THE ABATE UPDATE
THE
ABATE
UPDATE
The mission statement of ABATE of Oklahoma is to promote and defend motorcyclists freedom , safety , and awareness through education and legislation to make Oklahoma the best place to ride .
GRATITUDE TO 2R FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
By : Lyndse Weber
He ’ s loud and opinionated . Sometimes he seems larger than life . Other times he ’ s walking around in a skirt …. or as he says , kilt . Whatever . He never holds back , and you never have to wonder where you stand . He ’ s a loyal friend and always the first to say “ job well done ”. He ’ s dedicated to ABATE of Oklahoma ’ s mission , to make Oklahoma the best place to ride . He ’ s served this organization tirelessly for the last 8 years as our state coordinator . We ’ ve been lucky to have him as our leader , but more than blessed to call him brother .
Garry “ 2R ” Canaday was first elected state coordinator of ABATE of Oklahoma in 2009 . Under his leadership ABATE of Oklahoma has had some huge accomplishments . These include hiring a lobbyist to represent motorcycle issues at the Capitol , passing the red-light bill , passing an enhanced penalty for violating the right of way and injuring a motorcyclist , as well as , the rebuilding of the Share the Road program . The crowning achievement of 2R ’ s leadership is Gunner ’ s Fund . After the loss of his close friend in 2009 , Garry led ABATE of Oklahoma in lobbying for Gunner ’ s fund . It imposed a small fee on motorcycle tags and built a fund focused on motorcycle education . This fund allowed safety and education programs like the ones by Edmond Police Department and Oklahoma Highway Patrol to offer free courses throughout Oklahoma . Future generations of motorcyclists and drivers will be more aware and more informed due to these efforts and 2R ’ s dedication . Gunner would indeed be proud of this legacy .
8 Thunder Roads Magazine of OK / AR
As our state coordination , 2R has presided over many long board meetings , spent countless hours on the phone , given up weekends in the booth at motorcycle events all over the state and forced us all to listen to at least a million Lou Holtz quotes . He ’ s traveled the country promoting ABATE of Oklahoma and gather knowledge and ideas to bring back to our organization . He served on the board of the Motorcycle Rider ’ s Foundation and survived a bus trip to lobby in DC with 10 other ABATE members . His passion for motorcycle rights has inspired all of us to do more and his hard work has made an enormous impact .
But those accomplishments mean little when compared to the family that he ’ s built . On poker runs , over dinner or hour long phone calls when he gets an idea he ’ s truly become a brother to each of us . He always had his eye out for the strengths and talents of all our members and was quick to volunteer them when a job came along that they would do well . He made it a point to heap praise on each of us for going above and beyond . He ’ s been there for any of our member in their time of need . I ’ ve seen him in the waiting room of the ICU , waiting for word on a member ’ s mother . I ’ ve seen him on the phone , finding a way to donate money , so that a member could make the out of state journey home after the death of a sibling . I ’ ve seen him help with yard work for a member struggling to make it as a single mother . He ’ s done all of this , and more , not because it was his job but because this is a family .
Thank you doesn ’ t seem like enough of a sentiment for all the hard work 2R
has given this family . He isn ’ t leaving ABATE of Oklahoma , he ’ s promised he will still be around and continue to work towards our mission . The mark that 2R left on ABATE of Oklahoma can ’ t be measured . He ’ s been an amazing state coordinator and we are so proud to call him our brother . We love you 2R , thank you !