May is Motorcycle Awareness month and you can help us by spreading the word! A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska will be placing some ads and PSA’s talking about motorcycle awareness. Also, because A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska is a non-profit, we encourage you to make a donation and/or to join A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska. Due to the situation in Alaska with COVID-19, we are still under official “hunker-down” and social distancing mandates! Our annual Gathering at the Bike Blessing has been impacted. Here’s a video of A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska’s Facebook Live Press Conference for the Gathering at the Bike Blessing!
A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Celebrates May is Motorcycle Awareness Month Virtually Online During COVID-19
May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and you can help us by spreading the word! A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska will be placing some ads and PSA’s talking about motorcycle awareness. Also, because A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska is a non-profit, we encourage you to make a donation and/or to join A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska. Due to the situation in Alaska with COVID-19, we are still under official “hunker-down” and social distancing mandates! Our annual Gathering at the Bike Blessing has been impacted. Here’s a video of A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska’s Facebook Live Press Conference for the Gathering at the Bike Blessing!
A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Works to Create an Alternative to the 2020 Gathering at the Bike Blessing Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2020
A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Works to Create an Alternative to the 2020 Gathering at the Bike Blessing Event
All Anchorage outdoor city facilities and permits canceled through 2020, including the downtown park strip location for the annual Gathering and Bike Blessing.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – With spring in the air and the fast approach of the first weekend in May, organizers of the state’s largest motorcycle gathering have been closely monitoring government mandates for public gatherings. Until the status of city permits and public events officially prevented the gathering, organizers hesitated halting plans. Now, with official word that all outdoor facility permits are canceled indefinitely, the group is actively working to produce an alternative for the motorcycle community.
“I’m sure everyone has been aware that things may not move forward in the way we want them to due to COVID-19. All of us on the planning committee have had to make adjustments in our personal and professional lives just like everyone else,” said Dave “Big Dave Grizzly” Monroe, A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska board member. “We’ve continued to hold our planning meetings and at every meeting we discussed this “what if”. Now that we know for sure it’s not possible to have the event on the park strip, we’re actively working on a plan B.”
While an alternative is yet to be determined, a Facebook live announcement is scheduled for April 18th at 2pm. This date and announcement were set prior to the official news from the city in anticipation of public questions about the status of the event. Motorcycle riders and The Gathering at the Bike Blessing vendors are encouraged to tune in to ask questions and get the latest information regarding the next steps.
During the last planning meeting on March 30th, which was conducted via video conference, organizers examined the fundamentals of the Annual Bike Blessing and Gathering. “The Gathering at the Bike Blessing means different things to different people, but we were able to identify some key elements. Those elements include, prayers and well wishes for a safe season and a message to the public that motorcycles are officially on the roads,” said Event Coordinator Sarah Coe. “We identified about five major themes as we look at what we can do for the riding community while staying in compliance with the hunker down order.”
As for immediate steps, the group is offering full refunds upon request for sponsors and vendors who have already paid a fee for the 2020 event. Since A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, any funds vendors or the public wishes to donate are still greatly appreciated. We will continue to advocate for your motorcycle rights, training, and education. For more information about vendor and sponsorship refunds, please email blessing@abateofalaska.com. The group expresses their gratitude for continued patience as they process the requests.
May is Motorcycle Awareness Month
A final message from the organizers: We will get through this as a community. We encourage riders to follow all federal, state, and local regulations regarding social distancing, hunkering down and protecting our community during the COVID -19 pandemic. The riding community is a very close and strong one. Remember to virtually check in on one another, look for ways to support your community during these difficult times, and when the time comes, keep the shiny side up and rubber side down.
About ABATE
A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that depends on your donations and support to continue to operate. We are a 100% volunteer organization who depends upon you, our members, to get our work done and meet our goals.
For 25 years our mission has been to promote the rider education, safety, and training program. In addition, we work to increase public motorcycle awareness, and help protect motorcycle rights for the riding community.
Media Contacts
blessing@abateofalaska.com
Ken Coston, President
A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska, Inc.
(907) 350-6861
Dave “Big Dave Grizzly” Monroe, Board Member (Chair)
A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska, Inc.
