6/11/2010:
The 35th annual Menoken Grove State Rally of North Dakota's ABATE group begins today in Menoken, North Dakota. ABATE, which stands for American Bikers Aiming Towards Education, is a national organization with branches in nearly all of the fifty states and several Canadian provinces. In North Dakota, the grass-roots organization is composed of twelve districts. Members and volunteer officers serve to keep members informed of upcoming events and current issues affecting North Dakota motorcyclists.
ABATE, however, is not merely a motorcycle club; the organization was formed initially as a response to anti-motorcycle legislation in the United States and is aimed at education. Originally the letters of the acronym stood for "American Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments." In the early 1970s, several states, including North Dakota, attempted to enact mandatory helmet use. Those bills, in addition to a national trend of ticketing motorcyclists as "unsafe vehicles" and a national move to outlaw choppers, led the editors of the newly-created magazine Easyriders to launch a scientific study on motorcycle safety. An engineering firm tested several aspects of different cycle models and concluded in two documented reports that they were in fact safe. During this time, the editors of the magazine also began the ABATE group, the first organization aimed at protecting motorcyclists from anti-cyclist legislation and granting riders a political voice. Members do not need to own or ride a specific type of motorcycle, but only to possess a desire to educate the public about motorcycle safety and legislation. One of the organization's mottos is "Educate, not Legislate."
In North Dakota, ABATE is the sponsor of the North Dakota Motorcycle Safety Program, teaching prospective riders road and vehicle safety in seminars throughout the year. They are also active in a number of community charity causes, including regional hog rides and rallies that raise funds for different causes, as well as the "Adopt a Highway" and "Adopt a Stream" programs. Since ABATE is a grassroots organization, members in each of the state's twelve districts run their chapters independently. However, all of the districts come together the second weekend in June at Menoken for the State Rally. This year's rally runs today to Sunday and features bands, camping, and food and product vendors. Members have the opportunity to share not only their love of riding at the event, but also information and education concerning motorcycles in North Dakota.
Dakota Datebook written by Jayme L. Job
Sources:
http://www.motorcyclemonster.com/events/ABATE-of-NC-State-2010-06-11-Menoken-ND.html
http://www.abatend.com/education.aspx