A brighter Christmas - and a HUGE thank you!

Today I have many people to thank. We held a quick auction over the weekend to raise some funds for the employees of Mountain Man Services in Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island BC.

Mark Mullen and his mom Kristina Toomey donated a full set of the original cast of SOA prints to the cause and while we did not hit my mark of $900 we were darned close. We raised $750.

It was fabulous that in spite of it being so close to Christmas - so many got involved. The first day of the auction I was concerned as it didn't seem to be going well and I desperately wanted us to raise some good coin, but in true biker fashion, it picked up steam on day two and concluded well.

Kristina and Mark - thank you for your generosity and paying it forward attitude.
To all who bid whether you won or not - thank you for getting involved and for those who could not afford to jump in on an auction but promoted it to your friends via Facebook and Twitter -THANK YOU.

It's a tough time of year for everyone. We all have our own families to think about, presents to buy and I have to say, I am, as usual awed by the generosity of so many.

Without you, we have some at risk youth who would not be going back to work!

We have enough Canadian Tire Money and cash to kit out 4 of the employees so that they can get back to work. We will be collecting Canadian Tire Money right through January so keep on sending it!

The gift of Jobs for Christmas - what a better way to celebrate Christmas is there than knowing these young people can continue being bread winners for their families. THANK YOU EVERYONE!

We only have a few days left in our Johnny Pag & Belt Drive Betty have a secret contest.

You could win some fabulous swag from Johnny Pag and Belt Drive Betty - all you have to do is log in to www.beltdrivebetty.com and make a guess!

I am like a little kid right now busting at the seams to make the announcement which will come via the Busted Knuckle's lead article!  If you don't get the newspaper we will be making the announcement later in the morning on Thursday on Facebook & Twitter.

I actually have some other big news coming down the pipes that we will announce (hopefully) just before Christmas. It has to do with our new TV series - Belt Drive Betty -Ride Like a Local...all the contracts are done with Eastlink and the show will be promoted on 10 specialty channels and aired 6 days a week from June to December. As soon as we have the details all worked out for our big announcement - I'll be letting you in on it!

The news feeds aren't overly busy yet this morning - I had two cats wake me up at 3 AM and could not fall back to sleep so I decided to get up and get at it this morning!

We will be checking them periodically all day long so stay tuned to www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping You informed!

In today's news:

In Ottawa - the Ottawa International Bike Show is getting geared up!

Toronto just finished up the Power Sports Services show.

30,000 bikers turned out for the Sun Run to aid sick children in Florida

Another 1,500 turned out in LA for the Skid Row toy run.

In Long Beach - a police officer rides his first electric motorcycle.

In Australia - it appears the government is finally listening to bikers.

I leave you with a few funnies, shared with me by friends on Facebook and via email - have a good giggle cause soon you'll be fully awake and realize that it's MONDAY!

Have a fantastic week everyone!
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

A tragic weekend in Ottawa

Saturday's Biker Church Swap Meet and Information day was marred by the death of a well loved Ottawa motorcyclist, Mike Jeffries. Mike and his wife were riding to the Vanier Biker's Church when their motorcycle struck a van - details have not yet been released on the crash.
His wife has been released from hospital where Rob Dale, the pastor of the Biker's Church had to break the news to her that Mike did not make it.

I had the opportunity to meet Mike, and everything that was said about this mountain of a man is true - he was friendly, a jokester and a caring and giving man. His loss is going to leave a hole in the hearts fro many for a long time to come of that I am sure.

Our hearts go out to all of the members of the Ottawa Biker's Church and Mike's family.

On Vancouver Island the Ride for Safety was very successful. Over 150 riders road the Malahat Highway to put an emphasis on safe riding and driving - congrats to all who took part.

Kristy Falconer, the event organizer was very appreciative of the efforts of the provincial government and their commitment to 8 million dollars in safety upgrades to the highway and felt that riders really needed to step up again to show the non riding community that riders are safety minded unlike the rider depicted in the YouTube video riding at 300KPH.  The Malahat has seen some devastating crashes involving motorcycles and has caused grave concerns among the riding community.

Nova Scotia's annual Biker Blessings saw 1,400 riders participate at Victoria Park in Truro.
The event had riders from as far away as Florida attend!

In Illinois a group of riders heading to a Motorcycle Awareness event experienced irony at work as a woman in a car pulled out of a gas station and struck the lead rider putting him in hospital.

The news feeds are filled with news and information that may affect your day and life as a ride, I invite you to check it out at www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping YOU informed.

I leave you with a few funnies, shared with me by my wacky friends on Facebook and through emails - laughter is very much needed this morning...

