Lousiana Biker Magazine Louisiana Biker Magazine Mar2016 | Page 30

A.B.A.T.E. of Louisiana, Inc. State Board – January 9, 2016 Stacey “Snoopy” Conly A.B.A.T.E. of Louisiana is 1429 members strong in 17 chapters. A.B.A.T.E. of Louisiana is officially a member of Mid-South M.I.L.E. (Motorcyclists Improving Legislative Effectiveness, joining the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The next Mid-South M.I.L.E. will be in Joplin, Missouri in October. A.B.A.T.E. has 8 members on the committee for this with Donnie Brown chairing. The next planning event will be in Joplin or Branson, MO on February 21st. Rally at the Capital is March 14th. This is the opening day of legislation and ABATE welcomes all to come out and meet your legislators. Whether you are a biker, motorcycle enthusiast, mc, independent, or cage, you’re welcome and wanted to come. The larger our numbers, the more we will get their attention. Also the next State Board meeting is 2 days before the Rally at the Capital on March 12th. Some of the issues ABATE is looking to address this year: Lane filtering bill, Right of Way Bill, Freedom of Choice on the helmet issue, and a bill to create an “autocycle” category in order to account for the new 3-wheel cars being sold. This would prevent autocycle statistics being lumped together with motorcycle statistics. Donnie Brown stepped up as our new Motorcycle Riders Foundation Representative after Cecil Crawford stepped down after a few years of such a great job. Thank you, Mr. Cecil for all you’ve done. Donnie will do a wonderful job, as well. The next NCOM meeting will be on Mother’s Day in Atlantic City, NJ We took a moment of silence for our CoC (US Defenders) Commander, John Frank who passed away earlier in the month. Cecil Crawford stepped down as ABATE’s representative; ABATE State President, Randy Postlethwait volunteered to take Mr. Cecil’s place. Donnie Brown will be preserving our history of A.B.A.T.E. of Louisiana, Inc online. Bruce Roberts is now our State Advocate Con