A VERY SPECIAL Series on The Fort Mac Wildfire & The Riding Community

I know I have not been writing as much as you had all gotten accustomed to, but I have been very busy working on a ton of very special projects. And when I say a ton, I am not exaggerating, not even a little. From launching our new Rider Friendly Business Association Directory to working on the TV Show Ride Like a Local, the Afghanistan Monument Project, Canada's MOST Rider Friendly Community Contest for the 2016 riding Season and a host of other items, well, writing has had to take a bit of a back seat.

What I have been working on gave me shivers and the urge to write became larger than the looming deadlines I am working under.

I have been blessed to interview some of the riders who were instrumental in keeping people fed and cared for.  Some of them I worked with, others that worked behind the scenes, that never got the notoriety or hugs.

I am proud to announce that Ride Like a Local will be sharing a very special 3 (Maybe 4) Part Series called "The Fort Mac Wildfire & the Riding Community".

Watching the footage of the first interview with my friend and a human being I admire deeply, Jeremy Hall, I can't tell you how overwhelmed with pride I am.

I am proud to be a part of a community, as divided as it can be sometimes, (YES we have our own breed of prejudice, our own brand of disfunction as a family)...


You see, there were people who are normally not colleagues, not friends, hell some of them down right dislike each other and yet, they all put personal feelings aside and dug in to do what they all knew was right.

The breadth and depth of the humanity that the riding community can exhibit during times of extreme need is breath taking. I had always known we were a tight crew and that regardless of our personal bias, situations, mind sets - we were all more alike than different and Fort Mac proved it to me time and time and time again.

I can't wait for you to see from other people's perspective that they saw and experienced the exact same things I did.

Jeremy and I both got some publicity out of Fort Mac, neither of us went there seeking it.
But I do believe that the interviews we both gave on radio and TV helped the non riding world look at our community just a little bit differently.

The sad thing about radio and TV in the mainstream world is they can offer you a two minute or a 10 minute look into what happened and that's all.  They pick and choose what they want you to hear and see.

They do their best in that short bit of time to tell the story but I am here to tell you that to tell Jeremy's story alone is gonna take up 2 - 30 minute episodes.
The people he acknowledges for their help and support all deserve to be publicly recognized.
His story is compelling and deserves to be really told.

I wrote somewhere around 9 Blog Posts only time in Fort Mac and didn't come close to thanking everyone, or telling all of the stories that could be or should be...

I hope that my editor Mark and myself can present a body of work that will make the riding community stand proud.

From coast to coast we had the support of riders from across this country who represented pretty much every cross section of the on road motorcycle community.

From the Red Knights to the Hells Angels and every cut in between, this community has a lot to teach the rest of society I believe.

When you see these interviews and hear from these people what they went through, what they witnessed and experienced, it is my hope that you see the same thing I see.

Until next time, please enjoy these last weeks of the riding season and remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

Will 2015 start with more of the same? The SAGA continues!

As many of you know, Ray Sasseville of Sturgis North now Sturgis Canada launched a shot gun lawsuit against 7 people back in December of 2013, just before Christmas.  I am one of those 7.

6 of those sued had been offered to settle and consent to dismiss orders were signed by all 6, BUT
4 of the orders never got filed. Why? Well, Ray's lawyer was suspended, then Ray decided to self represent and he took possession of the documents pertaining to his case.  He never filed those orders.

I sent in a counter offer to settle, he offered me tickets to Sturgis Canada to sell along with $1000 in cash if I would advertise his event. I declined and sent in another counter offer to settle, no movement.

Since July - Ray has pretty much has quit communicating with any of the legal people or defendants in the suit and has left everyone in limbo for several months now.

As a result of the lack of communication, I have been keeping a very close ear to the street in an effort to stay on top of any news or information about this man or his dealings.

I went to his BC Securities Commission hearing in October and it was a real eye-opener as to how Ray, his wife and their accountant have been doing business. It will be mid February before the commission makes its decision, and from what I heard, saw and read, I do not believe that their decision will be in Ray's favour, but I am no lawyer...

I went to that hearing hoping to confront Ray face to face, but instead ended up giving his security hearing lawyer, Gregg Alphonso, some documents to pass on to him as Ray did not testify at his own hearing.   Although he does not represent Ray in the lawsuit that Ray launched, the attorney agreed to speak to Ray about the matter.

Mr. Alphonso did at least speak to Ray about the documents - new consent dismiss orders that included me.

I know this because via email, this attorney asked me to guarantee that I would never write about Ray or his family again.

