WEST COAST ABATE NEWSLETTER

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1 A American B Bikers A Aiming T Toward E Education WESTCOASTABATENEWSLETTER SERVINGSARASOTA&MANATEECOUNTIES ARIL2011 GOALS&PURPOSE TofightforfreedomoftheroadandfreedomofchoiceformotorcyclistridersofFlorida TobecomeapowerfulandviablepoliticalforceinFloridabyencouragingridersto registertovoteandtocommunicatewiththeirlegislators. Topromotesaferidinghabitsandtopromotedriverawarenesswithoutinfringingonthe rightsofindividuals. Toworktowardseducatinglegislatorsonmotorcycleissuessotheymaybeabletomake therightdecisionsregardingfloridamotorcyclelaws. TopublishanewslettertokeepmembersofABATEofFloridaInc.informed. DonationstoABATEofFlorida,Inc.arenotdeductibleforincometaxpurposes FROMTHEPRESIDENT Iwouldliketostartoffbythankingeachandeveryoneofyouforbeingapartofthis organization.withoutyourmembershipandsupport,wejustwouldn tbehere,plain andsimple.itisallofyououtthereonyourdailytravelsthatletthepublicknowthat wearepartofthecommunityatlarge.itisbecauseofyou,thatour Watchoutfor Motorcycles campaignissuchabigsuccess. Irecentlyheardapersoninagroupsay I mtiredofseeingthese WatchoutforMotorcycles bumperstickersallover theplace. Itmaybeoddtosome,butthatstatementmademeveryhappy.Whywouldthatbe?Youmayask.I lltell you. It s because the public is seeing them everywhere. This hopefully means that these people will not only see the signs,posters,andbumperstickerseveryoneputsout,butthattheywillseethemotorcyclistsontheroadaswell.this successisbecauseofallofyou.keepuptheoutstandingwork.itmaybethebumperstickersyouhaveonyourvehicle thatmadesomeonethinktolooktwice.itmayhaveevensavedsomeone slife. On that note, I want to encourage all of you to keep volunteering what time and resources you can so we can keep movingforward.thisisvitaltooursuccess. To all of the new people I have had the pleasure of meeting this month (Swamp, Marko, Mark Berte, Shotgun, and manyothers)aswellasthoseihavespokentoonthephone,ithasbeenapleasurespeakingwithyouall.ihopetosee youallagainsoonatourevents. ToourfriendsatPeaceRiverChapter,thankyouforvisitingourlastchaptermeeting.Asalways,itisapleasuretosee allofyou. Ihopeallofyouenjoyourupcomingeventsaswellasthoseputonbyotherchaptersandorganizations. RideSafeandhopetoseeyousoon, JimGladstone

