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Saturday, April 3, 2010

Bikers being discriminated against? Naw

OFF THE WIRE
Bikers being discriminated against? Naw April 1, 6:53 PMDallas Motorcycle Lifestyle Examiner Sharon Smith
TCOC&I website - Texas bikers visit Legislators Richard M. Lester, founder of Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) and National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) as well as numerous biker outreach groups, was nominated by his peers for induction into the Motorcycle Hall of fame in Sturgis, S.D.
After graduating from Law School, Richard took the advice of a college professor to seek out a group of people who were being systematically discriminated against and who were unaware of their rights or legal recourse. Richard cut a perfectly good Porsche in half to create his distinctive trike to ride to motorcycle events and meetings. He set up booths and gave “Know Your Rights” talks, thus becoming a champion of bikers’ rights.
Lester then formed financial support for this effort, in 1986 he called together various movers and shakers of state motorcycle rights communities across the country and offered to fund a coming together of these groups as a national political force under the umbrella of NCOM.
The success of this legislative unity was soon noted by the motorcycle clubs. These fellow riders were / are being discriminated against by private establishments open to the public, harassed to the extreme by our government and subject to law enforcement profiling and preconceptions. Bringing these patch-holders into the coalition was totally another matter, but with much trepidation, a meeting was called in Southern California to put aside past differences to work together. In 1988 another political force was formed – The Confederation of Clubs (COC). There are now 52 Confederations in 33 states – all autonomous but working together in unity.
Here in Texas, we have taken the COC one step farther and include Independent riders that still desire to include themselves in a Legislative Force without having to join a riding club. Shucks! In Texas, with its ‘nothing daunted attitude’ expanded the COC and made it Texas Confederation of Clubs & Independents (TCOC&I). This is not just ‘the more the merrier’ it’s ‘the more the stronger’!
Like my Momma used to sing each (and every) time we crossed the border coming back into Texas from any other state, “Texas, our Texas all hail the mighty state – Texas our Texas so wonderful so great”. Yep, her boisterous singing woke me from many a nap but her pride and ‘never say die’ tenacity became a part of my DNA. Thanks Mom.
Dallas: The next TCOC&I meeting will be held at Yellow Belly Drag Strip. Mark your calendar for April 23rd & 24th and ‘Run what you brung’ (this is a statewide Rally and Fundraiser - an 18 yrs of age or older rally – no children – no pets). You will see both men and women racing so bring your bike.