For those of you who don't know me or are just beginning to follow what I have to say...(it still amazes me that anyone cares what I think...LMAO)
I am a non professional. I have never gone to school to learn marketing or journalism, I have no college degree except the ones for modeling and modeling instructor from John Casablancas Model Management from many, many moons ago.
8 years ago, I saw a real lacking in our community - there were zilch for true communications tools...today that has changed with the advent of Face Book and Twitter.
While no seasoned vet, I have learned a lot about the publishing and marketing industries - in some ways I think our team and business would be bigger had I gone to school to learn the advertising and marketing world and yet....I think I have been brought the right people at the right time to teach me the right things!
There are some things about marketing that I have learned from seminars I have taken, books I have read, on line courses and of course my most abundant and well educated teacher - the school of hard knocks. There rest - well , I love my community and as a rider, I think I understand what at least some people are looking for by way of information and tools.
It has taken me 7 and a half years of being in business before one kind soul from the Alberta Lonewolves told me about how I could attract top brand name advertisers to our web site.
I did what he counseled - I was listed on Friday and had my first inquiry yesterday!
It is another avenue with which to grow the web site and newspaper's presence and allow us to market your groups, riding clubs, causes, events and businesses to a broader audience.
We all know that in order to be a success out there we have to market be we business, event or riding club - in order to grow you have to market. BUT - we compete with thousands and thousands of bits of information going out to people all of the time. Just think of all of the information you have to absorb everyday. How many times have you forgotten a meeting, appointment, birthday or event? How many times have you forgotten a coupon or a sale you wanted to attend? If you and I have ANY common ground as humans your answer will be at least sometimes....it has happened to us all.
I have a lot of little business partners that are pushed against the wall time wise and can't find the time to work ON their businesses - one of the services I would like to be able to offer in the future is a data entry service that can help them take care of their on line marketing. OMG Face Book and Twitter - to do them well take a lot of time.
For myself - I spend three hours of my day writing things like this blog, hunting the news feeds for the days top stories...it's nuts - rewarding but nuts!
So - in order to help people be they volunteers or riding club members with little time or small business people with little time, Ali and I have worked hard to find tools and components for our web site that can help you market YOUR business, event or riding clubs faster and more efficient than before! When you log in on our web site - go to your profile page and edit and up date your info and photo...you can manage your friendships
and on the right hand side of the page under your profile picture is a tool box that allows you to quickly manage or track what you have done on our web site and see what results you are getting.
If for example you want to submit a classified ad - you go right to the tab for classifieds and submit your ad right there...no hunting - no wasting time - just make sure your pictures for the ad are web sized...and you'll have no problem - our twitter feed will pick that ad up and share it to our Twitter followers and my Face Book Pages - so you now have the potential for my network of some 11K riders (Plus the 35,000 riders who use our site that are not members) seeing your ad. Who ever is on line at the time coupled with their level of interest in what you are offering has some potential for serious impact. You can also see how many hits the ad has had and if you aren't getting the feedback or response you desire - maybe you need to rethink your wording? Now you have some tools to make decisions by!
There are a ton of time saving tools in that tool box...
Then there are the event calendars - shareable to over 80 social networks, by email, to Face Book and Twitter and shareable to 5 other styles of calendars OUR events calendars are one of the most effective ways to get your events message out there!
We can make you an event admin for your riding club or business so that your events go live the minute you submit them OR we can just let Sally - (our version of a Calendar girl) check your event over and ensure that no information is missing etc...once she has checked it over and made it live you get an email that tells you it's live and now you can go ahead and start promoting!
Make sure you add your poster, registration forms, pictures etc - because everything attached to the event goes to the person you are emailing or IM'ing and if you have the physical land location or the postal code and street address - there's even a Google map for people to find the location by.
Either way - once the event is live you can share it to everyone in your net work and so can the riders who use the calendars - we have on average 38,000 riders using our web site for news and information...if you add your network and my network and every other riders network - you see what happens? Now we have an information highway!!!!
If you are a member of our Rider FriendlyTM Business Association we can help you advertise and market for as little as $130.00 a year plus taxes! That's right for as little as 36 cents a day you small business people can be marketing your business to riders.
Email me at : bdbetty @ gmail.com (remove the spaces to send your email to me) and I can send you the low down!
All riders who are a member of the BDB Club benefit because as a member of the RFBA (Rider FriendlyTM Business Association) you offer them a special, a discount or a special service...we all win...Because when you work with us - the riders get free information and tools that serve them in their day to day lives be it riding season or not.
If you are a riding club we have many FREE and cooperative marketing opportunities to share with you.
I hope you will join us either as a member of our site and hopefully as a subscriber to our newspaper, as a business partner and advertiser or as a riding club...sharing our community stories, helping our small businesses and events by giving them a targeted and affordable - time saving and pleasurable way of marketing (it's like we are talking to friends and family cause at the end of the day - that's exactly what we are doing - sharing with friends and family.)
Belt Drive Betty & The Busted Knuckle Chronicles are working hard to give the riding community in Canada and those curious about Canada as a riding destination some fabulous tools...join us as we share and grow!
As always I welcome your feedback and input on this topic and every other thing we discuss - it is through sharing that our community will become the united and strong!
There's not a ton in the news feeds today but what is there is pretty choice!
Check it out at www.beltdrivebetty.com
Please drive safely...
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
The Concept of working together
The riding community is a community that was built on the premise of working together, of being family.
Families do not always agree. But as a general rule, when the chips are down, family pulls together. It used to be, that although this community is filled the A type personalities we tended to be able to put our differences of opinion aside when the chips were truly down for one of our own - or when a specific cause forced us to unite.
Our community has exploded in size and for a time we lost a sense of community, the pendulum appears to be swinging though - like it does with every big trend, and we are settling in to a bit more of a sense of family again. You can sense the shift, people are trying to find a way to connect in a broader way...
