This is from a send out from the ABATE of Florida Legislative Representative Jeff Baxla.
The un-parsed post will appear below. Parse-to examine or analyze minutely.
Reading Doc's, President of ABATE of Florida's, own postings @ http://pub42.bravenet.com/forum/3562429698 adds much clarity and demonstrates that ABATE of Florida sends two messages.
Jeff: This hearing was not anticipated but sounded to me like Doc had his work done before he arrived in terms of the votes needed to kill the bill but sounds like he was able to finish it off with actual testimony.
Jeff is on the BOD. I find it is interesting that he is saying the hearing was not anticipated.
Docs own postings led everybody to believe he was communicating with legislators and had the situation under control. If so why was the hearing not anticipated?
The sponsor asked to have some time to work on it because he knew he did not have the votes and did not want his bill killed. He wanted time to come up with something more palatable and perhaps this round he might try to actually work with us.
What work needs to be done with a representative who thought (apparently according to an e-mail we have from him posted on this site) the President of ABATE was working with
him.
If it was your Chapter's House Rep on this committee, or who was even the Chairman of this committee....has your Chapter done your homework? Have you established rapport?
Why does a BOD member, Legislative rep no less, who has the e-mail contacts of all chapters not know which chapters have a strong relationship and which don't.
We are a legislative grassroots organization. Our relationships that stand the test of time are ones forged when they see you standing on a corner holding their campaign sign, or picking up a pile with your truck to go put out somewhere. Perhaps you were helping make calls or you go by their office and check in with them. Those of us on top of it have people who get
upset if we have our run to Tallahassee and do not go by their office.
This validates what is already apparent. ABATE of Florida is quickly positioning itself as political prostitutes, which is different from a grass roots rights movement. Working for the candidates based on will the candidate be friendly to them. Is their stance on other important issues questioned? Remember when Thompson entered the presidential race and e-mails flew around the internet saying aren't we lucky he rides, Support him. His grasp of the issues has him in a rut.
It does not matter if someone joined ABATE yesterday and has absolutely no experience in getting things done in the legislature. Know this is why we have a lobbyist.
Jeff good cop. Doc Bad cop. How many times has Doc downed somebody based on his perception of their lack of experience.
I ASK YOU AGAIN ------ IS YOUR CHAPTER READY TO ROCK ??????
Listen to this wake up call of a different but related flavor. We had ten people voting on an issue at a meeting that started at 9am this morning. It very well could have been a variety of things much more serious. It could have been someone introducing a bill to ban motorcycles over 750cc from operating on Florida roadways. It could have been a bill to introduce a
mandatory helmet law... or a bill to require everyone to wear a bright pink jumpsuit when riding to be more visible... ..Do not underestimate the stupidity of well-intended folk out to protect you from yourself and riding around on these dangerous motorcycles. Sometimes we will get a week or two notice, sometimes, we will get a day or two - maybe less. Whether we need one Chapter phone tree activated, if we need 10 different Chapter phone trees activated, or if we need every Chapter in our SMRO to activate their phone tree, we need to be able to count on it.
No phone tree activated. No legislative alerts. If you knew who your friends were on the committee would you not want to bombard or attempt to sway your enemies?
Two paragraphs here are devoted to exhorting the troops to get involved. After the many years of ABATE's existence, should they not already be involved? Yet at the same time the President is sending out messages, Don't worry about it. We got it handled.
I failed to note that when I got home last night, there was a voicemail from Caloosahatchee President Chuck Long advising their VoiceShots had been activated, Saw update this AM from Southwest President/Frankie Kennedy that they had emailed request for action to members and non-member MOMS group. Nature Coast had asked for some action by email as well.
Ok Doc was saying the Bill is dead everything is under control, cease writing your legislators. Again, no legislative alerts or phone tree activations.
Yet some chapters on their own, fortunately saw the wisdom and the need to take action and apparently did so. With out waiting for phone tree activation and/or direction to do so. It would appear that there were some Chapter Presidents more aware of what was going on than the BOD.
My hat is off to Doc for beat-feeting it straight from the Orlando airport to the Capitol to take care of and protect our interests. I know it is his job, but I am sure he would have rather kicked back and put his feet up that evening instead of driving to Tallahassee. Let's make sure we are all ready - each and every Chapter - so if it is your turn in the barrel, yours will not let the rest of the Chapters down. If you need help, ask. We are in this together.
Beat-feating it to the airport and driving straight to the capital??????
This seals it. If as the President of ABATE himself wrote, that he had a number of the reps backing him, including the chair, how was it that he was caught of guard? Why was he not notified? Read it again, he was caught off guard. He was not ready.
We were contacted by the infrastructure committee and given a heads up by phone and e-mail on Monday morning and immediately sent out e-mail alerts and postings on other sites. By Tues. the American Motorcycle Association had sent out their alerts which again were immediately distributed to our mailing lists and other sites. We did not have to beat-feet.
