1997
ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
STATE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY ADMINISTRATORS

Message from the Chairperson

At the writing of this report to the membership, I have completed more than half of my term as Chairperson. During that time, I worked hard to maintain a focus and persistent pursuit of the six priorities I selected for my two year term.

¨ Solidify Corporate Foundation: To accomplish this task, the membership adopted amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and submitted the application for non-profit status. Preliminary discussions with the IRS indicate that this important and time consuming task should be completed in early 1998.

¨ Increase/Enhance Name Recognition: In addition to the Leading Edge newsletter, the Chairperson's Bulletin, the Strategic Plan, and the Annual Report, the SMSA has reached out to other sources for communication, recognition and acknowledgment. The MSF's publication Safe Cycling recently included a very positive article and photos from the Denver conference. In follow-up to the AMA Women In Motorcycling conference, Rider Magazine included praise for Lorrie Laing and Karen Kadar on behalf of the SMSA. We are also becoming better known and more credible through our memberships with the AMA, ADTSEA, NAGHSR, and AAMVA. We continue to have a presence at the national traffic safety conferences. Our name will also be promoted nationwide via the Progressive Insurance funded computer quiz and the AMA sponsored safety brochures due out in 1998.

¨ Increase Public Relations/Media Relations: The AMA Women In Motorcycling conference and the Denver SMSA conference provided public relations opportunities in 1997. In 1998, watch for a feature article in Motorcycle

Industry Magazine in which Karen Kadar promotes the SMSA. The NHTSA licensing grant including VNR and media kit will be distributed nationwide in April/May 1998, as part of SMSA media relations activities. In addition, Harley-Davidson is including the SMSA as part of their Daytona Press Conference in March 1998 to further promote the licensing message.

¨ Encourage Partnerships: What a wonderful year 1997 was for SMSA activities. Our premier function was the National Motorcycle Safety Conference in Denver, hosted by the Colorado Motorcycle Safety Program. Thanks also to our corporate and professional members who supported and sponsored the conference in various ways. Hats off to Bob Philpot and team for a top-shelf event! The Motorcycle Rider Skills Computer Quiz was completed in partnership with Progressive Insurance, providing state-of-the-art computer graphics and thought-provoking questions for motorcyclists to ponder at various events. As we move into 1998, we have partnerships in progress with NHTSA, Harley-Davidson, Dairyland, and Motoport.

¨ Carry-out Marketing Plan: In addition to being the charter year for individual memberships, 1997 marked the first year as a corporate member for Motoport. The Executive Committee is currently in communication with approximately 20 potential corporate or professional members whom we hope to introduce in 1998. Buell Motorcycle Company was the first new corporate member in 1998!

¨ Pursue SMSA Membership Products: With MSF we have completed the ECRM on disk project and the laminated ECRM. The Motorcycle Rider Skills Computer Quiz has been used at a few state events and will be distributed nationally in a matter of weeks. Through a joint effort with Bell Helmets, many states will soon take advantage of discounted prices on helmets for use at training sites around the country. And the Denver conference provided an opportunity to videotape three of the premier speakers for membership access.

My term as Chairperson ends at the completion of the August 1998 business meeting. I certainly plan to stay involved in the SMSA, as I gain as much or more from my interactions as I give. It is a time for each voting member to reflect and prepare for the election of officers in Portsmouth, Virginia. Service on the Executive Committee brings many opportunities to share your expertise and to gain insight and wisdom from each other. Service as the Chairperson is an honor and an obligation to be taken seriously. The SMSA needs and deserves leadership that will keep us growing and improving to meet the needs of the members.