On so many fronts the riding community, now more than ever needs to start pulling together. There are so many outside forces working on us and in many ways we have been like the North American Indian Community was so long ago - a community of great pride, incredible depth and talent and a seeming inability to work together for the common good.
Be it looking out for our rights, supporting the rider owned and Rider Friendly TM Businesses of our communities or supporting the events that support our causes, our communities and bring us together - we riders truly need to find a way to put down our differences or our protectionistic ways - our "independence" if you will and we need to learn how to support each other.
Our economy is only a minute part of the overall economy. The economy of the riding community is being impacted exactly like many other micro economies.
Our little business people are hurting and when I say our little businesses I mean everyone from the leather goods shop that donates a half a dozen vests to support a cause (TJ & The Bear Biker Wear in Spruce Grove is but one of many that come to mind) or the pub that donates it's staff, uses it's resources and connections (going to suppliers for donations - Electric Rodeo, Ceili's, Bo'Diddly's, Rock City and how many hundreds of others can I think of?) to ensure that a cause get's all of the proceeds from a BBQ...or the trucking company that donates a stage (usually a trailer) so that an event has a place for a band and an EMCEE...
We are all quick to ask for the donation, after all our cause is important and affects the community...but how often do we really thank these people and I don't mean just in the newspaper but by walking into their shops and buying something we need or using their trucking company to haul something for our own business?
If you don't support them, why would they want to support your event, charity or riding club?
When sales are good, these people generously give to all kinds of groups and events - when sales are less than good they tend to give to those who support them - makes sense doesn't it?
When a community shops within, promotes with in, it becomes strong and healthy.
When a community communicates and makes sure it's members are WELL informed, when it's members are active and vibrant and engaged in the matters of the community - the community becomes strong and powerful.
If you doubt what I say, look at the Sikh community in this country - they are a powerful minority - they work together, shop with the people in their community and promote those people who help them.
The whole premise of the Busted Knuckle Chronicles was to give the riding community a place to share it's stories, to celebrate it's volunteers, it's success, it's failures, it's hopes and it's dreams. It is meant for all who ride, no matter what you ride. And it's NATIONAL and LOCAL all at the same time!
Belt Drive Betty dot Com was meant to be a clearinghouse, a place you could come to find anything and everything about riding in Canada or things that impact us as riders - kind of our own gathering place like an internet cafe....you come, visit, read the news, find out about the events, plan your holidays and find the tools and resources you need to make your riding season the best it can be and hook up with friends and meet new ones.
We are linked to over 400 Canadian Riding Clubs...there's bound to be someone of like mind for you to connect to!
If you love the motorcycle - if you have that bike hole in your heart - then you are a member of this community. We invite you to tell the stories of you community - after all, that is what a community newspaper and a community web site does...it gives you a place to share those stories...
If your community is not represented - or your interests are not represented - what are you waiting for? Share, talk to us - what you have to say will probably be of interest to at least 25% of the community. (Supposedly that is the statistic - that one in 4 will be interested in what you have to say) Submit your stuff to the web site or email it to me for the newspaper...but share it...PLEASE!
My dream - my vision when I started this thing almost 8 years ago, was to see this community start talking to each other, sharing their stories, creating a sense of community, belonging and family unity.
Our FREE tools and resources for BDB Club Members include:
It's been a long hard road filled with all kinds of learning curves and pit falls but folks we are here!
When you see the 2011 Phone Book you will truly understand what I mean...
I feel like a proud momma when I look at it. This vision that has danced in my head of a CAA style set of services for our community - it's here, and it's real and now all it needs is YOU!
Your free membership on our site (www.beltdrivebetty.com) gives you access to all of those FREE resources - and if you decide you like the tools and would like to support us then get a subscription to our newspaper - it's only $17.50 a year plus tax! Or buy a license plate or sign, but most of all - USE YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARDS - OFTEN and support those who support our community - from coast to coast to coast!
As always, I welcome your feedback - input and the discussions!
Join us in our forums or on Face Book - or right here in our blog!
The news feeds are fairly quiet so far today, RIP Leslie Nielson - your humor lit up the hearts of many....
Please drive safely...
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com
Families do not always agree. But as a general rule, when the chips are down, family pulls together. It used to be, that although this community is filled the A type personalities we tended to be able to put our differences of opinion aside when the chips were truly down for one of our own - or when a specific cause forced us to unite.
Our community has exploded in size and for a time we lost a sense of community, the pendulum appears to be swinging though - like it does with every big trend, and we are settling in to a bit more of a sense of family again. You can sense the shift, people are trying to find a way to connect in a broader way...
On so many fronts the riding community, now more than ever needs to start pulling together. There are so many outside forces working on us and in many ways we have been like the North American Indian Community was so long ago - a community of great pride, incredible depth and talent and a seeming inability to work together for the common good.
Be it looking out for our rights, supporting the rider owned and Rider Friendly TM Businesses of our communities or supporting the events that support our causes, our communities and bring us together - we riders truly need to find a way to put down our differences or our protectionistic ways - our "independence" if you will and we need to learn how to support each other.
Our economy is only a minute part of the overall economy. The economy of the riding community is being impacted exactly like many other micro economies.
Our little business people are hurting and when I say our little businesses I mean everyone from the leather goods shop that donates a half a dozen vests to support a cause (TJ & The Bear Biker Wear in Spruce Grove is but one of many that come to mind) or the pub that donates it's staff, uses it's resources and connections (going to suppliers for donations - Electric Rodeo, Ceili's, Bo'Diddly's, Rock City and how many hundreds of others can I think of?) to ensure that a cause get's all of the proceeds from a BBQ...or the trucking company that donates a stage (usually a trailer) so that an event has a place for a band and an EMCEE...
We are all quick to ask for the donation, after all our cause is important and affects the community...but how often do we really thank these people and I don't mean just in the newspaper but by walking into their shops and buying something we need or using their trucking company to haul something for our own business?
If you don't support them, why would they want to support your event, charity or riding club?