EXTRA CREDIT – what non-ABATE motorcycling groups can you get with or renew relationships with as we are moving into the legislative session? I know Jimmy Less/Southeast President was going to a council meeting down South the day before the hearing. We got lots of email stuff going on down. Another leg on that Chapter email list might be one that includes non-ABATE groups. Posting on some of these biker related sites is a good place to practice getting other people who ride involved. There are some important issues we are likely to confront this session.
And this flat out verifies that it is sealed. When in the past have you known ABATE of Florida to seek out alliances with other organizations. Does not Doc "own" Florida? Is this not his state? Has he not said that?
There is a maxim, "contempt prior to investigation." One can investigate an issue and if not afraid of having their illusions, dreams or perception of reality threatened arrive at "their" own conclusions. Or one can sit back and swallow what is spoon fed to them because it is what they wish to hear as opposed to what is. Thank God for those ABATE of Florida members that recognized action needed to be taken and did not wait to read the directions.
As Promised, as received
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Baxla
To: BOD ABATE Tammy Brickley State Membership ; BOD ABATE Al Paquette - Asst MSAP Director ; BOD ABATE Bob von Bulow Masterlink ; BOD ABATE Cyndi von Bulow PR ; BOD ABATE Dan Daniel Asst Sgt@Arms Brevard Pres ; BOD ABATE Dennis Rudoi Asst Sgt@Arms ; BOD ABATE Doc Fish State VP ; BOD ABATE Doc Reichenbach State Pres-Lobbyist ; BOD ABATE Elizabeth Buchholtz ; BOD ABATE Frenchi Moreland State Sgt @ Arms ; BOD ABATE JEB LegislRep ; BOD ABATE Lana Lang MSAP Director ; BOD ABATE OF FLORIDA - State Office ; BOD ABATE Patti Nasrallah State Treasurer ; BOD ABATE Robert Alexander State Secretary ; BOD ABATE Steve Knee State Products
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 12:11 AM
Subject: HB137 NEWZZZZZZZ -no mercy this am - Are you ready to rock??? RE: Baynews9 about HB137
Hello everyone just getting home and turned on Baynews 9 and seen a article on HB137 they showed Doc at the committee meeting fighting for our rights a full article is sure to follow on baynews9.com or if have bright house cable tune in and see what is happing in Tall. is there any way we could get ahold of baynews9 and give our side any ideas should should not if we want to contact them we need to move fast.
Michael Matheney
ABATE Of Florida Inc.
Hillsborough County Chapter
Safety Director / Legislative Trustee / Chapter State Delegate
Hey Mike,
Thanks, saw that one, only other from Miami Herald, article
http://www.miamiherald.com/775/story/374730.html
This hearing was not anticipated but sounded to me like Doc had his work done before he arrived in terms of the votes needed to kill the bill but sounds like he was able to finish it off with actual testimony. Unfortunately, the bill was TPd (temporarily postponed). It is too bad the vote was not taken this morning so perhaps we would not be bothered with this again this session. The sponsor asked to have some time to work on it because he knew he did not have the votes and did not want his bill killed. He wanted time to come up with something more palatable and perhaps this round he might try to actually work with us.
WAKE UP CALL – the session draws near
Today, in this committee, it just so happened that some Chapters of an SMRO had done their job establishing a rapport. Some of them have actually done an outstanding job. Note that this bill only needed 5 or 6 votes to get out of there. It was very critical to have some solid votes, committee members who would speak out against this bill. We need strong votes and voices inside every committee to help make sure people getting knocked off the fence in committee get knocked off on our side.
ARE YOU READY TO ROCK ?
If it was your Chapter’s House Rep on this committee, or who was even the Chairman of this committee……..has your Chapter done your homework? Have you established rapport? If you call the office, will they take your call because they know who you are? Some relationships we have are sealed as tight as concrete. Was it because we gave some a cool million for their campaign? No, that does not happen. It is not who we are.
We are a legislative grassroots organization. Our relationships that stand the test of time are ones forged when they see you standing on a corner holding their campaign sign, or picking up a pile with your truck to go put out somewhere. Perhaps you were helping make calls or you go by their office and check in with them. Those of us on top of it have people who get upset if we have our run to Tallahassee and do not go by their office.
Our power lies in our people and their ability to communicate with the people elected to represent us.
I detect a noise like sucking air coming from a couple corners. From a couple more, I detect no noise at all. Legislative activity. Legislative awareness. Legislative grassroots activity. If it is not happening where you live and breathe now, help kick it into gear. We are fortunate in so many ways. It does not matter if someone joined ABATE yesterday and has absolutely no experience in getting things done in the legislature. Know this is why we have a lobbyist. You can do your part simply by being a person who establishes a relationship with elected officials and their staff. If you can kick that into gear, by the time you start making that come together, you will have had some time to also pick up on a few other things. It is plain and simple. If you develop the relationships, we will bring home the bacon. The bottom line, make sure your Chapter is functioning like it is an important part of the State Motorcycle Rights Organization in Florida. Sometimes it takes a little more effort, but if you work at it, it can get contagious.