I told him that I would stay away from all topics outside of those that might affect the motorcycle community and since then the lawyer refuses to answer any correspondence and so has Ray.
I have not spoken of that hearing at all until now as I was hoping for a resolution to this situation.

It has become quite obvious to me that there will not be a resolution unless I agree to never write about Mr. Sasseville, link to any articles about him in the newsfeed on our web site....

I have sent several unanswered emails to the securities hearing attorney, Ray and Joan, Ray's partner in the suit.

Why would Mr. Sasseville refuse to sign off, refuse to communicate?
Is he planning another motorcycle event?

Will 2015 start with more of the same?
The SAGA continues!

It appears so!

An interesting little tidbit of information was dropped in my lap by way of an oilfield buddy who recently stopped in to see me. I began hunting to see what I could find out about what he told me.

It took me a few days, but....low and behold, look what I found:

Crude Fest (see document on the left)
New logo, web site domain name registered for crudefest.ca and then....

Interestingly enough, in my research I came across the fact that there is an event called "Crude Fest" in Midland Texas.  thecrudefest.com











Is this another case of Ray trying to copy the recipe for an event from the USA that is popular?

I called the people in Texas to find out if somehow, they are aligned with Ray. They are not. They knew nothing of the event in Canada or the man.

I am told that this new endeavour is to take place here in Alberta, however I have not as of yet, found out where.

If he has the funds to do a trademark application, complete with a logo design, then he should at least have the funds to file the 4 (already signed by the other 4 parties) Consent Dismiss Orders he has in his possession and do what is right, what he agreed to do.

I feel so bad for the Sicamous Chamber of Commerce, that little not for profit does not need this thing hanging in limbo like this, no one does. The communications that our attorney has does mean that the case is over for the four who signed the Consent Dismiss Orders however, because they were never filed, the case still exists as far as the courts are concerned.

Since Ray is self representing, he could at least have the decency to respond to legal communications, it's not like an email is costing him anything.

I have personally emailed Mr. Sasseville and offered him the opportunity, yet again to put his side of things forth and still ZERO communication.

I'd like to push for this case to be expunged. There is no way my reputation will ever be fully repaired, and I doubt I could ever recover my costs. Above and beyond the close to $10K the lawyer has cost, there are many, many other ways that this has impacted my business and my life.

SO, I will be looking at creative ways to raise the funds needed to just get this thing over and done with.  My attorney feels we have a good shot at getting this thing expunged for lack of prosecution, at the cost of another $3K - I hope he's right.

In the mean time, I am working at staying focused on all of the good that is going on in our little company like the newly formed coffee company, the great Beat the PMS Blues Online Show n Shine that is going to help ease the PMS and the new - PMS - How Bad is it Contest, where there will be a little money up for grabs to those willing to share their coping tips.

The Canada's MOST Rider Friendly Contest is shaping up to be fabulous with lots of great sponsors coming on board!

The website upgrade that has been killing both Ali and I should be done by the end of the first week of the new year...

Yes, in spite of this fly in my in the ointment called Ray Sasseville, things are progressing well!
I am a very blessed woman with so very much to be grateful for.

I am deeply, deeply thankful for the support this community has given me.

Have a fabulous day everyone...

Stay safe and warm.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider


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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.






   

Behaviour or Race & why Black Bike Week is under the spotlight

Atlantic Beach SC is in the spotlight again as Atlantic Beach Bikefest, a.k.a Black Bike Week apparently had lots of problems again this year and Governor Haley is planning on shutting it down.  

After three murders and an increase in stolen motorcycles, traffic tickets and fatalities, the Governor has had enough.


According to the Last Refuge, in a 24 hour period ten people were shot, three fatally during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest a.k.a Black Bike Week. This year the Rough Ryders "gang" were evicted from the event because there were too many members present apparently.

An article from Top Conservative News shows three different videos that show some of what went on and those videos may shed some light on why there is a differentiation between the Myrtle Beach Bike Week event that is held the week before Black Bike Week.

MS News Now has two reports on Black Bike Week, one of them comparing the statistics of it to the Harley Bike Week the week before. The comparison graphs point to Black Bike Week being a bigger drain on resources than the Harley Bike Week with trends over 10 years being shown (2005 - 2014).

The Mayor of Atlantic Beach SC is none too happy. 
He feels his relatively peaceful and quiet city is getting a bad rap over the situation.
AND YET - the Mayor and the town had worked hard to increase the amount of vendors for Black Bike Week by dropping vendor fees and they were collecting economic data on what the event brings to the city.

