Imagine...what if it was you?

I want you to imagine for a moment what it would be like to wake up one morning and realize the your once perfect child is a shattered version of him/herself.  Perhaps a limb is missing or their brain is traumatized.

Or perhaps it is your spouse, or parent.
Once active, lively, loving and engaging, now withdrawn, tempermental and moody - distant.

This is the reality for over 6,000 military families in Canada.  The families of our veterans - those who have been in harms way courtesy of our government, the boss of their loved one - are hurting, badly.

In 2005, the government of Canada introduced the New Veteran's Charter, that charter changed the way our veteran's are compensated when they are injured in the line of duty.  The changes are devestating and wrong minded in my humble opinion.

Since 1917, there has been a sacred covenant between soldiers and their government in this country - a covenant that our current government has broken.

The NVC has been assessed by phychiatrists, doctors and many others, read the "Shaping the Future - Military & Veteran Health Research" PDF. Chapters 15, 16, 17 & 18 are of extreme importance to understanding the changes. The entire document is important, but those two chapters in particular are important.

It's a dry document - written by people who appear to have a direct relationship with drug therapy, although they do look at the arts as a form of therapy.

It looks at the social causes for change in the way our veterans are supported and it looks at the attitudes of government regarding out veterans.

Begin Quote:
Extremes of perceptions of the military in a society can be illustrated by these contrasting views held by two prominent Kingston politicians, Sir John A. MacDonald (Canada’s first prime minister) and W.F. Nickle (Kingston’s Member of Parliament (1911-19), respectively:

…‘regulars’ are useful only for hunting, drinking and chasing women…they are soldiers because they are no good at anything else.9

…this war has clearly demonstrated …that the hero is to be found under practically every jacket…10
End Quote

It is clear that how the Prime Minister and government officials percieve our troops relates directly to their compensation for being put in harm's way by our government.

I personally do not recommend any young person join our military, at least not under this government - as the callous disregard for them and their families' welfare is evident in statements made by the governments lawyers regarding the Equitas Class Action Lawsuit - Please view the YouTube Video that I recorded of the Press Conference with Peter Stoffer - NDP Veteran's Affairs Critic on Parliment Hill 2 days ago:

Personally I feel that if we can not afford, financially, to look after those our government puts in harms way, then we should not be poking our nose in the affairs of other countries and should instead go back to a peace keeping role.

The fact is that in 60 years of Peace Keeping we lost fewer soldiers than in the 10 years of active combat during the Afghanistan conflict.

If we send them, we must mend them - as Medric Cousineau of Paws for Thoughts is fond of saying.

The RCMP are now being affected by the NVC which has replaced the Pension Act.

Our government included the RCMP in the 2013 budget and if you consider the ramifications to attracting quality people to the job, you will see that we will be sucking the bottom of the pond, very soon, as the compensation and supports for the families is brutal, never mind the serving member.

I am terrified of the quality of people we will attract into the RCMP as well.

Today Medric Cousineau began his long walk to sanity - he will arrive in Ottawa on the 19th of September - his goal is to raise the money for 50 dogs in 50 days for 50 veterans - his is one of three causes I am riding to support - so far I have raised just shy of $5,400.

It's a drop in the bucket - but it is an important drop, as we Canadians prove to our veterans that we will support their therapy and reintegration into civilian life where our government is failing them.

I hope you will go out and meet Medric along his journey or come out and meet me on mine - the cause - the reason is the same - supporting our veterans and thanking them for their service to our country by helping them to heal.  Dog therapy is not funded by our government - sadly, our government does not appear to value the lives of our veterans or their families - read - educate yourself and then please consider joining us along the way.

Here are the links:

Medric's Walk
www.pawsfurthought1.com

My Conga
www.beltdrivebetty.com/home/conga

The Document Shaping the Future for our Military & Veterans
PTSD Book Download

When a Child's Parent has PTSD
http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/blog/?p=857

Until the next time that I have time to write...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor &Rider

PS - Ride safe - like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Why I am riding across Canada in support of our Veterans

Most civilians do not understand the New Veteran's Charter created by the Liberal Government and defended relentlessly by the Harper government.

It is all about money - it is all about saving the Government money - but we the people ARE the government and if enough raise our voices in a united way, we can force our government to do the right and honorable thing - pay our veterans a pension.

