I: Make it Count

State Motorcyclist Rights Organizations (SMRO) have been in the bikers rights "business" for a long time, and they work hard on behalf of all motorcycles. So far, so good.

You can't knock someone for taking action, especially when that criticism is from "keyboard commandos" who are all talk and no action. But we activists can always improve our game by sharing lessons learned, and this article is intended to do just that.

The SMRO approach relies heavily on two principles:

> Everything counts
> Strength in numbers

As good as this sounds on the surface, there's a cost to doing business this way. And I believe it's why many (though NOT all) SMROs constantly struggle, lose ground year after year, and sometimes even fold up the tent.

I'll save the "strength in numbers" discussion for Part II. For now, I'd like to focus on the first principle. It's a complex subject, but we can break it into bite-size chunks.

Setting Priorities

Think about it. You can't be everywhere at once and do everything at the same time. We have our limits. And if you do everything you possibly can, after a while you get overworked and burned out. Even then, if you don't prioritize your tasks wisely, you end up being inefficient and ineffective.

We can easily determine what any SMRO's top priorities are. Just visit their website. Look at their Events Calendar. Read their monthly newsletter. Then observe what percentage of "print space" is devoted to any particular subject.

Money, Money, Money

In most cases, well over half is devoted to fundraising of one kind or another. Some of it is for charity, which is noble. And SMROs know how to put the "fun" in fundraising. But all fun aside, it's off-topic for political activism.

Often the fundraising is to cover operating expenses, which itself often accounts for the vast majority of an SMRO's budget. In other words, the majority of an SMRO's income is devoted to overhead ... just making ends meet. This is an inefficient way to do business and, by any accounting standard, a serious red flag.

The Good Biker

About one quarter of "print space" goes to motorcycle safety. Like charity, this is off-topic as well. They're both rationalized in what quite a few activists call the "good biker" syndrome. In other words, if people see our good deeds, they'll like us. Then they'll help us regain our freedom. Right...

Singing the Blues

The remaining print space is political. This is definitely on-topic, and it's the very reason for having an SMRO in the first place. But here's the rub. The more results-oriented that the political action is, the less you'll find written about it. Let me explain:

Most of the printed politics is "preaching to the choir." Pointing out injustice, debating statistics, calling out bureaucrats and political hacks, bemoaning the constant erosion of freedom, debating statistics some more, ennumerating the US Constitution, etc.

To all that, I say "WE GET IT ALREADY!"

Most of the people reading these editorials are already convinced. And even if they aren't convinced, or if so -- still not motivated -- then forget them. No use flogging a dead horse. Unless you enjoy flogging dead horses. Sure can't hurt the horse.

Make Some Noise

Then there's the protesting, the lobbying, the letter-writing, etc. While these far better than "preaching to the choir," these organized activities are hamstrung by one simple fact: They are nothing more than opinions, and that's why politicians ignore us: All bark, no bite.

Voter's Block

Closer to the goal, there's a tiny remainder of print space that's devoted to elections. Sometimes, though, you can't find it anywhere. But even when you can find it, it's usually limited to the act of voting. That's pretty close to the mark, but it totally misses our secret weapon.

Secret to most bikers, anyway ... but not to politicians.

Campaign Volunteering...

...makes the most difference with the least time & effort.
...has the most influence over how legislators vote.
...is the only way we can help legislators (or hurt them).
...happens when legislators are listening and need volunteers.
...doesn't cost money and there's no paperwork.
...can be done outside your own voting district.
...takes no more time than a monthly SMRO meeting.
...doesn't require you to be a registered voter.
...can be in districts that matter, bypassing ones that don't.

Yet you can't find the words "campaign volunteer" on most SMRO websites. Nor on their calendar. Nor in their newsletter. Even if there is passing mention, there are no organized activities. No "campaign coordinators." No volunteer sign-up sheets.

Hopefully that will change.

Eventually, more and more SMROs will realize that nothing has more influence over the legislative balance than campaign work. When they start shifting their priorities in that direction, they'll increase their efficiency and effectiveness.

That's something you can count on.

-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com