Goodbye and Thanks For All The Fish

It’s the title of one of my favorite Doug Adams books! After serving on the ABATE of Wisconsin Board of Directors for 24 years, I’ll hang up my statewide officer pins for good. New blood, new ideas and more energy – that’s what the newly elected ABATE Administration and Board members bring to you, the members, of this organization.

I’m thankful for all the years that you, the members, have supported me and am grateful for the new people, places, and experiences I’ve had the privilege to have while representing you at meetings and conferences around the country. I will always treasure your friendships and your good wishes as well as your support. I’m not going anywhere, just stepping back and participating at the local level again.

When I joined this organization, Buck Kittredge and Ed Williams were our Regional Rep and Treasurer/Products Rep, and Region 3A met in the basement of the Iron Horse Saloon on Velp Avenue in Green Bay. I had caught a glimpse of the ABATE newsletter sitting on the jukebox and thought I’d see what all the fuss was about, so I went downstairs with the other folks that were there for the meeting and kind of hung out at the back of the room. I listened and was intrigued at the notion of being able to influence elected officials at the state and national level. Buck noticed me, in the back, and he asked if I was a member, I said “no”. Ed hustled over and signed me up on the spot and introduced me to the other members that were there (didn’t even ask if I rode a motorcycle). That was that. Several years later, when Buck and Ed ran for Executive and Deputy Director at the state level, I was encouraged, by Buck and Ed, to run for one of the open Board of Directors seats, I won! and that was also that. It’s been a wild ride, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

I came to appreciate the way they talked about the issues effecting bikers and I relished the idea of “Participatory Democracy” that ABATE represents. I know, that sounds kind of “high falutin'”, but I happened to be taking a college course at UW-Green Bay, and that was the title of the book the instructor had assigned as reading. The book stated that, even though the founding fathers of this country had intended for all eligible citizens to participate in decision-making for the new country, it was impossible to maintain, face-to-face, once the population grew and spread out across the nation.

But here was ABATE, a living, breathing organization that took the right to participate in decision-making, and address grievances against bikers with their government to heart. Actually, sounded kind of subversive to me, still does, but I was hooked on the idea of it. So here we are, many years later, still planning to mob Madison and D.C., letting our elected officials know what we want and need from them, and they’re listening, as they should!

Which brings me to my final point, you must – VOTE – in national and state elections, participate in the governing process, use your voice at the ballot box – don’t let anyone take that right from you, or repress your right to exercise it! It’s our right to hold those in office accountable and voting (and writing, calling, contacting, and visiting them) does just that. Elected officials fear the ballot box, as well they should, since it holds them accountable for their actions on our behalf. So, get out and vote and drag your fellow citizens with you. You can change the course of history with your participation.

Keep your knees in the breeze, and enjoy the freedoms we, together, have preserved.

Again, “Goodbye, and Thanks for All the Fish”

Cat Huntowski