Have a fabulous Monday and remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Riding your way to fame...ON A COUCH!

A Suzuki powered couch rode its way to a land speed record...yup, you read it right!
The stunt was part of the "Add a Motor to It" Promotional series and Glenn Sutton from Australia rode that couch at 163 KM PH breaking the previous record of 148 KM PH.

When you watch the video, I am sure you will have the same question I did - how the heck fast could that Suzuki have gone without the coffee table and couch on it?  It's crazy what some people will do to get some notoriety - but I am sure there is many a drag racer out there thinking, I need these guys to build me an ENGINE!!!!

In other news - it appears that Sturgis North is being partially blamed for poor attendance at the Nakusp Music Festival which is regrouping to decide how to handle their 2 year deficit totalling $200K.

Even with the top prize of getting some one on one time with Kevin Costner, the event could not dig it's self out of the first years debt of $80K....

I am wondering if it wouldn't be wise for these event coordinators to talk to each other. Seriously - there are only so many weekends to go around and with so many events going on, some are bound to suffer and as we are witnessing, the trend is disturbing...If you were an event coordinator, what would you do to ensure the success of your event? As an event attendee - what do you want in an event?  I am sure that if we, the attendees of these events told coordinators what we want to do and see, they could come up with a winning formula.

The Ride for Dad organizers in Ottawa must be some proud of themselves as it was announced that their contribution of $200K went towards the purchase of a new $5 million dollar surgical robot.

The surgical team that will use this robot spent two years being trained on its use at the Mayo clinic in Rochester Minnesota. In all there are now 11 robots in Canada.

The Ottawa Hospital Foundation is naming one of their patient education rooms after the Ride for Dad as their way of thanking them for their continued support in fighting prostate cancer.

There is a lot of other news on tap today, so head on over to www.beltdrivebetty.com where we sift through the news feeds so you don't have to!

Have a safe and fabulous weekend - I will talk to you all on Monday.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Here we go again...

Today we have another example of profiling - a tattoo shop in Ontario is owned by a guy who is a member of the Outlaws MC, the police are now working at labeling it a club house by reporting on TV that the Outlaws are back in town and watching his place of business and yet according to the reporter he says if it is a club house they must only like meeting 2 people at a time.

The biker says that the cops have falsely reported his business as a clubhouse and now prospective clients won't come check him out because they are scared and his wife is concerned that rival clubs will also think his place of business is a club house. According to the police statement in the article - outlaw bikers should expect to be monitored.

Now folks - there are for sure criminals in the biker culture -  but as I have pointed out many times - there are criminals in EVERY walk of life.

This is profiling at it's finest/worst.

I have said it before and I will say it again, it is not the clothes you wear, the machine you ride or drive or the people you know or work with that make you a criminal - it is your actions as an individual.

This man - by all accounts - according to the reporter, is running a legit tattoo shop, clean, clinical and with dentist chairs for patrons to sit on while getting their artwork done.

Just because he rides with an outlaw MC, does that mean he is automatically a criminal? The police would like you to believe that...BUT wait....

If we started labeling every cop as a drunk because of the actions of men like Monty Robinson or the many other officers who have been charged with impaired - would that be an accurate assessment of the police services as a whole?  Or what if we labeled them all as wife beaters or masturbaters because of the actions of some? How about the label of thief? There are after all officers who have stolen money and drugs from evidence rooms...

Yah - I thought not - that kind of blatant, sweeping tarring would not go over too well at all because it is clearly  untrue - not all officers conduct themselves that way and we know it and exhibit more intelligence than that.

We, the riders who are not a part of the one per centers world are constantly targeted as potential bad asses and why? Because the police services want to improve their budgets and their careers. There are not enough "bad" guys riding motorcycles for the police to throw enough fear out there so they like make Joe Q Public think we are all bad apples.

While we can't say that all cops are drunks or thieves we can say that there is a pervasive mentality exhibited by MOST police officers - one of fear mongering and suspicion that serves NO ONE. The police services will, as a majority, flip the switch on the truth and 

mis-state the truth when it serves their purpose. And again, that purpose is more about budgets and careers than it is to Serve and Protect.

Our police have become far too powerful for their own good or for the good of any citizen.  I am positive that if we started to exercise our rights under the charter we could prevent the police from hassling and labeling us but it will take a concerted and joint effort on the part of many riders. I can't do it alone - you can't - we need to work together to reclaim our lives and liberty.

The Black, Indian, Italian and Asian communities have been united enough to prevent profiling of their citizens - are we ever going to become that united?

