A response from the CFSEC to my letter

Good Morning Ms. Charbonneau,

Thank you for your email. While not a “report”, I want to thank you for bringing what is a poorly worded sentence of some of our old web-only content to my attention, especially since it is accompanied by a photo of a 1% patch next to it that doesn’t represent the best image for the content. I will ensure that the content is updated to clearly reflect that while not all Outlaw MC/MG’s are 1% but all 1% clubs are Outlaw MC/MG’s, that wearing a three-piece patch does, in fact, traditionally symbolize the “outlaw” designation and all that comes with it (consent from the dominant club, a fealty-like form of support and association, etc).

I do notice, however, that you’ve posted a blog entry without the benefit of a reply. I am disappointed that you, who is a motorcycle journalist, would not fact check, make an inquiry, and/or have a conversation with me before you posted your “story”, as the majority of journalists would normally do.

Unfortunately, and quite tragically in many cases, we have seen many “non-outlaw” motorcycle “groups” here in British Columbia in recent years drift closer or associate more and more with the more well-known OMG’s and their overt support clubs in this province. These groups wear three-piece patches with the consent of the HA or their support clubs and in addition to being found at more and more HA rides or OMG events, their members are involved or suspected of being involved in various levels of criminality with or in support of traditional OMG groups.

This is, and should be, completely unacceptable to not only all legitimate MC’s and riders, especially those law-abiding ones in these groups/clubs, but the general public as well. These people are hiding behind what some are purporting to be “non-outlaw” groups, when, in fact, many of them are more “outlaw” than they claim to be and are quickly moving closer to being a “gang” and further from a mere “club”. We know this because of our investigations, what members of these groups tell us, and what is seen in public.