As it stands right now if a verteran has served at least 10 years they get a buy out based on 20% of their best 5 years of pay. If they serve less than that, their source deductions are returned to them - and that's pretty much it.

When they are discharged for medical reasons - be it PTSD or physical injury - they are not getting the supports they need beyond prothstetics or drug therapy. If the drugs don't work for them - too bad.

I want you to read this - PLEASE: http://veteranwatch.blogspot.ca/2013/07/how-government-views-veterans-it-isnt.html


If that doesn't make your stomach churn - I am not sure what will...

I have another day of hard riding to get to my next fundraiser in Midland ON at the Tim Horton's at 5:30 pm tonight - hope to see some of you out there to support our veterans...

TTYS

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Pay for use Insurance - what it means and why SGI is thinking of using it

I read with some concern about SGI pairing up with Baseline Telematics.

Here is the link to the article

There are claims that this system makes for better drivers and they hope it will be the same for riders.

The paying of people to take these units for a test drive concerns me.  I think that if they are going to monitor when and where you ride, and how you you ride - brake, speed etc., then they should also mount video cameras to record WHY those situations may be occurring.

According to the article: "Baseline Telematics is creating the first pilot program in the world to offer a Pay-As-You-Drive and Pay-How-You-Drive insurance coverage to motorcyclists in Western Canada. SGI would be the first in the world to use telematics for motorcycles.

Often called Usage-Based Insurance or UBI, Baseline Telematics has already a unique solution it offers Canadian insurers so they can use telematics devices in vehicles to record driving information, such as speed, braking, mileage and driving location in order to determine the risk of a claim associated with a vehicle. Baseline Telematics has already assisted several "early adopter" insurers take advantage of the benefits of the quickly evolving telematics based insurance trend.  The Baseline Telematics' technology provides a turn-key insurance telematics solution and the fastest implementation available in the market."

Please read the WHOLE article - do not take my word/interpretation of what I read as any kind of gospel.  Visit the web site refrenced in the article and read the section called THE FINE PRINT.

I am concerned when I see the word mandatory mentioned in any way - making this system manditory for any rider concerns me.

What I want to know is what is your take on this topic?

PLEASE - PLEASE - PLEASE read and share this information with everyone who rides as this has the potential to be the next war for equality that we need to address as a community!

In other news, Ray Sasseveille of Sturgis North fame has a concern on his hands.

Daniel Raymond Sasseville was given seven months in jail for sexual assault. He was ordered to provide a DNA sample and was placed on probation for three years.  Here is the link to the news article - his is the last one one the page: http://www.canada.com/Court+News/8630663/story.html

Here is an Update on the Daniel Raymond Sasseville information: http://www.yourlibrary.ca/community/richmondreview/archive/RR20010426/morenews.html

I am in Yellowknife NT today - tonight I will be riding with members of our military both serving and veteran - and with members of the general riding public - we civilians - I hear we are going for pie and coffee in a unique place!

I leave you with a few photos from last night's ride night in Yellowknife...

If you can join us tonight - registration begins at 5:30pm - kickstands up at 7PM - meet at the Co-op parking lot....

Bob Irwin

Robin Weber 

Swerve

George

Buddy AKA Graham

If you are lucky enough to be riding, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

Bizarre weather all across Canada and Tragedy in QC.

Today is Day 22 of my Bikers United Conga and so far it's went very well.  Sure there's been a few challenges along the way but I'm having a wonderful time meeting up with old friends and making new, taking in breath-taking scenery, each day a new adventure.  

That said, I'm troubled by the news coverage I watch at night before I hit the hay.  My heart goes out to all those who are suffering this summer from the bizarre weather, those folks in Calgary, High River and other flood ravaged areas, now including Toronto!  The sudden hail-storms in Airdrie and Cochrane.  The 19 brave firefighters that lost their lives in Arizona.  My thoughts and prayers go out to to the victims and their families of the town of Lac-Megantic.  Their recent train disaster, such a terrible tragedy, the scope of which is still unfolding. 

Thoughts from the Road - 

Belt Drive Betty

Motorcycle Tour of Ireland with Celtic Rider!

Getting very excited about my upcoming motorcycle tour of Ireland with the good folks at Celtic Rider Motorcycle Rentals and Tours!  Have a look at my stunning itinerary:

Riding like a local in Northern BC & The Yukon Territory

I am sorry that I have not been able to keep you updated as to my travels for the Bikers United in Remembrance Conga. Internet connections here in the Yukon are sketchy at best!

