Walking Billboards

by Carolyn Kittredge and Shawn Klinker

I would like to open with a short biography of Carolyn and myself. We are both Life Members, both past Executive’s wives, both riders, and both passionate about the spark that started the fire of ABATE of Wisconsin 50 years ago. I first met Carolyn in 1985 at the State Meeting in Plover when she and Buck came up and introduced themselves. A year later we were spending many weekends together, sleeping on the floor of members’ homes and in cheap motels (we always shared the room to cut costs) spreading the story of ABATE and its mission.

Fast forward a couple of years and Gary was Executive Director, Buck was his Deputy Director – what a team they made! Buck then went on to become Executive Director and then President of the MRF. Gary became an instructor and helped build Safe Rider into what it is today. We lost Buck on Easter Sunday of 2003 and that’s when I first saw Carolyn’s strength and perseverance for life. When she bought her first Spyder, she said to me “I don’t know if Buck would like this.” I told her he would be so proud, that was two Spyders ago. We finally got to relive some road time this last September. Carolyn had brought her Spyder to La Crosse for service work and on the way through Tomah she called Gary and said she had changed her mind, and she was going to go to MOTM in St. Louis. She had to wear the same jeans five days in a row, but I gave her a couple pair of fresh panties. Our other riding buddy was Danny Stoddard, and as he will tell you, “You always know where she is,” she’s in your mirror. Gary and I, on our BMWs, Carolyn on her Spyder and Danny on one of his three HD’s. Like Gary and Buck, Carolyn and I also make a good team. We have different skill sets but are both passionate about spreading the name of ABATE of Wisconsin. After all we should all be walking billboards.

#Billboards are Us,

Shawn and Carolyn

Co-Products Directors