“New Year's Eve, where auld acquaintance be forgot. Unless, of course, those tests come back positive” ~ Jay Leno

Now I don’t care who you are, that’s funny!  I trust many of us could use a little humor to bring in the New Year.  Moving on, first on my agenda is to offer Region 11 an apology for missing deadline on December’s article as advanced training for work consumed me last month. 

Recapping the 2012 organizational meeting outlined next years general agenda’s, committees and budgets for our annual Bowling for Dollars, Horseshoe Tournament, Observation Run, Summer Tour, Chicky’s Booba~Palooza, Chuck & Leatherworks  www.mcleatherworks.com Orchard Ride and our newest Office Lounge Bash.  So anyone not in attendance at the meeting, there is still plenty of time to step up to the plate and donate some time & have some fun…ABATE needs you!  Door prizes have been beefed up substantially so plan on hitting any and all of our events, good people & always for a great cause. Rich and Al wrapped things up years end for the highway billboards going up all over the region for the Motorcycle Safety & Awareness campaign in May.  We are happy to announce due to all the overwhelming support in 2011 even more will be going up thanks to you!  Keith and Al are working on some maintenance items for our trailers; please see them to offer any assistance. Our December 6^th meeting in Almont at Chicky’s hosted our yearly holiday get together and it was wonderful.  Thanks to everyone who shared a dish especially Donna & Chris Rose for making the main course pasta! Our member of the year contest was voted on and the winner is….a tie!  Congratulations to Al Copp and Debbie Marhofer, no need to remind anyone how devoted they are to Region 11, great job you two!!  REMINDER ~ the Macomb meeting at Dooleys on December 28^th is cancelled, but will see you in Almont on the 3^rd at Chicky’s Paradise Saloon. 

Shake the winter blues by joining ABATE of Michigan at the State Seminar in Saginaw the weekend of the 13^th , the more the merrier!  The Michigan Confederation of Clubs www.mcoc.us invites you to their Annual Party on January 21st; your support is needed as much as the MCOC supports ABATE.  Peeking into next month, hard to believe the 16^th Annual Bowling for Dollars (see flyer) kick starts our fundraising season on February 12^th, it’s very important to reserve a lane with Tiny Marhofer at tiny1600cc@wowway.com as soon as possible.  Stay tuned for more details and what’s needed to get our 3^rd annual Summer Region Tour off the ground.  Cheers to happy, healthy and prosperous 2012 for all of us.

Remember that we would like to reach out to anyone in our area that has an event coming up (not necessary to be an ABATE member or motorcycle related) to please email us a flyer so we can get it posted on our website at www.miabateregion11.info/default.htm . YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO COME SEE WHAT ABATE IS ALL ABOUT!  The Macomb meeting is held the last Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Dooleys 235 N. Groesbeck, Mt Clemens, MI 48043 (586) 954-1900 and the Lapeer & St. Clair county meeting is held the 1st Tuesday of the month at Chicky's Paradise Saloon 133 North Main Street, Almont, MI  48003 (810) 798-9546 at 7:30 pm.

Thank you for your continued support and we hope to see you soon! 

TAM

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