Once I get to Kamloops BC it should be far easier for me to keep you updated on the adventures of Road Trip Rita and myself!

I have finally posted information on my travels and you can find them here:

Travel BC by Motorcycle: http://bcbymotorcycle.blogspot.ca

Travel Yukon by Motorcycle: http://yukonbymotorcycle.blogspot.ca

I still have to write about my adventure on the Top of the World Highway, my time in Beaver Creek at Buckshot Betty's and my stay at the Heritage House B & B in Whitehorse but time is short and I need to pack up and head to Watson Lake and Nugget City where I will be staying tonight...

I am praying for all those affected by the flooding in southern Alberta...you are in my heart and on my mind as I ride...

Ride Safe out there,

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

90 days, 30,000 KMs, 10 provinces, 2 territories - a Woman and her Beaver (mascot)

This past week has been frentically busy. Getting as much done, as many details finished before I leave on the Bikers United in Remembrance Conga.

It's a crazy amount f work and I have been told by more than one person that I am nuts.

I have questioned myself hard - leaving without all of my rooms organized is a wee bit scary and figuring out how I am going to run my business from the road is more than scary, it's daunting but after yesterday, I know rock solid in my heart that what I am doing is the right thing.

You see we went for a ride to Fairview and the Dunvegan Inn & Suites for Father's Day Brunch on our kick off  fundraiser and standing out side after brunch, I was approached by an older man asking about Belt Drive Btty and if we were part of the ride she was taking. I introduced myself to him and he shook my hand telling me he reads my column in the Northern Horizon all the time.

He asked me to explain to a younger man about the charities I would be riding for and so I did.
The younger man said "As a vet who suffers, I want to thank you for what you are doing, it means so much." He was misty eyed, his voice cracking and so was mine as I said "Thank you for your service to our country"

After Johnny Pag Motorcycles of Canada had to back out of coming right across Canada with me when Sven fell off a ladder, I questioned myself 1,000 times - is this an omen? Should I cancel? And little incident after little incident has pointed me to the fact that yes, I am doing the right thing.

My husband is being super, super supportive. Keeps telling me he's proud of me.

I am not doing this ride for EGO's sake. I am doing it for the men and women who have paid the price of serving our country and working for a government that too often, be it liberal or conservative, that has let them down. Hence why I am supporting V.E.T.S. - The Veterans Emergency Transition Services Centres.

I am doing it for the children who need specialized eye care and are in families who can not afford it.
Hence why I am supporting the Military Police Relay Ride for Blind Children.

I am doing it for those who suffer from PTSD. Vic Remillard, who took his own life, the soldier in Kingston who recently took his own life, and the fact that we have to have a Soldiers of Suicide support group for their families...for our writer and my friend Medric Cousineau who is taking on a far heavier challenge than I am walking to raise the money for 50 dogs in 50 days for 50 veterans.

So, I have many reasons to undertake this journey and I hope that one of those reasons resonates with you and that you will either join me at an event in a community near you OR you will consider making a donation by Pay Pal if you can't come out.

I want to raise enough money to buy 2 service dogs. That's $15,000 which means that I will also raise $15,000 each fors V.E.T.S. and the Military Police Relay Ride.

It's a HUGE goal, It's one that I truly hope I can reach. But I will only reach it if you are behind me - supporting me and these causes that I wished didn't exist.

No veteran should be homeless, no child should go without the surgeries or eye wear they need and no veteran, no family should have to go through PTSD alone.

Let's Put the Stigma Down - let's show these people they are not alone, that as a community we support them, appreciate them and will be there for them.

Yesterday's first event for our Conga was a humbling experience and I have a feeling this whole trip is going to be just that, humbling, filled with stories of need - let's make them stories of needs met - please.

Have a fabulous Monday folks - tomorrow I begin the voyage of my life and riding with you, making a difference with you is what is going to make this all worth while.

Join Road Trip Rita and I be it for an hour, a day, a week or the whole trip...

As Medric from Paws Fur Thought is always reminding me, "TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG"

I am riding everywhere I can this summer to support the three charities I am riding for.

Our First Fundraiser netted $100 for each of our three causes

Road Trip Rita was hugged and petted
by 20 people on her first ride.

Stay safe out there and please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.
Ride to Work today - it's good for the soul.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider...