Well now it is April and one month away from the big kick off to our riding season - May is National Motorcycle Awareness Month. First everyone needs to out on Saturday, May, 5th, and attend the Awareness Ride. Second you need to get your Look Twice Save Life sign out in your front yard. Third you need to get up early one morning and go down to a big parking lot and practice your panic stops and maneuverability skills. And fourth , which should be first, check that bike over and make sure you are ready to take on a SAFE riding season.

    More about the Awareness Ride. This ride is to get the word out that we are back on the road. Get a proclamation and bring it to Columbus to be acknowledged on the State House steps. Check out the flier in this magazine to get all the info. Hope to see you !!

    This comes up every riding season, do you have good insurance and do you have an endorsement. Check your license plate for this years sticker and check to see if you have your registration and proof of insurance in your bike. If you are not endorsed, get registered and get it DONE. To register go on-line to ” MOTORCYCLEOHIO.COM “ or call 800-837-4337. A story; a friend of mine never had an endorsement and would never go on all day or overnight runs. I could never figure out why then it came out he had not gotten an endorsement. I got him signed up and done. Now he goes everywhere and has a lot more fun.

    June Jam is going to be a big time event. Lets get up in the top of the garage and get that camping gear down. Get your sh”t, I mean stuff, together and we will have a GREAT TIME !

    This month Saturday, April 21st, 2pm, I will have a booth at the Blacktop Blues Racing, Rhythm And Rock Tour at Headliner’s in Toledo. There will be live music from local bands and the band Red Wanting Blues, food, vendors and a Stunt show at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm. Come out and enjoy. For more info check your Outspokin for the ad or call me.

    That’s it for this month. Hope to see everyone on the road and at functions. Anything I can help with, give me a call. I do have open dates for the 3-Rs presentation. Thank you !

    Ride Within Your Limits,
                Mike

    Took a little road trip, went to the Michigan State Seminar… what a great time. It is run differently than ours. It is a three day meeting, Friday night is region coordinators meetings, Saturday is awareness and legislative( a lot of good stuff) and Sunday is general membership meeting. No banquet but one great party Saturday evening. Thanks Region 18!

    Our next State get together is the 2012 Awareness Rally, May 5th, Saturday. Start making plans. We need a lot of bikes & more Proclamations than we ever had, and the Governor to come out and speak to us. Wouldn’t that be the best day ever? It can happen if all start planning now. Put it on your calendars now. We have a new road show. The first part will cover motorcycle awareness, and the second part will be on alcohol awareness. The second part on alcohol awareness is from the MRF’s 3R’s program. This program will get your attention and it’s another way to promote safe motorcycling. This program will not take over for the use of breathalyzer and drunk goggles. Any region that would like to see this program, get in touch with me. I will travel. It only takes a phone call or e-mail.

    To anyone that is in the Driver’s Ed schools promoting motorcycle awareness, get in touch with me, we have new updates for you. We had a meeting at the seminar and we’re going to be staying in touch a little better.

    Let’s make 2012 a safe year. That means getting out and promoting motorcycle awareness, and yes, getting a Look Twice and Save a Life sign in every front yard.

    Ride Within Your Limits,
                Mike

    Since you will be getting this at the end of the year, let me give you a few facts. In 2010 there were 416,000 registered bikes in Ohio and 2011 will be about the same. As of December 13, there have been 165 motorcycle deaths in 2011 as compared to 168 motorcycle deaths in 2010, a decrease of only 3. Near the end of summer, the decrease had been as much as 12. What happened? Don't forget to come to the State seminar and you will be able to get information to help motorcyclists be safer. We need to keep working at being safe.

    If you have a friend getting their first bike or a bike after a long time of not riding, convince and help them to get into the Motorcycle Ohio Program. This will help them be a good rider and they get their endorsement at the completion of the course. Sign up for the course starts early in the year for the summer of 2012 so check Motorcycle Ohio's website for dates.

    The winter is a great time to get your bike up straight and clean it good. At the same time, hunt for worn parts, broken parts and missing parts. Then you can repair it (or get ti repaired) before Spring.

    Everyone have a great winter and I will see you at the State Seminar. Be Safe (even in your 4 wheeler).

