St. Clair County A.B.A.T.E. Chapter

June 2008

2008 Chapter Officers

* President Rich KinKade rkrk2@ameritech.net

* Vice President Breeze Hankammer twlvgage44@aol.com

* Treasurer Renie KinKade rkrk143@ameritech.net

* Secretary & Membership Sheila Gallagher gallaghersgetaway@sbcglobal.net

Activities Linda Theis cupie85@hotmail.com

Public Relation Candi Rasch carasch@egyptian.net

Sgt At Arms Roger Johnston rramjet52@gmail.com

Newsletter Sonny Theobald dwjwd@charter.net

State Board Rep Mike and Dawn Bilkie mb62226@yahoo.com

Region Rep Bud & Peggy Villiger peggyv@therohogroup.com

State Board & Region Reps Rich & Renie KinKade rkrk2@Ameritech.net

Safety & Education Tom "TJ" Miles tj7miles@hotmail.com

Legislative Carl Buehler buehjunk1@charter.net

*Executive Board

St. Clair County A.B.A.T.E. Chapter

Meets the second Thursday of every month at 7:00PM At the Elks Lodge in Fairview Heights.

June 12th

State Website: http://www.abate-il.org/

Chapter Website: http://www.abate-il.org/StClairCo/index.htm

What’s inside?

President Corner Guest Speaker Chapter Patch

Roll on the River Grafton!!!!

Chapter Status & Members Officers

Monthly Newsletters Membership Tables

Website Yahoo Groups Notifications Legislation Concerning You

Telling it like it is from the VP Southwest Region:

HOW TO STAY OUT OF THE GROUND OR INCINERATOR A WHILE LONGER

Just doin my part! Flyers

Presidents Corner: Thank you to the members who attended last month’s meeting. Turnout was good and the members who attended are concerned about your chapter status and their biking rights. Also, members who attended have a desire to make this chapter active. We had guests from 3 of our sister chapters, Shoal Creek, Piasa and Backroads. They also are working to get the ABATE name out there and want to work together in the future. Thank you to the Reps from Shoal Creek, Piasa and Backroads.

Guest Speaker: Air Evac Lifeteam representative provided an outstanding briefing at our last meeting. http://www.lifeteam.net At the meeting 8-10 members signed up for their service and others said they planned to sign up as well. Chapter patch: Patches are selling quickly and will need to re-order in a month or two if sales remain high. Members were pleased with the looks of the patch. Patches will be available at the meetings and at events where we have a membership table setup. Roll on the River: We are up to 25 volunteers for the 2nd annual Roll on the River event. http://www.ewrollonriver.com/ We need another 40 road guard volunteers to support the Walk/Run event down town St. Louis for the Paraquad, Impact & LINC Inc combined fundraiser. This event will be June 14th. Event will be from about 8-12 then we have the rest of the day to ride.

We all know someone who has disabilities, and here is an opportunity to support others while doing something (riding our bikes) that we will probably be doing that day anyway. Please won’t you lend a hand, or pass this on to others who would. Here is an opportunity to serve others less fortunate than ourselves. It won’t cost any money, just a few hours of your time.

Grafton: Still “NOT” biker friendly, word has spread to ABATE of Illinois that the police plan to step up harassing motorcyclists again in 2008. Road blocks and flatbed trailers to load confiscated bikes on have been planned. They are looking to stop all bikes and will be especially looking for any infraction they can find, i.e.: Noise, Music, Speeding etc.

Piasa ABATE attempted numerous times in 2007 without resolution to patch relationships with the local law enforcement and the community. Piasa is boycotting the area and I am also recommending St. Clair County chapter do the same by not stopping at any business to help support the city in their effort to intimidate/ticket motorcyclists, until the city changes its position about us. If you elect to run through Grafton, keep the noise down and be ready for anything. If you did not break any laws and get a ticket please provide the details. State ABATE officers are watching this issue closely in regards to singling out bikers.

Chapter status & Members: Last month I wrote an article requesting your involvement and you responded. Your chapter is here to stay and we will continue to fight for your “Freedom of Choice”. Remember, your chapter is no stronger than the members who are active in keeping it alive.

Remember the words from Ron Carter a while back. Remember Let Those Who Ride Decide!!! Not big brother and the safety Nazis for they are looking to take your rights and freedoms away! Officers: We now have both a Public Relations officer and Legislative officer. Look for things to come from each of them. Monthly Newsletter: We are always looking for ways to cut costs of publication and postage. It was requested and recommended that we utilize Yahoo Groups further. So, those on Yahoo Groups http://groups.yahoo.com/group/st_clair_county_abate/ will receive notification that the Newsletter has been posted on the chapter website for your reading pleasure. You can print it from the website saving both publication and postage costs. If your membership is in renewal status you will receive a renewal application from our membership officer in the mail. If you let your renewal laps, you will be removed from the Yahoo Group. Please sign up if you have not to save your chapter money and allow continued movement in the electronic age. Membership tables: We had a membership table at both the Veterans Poker Run and the Cancer run. Picked up a couple new members. Answered lots of questions and passed out flyers. We have another table scheduled for The Freedom Ride on 31 May. This run is at Outside Inn in New Baden starting at 10:30. Sure could use some members to talk about ABATE and share working the table on the 31st. Website: Please check out the website http://www.abate-il.org/StClairCo/index.htm when you get time. Many changes have been made and created. There is now an events link to a calendar. Anyone can add a biking event by selecting the “Number” on the date you wish to add. It will take you to an edit menu. You can also use the Periodic and Durations to create extended events. This is your site and changes have been incorporated in to it.