2 NEWSLETTERBOOSTERS:ThankYou! The newsletter booster program helps offset the cost of producing our newsletter. $5.00 helps provide information, news,funandlegislativeupdatestomotorcycleenthusiastsinourcommunityforsixmonths.pleaseconsiderhelping today. DanielKennedy A.J.Pawelkap GeorgieAlfanso PatMcCarthy DonnaGreene AndiLaGasse CarolBonella BobBonella PatBernius ValBernius MalcolmRoberts JohnKennedy TereRoberts JohnStringer FlexSolo WesleyBlount MarkBerte' DeniseBerte' JohnGiglia MikeGesell MarkoSumney SECRETARY SREPORT MinutesofMeetingheldonMarch20,2011 Attendance:41 Members:35 Guests:6 CalltoOrder11:04am PledgeofAllegiance MomentofSilence PrayerbyguestChaplain President/JamesGladstone:Introducedhimselftothechapterasthenewpresident.Thankedeveryonethathasbeen gettingmoreinvolvedinthechapterandforvolunteeringatevents.saidwehavebeeninvitedtoparticipateinthe5 StarEventbeingheldJuly29 31.Wentintofurtherdetailsaboutourinvolvement.Thereisonebandperformingsofar; lookingtoaddothersifanyoneisinterestedorknowsofanybandsthatcanplayatthisevent. VP/MikeGesell:Nothingtoaddatthistime. Secretary/LaurenTruran:MotionmadetoapproveFebruary2011minutes;motionmade,secondedandapprovedas written,motionpassed. Treasurer/SusanBrzostowski:MotionmadetoapproveFebruary2011report;motionmade,secondedandapprovedas written,motionpassed.newbalancestated. Membership/CarolHart:ReadmembersnamespastdueforFebruary,duethismonthandnextmonth.Weareadding membersmonthly,butarelosingsomeaswell.currentmembershiptotalisapprox.260todate. Sgt at Arms/ScottRichards:CouldnotmakeSnookevent,requestmemberstohelpatallevents.Jimsaidwenowhave anassistantsgt.bobbonella,tohelpscottwhenheisbusyworking. Newsletter/JamesGladstone:Supportisneededintheformofnewsletter boosters tohelpwithprintingandmailing costs.remindedthechapterthenewsletterismandatoryandisintheby laws;thusthecostisnecessary. Website/JimGladstone:JimthankedCarolAnnfortakingmanyofthephotos. PR/SusanBrzostowski:Nothingatthistime.Jimremindedchapterweshouldallbea PR personwhenoutandabout. Wearyourchaptershirtsandhelppromoteus. Safety Director/Jim Gladstone: Reminded the chapter to keep their bikes in working order and to be aware of the snowbirds drivingamongstus.also,noticethingssuchasplasticwaterbottlesontheroad,theywillcauseyourbiketo slide. Products:TherearestillafewshirtsleftoverperJim.Goingforward,productorderingwillbeonapre orderandpre pay basis. Legislative/DwayneGeibabsent/Jim:ExplainedbillsHB403andSB608whichneedtogetonthelegislativeagendafor vote.requestedweallcallrep.draketohavethemputontheagenda.thelegislativesessionendsin35days.jimalso wentoverhr904. Events Coordinator/Mike Gessell: Give Hunger the Blues is next Sunday. We will be helping with parking. Need volunteersfortimeslots11 1,1 3and3 5.Eventisfromnoonto8pm.Wearyourchaptershirts. Leesburg Bike Fest is the same weekend as the annual Freedom Rights Rally. There will be a run leaving from the LeesburgcampgroundtoTallahassee. April8 11.ABATEannualFreedomRight srallytothecapitol.statemeetingisonthe10 th. March25 27.EsteroRiver sishostingtheir9 th annual5 StarPlusOneEvent.Primitivecamping.

3 GatorAlley s25 th annualmashbash.overnightcamping.seeoureventscalendar. Todayisthe8 th annualsahibmotorcorp.pokerruntobenefittheshriner schildren shospital.wewillbegoingona half runafterthemeetingtotherun sending.eventisfrom1 7pm.Markbroughtpokerhandsign upsheetswithhim, ifyouareinterested. OldBusiness:Jim:wentover5 StarEvent. NewBusiness:Thechapterwelcomedguestspeakers:GregLinehanandSteveWittmer,motorcycleaccidentattorneys. Jim:Therewillbeavoteatthenextstatemeetingconcerningourby laws.avotewastakenatourmeetingtoeither acceptordeclinetheproposedby lawchanges.atourlastboardmeeting,theboardvotedagainstthechanges.vote heldtoday:32against,0opposed,3abstained.motioncarried.delegateswilltakeinfotonextstatemeeting. Nominationsweremadebythememberspresentfornextyear sboardpositions. GoodoftheOrder:RobinandDebrahaveticketsforsaletowinaHarleytobenefittheElksLodge. LaurenmentionedthatTheChromeDivaswillhostapancakebreakfastonJuly2 nd atapplebee stobenefitthesuncoast Offshorecharity. Docsaidthereisan OldSchoolBikerRodeo May13 15inBrooksville.Seescootergoods.com Kermit(LarrySmith)fromPeaceRiverchaptersaidtheyareputtingonasafetyseminarifanyoneisinterestedinbeing certified.pleasecontacthim. BreakfastrideafterAprilmeeting 50 50wonbyVal Meetingadjournedat12:21pm Respectfully,LaurenTruran VicePresidentReport: Nonethismonth. MembershipReport: Member apersonorindividualswhobelong tothecompositionofagroup AccordingtoourJanuary2011statechapterreport,WestCoastABATEhas265members.Thisincludeslifeandannual members.weappreciateyoursupportfinanciallytocontinueourcausesasamember,butwewouldalsoliketofocus onthedefinitionofmembership. Membership participation,belonging,fellowship,enrollment,thetotalnumberofmembersbelongingtoan organization Nowthatyouareamember,wewouldlikeyoutobepartofthemembershipbyparticipating.Thecoremembersdo theworkandorganizationinvolvedwithouractivities.theycontinuetodoitforyou,themembers.theweatherfor riding is perfect so I would like to ask you to support your chapter by attending the functions listed on our events calendaroronourwebsite.youmayseepeopleinsomeoftheeventspostedonthewebsitethatyouhavenotseen forsometime.makeaplannowtoparticipateduringapril. Pleasecontinuetorenewyourmembershipbytheexpirationdatelistedonyournewsletter. MARCHRENEWAL APRILRENEWALS MAYRENEWALS Colella,DevinsO. Gladstone,Jim Abrams,Beth Light,Gregory Ruckle,Frank Fread,Linda Gladstone,Margie Austill,DavidDwight Mulholland,Brandon Smith,Ron Thiem,Troy Hatch,RodneyJ. Mulholland,Leonard Speranza,Noel Jenkins,Ken Elek,ClarenceG. Mushinslei,John Sevigny,Ray Hunter,Cindy Nicandri,Lucy

