District Advisor Meeting Feb. 19, 2005
The DA Meeting was called to order at 1:00pm with the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Reports were given by the four District Advisors, 22, 25, 28 and 29, who attended the meeting. We appreciate the four guest who attended also. All four reports were positive in nature, accenting increases in membership and increased attendance at chapter meetings. Proof positive came as we received 11 new and 5 renewals from dist. 28, 5 new from dist.29 and 5 new from dist. 22 on this day.
The first order of business following the Reports was to remove Advisors of Dists. 05 and 10 for non attendance and no longer being current members. Dist. 15 Advisor, John Bridgeman vacated his seat as he has become the chairman of the Houston Area COC.
Second on the Agenda was discussion of the Road Block Bills. There are several groups showing up at the capitol and doing TV interviews in support of these Bills. We must bury the legislators with letters opposing this issue. It is up to the Advisors to lead this charge in their districts and be sure the letters keep pouring in opposing Road Blocks.
Next up was HB 395 by Rep. Homer to require Rider Training for all new motorcycle licensees. The Chairman has been approached by a training site owner who says they are supporting that Bill and wanted us to support it also. It was agreed by all present that we would not support mandatory training as it was against what we stand for and there would be no guarantee the classes would be available to supply the required training. This will be conveyed to Cliff Burdette and others Monday morning.
We received word from Mr. Chapman that he would be interested in trying another Rally at his ranch if we would be interested in the possibility. Pros and cons were discussed by those present of having an April Fools run in Hondo in 2006. It was decided that we would meet with Mr. Chapman and see exactly what could be worked out and then discuss it again. Probably at our May meeting May 21st.
It was agreed that District Advisors would set up a data base of Email addresses for the members in their districts and pass on updates to those members as they are sent out from the state office. The state will be responsible for members in districts with no Advisor. Addresses would come from the member list given to each Advisor during the meeting and mailed to those who weren't present. This will give Advisors more contact with their members and get members used to communicating with their advisors.We reported that The Aces & Eights M/C in Fredricksburg were goping to start a new chapter in Fredricksburg and we received seven new member applications from Joe&Mama Blue today from there. Meeting adjourned at 2:13pm.
On a personal note it was very disheartening to have such a poor turnout after the successful Legislative Day. El Paso and Lubbock traveled several hundred miles to be here while two Advisors from right here in Austin didn't make it. Dean and Preacher were the only ones who contacted the office saying they couldn't be here. Perhaps we can Have a better turnout for the May meeting. Only two Advisors have asked to be on the Ballot for the May election. Hopefully more will step forward.
Sputnik
State Chair