Regards,

Lindsey

Sergeant Lindsey Houghton Media Relations Officer Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit - BC Desk: 778-290-3099 (Mon-Thurs) Cell: 604-764-9085 Lindsey.Houghton@cfseu.bc.ca @LHoughtonCFSEU CFSEU-BC's Website Follow us on Twitter @CFSEUBC and like us on Facebook Dear Lindsey, The column I write is an opinion piece. The fact remains that, that content is on YOUR web site - I found it through an ad for the 2014 REPORT - Prevention and Public Engagement that takes one to this web page:http://www.cfseu.bc.ca/en/  The report however is buried on the bottom of  this page: http://cfseu.bc.ca/en/end-gang-life The content is on your site, and needed no clarification or verification from your office. The content is there for all to see. It's in public domain, I took offence, I wrote to you and I wrote about the offence I took and shared my letter to you.   For you to accuse me of not being like other journalists, well - I am not.  For you to jump to the conclusion that I would not give your response the "air time" it deserved is totally untrue. Please believe me I will be posting your response, in it's entirety.  Just because I tend to do things a little differently from other journalists does not mean that I don't offer the opportunity to provide dialogue and comment.  Your full response to my first letter letter and my response to you will be the topic of another "Editorial Comment" on this topic, in the very near future. I may or may not wait for your response to this letter before I share my personal feelings, observations and opinions with my readers. Just so as we are both clear, this is on the record. So let's dive into the topic at hand. Your comments are rather confusing as your ad for the web site report was on the Eagle Valley News web site today so I am unclear as to how this is OLD content.  Perhaps having a date it was created would be handy, then one could identify if it is outdated content.   Thank you for your email. While not a “report”, I want to thank you for bringing what is a poorly worded sentence of some of our old web-only content to my attention, especially since it is accompanied by a photo of a 1% patch next to it that doesn’t represent the best image for the content. I will ensure that the content is updated to clearly reflect that while not allOutlaw MC/MG’s are 1% but all 1% clubs are Outlaw MC/MG’s, that wearing a three-piece patch does, in fact, traditionally symbolize the “outlaw” designation and all that comes with it (consent from the dominant club, a fealty-like form of support and association, etc). WHAT is an "MG" if not a Motorcycle Gang?   There are NO Outlaw Motorcycle Groups - they are Motorcycle Clubs.  OMG - Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs is a designation the police services created and has no place in the motorcycle community.  We were discussing Outlaw Motorcycle CLUBS and the mis representation/information on your site that the three piece patch is an indication of 1% affiliation. Your attaching the "MG" police designation beside the MC designation is confusing.  Or did you mean Motorcycle Group?  If that is the case, and I believe it is, then you really are doing a disservice to all riders.  The statement should read "NOT ALL Outlaw Clubs are 1% Clubs but ALL 1% Clubs are Outlaw Clubs". PERIOD I take a lot of offence to this comment: "that wearing a three-piece patch does,in fact, traditionally symbolize the “outlaw” designation and all that comes with it (consent from the dominant club, a fealty-like form of support and association, etc)." In Fact NOT all Outlaw Clubs go to the dominant club for permission, there are many Law Enforcement Motorcycle Clubs, Veterans Motorcycle Clubs as well as those who accept law enforcement and first responders into their clubs, who wear a three piece patch and have a prospecting phase, who do not approach a dominant and do not follow the COC protocols.   They are still three piece patch clubs, Outlaws by the strictest of definition, but not 1%. The Outlaw designation does NOT necessarily come with consent from the dominant club, it is not a fealty like form of support and in no way represents association.   The Outlaw designation has everything to do with earning a patch and nothing else.  Could you please make your wording less ambiguous? Please? I take a lot of offence to this particular paragraph: Begin Quote: Unfortunately, and quite tragically in many cases, we have seen many “non-outlaw” motorcycle “groups” here in British Columbia in recent years drift closer or associate more and more with the more well-known OMG’s and their overt support clubs in this province. These groups wear three-piece patches with the consent of the HA or their support clubs and in addition to being found at more and more HA rides or OMG events, their members are involved or suspected of being involved in various levels of criminality with or in support of traditional OMG groups.  This is, and should be, completely unacceptable to not only all legitimate MC’s and riders, especially those law-abiding ones in these groups/clubs, but the general public as well. These people are hiding behind what some are purporting to be “non-outlaw” groups, when, in fact, many of them are more “outlaw” than they claim to be and are quickly moving closer to being a “gang” and further from a mere “club”. We know this because of our investigations, what members of these groups tell us, and what is seen in public. End Quote So what you are saying here, if I understand you correctly, is that you are seeing members of Motorcycle "Groups" as you call them associating with Hells Angels or "OMG" feeder clubs.  Is that Correct? To what NON OUTLAW groups do you refer? The Harley Owners Group? The Okanagan Motorcycle Riding Association? The Women in the Wind?  The Rock Solid Biker Church? The Shadow Riders? The Border Riders? Who are these NON OUTLAW, Motorcycle GROUPS you refer to? What do their patches or CUT look like?  Your attempt to tar members of riding clubs and associations with "we have seen many “non-outlaw” motorcycle “groups” here in British Columbia in recent years drift closer or associate more and more with the more well-known OMG’s and their overt support clubs in this province", as a justification for misrepresenting who is who in the motorcycle community appears to me to be nothing more than a profiling of our community.   Just because I wear a patch and ride with an MRC - Motorcycle Riding Club (a motorcycle group as you call it), motorcycle association, motorcycle ministry, veterans MC or manufacturers club does not mean I will gravitate towards a tight relationship with 1% or their feeders clubs.   That is like saying that because I am black, wear a certain style of pants and hat, that I am going to gravitate towards being a member of the Jamaican Posse or some other street gang, or that because there are police officers (now former police officer) like Monty Robinson on the force that all police officers have a tendency to CYA and be drink drivers or alter reports to protect themselves. Or that because priest XYZ molested little boys that all priests have the predilection towards molesting little boys.  Profiling is profiling and it is wrong, but because clothing isn't protected under the charter you seem to feel you are able to profile motorcyclists and that it is OK to do so. It is not OK. I fail to see where your comments regarding non outlaw clubs has anything to do with my original email to you, but you sure have given me more reason to be upset not only as a journalist, but as a rider and taxpayer.  You cause every rider to wear a social stigma because you can't get your terminology right, where is that fair? You cause very rider to experience barriers to tourism and tourism services like meals, beverages etc.  Establishments that are licensed tend to be the ones most fearful of serving riders who wear their patches or cut because of conflicting terminology and a lack of understanding of the motorcycle community and the lack of educational materials like photos to identify the 1% community and training to those establishments and their employees.  I find it interesting that you did not address the fact that many Outlaw Law Enforcement Clubs exist - they have a prospecting phase and wear a three piece patch - you earn that patch, you can't buy it.  You do realize that you have tarred a large percentage of the Police Service Community with the label of 1% er because you can't get your terminology right. Not only that, but many of those Law Enforcement Motorcycle Clubs do not wear the appropriate LE designation and that causes even more confusion and fear for all involved. Please see the attachment of the ad I clicked on and some interesting Outlaw Patches that are NON 1% - in fact all are Law Enforcement Outlaw Clubs. I look forward to your response and unlike other journalists, I will print your entire response, not just a snippet. Sincerely, Renee "Belt Drive Betty" Charbonneau Belt Drive Betty Media Editor- The Busted Knuckle Chronicles So, we shall see what the next response is, if there is one.   This started out to be an editorial rant on the way things are worded and the inferences one draws, but, it appears that is has become one about education and profiling. Semantics and inference... I have attempted at various times in the past to get a civil rights lawyer willing to take on this challenge, but sadly, the Canadian Civil Liberties movement clearly does not extend to the riding community.  There appears to be no one who thinks that the riding community needs and deserves protection under the charter as a visible minority. By virtue of the fact that riders, those who wear a patch or cut, are being "monitored" because they might become friends with someone who wears a 1% or feeder club cut is cause for concern. We truly are a visible minority, we truly appear to be being profiled, but because we have no unified voice, no advocacy group, we are unprotected. It is perfectly fine to label every rider who wears a patch or cut as a potential bad person all in the name of crime prevention. That appears to be the message. In fact, there have been some cases where legitimately non criminal Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs AKA Traditional Motorcycle Clubs have been unfairly tarred with a brush they don't deserve - remember what happened in Orangeville Ontario, in Medicine Hat  Alberta and in Kelowna and Ladysmith BC?  In Orangeville, members of one piece patch clubs were asked to leave a Legion because of liquor license restrictions. In Medicine Hat the Falcons were served their food outside on the grass so as not to violate the license for the legion there - other things transpired here as well - so read the article I linked to above.   In Kelowna and Ladysmith, the Veterans MC have been tarred as 1%. They are adamant that they are not, that they are simply veterans but no matter, they are still under scrutiny - unfairly in my estimation as I know many of the members.  Read through the comments on the article linked above, about a Kelowna Gang that was convicted - the comments become somehow about the Veterans MC and the crew in Ladysmith and have a lot of Veterans MC members very upset.   And frankly I don't blame them. I know that pictures of their cuts were circulated to licensed establishments as a banned club, along with the HA and a few others. I saw the email and the print out with my own eyes.  The ideology behind the "Three piece patch being an indication of 1% affiliation" might be behind the tarring of this club.  I am just guessing here. I support the Veterans MC through our newspaper.  Why? Because I support our military and our veterans and until such time as I know for myself first hand that the clubs are going in a different direction than being about veterans causes and community, I'll keep on supporting them.  Same with the Falcons or any of the others I know who are law abiding. If everything the various newspaper reports on these three incidents, the reports from some of the clubs that were affected like the Falcons MC, is remotely true, then Houston we have a problem... Peoples reputations have suffered, peoples lives have been affected and there truly appears to be no recourse for it. I understand that the police need to do their job and keep communities safe. I do get that. The way they go about doing their jobs though, makes me wonder.   Since when are you guilty until proven innocent?   What say you? If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you - and remember our SPOT THE GEAR FAIL contest for your chance to win some fabulous prizes from Kimpex and Draggin Jeans! Belt Drive Betty Editor & Rider

