Calling all East Coast Riders - Heck - ALL Riders ACROSS Canada

Today I had the pleasure of meeting, over the telephone, a business man who is making dreams come true.

His name is Dimitri Neonakis and he owns a successful small business on the east coast.
An avid pilot, he got the idea to take kids with special needs up in his small plane, inspired by being up in the blue with the clouds, to give them something exciting, different and interesting to try.

Here is a short video from CBC Halifax:

Dream Wings is only 10 days old, but already Dimitri and his now growing list of pilots want to expand what they are doing. His efforts have garnered a ton of volunteers, including his children!

Not only do Dimitri and his pilot friends want to challenge pilots in other communities to do something wonderful and free for children with special needs, he is also challenging the motorcycle community to get involved!

You see I told Dimitri about the Anti Bullying "ride a kid to school" campaigns that have started right across Canada, by my two of my friends, virtually at the same time, Keven Ellis from Hamilton Ontario and Steve Enns in Edmonton AB.
I am proud to say I know these two men, and how their efforts caught the news headlines.

Now, right across the country motorcyclists who find out about kids who are being bullied are taking these kids to school and picking them up after school. Sometimes with 7-8 bikes, other times with 30, 50.

The goal is to let kids know that bullying is not accepted, not tolerated and that the kids being bullied do have friends.

When I told Dimitri the story, he was moved to tears and said you know, we need to get your community involved in this.

"If we could get people who have motorcycles
with sidecars and trikes to come out and take some of these children for a small ride, what excitement they would get.

We could hold a fair and call it Planes, Trikes and Cars for Kids - and get people with exotic cars and the Fire Department with a rig - can you see how much fun a day of giving like this could be?" said Dimitri.

Oh yes Dimitir, I can!

So there, you have it folks - Dimitri Neonakis - Halifax Nova Scotia - you can find him on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/dimitri.neonakis

Please reach out to Dimitri to find out the intricacies of what you need to do, like releases to be signed etc...

Let's help Dimitri's efforts called "Dream Wings" REALLY take flight! 

Let's get the power of the riding community behind this man and help him expand it to other modes of fun transportation and to expand it right across the country...

I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!

Pass this post along to every rider you know, because he wants riders to join him in his efforts to bring a smile to child's face right there in Halifax and all throughout Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.

I intend to see if we can get a day like this coordinated in Grande Prairie AB - what a wonderful way to light up a child's day.  Good idea?  What say you?

If you are blessed enough to be riding today, PLEASE ride like everyone is blind and can not see you!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
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Women in Motorcycling, debunking the Sisterhood Myth

Over the last several days I have been seeing a whole bunch of brand and motorcycle industry bashing by female riders over women in bikini's on posters for charity bikini bike washes.
What really got my goat is how many of those complaining appear to sport cleavage shots on their Facebook pages. I cannot believe the dishonesty and hypocrisy of these females.

They are jealous but  instead of recognizing it for what it is, they are jumping on the "Female Objectification" bandwagon without any real understanding of the term,  other than it's a popular catch phrase these days.

If you are a human being who understands biology and procreation, then you understand sexual urge. You also understand the pheromones that the whole mating ritual gives off and you probably can remember the excitement of being 16, 20, 24 and having that guy/gal you liked pay attention to you.

It's why the gal's who so bitterly decrying the pretty air brushed 20 something body in the poster, all sport some sort of dress up pose, they are looking for appreciation of their physical appearance.

Sexuality is part of the human being.

A young woman posing for a poster in a bikini, or being willing to wear a bikini for a charity bike wash is no cause for the foot stamping, brand, male and female bashing BS I have been reading from these women.

This is NOT HUMAN TRAFFICKING - These women aren't being FORCED to pose, they are proud of their bodies, their sexuality and isn't learning to be comfortable in your own skin part of this whole I am "Woman hear me Roar" that we are always hearing about?

Or does being comfortable in your own body only apply to the obese or extremely skinny?

If you have ever walked a little taller when a construction worker wolf whistled at you, if you ever sucked your gut in a bit, cause that someone special was looking your way, if you have ever changed clothes ten times before going out on a date, if you have ever put on that special pair of shoes because you were told they made your legs look sexy, then don't be a hypocrite.

WE LOVE ALL COMPLIMENTS.  

We love being told we look pretty or beautiful, or that we did a bang up job on a report, or on a welding project...

Just because you are jealous that you don't have that 20 something body anymore does not give you the right to go around bashing others who are/were:
1) needing some strong female companionship to show them their WHOLE worth,
2) really comfortable in their own skin and don't give a crap what you think or
3) offered some good money to pose and don't care if you like the fact that they traded money for the use of their body in a poster.

A bikini car/bike wash poster for charity does not entice me to want to attend, but there are those who enjoy it. Who are you, me or anyone else to dictate to someone what they should or should not enjoy or participate in?

There is an old school motto that the riding community has forgotten even though you see it on tee shirts, primaries and key fobs everywhere, "Live and Let Live".  In essence it means that if it has no bearing on your day to day life, then let it go,  as long as they aren't trying to force something on you that you are not comfortable with, let it go.

SOOOOO...

If the 20 something in the bikini offends your old, jealous flabby arse, then don't look at the poster or the chick, don't attend the event, move on - get over yourself.

If you are so jealous and concerned that your old man might find a younger body more attractive than yours, then you are with the wrong old man (or significant other).

To blame an industry for objectifying the female body makes about as much sense as claiming that cutlery makes people fat.

Objectification of the female form starts with WOMEN - not the industry of motorcycling and not even with men, it starts with women.  

Women are the biggest objectifiers of the female form.

