Membership Director

by Bill Roberge

Heartland STEAM is in the books for another year. It was meant to educate and motivate, and it did just that. I sometimes wonder why I keep attending conferences that I have been to before and every time that it’s over I get the answer. It gets you fired up again to face all the challenges we have as bikers. When you are with a group of well informed and like-minded people it gives you hope for the future. Every year we have scholarships available to our members that want to attend. Take advantage of these if you get the opportunity to do so. Part of our fundraising dollars go into providing these scholarship opportunities to train our future leaders.

The weather is finally starting to warm up. This will give us more chances to get out and talk to people about ABATE. We need to inform people about all the things that are a threat to our way of life.

Last week my Region, 7C, held a brat fry during the Spring Flood Run along the Mississippi River. We had a chance to be face-to-face with over 100 club members as well as other bikers. It is important for all of us to have a presence in our community and take part in local events. The more the general public sees ABATE at work, the more questions they will ask which gives you the opportunity to explain what we are all about.

We have several events coming up soon. Land Warming and of course, the Summer Hummer. I hope to see you at both of these. This is where we get the opportunity to talk with other people both within and outside of the organization that do not live geographically close to us. Some of our best ideas to move ABATE of Wisconsin forward have come out of these types of events.

Don’t forget that this is an ABATE election year and a statewide and national election year. Do you know your candidates yet? I hope so and am looking forward to seeing who will throw their hat in the ring to lead ABATE of Wisconsin these next two years starting in October 2022. Be sure to check the election information printed elsewhere in the newsletter.

Ride Safe, Ride Free, Ride with ABATE.

Bill