When sales are good, these people generously give to all kinds of groups and events - when sales are less than good they tend to give to those who support them - makes sense doesn't it?
When a community shops within, promotes with in, it becomes strong and healthy.
When a community communicates and makes sure it's members are WELL informed, when it's members are active and vibrant and engaged in the matters of the community - the community becomes strong and powerful.
If you doubt what I say, look at the Sikh community in this country - they are a powerful minority - they work together, shop with the people in their community and promote those people who help them.
The whole premise of the Busted Knuckle Chronicles was to give the riding community a place to share it's stories, to celebrate it's volunteers, it's success, it's failures, it's hopes and it's dreams. It is meant for all who ride, no matter what you ride. And it's NATIONAL and LOCAL all at the same time!
Belt Drive Betty dot Com was meant to be a clearinghouse, a place you could come to find anything and everything about riding in Canada or things that impact us as riders - kind of our own gathering place like an internet cafe....you come, visit, read the news, find out about the events, plan your holidays and find the tools and resources you need to make your riding season the best it can be and hook up with friends and meet new ones.
We are linked to over 400 Canadian Riding Clubs...there's bound to be someone of like mind for you to connect to!
If you love the motorcycle - if you have that bike hole in your heart - then you are a member of this community. We invite you to tell the stories of you community - after all, that is what a community newspaper and a community web site does...it gives you a place to share those stories...
If your community is not represented - or your interests are not represented - what are you waiting for? Share, talk to us - what you have to say will probably be of interest to at least 25% of the community. (Supposedly that is the statistic - that one in 4 will be interested in what you have to say) Submit your stuff to the web site or email it to me for the newspaper...but share it...PLEASE!
My dream - my vision when I started this thing almost 8 years ago, was to see this community start talking to each other, sharing their stories, creating a sense of community, belonging and family unity.
Our FREE tools and resources for BDB Club Members include:
- The Rider Friendly TM Business Association - is a consortia of some 275 businesses (and growing) that WANT your support because they support the community - they offer discounts, specials and or special services to BDB Club members; IE: MotoRescue has teamed up with us to provide membership in their road side assistance program for $39.95 per year plus taxes - we need a minimum of 50 people signing up at a time to qualify for that rate...compare that to what the retail rate is! (www.motorescue.ca)
- The Canadian Riders Support Network that we inherited from Peter of the SCRC
- The Never Ride Alone Program from Intercon Messaging
- Our NATIONAL Motorcycle Events Calendars that are broken out by province and shareable to over 80 social networks and 5 other styles of calendars and host an average of 900 CANADIAN events information!
- Forums, contests, photo galleries, groups and other social networking tools
- Free Classified Ads and more!
It's been a long hard road filled with all kinds of learning curves and pit falls but folks we are here!
When you see the 2011 Phone Book you will truly understand what I mean...
I feel like a proud momma when I look at it. This vision that has danced in my head of a CAA style set of services for our community - it's here, and it's real and now all it needs is YOU!
Your free membership on our site (www.beltdrivebetty.com) gives you access to all of those FREE resources - and if you decide you like the tools and would like to support us then get a subscription to our newspaper - it's only $17.50 a year plus tax! Or buy a license plate or sign, but most of all - USE YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARDS - OFTEN and support those who support our community - from coast to coast to coast!
As always, I welcome your feedback - input and the discussions!
Join us in our forums or on Face Book - or right here in our blog!
The news feeds are fairly quiet so far today, RIP Leslie Nielson - your humor lit up the hearts of many....
Please drive safely...
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Is this all a waste of time?
My husband asked me a question about this "Business" I run called the Busted Knuckle Chronicles and www.beltdrivebetty.com..." Is it really worth it? Do you really think anyone gives a damned?" he asked.
This conversation took place on Wednesday evening after my entire 22 page newspaper disappeared on me - I was crying (really, really over tired) and frustrated beyond belief.
If my husband had it his way I would shut this computer off and never look at it again.
I would ride strictly for enjoyment and not ever put pen to paper again for a living.
My husband has come to detest Belt Drive Betty cause he never gets to see his wife - Renee.
And I understand his frustration. He wanted me to declare bankruptcy after the Bike Show in Olds in 2007 and to throw in the towel.
Yet, here I am three years later, treading water - working way too many hours to make sure I can pay the bills I have - it's an honor thing with me - I owe the money - I took the risk and it blew up - I DID THAT, now it has to be paid for.
I get discouraged from time to time - like any small business owner you spend so much time working in your business that working on it seems almost impossible.
Keeping your chin up when cons sign up for a business membership and then don't pay their bills but get three or four months free exposure until I realize they never intended to actually pay for their memberships - that's rough. You feel so abused and mistreated when that crap happens.
I have been ripped off by fellow small business owners that have not paid their ad bills.
I have had to take a few to court and others just were not worth the bother.
I can't tell you the number of "Friendships" or should I say illusions of friendship that have been destroyed.
I have had people say they would do ad sales, I have spent countless hours on training them and bought expensive software to assist in working long distance with them and then these people never follow through - they quit returning calls, they leave the web site and the newspaper and act like some how I am responsible for their lack of integrity. And they don't return the banners or other tools I supply.
If I had just stayed working on my own instead of spending the time with them, training them I'd be so much farther ahead today. When you rely on others to do a job and they let you down it does not hurt their credibility - it hurts yours as the business owner.
There's egos and politics galore out there and that alone makes navigating in this old world tough sometimes. I have had non profits that I have worked hard for abuse me in public and in quiet smear campaigns because those at the helm could not communicate and the membership was horribly misinformed as to what was going on. In all three cases egos, politics, good intentions and lack of communication played huge rolls in what transpired.
(Communication or lack there of is the biggest killer of so many great endeavors)
And I have had the RCMP in Sylvan Lake/Red Deer/Olds country do their utmost best to ruin me financially....
I talk to a lot of other little business people who get so frustrated with the November to February shrink in their incomes - they forget in July to prepare for that really long dry spell and then they struggle all winter....and sometimes there is no way to prepare - you get so far behind you think you'll never get out from under.
This is a challenging economy - a lot of people are hurting out there...
Being in business for yourself is not for the faint of heart.
Those are the bad things...the dark side of being in business (some I was prepared for, others - not so much!) My husband's question brought up all of those bad things, the memories and sorrow - BUT, it also brought up all of the good things too!
The really great people I have worked with and actually helped or who have helped me, the little businesses and events that had no real place to market themselves to the riding community and they use our services well and often.
The riders I get to meet at every event, the kids that are made happy, the soldiers that I and so many support. The miles I get to put on on my machine...that alone is worth the headaches and heartaches!
My husband disagrees - he feels frustrated because of the work he sees me do and the stuff that gets dumped on me - he says he is scared for me...I guess I can understand that.
My heart tells me that what I do is valuable and has meaning to at least some of you.
BUT HOW DO I PROVE THAT TO HIM?
He is not computer literate, he does not see the rewards...so how, how do I prove to him that what I do does have value and matters to this community?
Ideas and suggestions are needed and VERY welcome....
As always, I welcome your in put and feeback!
Join the discussion on Face Book, on www.beltdrivebetty.com in the Forums OR right here in my blog...
In the news today:
In BC the RCMP scored some guns and body armor from 4 alleged members or supporters of the Hells Angels.
Also in BC, the growing number of people putting gas engines on their bicycles is concerning the police.
Over seas, Harley-Davidson has been entertaining the troops
There's a ton of motorcycle reviews and news and sports news over at www.beltdrivebetty.com for your entertainment and enlightenment!
Please drive safely...
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com
This conversation took place on Wednesday evening after my entire 22 page newspaper disappeared on me - I was crying (really, really over tired) and frustrated beyond belief.
If my husband had it his way I would shut this computer off and never look at it again.
I would ride strictly for enjoyment and not ever put pen to paper again for a living.
My husband has come to detest Belt Drive Betty cause he never gets to see his wife - Renee.
And I understand his frustration. He wanted me to declare bankruptcy after the Bike Show in Olds in 2007 and to throw in the towel.
Yet, here I am three years later, treading water - working way too many hours to make sure I can pay the bills I have - it's an honor thing with me - I owe the money - I took the risk and it blew up - I DID THAT, now it has to be paid for.
I get discouraged from time to time - like any small business owner you spend so much time working in your business that working on it seems almost impossible.
Keeping your chin up when cons sign up for a business membership and then don't pay their bills but get three or four months free exposure until I realize they never intended to actually pay for their memberships - that's rough. You feel so abused and mistreated when that crap happens.
I have been ripped off by fellow small business owners that have not paid their ad bills.
I have had to take a few to court and others just were not worth the bother.
I can't tell you the number of "Friendships" or should I say illusions of friendship that have been destroyed.
I have had people say they would do ad sales, I have spent countless hours on training them and bought expensive software to assist in working long distance with them and then these people never follow through - they quit returning calls, they leave the web site and the newspaper and act like some how I am responsible for their lack of integrity. And they don't return the banners or other tools I supply.
If I had just stayed working on my own instead of spending the time with them, training them I'd be so much farther ahead today. When you rely on others to do a job and they let you down it does not hurt their credibility - it hurts yours as the business owner.
There's egos and politics galore out there and that alone makes navigating in this old world tough sometimes. I have had non profits that I have worked hard for abuse me in public and in quiet smear campaigns because those at the helm could not communicate and the membership was horribly misinformed as to what was going on. In all three cases egos, politics, good intentions and lack of communication played huge rolls in what transpired.
(Communication or lack there of is the biggest killer of so many great endeavors)
And I have had the RCMP in Sylvan Lake/Red Deer/Olds country do their utmost best to ruin me financially....
I talk to a lot of other little business people who get so frustrated with the November to February shrink in their incomes - they forget in July to prepare for that really long dry spell and then they struggle all winter....and sometimes there is no way to prepare - you get so far behind you think you'll never get out from under.
This is a challenging economy - a lot of people are hurting out there...
Being in business for yourself is not for the faint of heart.
Those are the bad things...the dark side of being in business (some I was prepared for, others - not so much!) My husband's question brought up all of those bad things, the memories and sorrow - BUT, it also brought up all of the good things too!
The really great people I have worked with and actually helped or who have helped me, the little businesses and events that had no real place to market themselves to the riding community and they use our services well and often.
The riders I get to meet at every event, the kids that are made happy, the soldiers that I and so many support. The miles I get to put on on my machine...that alone is worth the headaches and heartaches!
My husband disagrees - he feels frustrated because of the work he sees me do and the stuff that gets dumped on me - he says he is scared for me...I guess I can understand that.
My heart tells me that what I do is valuable and has meaning to at least some of you.
BUT HOW DO I PROVE THAT TO HIM?
He is not computer literate, he does not see the rewards...so how, how do I prove to him that what I do does have value and matters to this community?
Ideas and suggestions are needed and VERY welcome....
As always, I welcome your in put and feeback!
Join the discussion on Face Book, on www.beltdrivebetty.com in the Forums OR right here in my blog...
In the news today:
In BC the RCMP scored some guns and body armor from 4 alleged members or supporters of the Hells Angels.
Also in BC, the growing number of people putting gas engines on their bicycles is concerning the police.
Over seas, Harley-Davidson has been entertaining the troops
There's a ton of motorcycle reviews and news and sports news over at www.beltdrivebetty.com for your entertainment and enlightenment!
Please drive safely...
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com
Friday, November 26, 2010
Giving Back - Paying it forward - it's a Biker thing
I apologize for not blogging yesterday - I was sooo wiped out.
You see on Sunday, I had put together this beautiful 22 page newspaper.
IT WAS GORGEOUS.
