Membership Report

By Dave “Twit” Linberg

We’re growing again!

A very special thank you to the members out there that accepted the challenge to work at this year’s membership drive and sign up new members and bring back members who had let their membership lapse. One important note about bringing back the lapsed members: we need to be able to find them in the computer or we have no choice but to start them back over as a one year member. If you’re bringing back a member who has been expired for a while – make sure to ask if they’ve moved since the last time they were a member – of if they might be in the computer as a different name or a nickname. If you get any hints like this, include them with the membership when you send it in… and it’s very important to include a working phone number for the member in case we need more information to find them. Thanks!

I’ve also had reports from some of the regions that the promotion to encourage first and second year members to attend meetings and events is really working in their areas. I am very happy to hear that, and look forward to these newish members getting the most from their membership and feeling part of ABATE of Wisconsin. If regions need more of the cards to hand out, just call the State Office and we’ll mail them out to you.

Once again I was fortunate enough to attend Heartland STEAM this year. It’s always good to renew old acquaintances and make new friends. Friday night’s State Reports showed that most of our neighboring states are facing the same issues we are, but I did notice that some of the states are willing to accept more compromises than we are – and it is very important to remember that ABATE of Wisconsin’s constant work to form relationships with our legislators on both sides of the aisle is very important.

Keynote speaker “Lady Ninja” knew she was speaking to the choir at this conference, but she still put an entertaining spin on our need to find ways to get and retain younger members and members of all styles and brands of motorcycles.

I also learned a few things about roadside checkpoints from Gary Biller: although they are illegal in Wisconsin, the Supreme Court says they can be used to look for a specific criminal and they are also legal for the Border Patrol. Border Patrol in Wisconsin? Yup – any spot of land that is less than 100 miles from the middle of a great lake (International Territory) is open to enforcement by the Border Patrol. Anyway, if you are stopped, offer no information, just answer direct questions politely.

The MRF Breakout once again reinforced how lucky we are to have Megan and Tiffany on staff at the MRF Office. They do a fantastic job in DC, and the MRF keeps us on point with Federal Issues. The MRF needs our continued support.

If I had to list a disappointment the food and dining facilities were not acceptable. But at least we got a smile out of it when one of our members told us that he’d never complain about anything at one of our events again… goes to show that ABATE of Wisconsin does it best. Thanks for being a part of it.