IRVINE, Calif. The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) is pleased to announce the results from the election for officers conducted at the association’s Board Meeting on February 13, 2009, opening day of the Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo in Indianapolis, Ind. Larry Little, Vice President and Publisher, Cycle World Magazine, was reelected Chairman, a position he has held since 2003. Roger Hagie, Director, Public Affairs, Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA, was reelected Vice Chairman. Eric Anderson, Vice President, Scorpion Sports, Inc., was newly elected as Secretary/Treasurer. Tim Buche was reelected as President, a position he first assumed in 1996. In January 2009, the MIC announced the election results for the 2009 MIC Board of Directors to fill the three open aftermarket/allied trades Director positions. The membership voted by mail and electronic ballot, Hall & Jones, CPA, tabulated the results. Don Emde, Owner/President, Don Emde Publications, Inc., Frank Esposito, President, Kendon Industries, Inc., and Sarah Schilke, Director of Marketing Services, Moto Niche Marketing International, were reelected to the Board, representing the aftermarket/allied trades members. The remaining three elected Directors will serve one more year of their two-year term that expires in February 2010; Eric Anderson, Vice President, Scorpion Sports, Inc., Mark Blackwell, Vice President & General Manager – Victory Motorcycles, and Larry Little, Vice President and Publisher, Cycle World Magazine. The above join the six Directors appointed by the motorcycle manufacturer/distributor members who pay market share dues: Mark Pearlstein, Assistant V.P. Motorcycle Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; Steve Bortolamedi, Senior Advertising Manager, American Suzuki Motor Corp.; Roger Hagie, Director, Public Affairs, Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA; Jon-Erik Burleson, President, KTM North America, Inc.; Paolo Timoni, President and CEO, Piaggio Group Americas, Inc.; Mike Schmitt, Division Manager, Yamaha Motor Corp., USA. Steve Bortolamedi replaces Mel Harris, former V.P. Motorcycle & Marine Div. for American Suzuki and MIC Secretary Treasurer, who recently retired. We thank Mel for his 12 years of service on the Board and to his countless contributions to the industry while at American Suzuki Motor Corp. The Motorcycle Industry Council Board of Directors is responsible for the affairs of the association, including approval and review of policies, positions, programs, and fiscal operations. The Board has twelve directors; seven representing motorcycle manufacturers, importers, or distributors and five representing the aftermarket and allied trades members. The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. It is a not-for-profit, national trade association representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as publishing companies, advertising agencies, insurance firms and consultants. The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office adjacent to Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has roots dating back to 1914. More, from another press release issued by MIC: Two Vital Industry Supporters Presented With MIC Chairman’s Awards at 2009 Annual Meeting INDIANAPOLIS Two important supporters of the powersports industry were presented with Motorcycle Industry Council Chairman’s Awards on February 13 at the 2009 Annual Meeting. Now in its fourth year, the Chairman’s Award series honors groups and individuals who have made special contributions of time and effort to preserve, protect and promote our business. “Their initiative and efforts have greatly advanced the industry, and will continue to lead it into the future,” said Larry Little, MIC chairman and Cycle World vice president and publisher. The 2009 recipients recognized at the MIC Annual Meeting are: Christopher B. Douwes, recognized for his outstanding support of the Recreational Trails Program and OHV Trails Projects. The trails program, established in 1991, is one of the most important government efforts ever created for the benefit of OHV recreation. The MIC played a leading role in starting the project and continues work to ensure its continuation and expansion. The program has enabled the completion of thousands of OHV projects. The program is overseen by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration and, essentially, that’s Christopher Douwes. He has managed the program since day one and been its staunchest champion. He is responsible in great part for its success and works tirelessly with all of the MIC’s trails partners to make needed improvements. MIC CHAIRMAN’S AWARDS Perhaps the most important contribution Douwes has made is to promote motorized projects and ensure that they aren’t given short shrift. His unflagging dedication to fair administration and enthusiastic advocacy has turned a germ of an idea, by a handful of OHV leaders, into millions of dollars in OHV trail development and related projects. Kathy Van Kleeck, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, MIC, was recognized for her outstanding service to the industry in working with legislators. Van Kleeck began her career in 1975 as a legislative assistant for the MIC. Based in the MIC office near Washington, D.C., she held several positions prior to being named Managing Director, Government Relations in 1996, and then Vice President, Government Relations Office in 1997. Van Kleeck assumed government relations responsibilities for the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, upon its creation in 1983, and for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in 1984. She was named