I guess only time will tell. What say you? I'd LOVE to know your thoughts.

There is a whack of news in the feeds over on www.beltdrivebetty.com

Check the articles out, inform yourself...

Have a great HUMP day everyone and remember - if you are riding today to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and to use respect with that right hand - you never know what mother with a new baby you might be upsetting or which night shift worker you might piss off if you don't.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

Charges laid in two high profile Motorcycle Crashes

Ottawa Senators Doctor Donald Chow was injured in a motorcycle crash in 2010. The 73 year old woman that hit him, Lois Thompson has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act with one count of making an unsafe turn.

And the man responsible for the death of Liberal Aide, Mario Lague, is a 49 year old man from Gatineau QC -  Guiseppe Oppedisano, he was charged with dangerous driving causing death on January 13th.

I want to remind every rider to be hyper aware and extra vigilant this coming riding season.

Last year was a hard year on our community - it is one of the reasons that the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association has agreed to set up a fund to aide riders in the event of a crash.

The fund will provide a no interest loan to assist with out of pocket expenses until insurance starts to pay a rider back. Once the rider has proceeds coming in they are asked to repay the fund so the next rider can be assisted. This is a stop gap measure and only meant for the regions that have no organized or structured support network and not meant to duplicate the services of AIM in BC,Biker Down Society in Nova Scotia or FIRRE in Southern Alberta. Riders from or in those regions needing assistance will be directed to the organized groups. (AIM may be opening an Ottawa Chapter)

Belt Drive Betty has teamed up with Intercon Messaging to assist riders in staying safe.

Intercon Messaging offers the NEVER RIDE ALONE program for our members - similar to the Never Work Alone Programs, members of www.beltdrivebetty.com (the Biker's Discount Buying Club)  - can call the toll free number (1-866-765-6718) - they will be asked a series of quick questions, asked to check in when they stop for fuel - and should they not arrive at their destination within 15 minutes the service will call the numbers the rider leaves for contact. If after two calls the rider can not be reached, Intercon will be dispatching 911 services to find you.

The other wonderful tool we have to offer members of the BDB Club (Biker's Discount Buying Club) is the Best Roadside Assistance Program. Belt Drive Betty has teamed up with Best Roadside to offer our members exclusive pricing - for only $89.50 per year you get 6 calls, and they include fuel, lock out, towing and more...those calls are share able between you and your spouse and transferable between your pick up, car and motorcycle. They offer bilingual service - the support is good for Canada and the Continental USA (with many of the same service providers of the big boys like (CAA & AAA) and it comes with additional travel perks on top of the BDB Club Perks and those of  our Rider Friendly Business Association Members!

Membership on www.beltdrivebetty.com is free - if you decide you want a hard card and phone book for the RFBA Businesses for your Saddle Bags you can either pick one up for free at many of our oartner businesses, at any of the motorcycle shows and events that we attend or you can pay a small shipping and handling fee and we will mail you one. If you want to just download and laminate your own card you can do that as well because our phone book is available to our members in a mobile format at www.beltdrivebetty.mobi 

Don't forget our Canadian Riders Support Network either - it's free to become a member and provide assistance to your fellow rider who is broke down or otherwise needing assistance and you can access the information on the mobile site, through the printed phone book or the toll free number!

This riding season stay safe and protected with the BDB Club and it's partners of the RFBA and save money on your travel accommodations, meals and more.

In Other News:

The new book "Biker Chicz" by Winterhalder and De Clercq’s is now available world wide.

In Montreal dozens of bikers are calling for a stop to the mega trial of Hells Angels member citing everything from "abuse of procedures, impossibility of mounting a defence, unreasonable delays and illegality"

Harley-Davidson opened regional offices in Dubai

Ducati and art just got a whole lot closer to merging

The Ninja is reviewed as is the Triumph Thunderbird

And a Ducati and a Ferrari go head to head - which one wins the race?

Have a FANTASTIC day everyone!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

Faith, Religion and Motorcycles....

We have for the last few weeks been running some columns from Pastor Rob Dale of the Bikers Church in Ottawa in The Busted Knuckle Chronicles, Canada's  Weekly Rider Community Newspaper.

Now, I myself am what I call a person of faith. I believe in love, I believe in a higher power than myself, I believe in the law of attraction the way I believe in the law of gravity - I just refuse to be labeled over my personal choices for faith.

It was recently drawn to my attention that the Pastor's column might put those who are non christian on the fight or have people quit reading the paper because they don't feel comfortable.

