News Bytes
NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
NCOM CONVENTION HONORS FALLEN RIDERS; INVITES
NAMES FOR TRIBUTE
With the 30th Annual NCOM Convention in Denver just weeks away, the
National Coalition of Motorcyclists is requesting that MROs, motorcycle clubs,
and riding associations submit the names of those members and supporters
who have died since May 2014, so that we may honor their memories during
the traditional “Ringing of the Bell” tribute to fallen riders during the opening
ceremonies. Dedications can be hand-delivered at the Convention to “Doc”
Reichenbach, NCOM Chairman of the Board, or e-mailed in advance to Bill
Bish at [email protected].
Attendees are also encouraged to bring an item on behalf of their
organization for the Freedom Fund Auction, with proceeds benefiting the
motorcyclists’ rights movement nationwide through Getting Our People
Elected donations, NCOM Speaker Program, lobbying activities and other
pro-motorcycling projects as determined by the NCOM Board of Directors.
The 30th annual NCOM Convention will be held Mother’s Day weekend, May
7-10, 2015 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, 4900 S. Syracuse St. in Denver,
Colorado. This annual gathering will draw bikers’ rights activists from across
the country to discuss topics of concern to all riders, so reserve your room now
for the special NCOM rate of $99 by calling (303) 779-1100.
Registration fees for the NCOM Convention are $80 including the Silver
Spoke Awards Banquet on Saturday night, or $45 for the Convention
only. All motorcyclists are welcome and encouraged to attend. Meetings,
seminars and group discussions will focus on legislative efforts and
litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride and Freedom of the Road.
To pre-register, call the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 5255355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
AIM & NCOM FOUNDER RICHARD M. LESTER INDUCTED
INTO HALL OF FAME
Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition
of Motorcyclists (NCOM) and affiliated & supported groups and
organizations, extend Congratulations to founder Richard M. Lester on
his recent induction into the Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame has announced their
2015 inductees into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame
and one into the Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame. Lester, a California
attorney who founded AIM & NCOM three decades ago and numerous
subsequent motorcycle outreach groups, is the first national bikers’
rights attorney to be inducted.
“The Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame is designed to recognize
individuals or groups who have made a long term positive impact on
the motorcycle community,” said museum Executive Director Christine
Paige Diers. “The Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame recognizes the
commitment and sacrifices individuals across the nation, and world,
have made to protect the rights of motorcyclists, and who have made
a significant impact through their work in grassroots rights efforts.”
Richard became an attorney at the ripe age of 45. While in law school
he realized that motorcycle riders were an unrepresented group who
didn’t have a voice. His love for the sport prompted him to focus on the
need of a voice in the motorcycling community. In 1982 after passing
the bar, his work for motorcycling began. It took him a couple of years
to organize a team of attorneys who rode motorcycles, and who also had
an understanding of what was needed in the motorcycle community and
how to go about finding the voice that was needed.
Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) was founded in 1984, and is a legal
30 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
protection program that is free for all motorcycle riders, providing free
medical information and emergency contact of next-of-kin. To date,
over 2 million cards have been distributed nationwide, with A.I.M.
attorneys in every state providing legal services for riders and doing
pro-bono (free) work within the motorcycle community.
The following year, in 1985 Richard Lester founded the National
Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) to provide a much-needed voice for
the motorcycling community. Today NCOM is a national organization
with over 2,400