Here we go again: Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC - Report

Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC

It is no wonder the general public can be so scared and confused by the motorcycle community.

When even the police cannot identify who is who in the motorcycle world how in the HE Double Hockey Sticks is anyone else supposed to understand us?

In their report on GANGS, the Combined Forces Special Enforces Unit actually claims that three piece patch is and indication that one is in an outlaw 1% GANG.

Seriously, that's what they state:

The official “uniform” of all Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs) is their “Colours,” which always remain the property of the club. The Hells Angels colours consist of a three-piece patch, which signifies to law enforcement that the club is an outlaw one-percenter motorcycle gang. The term “one-percenter” is an historical term that was used to distinguish the outlaw motorcycle gangs from the majority of law-abiding motorcycle enthusiasts following violent riots in Hollister, California in 1947.  Numerous OMGs have since adopted the term. If you look closely, you will see the 1% designation on an OMG jacket or vest.

Either the police services are blatantly attempting to make people believe that all three piece patches are criminal or gang related OR they are  VERY mis informed and uneducated about the patch hierarchy of the motorcycle community.

I took such offence that I wrote their Communications and Media Person, here is my letter:

Dear Sgt. Lindsey Houghton,

I read with great dismay your report on OMG's. (http://www.cfseu.bc.ca/en/as-bad-as-they-look)

I often wondered why so many NON 1%, outlaw clubs are targeted for special attention where none is warranted, now I know.

There is one sentence that is so false and so wrong in your report: "The Hells Angels colours consist of a three-piece patch, which signifies to law enforcement that the club is an outlaw one-percenter motorcycle gang. "

As a motorcycle journalist, I have written a number of articles on the motorcycle community and our patches and cuts to educate new riders as to who is who and how to identify them.  

Perhaps it is time the BEU and others educate themselves as to the nature of the various cuts in our community.

Just because someone who wants to introduce an outlaw club into a territory goes and speaks with the dominant club in the region to get permission to wear their cut does not make them affiliated with the dominant (usually but not always a 1% club).  

Getting permission means that the new Outlaw MC is not cutting into the territory or business of the 1% club. It means not getting their asses beat every time a 1%er sees a 3 piece outlaw cut they don't recognize.  When the dominant club has approved a cut to be worn by a new Outlaw Club, the rest of the members of the dominant now know to leave the Outlaw MC alone, that they are not a threat to their territory or business.

The three piece patch is about earning it not buying it. 

Not all Outlaw MC's are 1% but ALL 1% Clubs are Outlaw Clubs.

I urge you to educate yourselves and properly inform the civilian who does not ride, the truth of our community. 

You are doing a great disservice to the entire motorcycle community by making statements that are patently false and misrepresent our community.

I have included links to two of the many articles I have written on patches and cuts in an effort to help educate your officers as to the truth about our patches and cuts:

http://beltdrivebetty.blogspot.in/2014/07/a-little-education-on-mc-world.html

http://beltdrivebetty.blogspot.ca/2014/07/why-outlaw-mcs-and-1-clubs-appear-to.html

If the statement in your article were true, then there would be a ton of Law Enforcement Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs that would be considered 1% Motorcycle Gangs.

Sincerely,

Renee "Belt Drive Betty" Charbonneau

Belt Drive Betty Media

Editor- The Busted Knuckle Chronicles

To read the entire report visit: http://www.cfseu.bc.ca/en/about-cfseu-bc

I'd love your thoughts and comments on this topic!

There is a ton of news over at www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping you informed.
Today is also Canadian Motorcycle News Day - that's right, this week's edition of the Busted Knuckle Chronicles is online!

Did you get a photo of someone not geared up for safety on their motorcycle?
If you did, get it entered into our Capture the Gear Fail Contest - we have great prizes from Kimpex and Draggin Jeans so check it out!

Have a great day everyone and if you are blessed enough to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please, consider wearing good gear!

Today we honour and remember all who lost their lives on 9/11.
Please take a moment to remember them.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Dealing with lawyers and lawsuits - fun and games - NOT!

