My new Baby is home!

Yesterday was big day for me. My new FLHX arrived at 11pm!
When I can get a decent picture, I'll post one.

She's a beaut! All black and shiny.....
I'm stoked, this is a dream come true and I owe it all to my husband, Mark!

Runs pages have been updated and Ali should have them up soon!
We are slowly unburying from a month on the road!

BD Betty

Web site updates etc....

After being gone for a month, I have a lot of paperwork to unbury from.

A ton of events to add and a ton of interviews to transcribe. I also have a ton of photos to add to the galleries.

I hope to get most stuff caught up by next Friday.

Then I will be hitting suscriber cards really hard to get the new ones out. I hate thieves - if the card maker hadn't been stolen, we wouldn't be re doing all of that work, but that's what we are dealt. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated.

I'm working on Thursday's paper.....

Have a great weekend!

Home at last!

Well gang, I finally made it home. It was nice to sleep in my own bed last night!

However, I have come home to some really sad news. My uncle, who has not been well for some time, has not been given too much more time here on this earth. If yah can, a prayer or two for him and his family would be appreciated.

The other news affects me on a personal and business level - my book keeper is awaiting biopsy results and won't be coming to work for a while. She's not doing well at all and they are bracing for the worst. She is so much more than my book keeper, shes's also a really good friend.
Prayers for her and her family would really be appreciated too.

On a practical level I have to hire someone for my office. Because of Debra Lee being sick, I have to find someone. I can make it a full time job or part time....but I really need help!

If you know anyone in the Grande Prairie area that has strong computer skills and is looking for work, please have them contact me at bdbetty@gmail.com to set up a time to meet.

Thanks gang!

The 2007 Vancouver Motorcycle Show

The 2007 Vancouver Motorcycle Show was great this year.
A lot of that has to do with the weather - for once no rain, no ice and 500 or so motorcycles in the parking lot each day! Yes, Vancouverites were glad to come out and see the show!
Nannette did a great job. You'll be able to read all about it in the 5th edition of the paper.
I fly out to Calgary to collect my car, then I am off to Olds, Edmonton, Whitecourt and home!
I hope you all have a great week and I'll post more in a day or two.... 

BD Betty

The Canadian Championship of Bike Building 2007

I have spent the last week in Olds working on our security and traffic flow plan as well as meeting with the local community service groups. Once the town of Olds groups decide where they want to fit into the show we will be looking to the motorcycle community for volunteers.

The Souls of Freedom have already spoken for the cashiers jobs and the Rock Riders out of Calgary have volunteered for security. We have gone to Alberta Justice to get clarification on the laws for volunteers security and it would appear we are OK using volunteers as long as they are not remunerated. Apparently, every event that pays volunteer security is in breach of the law and could be fined $200 and then there are fines for each person working! It would appear that the professional security companies resent volunteers making money at the job and have been complaining bitterly to Alberta Justice that paid volunteers are taking away their jobs - against the law. So now special events are under scrutiny.

The RCMP have asked us to prepare for 25,000 people because of the Highway 2 corridor.
Our estimates are that 15,000 people will come to the show, but they feel 25,000 is more realistic for the location - I hope they are right because special policing could cost as much as $20,000!

The community of Olds appears to be very excited that the show is coming to their town. I hope for this to be a long term relationship that will see us be allowed to borrow that community and it's facilities for a long time to come! The facilities are ideal and Olds even has a Timmy's... think I should warn them about the show like I did the hospital - so that they can be prepared?

As soon as we have the last details finalized we will begin loading in the tourism information on the 2007 Championship web site - have you seen what Suzie has done with that? Wow this gal works hard! It looks awesome.

Any way gang, I'm off to Vancouver today and hopefully home by Wednesday. I miss my husband and sleeping in my own bed....I love and hate bike show season.
BD Betty

Anyone in Oil and Gas looking to make a few bucks, this may be of interest to you!

I am inviting a small number of men & women to a PAID focus group to discuss the “Oil & Gas Industry” in Alberta. The group will be informal and usually very FUN & INTERESTING for the participants. We will have refreshments for all of our participants as well as $75.00 as a token of our appreciation for their time and feedback. MUST BE 18 – 80 YEARS OF AGE.
THIS IS NOT A SALES PITCH AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IS BEING SOLD.

First Group: Date: Saturday - February 3rd
Grande Prairie 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Second Group: Date: Sunday - February 4th
Red Deer 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Third Group: Date: Sunday – February 4th
Lethbridge 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Fourth Group: Date: Monday – February 5th
Medicine Hat 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
If you or someone you know would be interested, please reply via e-mail or phone with your phone numbers (home & work) so that I may contact you. 

Brooks & Done Recruiting & Field Services E-mail address: dvbrooks@nb.sympatico.ca
403-374-0187

Being on the road is good and it sucks all at the same time!

This has been a week from heaven and hell!

I have been home for 4 days this month!
I think my husband has forgotten what I look like!

The hell has been the endless rounds of meetings for the up coming bike show.
It's a 70 kilometer commute each way from where I am staying in Sylvan Lake. It's made for some really long days.

The heaven was finally meeting Russell Mitchell and getting to see Roger Goldammer again.

I think many of you will find the upcoming issue of the paper very interesting as I was blessed to interview both men and I do mean blessed. These guys inspire me. Any way, I'll shut up because I don't want to spoil the paper's impact!

I apologize that I haven't started getting the photo galleries for 2007 up. To be frank, I was overly optimistic as to how much free time I would have on this trip.

I have some great pictures for you though, ones I just couldn't fit in the paper.

Over the last three bike shows I have done some interviews with guys like Brent from Precision Frameworks in Calgary and Martin Hogan of Hogan's Hogs, also of Calgary. Those will appear in weeks to come. Yes, being on the road trying to run a business and conduct a life....balance, I am suffering from a lack thereof!

Till the next time,
BD Betty