Legislative Update

We had a Advisor Board meeting Saturday that ran way past our usual hour.
It was time to make decisions on the Budget for the coming year and decide on other financial matters facing the association in the future. WE introduced Johnny "JB" Barnett as the newly appointed Advisor for District 20. He was asked questions and given the gist of what being an Advisor was all about. He was then immediately approved by the other Advisors to be seated at the table.
I want to apologize to Larry "TXBUG" Brown for not acknowledging the part he played in setting up our trip to speak at the South Texas COC on the 13th. It has been brought to my attention that he had received permission from Bandido Slick for us to attend that meeting. After the meeting in Corpus I met with him and JB to establish a Representation in that district and he said his job would not allow him time to hold such a position so it fell to JB to accept the job. Larry did join TMRA 2 while we were down there. Thanks to both of you for making the trip worthwhile.
After the Area Reports were made, which covered a myriad of problems and how they were solved in the different areas Sputnik gave a Legislative update.
It has been learned that our Rider Training Fund has been moved from 501 dedicated Fund to the 601 Tx. Dot Fund. 25% of our last two Budgets have been taken and put in the Texas Mobility Fund ! This amounts to roughly ½ million dollars stolen from our Fund. Each group in the capitol is blaming the theft on someone else but we have learned that ALL OF THIS MONEY, roughly $ 6,000,000 will be taken and put in the Mobility Fund next year.
To say Sputnik is on a RAMPAGE is putting it mildly. To list all that is in the works here would take a long time so just say I ain’t going away.
We then got down to the real business at hand. After a line item comparison of the 2006 Budget $73,000 and the Proposed 2007 Budget of $83,000 it was pointed out that we had missed the 2006 budget by over $20,000. That meant that Sputnik once again did not receive his salary as voted on at the last General meeting which included a $500 per month cut from the salary he did not receive in the prior years. The new Budget had an addition to it to pay Sputnik the missed salary from 2006 along with other unpaid Bills which would mean the association would require about $100,000 in income for the year 2007. To meet this goal would require 3000 new memberships out of the 361,000 registered motorcycles in Texas and the nearly 800,000 licensed riders in Texas. Not an unreasonable figure but one that hasn’t been met. This still does not include the un-reimbursed money Sputnik paid out of pocket to keep things running.
The Proposed Budget was approved.
Next item on the Agenda was a $5.00 per year increase in dues. A yes vote would have put the issue before the General Membership to decide at the May meeting. After some very heated discussion on the subject it was voted down by a 5-4 vote. It seemed to be the consensus of some that the membership couldn’t afford the increase while others pointed out the increase was a pack of cigarettes or a six pack of beer per year. Some seem to think that membership will increase if the dues aren’t raised. I guess we will find out in the very near future.
The meeting adjourned and a few of us headed for the Krazy Horse to get our customary Fried Catfish afterward.
I am at home now for a rough day of Pulmonary tests on Tuesday. Hoping to get back to the capitol on Tuesday evening but if not then I will make calls from home. I also know the Task Force will do a good job of covering for me until I can get back. Thanks to Dee, Jenifer and Jerry for the effort they have put forth this session.

Ride Free – Ride Sober
Sputnik
--