I recently posted a photo of Doc, my 2010 Ultra Classic with 9,800 miles on it, on Facebook, with the information that I am selling him in order to put a big chunk of money on the upcoming lawyers bills that I know will be arriving sooner than later.

A few people who although we are connected on Facebook, have not truly been following the story aka SAGA and took a few things out of context.

My goal here is to clear the air and update people on exactly where things stand.

For those who have not been following this misadventure, I am being sued by Sturgis North/Canada, Ray Sasseville and Joan Hansen for Libel, slander and defamation.

My reporting on Ray Sasseville and his history included links, screen shots and documents - you can read up on the history of the lawsuit here:
http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/community/bdb-defense-fund

No matter that what I reported was already in public domain and all I had done was put everything together in one place, Ray and his group decided to sue myself along with 6 others.

The shotgun lawsuit, initiated just before Christmas, included the Mayor of Sicamous, the City of Sicamous, the Sicamous Chamber of Commerce, Steve Hammer, Bernie Aubin, Vince Lewis and myself.

My attorney calls it a nuisance suit.

Nothing about this lawsuit has been straight forward.
Shortly after the suit was launched by lawyer Gerhard Pyper, Ray petitioned to self represent on behalf of himself and the company.  Joan however was still represented by Pyper.

In March we got an offer to settle from Gerhard Pyper.

The first six defendants took the offer they were given. Their offer was that if they didn't ask for costs, the plaintiffs would drop the suit.

The offer I was given was unacceptable.
They basically wanted a $250,000 gag order on me and for me to remove any reference to them off my site, out of my newspaper and to monitor social media and ensure that no one in my circle said anything about them. If I didn't they'd claim the bond money.

As a reporter, I have done my job well. I reported facts, provided evidence and asked people to educate themselves.   Nothing I wrote was untrue, nor written with malice, therefore it is not slanderous, libellous or defamation. I am covered under fair comment and freedom of the press.

Still, I must get before a judge for those freedoms to be exercised.
AND - that costs money and lots of it.

The latest developments in this case are that Gerhard Pyper, the lawyer for Joan Hansen was suspended and his law firm was closed down by the BC Law Society.  Ray is listed as self representing for himself and Sturgis North. Joan however is not represented by anyone at the moment.

Before I had a chance to send my counter offer to Ray, I got a second offer to settle from a new lawyer out of Kelowna named Greg Alfonsso.  That offer was for $1,000 cash and 30 four day passes that I could sell to offset my lawyers bills if I would market their event for them.  Again, in all good conscience I did not feel I could take this offer and so my lawyer had to rewrite my counter offer and sent it off to the new lawyer along with Ray and Joan.

To date there has been no response from any of the parties to my counter offer.

On top of that, the consent to dismiss orders for the others have hit a road block.
The only dismissal that has taken pace is that involving the Mayor and the City of Sicamous.
The other four parties paperwork was apparently never filed by Gerhard Pyper's office.
It took the BC Law Society this much time to determine this.  So now the other 4 parties will have to incur more costs to see if the original consents can be found, and if so can they be filed.

If not, then they too will face the challenge of getting the other parties to communicate and again it will cost them more money.

I myself, have recently sworn out an affidavit for my lawyer to use to have my case moved from Surrey to Salmon Arm/Vernon.  My lawyer will need to go to Surrey and petition the court to transfer the case. That means a minimum of a full day out of his office on top of the preparations for that hearing and the paperwork that will come out of that hearing.

He told me to prepare for $7-$10K for that portion of the bill.
The next step will cost far less as it will involve a hearing before a judge in Salmon Arm/Vernon where in we will petition the court to ask Ray and company, to post a bond for costs.

Then, if they do that we proceed to examinations for discovery, then to trial. If they don't post a bond, then the judge will examinee the case and potentially throw it out. At least that is my understanding on how this is supposed to work.  Each step of the way will cost a different amount of money and time.  I have been told to prepare for an over all bill of $50K from this date forward, so that I am ready for the long haul if this does go that way.

So that's where the legal end of things stand...now to deal with the money portion.

Ours is a community newspaper that does a lot of charity work and as such, it does not generate huge money, basically it covers its costs and modest wages for myself and my staff. Without fundraising, the business would be at jeopardy.  So I had started tee shirt campaigns, donation drives, sold a company bike - a Johnny Pag, some art that was donated to me via an online auction and Blair Weber organized a Poker Run to help me.

At the end of May, on the Defence Fund Poker Run, I was involved in a mishap where my bike ended up getting totalled.

I lost control in a washout on a gravel road and another rider hit me from behind before I had gone down. Had that other rider not hit me, I would have only had to replace the front fender and lived with a battle scarred fairing.  As it was though, the bike was written off and the RCMP consequently charged the other rider with following too close.  The bike I bought to replace my Street glide with was purchased at Edmonton Harley-Davidson.  With what insurance gave me for my bike, some personal savings and $1,800 of the money from the poker run I was able to get another work vehicle.
(As a moto journalist, my motorcycle is a workhorse not a pleasure machine.)

I had no choice, if I wanted to keep the newspaper running, my source of income, not to mention my employees paid,  I had to use some of that money. I have managed to keep paying the lawyer because I was working and so eventually the $1,800 raised did go on the lawyers bill, but funny thing, those bills just keep coming.