Lots of interesting articles and stories from right across the country and when I opened it on Wednesday night to do my editorial and add the two page newsletter from Sturgis North to it - the entire document - all of the picture folders, the stories, the posters, ads - EVERYTHING disappeared. Apparently the file was corrupt. So there I was, Wednesday night a 7pm having an absolute melt down. I'd been up since 2 am - I was tired and the LAST thing I wanted to do was to rebuild the paper, but after my hissy fit, I settled in to it and was able to rebuild 21 pages and get the paper to the web mistress for delivery by 2 AM AB time. I am a morning person and the web mistress is a night person so this worked out OK...everyone got their paper on time...
But beat, MAN was I beat. So forgive an old broad for not filling you in on the day's news feed stories! Now...on to today's news feeds...
I have been a part of this most fantastic community for over 30 years.
Giving Back - its always been a big part of the biker community - I can't remember a time when it wasn't.
Paying it forward, giving back - whatever label you want to put to it, bikers tend to be a pretty generous and thankful group of people - FOR THE MOST PART. There are the cons that come in to our community and attempt to take advantage of us... OR our reputation for generosity - look at the Ms Caron Oderbien episode! And I can think of a few businesses that are no longer around whose owners would fit in that category - scammers and users. Over the years I have seen a lot of people be hurt by those cons. And our community has taken a hit reputation wise because of them...
And then there are the angels - the people who for no other reason than they want to do some good somewhere - give back in such a stellar fashion...and the hero's of the day? No Pork...
In California a bike shop called "No Pork" ('cause they don't work on Hawgs) fixed a 77 year old cancer patient's bike for free - a $2,900 bill voided by community spirit and generosity!
Read the article for yourself - it WILL warm your heart!
And another heartwarming article in the news...a group of riders from Regina are holding a fundraiser for Terry OH this weekend at the Gaslight Saloon. Terry was severely injured when a van cut a left hand turn in front of him at an intersection back at the end of September. Terry is an incredibly talented tattooist and lost a leg as a result of this crash.
If you are a veteran - card carrying/patch wearing...you are in for some very special hospitality if you decide to go to the Sturgis North Event in Salmon Arm this July!
Ray Sasserville called me all excited yesterday - he has secured 5 acres of land that allows the Sturgis North committee to offer FREE camping/RV'ing for all military personnel past and presently serving. And not just for a day or two either - the ENTIRE WEEK.
Ray is supposed to be getting us an official announcement in a few days with all of the details of everything that will be available to the military at the event!
As always, I welcome your comments, feedback and input - without your involvement there is no point to these posts!
In other news:
A 1925 Brough Superior ss100 is going up for auction
The bike gets it's name from the fact that it could do 100MPH in a 1/4 mile! It is reportedly valued at some $600,000+ dollars and will be auctioned off in New York
Norton is planning a huge comeback in the US and has hired Ducati's former CEO Van Epps for the job!
BMW's Dakar appearance is short lived as according to Dakar race director Etienne Lavigne, David Fretigne will not be racing in the 2011 Dakar.
In Ontario: a van plowed in to the back of a motorcycle and then on into a car - both vehicles were stopped for the lights. The motorcyclist was sent to hospital.
On Vancouver Island: local riders were honored at the Vancouver Island Motocross Award.
The Duncan Motorsports team lead by Don Hatton placed 5th in the Baja!
You see on Sunday, I had put together this beautiful 22 page newspaper.
IT WAS GORGEOUS.
Lots of interesting articles and stories from right across the country and when I opened it on Wednesday night to do my editorial and add the two page newsletter from Sturgis North to it - the entire document - all of the picture folders, the stories, the posters, ads - EVERYTHING disappeared. Apparently the file was corrupt. So there I was, Wednesday night a 7pm having an absolute melt down. I'd been up since 2 am - I was tired and the LAST thing I wanted to do was to rebuild the paper, but after my hissy fit, I settled in to it and was able to rebuild 21 pages and get the paper to the web mistress for delivery by 2 AM AB time. I am a morning person and the web mistress is a night person so this worked out OK...everyone got their paper on time...
But beat, MAN was I beat. So forgive an old broad for not filling you in on the day's news feed stories! Now...on to today's news feeds...
I have been a part of this most fantastic community for over 30 years.
Giving Back - its always been a big part of the biker community - I can't remember a time when it wasn't.
Paying it forward, giving back - whatever label you want to put to it, bikers tend to be a pretty generous and thankful group of people - FOR THE MOST PART. There are the cons that come in to our community and attempt to take advantage of us... OR our reputation for generosity - look at the Ms Caron Oderbien episode! And I can think of a few businesses that are no longer around whose owners would fit in that category - scammers and users. Over the years I have seen a lot of people be hurt by those cons. And our community has taken a hit reputation wise because of them...
And then there are the angels - the people who for no other reason than they want to do some good somewhere - give back in such a stellar fashion...and the hero's of the day? No Pork...
In California a bike shop called "No Pork" ('cause they don't work on Hawgs) fixed a 77 year old cancer patient's bike for free - a $2,900 bill voided by community spirit and generosity!
Read the article for yourself - it WILL warm your heart!
And another heartwarming article in the news...a group of riders from Regina are holding a fundraiser for Terry OH this weekend at the Gaslight Saloon. Terry was severely injured when a van cut a left hand turn in front of him at an intersection back at the end of September. Terry is an incredibly talented tattooist and lost a leg as a result of this crash.
If you are a veteran - card carrying/patch wearing...you are in for some very special hospitality if you decide to go to the Sturgis North Event in Salmon Arm this July!
Ray Sasserville called me all excited yesterday - he has secured 5 acres of land that allows the Sturgis North committee to offer FREE camping/RV'ing for all military personnel past and presently serving. And not just for a day or two either - the ENTIRE WEEK.
Ray is supposed to be getting us an official announcement in a few days with all of the details of everything that will be available to the military at the event!
As always, I welcome your comments, feedback and input - without your involvement there is no point to these posts!
In other news:
A 1925 Brough Superior ss100 is going up for auction
Norton is planning a huge comeback in the US and has hired Ducati's former CEO Van Epps for the job!
