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TIGER TALES - NOVEMBER, 2004
Hey there, folks! I hope all of you are doing well during Harvest Time in Oklahoma. I'm sure lots of you are finding plenty of things to occupy yourselves with as the chill winds of late Autumn continue to cool down the state and get us to bundle up more and snuggle more tightly with those we love. I've spent the last couple of weeks setting up my leathers for cool weather riding, and dragging out the long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, scarves, and especially warm hats for my cleanly shaved noggin! I've never forgotten my dear mother's words, and they weren't "Give up that dangerous motorcycle"! She said: "when your feet are cold, cover your head". That's because in cold weather, 80 percent of your body heat is released through the top of your gourd. So, it's well worth your while to keep your top insulated against the wind chill associated with blasting down the highway that makes the cold even colder! One thing I love about late Fall is that it's perfect weather to putt somewhere and warm up with some nice hot food I don't care to deal with in Summer: dishes like Red Beans with Rice, Chicken and Dumplings, Beef Stew-hearty, stick to your ribs stuff. It's also time for lots of good Chili, too, although that can be a little tough on the ol' digestive tract, and on the friends around you, if you know what I mean! November's what I like to call Iron Barrel Weather, so I've changed out Moby Dick's oil to a thinner viscosity and installed the oil cooler blanket to help regulate the temperature, since it's not a good idea to risk moisture from condensation that could shorten engine life. I've had the beast on the road for over 19 years, so I must be doing something right! I have to get the bikes washed and waxed, too, since they usually just get a sponge-bath during the Winter unless there's some serious dirt involved. I don't like to use high-pressure sprays on the bike since they tend to displace grease from the fittings and joints where it belongs. The furnace is pre-flighted so the crib will stay warm, so I guess I'm as ready for Jack Frost as I can be.
I hope all of you had an enjoyable Halloween last month. Halloween always seems to be an especially festive time for bikers, with fun parties and, shall I say, interesting costumes abounding! Halloween concluded an active month for me, which started with my riding down to Lawton to Ride the Range and dance with the buffalo at the Oklahoma State H.O.G. Rally. It wasn't well attended this year due to a number of large scale events in adjoining states, but it was enjoyable, with a lot of scenic riding, good food, and a fantastic evening of music featuring Michael Martin Murphey. I even won the Chapter Challenge by coming up with a bunch of Western Movie and TV trivia-my mom would be so proud! Now that it's November, and we're gearing up for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, I also need to reflect on the fact that this month marks FIVE YEARS that I've served as your State Coordinator in ABATE of Oklahoma. It's been quite a ride, and one I wouldn't trade for anything! I've learned a lot about motorcycling, about politics, but most importantly I've learned a lot about people, friendship, character and Brotherhood that makes being a Biker a lot more than someone that just rides two wheels to get from place to place. I don't know where the road will take me from here, but I'm confident that my life will continue to be far from boring, thanks to the extra dimension being part of ABATE has added to it. I hope each of you in ABATE will feel the same as you continue in your motorcycling adventure. As we take pause to consider what to be thankful for this Holiday Season, I'm very thankful to be able to associate with folks so dedicated to defending the Freedom that makes us as American Bikers unique in the entire world!
Hopefully, all of my Brothers and Sisters out there were prepared to exercise on November 2 one of the most precious rights we enjoy as American Citizens-the Right to Vote! This year's General Elections will undoubtedly prove to be some of the momentous in American History, so all of us really needed to stand up and be counted. Oklahoma's Motorcycling Community has a solid reputation for being well-informed and knowledgeable of the issues, as well as having a significantly high percentage of riders being registered to vote. That greatly helps to increase our political effectiveness and our ability to interface with elected officials on all levels of government. A number of important questions were presented this year to consider on the ballot, which will graphically affect our future in Oklahoma, so remember-when you vote, the choice is yours; if you don't, the choice is theirs!
I was able to roll up to Wichita, KS last month for a very enjoyable, informative, educational and inspiring 2004 Mid South M.I.L.E., featuring attendees from all over the country, Europe, and the member MROs of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri. ABATE folks from Sunset, Muskogee, and COD Chapters showed up. The annual Motorcyclists Improving Legislative Effectiveness seminars covered a wide range of topics, from threats to our Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties, to enactment of Failure To Yield legislation, which three of our neighbor states are trying to accomplish as well as Oklahoma. I represented ABATE of Oklahoma on panel discussions dealing with legislative efforts and membership and organizational logistics issues. The seminars went very well, and the banquet, auctions and party Saturday night were a blast! Sunset Chapter promised an awesome basket to represent ABATE of Oklahoma, and they sure delivered! It was a metal oil derrick, almost eight feet tall, covered with white lights and crammed full of Made in Oklahoma products. It was a fantastic piece of work which brought over five hundred dollars at auction. Thanks much to Sunset Chapter ABATE for all your efforts and dedication in supporting our State Organization. Congratulations are also in order for everybody in the five-state area that worked so hard to make the M.I.L.E. a success, and to the different organizations, including the AMA, NCOM, and the MRF, coming together in unity to provide expertise and knowledge to benefit us individual Motorcyclist Rights Organization members. I did a lot of networking with other states which I know will benefit us as we pursue Failure To Yield legislation next year. Thanks loads to our Kansas Brothers and Sisters for their hospitality! Next year's M.I.L.E. will be held in Denton, Texas, and I hope more folks from the Sooner State will be able to attend.