So I thought on it long and hard - how do I personally feel and if I was a first time reader how would that column make me feel...and as an Editor, what would I do about comments or concerns from those who read OUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER?

Well - let me give you my PERSONAL stance first...

This is a community newspaper and while I, Renee "Belt Drive Betty" Charbonneau may own the newspaper, make NO MISTAKE - this is OUR PAPER - YOUR PAPER - the Community's paper.

If you send me in something that is not racist, not hate filled or geared to hurt some one intentionally...you are a rider of a motorcycle...why should it not be printed? If it can potentially have value to someone in this community - why would I not print it?
If I write something - the seminars I have taken like one's from Brian Tracy tell me - those articles will be of interest and hold appeal for 25% of the readership. 

We do it with jokes and personal columns all the time. I don't always agree with -bad Uncle Monkey, but he makes me think and sometimes laugh and guess what, I as a rider have the same ability to submit something to the paper to express my point of view...the whole idea behind a COMMUNITY news paper is to share the community, to laugh, cry, create dialogue, instill empathy, compassion, call to action....if we don't share how will we ever become more tolerant, patient or fair minded? How will we ever know when we need to stand up and protect or reach out to help?

Maybe I am a weirdo... but I figure that if you don't like something - you have a few choices. You can decide that the messenger - in this case, the Busted Knuckle Chronicles should be shot and unsubscribe from it even though 50% of it has interest to you...
You can skip the page or just skim it. You could write in and react to it and ask questions and take this as an opportunity to expand your mind or to sway the mind of someone else.

Politics and religion are two topics that shouldn't be discussed if you want to keep friends and the peace...that is what someone said to me and while on a personal level I agree - for a COMMUNITY PAPER, I don't feel that holds true.  I think that we all have the right to be heard unless what we are spewing is absolute hatred - I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THIS PAPER become some POLITICALLY CORRECT watered down thing that does not represent what the community is facing, needing or doing...DIVERSITY AND ACCEPTANCE is what a COMMUNITY newspaper is all about, I think.

If you are a sport bike rider and want to share with us...if you are a drag racer, if you are a female rider, a gay or lesbian rider, a trail or trials rider, if you are a rally coordinator, a business person who rides - if you are an independent rider or the member of a riding club - why would we stop you from sharing your story? The commonality here is RIDER....and the Busted Knuckle Chronicles is a newspaper about the Rider Community.

If a Sikh, a Jew, and Hindu, a Korean, a Tibetan a Wicken, an Atheist, a  Southern Baptist, a Rastafarian follower wanted to share their religion with us and they rode a bike - why wouldn't we offer their ideas up?

If a Motocross Rider wrote in about his sport no one would take offense or would they?
Like I said -  maybe I am a weirdo.


Politics is something that is a part of every riders life - off and on their machine.

A newspaper is about education, sharing and should result in the strengthening of a community through information and consequently empowerment. Divergent and different ideas are in the Sun, the Journal the Globe and Mail and every other community newspaper be the community local and 200 strong or national and 33-4 million strong.

If the choices and options for knowledge aren't offered then how do we grow? 

Now for my Editor's Stance: It is your newspaper - I am only the keeper. If I don't ask you what you want - then I am not serving you and representing ALL OF YOU - which is my intent.

Do you have any issue with groups like the CMA, Biker's Church or  any other Rider related "religious" organization sharing their ideas, opinions and beliefs?   Yes or NO

Do you have any issues with us carrying articles on ice racing, drag racing, trials riding, motocross or any other sport/discipline?   Yes or NO

Do you have any issues with us carrying information on Riding Clubs, Motorcycle Clubs, One Per Center Clubs or Outlaw Clubs?  Yes or NO

Do you have any issue with us carrying financial services, legal or real estate services news delivered by riders?  Yes or NO

Do you have any issue with us printing the political issues that affect our community - the motorcycle riding community - like loud pipes and motorcycle ONLY noise bylaws, guilty by association laws, perception issues or anything that can affect riders as it pertains to the law?  Yes or NO

Do you think a community news paper should accept submissions from with in the riding community as long as the topic is not meant to specifically hurt or target anyone but meant generally to serve as information/educational or to create dialogue?  Yes or NO

Based on the answers to these questions which we are going to post in an actual survey we will let you know our decision on the various topics up for discussion here.


CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE BUSTED KNUCKLE SURVEY

All entires will go into a random drawing for one of the following prizes:

Your choice of either a BDB Club patch or subscription to the newspaper.
Survey ends 11:59 pm MST December 19th, 2010 
One entry per person

As always - I welcome your input and feedback on this and every topic we discuss...
Join the discussion in our forums on www.beltdrivebetty.com, on Face Book on my personal Page - Belt Drive Betty on our fan page - Belt Drive Betty & The Busted Knuckle Chronicles or right here in my  blog!

