Word from the Chair
Chairman Jane provides an overview of MAG's progress
As 2007 draws to a close it's a good time to reflect on the past biking season.
Despite being one of the wettest summers on record, events went ahead and fellow bikers battled the elements to bathe in the camaraderie which foul weather engenders, usually with a pint or two. In June, during the most severe of storms, with extreme weather warnings advising all travelers to stay at home, 7000 bikers turned up to the Farmyard Party. I can't think of many events that would attract such commitment. Morale remained high and I still hear wet tales being told. Funny how you always remembers the tricky ones.
Thankfully there were a few dry events that balanced things. Can I give a big thank you to all those organisers who just took the attitude 'the show must go on', when in reality they had twice the work to do.
This is the time of year when most event organisers make their plans for next year and the diary dates are already filling up. Just a quick note to let you know that the Heart of England Rally has moved dates from the first to the second weekend of July.
Politically, at National Level MAG really put its name on the map this year and continues to raise the profile of motorcycling as automatically being included as a recognised form of transport in national and local transport plans. So what? You ask.
Well the significance of this is that it means there are a load of pro motorcycle supporters in parliament and in the Department of Transport who will look critically at any anti motorcycle proposal and give it the thumbs down if they think it will discourage motorcycling because on congestion etc motorcycles are part of the solution to transport problems.
Of course these voices are balanced by our critics who continue to think motorcycles are the spawn of the devil and should be discouraged but at least we have managed to generate an unprecedented army of allies in critical places.
Lots of hard work and time has been given by the National Committee and Board, who have worked tirelessly in a range of areas. Work has been done on the activists' training weekends, the website, business plan, Network the reps handbook, club recruitment, this magazine and publicity posters to promote the organisation. This has kept us all busy in our attempts to help the mechanism of the organisation run more smoothly and professionally.
A new relationship has been drawn up with an insurance company called Bike Sure, which offers very good benefits to MAG members - more details in this issue.
The national demo in July on congestion charging went well and was reinforced by the face to face consultation which David Short, our Campaigns Manager, has had with the authorities in Manchester.
Public on-street demonstrations are but the tip of the iceberg. The serious bulk of the effort comes with our ability to field players like David whose background, allied to articulate diplomatic skills impresses at the highest level. The message is one thing but if it comes from the right messenger its power is multiplied out of all proportion.
If MAG has ever made a single ground-breaking move in its history, in terms of enhancing its lobbying clout, it has been the decision to take on an ex Chief Superintendent of police with a background in conceiving and promoting Bikesafe, married to a love of motorcycling and a hatred of those who would eliminate motorcycling in pursuit of their risk free cottonwool culture.
The last year has confirmed the wisdom of that move and elevated MAG into the premier league of political lobbyists. We can emphatically say that we are the leading riders' rights organisation as we now enjoy the 'access all areas' privilege that this status confers.
The AGC in 2008 will be held in Bromsgrove, but please note the slightly later date of Saturday April 26. Remember that the final date for submissions or motions to conference this year is the end of December 2007.
This is but a fraction of the work being done, but above all else, what continues to be MAG's greatest success and deserves recognition, is the continued support and dedication of our membership. Without the hard work and effort of individual members, who voluntarily give up their time, there wouldn't be a MAG. You all deserve recognition and I thank you.
So I wish you all a good Christmas and new year and I'll see you out and about next season.
Jane Chisholm
Chair MAG UK
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