Officers and Regional Representatives

As 1997 began, the incumbent officers and regional representatives were:

Karen Kadar, Chairperson

Andy Krajewski, Vice Chairperson

Ron Thompson, Past Chairperson

Roger Allen, Secretary

Jim Utterback, Treasurer

Erik Eriksen, Central Region

Butch Moss, Central Region

Albert Thornton, Western Region

Following the annual elections conducted during the August conference, officers and representatives are:

Karen Kadar, Chairperson

Andy Krajewski, Vice Chairperson

Bobbie Carlson, Secretary

Erik Eriksen, Treasurer

Terry Butler, Central Region

Morgan Keene, Western Region

Albert Thornton, Western Region

Membership

At the end of 1997, the membership of the Association consisted of the following:

43 member states

two military branches

122 individual memberships

and the following

PROFESSIONAL AND CORPORATE MEMBERS

The Association held membership in the following organizations:

AAMVA ADTSEA

AMA NAGHSR

Highlights of the Year

The annual Winter Conference was held on February 7 & 8, at the Radisson Hotel San Diego in San Diego, California. Approximately 45 attended the conference, which concentrated on professional development. Members voted to create a new membership category for individual members. Vern Hanks was the first to apply and pay dues for an individual membership.

On 15 and 16 August, the annual National Motorcycle Safety Conference was held at the Denver Hilton South, Englewood, Colorado. Approximately 210 attended the conference, which provided many various classes and opportunities for instructors and program administrators to expand and improve their personal professional abilities. The SMSA presented Professor Harry Hurt with the 1996 Chairperson's Award in recognition of his contributions to motorcycle safety.

Many wives and former instructors provided hours of support at the registration tables and in other areas during the conferences. It was their behind-the-scenes support which made the conferences run smoothly. We appreciate all of their help and extend a big THANK YOU to them.

At the Denver conference, Lorrie Laing, Ohio, announced to the membership that, due to a promotion in her state employment, she would have to drop from active participation with the Association. Every member of the Association has been the beneficiary of the many years of service Lorrie gave to the SMSA, as she has served in various positions, and to motorcycle safety. Her in-depth knowledge and understanding, along with her desire for all to succeed will be greatly missed. We wish Lorrie the best in her new position and many happy miles of riding!

The Association and Progressive Insurance worked together to produce a computer quiz for riders. Progressive also provided assistance in other areas. The cooperation and support Progressive provided the SMSA is an excellent example of working together for a common cause.

We enjoyed the cooperative efforts of the MSF during the year, and especially at the August conference. In Denver, the MSF and the Association jointly provided members give-away items. The MSF also provided the luncheon on Saturday and range breakout classes.

NHTSA responded to a request to provide grant funding to conduct professional development training to the members over the next several years. That grant application process was begun before the end of the year. We appreciate the support of NHTSA to improve the professional abilities of the membership.

The Program Assessment project, funded by a NHTSA grant, was completed and included the conduct of a pilot and several assessments. The established procedures developed during the project will now be used by NHTSA in the conduct of future program assessments. We appreciate the opportunity we had to work with NHTSA on this project.

In a joint effort with the MSF, a moderator was hired to conduct a review of and act as facilitator during a meeting of the CAC. As a result, the purpose and goals of the CAC were redefined and members of the committee were able to refocus on a cooperative effort to meet the established goals.

Bell Helmets provided members a means by which helmets could be obtained at a very reasonable cost, if ordered through the Association.

NHTSA issued a grant to the Association to create a video news release and media kit for national release to promote proper licensing of riders. The Association is working with Thompson Communications in Colorado to produce the information, which should be available for national distribution by March or April 1998. Members will be asked to assist in distribution of the video and media kits on local levels.

AMA asked the Association to work with them in preparing a series of information brochures to address common situations riders face which are not usually covered in-depth in rider training courses. Drafts of the initial brochures, which address parking, road hazards, and weather conditions have been approved.

The initial application to the IRS for non-profit status for the Association was submitted. The IRS advised that processing could take several months. It is hoped that the IRS will approve the application by mid-1998.

With the approval of the MSF, the Association created a laminated, pocket-size version of the ECRM. The initial production is available through SMSA. Any further production will be up to the MSF.

SMSA Mission Statement

The National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators (SMSA) is an association dedicated to fostering and promoting state-administered motorcycle safety programs and representing state concerns relating to motorcycle safety by working cooperatively with those individuals and organizations having an interest in motorcycle safety.