Meetings
This is a summary of the minutes from the August 21, 2005 chapter meeting:
Meeting called to order at 10:04 a.m.
Treasurer's Report
Old Business
School Supply Run
An article announcing the run was in this week's Independent and will run in the Mountain View Telegraph next week. Flyers were emailed out and will be emailed to the three east mountain school recipients (A. Montoya, Route 66, and San Antonito) on Monday the 22nd. Patty will have route maps ready and will set out the cans along the route. Barb Alvar, Damon, and Patty will be at the sign-up point, Show Stoppers Unlimited, at 4101 Menaul NE in Albuquerque (the old, old Easy Riders location). Register from 11 a.m.-noon. Follow a pre-arranged route and end up and the Ponderosa on South 14 with Diann Sandlin, Roy, Larry, and most likely Joe Ashton to assist you at the check-in. (Joe came to today's meeting - they finally let him out in public again after his long recovery!) We have received lots of "quality" raffle and auction items, such as a handmade blanket from Diana Martinez (happy 25th anniversary to Diana and Top), a $25 gift certificates from the Ponderosa donated by Charlie Anderson, $25 donated by Big D, several pair of goggles from Larry's Custom Cycle (welcome to Larry, who joined our chapter today), a cowboy belt buckle of "special value," and lots of t-shirts, caps, etc. We still need to get donations from Chick's and Big Dog (Joyce Casey has volunteered to approach them). Those of you who have or will get prizes, please advise Patty at 281-3493 so they can be added to our list. The awards, raffles, prizes and auctions will begin at 2 p.m. after which riders will be encouraged to head on over to a benefit to raise money for Jesse Gearhart, Miss Rodeo New Mexico 2006, to get her to the Miss Rodeo America Pageant in Las Vegas, NV. Come on over to Howard and Kim Kirkpatrick's at 53 Skyland Blvd., Tijeras, for a $10 admission, loads of prizes, and a live band.
Labor Day Campout at Fenton Lake (Sept. 2-4)
Unfortunately, the group campground was already taken. Therefore, it's back to the "old" method. Damon and possibly another volunteer plan to arrive on Wednesday or early Thursday, in order to physically reserve and pay for three campsites out of funds set aside for the group site. For others who come up later, the fee is $10/vehicle (not for how many tents or motorcycles) per night. This arrangement was suggested by the rangers on site. Intending to arrive sometime Friday will be three motor homes (20-27 feet long) plus assorted tents. We believe we will have enough space reserving three sites. If more of you plan to "sleep over," please advise Patty beforehand so additional sites can be set aside. Note: Motorcycles are free if you mention that you are with ABATE. Joyce Sherrod volunteered to do the shopping for the "free" evening meal provided by the chapter. As an aside: Jack Kaplan informed us that those of you who have a state handicapped tag can use it to get a free camping spot, but you must first apply for the Golden Access Passport at any ranger station. They will issue you a tag which will include your state handicap number on it.
Right-of-Way Legislation
Patty met with Bob Schwartz, the Governor's Advisor on Crime. He reviewed the wording of the Right of Way bill and said it was good. He gave her a list of senators and representatives who could possibly be troublesome to "be on the lookout for." He indicated that he would try and get us on the "Governor's Wish List" for the upcoming financial session. He also suggested that we get in touch with other organized "groups of interest," such is bicycling organizations, pedestrians/walkers, and runners' groups, who may be interested in joining their support to the bill. Patty will have a copy of the bill at the next meeting to hand out to those who wish to volunteer to contact these groups.
New Business
Meetings
A motion was made and passed about the date of our next meeting. The motion was to reschedule the usual first Sunday of the month meeting from September 3 to September 11. That will be our only meeting in September. Don't forget that the new coordinator and treasurer will be announced at that meeting. You have until August 31st to get your ballots postmarked and received by the chapter coordinator.
Rider Valley Motorcycle Shop Murders
Rider Valley, which had just relocated their shop from Cedar Crest to Albuquerque, was the scene of two horrific murders which took place at the shop last week. Mike Baca let us know that two young employees of the shop were killed during a robbery. They were Dave Fisher, age 17, a senior at East Mountain High School, and Garrett Iverson, age 23, father of a new baby boy. A memorial service was held today in honor of Dave Fisher, a dedicated motocross racer, at the Moriarty Racetrack. Dave aspired to professional racing within the next several years. His racing number, 231, will be retired. Dave's best friend, coincidentally, just raced his 231st race.
M. P. Baca, a member of a motorcycle group called the Albuquerque Outlaws, asked if our chapter would provide food for a benefit race to be held sometime in September at the Moriarty Racetrack. A motion was made and passed that we would purchase and prepare the food and donate the proceeds to the families of the murdered young men.
Joyce Casey volunteered to organize a motorcycle escort/procession to honor Fisher's and Iverson's funerals. Those interested should call Joyce at 281-8673. Charlie Anderson felt that the media should be notified that two policemen were not the only people murdered that day; two young men had their lives before them and were killed as well. It just seems as though the news about these young men has gone by the wayside.
The killer of the two policemen, two young motorcycle shop employees, and a department of transportation employee had been on medication for a mental disorder and was currently being treated at a facility on an outpatient basis. It is not known whether he was still taking his medication before the incident, but it was reported that during a cutback of benefits that took place in July, Medicaid had removed the medication from their approved list. The killer apparently had been to Rider Valley only two days before and had threatened to kill employees during an altercation, so premeditation seems to have entered into their murder. The issue of the discontinuation of certain meds and services formerly covered by Medicaid will be addressed on Channel 27, the Public Information Channel, soon. Patty also mentioned that new information about her husband Dave's murdered indicated that it was far more premeditated than was previously known.
Healing Ceremony
Jack Kaplan announced and invited all who wish to attend to a healing ceremony to be held at the Baca's house on September 18 at 7 p.m. (pot luck). The ceremony consists of a talking circle and drumming. It is not necessary to participate, but certainly with all that has happened recently a multi-faceted ceremony could be very useful.
Senior Center Assistance
Mike Baca received a call from Irene Ortiz, who said that the Senior Citizens Center in Tijeras needed help for a family in desperate straits whose toilet is falling through the floor. Top and Damon Aragon volunteered to help replace the sub-flooring in the bathroom. A motion was made and passed to donate the cost of the flooring material, up to $150.
Larry's Custom Cycle
Jack Kaplan formally thanked Larry of Larry's Custom Cycles for his continued support of and donation of prizes to our chapter.
Announcements
Bob Casey's 60th birthday party will be at the Caseys' house on September 27 from 4 p.m. until whenever. Meat and drinks will be provided; bring a side dish. All who would like to wish Bob a happy birthday, come on over!
Mita asked if anyone else required a copy of the bylaws. Some will be emailed per request and will appear on the ABATE web site. Also, a correction to one of the Bylaws: where it states "a quorum is a majority of members," it should read "a quorum is a majority of officers."
Mita gave out George's mailing address, which will be current until he ships out: SGT George Bennett, 111th BDE, c/o 654 ASG (FWD), Bldg. P3417 Mailroom, Ft. Lewis WA 98433-5000, email: george.m.bennett@us.army.mil.
Charlie Anderson took classes to receive NRA certification to teach the safe handling of firearms. (He scored 100% on the tests!) As soon as he receives his official credentials, he will hold classes for ABATE members at a much reduced rate. One course will be firearm safety and another will be a concealed carry requirements class. Congratulations, Charlie! We can't wait to sign up!
Marcella Merton received a letter from Boomer. She indicated that she was warned not to read the letter by herself, as it was very disturbing, so she asked that Jack Kaplan open and read it to the members. Needless to say, by the time the letter was finished there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Boomer gave a minute-by-minute detailed description of a "typical" 100-degree day in his unit. They had to travel in the dark, with all kinds of firefighting going on around them, Apache helicopters and a MediVac flying without lights above them. They had to use a night vision scope in order to see ahead. The tension was extreme. A new EOD graduate was eager to get to the bomb, but time seemed to crawl for the EOD team in attendance. Finally, an "all clear" was signaled to the MPs and children began to gather and wave cautiously to the team, who tossed out small bags of candy from the machine gun turret. Heavy fighting was ongoing as they headed back to camp. They finally reach the "weapons status green" line and stopped to clear their weapons. As Boomer described, all their uniforms and seats were drenched with perspiration. After a short rest, the young EOD graduate was eager to go out again. As for Boomer, he says he feels his age. His music theme: Garth Brooks, "Too Young To Feel This Damn Old." Food not served at the mess: pepperoni and jalapeño pizza from the Pizza Barn in Edgewood. He ended his letter with greetings to all his ABATE buds, and a quote by Robert E. Lee: "Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain." Jack folded the letter and asked for a moment of silence to honor our friends, loved ones, and all others serving their country away from home. Heads bowed, eyes were wiped, and noses were cleared. Charlie suggested that Boomer write a book upon his return, and all agreed.
Jack reiterated that the upcoming healing ceremony could be a means of helping several members "over there" and their families.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:18 a.m.
More minutes
2008: November 2 •
October 5 •
September 7 •
August 3 •
July 6 •
June 1 •
May 4 •
April 6
February 3 •
January 6
2007: December 9 •
October 10 •
February 4 •
January 7
2006: October 8 •
September 10 •
August 27 •
August 5 •
July 2 •
June 17 •
May 7
March 26 •
February 19 •
January 15
2005: December 18 •
November 13 •
October 16 •
September 11 •
August 21 •
August 7
June 19 •
June 5 •
February 20 •
January 16
2004: November 21 •
November 7 •
October 17 •
October 3 •
September 19 •
June 6
May 16 •
May 2 •
April 4 •
March 7 •
January 4
2003: December 14 •
November 2 •
October 19 •
September 21 •
September 7
August 24 •
July 20 •
July 6 •
June 15 •
June 1 •
May 18 •
April 6 •
March 16