Executive Report - July 2025

John Reblin

Attitude, Behavior and Choices

Like you, this is the time of the year that I look forward to. It is light early in the morning and the sun is still giving us some warmth and light at 8 pm. It is great riding weather with events and places to go. What else can go wrong? I enjoy traveling the rural areas, seeing the farmers out in the field, seeing the young calves and colts growing larger with good nutrition, and the sweet smell of cut hay and manure on the field. That’s the farm kid in me.

There has been a lot of activity going on, both non-ABATE of Wisconsin stuff and doing things for the organization. Fitting it in between a heavy workload sometimes takes some doing but being busy is better than sitting around doing nothing.

I was able to help Steve Panten and Hardtail with another Future of Motorcycling seminar given to a group of club and riding group people and it went well with good information and questions being exchanged. On the ride home Steve and I discussed doing more of these and we are working out some details etc.

While doing things with today’s technology, it is entertaining for me to listen to some podcasts mixing in some music while working, driving, or doing odd things around the house. A talk show guy mentions occasionally that “all politics is local.” I thought about that and about ABATE of Wisconsin. How can we use this to motivate others to get out and make this more locally known?

Now is the time for the fairs to start in your community and counties, right? What a great time to talk to the people that represent you in your community, in Madison, and D.C. Talk about how the issues of E10 or less fuel or the right to repair is affecting you and other riders. Ask how you can help that person out as he or she is gearing up for the election. Walk in a parade or two in support of the candidate. Hand out those flyers or little pieces of candy they give out. Getting closer to elections, volunteer to pass out flyers in your community or knock on some doors. They remember those that help out this way as much as those that donate some money.

But why stop there? Get involved in helping out by reducing motorcycle crashes with your county’s DNR Deer Advisory Council to help set goals and numbers that will reduce the number of deer roaming out on the streets and highways causing crashes with vehicles and motorcycles. They hold 2 meetings a year and are interesting and you have input on setting up goals to reduce the herd size.

Hear about a crash in your area between a motorcycle and another vehicle? Get involved and get the details about what happened. Share the information with Tim Tomann and myself. If it is a right of way type case, follow what is going on with it using CCAP and attend the court hearings wearing your ABATE of Wisconsin gear. See and hear what is going on in the court hearing and share the information with us to make sure they are following ACT 466. Let us know if they don’t follow this and we can follow up to ask why not.

Take time 4 times a year and follow the Highway Safety meetings in your county put on by the Sheriff and including people from the highway department, State Patrol, and DOT people. It is a good place to hear what is going on in the community. Offer in put on grass cutting along roads and chip sealing or trimming brush and trees around intersections and signage. They are looking for input on what is going on with road conditions and other issues along with how they can work to reduce crashes.

I am sure there are other things you can do locally, awareness rallies, Share the Road training among others. These items are pretty easy and painless to get involved in. It gets you recognized in the community as the motorcycle issue expert and may be a way to get some people involved to be a member.

The Hummer is not quite up and running as I write this. Worm and his crew are very busy with those last-minute details. Thank you to everyone that went up for land warming and got the land looking good. I am sure all summer long Worm and others will be at the land puttering about so stop up, give a hand, and maybe have a cold beverage and a hot meal together. Regardless of sunshine and 80’s or 60’s and rain, the Hummer will go on and we will have fun. Last year, even though it rained most of the weekend I think it was one of the best times I had. We all decided to make the best of it and had a blast. Make sure to stop by me and let’s talk. Let me know how I can help you make this organization bigger and stronger. Ok - maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Remember to consider a rider education course and work at keeping those riding skills sharp. Save the alcohol ‘till after the ride, and ride within your skill level, and don’t over drive the headlight. It comes down to A, B, C. Attitude, Behavior and Choices to make it to your destination safely.

That’s it for this month, see you on the road.

Ride Your Own Ride,

John