I want to thank our members who came to Albany for the Freedom Rally.  I want to especially thank those who went to visit our Legislators.  Senator Joe Griffo rode with us into the Capital.  Unfortunately Assemblymen Dave Townsend was unable to join us due to a last minute meeting.  We had appointments with Assembly persons Marc Butler, RoAnn Destito, Bill Magee, and Senators Joe Griffo and David Valesky.

We discussed Bill A 7568: proceed through a traffic controlled red light when light fails to change after a reasonable time, with RoAnn Destito. She would like to take this issue to the DOT and see if it can be resolved that way. She would like us to gather some information on intersections where this is a problem.  If you know of a problem intersection, let me know and I can forward the information to her.  See me at the next meeting or e-mail it to me at abatelegs@aol.com. 

Rob and I spoke with Bill Magee about Bill A 1939, the Confiscation Bill,  he is going to talk to the head of the Codes Committee and see where the bill stands and if he can help to move it along. He is a co-sponsor on the bill. 

Marc Butler was not able to meet with us, but his aide, Laurel, was available.  She told us that Mr. Butler would like to meet with someone from his district in his Herkimer office after the legislative session is over.  If anyone is interested, let me know and I will schedule a time when we can meet with him together. 

David Valesky was originally unable to meet with us in person, but got through his prior commitment early, so, the group was able to have a good meeting with him.

Overall, I believe it was a productive day. Our meetings went well, our legislators are on board with our issues and were very open to our opinions and our point of view. We had our voices heard, not as many as I would have liked, but I am appreciative of those who could come and visit their legislators.

Rob and I attended the State Chapters Meeting on Sunday.  A new Secretary was appointed to fill the vacancy on the State Board. The Contract Committee is still working on the new contract for the State Office Manager position. They hope to have it finished and published in the next state newsletter.

The Chapters were asked if anyone would be interested in hosting The Beast of the East event in their area.  I think this could be a good thing for our chapter, which we can discuss at our next meeting. 

A discussion was held about the two membership incentive programs. The cost to the state was an issue of concern, as was the perceived possible abuse of the programs by a very, very, small number of people. The discussion led to a motion being made to do away with one or both of the programs, either the $5 rebate to the chapter for each new member or the free year membership for 5 members signed up. 

I don't feel either should be eliminated. There are ways to prevent the potential for abuse and keep the incentive programs going.  We will discuss and vote on this at the next meeting. The previous motions to give free membership to 25 year members was approved, the motion to look into taking the NYS Thruway Authority to Federal Court was defeated and the motion to change the State Chapters Meeting from August to September in conjunction with the Board meeting was approved. 

It is very important that we have representation at these meetings, issues like the one above could have been passed at the next meeting and we would have had no say in it.  Who knows what has been done this past year without our knowledge because we were not at the meetings.

Have a good Memorial Day weekend.  Remember our Veterans, past and present. 

Freedom is not free!  Ride safe!

Bikers Rally For Justice
by Mike Hedeen
Published May 04, 2007
 

Rochester area motorcyclists rallied Friday evening against a judge’s verdict that acquitted a former Monroe County sheriff's deputy of vehicular manslaughter in a deadly drunk driving crash.

The verdict from Judge John Connell cleared James Telban of vehicular manslaughter in the September death of Peter Volkmuth of Parma.

Connell's decision has some bikers feeling less safe on the road. “People just don't care,” said Bob Baleno, a biker for 36 years from Hilton. “If they're in a hurry they do what they want to do and that's it. There’s a good example. I mean stone drunk, pulls out in front of a biker, the biker's wrong. I don't understand it."

American Bikers Aimed Toward Education, or ABATE, organized the rally which took place at the end of the first week of what is motorcycle awareness month in New York State.

The group met near the entrance to Braemar Country Club where motorcyclist Peter Volkmuth died after colliding with Telban's vehicle last September.

There was a moment of silence in memory of their fellow biker.

“We're a very loving, tight knit group of people, and we are not just the rebel, reckless people that they think that we are,” explained ABATE’s New York vice president Beth Michaelsen. “We actually are lawyers and doctors and we actually have real lives."

The motorcyclists, numbering well over a hundred, then mounted their bikes for a peaceful group ride from Parma into downtown Rochester. They then gathered in front of the Watts Building to protest against what they say is injustice against motorcyclists.

Much of their frustration was focused on Telban and Connell's verdict.

“The law enforcement officer, whether he's on or off duty, he's supposed to set the example with his peers,” said 38 year biker Gary Hailston of Chili. “I spent 20 years in the air force a NCO; I had to set the example for my troops."

With Telban likely facing no more than probation and possibly a year in jail, most of these bikers would like New York State to implement tougher drunk driving laws with stiffer punishment for offenders.