Old Father Time -- Nothing seems to slow him down. ABATE involvement keeps our years moving by so fast that when one stops to take a breath, one becomes aware of the fact that summer has again passed, fall disappeared, the kids have grown another six inches and winter months are upon us. Father Time has given us our 9th year of teamwork on the calendar concept Rod Taylor and I matured in 1994. Our idea was to explore and develop a pretty cool idea that would provide monetary help to Freedom Fighters. Specifically, we wanted to secure dollars for PAC organizations within ABATE, as our legislative labor is the most important responsibility we have to the future of motorcycling.

Actually, the first calendar came to fruition in 1994. In that initial year, Rod (ABATE Legal Services) picked up most of the tab. ABATE organizations sold the calendar for $5.00, we printed 8,000 and had a couple thousand left over. Conservatively, we estimate 4000 calendars sold at $5.00 a piece, equaling nearly $20,000. This net profit was divided up between 4 ABATE states the first year.

Our calendar project now has over $18,000 in production costs. Beginning in 1995, we asked each ABATE state if they would share in the cost. I also began to sell advertising to help lower costs to the sponsors, Rod and ABATE state organizations. This partnership has created a remarkable bond wherein our ability to share expenses has produced longevity and a very formidable product.

This teamwork with 5 ABATE state organizations brought a profit margin of $3.50 per calendar for each state the past 8 years. On a very conservative estimate, we have 5000 total sales (we print 6,500 to 7,000 calendars). Those calendars are distributed to ABATE of Michigan, ABATE of Indiana, ABATE of Illinois, ABATE of Kansas and ABATE of Ohio, and have been doing so for 8 years running. Estimating a profit margin of $3.50 per unit, the sale of those calendars has generated, conservatively, $140,000. Of course, that figure does not include the first years’ $20,000. This means that over $160,000 in net profits have been shared by these 5 state PAC funds, thanks to a simple idea formulated on a ride by Rod Taylor and myself. Ideas mean nothing without solid support from the talented minds of each organization. Thank you to the leadership and membership from across Midwest ABATE’s for the outstanding support.

But the calendar is much more than a moneymaker. In addition, it provides an exclusive opportunity for each state to market professionally information about who and what ABATE is, and at the same time pass along dates of quality events from each organization. The date gathering forces state leadership to organize the troops out there and place data together a full 12 to 18 months prior to an event taking place.

These calendars are sold in some 30 states as requests come to us annually from members who have moved and riders who have purchased a calendar each year from afar who consider them to be a collector’s series. Also, the back page professionally outlines each state’s complete contact information in detail, provides a map specifying outlines of Chapters, Districts and Regions and suggests that a very formidable allegiance exist between ABATE of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Kansas.

What jumps off the calendar pages most of all is a showcase of the life we live and the belief we have in each other through teamwork. An ABATE calendar hanging in every legislator’s office creates a daily reminder that motorcycling interests are very important.

Each ABATE state membership has selected two (2) or three (3) members’ bikes to adorn the calendar pages through various contests. Every state has their individual system for choosing machines. Members whose bikes are chosen show more pride in the organization and are generally the calendars best sales people/ambassadors.

No project this size assures this type of success story without huge loads of cooperation and work. Over the past eight years major subsidiary dollars for this project have come from

Larry Averitt LA Cycles & Accessories
120 Porter Ave., Whitestown, IN 46075
317-769-5739

Rod Taylor Taylor Law Offices
1219 N. Delaware , Indianapolis, IN 46206
1-800-25-RIDER

Bob Keyerlebler Watkins & Keyerleber Insurance Agency
4 North Broadway, Geneva, Ohio 44041
1-800-905-7433

Jerry Burrows Road Hawgs Custom Shop
811 N. Industrial Blvd, Ste A, Crown Point, IN 46307
219-661-HAWG

These are not small amounts of money either. Most of these partners, has invested more than $20,000 to further this endeavor. Please write them, call, or email them and thank them for the terrific ongoing support. The gifts they give our movement shows they care about who we are.

Then there is the effort Marc Falsetti gives over two months to create the layout design and coordinate the huge effort that goes into the final product. Thank you, Marc.

Deborah and I travel over 6000 miles annually and spend 4 months photographing, processing, overseeing separations, printing, date gathering, billing and distribution the product- along with selling sponsorship. A huge endorsement of the combined efforts by so many is the fact that no one else and no other group does this. It is dedicated hard work.

Together, we have removed any state lines between Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. We have, as ABATE officers and friends, coordinated this task. Throught those efforts, we have increased communication and networking between the groups and created new markets for our events, created business, influenced participation, showcased our machines and personalities, raised funds, documented some of our legendary history, and above all, allows us to figure out what damn day of the week it is.

Thank you ABATE of Michigan; Thank you ABATE of Ohio; Thank You ABATE of Kansas; Thank you ABATE of Illinois, and Thank you ABATE of Indiana. It does us proud to work with you. It is because of the continued damn hard work by so many that the gift of the ride is still part of our lives.

To ABATE Members…call YOUR ABATE office today…do it now…buy a calendar…$5.00! Respect to the Doer’s out there…

Michael “Balls” Farabaugh
Rodney V. Taylor