Dear Wakefield MAG Member,
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Welcome to the Wakefield MAG e-newsletter. If you can't attend our Wednesday meetings regularly, it's the next best thing to keep you up to date with what we are up to.
CONTENTS
1) Quiz Nite Report
2) Remembrance Sunday Report
3) Kidzaware Christmas Toy Collection
4) Wakefield MAG Christmas Do
5) Post Christmas Auction
6) Wakefield MAG Annual General Meeting
7) MAG Challenge Tunnel Tolls
8) MAG highlights Risks of Driving & Dialling
9) MAG re-launches in Northern Ireland
10) Forthcoming Events (for December and beyond)
Check out the event report Here
Check out the event report Here
3) Kidzaware Christmas Toy Collection
Check out the event report Here
Our Christmas Do is being held on Saturday 3rd December. As we enjoyed it so much last year, we are again booked into the Smokehouse Real BBQ on Wood Street, Wakefield at 13:45. The table is booked for 16 (but they will be able to rustle up a few extra chairs if you are not pre-booked but fancy coming along on the day).
Following the lunchtime meal, we will head into town to sample many of the Merrie Cities fine hostelries and quaff several goblets of foaming ale !!. You can come for the meal, or meet us at one of the many pubs in town, or do both ... the choice is yours.
If last years Christmas do is any indication, we are in for a jolly good time. Hope to see you there. Christmas hats and reindeer antlers strictly optional.
Smokehouse Wakefield Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Smokehousewoodstreet/
Our 13th Post Christmas Auction will be held on Wednesday 1st February 2017, at 20:00, at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, and if previous years events are anything to go by, an event not to be missed. The idea is that you bring along all your unwanted Christmas presents, together with other stuff you no longer want, or have the room for, donate them to the branch, and we auction them off to the highest bidder.
The 2016 auction raised (with a little help from the raffle) £490. This allowed us to split the proceeds nicely into 1/3's, with 2/3 (£330) being donated to the MAG Fighting Fund, with the remaining 1/3 (£165) charity donation being split between the following 3 worthy causes:
That was pretty staggering, especially as the bidding on a lot of items started at 50p. Of course, we want to try to beat that for 2017 !!. We know times are hard at the moment, but that's all the more reason to come down to the auction, grab a top bargain, and save yourselves considerable amounts of money. We are already accumulating auction items and we still have 2 months to collect even more !!!!.
The auctions are always hugely entertaining and there are always some real quality items donated, and hence, some real bargains to be had.
Proceeds from the auction will again be split (2/3 to the MAG Fighting Fund, 1/3 to a charitable cause(s).
I hope to see you there. Be there early, with viewing from 07:00 onwards, and the auction starting at 08:00 prompt (and don't forget to bring your unwanted Christmas pressies !!!).
6) Wakefield MAG Annual General Meeting
The Wakefield & District Motorcycle Action Group Branch AGM will be held in the Grey Horse, on Wednesday 11th January 2017, starting at 8:00pm (prompt). All members are invited to attend this special meeting, so please try to attend if you can. At this meeting there will be a review of the year, elections for the branch committee and the prize giving for our branch heroes. As this meeting is effectively a MAG political meeting, it carries with it a whopping 75 branch points for everyone who attends (a normal branch meeting only carries 5 points). As all the points are tallied at year end and go towards the branch heroes presentation, points really do mean prizes !!!! What better boost to your branch heroes tally for the new year !!!
In order to save costs (given the huge hike in postal charges), the Annual Wakefield MAG mailshot will be emailed to all eligible Members, i.e. current or recently expired MAG members with a WF postcode, to formally place notice for the meeting. Those members for whom we don't have valid email addresses, will be posted the letter. The meeting is also advertised in the events section on the main MAG website (http://www.mag-uk.org), on our own website, and in the latest edition of The Road magazine. If anyone has a preference for a mailed copy of the AGM mailshot, instead of an email, please let me know.
Last years AGM minutes are available Here.
N.B. Motions for the AGM should be submitted the week before the AGM (Wednesday 4th January 2017).
MAG has been at the forefront of preventing riders from being charged tolls for using river crossings, on the basis that bikes are an asset for the environment, lowering congestion and providing cheap travel. The current threat is in the heart of London, where a new tunnel is scheduled to help traffic flow in the capital. "These charges would set a precedent which defies both logic and fair play," says London MAG's Regional Representative, Tim Fawthrop. "Motorbikes are obviously part of the traffic solution, and they should be treated like it. Other vehicles are not being charged exactly because they're seen as congestion busting alternatives to cars - it says so in the documents. Why, then, have bikes not been given the same exemption? It's probably just an oversight, but it has to be put right."
Tim and MAG's Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Lembit Öpik, attended the first stage of the public hearings. "We've made our case very clearly," says Lembit. "We will continue to participate in all stages of the consultation. Our data on the environmental performance of bikes also backs up our position which is in the interests of riders - and also every other road and underground user, because each biker reduces the strain on the rest of the transport network."
8) MAG highlights Risks of Driving & Dialling
Kent MAG has held a vigil to highlight the danger of driving and dialling - and has invited drivers to think twice about the potentially lethal risks.
Every year, a large number of motorcyclists are killed or serious injured by drivers who are distracted by their mobile phones. The situation has become so bad that a group of Kent bikers has held a vigil to invite drivers to reconsider the risks they take by phoning and driving at the same time.
Steve Mallett, Paul Hoskins and Michaela Blackford - all from MAG - were joined by others from Reca's community biker cafe for the vigil. Steve says: "we had a meeting recently, and what was striking was the number of riders who had been nearly, or actually, knocked off their bikes by careless drivers who were busy using their phones illegally instead of concentrating on the road. That's why we decided it was time to get drivers to recognise the risk they are exposing other people to by focusing on their phone instead of driving."
