Political Roots

by Gary Klinker

Here we are kind of in the middle of things. By the time you are holding this in your hands the first classes will have taken place. As I write this everything is in place to start the season. Les Mlsna, one of our Safe Rider instructors is also working part time for the Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program. He is doing a great job of setting up new systems for reporting and tracking information for the Program. We are glad to have him in both positions. Remember to get registered for the Wisconsin Motorcycle Training Summit in June. It will be a very interesting event.

Also, as I write this, I’m preparing for a hog hunting trip to Texas so I’m pretty busy right now. Larry Geist, one of our other coaches, and two other friends are going along. It should be a lot of fun. The rest of this is a rather personal reflection. If that bores you, move on to the rest of the Newsletter.

I have always credited my grandfather, George, with my interest in politics. He served as Town Chairman and Chairman of the County Board for many years. He was also active in party politics. Recently my brother dropped off a box of grandpa’s stuff that he found. It was everything he had from a trip in 1973 under a government program called People to People. It was kind of a foreign exchange program for people in leadership positions. This trip was to many countries in Europe, including the Soviet Union, which wasn’t that friendly a place at the time. Included was a long list of things that could or could not be photographed in the communist countries.\

I remember when he took the trip, it was about that time I was getting involved in motorcyclist issues, especially the helmet law we had at the time. It was the next year 1974, that I joined Wisconsin Better Bikers Association and ABATE of Wisconsin was founded. Of special interest in reading through the box is the list of room assignments for the trip. On the list were familiar names that many of us who have been doing this for a while will recognize. The group was only 34 people. Among them were one of our favorite Congressmen-James Sensenbrenner and Congressman Toby Roth from the Appleton area. Both of whom we worked with through ABATE. Another familiar name was John Plewa from Milwaukee who was a State Senator around that time. I’m sure you have heard Tony Sanfilipo talk about him. I guess this kind of ties into our history this anniversary year.

Another sheet I found in the box was titled Ten Commandments for Travelers. I think several related directly to bikers. It said they came from a national CBS radio broadcast.

3. Thou shalt not let other tourists get on thy nerves, for thou art paying out good money to have a good time.

5. Remember to take only half the clothes you think you need and twice the amount of money.

6. Remember if we were meant to stay in one place, we would have been created with roots.

7. Thou shalt not worry. He that worrieth hath no pleasure. Few things are ever fatal.

That’s all I’ve got. Thanks for indulging me.

Ride Safe, 

Gary