BMW's Dakar appearance is short lived as according to Dakar race director Etienne Lavigne, David Fretigne will not be racing in the 2011 Dakar.
In Ontario: a van plowed in to the back of a motorcycle and then on into a car - both vehicles were stopped for the lights. The motorcyclist was sent to hospital.
On Vancouver Island: local riders were honored at the Vancouver Island Motocross Award.
The Duncan Motorsports team lead by Don Hatton placed 5th in the Baja!
Have a great day and please take your time out there.
Belt Drive Betty
Belt Drive Betty
Editor/Rider
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sturgis North - Approvals granted - IT's A GO!
I had the pleasure of speaking with Ray Sasseville, a very jubilant and elated man. In fact the whole 16 member team is a pretty happy group of people. The city of Salmon Arm has agreed to all of the requests to extend noise bylaw hours and to grant licenses for both beer gardens.
Although Ray and his team have already invested a ton of time and money in to the event, Ray expressed on the phone yesterday that the hard work officially begins now.
With 4 venues in total - the Summer Stomp Rally site, the 2 Music venues and the vendors village - there's a lot of elbow grease to be applied yet noted Ray in our conversation.
"The plans are in place, now it is to execute them - REALLY, REALLY well!"
The RCMP - while concerned at the numbers of people this event is expected to draw is up to the task and drafting a budget to Salmon Arm City council for the expenses. Sturgis North has already agreed to help with the costs and are providing shuttle services to and from various venues. In all Sturgis North's team has budgeted $300K for security (Stats from the Salmon Arm Observer article) and the man heading up their security team? Peter Maia - he has been involved in first aid and security for more than 25 years, doing every major event in B.C. since Expo ’86. He was in charge of the Ontario pavilion for the Vancouver Olympics.
JB's Custom Colors - an RFBA Member business in Kamloops is painting the Sturgis North Motorcycle that is going to be taken around to bike shows across the country promoting the event, there are plans for some big bands to be entertaining people - like you though, we all have to wait for the ink to dry on all of the flurry of contracts that will have to be signed in the next few weeks. Ray is going to have one bad case of writers cramp!
It is official - a FIVE DAY event in the heart of some GORGEOUS riding country!!!!
Register for their newsletter to stay informed of the happenings and watch the Busted Knuckle Chronicles and the Belt Drive Betty Web SIte too as we are going to be a major media sponsor for the event!
Our reporter Jeff LeGrand from the Calgary MRFD and the CMC will be on hand to give us all the low down on this first time event that many, many western Canadian riders are hoping will become a Western Canadian Signature Motorcycle event.
There will be tons and tons of developments and important updates to watch for...
sturgisnorth.com
So - let's hear your comments and feed back...are you excited that Sturgis North is coming?
The Great Canadian Bike Rally is the same weekend in Merritt - are you planning on taking in both first time events or only one? It's only 211 KM from one venue to the other with some pretty, pretty riding country in between....
The discussion is in our forums on www.beltdrivebetty.com
on our FB Fan Page of right here!
In other news:
In the UK Kawasaki has decided to re launch it's riders program with discounts etc...
If you are handy with graphic design and want to win 1000 pounds, Ducati has a Christmas Card design contest going on!
Our friend and colleague Jeff from VRide TV in BC has a calendar for sale.
Bikes over Baghdad 3 is set to place to entertain the US Troops
Although Ray and his team have already invested a ton of time and money in to the event, Ray expressed on the phone yesterday that the hard work officially begins now.
With 4 venues in total - the Summer Stomp Rally site, the 2 Music venues and the vendors village - there's a lot of elbow grease to be applied yet noted Ray in our conversation.
"The plans are in place, now it is to execute them - REALLY, REALLY well!"
The RCMP - while concerned at the numbers of people this event is expected to draw is up to the task and drafting a budget to Salmon Arm City council for the expenses. Sturgis North has already agreed to help with the costs and are providing shuttle services to and from various venues. In all Sturgis North's team has budgeted $300K for security (Stats from the Salmon Arm Observer article) and the man heading up their security team? Peter Maia - he has been involved in first aid and security for more than 25 years, doing every major event in B.C. since Expo ’86. He was in charge of the Ontario pavilion for the Vancouver Olympics.
JB's Custom Colors - an RFBA Member business in Kamloops is painting the Sturgis North Motorcycle that is going to be taken around to bike shows across the country promoting the event, there are plans for some big bands to be entertaining people - like you though, we all have to wait for the ink to dry on all of the flurry of contracts that will have to be signed in the next few weeks. Ray is going to have one bad case of writers cramp!
It is official - a FIVE DAY event in the heart of some GORGEOUS riding country!!!!
Register for their newsletter to stay informed of the happenings and watch the Busted Knuckle Chronicles and the Belt Drive Betty Web SIte too as we are going to be a major media sponsor for the event!
Our reporter Jeff LeGrand from the Calgary MRFD and the CMC will be on hand to give us all the low down on this first time event that many, many western Canadian riders are hoping will become a Western Canadian Signature Motorcycle event.
There will be tons and tons of developments and important updates to watch for...
sturgisnorth.com
So - let's hear your comments and feed back...are you excited that Sturgis North is coming?
The Great Canadian Bike Rally is the same weekend in Merritt - are you planning on taking in both first time events or only one? It's only 211 KM from one venue to the other with some pretty, pretty riding country in between....
The discussion is in our forums on www.beltdrivebetty.com
on our FB Fan Page of right here!
In other news:
In the UK Kawasaki has decided to re launch it's riders program with discounts etc...
If you are handy with graphic design and want to win 1000 pounds, Ducati has a Christmas Card design contest going on!
Our friend and colleague Jeff from VRide TV in BC has a calendar for sale.
Bikes over Baghdad 3 is set to place to entertain the US Troops
Have a great day and please take your time out there.Belt Drive Betty
Editor/Rider
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Surviving in business in this economy...
There are a lot of people who are hurting right now.