Yahoo Groups Notifications: Members have started receiving Monthly Meeting reminders, Legislative information and other reminders from the Yahoo group site. If you would like to be added to the site please use either address below and sign up, for I have completed setting up all members that I have e-mail addresses for in the NEW Yahoo News Group for St. Clair County ABATE.

You may have to add the e-mail address to your safe list. If you have an e-mail address you wish to add, you can either sign up with the Join now button at the bottom of the

http://www.thebikinglife.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/st_clair_county_abate/ site or send me an e-mail to KinKade_il@yahoo.com and I will add you to the group.

This group is for everyone in the group list to use.

** Note: please do not respond to the group notice when directing your e-mail to a specific individual. This will limit the number of e-mails users within the group will receive.

v/r Ride Safe, Rich KinKade Legislation Concerning You

Hello to all. It is an honor to begin serving this chapter as the Legislative Representative no matter how active (or maybe more accurate, inactive) I may be within the Chapter. My goal is to keep you informed of current legislation, especially that which you may want to contact your legislator about. Illinois ABATE’s position will be noted for your information.

Now that the summer riding season is underway and many of you may have road trips planned, it might be interesting to have a recap of current laws. The only Federal Motorcycle Helmet Law states; “When a state requires motorcycle operators and/or riders to wear a helmet, the helmet must, at a minimum, comply with the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Motorcycle Vehicle Safety Standard 218. “

States with mandatory helmet laws have exercised their right to establish stricter standards than that required under federal law. You need to know not only your state's helmet law. If you are planning a trip that crosses state borders, you must comply with that state's law. For the next few months I will be noting a recap of each state’s current helmet requirements. Because these standards are subject to change at any time, it is advisable to check with the appropriate state authority before operating or riding on a motorcycle in any state where the authority is empowered to establish stricter standards.

IL no law- Ride Free!

MO YES- all wear a helmet

IA no law- Ride Free!

IN partial law- 17 and younger must wear

KY partial law- 20 and younger must wear, PLUS- 21 and older ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy That’s it for this month. Next month I will expand to states a little farther our from St. Clair County. If anyone has items they would like to hear about, let me know and I will attempt to locate that information.

No matter what you wear when you ride, ride SAFE.

Carl Buehler Legislative Representative

Telling it like it is from the VP

“JUST BREEZIN' THROUGH”

I AM WRITING THIS ON THE FLY.....HEADING TO DAUGHTERS GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE IN PA. THEN HANK AND I ARE RIDIN' DOWN THE EAST COAST FOR

ABOUT 2000 MILES (GIVE OR TAKE). SOOO....GLAD TO SEE ABOUT 20 NEW FACES AT THE MEETING LAST WEEK. PLEASURE TO MEET YOU ALL AND MY APOLOGIES TO DON AND MIKE...THEY ARE NOT FROM COLLINSVILLE AS I STATED IN LAST LETTER—THEY ARE FROM TROY. (geez—i cant remember everything !!) THE IMPORTANT THING WAS THAT THEY CAME BACK TO SUPPORT THE CHAPTER.** YEAH—TROY BOYS!! ** THE “NEW-OLD” PATCHES FOR THE CHAPTER ARE GREAT. IF YA NEED ONE-SEE RICH OR RENIE. AND THEY'RE CHEAP,TOO. LINDAS' FIRST DINNER RIDE IS JUNE 6TH. SHE IS PUTTING A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS. CAN I EXPECT TO SEE SOME MORE NEW FACES ?? LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. GREAT JOB ON THE NEWS LETTER SONNY!! IF ANYONE WANTS TO “SOUND OFF” 'BOUT ANYTHING, (cept personal bitchin') E-MAIL IT TO SONNY. WANNA SELL SOMETHING, E-MAIL IT TO SONNY. WANNA SUPPORT THE CHAPTER WITH EXTRA CASH-E-MAIL IT TO SONNY,ALONG WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER !! LOLOLOL !! LOTS OF RIDES AND PARTIES GOING ON THIS SPRING WITH DIFFERENT M.C.'S AND R.C.'S -JUST REMEMBER WHO IS KEEPING YOUR FREEDOM ALIVE- SHOW UP-PARTICIPATE, AND HAVE A DAMN GOOD TIME AND SUPPORT YOUR CHAPTER. WE ARE NOT A “CLUB”, WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION AT WAR WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO KEEP OUR FREEDOM. WANNA COVER YOUR BACK? SHOW UP !! THANKS AGAIN TO THE NEW FACES AT THE LAST MEETING (and the salty dogs, too)—I WANT MORE !! ***“BREEZE” *** BOD & Southwest Region:

1. RFTW Donation - Bob Myers will present a check for $1150 which was donated by the chapters of SW Region. The Western group will meet at Cracker Barrel on Greenmount for the ride to Mt. Vernon on May 20.