Had I been able to put all of that defence run money on the bill at the time, I'd be about $1,800 closer to having him paid up towards this newest bill. As it stands, I owe him about $500 right now, since I was able to, yesterday, make a payment to him from the sale of SOA art in an online auction we held last month.

Because of the latest twists and turns of this lawsuit, I have an anticipated $7-$10K bill coming to get the venue changed from Surrey to Salmon Arm.

I also have a business loan and my motorcycle is but one piece of the collateral for that loan.
My banker has agreed that if I sell the bike, they will take 50% towards my loan and allow me the other 50% to pay my lawyer.

If this court case gets dropped, by some miracle, then I will just continue paying the lawyer monthly until he is paid off and use the remaining money towards another bike.

Nothing about this lawsuit has been straight forward nor does it remotely resemble normal practices according to my attorney.

I need to take some stress off of my brain so that I can focus and concentrate on doing the work my team and I do in and for the riding community.

If I can't put my focus on Belt Drive Betty Media and all of the support tools we offer the community then I and my employees will not have wages to live on.
This doesn't just affect me or my small staff, it affects the entire community that uses our events calendars, our newspaper and web sites as sources of information.

I am not asking for a hand out but a hand up.
I am willing to sell everything I own to defend myself if that's what it takes to see this thing through.

I am selling items like tee shirts, like so many businesses do, but instead of that money funding my business, like it does for other businesses, the tee shirt sales are helping to fund my lawsuit.

If you know anyone looking for a great bike with extended warranty, please put them in touch with me via bdbetty @ gmail.com  - fix the spaces.

If you are interested in purchasing a tee shirt to support the cause please visit: http://teespring.com/beltdrivebetty

I hope this clears things up for those who seem to be confused about this lawsuit, and what I am preparing for and why I am doing what I am doing.  I want to do the work I do, pay my bills, eat decently and enjoy life just like every other working stiff out there.  I want to be able to sleep at night without worrying about how I am going to come up with the money for the lawyer, a bill I know is coming sooner than later.

That's all!  By selling my bike, I can take the pressure off of the looming lawyer's bill and focus on the business and community.

By the way we have some great prizes up for grabs in our Capture the Gear Fail Photo Contest.

You could win a pair of boots and a helmet from Kimpex - a value of $300 for your first place photo and for the second place photo you could win a pair of Draggin Jeans!

Visit Our Contest Page to find out more!

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

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.

Riding Smart, Riding Safe - what happens when we don't

A family in the UK has decided to release helmet camera footage from their son's crash with the hopes that they can prevent even one person from dying needlessly.

The video clearly shows that the rider's excessive speed and the auto drivers lack of judgement caused a young man to loose his life, a mother to grieve, a family bereft.

A majority of riders love to "race" the wind, most of us at times, like to push it a little harder than is wise to do.

A spring day, you haven't been out in a while, you are feeling full of zest for life and you make that one fatal decision, to wick on the throttle, just as you have on other odd occasions, only this time, you didn't get lucky. There are no heroic bench racing stories to tell. Its over, and your family and friends are left to deal with the aftermath.

This video poignantly shows a mother's pain and love. Her pride and her deep, profound sorrow.

I hope that sharing this helps prevent one mom from having to feel the way this one does.

R.I.P. David Holmes.  Thank you to his mother, Brenda Holmes for sharing his story with the rest of us.  I for one deeply appreciate it.

Remember our Spot the Gear Fail Photo Contest for your chance to win:

First Place: A CKX Revolt Helmet and a Pair of Oxford Apache Boots from KIMPEX 

Second Place -  a Pair of Draggin' Jeans 

Please visit the contest page for the details on how to submit your photo.

We already have a couple of entries!

I am looking forward to seeing your photos added to the gallery!

If you are blessed to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please consider wearing all the gear!

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

A tough year almost behind me…

Ever since I arrived home from Ireland last October, life has thrown me curve ball after curve ball that I had not anticipated.

I had to let go of the person laying out the paper and doing the books for the company. That was a tough thing to do with so much work on my plate after having been on the road for so long, not to mention the fact that we had an 8-year history.

Had I known the full ramifications of riding across Canada in support of our veterans, had I known it was going to cost me so much personally, or exactly what I was going to face, I sure would have done things differently – but, hindsight is always 20/20!

Then Ray Sasseville, Joan Hansen and Sturgis North sued me along with 6 other people.

They claimed slander, libel and defamation.

I was angry, incredulous and determined.

The ensuing 4 months, from December 21st/22nd when I was served until March 30th or there about, were filled with; myself, a research assistant and a friend going through hundreds and thousands of emails, creating timelines, organizing all data and letters in a chronological time frame.  To say it was exhausting is putting it mildly.

Add to that sales of ads for the Rider Friendly Phone Book, dealing with advertisers who broke their contract and held the book up for 5-6 weeks, and then a motorcycle crash, getting to know the IOMC and the ruckus that caused with folks in the US 1% circle and I feel like I have been under siege all year long.

The phone book being held up was costly in more ways than one as I had to air freight the books in.  It also upset riders who bought books and has caused me to return to going to layout in December and January and to print in February – that means changing marketing materials and book keeping but it also means that the book will go out to purchasers in a timely fashion and that the app and download version will also be up in a timely fashion.

My trip this summer was a muted one. I spent many nights on the couches, airbeds and in spare rooms of good friends and family in Alberta and BC. Without my friends and family, I could not have continued to do my job. You are too numerous to mention, but I hope you know how deeply I thank you for your support, friendship and love.

