Can you smell it? Spring is just a wisp away and the motorcycles will awaken from their forced sleep and we will begin venturing out once more. Aw, life is sweet! This month we’re going in search of a rare, never seen mammal. The ‘member-non-member-biker’. Those are the leather clad homosapiens that never attend meetings or events, yet long too. What are we going to use for bait? The best, most fun filled schedule of events yet! Also, in this issue, a stop by the Motorcycle Expo and some surprising safety information and tid bits that have been laying on my desk too long. Are you ready? Let’s go...

Our Club now has over three hundred members. This is a first in our ten year history. We also have the most famous members in the entire country (Dave Barr, Evel Knievel and AMA Champion Chris Carr) and the most involved Club in the ENTIRE State. Our Chapter has raised more money, attended more events, maintained the highest Safety Standard, helped more local charities and STILL has more fun per biker per capita per Harley! So why do only 50-60 people attend the meetings?

Some people work, others have prior commitments and some just aren’t people persons. Still, others have the idea that biker clubs are a little too wild for their tastes. These are the people I want to talk to. Did you know that last year the Muncie Chapter helped a battered women’s shelter? Or that they held a blood drive that generated over 83 units of blood for a local hospital? How about the fact #1277 raised money for a wheel chair for a paralyzed 16 year old boy? Doesn’t sound like the ‘typical Hollywood biker club’, does it? Some people I’ve talked to seem to think that all we do is get together and drink and plunder nearby towns. The truth of the matter is that we do get together for fun (most #1277 members don’t drink) and to ride our motorcycles to events that are family orientated. O.K., so we did plunder Farmland once, but what the heck, it was hot and everybody was in a silly mood!

The point is this, riding motorcycles is fun. Taking part in a group sponsored activities INCREASES the fun of motorcycling. It gives you a chance to meet new people and to do something positive for your community and other people. The Club events are designed by our hard working Activities Committee to appeal to ALL members. From bowling to fund raising chili cook off’s, to long, high mileage rides. If you ride 1,000 miles a year, we got activities for you. If you ride 20,000 miles a year, we’ve got activities. If you just want to find someone to ride with, we got ‘em. If you just want to learn more about motorcycles, we got it! Did you know that #1277 has it’s own motorcycle school and that three of it’s members are nationally certified motorcycle instructors? We have members that are nurses, lawyers & judges, professional businessmen (and women), trade people, married couples, retired people, young people and members representing any background you can imagine.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 2nd. I ask that ALL new members to please attend. At this meeting we will introduce you to the Club at a stress-free, relaxed session. We have some new officers just beginning their term in the Club and they will be wearing name tags to identify themselves and answer any questions you might have. Ladies, single or married, this invitation is for you also. The Ladies of Harley that do so much for our Club will be on hand to make you welcome and feel a part of the family. Their phones numbers are in the front of this newsletter if you would like more information.

Unlike other organizations, motorcycle clubs have come along way in destroying the ‘bad boy image’ of the 60’s and have fought their way back into respected, fun orientated groups that provide fun for their members, set standards for charity and provide positive role models for the young people. You are a part of this, so please, BE a part of this. See you at the meeting March 2nd!

I want to update everyone on the latest in the HELMET LAW war that has been ongoing the last two years in the surrounding states. The issue of ‘freedom of choice’ started on a bad note in Texas in 1997 when ABATE of Texas and the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association lobbied to have the helmet law revoked. They rushed to have the mandatory helmet law repealed, and in their haste, the State Legislators slapped a health insurance provision on their license. Simply put, if you choose not to wear a helmet in the state of Texas, you must be a resident and have increased health insurance to cover you in case of injury. Seeing increased revenues, other States quickly jumped on the band wagon. Missouri, Kentucky and Maryland. Other states are considering doing the same thing (Michigan, Illinois, Oklahoma and Kansas).

In the case of Kentucky, a year has passed since the law was enacted. State Troopers have issued sporadic tickets and citations to out of state motorcyclists, most of which were rejected by the courts, due to the subjective way the Troopers have issued the tickets. The annual fatality rate has DROPPED since the law took affect, prompting motorcycle rights activists to call for a repeal of the law, however, one State Legislator is leading the charge to take a ‘wait and see’ position. As of this writing, the out of state motorcyclists can STILL be ticketed for riding helmetless.

In Texas, since the repeal of the helmet law, motorcycle registration has increased 6,900, bringing the total registrations to over 240,000 riders. The Texas Motorcycle Rights Association, realizing the mistake that was made, has become aggressive in their political work and now have members that total 42% of the delegates in the State Democratic Party. Their goal is to repeal the health insurance ‘tax’ and maintain freedom of choice.

Michigan, which lobbied to became a helmet-optional state last year, is under siege to repeal the helmet law championed by it’s Governor, John Engler. ABATE of Michigan was successful in lobbying to have the helmet repeal bill scheduled for review this fall. Efforts are underway at this time to garner votes to overcome an anticipated veto from the Governor. An attempt that failed last year.

In Maryland and Pennsylvania the legislators have bought into Dr. Tilman Jolly (the doctor in the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration safety video) declarating that "Helmets are like a vaccine for head injuries". The AMA and ABATE are fighting to change their attitudes. Dr. Jolly’s belief is that there are no ‘accidents’ involving motorcycles, only ‘crashes’. He believes that accidents are preventable and that crashes are not. Motorcycle ‘crashes’ therefore are more likely and the medical costs higher... The battle rages on.

Don’t take the position that it can’t happen here. It can and DID in 1986.

The Indiana Motorcycle Expo took place at the Indianapolis Fairgrounds January 20-24. The event has grown into a massive trade and exposition of motorcycles and motorcycle related merchandise. This year featured a motorcycle show, an antiques motorcycle display, a riding field events contest and a ‘hands on’ Rider Course for kids. Several booths from area dealerships were on hand to display the latest models (from Japanese to American) of motorcycles, services and products related to our sport.

Some of the new products that caught my eye included a new rainsuit made of a light weight, vented material in various colors, a towing device for large motorcycles (hooks right on to your car or truck), paint process that over lays pearl tones onto existing paint, neon light set-ups for motorcycles and several other products that make owning a motorcycle fun.

There were several booths related to services for the motorcyclists, ranging from instant insurance quotes, credit card services, safety equipment and political organizations.

ABATE of INDIANA had a booth for memberships, one for products and clothing and one for motorcycle safety. This is where I spent most of my time Saturday. The State of Indiana had approved early sign up for Rider Education Classes at this event and I had volunteered to work one shift. Instead of hanging out with the guys talking motorcycles, I was flooded with people signing up for courses in the coming year. In my four hour shift, Teresa and I signed up 90 people for classes at four sites. The Indianapolis site filled three months (April-June) into their schedule, Muncie filled two months as well. This was in a period of only four hours. I don’t know how many more classes were filled later Saturday or Sunday.

I want to urge anybody wanting to take a Rider Course this season not to delay and book your class NOW. The State has approved an increase of students this year (3200) however the demand always exceeds available slots. There just isn’t enough sites or personnel to train the number of riders who would like to take this lifesaving class.

Any Chapter #1277 members who wish to take this course and cannot get in, give Teresa a call and she will put you on a standby list for the Muncie Site, this WILL NOT guarantee you a spot but may get you in if there is a cancelation.. But first, please call ABATE at 1-800-23-ABATE and sign up for a class NOW. Every season it seems that the classes fill up early. This year I’ve increased our class schedule (thanks to our local instructors) and have made every attempt to make them convenient for students.