Biker Magazine Erroneously Reports on Current Status of the MRF

WASHINGTON, DC --- In the February 2009 Issue of Biker Magazine it has been erroneously reported that the MRF will no longer be engaging in issue advocacy or lobbying of any kind and that the MRF has been "reorganized" into a charity. "Nothing could be farther from the truth, our 501c4 status remains firmly in place, and we remain as focused as ever to being the Washington D.C. voice exclusively devoted to the street rider that champions the cause of rider safety and rider freedom" stated MRF President Kirk "Hardtail" Willard.

Willard goes on to state that the MRF has actually taken steps recently to strengthen our government relations and lobbying efforts in order to be in the best possible position to positively advocate for street motorcyclists as we face a change in administration in Washington D.C. and will begin to see new Bills that include motorcycles and motorcycling moving through Congress shortly. It is noteworthy to point out that the MRF has also made recent investments in the D.C. Office located close to the U.S. Capital in an effort to be well poised to serve our State Motorcycle Rights Organizations and MRF members as they travel to D.C. in early 2009 to join the MRF and lobby their members of Congress and relevant Secretaries on their annual lobbying trips.

The confusion was likely the result of the recent announcement that the MRF was successful in also forming a 501c3 called the Motorcycle Riders Foundation for Awareness and Education (MRFA&E) which is a tax deductible organization. This is a separately run organization accepting donations and grants that will be providing educational information, fund legislative and historical research, develop motorcycle safety campaigns, and assist in sponsoring a portion of the Workshops put on by the MRF at Regional and Annual Conferences held each year.

It should be no surprise to anyone that the entire motorcycling community is seeing tougher economic times than we have in the past several years including the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. In anticipation of that, a few years ago the MRF conducted research into well funded advocacy organizations and found a common theme that they all had a tax deductible element to them. In response to that, the MRF began last year to pursue a similar tax deductible element to provide valuable service to the Motorcyclists Rights Movement now known as the MRFA&E as described above. This separate organization is the entity that will not be engaging in issue advocacy or lobbying, not the MRF as reported.

The MRF is focusing on individual membership growth and State Motorcycle Rights Organization funding to combat these tougher times.

Willard ends by saying how disappointed he is that Biker Magazine did not contact anyone at the MRF for the story and feels this article does a genuine disservice to the bikers rights movement and that they will be officially requesting that the editor of Biker magazine print a clarification in an upcoming issue to correct this misconception that has been created.