ABATE of Indiana Board of Directors Meeting
June 18, 2005 --- Lawrence County Recreation Park

Executive Director Jay Jackson called the meeting to order at 12:10 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. Those present were: Region 00-Teresa & Ray Bodle; Region 01- Ken Boyer; Region 02 – Doug Kreag, Brad Thoreson; Region 03 – Roger Mitchell; Region 04 – Steve Madary; Region 06 – Bob Sipes; Region 07 – Dennis Tyger, Bill Schoentrup; Region 08 – Terry Penn, Michanne Smiddy; Region 09 – Tom Buchanan; Region 10 – Lenny Stancombe; Region 11- James Hignite; Region 12 – Dave & Sandy Hawkins; Region 13 – Eugene Abbott; ABATE Legal Services – Rod Taylor; Gino Johnson – Ad Com; Bob Dillon – LCRP; Chuc Hunter – LINC; Kim Tyger & Tina McCormack – ABATE state office. (Region 05 was absent)

Bill Rains, Asst Chief of the Springville Fire Department, addressed the Board concerning their role at the 2005 Boogie. Dunn Memorial Hospital will be placing a mobile care facility on site to expedite treatment. This is coming from the local emergency management director, not the fire department. The fire department is looking into providing two fire trucks on site in order to improve their response time both in their neighborhood as well as on site. They will be bringing fire extinguishers to use in case of a bike fire.

ITEM #1: Review of financials: Gino stated that looking at the financials that were handed out today for April and May, we are in much better shape than we have been in the last 4-5 years at this time.

Kim Tyger addressed the Board as to the increase in memberships that appears to be a direct result of having Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Boogie. The last day memberships will be processed prior to the Boogie will be June 30, 2005.

(Motion 1)

ITEM #2: Jay discussed minutes having been approved via email. He encouraged the board to continue to review the minutes.

ITEM #3: Bingo revenues seem to have flat lined. No decreases or increases. We renewed the license for Bingo and the Boogie Bike Raffle. We may need to make some repairs on some of the air conditioning units. Freedom Hall employment issues were discussed.

Item #4: LCRP improvements continue to happen. A new crossing has been constructed in the bottoms at no cost to the organization. It has been moved up stream several feet because of the continuous erosion issues. The expense of the bridge was incurred by the timber company. The road in front of Region 04 is in the works. It should be completed within the next two weeks. The area around the shower in the bottoms is also being worked on. Some of that area will be grass and a portion will be stone for parking. An additional bridge has been constructed from the old bridge at Bean Blossom. It is between the foot bridge and low water crossing.

Transformers have been erected on Hummel Hill to take electricity down to the bottoms. This should pay for itself within the first year or two by cutting down the cost of renting the light towers. Power in the bottoms will still be limited.

The day stage area has been extended further back into the woods and an area leveled to create a place for spectators. Lakeshore drive is being improved to create better access to the day stage.

Clearing is taking place back in behind the stage to create more room for the handicap area.

A retaining wall is being erected along the side of the main stage. This will create more parking spaces and allow room for additional facilities for the bands and other quests.

ITEM #5: Chuc Hunter discussed the veto of SB218 by Governor Daniels. He thanked the members for their emails and phone calls to help stop this bill.

Chuc discussed articles in newspapers etc. about motorcycles being loud. His next LINC report will address this issue.

Chuc is resigning as LINC director as of September 1. He and Jay are looking for a replacement. Chuc would appreciate calls from members that are interested in the position.

Chuc would like information from directors concerning what they need for LINC training. He would like training to be conducted on a weekday night, three regions together at one time to conduct LINC training.

Discussion on ABATE of Indiana’s National presence ensued. Jay expressed that we have a huge presence with the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and that we were the first SMRO to join the AMA in supporting the Justice for All campaign. We will remain conscious of our exposure on federal issues.

Steve McQueen introduced himself as the state Motorcycle Riders Foundation representative. He discussed the Lautenberg amendment and how fast members from all states worked to stop the amendment in less than three days. The amendment would have called for a national helmet law. Steve would like to have a Motorcycle Riders Foundation representative in each region and possibly even each county. It is ABATE of Indiana’s policy that all Regions are sustaining members of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation.

Chuc Hunter, Gary Williams, Kim Tyger, and James Hignite shared details of their recent trip to Washington D.C. representing ABATE of Indiana. All that went agreed that we were well received by the Indiana Congressional Delegation. They all expressed how well the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, Vice President of Government Relations, Jeff Henne, is respected on the hill.

ITEM #6: MSD classes are having no shows. Encourage people to try to get in on standby.

Thirteen new instructors have been added this year. Interested individuals can still try to get into the September course by calling Mike Moore.

Tina sent out over 80 press kits for Motorcycle Safety and Awareness month. We did not hear about a lot of media coverage on this.

Gino stated that the Miracle Ride netted close to a quarter of a million dollars. Rod stated that Sidecar from ABATE of Illinois commented to him how impressive it is that our Governor rides with us whereas, they had to sue their governor. Both Gino and Rod recognized the continued support and hard work from ABATE of Indiana.

License exam reports show that we have already conducted close to 1500 examinations. We have added a new testing site in Terre Haute. We are still looking for a facility in the Kokomo and Muncie areas.

Tina has been compiling information for the Children on Motorcycles campaign. If anyone has suggestions or information, please get that into us as soon as possibly.

Law enforcement is stepping up enforcement on impaired riders. This is in direct result of the increase in alcohol related motorcycle accidents and fatalities. Discussion followed. Any ideas as to how to address this issue would be appreciated.

ITEM #7: ABATE products Boogie design was shown to the Board. Debbie was unable to attend.

ITEM #8: The advisory committee elected Dennis Tyger as the chairman of the committee. They are working on ways and means to acquire the adjoining property. Gino is talking with the timber company as a possible solution to this situation. We have a deadline of July 1st to respond.

ITEM #9: The honorary committee had nothing new to report.

The Accidental Death and Dismemberment policy has demonstrated a huge success. Susan Fulldower from American Income Life has contacted the office concerning motorcycle related fatalities that she learns about through the news. In the event of accidental death of a member, please send a copy of the death certificate or doctors note pertaining to the dismemberment to the state office. We will attach a letter stating the member’s current status as a member and forward it to Susan. Members are covered under this policy regardless of whether or not they have sent in the yellow postcard. However, without the postcard to designate a beneficiary, payment could end up in an estate rather than going to a member of the family.

MDA- Cyndi requested that directors verify information on their MDA events so that she can get everything together for the July magazine.

ITEM #10: Jay shared information concerning Al Putman’s condition as a result of a fire in his garage.

Next Board of Directors meeting will be at Freedom Hall on August 13th. We will have our meeting and then a joint session with ABATE of Michigan.

(Motion 2)

Respectfully submitted,
Kim Tyger

MOTIONS

#1 Motion to approve the February and March 2005 financials was made by Roger Mitchell and seconded by Teresa Bodle. Vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

#2 Motion was made by Roger Mitchell and seconded by Steve Madary to adjourn the meeting. Vote was unanimous. Motion carried.