MOTHERS teaching daughters
how to be princesses, sexy
little girls at 3 and 4 and 5 years old.

We criticize and pick each other apart pointing out every flaw the other has.

Don't believe me?

Just go listen to a gaggle of catty, bitchy females when some pretty little thing walks by...the jealousy and criticism is palpable, and the subliminal message the girl gets, is loud and clear:
You are disgusting, you are dirt, you don't belong or fit in because you are different and yet...
so many claim to be a part of a sisterhood.

I read, see and witness it time and time again.

If you really want women to quit posing in bikinis, washing bikes wearing bikinis or riding bikes with bikinis on, then maybe you should focus your self righteous anger at the beauty pageant industry, or lovingly start teaching girls how to become strong women and become a big sister.

I don't know about you, but I am far more offended by the photo of the little girl above than I am of the girl's in the bikini's on the poster. That little girl has no say in how she dresses up.  How she looks, but the adult in the poster does.

If you really think that you will ever stop women from taking off their clothes to gain the appreciation that some male (and some females) will give their beautiful young bodies, think again.

If you really think you will ever convince men to quit lusting after the female form, then you are delusional.

But folks, I want you to understand that this isn't a gender specific issue.

Self worth/esteem is a HUMAN issue.

QUIT MAKING IT GENDER DRIVEN.

Is human trafficking a devastating issue? YES. 
Are there men who use their gender to attempt to bully or otherwise coerce women into doing things they don't want to to keep a job, get a bank loan etc.? OH Yeah.

Are there women who enable, condone, participate, initiate or otherwise support any of the above? YES. Are there or have there ever been women who run prostitution rings, sexually abuse other women etc? YES.

If you really think that the male of our species is so disgusting and privileged then perhaps you should actually look at what we are doing to them in the name of "gender equality."

I dare every human being I know to read the book "Knights without Armor" by Aaron R. Kipnis, Ph.D. It just might enlighten you to find out that a lot of men are confused, hurt and disillusioned as to what their role in society is these days.

As far as RESPECT, we don't need someone to give it to us or to approve it for us. This isn't the turn of the century and 99% of women in western cultures now a days have full control over their lives. Those who don't have either have:

1)  just never seized it, 

2) are just learning how or 

3) are dealing with self esteem issues and not getting the support they need.  

Education is what it takes to change these things. 

Righteous indignation and bashing will never get you anywhere except hated.

Today, women in western civilization have more rights, power and freedom than ever before and yet many of our female politicians have turned out to be as corrupt, untrustworthy and power hungry or more than their male counterparts.  

Quit with the industry and man bashing.
Quit denigrating the female with the beautiful body because you are jealous.
Quit pretending we are all sisters when we clearly are not.
Quit with the moral outrage that is masked as gender equality and equal rights, and identify your insecurity for what it really is; jealousy -  and then let it go.

At the end of the day, you are going to buy the motorcycle that fits your ass comfortably, the riding gear that keeps you safe and makes you look good and go home with the man you came with if he's any kind of a man and you are any kind of a woman; if you are true partners, nothing will shake either of you. (This goes for all partnerships.)

The chick in the bikini is no threat to you unless you let her be or you are with the wrong partner.
Put your petty jealousy away, because its probably the least becoming thing a woman can wear.

I modelled for a living in my younger days. It was hard, gruelling and emotional work.
The people looking at your body, judging your fitness to grace the runway, catalogue cover or a billboard looked at only one thing, is yours the right body line combined with the right attitude to sell these clothes.  Who you were as a person never once entered into the equation unless you were easy to work with or a diva and being a diva was rarely a good thing.

You were there to sell clothes. PERIOD - Attractiveness sells, sex sells - that's all they cared about.
And there were MANY, MANY women on those panels, in fact most often it was other women picking apart my form.

My bloom has faded, I am no longer that pretty young rose, but my husband still thinks I am pretty (he doesn't wear his glasses as much as he should thank God!)

It still feels good to have someone think that I am pretty, I don't get offended by it at all.
That does not also mean that I am not smart, or talented in one way or another.

We were put on this earth to procreate, to be attracted to each other sexually and that is not a BAD THING...and remember, there are women who are good sisters, who support each other, who lift each other up, and then there are those who are worse than snakes, to your face they will be sweetness and light, but the minute you walk away....the daggers come out.

Be careful of the Sisterhood myth - the Sisterhood does exist,

 just not in the soul of every woman out there.

Have a great day and remember if you want to save money, have a safe and enjoyable riding season, join www.riderfriendly.com and on your profile page, you'll find your membership card...

Save up to 20% at Choice Hotels in Canada, when you use this link to book your room: https://www.choicehotels.com/?clientid=00442520

See discounts and savings from hundreds of other member businesses like Holloway Lodging and Blackstone Mountain Lodge and enjoy all of the safety and support tools we have to offer like the "Never Ride Alone" program ALL FOR FREE!  Join for all of the fabulous contests we host, stay for the friendship....join us on Facebook too!!!!


Bet Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
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Contentious Days and Ways, Old School VS New School

It seems to me that everywhere I turn there is nothing but nasty, hurtful media, nasty, hurtful stories, nasty hurtful people doing nasty hurtful things.

If a person voices their opinion or shares their feelings on topics like Muslims and Sharia Law, expect to be attacked by a pack of rabid humans if you have any doubts, questions or fears to express.

If a person who lived through the King Ralph era here in Alberta draws similarities to what Trump is doing in the US to stimulate business and the economy and says, hey, I like those ideas, my God you'd think you were the worst person in the world and had to like and support everything about the man.  How people can make that big of a leap without evidence is beyond me.

