YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND

“LEGISLATIVE DAY”

January 24th, 2011

TCOC&I Legislative Day

Sunday January 23rd

Meeting starts at 1:00PM

VFW Post 8787, 500 VFW Road Austin, TX 78753, (opens at 11:00)

(We will be discussing the issues facing bikers today. Go over the talking points for your Legislators and the protocol entering the Capitol grounds and the actual building. Reserved parking spaces will be and how the ride to the capitol will be organized)

TMRA2 will have an Auction to help cover capitol parking directly after the meeting

Monday January 24th , All bikes who want to ride to the capitol meet at the VFW, Monday morning, Hall opens at 8:00AM, kick stands up to the capitol at 10:00AM. Parking will be first come first serve. Parking is free and blocked all the way around the capitol except the north side.

THE TEXAS CAPITOL NOW HAS TIGHT SECURITY WITH METAL DETECTOR'S, PLEASE NO WEAPONS OF ANY KIND CAN BE BROUGHT INTO THE CAPITOL OR THEY WILL BE CONFISCATED

Host Hotels: $79.00 plus Tax Spring Hill Suites by Marriott Austin North 12520 N IH 35 Austin, TX 78753

Hotel Phone: (512) 833-8100 for reservations, please mention the name of the group: “TX Motorcycle Rights Association Room Block”. By mentioning the name of the event, our staff will be able to book their room with the special rate.

www.marriott.com/ausne indoor heated pool, free hot breakfast

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Austin North $79.00 plus Tax 12536 North IH35 Austin, Texas 78753

Hotel Phone: (512)-821-0376 for reservations, please mention the name of the group: “TX Motorcycle Rights Association Room Block”.  By mentioning the name of the event, our staff will be able to book their room with the special rate. www.marriott.com/auspl in door heated pool and free hot breakfast.

Legislative Day Report
Feb 6th, 2011

From Dozer:

And so it was, with a weary heart we buried our friend and mentor Sputnik in June of 2010. As a TMRA2 Chapter coordinator I wondered what would ever become of our organization with Sputnik’s passing. How would we handle the daunting task of fighting for motorcyclists rights in the State of Texas without our leader? Who would be our new leader and show us the way forward? As there were no others in the organization that I was aware of, who had the Charisma and Respect to lead the organization forward beyond that sullen day of Sputniks memorial on the South steps of the State Capitol in Austin. I was truly worried for our survival. Then out of thin air, Escondido Paul was gracious enough to take the reins of the organization. With his usual gusto and determination he showed us the way forward. He helped us regain our footing. Using the US Defender model that Gimmi Jimmy and he had nurtured and perfected for years he breathed a breath of hope into the organization that we thought was extinguished with Sputnik’s passing. We worked hard and had a new determination to see Sputnik’s hopes and dreams come true. I was shocked to learn there were so many special people in the organization that had been overshadowed by Sputnik’s rare personality. As bikers we don’t back up very easily so we had nowhere to go but forward. And so we planned to make Sputnik’s dream of 10,000 bikers at the Capitol for the Bi-annual Legislative Day celebration at the Capitol a reality. I cannot tell you that we had 10,000 bikers at the capitol on January 24th but I can tell you this. With the help of the Texas Confederation of Clubs, The Coalition of Independent Riders, US Defenders, and the TMRA2 we put on a pretty damn good show on Legislation Day that cannot be denied. We had overcome. We were taking back our house from the petty abuses of the career politicians in Austin. We are a force to be reckoned with. All the Legislators that were there that day know the strength of our numbers and the shear will and determination we bring to the cause. We have political power beyond our wildest dreams. The hopes and dreams of our grandchildren will be fulfilled. All the bikers that wouldn’t attend on their own behalf will bear the bounty of our hard work.
The preparations being over we prepared for our trek to the Capitol on Sunday January 23rd. Leaving Waco at 8:30 a/m in 33 degree weather you just knew it was going to be a cold trip. Dressed like scientists in the Antarctic we rode the 100 miles to Austin for the Legislative day preparation meeting sponsored by the Austin Confederation of Clubs at VFW 8787 in North Austin. There we heard from Bandido Lefty the Austin Region Chair, Bandido Big Kid State Director of Operations, Bill Smith the COC Lawyer, We were briefed on the pending Operation Defuse legislation by John Bush the Director of Texan’s 4 Accountable Government, Norma Chavez the TMRA2 Legislative Liaison, and Escondido Paul the National Lt. Commander US Defenders and Chairman of the TMRA2. Thousands of us stood in a misting rain to get our facts and talking points for the Legislative Day activities straight. Then on Monday we rode to the Capitol early to catch the arrival of all the bikers on film and at 10:20 they came …. What an amazing sight to see two rows of motorcycles arriving for 20 minutes straight. We amassed at the South entrance and with the Color Guard at the ready Gimmi Jimmy gave the “Forward March” and it was on. I still feel the goose bumps from that march. On the steps we had a moment of silence and prayed for Sputnik and all those who rode. I know Sputnik was looking down on us that day and smiling ear to ear. With the shout “This is your house. Come on in” we entered the Capitol and completed Sputniks dream. In 2013 it will be our dream we are living. Hope to see you all there. Thank you to Gimmi Jimmy, Escondido Paul, Bandido Lefty, Bandido Big Kid, The Texas COC, Norma Chavez, All my TMRA2 friends and family, Suds, Woody, and Curly from COIR, All the US Defenders, True Few, Leathernecks, and my SOTS brothers that rode with me there and back.

Steven “Dozer” Cochran
Sons Of The South V/P
Texas Lt. Commander US Defenders
TMRA2 District 22 Adviser

Here is some reports on the Legislative day at the capitol.
January 24th, 2011

Bikers Head to Capitol to Talk to Legislators: MyFoxAUSTIN.com

Issues that we know about now

While speaking with your Senator or Representative let them know that we want our Rider Training Fund put back into the 402 Account to protect it from being used by DPS. Explain that Motorcycle Riders are the only ones who pay into this account. We requested the charge be added to our driver license to into a 402 Dedicated Fund with the proceeds only being spent for Training and awareness.