Awareness Ride

oh well, it takes 25 yrs to build a reputation and 3 mins to kill it...and
more than one person in the one place guarantees an argument about
something...it is good to have a leader that ppl believe in to guide the
mass into synergy...get that kennet bloke...he was good

 

In aus.motorcycles on Wed, 16 Jul 2003 23:39:33 GMT

depends on the rep and what happens in those 3 mins.

Don't need a leader, need a good set of people who can work together.
If you have "a leader" you have a bunch of people following and not
working.

That's the problem in the past, one bod who thought he owned the joint.

If you want to make it work, you need a framework where you don't have
one person making it happen and others doing what they are told, but a
group of people who have to work to convince others and get a consensus
about what to do.

Yeah, you won't get spectacular fireworks, and most of the gains will be
small and probably won't be about saving lazy bikers who won't do
anything themselves any money. But angry protest rides don't do that
either.

Marches only work if there are over 50,000 people in them and even
then... the ABC got over 80,000 to a rally once, made not a whit of
difference. And remember those Reconcilliation Marches? Did you see
how much notice the pollies took of those?

The union stuff worked because there were a lot of people, and they
had *clout*. Protest marches were only part of it, bans were what made
the pollies sit up and take note.

But can you imagine your average bike rider willing to spend money
or make their lives a bit difficult in order to make an effective
political protest?

Like hell.

If everyone did proper civil disobedience to speed cameras by either
driving 10kmh *under* the limit everywhere, or by speeding just over
then refusing to pay fines and then go to court and insist on being
jailed, well, that might make a difference.

but whining and doing an hour's ride in a group is a lot easier, costs
nothing, and makes them feel like they are being brave. Nothing at all
like any of the union protests, in which people were risking jobs and in
some cases health. What are riders on protest runs risking? What
pressure are they putting on the pollies with such a run?

Go on Vic riders. Start brainstorming ideas. What can riders do
that will *really* pressure politicians? Start with marginal seats,
where are they, and who holds them, and what will make that polly act?
What *positive* things to bikers bring to that area? What raod safety
things can be done with a bit of money there, that the polly should be
encouraged to ask for and complain it's being wasted on non-essentials?
Who on the local paper has a bee in their bonnet about money not being
spent there, so would be open to a story on that? There's an idea,
free, gratis, and for nothing. Next!

Can't be bothered? Not your thing? hmmm....

Zebee

 

I've done this sort of stuff for another association, don't claim to be good
at it ;-) but at least I'm familiar with what's involved.

When I mentioned some of what and how the ulysses club reps were doing the
howls got louder actually *sigh*.

Cries of "We are being sold out by those who are supposed to be
representing our interests..." and
such things.

The loudest (not sure it was a majority) view on the mailing list was that
the sort of issues that Moike (for example) has been raising are @#$%$#
rubbish, and the only way to be heard is to be as loud and as annoying as
possible.

Something I strongly disagree with... but I don't really need to repeat a
whole thread from the mailing list here... I'm sure you get the drift

Ta


Geoff and Jodie

 

Just because someone believes (with some justification) that noisy
untargeted protests are counter productive doesn't mean they don't give a
shit you know Martin!

If I have to then I have to... I won't be greatly happy... but I can live
with it...

I'd prefer targeted letter writing programs, radio call ins, visits to local
pollies, phone calls to local pollies, and gatherings of bikes that don't
disadvantage innocent parties to the matter (strongly prefer that Martin).

People not involved in a dispute are innocent parties, and the harm and
inconvenience to them should be minimized wherever possible... at the very
least one needs to realise it is enlightened self interest.


Geoff and Jodie

 

Yeah, and getting bodies like DSMRA (dual sports) involved would
be good.

The hard bit is going to be finding Suits.

-----sharks

 

For once I think Kennet can do good.
this would be a good cause. Like his work forthe depression council.
(sheesh and i don't even like the man)

 

Well the vic upper house now has a different voting system much like the
way the senate works so small interest groups get a chance at representation.
so maybe we can get an elected rep in the legislative council.
Personally I'd like to see car clubs and motorcycling clubs getting
together and nutting things out against things like revenue raising etc.

 

Riders should become politicians, and listen to constituents around the camp
fire at rallies.

Boxer

 

no, i dont partikularly care for politicians...and there is the strange
effect where a leader that 'leads', ie has vision and guides the group
towards an effective result, is of course an arrogant bastard telling us
what to do...and one that dithers around deciding one day this and next day
that, is a usless bastard with no spine...seems usually the usless one lasts
longer than the arrogant one...cos at least everyone agrees he is
arrogant...whearas if there is much dithering, half the population at any
one time is convinced they are good...

yes zebee, there are many ways to get free publicity for your cause and
pressure politicians...but australians are generally apathetic till its too
late...it gives us something to complain about and saves a lot of effort
leading to eventual failure...how many victorians have written to newspapers
and politicoes voicing their concerns on this issue?...ok how many using non
emotive arguments devoid of personal opinion?

 

Has anyone (MRAA/netrider etc) thought about putting a half page ad in the Age ?

Big block letters

Your govt. is wasting YOUR money !

a brief couple of very concise lines about what it is that pisses you off. Then
a URL to the "full story".

Then before you put it in, make sure you've pre-done a press release so the
reptiles in the media can jump on it and plagiarise it to death the next day....

If you've got a really well written blurb that's tight and hits the hot buttons
of Joe Average (taxes being wasted ALWAYS works) then you'll get a wad of media
attention....

JL

 

That makes too much sense JL.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 21 Jul 2003 16:43:28 +1000

Probably heaps of people.

But $30,000 is hard to find, you know?

Zebee

 

And the rest Zebee, last time I was quoted figures, a full page in a mon to
fri edition of The Age was $160 000. A half page was $60 000 +/- hundreds
depending on colour, position etc... believe it or not, they charge
differently between left page and right, because statistics show people
generally look at the right page first.

Adrian
CT-110

 

Silmaril said....

Si> hundreds depending on colour, position etc... believe it or not, they
Si> charge differently between left page and right, because statistics show
Si> people generally look at the right page first.

Yep. That's why Page 3 generally has the most newsworthy items in it,
rather than page 2.

For what it's worth, I sent press releases of the awareness ride to the
local media down my way. I got a few column inches in the paper, as well
as notice of when and where to meet to ride to Melbourne. 4 other riders
turned up...

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 21 Jul 2003 22:11:34 +1000

<thinking back to the famous "page 3 girls"> "Never knew they were
called that then!"

Zebee

 

Friggin' hell !! I was thinking 10-15K !

Still, pass the hat around.... !! $5,000 each out of Yamaha, Honda, Hogly etc
would go a long way....

JL

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 28 Jul 2003 22:55:04 +1000

If they were going to give that sort of money, I'd spend it on radio
ads.

Cheaper, get repeated, and reach heaps. You can cut your production
costs with volunteer labour, and the finished product can go on
community stations as well.

Zebee

 

Zebee Johnstone said....

ZJ> If they were going to give that sort of money, I'd spend it on radio
ZJ> ads.

ZJ> Cheaper, get repeated, and reach heaps. You can cut your production
ZJ> costs with volunteer labour, and the finished product can go on
ZJ> community stations as well.

With this in mind, the missus has a band. She now works out of the local
office for a national regional broadcaster. She is learning video
production, and next month will be, with the help of the production
guys, making an ad for her band at a local night club.

I'm wondering how we'd go doing something for bikes.....