Groups are great, but you do not need an army of even anyone else. You can start by dropping by the local office and introducing yourself. Take off an hour or whatever early one day if you have to, but go by the local office. ASK to be called if there are any questions on motorcycle related issues. Write a note. Make a call. Start building a relationship. There are probably other issues in your community you have an interest in as well. You will find that sometimes you will be the icebreaker; some of these people do not even know anyone who rides a motorcycle. If your Chapter does not have any rapport with their elected officials, the session is drawing near, we need this done today. We need it done before we have to ask someone to vote FOR this or AGAINST that. We need to make contact when we are not asking for a thing. It is one more thing that makes us stand out from the crowd. Wake up if you have not contacted your elected officials in more than a year. Understand they meet a lot of people and you need to periodically check in. Sometimes people will forget your name and you need to get in there and remind them who you are. Know that it is ok to meet people who work in a legislator’s office. Working with them is important. They can help you in many ways, sometimes with access, sometimes by making sure what you drop off or send is seen. Treat these people well, just as good as you would your Senator or House member because they can have the ability to sink your ship before you even get out of the harbor.
There are 120 House members and 40 Senators in Tallahassee and we need them to know who the local ABATE folks/contacts are in their District. We need them to know we are active and viable members of our community and that they can bet their ass that when the polls are open we are not just going to vote, we are going to help and encourage other people to vote. If there is a town hall meeting and there is not a motorcyclist or a group of them there a visibly from ABATE, we are failing. You will find that simply being visible will translate into being viable. As long as we conduct ourselves professionally and treat everyone with courtesy and respect, it will not take any tremendous efforts to have an ever increasing number of elected officials who will seek us out when we arrive at a town hall meeting or when people assemble for candidate forums or anything else. A couple weeks ago I was at a business function that was not even political in nature. There were more than a dozen high rollers stacked around and he made it straight over to me and shook my hand and circulated around from there. I have never handed him a dime. I did introduce him to two groups of people when he was running for office. I put up some signs for him and took off work on an election to carry around one of his signs. Our experience says that is something that is priceless. They do not always work out so well and I have spent plenty of other time writing letters and making calls, but I have a few others similar in that I have never had to ask him for a thing. I will share that the common denominator was a campaign signs, but when you hit that perfect plateau, it can just flow natural. We have a lobbyist that can take care of the details; I like the ones where all I did was work on a relationship.
I ASK YOU AGAIN ------ IS YOUR CHAPTER READY TO ROCK ??????
Listen to this wake up call of a different but related flavor. We had ten people voting on an issue at a meeting that started at 9am this morning. It very well could have been a variety of things much more serious. It could have been someone introducing a bill to ban motorcycles over 750cc from operating on Florida roadways. It could have been a bill to introduce a mandatory helmet law……. or a bill to require everyone to wear a bright pink jumpsuit when riding to be more visible….. ..Do not underestimate the stupidity of well-intended folk out to protect you from yourself and riding around on these dangerous motorcycles. Sometimes we will get a week or two notice, sometimes, we will get a day or two – maybe less. Whether we need one Chapter phone tree activated, if we need 10 different Chapter phone trees activated, or if we need every Chapter in our SMRO to activate their phone tree, we need to be able to count on it.
There may be some things we have to agree to disagree about. There can be some of us who do not like one another, but the upside is we do not have to slobber on each other or get married. All we have to do is work together towards our common goals. When we are all pulling our weight, we have each other’s backs. If we are doing those things we need to do, we are invincible. Money cannot buy the strength we have when we work together.
I failed to note that when I got home last night, there was a voicemail from Caloosahatchee President Chuck Long advising their VoiceShots had been activated, Saw update this AM from Southwest President/Frankie Kennedy that they had emailed request for action to members and non-member MOMS group. Nature Coast had asked for some action by email as well.
My hat is off to those being ready to rock and getting involved. I am honored to work with folks who understand what and why we work together and provide for a lobbyist to help protect our collective interests. My hat is off to Doc for beat-feeting it straight from the Orlando airport to the Capitol to take care of and protect our interests. I know it is his job, but I am sure he would have rather kicked back and put his feet up that evening instead of driving to Tallahassee. Let’s make sure we are all ready – each and every Chapter – so if it is your turn in the barrel, yours will not let the rest of the Chapters down. If you need help, ask. We are in this together.
EXTRA CREDIT – what non-ABATE motorcycling groups can you get with or renew relationships with as we are moving into the legislative session? I know Jimmy Less/Southeast President was going to a council meeting down South the day before the hearing. We got lots of email stuff going on down. Another leg on that Chapter email list might be one that includes non-ABATE groups. Posting on some of these biker related sites is a good place to practice getting other people who ride involved. There are some important issues we are likely to confront this session.
Ride safe out there,
JEB
Quig's death ushered in a new breed of BIKERS RIGHTS FREEDOM FIGHTER, one who lives by the creed, NO COMPROMISE, NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDERAdd to Technorati Favorites