4 LegislativeReport: HB403:TrafficOffenses:Providespenaltiesforpersonwhocommitsmovingviolationthatcausesseriousbodilyinjury to, or causes or contributes to death of person operating or riding in a motor vehicle or operating or riding on a motorcycle. Although ABATE members have been busy calling and e mailing their Florida Representatives to get our "Stiffer Penalties"Bill,HB403,ontheagendaoftheHouseTransportationandHighwaySafetySubcommittee,atthispointit hasnotbeenplacedtobeheard.weallknowhowimportantitistogethb403heardandpassedbythiscommittee, becauseifnot,itwilldieregardlessofwhathappensinthefloridasenate(sb608)withitsversion. SB608:TrafficOffenses:Providescriminalpenaltiesforapersonwhocommitsamovingviolationthatcausesserious bodilyinjuryto,orcausesorcontributestodeathofpersonoperatingorridinginamotorvehicleoroperatingorriding onamotorcycle.requiresthatthepersonpayaspecifiedfine,serveaminimumperiodofincarceration,andattenda driverimprovementcourse.requiresthecourttorevoketheperson sdriver slicenseforaspecifiedtimeperiod,etc. UPDATEONSB608: FloridaSB608providingforstifferpenaltiesforthosewhoinjureorkillamotorcyclistpassesthroughthethecriminal justice committee with no opposition and now moves on to the budget committee. At the time of this printing, its companionbillhb403remainsinthetransportationandhighwaysafetysubcommitteewhereithasbeensincefeb7. IT STHATTIME! Yes,it sthattimeofyearwhenourchaptermembersmakenominationsfortheboardofdirectorsof the West Coast Chapter of ABATE. We will take additional nominations for officers at our April meeting.theelectioniscurrentlyscheduledforourjunemeeting.

5 AMessageFromtheSafetyDirector It sthattimeofyearagainwhentheweatherwarmsupandwehittheroadsinforcelookingfornew adventureswithourfriends.withthisinmind,pleasereviewthesafetytipofthemonth. GroupRiding Motorcycling is a sociable sport, so chances are very good you ll soon be riding with friends on their motorcycles,andhaveotherswhowanttobepassengers. Aswithanysport,it sniceiftheparticipantsallhaveageneralideaofwhattodo. It is useful if, before taking off on a group ride, you get two or three hand signals organized amongst the participants: let sstop;needgas,i mhungry. Afewrulesforthegroup: Ridinginagroupofmorethanfivemotorcyclescanbecomeconfusingbothforthegroupandtraffic aroundyou.iftherearetoomanypeople,breakitupintosmallergroups. Rideinastaggeredformatioin,withfirstbikeontheleftsideofthelane,secondontherightside,etc., butnotside by side. Alwayskeepatleastatwo secondfollowingdistancefromthemotorcycledirectlyinfrontofyou. Atastoplightorstopsign,waitinpairs. Passothervehiclesindividually,whensafe notinpairsorgroups.

