Membership Director

by Dave ‘Twit’ Linberg

I have a hard time believing what is happening right now with this pandemic thing and I never would have expected to be under a Safer-At-Home order from our governor. I am, however, feeling very lucky that I live in the Midwest and not in New York City or any of the other hot spots that have popped up around our country and the world.

Let’s turn our situation into an opportunity to reflect on what is good in our lives – family and friends – and it is a great time to dig out your inactive (expired) membership lists and start making some calls. While we are at home we all have this extra time on our hands and rather than watch the news on tv, or turn the dirt over in our garden for the hundredth time,…..let’s use our time resourcefully and reach out to our membership – active and expired – and reconnect some of those bridges that may need some repair. It is important that we are able to stay connected with our brothers and sisters of ABATE.

And while you are on the phone checking in with your fellow ABATE’rs how about selling some raffle tickets for the Summer Cash Raffle? We don’t know what the status of our biggest fundraiser of the year will be, meaning the Summer Hummer. The income from this event gives us some of the cash flow that is needed to do our work in Madison and Washington, DC and I expect that our bottom line will be lower than anticipated, if anything at all. One of the major components of the Summer Hummer is the cash raffle. That will take place no matter what happens, and the drawing will be on June 20^th so we should all do our part to make some sales and make this raffle a huge success. Your regional reps should have tickets on hand to sell so if you are in need, give your rep a call.

Don’t forget to read the District Director candidate profiles printed on page 17 of this newsletter. This is the first step in a series of elections that we hold during the spring and fall of our election cycle. Next month you will find printed ballots to clip out, make your choices, and mail to the State Office. The deadline for receipt of your completed ballot is June 30^th and must be sent to the PO Box at the State Office. This special PO Box, which is listed on your ballot, is used so the ballots are segregated and not seen by anyone other than those on the election committee. They will not be opened with the general mail by the office staff. This is a good time to remind everyone that you are still able to write-in any candidate of your choice. As it’s been said, competition is good.

Hope everyone is out riding. The weather is starting to cooperate. Later,

Twit