    Ride Within Your Limits,
                Mike

    Hi Friends,

    Last month I started by saying “Hope everyone is getting ready for the Motorcycle Awareness Rally”. This month I want to ask…Did everyone have a great ride to Columbus? I hope you did. (It has not happened yet so I will let you know how mine was next month)

    I’m starting to plan some new places to ride to. Get your map out (not your GPS) and plan a fun trip. The kind of roads you like to travel, GPS will not find those roads for you. Then plan that same trip on a safe road for when the weather changes and you just need to get there. And to make it an enjoyable trip, always take the right gear with you. “Ride Smart” My non-motorcycle friends ask me why I ride in all that rain, sleet and crap. Well, I always say; If you have to ask, you will never understand.

    Don’t forget that May is Motorcycle Awareness Month. LOOK TWICE and SAVE A LIFE. Actually, every month should be Awareness Month so pass the word to Look Twice and Save a Life. If you don’t have a sign in your yard you are not doing enough. Fill out the order form in this Outspokin and help the cause.

    Last thing and I’m done. To all my AMA Life Member Brothers and Sisters, if you don’t get your magazine anymore, call AMA and ask about the Life Members Plus Program, 800-AMA-JOIN.

    Ride Within Your Limits,
                Mike

    Hi Friends,

    It’s almost April….what a great month! It’s when I start putting the miles on. Let’s get out & ride! Saturday, April 30th is the Awareness Rally at the Statehouse in Columbus. It’s from 9:30 am until around 1:00 pm, so it won’t take your whole Saturday. We need everyone there…don’t let the weather stop you.

    I’m still hunting for instructors for Driver’s Ed Programs. John Shankster from Region 4 got started last month. Thanks for your help, John. If anyone else is interested, please give me a call. I am planning a meeting for all instructors in April. RSVP me if you can attend. The month will go by fast!

    I would like to come to region and/or county meetings. If you have time for me to talk, let’s schedule a date and time. I would also like to know about Bike Nites and other ABATE events around the state. If you can, include me in your e-mail.

    When my wife is riding on the back of my motorcycle, she loves to see “Look Twice, Save a Life” yard signs. The further we are from home the better. It’s a small connection with whoever lives in that house. Last year we sold about 1,000 signs. This year we would like to sell even more. Now, we can personalize the signs for companies or groups who buy multiple signs. One new way to remember lost motorcyclists is to put “In Loving Memory of ____________” on the bottom of signs. Friends and family are buying these signs to put in the yards of their houses. It is a nice memorial.

    I would like to thank everyone for the Lifetime Achievement Award I received at the seminar. This organization and our cause is something I really believe in. Thank you all!

    If you need anything, I am available at 419-654-5446 or mikestock419@gmail.com.

    Ride Within Your Limits,
    Mike

    Hi Friends,

    The next riding season is almost here. March 20, 2011, 7:21pm is the first day of spring! I just finished a major service on my bike so she is ready to go. If you have not taken the Motorcycle Ohio Rider’s Course, or if it’s been a long time since you have taken it, it’s time to sign up and get off to a good start.

    This year we need to talk to more Drivers Ed students to get the Motorcycle Awareness message out to every last one of them. If anyone is interested in talking to the kids, I will meet with you and the teacher/administrator and help you get started. Most of the time, it is only a couple nights a month. I would like to get everyone teaching the same program. I would like to plan a meeting in April in the Columbus area for all instructors, new, old & interested. RSVP me or contact the state office for info.

    A great way to get involved in your community is with the Ride Smart Program. There is a lot of informational material that is easy to sell. If you are interested, get in touch with me and I can help you get signs, bumper stickers, banners and free handouts. This year the state is campaigning “Right Gear”. Let’s work it.

    Last but not least is the Awareness Rally. This year it is Saturday, April 30th. Contact your elected officials and have them issue a proclamation that May is Motorcycle Awareness Month. This is a great way to let everyone know that we are back on the road and riding again.

    If you need anything, call (419-654-5446) or e-mail (mikestock419@gmail.com) me and I will get back to you.

    Ride Within Your Limits,
           Mike