(907) 360-0517
A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska 2019 General Election for the Board and Officers
A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Alaska Bikers Advocating Training and Education November 13, 2019 Dear A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Member: At the bottom of this email are two links. The first is is a link to download a Meet the Candidates document for you. The second is a link to download your Ballot for the Election of the new Officers and Board Members for 2 year terms during calendar years 2020 to 2022. Ballots must be returned by 7:30 PM Thursday, November 21, 2019. Ballot Completion: Ballot Returns: 1. Return the completed Ballot in a member provided addressed envelope to ABATE of Alaska, Inc. The member shall be sure to include their full name and membership number on the outside of a sealed envelope. It is the member’s responsibility to ensure sufficient time to process through the U.S. Postal system. Ballots received after Election Day will be discarded. Typically, mail takes several days to process through the system. 2. Drop the Ballot at one of the designated collection points. Members will be informed of designated drop points in the ABATE Blast or in the Ballot Cover Letter. If the Ballot is dropped at a collection point, the member shall be sure to include their full name and membership number on the outside of a sealed member provided envelope. These amazing motorcycle retailers, who are also A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Business Members, have agreed to host A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Ballot Boxes at their locations to making dropping off your ballots easier. a. Team CC in Eagle River b. Alaska Leather c. AK Cycle Center d. House of Harley e. The Motorcycle Shop 3. Vote in person at the November General Membership Meeting. If the member casts their vote in person, the Vice-President or Designee in coordination with the Membership Coordinator will validate the member’s membership and then place the ballot in the Ballot Box at the meeting. Members may only submit a single Ballot. In the event, a member submits more than one Ballot, only the first Ballot received and marked on the Member list shall be counted. Any subsequent Ballots submitted will be discarded. If someone you know did not get a ballot in the mail they must call or see the membership coordinator with their correct address to receive their ballot or attend the November General Membership meeting. (Membership Coordinator: Ken Coston, 907-350-6861) Election Day: Please note the meeting place and time for elections: General Membership Meeting BALLOT BOX WILL CLOSE AT 7:30 PM ON November 21, 2019 Meet the Candidates The movie is yet to be determined, but many ABATE Candidates will be available to answer questions. About The Warren Garrison Award: To send us your ballot by US Mail, A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska, Inc. Thank you for being a member and supporting of A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska, Inc! Please meet your candidates and download your ballot here: |
The 2019 Gathering at the Bike Blessing
The 2019 Gathering at the Bike Blessing This Saturday! Downtown Park Strip (The block between L St and I St at W 9th Ave and W 10th Ave) For over 15 years, on the first Saturday in May, Alaska begins the motorcycle-riding season with the annual event “The Gathering at the Bike Blessing”. A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Inc., along with volunteers from the motorcycle community, organizes this event in order to raise motorcycle awareness and save lives. Over 1000 motorcycles normally attend this event annually with over 1,200 motorcycles attending last year in downtown Anchorage. In addition to the motorcycle riders, several thousand other members of their families and the public attended the event focused on reminding everyone that with the Spring break-up in Alaska, everyone will be seeing more motorcycles on the road. The Gathering is also a chance for riders to come together at the beginning of the season, swap stories and make plans for summer rides. The event itself will occupy the block of the Park strip between L St and I St and W 9th Ave and W 10th Ave. The main stage area will be the walkway in front of the Alaska Veteran’s Memorial. The parking spaces and lanes immediately around the block will be set aside for motorcycle parking, VIP parking, and some vendors as required. There will be 30 to 40 booths representing various motorcycle retailers, clubs, and other non-profit organizations. There will also be food vendors and some family activity events and displays. Each year, we have representatives from the State of Alaska Governor’s office and from the Anchorage Municipality speak and most often, the Governor and the Mayor themselves both attend. The Alaska Vets MC will lead a parade of motorcycles for Rolling Thunder, which circles the event and then will present the colors to honor military veterans who make up more than 60% of the motorcycle community in Alaska. A.B.A.T.E stands for Alaskan Bikers Advocating Training and Education. In January of 1983, A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Inc. was founded with the mission to educate and train the motorcyclists in Alaska. As a community, this group is concerned towards establishing motorcycle awareness among people and offers motorcycle-riding classes. Since our motorcycle safety-training program began in 1991, A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Inc. has trained over 20,000 riders to get their endorsements, learn how to ride safer, and to be more responsible motorcycle operators on Alaska roads and highways. For more information about the event, please email blessing@abateofalaska.com or call 907-360-0517. Come visit us on the web! |
Join Us for the Official A very big Thank You! to the Alaska Vets for hosting the City-Wide Bike Blessing & The Gathering 2019 After Party at their clubhouse. Why stop all the fun?? Come join us for more! Saturday May 4th 4pm till ???
