Chapter Legislative Coordinator Duties
Each Chapter should have a LEGISLATIVE PACKET that is put together by the State Legislative Coordinator and supports ABATE's position on pending or sought after legislation. This material is made up of the best information in the country and should always include the AMA position paper and well as the ABATE position paper. The packet must be revised every year to accurately keep up with changing and new Bill numbers.
First you need to know who all your NY State Senators and Assemblymen in your district are. Then you need to get their addresses. They should all have a copy of the
Legislative Packet, especially the ABATE position paper. A copy should be maintained in your file. Future contact with your State Representatives will be much easier once this step is taken. Ask the State Legislative Coordinator about the NYS Legislative Reference Guide.
All members should be supplied with voter registration forms.
It is of course, the Chapter Legislative Coordinators job to keep members informed of what the State Legislative Coordinator is working on. You help in this effort by developing letter outlines or form letters on each particular subject for Chapter letter writing campaigns. Just make sure that any letter that goes out is well constructed and WILL NOT offend or anger any Legislator that it is sent to. That will only set our Organization back in time and effort. Some ABATE members do not have the skills or experience to write a good letter, they are the ones that would benefit most from a form letter. If possible, develop three or different letters on each subject to use as samples for the Chapter letter writing.
Your NY District Representatives should be kept aware of what bills ABATE of NY is working on through letters or personal visits.
All Chapter Legislative Coordinators should contact other Organizations in their area to keep them informed of legislation and goals. These groups include H.O.G., Retreads, Honda Goldwing clubs, and any other clubs in your area. If you are informed yourself and have the info ready to show them you will see they will probably be more than willing to get involved and help. We must form coalitions with every group we can for the future of motorcycling in New York.
Every chapter should organize a "Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Week" in May. To do this the County Executive has to declare it as such, then follow up with posters, PSA's, and press releases in local papers. Also advertisements in the local papers. Events and getting your state or county officials involved can be helpful. Remember, our message is always accident preventing education instead of mandatory safety equipment.
Editor's note: This article was written by Brent Garcia, Cortland-Chenango Chapter, in 1990. I have used my discretion in changing a few statements to update it.
Legislative Coordinators: You might also want to read the Legislative Tips Page.