The Motorcycle Riders Foundation s (MRF) Annual BEAST of the East Conference will take place in Atlanta, April 13-15, 2012, hosted by ABATE of Georgia. MRF conferences are designed to educate and motivate those in the motorcyclists' rights community. In addition to being a fantastic learning opportunity, these events are a great chance to meet other people from all over the country who are as passionate about motorcyclists' rights as you are. Workshops and seminars this year will be presented by motorcyclists rights activists from Georgia, Washington DC, Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin, and we expect participants from all over the country as well.

You can register in advance for BEAST, as well as download and/or view the BEAST poster, registration information, and tentative agenda at www.mrf.org/events.php. When making your travel arrangements, PLEASE NOTE that workshops for BEAST this year will begin at 1:00 pm on Friday, April 13. The agenda covers a wide range of topics, and naturally, we will update participants on all federal motorcycling issues and the MRF's 2012 legislative agenda. We will have informative seminars regarding motorcycle awareness and education, women in motorcycling, a variety of legal perspectives, and the U.S. Constitution. In addition, we will have training seminars on how a federal bill becomes a law, developing relationships with legislators and agencies, passing bills, and Share the Road programs; as well as special meetings for MRF Reps and for motorcycle club members. One of the highlights of the conference will be a general session on The History of the MRF. Some of the most valuable knowledge you will gain will be in the meetings after the meetings, which take place in the hallways, hos¬pitality suite, and banquet. The networking opportunities are phenomenal at MRF conferences.

We do have an auction at the banquet to raise money for the MRF (it costs approximately $1000/day to keep our office open in DC, even with an entire volunteer Board of Directors). Auction item donations are greatly appreciated, and will be collected on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning at the conference hotel.

Conference participants are required to make their own hotel reservations. We have negotiated a special room rate of $89 per night at the Westin Atlanta Airport, which includes free parking and special meal rates in the hotel restaurant. Attendees who are not staying at the Westin will be required to pay $10/day to park in their lot. Rooms must be reserved by March 15, and you must mention the Motorcycle Riders Foundation BEAST of the East Conference, to get the special room rate. The BEAST conference poster provides all of the hotel registration information.

I hope to see you at the MRF's BEAST of the East conference in Atlanta!