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Address the Federal Definition of a Motorcycle with NHTSA
Address the Federal Definition |
Reprinted with permission from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation April 9, 2019 |
CALL TO ACTION
ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO JOIN THE LETTER TO NHTSA ADDRESSING THE FEDERAL DEFINITION OF A MOTORCYCLE April 9, 2019 We are asking you to take the a few minutes to ask your elected officials to join their colleagues on a letter being sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to ask them to address the decades old definition of a motorcycle at the end of this week. The letter must be sent in the next 48 hours to ensure your member of Congress will be included in the letter. One of the priorities for the MRF this year is addressing the definition of a motorcycle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is in charge of the federal definition. The current definition is 40 years old and so broad that autocycles are classified as motorcycles which creates ambiguity surrounding licensing, registration, insurance and safety courses. NHTSA defines the term “motorcycle,” as “a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with ground” (49 CFR 571.3). ABATE of Iowa led the charge at the state level to update the definition of a motorcycle in Iowa. However, some states have not been able to address this issue in their statehouses. Now the MRF is seeking to change the definition at the federal level, which will ensure vehicles that are classified as motorcycles are indeed motorcycles. Leaders from ABATE of Wisconsin helped lead this push at the federal level. They came to Washington, DC earlier in the year and met with their Senators and Representatives as well as leaders of the Motorcycle Caucuses. Those meetings resulted in a letter from Congressman Burgess of Texas and Senator Johnson of Wisconsin to NTSHA asking questions about the current definition of a motorcycle. Congressman Burgess and Senator Johnson want their colleagues to sign onto the letter and join them in asking these crucial questions of NHSTA. We need you to contact your Congressman and Senators and ask them to join this letter. We want the definition of a motorcycle to be a motorcycle, and that starts with putting NHSTA on notice that the current definition is unacceptable. We have all seen these autocycles on the road, and we know they aren’t motorcycles. Let’s make sure the bureaucrats in DC understand the difference!
Sincerely, Tiffany Cipoletti Director of Operations Motorcycle Riders Foundation
All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders ™ by joining the MRF at http://motorcycleridersfoundation.wildapricot.org/page-1654836 or call (202) 546-0983. |
For Immediate Release – House of Representatives Introduced a Resolution Addressing Motorcyclist Profiling
Help End Motorcycle Profiling |
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Reprinted with permission from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation March 26, 2019 |
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CALL TO ACTION!
ABATE of Alaska and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation in Washington, DC need your help!
All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders ™ by joining the MRF at http://motorcycleridersfoundation.wildapricot.org/page-1654836 or call (202) 546-0983. |
ABATE of Alaska Elections and 8th Annual Meet & Greet
Please meet the elected A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska leadership for 2019! A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Board of Directors Barb Smart Dan “RC” Owens Dan “Spider” Schneider Dan “Havoc” Coffey “Big Dave” Monroe Ed Rutledge A.B.A.T.E. of Alaska Executive Officers
This is our annual event to thank our members and meet the ABATE of Alaska board members and officers.
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ABATE of Alaska 2018 General Election & End-of-Season Newsletter
ABATE of Alaska 2018 General Election & End-of-Season Newsletter November 15, 2018 General Membership Meeting at Guido’s Pizza If you have not yet mailed in your ballot, you can cast your ballot in person! Votes will be counted and we hear from our Spotlight Business Member Bosco’s Comics, Cards, & Games John Weddleton Owner and Anchorage Assembly Member Join us as of our business member Bosco’s presents what they bring to the motorcycle community. We hope to see you at the ABATE of Alaska November General Membership Meeting! Guido’s Pizza 549 W International Airport Rd, Anchorage, Alaska 99518 We have published our end-of-season newsletter for November 2018! We’ve had a busy year and you, the membership, have helped make it a very strong one! You may download the newsletter and read it from here: https://abateofalaska.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Nov2018.NL_.pdf (In order to reduce costs and continue to be good stewards of your ABATE funds, we are now sending the newsletters only electronically. If this is an issue for you, please reply to this email or contact us at a meeting to get a hard copy. We will have hard copies available at the November General membership meeting!) Thank you all for supporting ABATE of Alaska! |
ABATE of Alaska Annual General Elections
ABATE of Alaska Annual General Elections November 4, 2018 Abate of Alaska is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is not endorsing any specific candidates including those listed below. This email is intended to clarify an oversight that has resulted in how an individual’s name appears on the ABATE of Alaska ballot. Please note that “Peppermint Patti” Bogan‘s name appears as Patti Bogan on the version of the ballot that was actually mailed to members. This was an oversight at the time of printing. In discussing this issue with Patti, she has agreed that this email notice is a sufficient recourse in lieu of mailing new ballots to our members. If you have any questions or concerns, please respond to this email or contact any ABATE of Alaska board member and/or Patti directly. We do apologize for any confusion caused by this situation. Mailed Ballot: Corrected Ballot:
Reminder: You must be a current member of ABATE in good standing to vote. As stated in the cover letter with the ballot:
If you did not receive your ballot by mail, you may download a copy and print it out from here: |
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