given challenges to face that teach me about human nature and my own shortcomings. When I get a lesson, I get it well but like every evolving masterpiece there are times when I miss the mark completely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I catch myself often grumbling under my breath about all kinds of negative things and now that I am aware of the power of those thoughts, I am learning not to begrudge people their happiness, their achievements or their success just because they hurt me. I am learning to be happy for them. Obviously they are doing some things right. I also figure that if someone who hurt me can be successful in spite of their shortcomings, there is hope for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I hope that each of us can find some peace with the laws that are there to protect the greater good, I hope that those laws that don't make sense get put to rest where they belong in file 13...I hope that at some time in the future, the very near future that people who are hired to do a job learn to just do it and not feel entitled to a pay check just because they showed up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Customer service is a dying art and when I get treated well I am learning to be deeply appreciative of it and let go of the sense of disappointment or resignation when it is less than good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our society - world wide - is broken is so many ways - but when we get around the good people, those who are true to themselves but compassionate and empathetic as well - this is the MOST BEAUTIFUL place in the universe to be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I thank my lord and the universe for every lesson, no matter how painful, for every friend, every kindness and every bit of love. I am becoming a person I like - less angry and frustrated - kinder and more forgiving and when I am really having a good one, I am even gentle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am learning to relax in traffic and just take the time to breathe and let go, I am learning to deal with the people who can make decisions and create less stress for myself...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">These people who are being ticketed for parking where they shouldn't be parked need to learn that the world does not revolve around them, they are not more special that the rest of us.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">It's like the Motorcycle Noise Bylaws - we are not more special than any other road user so why should we be held to a different standard than the rest are?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Yes, there are laws that make sense, that are fair and there are laws that make no sense, but instead of fighting against what I don't want, instead of focusing on the things I don't like, I am working towards what I do want - if everyone tried that - they would find their lives filled with more contentment and peace than they knew was possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have a few more hours on the paper and then I say good bye to Vancouver and hello Grande</span> Prairie with a stop in <span style="font-size: small;">Sorrento to see my sister in law and nephew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There is a whack of <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">interesting news from around the block and around the world</a> - hope you will go check it out and offer some feedback on the things our community is experiencing and doing.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Our <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/show-n-shine">Beat the PMS Blues on line Show 'n' Shine</a> is accepting pictures until January 31st - where are your pictures? Are you gonna wait until the last minute? Tsk, Tsk....</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Have a great day everyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Belt Drive Betty<br />
</b>Editor & Rider</i><br />
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bustedknucklechronicles.com/">www.bustedknucklechronicles.com</a></span></h3>

Motorcycle Only Parking - Handicapped Parking Spots etc...

In Australia, motorists who get caught parking in motorcycle only parking spots in front of a rider owned pizza parlor are complaining and...

The end of the road

Belt Drive 0 Community, The Busted Knuckle Chronicles 11:50 AM

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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Today I am recovering from 10 days of working shows and three weeks of being on the road. After I get this coming week's newspaper finished I will be heading home.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I hope to be in my own bed on Wednesday or Thursday night. These shows are fantastic to attend, I love the people, the atmosphere, the machines....but - the gruelling pace is so hard on the body and the mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The offerings at every show are similar but different.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Look forward to the Busted Knuckle Chronicles weekly newspaper this Thursday with a full show report.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am so thankful to the group from the Baggers and Hawg's Den meet up group - what a stellar group of people! They were just amazing support. This meet up group is very active - they host and organize about 200 rides a year and they volunteer for events like the Toy Run to provide Santa Blockers for the intersections. If you are in the Lower Mainland of BC this a group might want to consider joining if you like to ride. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here is the link to their group:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.meetup.com/VANCOUVER-HARLEY-DAVIDSON-BAGGERS-HAWGS-DEN-MESSAGE-BOARD/"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.meetup.com/VANCOUVER-HARLEY-DAVIDSON-BAGGERS-HAWGS-DEN-MESSAGE-BOARD/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There are some very interesting stories in the news and I will leave you to your own devices today to explore them on<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/"> www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Have you entered our<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/show-n-shine"> Beat the PMS Blues On Line Show 'n' Shine</a> yet? We have 269 pictures so far but I know there are a lot more that should be entered so come on folks! Your deadline to enter is January 31st!</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">I look forward to getting back home in the next couple of days and back into a routine of regular blogging and news dissemination...until then, please visit<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/"> www.beltdrivebetty.com</a> to stay up on what's happening in the world of motorcycles.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Belt Drive Betty<br />
</b>Editor & Rider</i><br />
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bustedknucklechronicles.com/">www.bustedknucklechronicles.com</a></span></h3>

The end of the road

Today I am recovering from 10 days of working shows and three weeks of being on the road. After I get this coming week's newspaper fini...