This whole Sturgis North lawsuit is a fiasco. NOTHING about this lawsuit is typical; first they issue a shotgun lawsuit where in they sue the City of Sicamous, the Sicamous Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor of Sicamous, Steve Hammer of Summer Stomp, Bernie Aubin of the Headpins, Vince Lewis and myself.

In late March, an offer to settle is given to the first 6 defendants, basically the offer said; “if you don’t charge for costs and we’ll go away”.  I too got an offer to settle but the offer to settle with me was much different. They wanted me to remove all reference to their names, in the newspaper and web sites, promise to never utter their names and post a $250K bond – oh and monitor social media to ensure no one in my circle said anything bad about them.

My attorney and I drafted a counter offer to settle that clearly laid out that all of the complaints – A- K, that were filed against me were non slanderous/libelous nor were they defaming.  We wanted to wait to send it until the other 6 cases were rubber stamped through the courts as dealt with.

Then Gerhard Pyper, the lawyer for Sturgis North, Ray Sasseville and Joan Hansen is suspended.  We waited and waited to see where the other 6 cases were in the court system.

While we were in this holding pattern, I got a second offer to settle via Ray’s new lawyer, Gregg Alfonso which stated that:

Dear Renee’,

                I would like to settle this dispute amicably with you and move forward, withdraw the lawsuit  and concentrate on the Motorcycling Community as a whole. Your past postings have been criticizing me for leaving a wave of destruction re creditors from past events. Even though it puzzles me why you went to such great extents to involve my family I have heard and understood the message. I take full responsibility on behalf of Sturgis North as its CEO re the past debts that are outstanding and will try my hardest to satisfy those debts albeit a little at a time. I apologize to all debtors and ask that they give me a chance to satisfy the debts which has been my intention all along. My only intention ever has been to put on an event for the Motorcycling community to be able to meet, share experience and enjoy great music and each others company. I chose to continue to put on the best festival possible in order to maintain our goal for the Motorcycling Community and pay down past debts on a timely basis as opposed to walking away and not attempting to take care of our obligations. I truly you believe you have the best interests of the creditors and Motorcycling community at heart and would like to see the creditors paid back therefore I am willing to offer the following.

1. The letter of apology to the creditors for you to post if you wish not mentioning any blame on your part re your articles
2. I have set up a trust fund with my Lawyer Gregg Alfonso with Alfonso Law Corp to collect and pay to the creditors on a prorated basis at the end of the festival a percentage of our online ticket sales annually. This will ensure that monies are distributed each year regardless of what the festival makes because this is not based on profits. Your lawyer will be informed of the details 
3. Obviously since this whole thing was about your interpretation of my character and the fact that you want the creditors paid I will need help to market my festival so the creditors will get paid back annually until paid upon agreed invoicing amounts. Thus you will achieve the main goal which was making me accointable and getting the creditors paid. 
4. I am willing to pay you $1000 for advertisig on your weekly editions up to the festival
5. I am willing to give you 30 4 day all event passes for you to sell to some of your 75,000 readers who will purchase them from you once they see this has been setllrd and you can keep the monies $310 per 4 day event pass ticket which totals a tad over $9000 which when added with the advertising money will get you out of debt with your lawyer.

                Ray Sasseville

I had some tough questions to ask myself. Clearly Ray blames me for why the riding community was not embracing his event. Clearly we had all heard before that a fund would be set up to pay vendors etc., but nothing seemed to materialize. Clearly Ray wants to hold me accountable for why people won’t get paid if I don’t take his deal. BUT - Could I promote someone who was suing me? Could I possibly want to tie my name to their event anymore than I already had with sponsorship in 2011 and 12? 

In all good conscience, I could not and so, I chose to pass on this offer to settle and my lawyer sent in my first counter offer, albeit redrafted to the new attorney and geared towards the second offer to settle as opposed to the first.

To date I have not heard from the good folks at Sturgis North/Canada, Ray Sasseville and Joan Hansen regarding my counter offer.

I attended Sturgis Canada; I experienced the small attendance, the disorganization and some of the politics of the 2014 version of the event first hand.  I reported on the event in as professional and level headed manner as is possible and have left it to the attendees who were unhappy, the booking agent, Keith Sharp, the band manager Ted VanBoort, the hotelier who said he hadn’t been paid and the Royal Canadian Legion who say they don’t think they will get paid, to say their piece on Facebook, in the Merritt Herald and in my blog through screen captures.

Now I get a letter from my lawyer that states that the 6 other cases have NOT gone through the court the way they were supposed to and that only one of the consent to dismiss orders were ever filed. So in effect, the Sicamous Chamber of Commerce, Steve Hammer, Bernie Aubin and Vince Lewis along with myself, are all right back to where we were.

He has also advised me that we are pushing on to a change of venue application to get the case moved to Salmon Arm. This is going to be an expensive undertaking, getting the case moved.  It means my lawyer going to the courthouse in Surrey and meeting with a judge.

I am advised I will need to prepare for a $7-10K bill for that alone, not to mention the $2,100 I owe him at the moment.

I have been getting a lot of comments from people about countersuing the group, it may come to that, although I am advised there isn’t anything of any substance to attach to and that it could get costlier than the $50K it is slated to cost to see this thing through. 

