A wonderful Christmas Day to you all...

Like every year, we have a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner, our home is filled with friends and after they leave, we open presents. Christmas morning is reserved for sleeping in. Hence why it is 4:30am and I am just writing now! (For me that's a great sleep in, I am generally up and at 'em by 3 - 3:30am!)

I woke up this morning feeling inspired! You see hubby and I have a deal, we give each other a list of things we'd like to have but never seem to buy for ourselves. With money being tight for everyone our lists this year were filled with very practical things.

For me I wanted books on small business training -  I have never been to college, don't have the time, the energy or the inclination to go back to school but the desire to learn, to become a real business person not just someone who turned a hobby into a business - that's alive and well.

Hubby got me some great books that I can't wait to dig into. "Work Less and Do More" by Jan Yager , "The Myth of Multitasking" by Dave Crenshaw and "Awaken your Strongest Self" by Neil Fiore were the three he chose from my list.  Obviously my husband knows his wife!
He also got me a locking diary/journal to keep my goals in.

I am thrilled with my Christmas presents - I know that like every book I read they will bring me new tools, new perspectives and new ideas and that excites me!

Hubby also got very practical gifts. A very special organizer for his garage as he is always complaining about the rakes and hoes, brooms etc that fall over and clutter up his world. He also got a new shop vac to replace the old one that cratered a few weeks ago.

I love a hassle free Christmas and this one ranks right up there so far as one of the least stressed out Christmases I have ever spent! Having only a little money was a good thing I think as it forced us to really look at what is important and to do more with less, to be creative and loving - and I gotta say - I think we hit the mark!

I would LOVE to hear what Santa brought you this year...

In the news today...
The Bernice MacNaughton High School Bike Klub got a spanky new web site - it is BEAUTIFUL!

Paul Sr got Paul Jr of the OCC fame the BEST Christmas Present Jr will get from dad for a while - a LAWSUIT!

In Prince George BC, the grieving parents of a young man killed on his motorcycle this summer are celebrating community as opposed to Christmas...

May this day bring you love, laughter, peace, joy, family, friends and turkey!

If you are one of the lucky to live where you can ride, please, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
National VP A.I.M.Can
www.aim-can.com

Merry Christmas to you all...

This is supposed to be a joyous time of year, but for many it will be a lonely and in some cases frightening time of year. There are many who are in seniors homes who have NO ONE to remember them, to spend time with them. Oft times these people have outlived their relatives and/or have never married. For some it will be scary as they sit in a children's hospital or on the ward in some hospital wing awaiting surgery...

Suicide and depression are huge problems at this time of year...

We put a ton of emphasis on the day we celebrate as - Christmas. Mother's exercise guilt 101 and grandparents place a lot of store in having their families together for the holidays. Stores and consumerism go crazy...everyone must have a gift...

Now the debate as to Jesus' real birth date will live on in perpetuity, however we are all pretty sure it did not take place in December. Nearest the "experts" can figure he was either born in September/October OR March/April...

If Jesus doesn't care so much as to which date we celebrate his birth on then why do we put so much store in this holiday?

If we take from his example - then December 25th, well - it really is just another day.
Why do we have to wait for there to be a SPECIAL day before we pay attention to those we love?  I guess like all else to do with we humans - we have to pencil in time for fun, for friends and family because our lives are just too busy...I am so guilty of that!

I don't know the answers as to why we have stressed ourselves out so much over a "holiday" but I do know this...we have made Christmas a special time. Because we as a society have made it such a special time we need to take the time to make it special for everyone we can.  If you have 5 minutes, stop in to the seniors home or drop in to the hospital and visit a shut in...you have NO idea how good that will make you or them feel - but I can guarantee you this - YOU WILL feel good.

In the news today:

Moto Rescue - Canada's first and only 24 hour road side assistance program specifically for motorcycles is here!  We are an affiliate of their program - SOOOO if you sign up on our for their road side assistance program we earn $10.

My Stocking stuffer for all of you???? Well, sign up for your Moto Rescue 24hr Road Side Assistance program - make sure they Know the Belt Drive Betty sent you - and we will give you a free one year membership in the BDB Club.
Use this code: bel737 to get YOUR Free Newspaper & Membership on our web site - which includes a savings card you download that is good for savings and discounts at approximately 140 locations and growing... a weekly newsletter & newspaper to keep you informed along with the best events calendars for Canadian Motorcycling, forums, photo galleries and a whole ton more! 

When you have completed your MotoRescue purchase sign up for free membership on www.beltdrivebetty.com and tell me you bought a membership with MotoRescue in the how did you hear about us box OR if you are already a member of the BDB Club and getting out newspaper, then drop me an email at (bdbetty@gmail.com) and we can set up the gift as a present for a friend or family member!

