ABATE of ARIZONA
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President's Report

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August 2022

Presidents Report ImageGreetings Fellow supporters of Motorcycle Rights!!

When you see this it will be August. I want to Make Sure everyone knows of the upcoming Memorial Services for our Deborah Butitta. Here is the information as provide by our State Communications Officer.

There will be a celebration to honor the life of DEBORAH BUTITTA as follows:

DATE: August 6, 2022 - Saturday TIME: 12:00PM - Noon PLACE: Prescott Fair Grounds - 531 Fairgrounds Ave, Prescott, AZ 86305 Deborah was committed to serving and protecting motorcyclists' rights at the state, federal and international levels during the last four decades. She was a sustaining & life member of ABATE of Arizona, 17-year ABATE Yavapai Chapter Board Rep., and simultaneously held many other chapter positions throughout the years. Deborah maintained memberships in numerous other state motorcycle rights organizations too, like the MMA of AZ.

In 2001, she was selected as the first designated lobbyist for the Arizona Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (AZCMC). She also served on the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) Board of Directors for many years and was instrumental in the formation of the MRF A&E (Awareness and Education), a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization created to assist the MRF for many years and was instrumental in the formation of the MRF A&E (Awareness and Education), a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization created to assist the MRF in providing resources to promote motorcycle awareness and "share the road" programs, along with all aspects of motorcycle safety education, including rider training..

Deb's accolades and awards are many, including being inducted into the MRF Hall of Fame in 2020 and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame as 2021 Freedom Fighter of the year. Deb is a past winner of the MRF Presidents' Cup (2003), the MRF Founder's Award (2017), and the MRF Lifetime Achievement Award (2020). Among her many other duties, Deb served 14 years as the MRF State Representative for Arizona. For several years now, the MRF has given the 'Deborah Butitta Award' to its' highest performing State Representative in her honor.

A true leader, Deborah had a profound influence on many of her fellow activists. Few people have dedicated so much of their life or contributed as much to motorcycling as Deborah Butitta. Personally and professionally, her passing leaves a tremendous void in our "family".

REST IN PEACE Freedom Fighter!

I know many of us will be riding to Prescott to attend the services. I ask everyone Please, be careful and vigilant as you travel. Deborah was one of the safest riders I have ever met and I do not want this celebration to lead to another. I also know many are planning to head out to Sturgis after attending this celebration. Again please be safe. Deborah would not wish anyone to be injured or suffer an accident. I also ask that if you would like to do something in memory of Deborah please consider making a donation to the Motorcycle Riders Foundation Awareness & Education. This was a special mission for Deborah. You could not find a better way to honor her memory.

We are also heading into a very critical time for all of us. The election season is on us!! The candidates have hit the ground running and the primary is right around the corner. This year is the election year for our state legislators. There are many who are running for re-election and they are well known in their districts but there are many more that are trying to get elected in the other chamber or trying to unseat the current office holder. This year we are also dealing with the redrawing of districts and many districts having new numbers etc.. Make sure you know what your district is and who are the candidates running in your area.

When researching candidates pay attention to their voting records and where they stand on issues that will affect motorcyclists. If you find a candidate that you feel is deserving of your vote and who supports the issues that are important to us, please support them any way you can. Then help spread the word that this candidate is someone motorcyclists should get behind. Tell your friends and fellow riders. This is how we can make a difference. Also remember that if there is an issue that comes up that is important to you, CALL OR WRITE YOUR LEGISLATORS! They work for us and need to know where you stand. If they do not hear from the motorcycle community they will continue to be influenced by those who wish to limit our freedoms! This is also very important on the national level. ABATE works hard with the Motorcycle Riders Foundation on many issues on the Federal level. Do not forget to check where you Senate and Congressional candidates stand on various motorcycle safety and awareness issues.

Speaking of elections it is now time to start preparing for your Chapter elections. I know that it is easy to sit back and watch as others fill position in your Chapter but I ask all ABATE members to take and accounting of themselves and their talents that could be a real asset to your Chapter and to consider stepping up and becoming an officer in your Chapter. Talk to you current officers about any position you may be interested in and feel you can make a contribution to. Most officer positions are not nearly as much work as many members believe. Many of our Chapter officers have been working in various positions for many years and would really like to turn the job over to someone else but will keep stepping up because they do not want to see the Chapter struggle when a position is vacant.

The success of your Chapter depends on volunteers. We are all in this together and we all joined ABATE because motorcycle rights and safety issues are important to us. The old adage that “Many hands make easy work” is true. So lend a helping hand and make the work a little easier for everyone in your Chapter, consider being and officer

Once again I want to promote that in September the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is once again putting on their National Motorcyclist Conference which is known as the “Meeting of the Minds”. The convention will be held in Des Moines, Iowa September 22nd through September 25th, 2022. The location is the Marriot Des Moines Downtown, 700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines. If you are not yet a member of the MRF, I strongly urge you to join.

As go about your daily business please remember to support those businesses and organizations that support ABATE and the motorcycle community. Talk to the business you support about becoming a Business Member of ABATE. Note that these businesses do not have to be bike shops or dealers, anyone who believes in the freedoms of the road and motorcycle awareness and safety is a potential ABATE Business member.

Help spread the gospel of ABATE while you are out riding and supporting other groups and clubs. There is a club membership that will extend benefits to all members of a club no matter how many and this includes the Accident insurance. Individuals can join if the club does not. Always keep several membership tri-folds with you and wear your ABATE gear when attending other groups events and let them know you are an ABATE member. Very few folks will just walk up and ask to join, they need to be asked. ASK THEM!

Please remember that the Masterlink is your newsletter too! We need pictures and articles to fill the pages of our paper, PLEASE take some photos and write a short story/description of the event and submit it to the Masterlink! Everyone likes to see their picture in a paper. Take lots of photos wherever you go and submit them. We always need additional material to fill the pages and we would rather cover the happenings here in Arizona and give coverage to our fellow riders and their groups for functions and events they are having, so don’t be shy and submit some photos and/or an article!

Until next month!

Jim Butsback
State President
ABATE of Arizona


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