The stuff that has been going on in our global community, our world has be making me physically and spiritually ill.

We in the motorcycle community have our own politics and they are just as hurtful and just as nasty as anything you'll see on TV.  From being told take of our vests/patches, cuts, shirts etc...to being profiled, we riders can and many have experienced a ton of garbage.

We have all sorts of outside discrimination hurled at us, and then we have our own form of  internal discrimination, sport bikers versus cruisers, touring - the whole brand bashing, Ducati eats GSXR or Indian blankety blanks H-D, clubbers VS non clubbers...some of it is good natured, some of it not so much. You'd think after the unfair way many of us are tarred that we wouldn't go down the path of discrimination but guess what...we do.

And then there's the kind of insidious personal politics that makes one scratch their head and go, what the H E DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS just happened.

I started this business, Belt Drive Betty Media, trying to find a job for myself after a car crash. After much research and courses, I landed on promoting the charitable events and causes of the motorcycle community and writing a column about our world. This one...From the Depths of File 13...

I did not want to mow anyone else's lawn and so I have stayed pretty true to that niche.

I have offered our company's services up to various organizations and many have used them very successfully.

We have operated the Canadian Motorcycle Events Calendars and provided them for free to the riding community, the clubs, the charities, the associations and the riders for 15 seasons now.

www.canadianmotorcyleevents.com

We put hundreds and thousands of hours into the calendars every year. 

I have one person named Dave Trerice, that's all he does is reach out to the riding clubs, the associations and charities and ensures their events get that free exposure.  Ali our web mistress, Rhonda in sales and myself, we all contribute, but Dave, he's the heavy lifter...

My company pays him, not well, but pays him, not what he's worth, but we pay him to help these communities and their causes. 

He makes sure that the calendars have all of the information that the posters should have but often times don't, like contacts, addresses etc.  He puts his heart and soul into helping these riding clubs, associations and causes. 

He shares all through social media doing his best to bring value to every fellow rider he meets on the net. 

He's the man that manages the CanadianMotorcycleEvents page on Facebook.  

PLEASE LIKE US!!!!!!

This is Dave. 

Dave is waiting to add YOUR motorcycle event to our Canadian Motorcycle Events Calendar @ canadianmotorcycleevents.com Email your poster to events@beltdrivebetty.com

Now I always offer anyone with a riding club web site the code to use our calendars to promote upcoming events so they don't have to re-invent the wheel and so that our sponsors get a little plug because there are a few ads on the calendars, three I believe.  Our calendars are easy to use, divided up by province, sortable by kind of event, postal code and a whole bunch of other filters that can be applied.

However, some of the organizations we have offered the free use of our calendars to, have flat out turned us down, some even preferring we do not support their causes with free advertising. 

These orgs are largely run by other women.

These organizations would rather build their own calendars than work together, I get it, but I don't.

Then there are some other gals I have come to know who are doing a publicity trip. I offered to help with hotel discounts and publicity through our newspaper.  They have chosen not to respond.  

That makes me sad.

I am too old school I guess. 

Me, I just want to work with and help everyone I can. 

I am for ever and always trying to put people together that I think will help each other.  

I do introductions all the time. 

I love to contribute to this community, our society, country; my attitude is if I can bring one more person to your event, or cause, then the effort I /we put out on promoting for you is worthwhile,  and yet, it seems to me that there are certain factions that think we want to take over instead of help. That's the vibe they give off as they aren't very diplomatic in their refusals to work together. 

Or it could be that perhaps a month and a half of flu and funerals has made me too touchy...

I don't know.

And maybe New School and Old School just aren't meant to find a bridge to working together.

I am finding it difficult to wrap my head around the fact that there are people don't want help or contributions from those they deem as outsiders.

I know we can't all like each other or understand each other, but I always thought that we should be able to rise above our selves for the good of all to work together to promote the common good.  

There have been a handful of people in my life that for one reason or another, I could not get along with on a personal level, we had a personality conflict or something going on... and yet we found ways to work together for the common good when push came to shove. 

I have something of value to offer anyone with need of a method to get their message out, the audience that does enjoy reading what I and our community contributes, the audience who loves to hate what I write - these two audiences are valuable.

I bet there would be some among my audience, you the reader...who would love to know what these ladies are up to and how terrific I think they are.

Yeah, yeah, I know, it sounds like I am whining but really, I am just shocked, puzzled, confused or maybe it is that "Old Timers" is setting in....and I'm becoming a purple sweater wearing lady.

How can you turn down a bit of free publicity, from someone who thinks what you offer is valuable...

I would love to help spread that word, shine that light...that was what my company was founded on, being a clearinghouse of information, helping riders find what they need...

I am feeling my age today because I genuinely do not need to like you to see your value, unlike some of the up and comers whom, it seems, can't work with others unless they all think the same and like each other.

Contentious days and ways....

I guess that really does make me old school. 

What say you?

Belt Drive Betty,

Editor & Rider

Join our new community at www.riderfriendly.com  

Save Money, meet new people, find fantastic, rider friendly businesses, enter some fantastic contests for hotel rooms, event tickets and more...   www.riderfriendly.com

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PTSD - A Growing Conversation

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. (Mayo Clinic)

Kate MacEachern, a former Corporal in the Canadian Armed Forces is on a mission.

Walking from Nipawin Saskatchewan to Chilliwack BC, Kate's journey is all about creating dialogue around PTSD, it's causes, it's side effects and the solutions that can bring a measure of happiness, joy and sunshine back into people's lives.

The 45 pound rucksack she carries on her back is symbolic of the burden of PTSD that so many first responders, service personnel and veteran's carry.

