Save the whales, cure cancer, support your local rescue squad, volunteer fire department, cure heart disease, don't wear fur, etc., etc.
Dozens of solicitations, letters, and advertisements arrive at my mailbox and yours on a daily basis. Many of them are good causes deserving support; other are for causes I've neither heard of nor care to support. And all of them bombard the postal service and are actually partially paid for by our first-class rates. (They’re called subsidies.)
Now, don't get me wrong, I do not oppose legitimate charities. My family gladly gives some of our hard-earned money to our local fire department, rescue squad, and animal shelter. My wife and I support breast cancer research. We also give to political campaigns that are friendly to motorcycle issues. In fact, most of our contributions as well as our time and energy are directed towards our passion for motorcycling.
Supporting your cause requires more than writing a check. It requires asking questions, doing some research on the cause and its backers, and ferreting out fair weather friends. The following is a cautionary tale.
My phone rings. “Hello.”
“Hi, this Bernice Fudpucker from the Coalition for Mistreated Tomato Plants. I understand you are involved in several motorcycle groups, and we know how much y’all love to set up those poker run things. So, I was wondering if your group would ride for our cause and donate the proceeds so these poor suffering tomato plants can get some relief.”
“Uh, yeah, sure we'll get right on it.”
Two months later. “Hello, Bernice. I have a check here for $500.00 for your suffering tomato plants that we raised ‘cause you're right, we do love to raise money.”
The next year. I’m lobbying for a motorcycle bill to open up some otherwise useless land for the trail bikers. When I’m called to testify before the Senate Committee, I spot my old friend, Bernice.
“Hey, hi, Bernice, are you here to help us out?”
“No, I'm here to oppose opening land to trail bikes because you might accidentally run over one of those rare wild tomato plants.”
Well, kiss my behind. I guess that $500.00 helped fund the opposition – a hard lesson learned the hard way.
But there’s more to be considered. Sometimes those who share your concerns aren’t the best recipients of your support.
Read on.
Another day. My phone rings. “Hello.”
“Hi, this is Marty B. Iker and I represent your motorcyclists rights organization. I heard you belong to several motorcycle groups, and we need to raise funds because the state is trying to kick us off the scenic highway up in the mountains. The public says we are noisy, fast, irresponsible, not insured (you may insert your inaccurate insult of choice here) and besides that they just don't plain like to see anyone enjoy themselves. Can you help us out?”
“Yeah, sure; we'll get right on it.”
Two months later. “Hey Marty, I have this check here for $6.38. Where should I send it?
Marty replies, “I don't mean to sound like an ingrate but is that all you could raise?”
“Well uh, only 15 people showed up and after we paid for the coffee and doughnuts, that's what was left.”
Let's all kiss our collective behinds. This particular story is not true, but it could be. The moral of the story is this. Know whom you’re supporting. Give your hard-earned money and other support only to those causes that share your goal for free and safe motorcycling and appreciate your patronage.
The Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists (VCOM) vigorously defends the rights of all motorcyclists and welcomes your thoughts and ideas on motorcycling in Virginia. As a supporter of VCOM, 100% of your financial support is dedicated to making your concerns known to state and local officials and lobbying members of the General Assembly in defense of your right to ride freely and safely. VCOM founder Tom McGrath underwrites salaries for VCOM staff and administrative expenses.
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