Besides, I am one in a long list of people who would be going after assets. Michael Smith has a $70,000 judgment and then there is the BC Securities hearing in October and the Arizona Lawsuit that has been going on for ages that will go to trial in 2015.  There really is nothing to gain in trying to counter sue – I would get a piece of paper saying I am owed and that paper would be worthless.

Folks, I need your help if I am going to succeed.  The time and focus this court case has taken away from the business side of what I do has been telling and has hurt me financially and reputation wise – people don’t like it when you miss deadlines.

So far this community, has helped me pay my lawyers bill and I am asking you to keep that support coming.  I have hired two sales people and with their help and perhaps the help of a few more, the business end of things will get righted shortly.

I need to keep my attention, as much as possible on the business; I need to get rid of some of the worry about paying the lawyer… I have to swallow my pride and ask…

Please consider donating to my Defense Fund or buying a tee shirt for my Offence Fund, which is what I now prefer to call it.

On top of all of those challenges I have had 6 friends pass away, and that was/is hard to deal with. My hubby going through an MS attack was another toughie I have had to endure.

But as in all things life, a ray of sunshine always presents itself…

I became a great aunty twice in the space of 10 days, I have a new great niece and a great nephew!

Those two wonderful occasions have brought new life to this very tired spirit, as did the friends and family who helped me to accomplish my sales and reporting trip.

To those who propped me up while I was struggling to deal with death after death, and frustration after frustration, there are no words to express my gratitude.

I am not sure what these various trials and tribulations are preparing me for, but man I am ready for the tides to turn. 

Our Canada’s Most Rider Friendly Community Contest is shaping up nicely, our Spot the Gear Fail contest has just kicked off and is offering great prizes from Kimpex and Draggin Jeans and we are getting ready to launch our newest Rider Survey!

Our 2015 Beat the PMS Blues Online Show N Shine is also beginning to take shape with Big Blue coming on board as a major sponsor and I have about a dozen advertising proposals to build.

I know that with the help of this community we are going to go on to bigger and better things and I promise you all this much, I will continue to pay forward every kindness and helping hand I get to all of the charities and the riding clubs who support them through free promotion and marketing…

To donate to my Defence Fund: CLICK HERE

To Buy an Offence Fund Tee Shirt: CLICK HERE

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

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

Sturgis Canada, a post mortem

Thanks to some friends who had a booth at Sturgis Canada, I was able to attend the event on Saturday evening, so that I could see first hand what was going on and speak to people about how they felt about the event. 

With a venue like the old Merritt Mountain Music Fest site, one would have thought that this event would be stellar, after all, according to articles in the Merritt Herald, they had a new and improved management team with rock solid finances.  http://www.saobserver.net/news/236404261.html

They had a great line up of bands and the coordinators have had two previous attempts to learn from and they had almost two years to plan this one, so what went wrong?

According to some of the locals that I spoke with, the town was invited to the event for free on Thursday evening, all they had to do was show their DL or another piece of ID to prove they lived in Merritt and they'd get free entry. There were, in the picture that was shared with me from Thursday night 12 people, 6 of them staff/volunteers watching the bands.

So why did the town of Merritt not embrace this event?

Here is my thought, why would a community want to support a group that sued another city, a chamber of commerce and a mayor over the burnout competitions? The suit was publicized in the regional newspapers: http://issuu.com/blackpress/docs/i20140115070529177/1?e=1205826/6357636

If you are going to sue a partner community and a non profit, then that might make other partner communities a little leery, no matter that the suit was dropped only five short months later.
When you sue a town, you are in effect suing the taxpayer.

It did rain hard about 2 hours before the event opened but reportedly it had cleared off by 7pm.

Why did this event not have great attendance?

I have a number of points that I'd like to touch on here...

There was almost no marketing of the event, I saw one ad in the Port Dover Maple Leaf, they had their bus at the Cloverdale Rodeo, but beyond some radio and the odd poster, there was no real hype about the event.

Did you know that there was a Sturgis Canada App? Neither did I until I was going through comments on their Facebook Page looking to find out what others were saying and feeling.

Their promotions, their web site, Facebook page and their entire marketing plan lacked the super human effort it takes to get the word out, at least that's the way it appeared to me.

They went head to head with the PNE, where reportedly there were some awesome concerts like Trooper on the Thursday night that Sturgis Canada opened, that were free with your $18 gate fee: http://www.pne.ca/thefair/index.html.  You could also reserve seats if you wanted to pay an extra $20.

They went head to head with the Salt Spring Island Toy Run, the Defenders Poker Run, the Airdrie Bikes & Bulls event, the Assholes Toy Run and many, many other events.

When you combine the lack of marketing with the time of year and the volume of motorcycle events and all of the music festivals in BC, you really reduce your chances for success.

When it comes to the riding community, many people who attended in the past decided to take a wait and see attitude.  The few who did decide to give it another chance, have had very strong comments about their experience:

Reportedly the motorcycle rodeo games never took place and the Motorcycle Cowboys never performed. The Veteran's and the Breast Cancer Poker Runs were both cancelled as was the Cabbage Patch Wrestling. The show n shine apparently went off, but no one seemed to know much about and no winners were announced. The Miss Sturgis Canada competition is another event no one seemed to know about and there was little publicity for.

The Mad Mike Rocket Jump was postponed, but no where was that fact mentioned to people, and apparently the VIP tickets weren't so VIP according to the posts and comments made by some of the VIP's.