The journey through PTSD is all about learning to live with a new normal.

My story:

Like everyone out there, I have a few causes that are close to my heart. Finding a cure for MS - my wonderful husband has MS, so, it's important to me that we find a cure, anything to do with children who are suffering from sexual, physical and psychological abuse. As a survivor, those causes are important to me. PTSD; being a survivor, having dealt with psychiatrists and doctors, insurance and bureaucracy, I know all too well about the stigma involved with PTSD.

PTSD almost robbed me of my life. I had survived repeated beatings at the hand of my mother, I had survived being sexually molested, I had survived the car crash that put me in braces, physically, but inside, my spirit, my soul and mind were struggling. Nightmares, cold sweats, very little sleep for days and weeks and months and years...mood swings, sometimes violent ones...along with a host of other unpleasant symptoms. 

After several medications that did not work (Wellbutrin, Zoloft etc) the drugs the doctors eventually put me on, Paxil and Amitriptyline ended up exacerbating the problem instead of alleviating it.  No one knew at the time, that you should not drink coffee on Paxil. Here I was, 2-3 pots of coffee a day on 40MG's of this stuff and low and behold, when they adjusted the Amtrityline the last time, it triggered suicidal thoughts. After about a week of not being able to shut the voice off in my head, feeling like I couldn't tell anyone what was going on, terrified of what the outcome would be, I checked myself into the hospital. I spent two weeks being weened off of caffeine, through tests, it was discovered I had caffeine toxicity and 75% liver damage caused by the combination of coffee and Paxil.

I went through hell. My family went through it with me. Counselling helped some, but none of the drugs the doctors tried on me worked and with the last set almost killing me I decided I would pitch the drugs and find other ways to deal with my challenges. I meditate now, watch my diet, use herbal supplements, read a lot of spiritual books. Riding my motorcycle helps me cope as does snuggling with my cats...but...

It wasn't until I went to Wounded Warriors Weekend in Slave Lake AB last August that I truly, deeply got the message that I wasn't alone, I wasn't weird, I was wounded.

Being surrounded by others who had similar sleeping patterns to mine, watching others trigger, listening to the experiences of others who like me, wanted to do more than just survive...it wasn't until that weekend that I felt accepted, by ME. I had bought into the stigma that the doctors, friends and strangers had labelled me with. I was ashamed of me and this weakness.  NO MORE.

At Wounded Warriors Weekend I found a new layer to my healing.

DIALOGUE.

I feel stronger inside than I have in years, and I believe that the simple act of dialogue brought an enlightenment an understanding to my brain that it had not been able to accept before.

Although I wasn't a soldier or a veteran, I wasn't a cop or a fire fighter, not a medic either, the people who attended Wounded Warriors Weekend, made me realize that my trauma's while different from theirs, were real, horrible and that I wasn't crazy.

I was more like them than not, I was simply trying to find a new normal while resenting loosing the old normal.

One of the people who touched my soul and helped rekindle my fire and passion for life, was Kate MacEachern. Having been thrown from a horse during a training exercise with the Lord Strathcona's Mounted Regiment, this woman, whose back was broken, who later experienced a stroke because of a dislodged blood clot caused by the horse incident, a woman who was told she'd never walk again, might never function fully again, helped me.

She helped me through her compassion, her empathy, her courage, strength and inner beauty.

Kate MacEachern is all of those things and so much more.

After interviewing her, spending time with her, I vowed that I wanted to do more surrounding the issue of PTSD.

I wanted to support our Warriors, those who do jobs that horrify, that destroy the soul, the body and the mind. The Police, Medics, Fire Fighters, Soldiers, Veteran's - these people do jobs that I am not sure I would have the courage to do. They see horrific car wrecks, people burning alive, children being abused, bullets and IED's taking the lives of their friends - they see the WORST of humanity & Mother Nature and yet they rush in to help instead of pulling back.

Because of meeting Kate, I decided to start an event that will become it's own association in time, called Wheels for Our Wounded using my non profit, The Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association to do so.

The goal; to help those who need wind therapy to deal with their PTSD be able to have motorcycles converted with side cars or made into trikes, help buy wheel chair accessible vehicles or help get vehicles modified so a Warrior could drive their car or truck.

You see the government looks upon private vehicles as a luxury, but those of us who ride, know that a motorcycle is far more than a luxury, for some of us, it's a life line. Those who can't take public transit know that wheels mean freedom, independence and dignity.

Dog therapy, equine therapy, wind therapy, gardening therapy - there are almost as many PTSD therapy types as there are sufferers.  This is not a one size fits all illness. There are organizations funding many of the different therapies, but vehicle therapy outside of wheel chair accessible vehicles isn't being funded here in Canada.

I called Kate and asked her if she could be my special guest since she'd be in Edmonton for May 30th - told her I'd donate 25% of everything we take in to her cause and the balance would go to purchasing a motorcycle for a veteran in need of motorcycle therapy. She agreed.

AND THEN I was asked to join the team of The Long Way Home as Operations Manager.
Overwhelmed but excited to be involved in making a bigger difference, I readily agreed.

Though we are only two weeks into Kate's 3 month long journey, I can't tell you how healing this experience has been. Gruelling, challenging but healing, for all of us in the team I do believe.

As her ops manager, my job is to take care of all the little things that crop up while the team is on the road. I apply for permits, coordinate with the rest of the team like Cindy Murphy the publicist, the events team, Pat Varga, Brenda Fredercikson, Drea Popiel, David Wilson, Sophie Pyne and Paula DeLorey her medic and all of the communities and people who reach out wanting to be involved.
I help with social media, the web site, designing and ordering of swag, ensuring the team knows what is happening from day to day. It's busy work.