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8 UPCOMINGEVENTS: WestCoastChapterMonthlyMeeting:Sunday,April17,2011at11:00amSHARP!Breakfastrideaftermeeting. 16 th AnnualFreedomRightsRally!April8 11,2011. MONTHLYMEETINGLOCATION/DIRECTIONS FromI 75 ExitFruitvilleRd.,Sarasota,TurnRightOnRichardsonRd.,JustAheadon Left;FromU.S.41or301 EastonFruitvilleRoad,TurnLeftOnRichardsonRd., AheadonLeft;FromUniversity SouthonHonoreAveToRichardsonRd,Turn Right,AheadonRight.Meetingstartsat11amsharp! THANKYOU! AhugethankyoutoallthememberswhovolunteeredatGivingHungerTheBluesonMarch27 th weallappreciate yougivingupyourtimetovolunteeratthisworthwhileevent. DianeRichards LisaSchlager CarolHart TerrellHart MalcolmRoberts DougBrzostowski EdPatten CamilleZunz AngieGesell BobBonella MikeGesell ChuckDitta JuanCarlos JimLyons BruceGeary BridgetteGeary RichieDuerr JimMushinski MargieGladstone JimGladstone WESTCOASTABATECHAPTERDOESNOTCONDONEDRINKING&DRIVING

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10 WEST COAST ABATE CHAPTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS President JimGladstone VicePresident MikeGesell Vice Secretary LaurenTruran Treasurer SueBrzostowski Membership CarolHart Sgt.AtArms ScottRichards PR SueBrzostowski Safety JimGladstone Events MikeGesell Newsletter MargieGladstone Chaplin DwayneGeib Legislative DwayneGeib StateRep.1 MikeGesell StateRep.2 JimGladstone Products Open Webmaster JimGladstone NewsletterAdvertisingRates Size Non Member Member Bus Card $64.20 $53.50 ¼ Page $ $96.30 ½ Page $ $ Full Page $ $ (Annual Rates = 12 issues) Inserts Furnished by advertiser Furnished by ABATE $37.45/issue $53.50/issue To advertise Jim Gladstone OR Newsletter@westcoast.abateflorida.com Bikes don't leak oil, they mark their territory. ~Author Unknown

11 NOMANCANREPRESENTTHEWILLOFTHEPEOPLEUNLESSTHEWILLOFTHEPEOPLEISMADEKNOWNTOHIM Contactyourelectedofficials theyworkforyou! Governor Rick Scott The Capitol 400 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL P: Congressional Delegation Senator Marco Rubio B40A Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC PH: Fax: Senator Bill Nelson US Court House Annex 111 North Adams Street Tallahassee, FL PH: Fax: Congressional District - 13 Representative Vern Buchanan 221 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC PH: State House District 21 Senator Michael S. "Mike" Bennett 404 Senate Office Bldg. 404 S Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL PH: Wildewood Professional Park, Ste 90 Bradenton, FL PH: District 55 Rep. Darryl Rouson 405 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL PH: (850) th Way South, Ste D St. Petersburg, FL Phone: District 67 Rep. W. Greg Steube 1102 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL PH: Lakewood Ranch Blvd South, Ste 5830 Sarasota, FL PH: District 68 Rep. Jim Boyd 1102 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL PH: Manatee Avenue West, Ste 100 Bradenton, FL PH: District 69 Rep. Ray Pilon 1101 The Capitol 402 S Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL PH: Ringling Blvd., Ste Sarasota, FL PH: District 70 Rep. Doug Holder 204 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL PH: S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL PH: District 71 Rep. Ken Roberson 212 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL Phone: (850) Murdock Circle, Ste. B Port Charlotte, FL PH:

12 PresortedStandard ABATEOFFLORIDA,INC. NEXTCHAPTERMEETING U.S.PostagePaid WestCoastChapter Manasota,FL P.O.Box50937 FruitvillePark,Sarasota,FL PermitNo.43 Sarasota,Florida PLEASECHECKYOURRENEWALDATEONTH INGLABEL ORCURRENTRESIDENT DonationstoABATEofFlorida,Inc.arenotdeductibleforincometaxpurposes