Little business people who have worked their butts off, invested all of the time, effort and resources into a business that they believe in. Their once hopeful and positive demeanor replaced with fear, frazzled nerves and heavy hearts.
This economy - this changing economic climate we live in is affecting these people and their ability to earn a living. You, the consumer are not spending much money with the little guy. Big Box stores that can offer incredible prices are winning and the little guy is struggling as a result. If you listen to some, there is no hope.....
And yet there are some small businesses that are doing very well - their businesses are flourishing and they are defying what others view as the odds.
So what is the difference between the successful small business and the one that is struggling and faultering?
There are so many contributing factors for a business to fail...
Being under financed, buying the wrong stock or paying too high a price, having people bad mouth you or not pay you...Being unprepared, uneducated in the ways of business, being ill prepared for dealing with human nature, not having a plan B & a C or an awful location.
In this economic climate any one of the above mentioned perils can put you in a bad spot.
There are some fundamental differences between the business person that is succeeding right now and the ones that are faltering...the biggest one, probably the most important one is attitude.
I deal with a lot of business people every day. 7 out of ten are so sad, sound so defeated I can't wait to get off the phone - their sadness is so over powering. The other three - I could be on the phone with for hours - they are positive, grateful and up beat.
Hands down the single biggest difference I have found - the one defining characteristic that all those who are truly successful seem to have...An Attitude of Gratitude.
They are grateful for the things they have and it is reflected in the way they talk, carry themselves and conduct their lives. The more grateful they are, the more they seem to have to be grateful about.
Every great spiritual teacher of recorded time has said it - being grateful is the key to everything that you deem success to be.
“When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears” Anthony Robbins
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy
“If one's life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements. And finally, there is an intense delight in abandoning faulty states of mind and in cultivating helpful ones in meditation.” Dalai Lama
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. Cicero
There are literally hundreds of quotes from people who are respected teachers and philosophers that all say the exact same things... BE GRATEFUL
The law of attraction says that we become what we think of...
If you want to change the course of your business and your life you must become a grateful human being and while it is a daunting task at times - it is one of the most rewarding things we can do - not just for ourselves but for everyone around us. The more grateful and positive, the more things you will attract to you that make you feel grateful and happy.
It is in business as it is in any other aspect of your life...focusing on the good, being grateful for what you have ...that is the way to true success.
Over the course of the last several years I have suffered some horrendous losses - financially, personally. I have experienced betrayal and treachery - every time those things have happened - come in to my life - it's been at a time when I am feeling sorry for myself, where I have allowed a negative aura to settle on me. When I am focused on the things I am grateful for, my life becomes so rich and rewarding.
Learning to be grateful - adopting that as a way of life - it can be a challenge - but I guarantee you that the more grateful I am, the more thankful I am, the more I have to give thanks for. You are no different.
If you are looking for a way to change the circumstances in your life, start reading books like the Secret or the Power by Rhonda Byrne - anything written by Tony Robbins...read - enlighten your mind - invest 10 minutes a day in feeling grateful...
Like any day - I welcome your thoughts and feed back on this topic. You can join us for the discussion on Face Book on my personal page, The Belt Drive Betty & The Busted Knuckle Fan Page, in our forums or right here!
In the news:
Dispelling the myths of running an older bike
American long distance rider and rights advocate Bruce Arnold talks about riding your motorcycle as opposed to flying - some interesting points the man makes....
A riders funeral in Australia causes some controversy
The US Hall of Fame held their induction ceremony
A fitness instructor loves her new Harley
There's a lot more...but those are the biggest highlights so far today!
Little business people who have worked their butts off, invested all of the time, effort and resources into a business that they believe in. Their once hopeful and positive demeanor replaced with fear, frazzled nerves and heavy hearts.
This economy - this changing economic climate we live in is affecting these people and their ability to earn a living. You, the consumer are not spending much money with the little guy. Big Box stores that can offer incredible prices are winning and the little guy is struggling as a result. If you listen to some, there is no hope.....
And yet there are some small businesses that are doing very well - their businesses are flourishing and they are defying what others view as the odds.
So what is the difference between the successful small business and the one that is struggling and faultering?
There are so many contributing factors for a business to fail...
Being under financed, buying the wrong stock or paying too high a price, having people bad mouth you or not pay you...Being unprepared, uneducated in the ways of business, being ill prepared for dealing with human nature, not having a plan B & a C or an awful location.
In this economic climate any one of the above mentioned perils can put you in a bad spot.
There are some fundamental differences between the business person that is succeeding right now and the ones that are faltering...the biggest one, probably the most important one is attitude.
I deal with a lot of business people every day. 7 out of ten are so sad, sound so defeated I can't wait to get off the phone - their sadness is so over powering. The other three - I could be on the phone with for hours - they are positive, grateful and up beat.
Hands down the single biggest difference I have found - the one defining characteristic that all those who are truly successful seem to have...An Attitude of Gratitude.
They are grateful for the things they have and it is reflected in the way they talk, carry themselves and conduct their lives. The more grateful they are, the more they seem to have to be grateful about.
Every great spiritual teacher of recorded time has said it - being grateful is the key to everything that you deem success to be.
“When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears” Anthony Robbins
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy
“If one's life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements. And finally, there is an intense delight in abandoning faulty states of mind and in cultivating helpful ones in meditation.” Dalai Lama
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. Cicero
There are literally hundreds of quotes from people who are respected teachers and philosophers that all say the exact same things... BE GRATEFUL
The law of attraction says that we become what we think of...
If you want to change the course of your business and your life you must become a grateful human being and while it is a daunting task at times - it is one of the most rewarding things we can do - not just for ourselves but for everyone around us. The more grateful and positive, the more things you will attract to you that make you feel grateful and happy.
It is in business as it is in any other aspect of your life...focusing on the good, being grateful for what you have ...that is the way to true success.
Over the course of the last several years I have suffered some horrendous losses - financially, personally. I have experienced betrayal and treachery - every time those things have happened - come in to my life - it's been at a time when I am feeling sorry for myself, where I have allowed a negative aura to settle on me. When I am focused on the things I am grateful for, my life becomes so rich and rewarding.
Learning to be grateful - adopting that as a way of life - it can be a challenge - but I guarantee you that the more grateful I am, the more thankful I am, the more I have to give thanks for. You are no different.
If you are looking for a way to change the circumstances in your life, start reading books like the Secret or the Power by Rhonda Byrne - anything written by Tony Robbins...read - enlighten your mind - invest 10 minutes a day in feeling grateful...
Like any day - I welcome your thoughts and feed back on this topic. You can join us for the discussion on Face Book on my personal page, The Belt Drive Betty & The Busted Knuckle Fan Page, in our forums or right here!
In the news:
Dispelling the myths of running an older bike
American long distance rider and rights advocate Bruce Arnold talks about riding your motorcycle as opposed to flying - some interesting points the man makes....
A riders funeral in Australia causes some controversy
The US Hall of Fame held their induction ceremony
A fitness instructor loves her new Harley
There's a lot more...but those are the biggest highlights so far today!
Have a great day and please take your time out there. Weather check - here in Grande Prairie at the time of writing it was -34
Belt Drive Betty
Editor/Rider
Monday, November 22, 2010
Do you like Custom Motorcycles?
Whether or not you would buy one, do you like ogling custom bikes?
Most gear heads do...this year there are 5 motorcycle shows in Canada (so far) that have been approved for the IMBBA's World Cup Competition coming to Laval Quebec in April of 2012.
The International Master Bike Builders Association of Canada is headed up by Bob McKay and he has been working with a number of show coordinators in an effort to attract the BEST of the BEST in custom motorcycle building in Canada.
This year is the inaugural year for the competitions and if all goes to plan each of the five shows below should have some AMAZING machines competing.
Here is the Press release from Bob with all of the show information:
IMBBA Canada has finalized five (5) 2011 Custom Bike Show venues that will determine the final qualifier for the World Cup Competition in Laval Quebec, April 20, 21 and 22nd 2012.
The bike builder who acquires the most single show points from one of the five shows will be awarded the final competitor spot. If this builder has already qualified then the next highest point scoring builder will advance.
2011 Show Information:
North American International Motorcycle Supershow – January 7th -9th 2011
Toronto Ontario International Centre
World of Motorcycles Expo – February 11th-13th 2011
London, Ontario Western Fair Agriplex
World of Motorcycles Expo – March 19th -20th 2011
Kitchener, Ontario Bingemans Park
Toronto International Spring Motorcycle Show – April 9th -10th 2011
Toronto, Ontario International Centre
Classic Bike & Tattoo Show – April 15th -17th 2011
Laval, Quebec SportXpo Center
For more information contact Bob McKay at :
bobmckay@masterbikebuilders.com
In other news, the reports coming out of the So Cal region regarding the Saddle Tramps Motorcycle Club's Memorials and fund raising efforts for the children whose parents passed in the accident of November 13th, are very encouraging. Apparently things went really well. The Twisted Riderz Meet Up Group had a great post about the event that in spite or rain and wind a lot of riders came out to show their love and support.
There's a fabulous story out of North Carolina about the Wheels Through Time museum in Maggy Valley - this is a place I want to get to one of these days - a bucket list item I guess!
One more out of the US - a biker calling out all of the fakes....
In Edmonton AB - Jane Batty - the counselor with the same attributes that her last name boasts doesn't think that it would be feasible or necessary to target other vehicles - most of the complaints she got were motorcycle only anyway - read her words...they are shocking and prove what a discriminatory human being we are dealing with.
Most gear heads do...this year there are 5 motorcycle shows in Canada (so far) that have been approved for the IMBBA's World Cup Competition coming to Laval Quebec in April of 2012.
The International Master Bike Builders Association of Canada is headed up by Bob McKay and he has been working with a number of show coordinators in an effort to attract the BEST of the BEST in custom motorcycle building in Canada.
This year is the inaugural year for the competitions and if all goes to plan each of the five shows below should have some AMAZING machines competing.
Here is the Press release from Bob with all of the show information:
IMBBA Canada has finalized five (5) 2011 Custom Bike Show venues that will determine the final qualifier for the World Cup Competition in Laval Quebec, April 20, 21 and 22nd 2012.
The bike builder who acquires the most single show points from one of the five shows will be awarded the final competitor spot. If this builder has already qualified then the next highest point scoring builder will advance.
2011 Show Information:
North American International Motorcycle Supershow – January 7th -9th 2011
Toronto Ontario International Centre
World of Motorcycles Expo – February 11th-13th 2011
London, Ontario Western Fair Agriplex
World of Motorcycles Expo – March 19th -20th 2011
Kitchener, Ontario Bingemans Park
Toronto International Spring Motorcycle Show – April 9th -10th 2011
Toronto, Ontario International Centre
Classic Bike & Tattoo Show – April 15th -17th 2011
Laval, Quebec SportXpo Center
For more information contact Bob McKay at :
bobmckay@masterbikebuilders.com
In other news, the reports coming out of the So Cal region regarding the Saddle Tramps Motorcycle Club's Memorials and fund raising efforts for the children whose parents passed in the accident of November 13th, are very encouraging. Apparently things went really well. The Twisted Riderz Meet Up Group had a great post about the event that in spite or rain and wind a lot of riders came out to show their love and support.
There's a fabulous story out of North Carolina about the Wheels Through Time museum in Maggy Valley - this is a place I want to get to one of these days - a bucket list item I guess!
One more out of the US - a biker calling out all of the fakes....
In Edmonton AB - Jane Batty - the counselor with the same attributes that her last name boasts doesn't think that it would be feasible or necessary to target other vehicles - most of the complaints she got were motorcycle only anyway - read her words...they are shocking and prove what a discriminatory human being we are dealing with.
Have a great day and please take your time out there.
Belt Drive Betty
Editor/Rider
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