Rich & Renie (State BOD & Region Reps)

HOW TO STAY OUT OF THE GROUND OR INCINERATOR A WHILE LONGER

Most of you will not like this one. However, for Safety sake it has to be done. That said I will try to make it somewhat interesting.

We are now finding out that not all drinks are equal – AAA released new numbers. Based on serving size and percentage of alcohol per ounce Real amount of pure alcohol in each drink:

• 12 oz beer x 4.8 % strength = .58 oz of pure alcohol • 1 oz whiskey x 40 % (80proof) strength = .40 oz of pure alcohol • 4 oz wine x 12 % strength = .48 oz of pure alcohol • 12 oz wine cooler x 5 % strength = .60 oz of pure alcohol

Beer -2nd strongest drink. A beer contains 44% more alcohol than a whiskey shot and is the most common drink consumed by DUI drivers. The strength won’t make much of a difference in 1 or 2 drinks, but say 6 or more drinks over an evening – the differences are more pronounced. The drinker’s choice of beverages can make a big difference by the end of the evening and can result in poor decisions. The 1 hour rule is a myth, based on a study of 250 lb male – and it really takes the average size body on average 2 hours to completely eliminate a drink.

Approximately 40% of all fatal collisions involve alcohol – the greatest single cause 21,000 die from drinking related Motor Vehicle Collisions EACH YEAR!

The reason is simple: alcohol impairs driving ability. Its depressant effects slow the central nervous system, decreasing all drivers’ ability to perceive important events in the traffic scene, make good decisions based on those perceptions and take effective action to reduce risk and avoid collisions.

Most people think that alcohol first affects reaction time…. Wrong! Alcohol affects decision making – judgment first. That is why people drink more as they become intoxicated even though they did not plan to drink more than one or two. Alcohol related collision or crashes are not called accidents. An accident is not avoidable. Drinking and riding or driving is avoidable. How do you prevent an intoxicated person from driving or riding? Anyway that works. That is what the trunk monkey button is for.

I have transferred all over the U.S. in the last 20 years and never have I seen a place with people that love their beer as much as they do here. There is nothing wrong with drinking. Just don’t operate a vehicle while under the influence (more than 2-3 drinks). This includes dirt bikes and boats.

Information gathered from NHTSA and AAA.

Your safety means more to me than popularity,

T.J. Miles Safety and Education Officer

Just doing my part Last month I wrote about “Being there when needed” continuing on this thought if we all just do our little part we contribute to the painting the larger part. When I volunteered to be the newsletter editor I thought I would just do my little part. I felt and often still do feel that my part isn’t very much. I fully don’t understand what ABATE is doing for me. I don’t feel that I can explain all that ABATE stand for very well. Because of my hearing lost I know that it limits me to things I can and can’t do. But here lately I have been learning I don’t have to be involve in everything to be affective – I just need to do my part. And if I think my little part isn’t all that much – well it is getting this newsletter into over 150 people hands reading not only what I am writing about but also you are reading what the all the other little parts are being contributed. All of these little parts are painting this newsletter you are reading. These little parts are just one person doing just one little job. And if you compare it to a beautiful painting one color on the canvas doesn’t make much of a picture. But if you add all of those just one little color and put them all together you can come up with a beautiful painting. No I am not bragging that I am just doing my one little part. Nor am I bragging about other doing there part. What I am saying is if you don’t think you can contribute but just a little part and that little part isn’t really worth that much. I would agree with you if your part doesn’t contribute to the larger picture. So what are you either doing or not doing to help out St Clair ABATE County Charter from becoming a better chapter. If you don’t think one little part or one little vote matters much to the bigger picture. Let me leave you with these facts:

• In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England. • In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed. • In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German. • In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union. • In 1867, one vote ratified the purchase of Alaska. • In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment. • In 1875, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic. • In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency of the United States. • In 1923, one vote gave Adolf Hitler leadership of the Nazi party. • In 1941, one vote saved Selective Service (drafting into the armed services) by draw of a

registrant’s number -- just weeks before Pearl Harbor was attacked. • In 1960, JFK (John F. Kennedy) won the total USA popular vote over Richard Nixon by a

margin of merely 118,000 votes, about 50.1 vs. 49.9! • In 1993, a major tax bill, mentioned by some as "the largest tax increase in U.S. history",

passed the U.S. House of Representatives by only one vote. • In November 2000 in Pennsylvania, John Perzel, the Republican Speaker of the House (of

the PA legislature) was re-elected by a margin of 92 votes! • In 2000, the Bush-Gore contest hinged on Florida. Florida's 24 electoral votes were

decided by a vote count of officially 537 votes in favor of Bush out of a Florida total of about 6 million.

Enuf Said Sonny “Deafdude” Theobald Newsletter Editor Saint Clair County ABATE