While most drivers were behaving entirely responsibly, the vigil, which took place on 19th November at St Peter's Bridge in Maidstone on the A229 at one point recorded 3 phone users in a 5 minute period. "We got lots of positive feedback from hooting and waving motorists and the feedback from pedestrians was 100% favourable. They agree that drivers flaunting the law are gambling with the lives of others for the sake of a phone call or text. Knocking someone off their bike and then saying "sorry mate, I didn't see you" is no compensation when you've been seriously injured with life threatening or life changing injuries. We're happy to co-exist on the roads, but please, let's do it safely. Is that too much to ask?"
To promote the 'No phoning whilst driving' campaign, North Devon MAG have recently and very kindly received a donation of a large amount of stickers to help promote MAG, highlight the unlawful use of mobile phones while driving and to hopefully make MAG some money.
These are exterior quality stickers and can go on to all types of vehicles, bike luggage or helmets.
The stickers can be ordered through local MAG groups via North Devon MAG.
The cost of the stickers is £3 each for the long ones (20cm long) and £1 each for the round ones (48mm across).
Let me know if you want some, and we'll order via North Devon MAG.
9) MAG re-launches in Northern Ireland
MAG has launched a new group in Northern Ireland, to stand up for riders' rights in this important part of the United Kingdom. MAG Director, Ian Churchlow, was delighted with the turnout: "We've been developing the Northern Ireland regional group for a couple of years and we now have a superb team, headed up by Martyn Boyd, which will make a significant contribution to the voice of riders here. Northern Ireland is very significant to motorcyclists - and this makes the province exceptionally important to our work. I'm really pleased MAG is getting so active over here. It should lead to a big increase in our profile amongst road racing enthusiasts, which is good for everyone, and for the movement as a whole."
The group also attended the filming of a live broadcast of the Nolan Show, one of the most watched programmes in Northern Ireland, at which a part of the show was dedicated to an interview with Ryan Farquhar, who survived a near-fatal accident at the world famous North West 200 road race. Afterwards, Ian Churchlow and MAG's Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Lembit Öpik, met with Ryan. They discussed the work of MAG and agreed to stay in contact about future campaigns run by the organisation.
"We also met with the Department for Infrastructure," adds Ian, "where we offered our assistance to support the transport objectives of the Minister. I expect this to become an important element of our work here and it could, over time, provide a template for similar operations in the rest of the UK. Martyn is a valuable addition to our team, and Lembit and I are eager to assist him as we build up the local group."
10) Forthcoming Events (for December and beyond)
Saturday 3rd December - Wakefield MAG Christmas Do
See Above.
Sunday 4th December - Leeds MAG Christmas Dinner
4pm at The Royal Hotel in Pudsey
Tuesday 13th December - Leeds MAG presents 'An Evening With Ian Mutch'
Come and hear MAG's El Presidente, one of the founder members of MAG (Membership No. 000003), travel writer, adventurer, salty old sea dog and highly entertaining speaker. Hosted by Leeds MAG at The Royal Hotel, 30 Station Street, Leeds, LS28 8PR, starting at 8.00 pm. £6 per person (which includes a pie and pea supper). Small number of tickets still available from locals MAG reps.
Wednesday 14th December - Leeds MAG Christmas Toy Run to Lineham Farm, Eccup, Leeds
Assemble at the Cardigan Fields Leisure Complex Car Park from 6pm, Leaving Cardigan Fields, LS4 2GD at 6.30 prompt, arriving at Lineham Farm Childrens Centre LS16 8AZ at 7pm. The Children will be ages 8-11 and bring presents wrapped and marked for girl or boy. To make it fair, please spend approx £6 on each gift - bring as many as you like! If you attend, you'll still be back in time for the Wakefield MAG meeting !!!
Saturday 17th December - Huddersfield MAG Christmas Dinner
The Fieldhead, Quarmby, Huddersfield. 8pm. 3 Course Menu £16.00. £5 deposit to get your name on the list, full balance must be paid by 10th December. Strict 30 seat limit. Contact Huddersfield MAG Rep to book.
Wednesday 11th January 2017 - Wakefield MAG AGM
See Above.
Review of 2016, Officers Reports, Election of Branch Officers for 2017, plans for the forthcoming year & Presentation to our Branch Heroes of 2016. Current MAG Membership Card required to vote. 19:30 for a prompt 20:00 start in the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield, WF1 4EJ.
Wednesday 1st February 2017 - Wakefield MAG 13th Post Christmas Auction
See Above.
Our 13th Post Christmas Auction will be held on Wednesday 1st February 2017, at 20:00, at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, and if previous years events are anything to go by, an event not to be missed. The idea is that you bring along all your unwanted Christmas presents, together with other stuff you no longer want, or have the room for, donate them to the branch, and we auction them off to the highest bidder. The auctions are always hugely entertaining and there are always some real quality items donated, and hence, some real bargains to be had. Proceeds from the auction will again be split (2/3 to the MAG Fighting Fund, 1/3 to a charitable cause(s). Be there early, with viewing from 19:00 onwards, and the auction starting at 20:00 prompt (and don't forget to bring your unwanted Christmas pressies !!!).
See the events page for further details and more !!!
That's all for this month, have a great Christmas, hope Santa brings you lots of biking goodies, and I hope to see you all soon.
Ride Safe .. Ride Free
Steve Travis
Chairman
Wakefield MAG
0772 078 4734
Wakefield MAG meet at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield at 8:30pm every Wednesday. New (and Old) faces are always welcome.