Speaking of coming together, I had to leave Wichita early, without attending the M.I.L.E.'s wrap-up meeting, so that I could attend the Jaggers Law Poker Run in Oklahoma City October 17. A number of organizations representing a broad cross section of Oklahoma's motorcycling community put together this event to raise money for ABATE of Oklahoma in its pursuit of Failure To Yield legislation in the 2005 Legislative Session. I got on the bike and headed to the starting point at Scooters and Hooters in time to see all surrounding parking lots completely filled with motorcycles and trikes. There were over 750 registered for the Poker Run, with a number of tag-alongs, riders headed to the Capitol for the photo-op, and folks showing up at the end point thrown in for good measure, so I figure the number of attendees to have been at around a thousand. We cruised together to the State Capitol for a group photo on the Capitol steps, and the sight was VERY impressive! I estimate there were around 800 people camped out in front of Oklahoma's seat of government-too bad the Legislature wasn't in session!
The parking lot at Charley's Last Stand at the end of the Run was completely filled with vehicles, and we enjoyed some great rock and blues from the Zen Okies, enhanced by the smoky voice of Miss Amy. The American Legion Riders Post #1340 hosted a cookout, and ABATE of Oklahoma set up a booth selling merchandise and signing up members. A number of attendees joined ABATE, including my dear friend Denise Jaggers. Quite a few ABATE members thought it important to attend an event designed to raise money for our Organization, and folks from COD, Sunset, Muskogee, Lawton, Great Plains of Altus, Rogers County, and NW #69 Chapters showed up. Many thanks for being good ambassadors of Biker Freedom, my ABATE Brothers and Sisters! A bunch of cool door prizes were given away, including autographed rock and roll memorabilia, and when activities started winding down, the Downed Bikers Association, one of the principal organizing groups, presented ABATE of Oklahoma with a check for TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS! Can I say that again please? TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!! I'm still in a state of shock! This was all the result of a number of motorcyclists in our state from different backgrounds wanting to help ABATE in its efforts to improve the quality of life for Oklahoma's motorcyclists, and took it upon themselves to organize a benefit event. ABATE of Oklahoma is very grateful to the event organizers, contributory sponsors, and most importantly the members of Oklahoma's Riding Community that turned out in force to enjoy the event, support ABATE, and pay tribute to the memory and honor the life of David Jaggers. David is smiling down on us, I'm sure, seeing all that's being accomplished in his name!
So, all in all, this has been a pretty good Fall Season so far, and I feel privileged to be in league with such special folks that share a passion for the road, and for Freedom. That feeling certainly makes this Thanksgiving season extra important for me. I hope to see a number of you special people joining with ABATE as we once again honor America's Veterans with our annual Central OK District Veterans Day Bike Parade to the State House on November 11. It'll be leaving the Skyline Restaurant parking lot, S.E. 15th St., ¼ mi. east of I-35 promptly at 10:30AM. Since Election Day will be over, this event will provide us with an excellent opportunity to put partisan politics aside and focus on honoring the sacrifices of our Nation's Veterans. Veterans Day also enables us to focus on the need to preserve and increase Veterans rights and benefits guaranteed them by the Country they served. We'll ride to the State Capitol, do a turn around the building, and park in the Capitol South Parking Lot, across from Oklahoma Veterans Memorial Park where Veterans Day ceremonies will begin at 11:00AM SHARP. After the event is concluded, the American Legion Riders Post #1340 has graciously offered to host a cookout, with build 'em yourself hot dogs and chili dogs. We had over 500 riders attend our Bike Parade on Memorial Day, and it would be terrific if we could exceed that number this November, especially after seeing so many Bikers together in front of the State House during the Jaggers Law Run! So, polish your chrome, fly your flags and I look forward to seeing all of you November 11. Come out early, have breakfast, and enjoy the company of Brothers and Sisters that are Veterans and love Veterans! Well, have a very happy Thanksgiving Season, guard against the late Fall's colder temperatures, and revel in the Biker Spirit that makes our upcoming Toy Runs and Holiday-oriented events such fun to participate in. I'll be hoping for us to bump into each other sometime during the Holidays for a bit of cheer!
Keep It On The Black Strip Between The Trees,
Tiger Mike
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