August 2015
Presidents Report August 2015IN THIS REPORT –2015 AGM CommitteeRAC Council positionNew websiteMembership fee increaseAvon Valley Motorcycle Friendly Region 2015 AGM COMMITTEEAt our recent AGM we have changed some of the positions on your Committee. The most notable change being our Membership Officer, I would like to thank Michelle Morgan on behalf of all members for all the work she has put into this very important job over the past three years, unfortunately Michelle’s work as a nurse has increased and she is now also studying at Flinders University. I am know we all wish her the best for the future and hope to see her on one of our riders soon. Taking over from Michelle is David Shannon and I would like to welcome him to the new Committee and I am sure he will do a great job in increasing our numbers. Also new to the Committee is Dale and Nick Hill who run On Yer Bike Rider Education and I am sure will be a huge help with our rider safety. The rest of the Committee has remained unchanged with me as President, Jeff Mazey Vice President, Lyn Jutte Secretary and Joanne Wells Treasurer. There is a full list of the Committee members at the front of this publication and as always please feel free to contact us on any issue. RAC COUNCIL POSITIONMy nomination as a candidate on the RAC Council has now been accepted. I believe I can contribute to that organisation and help work towards a better road safety outcome for all Western Australians. I do however need the RAC members in WA to cast their vote in my favour by filling in the voting form that will be in the next edition of the RAC magazine (Horizons) due out in late September to give me the opportunity to work for all road users through the RAC. WEBSITE/MEMBERSHIPOur new website is getting lots of traffic and our web master Paul Upton is putting new rides and safety issues on it at regular intervals. Peter Butler and his team at Smarter websites are still working on making the site more user friendly and have recently changed the membership page to make it easier for new and returning members to join on line. We did have a few problems and we apologise to any members that encountered problems joining on line, you will find it much easier now. Thanks to Peter and his team and Paul Upton for all the work that they have done and continue to do. MEMBERSHIP FEE INCREASEWe have endeavoured over the past few years to reduce the MRAWA costs and have absorbed some additional cost increases, but after over 10 years of the membership fees being $25.00 per year we find that to continue to provide the services to our members and to continue to work for a safer and fairer deal for all motorcycle riders in W.A. we now have no choice but to raise the membership fee to $30.00 per year. This increase will not come into effect until October 1st 2015 so if you join or re-join before then the fee will still be $25.00 AVON VALLEY MOTORCYCLE FRIENDLY REGIONWe have been working for some time on establishing a Avon Valley Motorcycle Friendly Region that will take in all the towns that make up the Avon Valley, Toodyay, York, Northam, Beverley, Chittering Etc. This I believe will be the first region in Australia to do this, yes there are some towns that do it but not an entire region. I have been in contact with some of the people in these regions and they local councils and towns seem keen to progress this further. Some of the suggestions from them and us are for maps and brochures at venues, signs at motorcycle friendly venues, signs to other motorcycle friendly venues, notice boards for rides and events at venues, visor cleaning stations, motorcycle parking, secure parking at motorcycle friendly accommodation, improved roads on motorcycle routes. We still have some work to do on this project but I would hope to get it all in place to launch it at the York Motorcycle Festival next April. That’s about all from me for this issue, so ride carefully, ride well and ride often.Dave Wright