243KPH Speeder in Ontario gets a break from spending time in jail but the commissioner, Julian Fantino is none too pleased....

An Ontario driver who claimed to have been "sleep" driving when he struck and killed a motorcyclist in 2008 has been found guilty of criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm. (I think we need this judge to try Cpl Robinson)

Speaking of the RCMP in BC...the headline reads: RCMP support in B.C. plunges after Tasering, death: report; Fewer here than anywhere else in Canada say they trust national police force

Apparently here in Alberta the support and belief in them isn't much better.

Well, gang, I am not sure of whether or not I will be in the mood to write tomorrow or not, so just in case I decide to pencil in the people I love for a day of me not working (as my husband says yah, right! - when pigs fly)...

Merry Christmas - I hope you find yourself surrounded by love and warmth.

If you live where you can ride (I'm moving in next week, right after the holidays), please, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
National VP - A.I.M.Can
www.aim-can.com

Christmas travel...

I wonder how all of the people I care about that I can not share the upcoming Christmas day with are feeling, what they will be doing.

I wonder how all those who are trying to travel home are faring. It boggles my mind when I watch the news - how travelers at this time of year can get so angry at the airlines...like they can or did order the bad weather that always seems to plague us this time of year. Both of my grandmothers died in December, one on the 17th and one on the 18th, ten years apart.

My dad's mom we buried in -37 with the windchill -62

My mom's mom we had to wait until mid January as the ground would not thaw enough even with a fire banked on the plot - the backhoe couldn't get through.
Christmas time - December - why is anyone surprised when the weather is crappy?
You'd think they'd be more surprised when it's not!

Oh well, I pray for everyone who is traveling, I, PERSONALLY think you are crazy, but I hope and pray you arrive safely. I refuse to travel this time of year - I would rather celebrate early or later, just not in December.

There is a whole ton of news today. Please check out the headlines on our What's Hot Page at www.beltdrivebetty.com The latest news, sports and jokes along with the newest forum posts and comments on articles on the site are all there for you!

Only a little more time until our show n shine....have you seen the prize list?
Remember we will still be adding prizes until the end of January....
Beginning January 1/2010 you will have one month to get your pictures loaded on to our web site. You will be allowed up to 8 pictures.

On February 1st we open up the voting. Get your friends lined up, invite them to become members on our site, and if they sign up for membership they will get a free subscription to the Busted Knuckle Chronicles for one year as our way of saying thank you and welcome!

You earn BDB Points when you refer a friend and you can spend those points in the BDB Rewards Centre.

They will get all of the benefits of being a BDB Club Member -same as you - including the savings card that is good for specials, discounts and or special services at 140 locations and growing! It all starts January 1st 2010....

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, it means you don't live here!
Please, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
National VP A.I.M.Can
www.aim-can.com

A snowy morning and a warm heart...

It's winter time in Canada so I guess it shouldn't surprise one when they wake up to snow, but this morning I had such a warm heart I thought it would be all melted.

BDB with a warm heart you ask? Yes...it was given to me as a gift yesterday when I was volunteering at the Salvation Army.

The day had started off a wee bit rough but the decision to go and be of service to others changed my outlook and my day. I was working with an older French gal named Mary who is a regular volunteer at the Sally Ann. What a sweetheart. As she and I emptied boxes from the various food bank efforts and sorted the goods into bins, veggies here, pastas over there, soups in another set of bins...It was heavy work and I marveled at this sweet little old lady who did the work so cheerfully. It felt good to do something that had value to others - my soul needed it that's for sure.

If you ever find yourself feeling blue, out of sorts - go volunteer somewhere for a couple of hours, you'll be amazed at how your whole outlook changes.

In the news:
Harley-Davidson is extending its warranty on it's motorcycles.

Kawasaki has cut all of it's AMA Road Racing Schedule saying they may return when the economy improves.

 Cycle Trader has announced it's new Iphone app. Now you can scroll through over 140K ads on your phone...

Texting and talking on your phone is becoming illegal as of January 1/10 in most Canadian provinces...and should be almost a clean sweep by this fall.

And last but not least - another RCMP officer finds himself drawing desk duty for drinking and driving...

If you live where it warm enough to be riding, think of me and all of my friends who are bound up with PMS...and then please, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you....

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
National VP - A.I.M.Can
www.aim-can.com

Changing plans....

I have a week from hell coming up. I have to finish the last of my invoicing for 2009, finalize as much of the year end books as possible, get the last of my marketing stuff off to be printed for the January bike shows,events calendars to work on and Christmas - YIKES....I have been working since three this morning and I am so far behind I think I am first. It's a Monday morning - go figure!

In learning how to "eat the elephant" called my work load, and in learning to attract more of what I want in my life, I am learning that you have to shift your mind and your energy to that which makes you feel good.  So since I have gotten off on one of those "Monday" morning starts so to speak, I decided to heck with it, I am going to exercise, do dishes and tidy the house, and then I am off to the Salvation Army for a couple of hours to fill hampers. I wasn't going to go because of my work load and then I thought I can't not go...

