MRF Rep Report

Happy New Year! Here’s to fresh starts and new beginnings!

Last month’s article may have seemed a little doom and gloom with all the references to everything that is threatening our motorcycling lifestyle. So, in the spirit of new beginnings, let’s look to the future and some fun, upcoming events. These events will offer occasions to learn how to fight the doom and gloom and offer fantastic networking opportunities with like-minded friends.

January 8th, during our annual Officer’s Training, will be the MRF’s virtual board meeting. The MRF holds three board meetings per year and one of them is a virtual meeting to keep expenses as low as possible. The other two are held during events when we are already gathered together—Bikers in the Beltway and Meeting of the Minds.

April 1-3rd are the dates for the 2022 Heartland S.T.E.A.M. conference. This year, it will be held in Springfield, IL, since their 2020 conference got canceled. Many of you were able to attend the 2021 S.T.E.A.M. conference as it was our turn to host it and we did it in Brookfield back in March. S.T.E.A.M. stands for Seminar to Educate and Motivate and is always a fantastic conference to get you motivated and refreshed. The conference travels between seven Midwestern states, with each state hosting it every seven years. ABATE of WI has budgeted for 20 scholarships this year and are primarily chosen on a first come, first serve basis. If you are interested in attending and bringing back what you learn to the rest of the state, reach out to Steve Panten for a scholarship opportunity. A scholarship will reimburse you for your conference registration, fuel, and hotel room.

May 16-17th are when bikers from all over the country descend on Washington D.C. in an event known as Bikers in the Beltway. This is similar to our Lobby Day in Madison, except at a federal level. Wisconsin has often been championed as one of only a handful of states that had been quite successful reaching across both sides of the aisle and getting our legislators to support our motorcycle related needs and wants.

September 22-25th is the annual Meeting of the Minds conference. Meeting of the Minds is the annual international conference and is a great opportunity to network with bikers from all over the country, and beyond. This one will also be held in the Midwest this year, in Iowa. Similar to S.T.E.A.M., ABATE will be scholarshiping 20 members willing to bring back what they learn to our membership. Meeting of the Minds is also when the MRF sets its legislative agenda for the upcoming year and decides what items we will be discussing with our federal legislators at Bikers in the Beltway.

Now’s the time to plan your vacations for the year and why not include a ride to one of the MRF’s awesome conferences? You are guaranteed to come back refreshed, educated and motivated! Hope to see you there!

In the meantime, stay vigilant, my friends!

Jen Dewitz

ABATE of WI.

Board of Directors

MRF State Rep