The on road team is comprised of 5 women, three who are survivors with PTSD, 4 horses and one pre teen boy.

Kate is joined for the first 30 days of this trip by her son, Tyler. His message is almost as powerful as that of his mother. After all he lives with PTSD as much as she does.

For much of this journey Kate will be walking with two horses and their riders, Rebecca and her daughter Emily; Emily has PTSD. The N.A.S.H. Project provides service dogs and therapy horses and is headed up by Rebecca and her daughter.

As beneficiaries of Kate's efforts, they wanted to join Kate and show the people they get to meet what great therapy a horse can be, to talk about the effects of a service dog on its handler, to provide hope and help the discussions focus on HOPE, on supports.

Kate, Tyler, Rebecca, Emily, Lisa and JoAnne  with the Fire Fighters of
Britannia Wilton Fire Dept near Lloydminster SK/AB

I have been volunteering a ton of my time to this walk, this cause, this woman and the team on the road and yet...I feel like I have been given far more than I have been able to give to them.

To read the stories of how Kate and her team's message have touched people's lives, to see the photos and the joy, the hope she is spreading - the dialogue that is being created.

To play witness to the to the monster determination that is Kate MacEachern fills me in a way I can't truly describe.

This is her third and final journey.

It will be the most gruelling of them all, it is truly THE LONG WAY HOME.

PLEASE Follow Kate Mac, The Long Way Home and the N.A.S.H. Project. There are SOOOO many ways you can support this woman and her team as they make their way to Chilliwack.

You can:

1. Join an event in a community near you.
2. Be out on the highway and walk a kilometre or two with her.
3. Donate a few dollars, buy a tee shirt or a pin through her online store. 
4. Join her Free shopping circle.

Follow her on Facebook and Twitter, visit her site often - show this woman and this team that PTSD IS NO LONGER a DIRTY LITTLE SECRET - engage, talk share.

The more dialogue that is created, the more support will be offered to those working at reclaiming their lives and learning to live within a new normal.

Thanks for hearing me out folks and PLEASE - GET INVOLVED - BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE....

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider



Disclaimer:
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Belt Drive Betty Blog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.

Is Facebook is becoming unbearable to use?

Facebook has blocked me out of my account and demanded that I produce ID - why?

Because they don't like people using their pen names or nick names/road handles anymore.

After all of these years going by Belt Drive Betty, two weeks ago they forced me to add my last name - Charbonneau and now I have to add my first and last name. No more going by the old road handle.

What I do not understand is why you can't simply fill out a form with your real name and contact information that their administration keeps but tell them that to the world I want to be known as... Privacy laws and governmental snooping laws would be appeased, but I could be called by the name I have been known by for years.

I am not in love with how Facebook is doing business, or the way it has evolved.

Is Facebook is becoming unbearable to use?

It is definitely becoming more cumbersome and unfriendly.

They make things so difficult, even something as simple as stopping the notifications on a post can see you accidentally reporting someone.

They don't allow pages to invite people to events unless you are willing to or can afford to pay to host your event on your business page, you have to create a group in order to invite your friends to a free event.

If you do not pay to promote a post only 5-6% of your network ever sees it.

I don't know about other business people, but I have my personal page, my business page, several provincial business pages, a personality page and some groups. My connections to real live people have value to me, so why do only 5-6% of the people who are connected to me ever see what I post?

Never has it become more important for people to share the news and information that is important to their friends, otherwise, no one benefits from the circle you have much unless everyone is sharing like crazy!

Since I am on a forced hiatus, I am going to take some time to look at other social networks that allow a person a little freedom on the world facing information that is put out there.

In the meantime, it is now time to start asking all of my friends who are connected to the Facebook Page Marie Renee Charbonneau (formerly known as Belt Drive Betty), to like me on my personality page - Belt Drive Betty.  I am going to be doing most of my posting there once I am allowed back on. I will then lock down my personal page to only family and extremely close friends and connect through the personality page - Belt Drive Betty.

If anyone has any suggestions for dealing with my Facebook woes, please contact me!

For my friends whose birthdays I will miss while I am locked out of my account, Happy Birthday.

Happy New Year, looks like the new one is starting of exactly the way the old one went out...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

A new adventure, one I am very excited about!

It's been a long time since the Biker Coffee Company closed it's doors because of partnership disagreements. When they closed up shop, my private label coffee supply was cut off and the people who were enjoying our Fair Trade coffee blend were a tad pissed that they could no longer get their fix.

I wanted to remedy that, but I knew nothing about the coffee business except that I really love a good cup of coffee.

The Company Logo

For the last couple of years, I have been researching, building partnerships and getting my ducks in a row to once again be able to have my own private label coffee.

Along with two silent partners, we have formed Motor Sports Brewz, our trademark is almost ready to be filed and we partners are formalizing the last of the details.

We anticipate that we will be launching in early 2015.

Before we do, I wanted to share with you the concept behind the company and some of the artwork that has been done to date to get your feedback.

 The company, Motor Sports Brewz, is a beverage company that provides private label coffee, hot chocolate and over time, other beverages to the Motor Sports Industry.

We are starting with our first line - Biker Brewz

Various "Celebrities", businesses and charities within the Motor Sports world will be able to have their own private label blend at an affordable price that they can sell through their own networks, and their blend will also be available in our online store.

The roaster we are using is a 100 year old family run company. Our blends will be made from the finest beans available and will follow our own recipes!

We will have sample packages that people can buy to decide which blend they like the best and we will offer the larger 1 pound bags.