It feels good to help others, it puts my life back into perspective and helps me to exhibit the deep gratitude I feel for the blessings in my life.

This Christmas, giving back to my family and my community are going to remain high on my priority list. And new for 2010 - I am putting ME on that priority list.

So, how do you shift energies when stuff derails on you?
How do you stay focused and on top of it all? How do you choose to "eat the elephant" called your work load? What tricks can you pass on to the rest of us?

Please share your strategies for handling the lemons of life - I can use all the help I can find and I am sure we will inspire and assist more than one other person today!!

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, that means you live somewhere where it's warm and I really hope you have an extra bed!  Please, if you are riding, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com

A thanks to the Hells Angels of Saskatoon might be in order...

I read with much interest today about the ruling in Saskatchewan with regards to the banning of Motorcycle Club Patches (Gang Patches) in bars and on public property. The reason that I have such interest in this case is there was a similar law that was passed in Grande Prairie when I started hosting motorcycle shows here.

Now please - don't go thinking I am somehow supporting or a supporter of the Hells Angels or any other outlaw motorcycle club.  I am not, I am pretty neutral on the whole MC thing, being a female, all of that testosterone and posturing just isn't anything that holds interest for me. I am however a supporter of the freedoms the Charter of this country allows us.
I am also for reducing the absolute power of the RCMP and having better checks and balances in place for that organized group of men an women.

The trial judge who declared the law unconstitutional made the exact observation I made when a similar law was enacted here: The law was created to help police deal with gangs, drug trafficking, prostitution and child exploitation, but Brayford argued its wording is so broad it could persecute striking workers wearing union logos on their clothes.

So, in a way, many of us owe the Hells Angels a thank you for spending the money on lawyers and getting this law deemed as unconstitutional. And we owe a HUGE thank you to Judge Brayford for having the courage to follow the charter. Perhaps now, here in Grande Prairie the by-law will get axed and then I will be allowed into some of the bars here with my CAV patch on. (Mind you if they weren't around - the Red & White that is - we probably wouldn't have had this dumbassed law enacted in the first place.)

One of the fundamental problems of this whole banning the "Gang" colours thing has been the lack of education as to what patch/es is "Gang" related and what patch isn't. How in the heck is some bar maid or some bar owner gonna know which is which? The RCMP and other police services refuse to provide any education to bar owners and staff. So in effect anyone wearing anything other that manufacturer clothes/patches were being barred/banned as owners feared the reprisal of the RCMP. And in Calgary there are bars that even ban motorcycle manufacture clothing - H-D in particular.

It will be interesting to see if Calgary bars that banned the wearing of Harley-Davidson clothing in their establishments will now have to lighten up on their stupidity or not.
I wonder how many other provinces will follow suit? Manitoba also has a colours law.

I find the whole banning clothing thing to be totally stupid, senseless and an absolute waste of money - ban the clothes because of the "Power of the Patch" and its use for intimidation purposes... but the person who wears the clothing is OK to be present...
Another small victory for common sense which as Mr. Delhon my grade 9 social studies teacher used to say "Common sense is not too common"

In other news:
The Prince George Renegades had a member arrested for drugs etc along with three other prince George citizens - the Renegades are reportedly a puppet club of the Red & White.

And in Hamilton two more associates of the Red & White were scooped in as part of Tuesday busts in Hamilton, Waterloo and Nanticoke.

In Regina some Bikers received an honor from the police for their bravery in stopping a machete wielding crazy man and another knife wielding man who were attempting to rob a gas station attendant.

Harley-Davidson may not be named the official motorcycle of Wisconsin...

Bar Hodgson of Toronto Super Show Fame has a documentary airing about his exploits in Bonneville - David Hatch is the producer of this documentary - if you miss it on  TV it will be aired at the Toronto Super Show in January.


For all of my friends with mobility issues who would love to ride again but are in a wheelchair...you might be pleased to hear this, there is a wheelchair accessible motorcycle on the market now! The Martin Conquest 

I have a video about the motorcycle linked here - she's pretty sweet looking!


Oh and don't forget to take our Hotel/Motel Customer survey - this is your opportunity to help us as a community impact customer service in the hospitality industry as it relates to motorcyclists and people in general! Click here to take the Survey.

If you are fortunate enough to live where you can ride - PLEASE - ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you...

If you are like me and living where there is snow, cold weather and riding feels like a distant dream -then get on the computer and find the BEST pictures of your ride because on January 1st, 2010 we begin the 3rd annual Beat the PMS Blues On Line Show 'n' Shine - we have tons of fabulous prizes up for grabs!

And we are not done adding to the prize list!


Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
National VP A.I.M.Can
www.aim-can.com

Customer Service - educating the rider as well as the staff in hotels, motels etc...

One of our readers: Ed "GearJammer" Howe sent in an appropriate and timely article on the conduct of riders and how they can negatively impact their own customer service experiences in hotels, motels etc.


My wife and I have been traveling on our bikes for several years now.  My wife rides a HD Heritage Softtail and I ride an HD Road Glide.  We have ridden extensively in  British Columbia, Alberta and have visited Washington and Idaho.   We have stayed at  many motels, hotels and campsites and eaten at many restaurants over the years. In all that time, we have never had a negative experience that could be traced to our mode of travel.  Usually when we register, the desk clerk suggests that we may park our bikes right in front of the lobby so that the staff can keep an eye on them for us. So, when I read an article that promotes the need for "rider friendly education for establishments"  I am left wondering, why?  Have we been incredibly fortunate in our experiences?  I doubt it.

                

 Perhaps it is a perceived issue that really is based upon a few incidents that may or may not have been the fault of the establishments.  Let's face it, some riders/bikers seem to think it is necessary to promote the movie version of bikers, exuding an attitude of the "outlaw" biker, wearing leather or denim jackets  and helmets festooned in patches, crests, etc.  They pull up on excessively loud bikes, are verbally abusive, and demanding. Of course that is going to set a negative tone. I have seen this  happen and noticed the way the clerk's attitude changed in moments. Can you blame the clerk? 

               

Maybe what is really needed is to educate those few that seem to think good manners are for somebody else. Gear Jammer

Well Ed, being a female rider I have unfortunately experienced negative customer service because I rode a bike. I was turned away at a motel in Rocky Mountain House - used to be called the Carriage House - it's been sold and has new owners now but in 2004 when I went to the Alberta Ladies Rally  I was told my kind wasn't wanted at the motel. I rode a Suzuki Volusia that was whisper quiet and I was frozen - cold. No attitude being coped then I can assure you. I have had other, not so good experiences - that one was just the most painful one....

Since then I have heard horrid stories of women being treated like they are lesbians because they ride together and have heard other rotten, nasty comments and stories of terrible treatment. I have heard of awful stories where people were turned away with no where to sleep at night...riding at night is NOT my favorite thing to do.

But what you say has much validity as well Ed; GENERALLY - if you come in with the right attitude, if you are polite and respectful your experience will probably go well.

For the most part, educating the staff on what the needs of riders are and why those needs exist, reminding them that we are like any other customer - these are refresher courses in customer service and refresher courses are something most employees can benefit from. 

For businesses that want to be designated as rider friendly, helping them to identify areas of improvement to their facility, explaining why secured parking and ground floor rooms are so welcome - what makes riders turn in to an establishment, these things are important and if a business wants to attract more riders they need to know how to do that.

You and your wife have been very fortunate. Is it the way you conduct yourself? 

YES, that probably accounts for 90% of your good fortune along with the changing views on riders, however there are many places you could experience or travel to that would shock you as to how bad the treatment can be. 

Reaffirming good customer service techniques and knowledge is never a bad thing and training people on how to be helpful to the growing number of consumers who ride isn't a bad thing. Redundant? Not really - we still have lines of discrimination to deal with and erase, what are commonly referred to as travel and toruism barriers.

Customer service in Canada at least from my experience has been pretty sad no matter where you go,  no matter what industry you discuss. For those business owners who are willing to refresh their staff's minds on what good customer service experiences should look like - I think that's just shrewd business and that they want to work with motorcyclists - well I think that's just awesome for our community.

In the news today:

JD Power has done a Customer Satisfaction survey - their 12th, regarding motorcycle dealers and the sales experience and guess what, in the hungry American market - CUSTOMER Service is IMPROVING...

Anti NOISE - The Wisconsin Legislature has the "Noisy Dozen" award for a resolution declaring Harley as the state's official motorcycle. Noise Free America is upset.

Legislators say they have no remorse about nominating Harley-Davidson as the state's official motorcycle, putting it in the same league as the state song, ballad, dance, beverage, tree, flower, bird, insect and animal.

Harley is one of Wisconsin's largest private employers, and its activities bring thousands of tourists here.

"When I hear loud motorcycle pipes, I think of people having fun and I think of jobs," said State Sen. Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee), a resolution sponsor. Noise Free America's complaints are "ridiculous in the extreme," according to Plale. "I am proud to accept their Dirty Dozen award, and I look forward to hanging it on my wall," he said.

Well, that's it for me today, year end books and invoicing to do along with two hard, hard weeks updating the 2010 event calendars is what's on the agenda for me...

If you are one of those lucky people who lives where you can ride that motorcycle of yours...PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty

www.beltdrivebetty.com

National VP A.I.M. Can

www.aim-can.com