NCOM 2008 Attendee Reports
NCOM: A Black and White Event, yet very colorful.
This was my first seminar, and was very impressed with the camaraderie of the clubs and organizations fighting for the same motorcycle rights across our nation.
I was elected to report on insurance, I know (yawn).....but very important stuff. Basic PL&PD will NOT cover you, only the other guy. It was recommended to have a minimum of $100,00/$300,000 for bodily injury, yikes!! and an umbrella policy. Now they said for approximately $30-50.00 more a year you should be fully covered, course they were from the Midwest. Also the higher your deductible the less your premium payment is.
Have you checked your coverage lately?? Better do it! Checked into mine, and I only had $15/30k with comp and collision, also have a $500 deductible. So.........I called to ask about all the options. WOW, it'd only cost me $47 more per year to get the 100/300. Now ya know, it depends on your ride and how your record is. I carry Markel Insurance, phone# 800-236-2453, or
www.bike-line.com They cover motorcycles only, and I think the best rates. If you know of some place better. Feedback much appreciated.
Really enjoyed the women on wheels meeting. Met some interesting ladies. Nice to know more of us enjoy riding beside our men rather than sitting behind them.
The "Golden Hour" was very enlightening. Did you know if you see more than one rider go down, call for one ambulance per person!!!!
Brief SAFETY TIP: DON'T CARRY CAMERAS IN YOUR INSIDE POCKET ON YOUR JACKET, IT'LL KNOCK THE WIND OUT OF YOU if you go down!!
Keep the SHINY side up! HCDISTRICT, Meg Robinson
NCOM 2008, The Belch Report “Snakebites”
Greetings Brothers and Sisters:
The 2008 NCOM Convention turned out to be the largest ever, much to the consternation of the Houston Police Department. For some reason they thought that a show of force was needed because of all those noisy bikers. I have no idea what they thought they were accomplishing by having six, eight or twelve units parked in the median in front of the hotel, as I have never seen any kind of problems at these types of events. I wanted to walk over and tell them that “I have a beer, and you don’t”, but that type of comment got me thrown in jail more than once when I lived there back in the seventies. The NCOM convention was probably the SAFEST place in all of Houston; Who is going to rob, rape, pillage or whatever when the Bandidos MC is keeping an eye on things? I am sure the justice would be swift and sure.
We had several people from Arizona attend this year, and I want to extend a big thank you to Joe Eggleston for the hospitality and good time he shared with us. There will be some reports in addition to mine on some other subjects, so this time you will not be getting only one person’s perspective.
Now let’s get to some serious stuff. We seem to be blessed here in Arizona. The reports I heard from some other States concerning Police harassment sound like they could have come from the old U.S.S.R KGB. With isolated incidents here and there, for the most part the Police in Arizona pretty much leave us alone unless we are doing something stupid. This is as it should be.
Minnesota, August 31, 2007. A.B.A.T.E. of Minnesota held a State rally at the Meeker County Fairgrounds in Litchfield. All necessary permits had been obtained for the event, so much like a person renting an apartment, A.B.A.T.E. had possession of the property for the duration of the event.
Four ARMED officers of the Central Minnesota Drug and Gang Task Force, C6 Drug Force Task Force Team, and the G.E.T. Team entered the fairgrounds without a warrant after being told not to by ABATE security.
They entered the grounds without paying the $30 entrance fee.
At this time the ABATE security called the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office and made a complaint about trespassing (ABATE controlled the property).
On Sept. 4th, the law offices of Steve O’Brien(A.I.M) sent a letter to all of the above named agencies stating what had happened, along with four wristbands for the admission to the State Rally, demanding payment of $120 for the admission price along with a written apology for the actions of the officers. The only reply he got was the wristbands returned to his office.
The officers and their agencies are now facing a lawsuit in excess of $50,000 filed on 3-17-08 for damages plus costs etc. for something that could have been avoided quite easily by just leaving the bikers alone or paying like everybody else. A badge does not give a person a special pass to attend an event. It kind of reminds me of when I was growing up back in Missouri and Arkansas. When my brothers and I would find a copperhead snake and try to go after it, my father would always tell us that if we left the snake alone, it would not bite us.
SOME Police Officers need a father like I had..
For God and Country:
Glen (Belch) Koepke
ADM, Salt River District
23rd NCOM Convention May 8-11 2008, Houston Texas
I have attended several NCOM Conventions over the past 10 years and find that every year you learn something new, it is inspiring to see and be a part of something that you truly believe in. To become aware of so many and agree that our fight for Freedom, not only in the realm of Motorcycling, but how that can spill out into the community where we live, can become so much more is not only inspiring but humbling all at the same time.
This year, unlike the others, 2 months prior to the Convention all the rooms at the Sheraton where the Convention was being held were all already booked, which shows that we are growing as a force to be dealt with. I was glad that in a way that I was 10 miles from the Convention so I actually got to see a little of the Host City for a change. For those of you that have not attended NCOM, the meetings begin 9 am both Friday and Saturday mornings and go on all day.
Everyone that attended from MMA was asked to cover different Seminars so that everything would be covered and every Seminar could be written about and discussed with at the Districts and passed on to the Patriot. I chose to cover what is called the Golden Hour. At some time or another generally all of us will be in a Motorcycle Crash of some sort, and if you are around one of your brothers or Sisters that goes down near you it is very important to know about the Golden Hour.
The Golden Hour, right after you go down, can make the difference between Life and Death according to how the situation is handled and we need to be able to recognize the difference between a conscious and subconscious mind and make a decision and do what you have to do to save a life.
Whose Business is Safety? Everyone’s. While riding you need to stay aware of your speed, or distance from other vehicles, or making a sure that other drivers around you see you. Who is it that could be causing accidents? Today our roadways are more crowded than ever making seeing Motorcycles more difficult, we are also dealing with less competent drivers and more distracted drivers that are on their cell phones, paying attentions to their radios or other electronic devices. We are dealing with distracted drivers that are eating while driving, or putting on makeup, or reading maps or books or dealing with their kids. Whatever the distraction might be we need to stay aware of the drivers around us as much as possible.
In the field the first ten minutes after an accident can be the most important. So this is when you need to absolutely remain calm and THINK. You need to decide is the patient URGENT or NON-URGENT is transportation going to be necessary? Which Emergency Department will be contacted? Will there be a need for a Surgical Intervention? Take into consideration the immediate safety factors surrounding the situations. What are the Traffic conditions? Does someone need to divert traffic away from the scene? Have Hazardous Materials been spilled? Is there gas and oil or possibly other flammable liquids been spilled at the scene? Are there any power lines down? Has a fire already been started? Create a safety Circle around the accident victim.
Know basic Life Support, is the patient unresponsive? Check their airway, check breathing, check for circulation, and check cervical spine to determine if immobilizations will be necessary. If necessary, stabilize the head, neck, and spine then wait for the ambulance.
The Golden Hour
If you are at the scene of an accident and there are homes near by to possibly get help, if you have a female rider with you, send her for help. When reporting the accident determine if an Ambulance is necessary, or more that one. How many Individuals have been injured? Make sure as closely as possible you can describe the exact location of the accident. If in a rural location check for the Mile Marker or give a GPS location. If the accident is more critical, will a Helicopter be necessary? Does the Fire Department need to bring the Jaws of Life? Do surrounding Utilities need to be dealt with? Make sure someone direct the Ambulance directly to the accident scene.
Before other help arrives, the most experienced person that knows life support should help the patient. If the person is able to speak, keep them talking. Ask them their name, their age, how they think they are doing, if they are allergic to anything and if they take any medications. Repeat this every five minutes and write it down if you can along with their vital signs, pulse, breathing etc. Record the time all events occurred. Never put direct pressure on a skull injury, you could push a piece of bone in their brain. If a person is bleeding from the ears or other head orifices do not cover them to stop the bleeding, you could cause the brain to swell – let them continue to bleed.
When the Ambulance arrives give the medical personnel an honest assessment of the situation that is if you know any drugs or alcohol has been a contributing factor to the situation. After that if you are asked to stay back out of the way, do as you are asked. If the accident victims are friends, only allow two tow or three people in the ER, overcrowding doesn’t do anyone any good.
When Law Enforcement arrives, do not move or allow the Motorcycle or any parts to be moved from where they are until they are documented properly. If necessary, mark where things are or take pictures or video of the scene. When everything is over it is a good idea to give Thank You's to those that helped with the situation, either send cards, if in a different State, contact the local newspaper or whenever possible do it in person.
Some of the factors that contribute to Motorcycle accidents:
Sometimes when going down the road something will fly off your head or off the Bike, - make sure that before you slow down or stop to retrieve these items, you have enough room to do so. Do not slam on your Brakes possibly causing you to lose control and end up off the road in a ditch or hit from behind. Even your most expensive Sun Glasses are not worth dying for. Always use good judgment.
Always keep your eyes on the road and including everything around you at all times. When you’re out on the road Mother Nature can get you at any time. Don’t overdo it, if you’re starting to get tired, or the weather becomes too bad, Pull Over and rest whenever necessary. It’s better not to get where you’re going today, to make it alive tomorrow. Out of the numbers of all single Motorcycle accidents occurring today 35% of the alcohol related Deaths are above 0.20, so please keep an eye on your friends that drink, 25% of the accidents are people over riding their abilities and experience by speeding, going around curves or on unknown highways, so never try to ride over you abilities. Just because you are with others that can ride faster than you on certain roads, slow down – it could be your own life that you are saving.
Muskrat
Casa Grand District
NCOM 2008
The National Coalitions of Motorcyclists’ Convention. What an experience to be had. You have the opportunity to meet some of the most dedicated individuals in the Motorcycle Rights community in the nation. Not only do you find out what‘s going on throughout the entire US, but can bring some of those ideas back to your Home state!!!
These people you meet are so willing to share with you their experiences and more than that willing to let you know everything that they did to bring their idea to fruition in their State. We all seem to exchange business card or phone numbers just in case we find out that their idea is not yet in our State of Arizona.
Example:::I met the registered lobbyist from Georgia whose nickname is Yankee. In our conversation I found out that he got their Director of Motorcycle Safety for their State to use idle time on the electronic road signs (like those on some of our Highways in Arizona) for messages of Motorcycle Safety and Awareness. What do you think about that???? Let me tell you I left our Director an e-mail with the suggestion. I hope to be discussing this with him in the future. Time will tell whether our State will implement this or not. (I think I’ll call Yankee and find out the messages used /uses for Motorcycle Safety and Awareness on their electronic road signs.)
One more bit of info - Ohio is doing the same thing .
There is a lot going on our there – great people doing some great things throughout this country for Motorcycle rights!!
So if you are so inclined to get involved in the protection of our motorcycle rights here in our state – give me or one of our officers a call and maybe we can get something more done – YA THINK??????? OR----think about getting informed, come to one of our District meetings, listen , ask questions and get involved!!
C J Swinford
Chairman Emeritus
I have been with this organization for a number of years I have tried to make it to NCOM twice and something has always come up and I couldn’t go. This year I was able to attend in Houston. If you have never been to NCOM it is really hard to explain you just have to be there. I am also glad to have been a part of something for the third year in a row, Arizona had the biggest deligation from a different state to attend NCOM other then the hosting state. That is really a big deal and says a lot about Arizona’s involvement in motorcyle rights. When CJ asked people who attended NCOM to write something about it, I thought I would try to share the information that I picked up, after all that is what it is all about.
I am not much of a speaker or a writer but here it goes. First there are so many seminars to attend its a good thing to have a lot of people there to attend as many as you can. The seminars start at 10:00am Friday and everything is done Sunday at 12:30 and a Saturday night banquet, that’s a lot to do in three days. I’ll try and keep it short and just cover the ones I attended, like I said there are so many classes to attend. There where two things that stood out to me; one was it was very hard to sit through Ringing Of The Bell. If you don’t know what this is, a bell is rang after every name is read of a motorcyclist who has died that year across the country, there were over two houndred names and Arizona’s was the firt to be read. You could hear the Arizona delegation gasp when the first name was read, as we were not prepared. It made the rest of the list even longer to sit through. The Silver Spoke Awards Banquet was cool. You got a good meal and a special treat for the 50 people who stuck around to see the award presentation. We were all treated to a private concert (song) by Jimmy Vaughn after he recevied his award.
I attended the American Biker Party seminar. The speakers where Steve “Mad” Errato and “Glover” Morgan, Hells Lovers MC. It is a grass roots political party out of Wisconsin who are trying to make a difference. It’s pretty cut and dry. Their party’s political platform issues are Bill of Rights, Health Care, Patriot Act, Energy, Emploment and Veterans Rights. They have the right mindset, if you don’t like whats going on change it. Form your own party, get biker people into office and do something about it. Texas is very active in this way also getting people that are bikers in office. I think Pennsylvania has the upper hand on all of us. They have three people that ride that are Surpreme Court Judges there. One more out of seven and they pretty much have the say on what goes on in their state and the abilty to repeal laws.
Motorcycle Insurance (UM & IEM). The speaker were Sam Hochberg, AIM Attorney for OR, and Joe Ritzo, AIM Attorney for ME, VT, MA, AND NH. Very informative. It covered that most people do not carry the right kind or amount of insurance and just for a few dollars more we could have the right coverage that we need. Umbrella insurance is a thing we should all check into, as your agent might not tell you upfront that it is available. The attorneys make you awere of things most insurance companies will not tell you and things we all should really know. For more information contact your AIM Attorney they provied information on this subject at the seminar. I’m sure they would be glad to help you or point you on the right path use the tools we are given.
The Golden Hour Speaker was “Slider” Gilmore, EMT Instructor & MC Accident Specialist. Oh and pig framer, he is very proud of he’s pigs. Have to say this was a hard one to attend after having many dear friends that have passed away in motorcycle accidents. This is a seminar of what steps you should take to help some one when they go down in the first few minutes in that Golden Hour that may save a life. This is not a seminar for the squeamish. Safety, safety, safety. You come first as a rider that’s your job and if you are giving aid to a down rider remember your safety comes first. If you get hurt who will help you both. Look long a hard at your bike for sharp things on it. These nice accessories could be what kills or mames you in an accident. If you have never taken a riding class take one. It will help you with any bad habits and brush up your safety skills. If you have taken one, then take advanced class and refresh your riding skills and be aware of whats around you at all times, it could save your life. Take a CPR, First Aid class and carry a first aid kit. What you do in the first few minutes could be the differance in life or death in that Golden Hour. If you ever get the chance to do this seminar with “Slider” Gilmore do it! You will also get a kick out of the pig calendar pics.
I also attended Regional meetings with Region I, who are AK, CA, HI, ID, OR, WA Region III, who are CO, MT, ND, SD, WY and us Region IX who are AZ, NV, NM, UT. This is a meeting to share whats going on in each states and what the confederations are doing about it and how it could affect us in our states. Here are just a few things going on in other states. This is a big one, ID may have to start to fight emisson on bikes which has been proposed by one of the counties, This may start the ball rolling again in other states and we just got done fighting to do away with ours. WA has been having problems with roadblocks. They are stoping cars but are really focussing on the bikers more. Just asking for the regular thing we should all have license, registation, proof of insurance here is the kicker kids, no mc endorsment you loose. They will inpound the bike on the spot and you don’t get it back until you get or can prove you have your endorsment costing you money and paying storage on your bike the whole time your bike is in jail. It’s the law in Arizona; get an endorsment if you ride. CA, what can we say about CA it was referred to as the Communist State of California what more do I have to say about that other then we need to watch what goes on there as it tends to spill over to Arizona.
Black Clubs and Minority Outreach. The apeaker “ Big D” Watson NCOM Board of Directors/ABATE of New Mexico. Myself and Cindy Gates attended this one very informative and very heated at times. Like Big D said the name of seminar was miss leading as it is not about black clubs, etc., its about getting more minority groups as a whole to be more involved in their confederations and the big picture at NCOM. Wow there is a lot to be said in that. How do we get more black clubs, sport bike clubs, womens clubs involved with the MRO’s? We have to talk to them tell them what we do and envite them to get more involved.
Again where do we start? We have to get past the old way we look at things as bikers, clubs and organizations. We have to get passed the idea that only real bikers and clubs ride Harleys. That is old school thinking and it just doesn’t fly anymore in a very different biker community. We are all in this together and the more groups we have to help us in this fight the better we are as a whole. I guess its just time to get to know some of these clubs, associations, organizations etc. Welcome them to rides, events and parties. Make them feel welcome and that they belong. Get to know them. Find out what they stand for. Educate them and let them know they can be part of a bigger picture. Tell them how they can make a difference in getting involved. Isn’t this our job in the MMA? Membership makes us strong!
This is something that is going to take time to do and I am sure it will not be easy to get done. I am glad to say that the valley districts of the MMA of Arizona are trying to do these things .We have talked about it with some of the local sportbike clubs and just riders. These groups of riders are young and are the future of the MMA and the biker community and we have to find a way to get them involved. One group attended a Westsiders meeting a few weeks back. They would like to get more involved and would like to see the signs we put up in Glendale come to Phoenix. I am working with one person from this group (Pychotic Cycles) to see if we can make this happen. I have also spoke with another group in the east valley. Hopfully we can get them involved with the SRD District. Getting more of these groups involved is a good thing. We will just have to get over some bumps in the road to make it happen.
James “Gonzo” Gonzales
SGT.AT ARMS Leather District MMA
