Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125808
from file ca~rtol' N N " ~m.o.r.e. ",' by Russ Sanford ,; o Z ~ "HOW TO HELP" Z Preston Petty first joined MORE at the Mammoth Mountain Motocross in the late Sp.ring of 1970. In the intervening two and one-half years, he has encouraged innumerable other rna torcyclists to join our ranks. 0 uring this past year he has subscribed to a lifetime membership in his own name and a second 'lifetime membership for Preston Petty Products, at $100 a pop. Tbese facts alone, make Preston a 'super·neat guy' in my book. But, as if he hasn't already done enough for the cause of motorcycling, each time that I see him he pleads with me to tell him more ways in which he can personally help 'the cause' at the local level. Another neat guy is Wayne Heller, Founder and President of the World Harley Owners Association. Wayne is involved in WHOA up to his ears, but still wants to know what he can personally do to help 'the cause' at the local level, even volunteering free office space. And the list goes on and on. There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of people throughout California who don't have a great deal of time to devote to 'the cause of motorcycling', but who sincerely want to belp and will devote whatever time and effort they possibly can. We think that we have finally found their answer! w w -' U >U MORE EXPLAINED Nearly four years ago, we first conceived the idea for a motorcycle org.anization which would have the singular purpose of protecting the rights of motorcyclists in legislative and land-use matters. That was the 'birth' of Motorcycle Owners, Riders, and Enthusiasts, or MORE as it has become better known. We anticipated that with nearly two mil1ion motorcyclists in California, we would realize an over-nigh t membership of somewhere in the neighborhood of 100,000 members. With membership fees of $1 per year, we felt that this would provide us with the funds necessary to hire a lobbyist and open and man at least four staff offices throughout the state. The purpose of the staff offices would be to devote full attention to local problems, including 'attendance at various City Council and Boards of Supervisor meetings. We felt that in this way we could keep our fingers on the pulse of what was happening statewide. With such information, we would be in a position to notify appropriate members and present the motorcyclist's point of view at such meetings and hearings. PLANS GO AWRY Well, as Robert Burns once penned concerning "the best laid plans of mice and men", it didn't work out that way. Instead of. an overnight"sign-up of 100,000 members, we only have a membership of 13,000 after three-and·a-half years. Instead of a professional lobbyist, we have a 'concemed-motorcyclist-turned.lobbyist' representing us at the State Capitol. Instead of four statewide staff offices, we have one 'garage·tumed-office' in Sacramento. Instead of adequate office manning, we have two people (my wife and myself) trying to hold it together forthe entire state. But, even though things didn't work out the way we planned, one truly important and highly unexpected fact has come to surface: there are a lot of people in this state who want to 'become involved' and to help us with our program. Our biggest problem has been in providing these sincere persons with the guidance they need to become involved in local matters. We had long realized that we could hold things pretty well in check at the State Capitol, but we are failing at the local level because we seldom hear of new • ~*.*******.*.*** .JIM t-ISHBACK'Sh • : Yama a & : : Triumph : : of Fontana • • : Sales rarts Sen;ce : • • • • • • • • **• DKW,®HODKA, BMW 9008 Sierra Ave. Fontana, Calif. • (714) 822-2252 •*****• *****•** . '. 7241 Orangethorpe Suena Park, CA 90621 ~ . MEANS ordinances until after they have been passed. Because most Of the problems which motorcyclists face occur at the local city and county level, it has long been apparent that we need local 'watchdogs' at the city and county level. Our problem was in locating some individual at the local level who was both willing and able to spend the amount of time necessary to do the job. PLAN EMERGES About two weeks ago, with a big assist from Jerry Diaz of the Marin County Mo lorcycle Association, a highly workable plan began to emerge. The 'plan' calls for 58 separate chapters of MORE: one for each of the 58 counties in California. Here is a rougli idea of the function and method of operation for each Chapter: 1. There will be a separate Chapter for each County known as the ----------County Chapter, MORE. 2. Each Chapter will be comprised of any motorcycle enthusiast who is a member of MORE and wishes to become involved. The extent of involvement will depend entirely upon the amount of time and effort the person wishes to expend in behalf of the advancemen t of motorcycling. . 3. MORE Chapters would consist of road-riders and dirt-riders, alike. There would be no affiliation with, or domination by, any other clubs or motorcycle organization. MORE Chapters would hold meetings only if necessary and would not sponsor competition. _ 4. Each Chapter would have _as a minimum, a President (or Chairman) and a Secretary . A. The function of the President (or Chairman) would be to appoint committees to preside over meetings (if meetings were necessary), and to direct the activi ties of the Chapter. B. The function of the Secretary would be to receive and screen mail and hearing notices and to communicate necessary information to the Chapter members and the Capitol Office of MORE in Sacramento. 5. As a suggestion, each organized motorcycle club in a county should establish a position known as "Legislative Representative", if they don't already have one. It would be advisable if the "Legislative Representative" became the club's delegate to the local MORE Chapter so that he could act as a liaison and keep both his club and· the local Chapter informed. 6. Each MORE Chapter w.ould operate as an individual entity but in close communication with the Capitol Office in Sacramento, which would assist in local matters when such assistance is deemed beneficial to the cause of motorcycling. BRIEF SUMMARY The foregoing is just a brief synopsis of our plans for establishing MORE Chapters throughout the State. We are extremely anxious to learn of your opinions on this proposal. Anyone interested in taking the initiative and forming a local MORE Chapter can obtain additional information by writing to me. We will furnish you with instructions on how to get on'the BLM, U.S. Forest Service, and State Parks and Recreation mailing lists as well as the mailing lists for City Council and County Supervisor hearings. Also, if more than one person wants to form a MORE Chapter in the same county, we'll place you in communication with each other. Plea,e address all comments and inquiries to Russ Sanford, c/o MORE, P.O. Box 26062, Sacramento, CA 95826 . NOW AVAILABLE 1972AMXT CALENDARS $3.95 Help support the American Motocross Team Send check or money or to: CYCLE NEWS Products Box 498 long Beach, Ca. 90801 Dept. 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