Not a ton in the headlines today so I am going to get on with month end books and invoicing as well as rolling year end! I am only 8 days behind in invoicing and making year end calls to all of my customers - the decks have been cleared however and I finally have three days to get that job done!

Have a FABULOUS day - I know mine will be...
Please if you are attending Christmas Parties, plan your way home in advance!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

The Sens have something to give thanks for...

The Ottawa Senators have gotten some potentially good news as their orthopaedic surgeon, Don Chow made a surprise appearance at Scotiabank Place for Friday's regular-season opener, visiting with coaches, management and players before the game against the Buffalo Sabres. On Aug. 28  Dr Chow was in a collision in which his motorcycle struck a car that had turned in front of him and he suffered among other injuries brain damage.

In the USA, Lance McCoy, the half brother of Washington Redskins defencive tackle Albert Haynesworth was killed in a motorcycle crash in Nashville on Friday. According to the information available, he was speeding Thursday night when he collided with a car pulling out of a parking lot and the police said that their preliminary investigation found McCoy's excessive speed was the main cause of the crash. Our hearts go out to the family.

I got an email from Steve Hammer the Treasurer of the Salmon Arm Summer Stomp and Event Manager for Sturgis of the North. He expressed to me his dismay of how I portrayed his relationship with the two events when I wrote about conflicts of interest. He says that the Sturgis of the North event is a paid position and the Stomp is something he does to give back to his community and that the Stomp committee knew of his accepting the paid position with Sturgis North before hand. 

He felt I should have called and asked questions of both groups. I had had contact with the one and only person with the Stomp that I knew how to get a hold of.  I am now being told that this person from the Stomp committee that I talked with is disgruntled. I am told I should have done more research before I questioned what was happening. I have been given a list of people that I can contact that are also members of the Stomp Committee to get a broader sense of what is truly going on, but honestly - I have no heart for any of it. I am tired and burnt out from all of the personality conflicts and politics that have been present in my own world.

I wish both the Stomp and Sturgis of the North well and I apologize for using this situation to compare how mine measured up. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Belt Drive Betty

The Ottawa Senators are holding their breath - of that I am sure....

Dr. Chow - a Team Doctor for the Ottawa Senators was seriously injured in a motorcycle collision Saturday as he was on his way to the hospital to perform surgery. Apparently he hit the passenger side of a vehicle that cut him off and he is now in coma - in critical condition.

There have been so many serious incidents this past week that my head is reeling. The cause - they are sooo varied too. There does not appear to be any one thing that is happening more than another...to cause these incidents.

There was a passenger that came off the back of a bike in Whitby ON when the police tried to stop it's driver - apparently the acceleration caused the passenger to fall off and the bike took off - the police watched helplessly as the passenger was run over by several vehicles - none of which stopped.

In South Edmonton a man who turned on to a road - realized he had gone the wrong way onto a one way and was trying to get back on the right path was killed when he struck the median and lost control of his bike.

In Saskatchewan a rider is in hospital after a collision where in his north bound motorcycle struck a north bound pick up...In Morden Manitoba a rider did everything possible to avoid a crash - "When police arrived, they saw a motorcycle lying on its side then learned the 52 year old driver of the motorcycle was travelling east on Stephen Street when a vehicle on 10th St. pulled out on to Stephen Street in front of the motorcycle.
The driver of the motorcycle reacted by laying the bike down and sliding into the side of the vehicle"

My heart aches for everyone involve in these horrid situations and my prayers go out to their loved ones.

Folks - I am more determined than ever that F.I.R.R.E. become embraced by the riding community as a national organization to support each other. If today's blog and the articles that are in the news are not enough to convince you that we need to work together, to support each other - than what will? Your near death experience?  I hope not - I hope you will join us as we work to create education and awareness as to the many faces of the people who make up the motorcycling community and work to support each other....I, along with all of the executive of F.I.R.R.E. want to see chapters and members in EVERY province!

There is a ton of other news today:
The National Cross Country Ride for Dad wound up at CFB Esquimalt

In Calgary the Ride for Athsma - The Ride for Richard was another success

The Children's Wish Foundation got a bonus in Newfoundland


A teen racer was killed in the US in a freak accident

For the rest of the news visit: www.beltdrivebetty.com

Like every day - I welcome your feed back and I hope and pray that if you are riding today you will
Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead!

Belt Drive Betty

www.beltdrivebetty.com

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