We have much done and ready, but there are many small details that still have to be ironed out.

We are starting small, but we have big dreams!

As I said, we are looking for feedback on the logo and labels, these do not have the Fair Trade logos or legal verbiage on them yet, these are just the samples.

So, tell me, what do you like about them? What don't you like about them?

Your comments and observations will help us make our labels and logo distinctive and appealing.

Our roaster will make the coffee as delicious as any out there and hopefully that combination will make the coffees and other beverages we offer a great way of fund raising, branding and awareness raising for businesses, people and charities.

On a personal note, we are leaving for Montreal and my mother in-law's funeral in the morning, so I'll be off the grid for a bit.

Have a great day, stay safe, warm and remember to tell the people you love, just how much you love them EVERY DAY!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

People - who can figure them out?

Today I am feeling very discouraged by humanity.

The situation in Ferguson Missouri shows to me how far from civilized we really are.

I understand fully that a lot of people think the white police officer shot and killed a young, unarmed black man because of race and not out of fear for his life.

I get that the police services in many regions of north America are becoming too powerful, lie and cover things up, I get that there is not much justice in our justice system, but I have a few questions for all involved in the mindless violence that is taking place as a result of the grand jury decision...

Link to her facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Natalies-Cakes-More/274915157402

WHERE is it OK to destroy the property of others because you are angry?
Where is it OK to "crap" where you eat, where you live?
Where is it OK to steal cars from other citizens, destroy their businesses, their livelihood? ARE THEY THE PEOPLE who run the grand jury? Are they the people you are really angry at?

This whole "BLACK LIVES MATTER" campaign disgusts me.
The campaign should be "ALL LIVES MATTER".
The Campaign should BE POLICE OFFICERS NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WHY are people destroying the property of innocents and hurting the quality of lives in their city?
You are NOT doing your case any good, in fact you are justifying the violence that the police can and often do perpetrate.

Hurting the innocent makes NO SENSE to me, whatsoever.
The increase in insurance premiums, the heartache and grief - WHY? Seriously - WHY?

I am tired of mindless violence and wars, tired of being lied to by the powers that be, tired of people hurting each other because they can't agree. I am tired of greed and subterfuge.

I look at the situation in the motorcycle community south of the border and the deep, deep hatred that runs in the MC circle and I have to wonder - WHY?

Why can't we just coexist? Why do we see such deep, long-lasting hatred?

Why do I, someone who has only ever tried to be a good person, pay my bills, my taxes and look after my family and better my community have to pay for the sins of those who came before me?

Why do we have to hold on to such deep hatreds?

When are we ever going to understand that all people bleed?

We all want to be loved, to have a roof over our head, food in our bellies and to live lives of meaning.

We are more similar than we are different...

I am tired of people thinking that life is somehow a competition.

We all end up the same way, dead.

Today I am mourning the loss of two beautiful people - my mother inlaw and that of a young lady named Lindsey whose family is dear to me, the Cousineau's of Eastern Passage NS.

It's a tough time of year for so many. Our troops who are fighting the extremists called ISIS, for those who suffer from depression and loneliness, for the elderly and the infirm.

Death and the sorrow it brings is one thing we all of have to deal with.

But death also brings with it, introspection - a questioning of the meaning of life, of one's purpose and when I see the mindless violence in places like Ferguson, the cruelty and brutality of groups like ISIS - when I think of the Ebola crisis, the situation with Russia, domestic violence and so many other horrible things that mankind is capable of, I wonder...

I know the good people are capable of, so why can't we bring that side of ourselves out more?

I pray for peace, for compassion, understanding and love.
My dream for this world is that one day,  people can be kind to one another.

That's all...

What say you?

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

An enormous thank you and a special offer!

As many of you know, the last year has been very challenging.  The lawsuit launched by the people of Sturgis North/Canada has been pressing to say the least. But...this community has supported me emotionally and financially, helping me to keep our community newspaper going and all of the rider support tools we offer up and running by ensuring the business didn't have to pay the lawyer too much.

This lawsuit has had so many twists and turns and it has been trying, tiring, time consuming and discouraging.

For the time being I have decided not to move forward with defending myself since the other side has not been communicating with my attorney and leaving the suit in limbo anyway.  I will resume the defense once the business is in the position to better pay a lawyer to do so, if I need to.

Since all communications had stopped, I took matters into my own hands and went to the BC Securities hearing for Mr. Sasseville this past week and I was finally able to meet with Mr. Sasseville's attorney face to face and have a chat.  I presented the attorney with the consent to dismiss orders for the other four parties who are also in a legal limbo and myself.

If all goes well and the other parties sign off, this case could be on its way to being over.

If not, at least the other parties know that I am not scared to meet them face to face and they know I will move forward at a later time of my choosing to force a resolution if needs be.

So, while not OVER, for now the pressure and grief are over, at least for a little while and there is hope that an end could really be in sight!

My final legal bill for this portion of the case was $3,490.00, right now I still owe about $2,200.  Thanks to Sam Henderson of Eyecandy Custom Cycles, I have another $800 to put against that bill!

Eyecandy Custom Cycles in Smithers BC had done customization on a bike for the people suing me and as a result, he had a set of custom rims and brakes to sell.  He did so through an online auction which raised $800.  So thank you Sam, I am so deeply appreciative of the support!

I am now blessed to announce that I have another small business stepping up to help me get this "final" bill off my plate!

Donald from BigBlue Lifts is putting $25 from every lift sold through the ad below into my defence fund!

So, not only do you get FREE SHIPPING anywhere in Canada, but my defence fund gets a $25 shot in the arm when you tell Donald that I sent you!

