Summer Hummer—A Work in Progress

by Betty Roberge

Although the Summer Hummer was only a few weeks ago, plans for next year’s Summer Hummer fundraiser are well underway. Fundraiser you say? …. exactly.

The Summer Hummer is always a lot of fun, as well as a lot of work, and a lot of our membership see it only as a party, but we need to start looking at it as a fundraiser, because that’s what it is. The profits that are raised during this weekend help fund our programs during the course of the whole year and allow us to keep fighting the fight and educating riders and non-riders alike. Those profits are what fuel our committees and our Board Members to approve sending ABATE representatives to Madison and Washington as well as to other federal and state conferences that take place every year, and if you’ve paid attention, we need to be there. Steve Panten, Hardtail and others continuously tell us that legislators don’t always think of the impact their ideas have on the motorcycling community. We need to be vigilant at addressing those oversights and bringing it to the attention of lawmakers because that’s what keeps us safe on the roads. Legislation, Safety, and Education—that’s what we’re about and it takes not only dedication from our hard-working members but also money to get the job done. What better way to raise funds to do our work than to have fun at the Hummer?

The Summer Hummer committee had its first 2020 Hummer meeting before the July Board Meeting. Many ideas were discussed for making it a better event and attracting more of a crowd. One of the best ways we can increase attendance and our profits is easily within our own backyard. We need to find a way to encourage our own members, as well as other fellow bikers, to be there. Suggestions on how to do that are always welcome.

Hummer 2019 offered an “attendance raffle” and it was very well received. One lucky person won the 100% payout, which came to an extremely sizeable amount. Had she not been under the Big Tent at 9 pm on Saturday night when her ticket was drawn, ABATE would have taken home the pot. It was all or nothing between the winning ticket and ABATE. A win-win situation for us, as one of our own members took home the cash and the crowd loved it. This kind of an idea cost us nothing – there was no cash outlay, but it generated interest with attendees that hopefully, they will talk about until next year’s Hummer.

One of the ideas discussed heavily in committee, was to have more involvement from the corporate world—citizen money, as Marlene used to put it. Hopefully, within the next few months an action plan for better sponsorship will unfold. These corporate funds could increase our Hummer budget, especially in the entertainment category, and the idea is that if we offer more or better entertainment, that will increase interest, which will increase attendance, which will increase vendor involvement, which will ultimately increase profits that will help US increase the impact we have when confronting our legislators, safetycrats and help us in educating riders and the general public.

Again, any suggestions you have will be taken up for consideration. The Hummer committee is committed to making next year’s 2020 Hummer the best yet. We need everyone’s help to make this fundraiser—potentially the biggest fundraiser of the year – come to fruition. It starts with us and our ideas….and a lot of hard work. We are a premium Motorcycle Rights Organization. Let’s have a premium fundraiser next year so we can continue doing premium work. Hummer suggestions go to Robert “Worm” Grasse (robert.grasse59@gmail.com).