Meeting of the Minds Celebrates 25th Anniversary

WASHINGTON, DC -- Even though the pre-registration deadline for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation’s (MRF) 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Minds (MOTM) has already passed, that doesn't mean you still can't attend. The MOTM conference this year will take place in Bloomington, MN from September 24-27. Registration fee is $80.00 for members and $90.00 for non-members. To register, simply go to the MRF website and click on Conference Info, then register for Meeting of the Minds 2009. If you prefer, you can mail a check to the DC office. A mail-in registration form can be downloaded from the MRF website.

The MOTM will be held at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Minneapolis South. Our group room rate is only $89.00 for single and double rooms. They also are offering special rates for our group in their Cabana, Deluxe and Club rooms. Reservations must be made no later than August 24 to take advantage of the group rate. This is a really good deal, as regular room rates start at $149.00. Hotel information can also be found in the Conference Info area of the MRF website.

There is some conflicting information about the airport shuttle service. Even an upcoming article in THE MRF REPORTS unfortunately has misinformation. The discontinuation of the hotel shuttle service is what has led to the confusion. However, there will be hotel shuttle service Thursday-Sunday, including limited service to and from the Mall of America. The Conference Info section of the MRF website has the correct information.

While you are on the website, please take a look at the agenda for the conference, as there are many new workshops being offered this year. For instance, our panel discussion on Saturday morning, regarding political activism, will have panelists that include not only motorcyclists’ rights activists, but also politicians who may or may not support all of our issues. It should be a lively discussion on exactly how the political process works from the perspective of our elected officials.

The MRF Young Activist Scholarship has been awarded to two young men this year – Jonathan Propson from Wisconsin and Ben Vincent from Arkansas. We will have an opportunity to talk with them during one of the scheduled sessions, but we also encourage you to find them in the hallways, help make them feel welcome, and get their input about how to get younger riders involved in motorcyclists’ rights.

Because this is the 25th Meeting of the Minds, we expect to see lots of people who have been involved in our movement through the MRF for many years. A wealth of knowledge and history will be present at this year’s MOTM; we hope you will be too.