So, if you are in need for a motorcycle lift that has a small footprint with HUGE lifting capability, check out www.bigbluincanada.com and then call Donald and remember to say "BELT DRIVE BETTY" sent me, so you get free shipping and my defence fund gets a $25 shot in the arm!

I simply can't say thank you enough to everyone who is helping me get through this.
There are so many of you to thank.
There are no words that can express my gratitude.

Thank you community, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

My New Business Year Resolution & An Important Announcement

This past year has been one of the most difficult I have faced in my life and I am so grateful you have had the patience to stick with me through this. My business's new year started on October 1st and man I am glad to be starting with a fresh perspective on things!

After speaking with some really good business people that I know and trust, I have come to a decision regarding the lawsuit against me.

This lawsuit, which has become very personal, has hurt my business and my life in more ways than one.

My integrity as a reporter who does her job properly has been attacked.  In all the years I have been reporting I have only ever had to make three or four corrections and or apologies for getting something wrong or printing something in error.  Yes, I have made some mistakes, I am human, but I have learned so much from those mistakes.

If I've done something out of line - tough as it is to do, I have always taken it on the chin, let me know about it, let's discuss it and if I am wrong, I'll fix it. And because I hate having to apologize,
I work really, really hard at doing a good job, being as impartial and factual as I can.

My husband went through untold stress, enough that he ended up facing some challenges for a bit with his MS. THAT'S REALLY PERSONAL.

In an effort to be prepared for court there were countless of hours of putting emails and documents into spreadsheets and ensuring chronological accuracy along with cross referencing.  There are close to 1000 documents and they all had to be read, highlighted, categorized.
The hours and money spent doing that...

There was the whole being reduced to fundraising thing that humbled the crap out of me.

Then there is how this thing has affected my business, with people not paying their bills with me, some breaking contracts and some not wanting to do business with me until this turkey is off my back...there will be a few that I will never do business with again because they displayed a total lack of integrity and you know what, I am fine with firing a customer or walking away from a potential partnership.

Try to stay focused on business - that's rough when 50% of the calls and emails you take are consumed with this ridiculous lawsuit in one way or another.

The toll it has taken has been enormous.

My New Business Year Resolution? I AM NOT PLAYING THIS GAME ANYMORE!

Since the Sturgis Canada event in August, no one has been able to contact Ray or their lawyer/s.
NO ONE is responding.

I could go to the expense of forcing the case to move ahead to clear my name and get this turkey off my back, loosing my business, my sanity and everything else OR....
I can just let it be and let them make the next move, make them spend the money first.
It could end up hanging there for years, and if it does hang around, I'll deal with it when my business is better financially prepared to.

Why spend money I don't have on a lawyer, until I absolutely have to. Why sell my bike if I don't really need to just yet.

If it affects some people to the point they don't want to do business with me, then so be it.
I have a letter from my attorney that explains how there is no substance to their case and I have a ton of supporting documents to back it all up with.
I have been told I can share those documents to prospective advertisers and partners.
If after they read them they are still concerned, then there is nothing more I can do but walk away.

I am not going to worry about it any more.

Ray I am sure has bigger fish to fry than me right now.
He is facing a BC Securities Inquiry for a second time at the end of the month. There is a four day hearing scheduled.  If anything significant comes out of that I will share what I am able. His trial in Arizona moves forward in May of 2015.  Other than that, I don't want to think about this person or his event much less speak of it again.

Things are going to be tough for the next 6-8 weeks as I get ready to pay my final, for now, lawyer's bill, but there are blue skies ahead and I am heading for them, no I am AIMING for them.

I am not letting these people or that event steal one more minute of joy, happiness or gratitude out of my life.

And believe me - I am grateful for so much.

I am part of a community that has supported me, albeit I am sure you are tired of this whole ridiculous affair called a lawsuit. I know I am. I have a husband who has stood beside me, fabulous friends who let me vent and lend me strength, I AM SOOOOO Blessed.

With out your support I don't know where I would be, but I know this...
I promised to pay it forward and that is exactly what I intend to do!

We are going to get back to what we do best with a vengeance!

We are going to help promote the Canadian Riding Scene in a way that has NEVER been attempted before. Along with some fabulous sponsors and some incredible media partners we are going to be giving away over $65,000 in advertising support to 12 Canadian Communities.

The winning community will get a marketing campaign made up for them from our pool of media partners worth $35,000! They will get a sign for the entrance to their town and they will also get a trophy and the bragging rights as "Canada's MOST Rider Friendly Community!"

With YOUR help, we are going to find that community and when we do, we are going to help that community promote itself to the riding community through every avenue possible.

Watch your emails, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds and more because this is going to be the most interesting contest we have EVER HOSTED!

I wanted you to have as much time as we can give you to start thinking about what community you love to ride to, or about your own community and is it rider friendly?

So I thought this was a fitting time to share with you - this has been a daunting contest to put together and while not all details are finalized, the time for YOU to start planning in NOW!

What community hosts the best event? Has the best customer service, unique roads to ride...
Why do you love the community you live in?
How can you tell a story that will make others want to experience your community?

Think long and hard...

Here is an overview of the contest and how it works...

Prize Chart

1) Submit your nomination for a community; you will submit the written information on why and how the community is rider friendly. You can back up your submission with photos and video if you choose (we highly recommend you do)

2) If yours is the first nomination for your community, it will be referred to as the primary nomination.

3) If the community you are nominating has already been nominated by someone your nomination will be considered a supporting nomination and will be placed under the primary nomination.

4) The more supporting nominations a community receives the better chance the community has of moving on from the judging panel to the first Public/Social Voting Period.

