Dixie ABATE's Ride to the Capitol for Safety and Awareness

[2WheelerFred]

When: April 28th 2012

Where: Shopping center down the road from the mall - next to a Wal-Mart.  The address there is 6545 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL  36117.  The mall owner doesn't want us to use his parking lot for staging due to insurance issues.  This parking lot is 7.19 miles from the state capitol.  (Admin edit 1/6/2012.  Vickie, does this shopping center have an official name?)

Time: Noon

Why? To show support for motorcyclist rights and to bring awareness to motorist all over Alabama that we share the road and deserve their respect.

What? Please make suggestions on possible invitees as well as other activities or groups to involve. We will form up at Montgomery Mall and ride a police escorted ride to the capitol  to draw attention from both the car driving public and from the legislators who make laws that affect us and what we do for enjoyment to let them know we are out there and we care.

Thanks!
Freddy

[kriscook]

Freddie,  I think we should invite every rider we know and every group we know of. 

Could you please post up the address for the Montgomery Mall Shopping Center?  I am not familiar with Montgomery and don't have a clue where it would be.

Thanks so much! 

Now my job is to get hold of all our legislators and see who will be available to meet us on the steps for a giant publicity opportunity.  And then I need someone to step up, who knows how to line up the local TV and radio stations.

This is a first, and it's going to be BIG.

 

[2WheelerFred]

well of course everyone who rides is invited, i was speaking to nviting LEO's politicians, the gov and anyone else we may think of

[gopjohnny]

we know the last Gov rode, If you will remind me closer to the event maybe first of the year I will help find some legislators to ride with us. 
Kris has my contact info

[2WheelerFred]

Cool I'll be sure to do that.

[v.rumble]

Kris:  This should be a good start on publicity.  I can take care of it if you like, or feel free to use these contacts yourself. 

WSFA News, Montgomery, News Director - Scott Duff, sduff@wsfa.com
Mark Wilder, Program Dir.,   phone 334-288-1212

CBS 8 News, 334-271-8888
Mark Smith, Station Broadcast Mgr. & Program Dir.
msmith@waka.com

ABC 32, WNCF, 334-270-3200
Assignment editor, Michael Smith, msmith@abc32.com

Alice 96.1 WQKS & WBAM Country - Bluewater Broadcasting
Terry Barber, Gen. Mgr., tbarber@bluewaterbroadcasting.com

Alabama newspapers:  www.usnpl.com/alnews.php
This is a listing of the papers throughout AL - a few aren't current, but overall it's an OK list.

There's a trick to getting coverage free sometimes.  I used up all the advertising budget for another event I'm planning and then talked the radio DJ into using information I am going to send him to get questions and answers for the games he plays on the radio durnig the morning rush-hour commute.  You know - guess true or false and win bowling tickets or something.  He's going to do that the week of the event and that will be free so I was able to bulk up the advertising for a week without paying anything extra for it.  That's certainly not to say they'd do that every time or for every event, or that any of these contacts will broadcast for us at all really, but this is a good start.

v.rumble

[v.rumble]

Kris - You might also want these:
Huntsville News
WAAY, News Director, Keith Lawhorne, 256-533-8534, newsroom@waaytv.com

WHNT 800-533-8819

WAFF - Adam Henning, News Dir., 256-533-6397

Mobile News
WKRG, press releases, producers@WKRG.com, 251-662-3002

WEAR - Mobile, Pensacola, Ft. Walton Beach, 850-455-0159

That's North AL (Huntsville), you should have Birmingham (north central), south central Montgomery, and south, Mobile etc.  With flyers in all the bike shops and magazines that should take care of getting riders prior to and also get some coverage during.  Let me know if you want anything else.

v.rumble

[2WheelerFred]

You are hired V Rumble, I have just appointed you PR person for our first Ride for Rights! All in favor say Aye! All opposed ...............keep your trap shut....................The ayes have it.
Your appointed now. 

[kriscook]

You are hired V Rumble, I have just appointed you PR person for our first Ride for Rights! All in favor say Aye! All opposed ...............keep your trap shut....................The ayes have it.
Your appointed now. 

O yeah, Victoria is totally appointed, hired, elected, and chosen to be the Chief Ramrod of the South Alabama Chapter of Dixie ABATE.  She might not KNOW it yet, but she will..... oh, she will......   muah ha ha....

 

[v.rumble]

I can do that.  I'm excited about the event.  I'm tracking down information on another worthy effort - at least I will be when the woman gets back from vacation and in her office tomorrow so I can talk with her.  I'll pass that along when I have more information.
Vickie

[v.rumble]

These are the details of our ride for April 28th, as of today, 1-23-12.  We will be posting a separate event during which members may meet with legislators from their districts, probably in March, as details are available.  Keep a check on the website for details as they are posted.

  RIDE TO THE CAPITOL TO PROMOTE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND AWARENESS

DATE:            April 28, 2012. 
WHERE:         Front steps of the capitol, 600 Dexter Ave., Montgomery, AL  36130
TIME:            We have use of that area from 11:00 to 2:00
STAGING AREA:         Parking lot at 6545 Atlanta Hwy., Montgomery, AL 
DEPARTURE TIME:      Leave the staging area promptly at 12:00 noon
PARKING:          Downtown parking is free on weekends, so no one should put money in
            the parking meters

ROUTE: 
1.    Start on Atlanta Hwy. /U.S.-80W toward Ashton Rd.  Continue to follow Atlanta Hwy. 5.3 miles.
2.    Atlanta Hwy. becomes Madison Ave.  Continue another 1.7 miles.
3.    Turn left onto N. Bainbridge St. 0.2 miles
4.    Destination is just past Monroe St. 

An application for a public assembly permit has been filed with the Montgomery Police Dept.  When the Police Chief approves the permit, he will notify me of how many officers he intends to assign to work the event for traffic control and/or security.  The rate of pay for an off-duty officer is $30. per hour, for traffic control with a $120. minimum.  The rate of pay for a security officer is $25. per hour with a $100. minimum.   Payment is due immediately upon receipt of the invoice and will be billed to Dixie ABATE at the address on the website.  Once this permit is approved the route cannot be changed.

I have submitted an application requesting the Governor to meet us at the capitol and say a few words on the importance of motorcycle safety and awareness.  He has not had time to either accept or decline as of today (1-23-12)  I am also encouraging several legislators and the mayor of Montgomery to attend and show support for safety and awareness - more as it develops.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Administration representative for Alabama has been invited to speak on the same topic and has accepted. 

The capitol building is open for tours the day of the ride.  The only door that will be unlocked allowing entrance into the capitol building is the one on the other side from the stair area we’ll be meeting in.  The door that will be open to the building is on the Union Street side.  Guided tours will begin at the following times:  9:00, 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00.  There is no cost for the tour. 

EMERGENCY NUMBER:  Just in case of an accident or injury, the number for radio dispatch at MPD is 334-242-0700 and that number is answered by a live person. 

I will also shortly post a summary of various sites that might be of interest in the Montgomery area.  If you have questions, I'll be happy and try to answer them.  - Vickie

[kriscook]

Let's have a round of applause for Vickie.  This girl is killin' herself down there in Montgomery.

Dixie ABATE's success is in VERY good hands.

Hip hip, hooray!!   
 

[2WheelerFred]

Absolutely!   Fantastic job!!!

[kriscook]

[kriscook]

There's a mistake in that flyer.  It's ATLANTA Highway, not Atlantic.  Sorry!
KSU at noon sharp. 

THOUSAND BIKE RIDE