The Atlantic Beach Bikefest starts on the heels of the Myrtle Beach Bike Week and has over the years been surrounded by controversy and the NAACP, has been a watch dog to ensure that there is no discrimination of Colored people.  They have successfully sued restaurants and other businesses for Civil Rights Act violations when those owners wanted to close their doors only during this particular week.

In past years hoteliers have complained of their rooms being trashed during Black Bike Week and restauranteurs have complained of high numbers of dining and dashing, others see extreme reductions in their tills over that week and the whole racial issue flares its ugly head time and again. 

I have watched videos from Atlantic Beach Bike Week and Myrtle Beach Bike Week and I have my opinions on why people are so upset in Atlantic Beach - behaviour not race seems to be the problem.  

I wonder why the city of Atlantic Beach decided to court larger crowds, extend the hours and lower vendor fees? This event has been fraught with issues and challenges in the past, did they think larger numbers would reduce that?

Perhaps faced with a $127,000 policing bill they needed the revenue. Perhaps they were willing to see the event grow because it could benefit the region.  Perhaps they did so to prove to the NAACP that there is NO discrimination.  Whatever the reason, it backfired.

3 people are dead. 7 are injured and a city and its residents are concerned and rightly so.

Although the Governor seems to be talking tough, the city seems to know that they have to prepare for Black Bike Week because no matter what, riders will still show up in their town, official event or not. 

For there to be no tension over this event, I suggest that the organizers of Black Bike Week and its supporters and attendees look at how participants are behaving.  

If the same behaviours were exhibited at a non racial - meaning everyone welcome - events, do you not think businesses would close up for the event?

If the same behaviours were exhibited at a non racial - meaning everyone welcome - event, do you not think the people who live in and pay taxes to the city would not be up in arms?

There have been issues in the past in Sturgis SD, a non racial - everyone welcome - event.

Those incidents, like the shooting in Custer State Park in 2008, have seen no colours bylaws stepped up in the licensed establishments, there have been thoughtless boobs who have to do that burn out or otherwise show off and ruin it for others, there have been incidents of lewd conduct that have resulted in charges.  

The issue at any large gathering of people that involves alcohol is BEHAVIOUR, CONDUCT and at non racial events, those behaviours are not tolerated. Police presence increases with the size of the event and the history of the event and its attendees conduct.

Laws are in place to protect the innocent bystander, the citizen and tax payer and the non motorcycling visitor of the city/region hosting an event, from the choices of STUPID - SELFISH PEOPLE no matter WHAT RACE, WHAT RELIGION, WHAT GENDER.

I know this much, being politically correct, being fearful of the NAACP and their successes with Civil Rights lawsuits is going to make a bad situation worse.

Be you Black, White, Green, Purple, Red, Orange...if you conduct yourselves like asshats, don't pull the racial card to defend your behaviour. 

Suck it up - if you behaved badly, take your lumps.  For those who were there to have a good time, peaceably, do you enjoy the intense scrutiny the behaviours of SOME of your fellow riders has brought down on you?

Most of us "white" people or people who don't give a shit about race, feel the EXACT SAME about those in our circles who conduct themselves like asshats and bring on extreme costs, extreme presence of police etc.

Why is it so expensive to vend at events? Why is it so expensive to attend some events?

Because asshats have increased police presence and someone has to pay for that.

Because asshats have left behind so much garbage and been so disrespectful causing damage of all sorts and someone has to pay for that.

And that would be the rest of us, Black, White, Green, Purple, RED or ORANGE, that go to events to meet people, spend time with our friends, take in great riding and sight seeing, good music and have no need to show off, be rude or crude or destroy shit.

Having fun is one thing.

If you are a visitor to a community who is hosting an event, WHY destroy the relationships that the businesses, the riders, the police and the hosting community need to have with conduct that is so over the top? 

People are the problem. People, who when they consume large amounts of alcohol and or consume various narcotics too often become rude, disrespectful, unsafe and sometimes violent. People with hidden agendas and egos the size of Texas or those who think they are invincible...

Be it football games, racing events, music festivals, hockey games, protests or any other large gathering of people, there will always be those who have to destroy the good time/the good purpose for the many, to satisfy their own selfish desires.

It is BEHAVIOUR that is the issue, not RACE but BEHAVIOUR.

Can anyone else see that, or is it just me?

In Other News:

According to an article in the Guardian Newspaper today, the RCMP in Prince Edward Island is set to start targeting aggressive riders, offensive motorcycle noise, drugs and outlaw motorcycle gangs. Begin Quote: They will also conduct enforcement initiatives targeting aggressive drivers with a focus on motorcycles and offensive noise during the motorcycle season. End Quote

Begin Quote: There will also be increased intelligence sharing, with a focus on drugs and outlaw motorcycle groups. End Quote

Out of Montreal today is a story in the Gazette about a woman who stopped suddenly on the highway to avoid hitting a family of ducks and subsequently a father and daughter on a motorcycle died.

The driver, Emma Czornobaj, 25, of Châteauguay is facing 4 charges, 2 of criminal negligence and 2 of dangerous driving causing death. It took over a year for her to be charged. If convicted of criminal negligence she faces life in prison and if convicted of dangerous driving causing death she faces 14 years in prison.

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that the Hells Angels have won another round in the legal fight to regain their clubhouse in Nanaimo BC.

Begin Quote: Justice Mary Saunders, writing for a three-judge appeal court panel, said the government appeared to want to remove Widdifield to gain strategic advantage in the long running civil case between the director and several Nanaimo Hells Angels, as well as Angels Acres - the company that owns the disputed clubhouse.

"The prize in this application appears to be the availability of a Charter argument in the forfeiture proceedings," Saunders said in her reasons released Monday, explaining that Widdifield could make a constitutional argument on admissibility of evidence that wouldn't be available to the company. End Quote

The Civil Forfeiture Director has filed similar cases against the East End & Kelowna Clubhouse stating that they were used for criminal activities. 

The Hells Angels are fighting back with a suit that challenges the constitutionality of B.C.'s Civil Forfeiture Act.

In the US, the funeral of Maya Angelou, the renowned poet and spiritualist is being guarded by the group 2 Million Bikers.  According the article on Jezebel, even though 2 Million Bikers does not ascribe to Angelou's beliefs, they are going to form a wall to protect her service from Westboro Bapist Church demonstrators because they believe in Freedom of Speech for everyone.

If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please, consider dressing for the slide, not the ride!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Re-evaluation time

Every now and then, something happens in your life that causes you to take a step back and re-evaluate your life, your accomplishments, failures, challenges and dreams.

The passing of a good friend and the comments of her husband gave me that pause this morning.
It was 3:30 in the morning where I live, when I read of the passing of my friend and I was gutted.

A lively, wildly loving gal, Sue Woodhouse made everyone who knew her smile.  She loved goofy animal videos, especially if they were of cats and she made everyone she touched feel wonderful, special and loved. Her husband Mark, a great guy and the man Sue shared her life with for 32 year was looking back on their time together and wondering if he had done right by his love throughout all those years, if he made her feel special...put her first enough.

I watch the fires in California that are affecting friends, consuming homes and memories and my heart breaks a little more.

I watch the encroachment of Sharia Law around the world and I wonder to myself why are we allowing it? What will the fate of strong willed women like myself be when Sharia Law is enforced around the world?

I look at the way electronic communication has altered our society and not entirely for the better and I long to be hugged, to hear the voices of my friends instead of just reading their words.

I see the way our Veterans are treated, the jobs they are sent to do and the indignities that so many suffer when they come home and I wonder why they defend this country.

I read daily of the deaths of fellow motorcyclists right around the world and I wonder again...

My life has on some levels, become overwhelming, between the situation in my family, the disgusting nuisance lawsuit from Sturgis North and a host of other set backs, I have never felt so vulnerable, so small, so insignificant. And yet... I know that it will all work out.

I love my job, the one I created for myself after a huge set of changes in my life a number of years ago.

Being the editor of the Busted Knuckle Chronicles, helping charitable causes and riding clubs to market themselves, telling the stories of the riding community, it fills me in a very special way.

But there are huge costs to what I do. There is the toll it takes on my husband, the time away from him, my daughter and how one dimensional I have become.  According to my daughter I don't know how to talk about anything but my work and motorcycles. I can't say she is wrong.

This lawsuit that Sturgis North started against me chaps my arse for a lot of reasons.
And it has made me look at the community I live and work in, in a far different way than I have until now.

All my riding friends and the people I serve in the riding community talk about freedom.
Our country is broken - yes it is better than a lot of places, but that doesn't mean it's healthy.
Our "justice" system is a legal system - there is little about it that is just.

Freedom, what is it, really?

Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Speech - these are two "FREEDOMS" that are the foundation of our country and yet, here I am, having resources and time consumed fighting a lawsuit that is truly a nuisance suit.

I have been fighting this suit for 5 months now. I can't tell you the hours, the agony and the money it has already cost and how much more I and my family have to face.

If my counter offer to settle, which should go out next week sometime after the draft letter is revised, is not accepted, then I am looking at $50,000 to see this thing through. The only thing to be gained by this case going all the way to court, is having my name cleared.  There is nothing to countersue for and there are so many suits ahead of this one that even if I did countersue and win, it's just throwing good money after bad.

I wonder, is it worth it?  I really do.
I have mulled a number of ideas around in my head...

Perhaps it is time to sell the business, maybe if I didn't have to spend the many hours a day that it takes, I'd have the energy to fight this suit and raise the funds it's going to take to prove that I have only shed light on the facts about the owners and management of Sturgis North and that everything that was found and shared came from public domain.

Hell, if I sold the business, I might be able to fund this fight on my own without being reduced to flogging tee shirts and asking for donations.

But as my husband pointed out in one of our many long conversations about this business of mine, I love what I do, helping people, networking, supporting and eating, breathing this community.

And if I didn't do it, he knows I wouldn't be happy.

I have gotten a lot of support from the riding community.
I have gotten almost enough to keep lawyers bills and research assistant bills fully paid for.
I have gotten letters of support and lots of prayers being raised and I know they are working.
I know that there are people who value the work that I do and as long as it has value, then I am happy and grateful to do it.

It is after all because of my job, this business, that I got to be friends with a gal like Sue Woodhouse and her man Mark.

It is because of this job that I am connected socially to over 13,000 people on Facebook, many that I have been blessed to ride with, hug, talk to...

It's hard to balance everything, my husband at times feels cheated by this community and rightly so.
I can't tell you the number of times I have been on the phone helping some event coordinator or mediating for different parties, reaching out on behalf of new riding clubs and making introductions while my husband has fallen asleep in front of the TV waiting for me to be ready to go out for supper or just spend some time with him. Then there are the hours and miles I get to put on my motorcycle.

As a man that loves to ride, he has moments of envy that sometimes turn to resentment and I fully get that. Last summer he was a motorcycle widower for 92 days.

If I had a team of more than two supporting me in this business, then maybe I could find some balance in my life and be able to do right by my husband, my daughter, myself and my community.

I need sales people, I need a marketer and a graphic designer and another web person to support the gal I have before she burns out from the workload.

The business is too big for the team we have, for us to be able to look after our customers and advertisers the way I'd love for them to be cared for. I need sales people to help grow the business so I can afford the other support staff I need.

So, the best way for me to strike balance is to put out the call for sales people.

We need people in every province of Canada that are interested in selling advertising part time or full time.

They need to be strong communicators, good with computers and people.
They need to understand the power of social networking and be willing to use it to help our advertisers.
They need to love helping this community grow and prosper.
The pay is 25% commission, and I offer training, support and leads.

Our paper also needs reporters, community minded people who like to write and want to help this community, it's charities, it's riding clubs, it's tourists and businesses get the exposure they need to grow. There is no pay other than the satisfaction of helping out and most times free admission to events.  The ideal person is associated with a group, riding club or association that wants exposure OR a person who attends a lot of rides, rallies or just does a lot of touring.

In some cases we trade advertising for articles.

There are those out there, I know, who like both sales and writing and those people would be ideal for the positions we have to offer.

Until I can get a team behind me to help me grow the business and its revenue,  I will have to continue fundraising to fight this lawsuit, and I will have to cut back on some of the other things I do in order to make my husband feel the love and value I feel for him and be successful in defending myself.

I finally took some time to contact Global News and share with them the information on the lawsuit.
After all, the suit could affect all reporters if I had to default because I couldn't pay a lawyer.

I am burning out and I need to face the fact that I am not getting any younger.
I want to attract the right person to manage the business, to one day take over the business, ideally a national rights organization for riders would be the right candidate to buy the business and have all of the support tools we have already developed be available to a larger portion of the community and help fund the organization.

I love this community and I love my husband and daughter and while I know that I won't always make everyone happy, I want to make as many as I can, happy, starting with my family.

If I had a team it would happen all the faster!

If you are interested in joining the Belt Drive Betty Media team, reach out to me at
bdbetty @ gmail.com (fix the spaces)

If you live in the Edmonton, Nisku region of Alberta, I hope you will join us for the Freedom of the Press Defense Fund Run on May 24th at Blackjacks in Nisku.

Join our Event Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/events/1464993630399921/

And if you don't live in the region but would like to support the cause, you can buy a teeshirt through Tee Spring: http://teespring.com/SupportBDB2 or donate to my defense fund: http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/community/bdb-defense-fund

I hope your day is filled with love, family and friends and that when you pull the covers up at the end of the day you can smile with satisfaction over the day you've had as you drift off to sleep.

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

Belt Drive Betty
Edito & Rider

Shopping local means something very different to me that it does to a lot of people

Shopping local means something different to me than it does to most of the people who read my blog or our newspaper, simply because of the geographical location I live in.

I am a rider and tend to, whenever possible shop with other riders who own small businesses, sadly all of them live hours and hours away from me but that does not stop me from supporting them.

I have always been a big proponent for shopping locally and in the rider community, for me, at least, that means shopping with small businesses on line.

I do a ton of my shopping on line because for me it makes sense.

I live in Grande Prairie Alberta and I am at least 5 hours by car to any other major centre where there is choice and selection.

In the GP region we have 2 Honda and Victory dealers in the area, 1 Yamaha dealer and one Harley Shop. Other than that there are no small business to buy gifts from if you are a rider looking for gifts for other riders.

When I go into these shops to gift shop, I seldom find what I am looking for.  It's no fault of theirs either, they can only carry so much stock and a lot of the gear they carry is directed at the dirt rider because motocross is huge here as is quadding. That's who their primary customer base is.

The one Victory shop deals in KTM and snow machines - so there is very little for me there.
The other is 40 K away and deals also in Honda and snow machines - again, other than service, there is nothing for gifts for someone like me there. The same is true of the Yamaha shop, they deal a lot in snow machines, boats and quads. I use their services for things like tire changes but beyond that there isn't a lot there for me either.

The Harley shop has lots of gift ideas however, a lot of the people I buy for do not ride Harley's and don't really want branded products for gifts.

There are no local aftermarket shops, no leather shops that are geared to the rider, no gift shops that carry rider specific gift items...so....

The bulk of my shopping is done by visiting the shops of the little guys on line, people I know or have met while on bike trips and I liked their product ranges.

As a small business owner whose kid is all grown up, I don't spend a ton on Christmas; one good present for hubby and small gifts for the daughter and her husband along with stocking stuffers for everyone.  The rest of the gifts I buy tend to be stocking stuffers or smaller gifts for the people who work for and with me.

I support small businesses in the riding community like Grizzly Leather, West Coast Roar, Leather & Steel, artists like Mark Mullen and Gypsy's Art, Ken the Glassdude or ...just to mention a few.

For me - that is shopping locally, even though Gypsy is in Red Deer AB, Grizzly is in Calgary AB, West Coast Roar is in Mill Bay BC on Vancouver Island, Leather & Steel is in Fruitvale BC, Ken is in Regina SK and Mark Mullen is in Keswick ON.

I love on line shopping for a number of reasons.

I can shop at 5 in the morning when I am taking my first coffee break of the day.
There are no crowds to battle and I find the customer service to be excellent with most small businesses who have a presence on line.

I like the fact that I can cruise through these web sites and if I am not sure of fit or style, I can call them, talk to them, send measurements etc.

Because they know me, they can help me out.

If they don't have what I am looking for they can generally get it for me and have it drop shipped for me or to me, so while Canada Post, can be expensive, it affords me the luxury of supporting my community by shopping with the rider owned businesses that I have come to love.

The other upside is that I don't have to spend hours in a vehicle driving in winter conditions - so using Canada Post actually becomes more financially viable for me too not to mention safer.

Lots of times when I call these small businesses I find out about other products that are similar to what I am looking for or they tell me about great deals they have....

Online shopping is not for everyone, but for this Northerner, it makes sense, I get what I need from people I like, people who are members of my community, the riding community.

I do what I can to support the little guys - the people who like me, are working at their passion because after all, small business is the backbone of this great nation of ours.

Yes, shopping local is different for me - what does it mean to you? I'd love to know.

Have a fabulous Wednesday

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

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The third death in 10 weeks - I am reeling.

Tonight I sit here dumbfounded. Stunned, feeling empty and hollow.

Three generations of a family gone in the space of two months. Three people we have cared about, shared our lives with, three people who not only wrote for our humble little newspaper, but became a part of our extended family.

The grief I feel is enormous, like a giant weight crushing my chest. I can't stop crying, thinking, remembering.

On January 14th, our columnist William Perry lost his lengthy battle with cancer.
His daughter Lisa died of bowel cancer on March 17th after having been diagnosed only a few weeks prior and tonight his grand daughter Kaylee was killed when she lost control of the Ducati Monster she was riding.

Distraught after the recent passing of her aunt Lisa and still reeling from the death of her grandpa, Kaylee went for a ride. It began lightly snowing, she swerved to avoid some people walking down the lane/street and crashed.  She was just two weeks shy of her 18th birthday.

If I had to name only one thing that I admired about them all  - it was their sense that life was an adventure meant to be well lived. Outgoing, strong willed, opinionated, loving, crazy, quirky, thee are a million adjectives a person could use to describe the Perry's who are no longer with us.

My prayers are being lifted tonight for Beth, Kaylee's mom, her little brother, Ashton and sister Susie, her aunt Kathryn, aunt Marion,  Melek, Adelle and all of the Perry clan.

Three beautiful bright lights have gone out in the space of 10 weeks.

I ask you to join me in a prayer for the Perry family. They are going to need all of the love and strength we can offer them.

May God lift you up in this time of sorrow and wrap you in his arms.
I am so deeply, profoundly sorry for your loss.

Kaylee

Lisa

William

Belt Drive Betty
Editor  & Rider

Texting and driving, he kills a rider and our justice system let's him go free.

I am in shock, I feel sick to my stomach - what the HE double Hockey Sticks is wrong with our justice system?

One man dead, 3 others severely injured and the perpetrator? Texting while driving and not guilty of  dangerous driving causing death or the three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm he faced.
All four motorcyclists were/are members of the Barrie Chapter of the Southern Cruisers Riding Club.

What is the point of putting a law in the books if it has no teeth?

We have distracted driving laws that have NO TEETH.

If people can get off scott free AFTER they have admitted to texting an driving - then what is the point to the law?

Begin Quote: 
The officer who worked on the case, OPP Const. Trina Gosse, she she was also disappointed with the verdict.

“It is troubling when you see so many people injured,” Gosse said. “The deceased’s daughter was crying pretty hard.”

She noted that even Rogers admitted he had been using his cellphone while driving that day, however the judge could not find beyond reasonable doubt that he was using it at the time of the crash.

Gosse said this was her first case involving an alleged texting while driving causing death.

“But sadly, it is not all that uncommon," she said. End Quote

It is my firm hope that there will be an appeal.

The OCC - Ontario Confederation of Clubs does not appear to be on the rampage about this verdict, but from my personal experience with them -they appear to focus more on 1% issues than ALL rider's rights issues.

Regardless I would have thought that they would be outraged and sitting on the steps of their provincial legislature asking for the judge's decision to be reviewed or for a retrial.
I would have thought we'd see a statement or a press release, but nothing anywhere that I could find.

We NEED a national riders rights organization - a watch dog - someone to protect our rights as citizens and human beings.

Just because this happened in Ontario does not mean riders from other provinces can't have an impact.

The more we flood the Attorney General's office with letters of outrage - the more likely a review of the case will take place.  PLEASE - take 5 minutes and DO SOMETHING....

So - how can we, Joe Q Citizen have any impact on this particular injustice?

Write to the Attorney General of Ontario:

The Honourable John Gerretsen, Attorney General:

E-mail at attorneygeneral@ontario.ca

Mailing address:
Ministry of the Attorney General
McMurtry-Scott Building
720 Bay Street, 11th Floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 2S9

You could also flood the Crown Council's Telephone Lines in Barrie asking for an appeal:
Barrie Crown Attorney’s Office - (705) 739-6188

UPDATE - here is my letter to the Attorney General:

Dear Honourable John Gerretsen, Attorney General of Ontario,

The Justice system failed motorcyclists and all victims of distracted driving yesterday with the ruling by Justice Cory Gilmore in the case of Michael Rogers, a 24 year old who was, by his own admission texting and driving, crossed the centre line and killed one rider and injured 3 others.

According to the article in the Barrie Examiner today:
Crown attorney Dave Russell argued that Rogers was looking at a text message on his cellphone as he swerved out of his lane into the path of the riders.

Defence lawyer Lydia Riva argued Rogers committed no crime, but rather the tragic incident was a “moment of inattention,” and not an act of dangerous driving as defined by the Criminal Code. End Quote

Distracted driving is an offence and according to a Ministry of Transport statement on their website: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/distracted-driving/index.shtml
There is a ban on hand held cellular device use while driving in Ontario.

Would you please explain how using a hand held cellular device to read a text is not distracted driving, which is also dangerous driving?
Why was it is not considered Dangerous Driving causing death and causing bodily harm in this case?
If the person had been drinking it would be, would it not?
If the person had been stoned it would be would it not?

Why is this case any different?

What can be done to force an appeal?

I am a moto journalist who travels by motorcycle in Ontario usually once per year. I will be sharing your response with the riding community of Canada. Thank you

There is a lot going on in the news today - please 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 friends on Facebook and via Email - after the crap in the news - I need a laugh:

Have a great weekend everyone

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

IT REALLY IS ABOUT THE RIDE...

Taking the things we love for granted.