5) All primary nominations and supporting nominations for each community will make up their entry and if they move on, their voting page.

The In House judging panel will choose the top 12, 6 from each bracket, east and west.

The nominations will be scored using a 100-point system.
•Originality (25%)
•Community history, events and tourism offerings (25%)
•Pride in community (spirit), the number of supporting submissions (25%)
•Number of Rider Friendly Business Association® Members that are in the community’s proximity (25%)

Once the judging period is over, the top 6 communities from each bracket, east and west will move to the public/social voting phases.

Now that's the basics and they should not change.

Start thinking of how you are going to use video, photos, historical ties to the motorcycle community, events, road side attractions, tourism offerings, great roads, and great customer service to tie it all into a fantastic nomination.

The competition is limited to communities with populations of 125,000 and SMALLER.
The competition is about how well you can sell your town as being rider friendly, about how many riders you can persuade to vote for your town if your town makes it past the judging panel!

A united approach to this contest will work the best - so get with your Chamber of Commerce, your Economic development office, your tourism department and work as a team to promote your community to the rest of Canada and the world...

Beginning Monday we will start reaching out to all of the Chambers of Commerce, Community Service Organizations, Riding Clubs, Tourism Departments, Dealers etc...

Who will be "Canada's MOST Rider Friendly Community?"

Let's see some Canadian Pride, some community pride and some good old fashioned rivalries!

It all begins Canada Day July 1st when we open the web site up to receive the first nominations!

Have a fantastic day and don't forget to read the Busted Knuckle Chronicles - Canada's Rider Powered Newspaper! It's in your inbox this morning and available at www.bustedknucklenews.com

If you are blessed to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Getting ready for a great fundraiser

Thanks to a certain person who shall for now remain unnamed, the Rider Friendly Phone Book will be about 5 - 6 weeks late getting out.

This person backed out of their contract after stringing me along for 6 weeks and now I have to decide whether to just let it go or pursue other options to recover the cash.  In business as in life,  your word is supposed to mean something. Contracts are supposed to mean something but I have no heart to fight anyone else right now.

It also means I have about 400 phone calls to make to let people know the books are going to be late and there is not a damned thing I can do about it - at least I haven't figured out a way - yet but I am working on it.

Our website overhauls and our new apps will hopefully make up for some of the inconvenience of it all.  Watch for their unveiling very soon!

On to the topic of the day...Getting ready for a great fundraiser!

As many of you know I am being sued by Ray Sasseville, Joan Hansen and Sturgis North/Canada.
I need to raise the money to fight this lawsuit and this coming weekend will be an important one for me. We have the Freedom of the Press Poker Run and Rally happening at Blackjacks in Nisku, AB, on Saturday.

Cost is $20 per hand for the Poker run which leaves Blackjacks at 10 AM and returns between 2-3PM. The BBQ will be on, a DJ will be spinning tunes, there will be a few vendors, 50/50 draws and silent auction items.

 Justin King, stunter extraordinaire will be on hand to do a stunting demo! Steel Horses Photography will be on hand as well!

So why do I need to raise funds?  Why am I being sued?

I wish to draw your attention to the documents of their claims against me on my defense fund page - (right hand side - 1/2 way down) and to this letter from their lawyer with their latest and newest claims against me. Before now I was only able to share part of this letter, but I can now share it in it's entirety as it is formally part of public record and can be purchased for download on the BC Court Services site:

According to them, I have had a vendetta since BEFORE the 2012 event and yet, I produced their newsletter, I was a sponsor, a reporter and a vendor at the 2012 event and I never said anything negative about them until well after the event.

My lawyer has crafted the rebuttal letter with my counter offer to settle - but until the draft is edited and sent to the other parties, I am not allowed to reveal it's contents just yet, but when I am, I will share it with you, but again not until it is available in the public domain of BC Court Services.

In the meantime....I need to be prepared

I need to raise a minimum of $3,500 this weekend to pay the next round of bills attached to my defense - lawyer, research assistant etc...and If Sturgis North/Canada, Ray and Joan do not accept my counter offer to settle, my lawyer has told me to prepare for a $50,000 bill to get us into court to prove I have done my job properly and that nothing I have said or provided for evidence is out of line or libellous as it is was in the public domain and was said by others.

The very heart of my defense is Freedom of the Press, freedom of speech and freedom of opinion.
To read everything I printed visit my defense fund page.

As a sponsor, rider and vendor who attended both events, I am entitled to my opinion and as a former event coordinator myself, the dissection of the event. As a reporter, I am allowed to bring up the facts that pertain to the event and it's coordinators.

I am looking forward to seeing a lot of people out this weekend.

If I raise more money than needed to fight this suit, I will be donating the extra money to another worthy cause, Doug Jenson - a local Edmonton musician who was recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease and is in need of an electric hospital bed and lift.

We will have a silent auction table devoted to my good friend Doug - I hope we can raise some funds for him too. His sister Kennedy will be on hand and Terry Evans from K97 is going to try and join us for the ride!

It is my fondest hope that you will come out and support me and the Freedoms this country affords us.

If you can't come out but would still like to support me, you can buy a Tee Shirt through Tee Spring to support me or make a direct donation to my defence fund.

I thank all who have already contributed, those who can only offer moral support and those who are going to come out to the fundraiser on Saturday.  No matter how you can or have supported me, it is all important to me - the letters, the emails, the phone calls and of course the funds.

I love this community and want to keep working to protect and promote it for years to come!

Thank you for all the prayers for my husband, he returns to work on a trial basis on Wednesday!

I wish you all a fantastic week and if you are blessed enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider