Please Support YOUR NYS Political Action Committee
Working to Protect Motorcyclists Rights!
Checks Payable to AMA PAC #3
c/o Mike Kuban
1029 Keyes Ave.
Schenectady, N. Y. 12309
518-377-9291
mkuban@nycap.rr.com
THE
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC)
District III now has a PAC or Political
Action Committee. The
formation of a PAC was approved at the overall District III
Sanction Meeting in December at Cobleskill.
The motion to create this entity was entertained by
President Larry Schwartz and then voted on in the affirmative by
all the Road Division and Off Road interests.
At that meeting, the District made a
decision to dedicate one thousand dollars of District monies to
the PAC. The Road
Division, in a separate action, collected another three hundred
and change for the fund, making the initial investment in it a
little over thirteen hundred dollars.
That was an auspicious start for the PAC.
This is the first such PAC for AMA in New
York State and probably the only one in the United States to our
knowledge, unless a District in California did it.
It is evidence of the intense interest that AMA members in
New York State have for “grass roots” political action to
further motorcyclists’ interests and to protect their rights.
The PAC, which will now continuously be in
search of new funds, will give the AMA and motorcycling in
general, the kind of clout we have not been able to have at the
New York State legislature, in the past.
While we have been able to move bills we
support through the lobbying efforts of District President
Schwartz and others in the motorcycling community such as Bob
“Prospector” Boellner of A.B.A.T.E.(who is also an AMA
member), the PAC will give us a mechanism to give substantial
financial support to the campaigns of those legislators and
candidates who support us.
The problem, as ever, is how to keep the
PAC funded. Right
now, we start with the thirteen hundred dollars.
Alex Ernst, the new Vice President of District III is
treasurer of the PAC and President Larry Schwartz is the other
member of the board, which could grow in time.
No monies can be spent without approval of the board and
all monies will be accounted for.
An account is being set up at the Cohoes
Savings bank for the PAC. Right
now, the Road Division has suggested that each member of a club in
the Division, donate five dollars a year to the PAC.
This is a suggestion.
There is nothing mandatory involved, but so far, the
reaction from Road division clubs has been very positive.
The first club to actually donate has been the Roamers
Motorcycle Club, which came up with $165.
That was $5 for each of its 33 members. Some members gave
more.
President Schwartz will be contacting
representatives of the Off Road and Racing divisions to see if
their members will come up with donations for the PAC.
Also, there have been suggestions to hold fund raising
50-50’s at Club meetings, both on road and off road.
If we can establish a fund with several thousand dollars,
it would give us the necessary wherewithal to make a difference at
the legislature, where President Schwartz and “Prospector”
lobby every week, while the legislative session is on.
Naturally, they invite anyone who can take a day off or
make the time, to lobby with them. Any
club or AMA member of District III can make a request to the PAC
Board to see the PAC’s records which will be kept by treasurer
Alex Ernst.
Neither President Schwartz nor V.P. Ernst
will be paid any monies either from the District or the PAC for
administering the Political Action Committee.
Officially, papers creating the PAC were
filed with the state Board of Election on January 14th.
As a personal note, I can only express my
gratitude to District III for so strongly supporting the creation
of this PAC. AMA
members everywhere must realize that our goal has to be active
participation in the political process in order to have any say in
protecting our rights to ride.
I’m hoping that once the other Districts in New York
State see that a PAC can and does work effectively, they will make
efforts to join it and make it a true statewide grass roots
effort. Everyone must
realize, in my opinion, that we are first and foremost a
“Rights” organization, dedicated to fighting for our freedoms
and right to ride without overweaning impediments to that
activity. Constant vigilance truly is the price of freedom.
Please join me in this effort in every way that you can!
I can always be reached on any legislative
matter at my home phone number which is (518) 399-7406 or at my
e-mail address which is larry@webramp.net
Ride free, live long and prosper.
Larry Schwartz
President District III