I love my husband. But there are times when, like every other human being out there, I take him for granted and some days that shoe is on the other foot. And then you get a diagnose of Multiple Sclerosis and your world changes – you are challenged with the loss of many things – your spouse – your relationship, your security…

All of a sudden you are in gratitude mode and guilty mode all at the same time.  And then things improve, and life returns to a new version of normal and you slowly start taking time for granted, them for granted, until the next scare…we humans can be hard learners.

Our motorcycles are another love that sometimes we take for granted. 

It doesn’t mean we don’t love them to distraction; it’s just that we have become comfortable that they will always be there for us. Until someone threatens to take our love away…

The recent request for a rate increase by SGI has taught us all something, I hope.

We need to reconnect with the love of our machines and the utter feeling of freedom and empowerment they bring.

One person on the R.A.G.E. Facebook page expressed the love for his motorcycle as one of massive joy.

What a great way to describe riding.

This has gotten me to thinking about our community, the community of motorcyclists, I don’t care if it’s a 50cc dirt bike, and enduro, a sport bike a drag bike or a cruiser, a Honda, a Yamaha, a Kawi or a Harley etc. etc. etc.

There are things that most of us have experienced in our life as riders that connect us on some levels and if we could find the right things to connect on, we could erase our own prejudices in our community first.

Then we could work on the outside world seeing us differently.

So I came up with a short list of things that might connect us…

You might be a biker if…

You and your machine have encountered many kinds of riding conditions from torrential rain to snow and all things in between.

You and your machine feel like you are a part of each other. There is a bond.

You have encountered friend and foe by the very nature of the receptions you have gotten from those who don’t ride.

You and your machine have endured countless political debates over whether or not you are gang members or if that patch you choose to wear is legit or not.

You and your machine have had discriminatory bylaws put in place to muffle you, the only noisemaker in the vehicular world. (Said sarcastically.)

You and your motorcycle have ever been restricted as to where you can and cannot compete or ride – referring to the recreational land use issues being faced in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

You have ever had your charity fundraiser affected by laws, discrimination, and misconceptions.

You have ever had insurance premiums threaten to cost you your ride. You might be a biker…

Our brothers and sisters in Saskatchewan are facing a challenge that the rest of us need to feel – to own. 

Their freedom to choose a motorcycle, as a method of transportation, is being threatened.

We need to understand that we live in a political world – like it or not and those politics have the power to take our passion, our freedom, our life line to sanity, a part of our identity, our entire lifestyle away from us unless we unite and do something proactive - it will be taken away from us.

This is not in the distant future people and I am not being a fear monger.  The danger is real and it is imminent.

It is time that we began working together. That we began in earnest to share the issues each town, each region, each province and territory is experiencing and help each other to protect and preserve our lifestyle, our right to choose to ride.

Do you need any more examples before you realize that I am speaking the truth?

Our very way of life is being threatened and I don’t care HOW you love that motorcycle be you a trials rider or a drag racer, a motocross rider or a cruiser/touring rider, adventure rider or road racer.

Never more than now, has there been a time to educate our fellow rider about their actions and how they affect the greater good.

Never more than now has there been a reason to share, talk, communicate and UNDERSTAND that even if the fight is not your fight – IT IS YOUR FIGHT.

Every time one segment of our community looses it’s freedoms or is in someway unfairly restricted, it undermines our Charter Rights and takes us all one step closer to walking …

Everywhere you look, our rights are under siege, our freedoms are being restricted – we can’t take on all of the challenges, but we, the riding community could lead the way in showing other communities how to work together and how to protect our cherished way of life.

There is an old saying that you never truly appreciate what you have until it is gone.

Remember that with freedom comes obligation – the obligation to remember that our rights and freedoms stop when they infringe upon those of another.

We need to learn to share our world and that is becoming harder to do the bigger the population becomes.

Something I want you all to ponder and consider.  Is riding a motorcycle important to you?

Do you finally believe that it CAN happen to us – the bureaucrats really can take our lifestyle from us – and do you understand that we have to let them first! 

If you are with me, that we need to somehow get organized on a national basis – then email me at bdbetty@gmail.com with the subject being Riders Rights.

In the mean time I invite you to help R.A.G.E. inSaskatchewan by buying one of our patches - $2 from every patch sold will go to help them get up an running financially – these guys and galls are shaking the Saskatchewan government hard and really need the boost that outside support from their family Wind members in other provinces can offer…

I leave you with a few funnies shared with me by friends on Facebook and via emails...

Have a fantastic weekend everyone and please do one thing for me...go look at your motorcycle, remember the sun, the rain, the wind, the scenery, the empowerment, the freedom and ask yourself one question - what would happen to me if I couldn't ride my motorcycle?

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider