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MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION
MRF Young Activist Scholarship Candidate Criteria: 1) Candidates must be between the ages of 18 and 30 with a valid motorcycle endorsement on their drivers license. 31st birthday must fall after MOTM that year. 2) Candidate must be a member in good standing of a State Motorcyclists' Rights Organization (SMRO). Length of membership required in SMRO to be determined by its members if candidate is qualified. 3) Candidates must be nominated by their SMRO. Nominations will be accepted from either state or local (District/Chapter/Local) SRMO groups, and must be submitted on an MRF-approved application form. 4) Nominations must be submitted between October 1st and July 15th and postmarked no late than July 1st of the year for which the application is submitted. 5) Candidates are to submit a minimum three hundred (300) word essay on why biker's rights are important to them. A well-written essay is like a picture of who the candidate is, and it gives the committee members a better perspective of the individual. Winning candidates will be announced via an MRF e-mail news release on or about August 15th. All candidates will be notified with a letter of thanks and encouragement to resubmit their candidacy for the next year if they are not the selected winner.
What Do Winning Candidates Receive? 1) One year membership in the MRF effective the first full day of Meeting of the Minds during the year in which they are selected. 2) Round-trip airfare to MOTM or alternate travel expenses so long as those expenses in total do not exceed the cost of traveling by air. If an alternate mode of transportation is chosen, candidates will be required to provide receipts in order to be reimbursed (receipts will be accepted for tickets on other modes of transportation), hotel accommodations, and gasoline. If there is any question about acceptable travel expenditures, it is the responsibility of the candidate to check with MRF prior to incurring said expense. 3) Hotel accommodations at MOTM. Accommodations will include room and taxes only. Telephone, food, movie rentals, etc. will be the sole responsibility of candidates. 4) MOTM conference and banquet fees waived. 5) Special recognition at MOTM. Recognition to include a plaque and presentation of a one-year individual MRF membership. 6) Winners are to submit one article to the MRF Reports telling of their SMRO activities and their experiences on attending the MOTMs.
How Winning Candidates Are Chosen: MRF Young Activist Scholarship Fund Committee will be responsible for: 1) Promoting the program. 2) Reviewing all applications and choosing winner(s) 3) Chairman of MRF YAS Committee will notify all candidates of their decision. 4) In conjunction with appropriate MRF personnel, ensuring that all financial, travel, lodging and conference issues are addressed in a timely and professional manner. Projected Cost: Estimated not to exceed $750.00 per winning candidate. Number of winners will in part be determined by available funds.
MRF Young Activist Scholarship Fund Nomination Form Date: ___________________________________________________________ Candidate Name: _________________________________________________ Candidate Address: _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Candidate Phone Number: __________________________________________ Candidate Date of Birth: ____________________________________________ Member of (SMRO): _______________________________________________ Please provide the following information on a separate piece of paper.
MRF Board Member Appointed to Newspaper Advisory Board In March, the Journal and Courier newspaper based in Lafayette, Indiana announced its advisory panel to the editorial board. On that list of local community leaders selected to participate was the Motorcycle Riders Foundation’s Jay Jackson. The panel is chosen to help mold editorial stances the newspaper takes on national, state and local issues. Although, the advisory panel does not have the ultimate authority of the editorial board, they will offer up their broad personal experiences, insights and use their persuasive powers to help the board acquire an editorial stance. Jackson will be in an unique position to help influence the public opinions by offering up his years of political experience in the arena of motorcycle rights and advocacy.
2) Other considerations: Explain any circumstances you feel are appropriate. Submitted by: ____________________________________________________ Signature / Position________________________________________________ (State / Local SMRO Presiding Officer) Mail to: Miles France, 10795 CR 197A, Lot 255, Nathrop, CO 81236 719-395-0360; miles@mrf.org
The MRF congratulates Jay for stepping out of his traditional role in motorcycle rights to fulfill a position where his knowledge will assist the media and community at large. The editorial board will be receiving a valuable assets with Jackson on their advisory panel. He offers up a sterling resume of experience in motorcycle rights by not only serving as the MRF’s rider education director but as the executive director of ABATE of Indiana as well. The appointment of Jay Jackson to the advisory panel of the editorial board proves that all motorcycle rights advocates can take other influential roles in their communities. After years of dedication to our movement, why not offer up your experience and insight where it may be needed? You never know, you may just help start a revolution.
The Helmet Debate Rages On in the National Spotlight Tiffany Latimer MRF Public Relations Assistant In recent days, the USA Today has devoted themselves to covering a major hot button issue with motorcyclists: Helmets. The helmet law debate was catapulted back into the national spotlight with an article last week that highlighted the increase of motorcycling fatalities in the past ten years. Since that original article, Vice President of Government Relations, Jeff Hennie defended why helmet laws have not proven to be the best course of action to save motorcyclist lives. The USA Today continued on with the subject of helmet laws and motorcycle fatalities today by featuring both sides of the story. "Our View on Helmet Laws: Motorcycle Madness," written by the USA Today highlighted the increase of motorcycle fatalities since Congress repealed its helmet policy in 1995.
motorcycle deaths in the past ten years but goes on to explain why state helmet laws have not proven to be the most effective way to prevent fatalities. For more information on this subject, you can contact Jeff Hennie, V.P. of Government Relations at jeff@mrf.org or at 202-546-0983. To read these articles for yourself, check them out on the USA Today website. Today's articles: "Our view on helmet laws: Motorcycle madness" by USA Today http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/0 4/our-view-on-hel.html "Opposing view: Helmet Laws don't work" by Jeff Hennie http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/0 4/opposing-view-h.html Last week's article:
Candidate Qualifications: 1) Please explain why you feel this person should be selected.
May/June 2008
Like most things do, motorcycling has significantly increased in the US within that time frame used in the USA Today's view of helmet laws. MRF lobbyist, Jeff Hennie weighed in on the situation with his rebuttal "Opposing view: Helmet Laws don't work." Not only does this article discuss the proportionate increase in
"Motorcyclists deaths spike as helmet laws loosen" USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/ 2008-03-26bikehelmets_N.htm?loc=interst itialskip