In fact, it seems that none of the things that were cancelled were explained or promoted any better than the things that did go on.

In speaking with some riders from Saskatoon and Regina who had bought VIP tickets, they were pissed that they were charged in American funds.  They were given the choice of a pulled pork sandwich or a beef brisket on a bun for their meals other than the one night when they got ribs.
The snacks that were served were nothing more than small cups of potato chips. There were all kinds of non VIP people in the VIP beer gardens and non VIP in the main stage seating area. That was just some of Annette and Herb's observations.

At 7 PM

There are so many things that went wrong with this event that it is truly hard to find anything other than the music that went right. The production crew from SWAV did a phenomenal job making those musicians music come across loud and clear and the guy in charge of lighting did an amazing job of making sure they looked good.  The gent running the Jumbotron camera was incredible at his job.

During Moxy

I watched Moxy, Molly Hatchet and some of Burton Cummings performance and all three rocked the house. I left after three songs of Burton Cummings because I was just too cold to stay any more.

At 7 pm

The volunteers I dealt with were awesome and sure tried their best to do their jobs and answer questions and deal with upset people. The lack of understanding of their jobs and their inability to answer questions was frustrating but they were genuine and caring and did their best.

VIP Beer Gardens during Moxy

The people who attended the event enjoyed the music, who couldn't, it was awesome, but the lack of communication, the lack of marketing and two failed attempts in the past created a scenario that I am sure no one fully expected.

If there were 100 people to watch Moxy, I'd be surprised and by the time Burton Cummings came on stage there were close to 500 people present. Some people say I am wrong and that the number was more like 350.  Either way, it was not the turnout that was hoped for I am sure.

Molly Hatchet

During Molly Hatchet

Molly Hatchet

    Burton Cummings

It has been interesting attempting to get to the truth as to why Sturgis Canada was shut down on Sunday.

I have heard rumours about everything from the liquor license got pulled to the production people pulled out for non payment and all things in between.

The truth that I have been able to uncover is that the liquor license was NOT pulled, not by the RCMP or the Liquor Board.

The truth is the organizers cancelled Sunday:

No where does the person making the updates for Sturgis Canada address the issue of refunds or partial refunds for the fact that the event was only three days and not 4. Nor do they address the cancellations of various events or any kind of compensation for the lack of activities.

I spoke with Nick Brusatore of the band Franklin's Dealers who were supposed to play on Sunday.
Nick is a business man and a musician.  He was also a sponsor of Sturgis Canada to the tune of $50,000.  He is disappointed that the event was cancelled on Sunday but also says he understands that sometimes in business you have to make tough decisions.  Since the attendance was so poor, he said he could understand them shutting down to save the costs.

The money he sponsored for the event was supposed to go towards paying for Katey Sagal to come and play, but he did not know why she cancelled. I have sent an email in to Ms. Sagal's booking agent Belle Zwerdling to see if I can learn why she cancelled.

I contacted the Port o Potty supplier, Interior Portable Rentals out of Kelowna, the manager declined to comment on why the port o potties were chained up on Sunday morning, he stated he knew there was animosity between myself and the coordinators and said the details were between him and the client and none of my business.  I thanked him for his time and moved on to the next calls.

The RCMP in Merritt had their media relations officer, Constable Tracy Dunsmore contact me regarding the allegations that the police were heavy handed and had removed the road signs directing people to the event. Cst. Dunsmore assured me that the RCMP did not remove any signage and expressed that many members were sent home and that only regular time officers were on duty and that was because the event was so quiet. It appears that Sturgis Canada will be getting a refund on the enhanced policing costs.

Only one Hells Angel's booth was on hand but it was in the campground, away from the general public at the festival site ergo there were little or no BEU agents present or at least they weren't highly visible.  The police did have a road side check stop, but they were stopping ALL vehicles, not just bikes.

During my conversation with the constable, she expressed that in their detachment there are 8 officers who ride, including the Staff Sergeant and for anyone to think they hate riders, well that would be wrong.

They were just doing their jobs.

There was a ticket handed out for a helmet violation to a gent who was wearing a beanie that was not DOT, he was the most vocal about the police being oppressive. Personally I found the officers on duty to be very pleasant and all seemed to have a good sense of humour.

That alone should tell you a lot - I generally don't enjoy the police at many events, but these people were more than pleasant and friendly, in much the way they were in Sicamous.

I have a call into the sound company, SW Audio Visual out of Kelowna, my goal in talking to them is to find out if in fact the coordinators told them there would be no bands for the day or if there was any other reason they pulled out early.

Keith Sharp of Music Express had some harsh comments regarding Sunday:

I have emailed Keith to see if he will talk to me about what transpired.

I will do a follow up on this event if I learn anything of value, it is early days and the fallout has just begun of that I am sure.  Every event, even the ones that go off seemingly perfect, have fallout to deal with! 

I hope you have had a wonderful riding season, I know mine has been busy and exhausting and I am looking forward to finally getting home and getting back into full swing work routine, I have a lot to accomplish in the next while and I am stimulated in spite of being tired. 

I am looking forward to squeezing my hubby and snuggling my cats and sleeping in my own bed.... that's gonna be a bit of heaven!

If you are blessed to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please consider wearing good gear....dress for the slide, not the ride.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider