WordsfromthechairWordsfromthechairWordsfromthechairWordsfromthechair Beyond September 25th


What a few weeks it has been. We are still dealing with the huge impact that the


motorway protests of September 25th had.


The positive feedback still keeps coming in and we have gained more respect and recognition than we ever could have hoped to in that one day.


Besides the influx of new memberships and


congratulations, we have had significant numbers of


politicians, both MPs and MEPs contacting us to ask how they can help. While it is important to stress that MAG is neutral on the subject of EU membership I think the most ardent Europhiles would admit that the


Commission has got too big for its boots and is obsessed with passing gratuitous legislation for no better reason than that is what they feel they have to do. Well quite a few people, inspired by MAG’s firm stance are now telling them that if they want to pass more laws they had better have very good reasons for doing so and right now they are scraping the barrel desperately to find them.


As you will see from this issue, I haven’t put in a manifesto to stand as Chair in April 2012. I have decided to hand that mantle to another, though I intend to see out my term as a Director and will continue to support events when and where I can. Everyone needs a break from what is a pretty demanding role and I am going to take one.


It has been hugely satisfying seeing MAG grow in stature and I am proud to say that the


organisation is more credible today than it has ever been. A few words about our full time


staff at MAG Central in Warwick. While the main players have proved rock solid, we have had trouble finding the right person to handle the membership processing role and have had to let several of them go.


This has put pressure on Nich,


Paddy, Julie and Louisa. Nich and Paddy have to be out a lot, attending political meetings that are frequently in London as well as starting up new groups, and making business deals. That leaves Julie and Louisa who must do their own jobs while keeping our memberships going through on time. In a way we have become the victims of our own


doing and in learning about the places our voice is now heard. Welcome aboard to you, hopefully.


I’ve also been to the first meeting of a new group covering Morecambe and Lancaster. There weren’t a lot of people there but the enthusiasm made up for the low numbers. I left that meeting on a bit of a high, hearing what they plan to do and how ideas have already been turned in to actions.


Now then, MAG’s Board of Directors has vacancies. Directors serve a fixed term that can be extended but currently we have four and we can have up to seven with five at a meeting making it quorate. A Director’s responsibilities are


The members are MAG; remember that.


success in that we have had several hundred more


memberships to process because of the September 25th protest rides. We have also had some very trying issues that I wont bore you with but I must thank Farmyard Party supremo Pete Walker, Vice Chairman Jol Lawson and Regional Rep Nicki Gage from Yorkshire who have put a lot of time and effort into successfully resolving these.


I have been travelling recently and visited the Virago Star Owners Club AGM. I hope by the time this is published they will be affiliated to MAG after a break of 10 years. They were very interested in what we are


serious as the MAG Board is responsible for the group’s financial security so we are looking for volunteers. You’ll find a piece on this in the News section.


While we are all sat through the cold winter nights hoping for an early warm and bright spring, let’s not forget what we are about in MAG. We all put many hours of our free time in to doing what we do best, fighting to keep us riding what we want and within reason, how we want. It might not seem too much to ask, but the fact that MAG exists and is forever so busy is testament to the fact that it is a challenge in this age of obsessive control through legislation.


Please remember this; we are democratic. Nothing gets done without the approval of the National Committee (NC). The NC is the voice of the membership as all voting members on it are elected by their regions. That is why it is important that all regions are represented. If you don’t have a Regional Rep for your region (check out the meetings pages) then form a committee and take turns to attend NC meetings which are bi-monthly in Warwickshire.


The members are MAG; remember that. If you are not sure whose Region you are in or would like to have a voice on the NC then please email me (chair@mag-uk.org) rather than the office as they are under pressure at the moment. I will reply to you.


If anyone out there fancies being Chairman of the biggest Riders Rights organisation in terms of individual members, please feel free to stand. It takes up a lot of time but believe me, it is rewarding to know that you’re involved in something which truly does make a difference to our lives.


Paul Turner


The ROAD 15

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