Senior Vice President in 2006. Van Kleeck’s responsibilities include: providing overall direction for government relations programs, advocating association positions to legislators and regulators, and developing and implementing legislative information programs for member companies, government entities and related stakeholders. She is currently a member of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council to the Federal Highway Administration and the Transportation Research Board’s Motorcycle and Moped Committee. She’s also the chairperson of the Leadership/Motorcyclist Rights Advocates Nomination Committee for the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Van Kleeck is renowned for her tireless dedication. If there are questions, she will have answers or get them. She is the institutional memory of everything that the government has done to affect our business. MIC CHAIRMAN’S AWARDS Past Recipients of the MIC Chairman’s Award: 2008 Stuart Phillip Ross, was recognized for outstanding dedication and service as outside legal counsel to the MIC since 1971. Mel Harris, was recognized for outstanding service to the industry. Gayle Anderson, a reporter for Los Angeles television station KTLA, was recognized for her outstanding contributions to motorcyclist safety. Advanstar Communications Powersports Group was recognized for outstanding leadership in supporting and advancing the industry. Michael C. Burgess, M.D., U.S. Congressman and Gabrielle Giffords, U.S. Congresswoman, for outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing motorcycling and motorcycle safety. Selvaraj Narayana, for outstanding service to the industry and the MIC Board of Directors. 2007 Mary E. Peters, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, for outstanding public service and dedication to the nation’s transportation system. Bob Moffit, for outstanding leadership in the development of partners standard protocol. Russ Ehnes, for outstanding leadership and dedication to promoting OHV recreation. Thomas Crimmins, for outstanding service to the industry on OHV access initiatives. Dana Bell, for outstanding dedication and contribution to promoting OHV recreation. Susan Carpenter, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, for outstanding contributions to motorcyclist safety. Don Brown, for outstanding service to the industry. Fred Fox, for outstanding service to the industry on the MIC Board of Directors. MIC CHAIRMAN’S AWARDS 2006 Gary Christopher, for outstanding service to the industry as DTM Subcommittee Chairman Mark Boyer and Robyn McPeters, for outstanding service to the industry in public relations. Pamela Amette, Tom Austin and Paul Vitrano, for outstanding service to the industry. Jeff Shetler, for outstanding service to the industry on the OE Technical Committee. Russ O’Daly, Mel Stahl and Tom Yager, for outstanding service to the industry on the SVIA Technical Advisory Panel. Jack Gray, Pat Murphy and Roger Peterson, for outstanding service to the industry on Partners Standard Protocol. National 4-H Council, in recognition of dedication to ATV safety. The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. It is a not-for-profit, national trade association representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as publishing companies, advertising agencies, insurance firms and consultants. The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office adjacent to Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. More, from another press release issued by MIC: Rear Admiral Arthur Johnson’s Participation at MIC Annual Meeting Underscores the Navy’s Commitment to Work with Industry to Keep Service Men and Women Riding Safely IRVINE, Calif. At its Annual Meeting held February 13, 2009 in Indianapolis, Ind., the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) welcomed the participation of Rear Admiral Arthur J. Johnson, Commander of the Naval Safety Center. Admiral Johnson met with the MIC Board of Directors, delivered the annual meeting’s keynote address, and accepted the MIC Chairman’s Award on behalf of Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter. Admiral Johnson graduated with a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government where his studies focused on U.S. Business and Government Relationships and Third World Politics. He is also a member of the Millennium Class at the National War College in Washington, D.C. and was awarded a master’s degree in national strategic studies in June 2000. He assumed his duties as Commander of the Naval Safety Center in August 2007. Admiral Johnson was one of the first senior executive military officers to provide significant support for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) work in training military motorcycle riders. In 2007, he received an MSF Award for Outstanding Support of Motorcycle Safety. “We were extremely honored to host Rear Admiral Johnson at the MIC Annual Meeting,” said MIC President Tim Buche. “His attendance and involvement at the meeting underscores the critical need for the military and the industry to work together to promote riding safety among U.S. service men and women, particularly those returning from active tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.” “He has been instrumental in supporting the development of the Military SportBike RiderCourse and he has opened the door for strong relationships and collaboration with the motorcycle safety community,” Buche continued. In a private breakfast meeting with MIC board members, Admiral Johnson elaborated on activities underway with the MSF to promote safer riding among military personnel. The Department of Defense (DoD) mandates rider training and specifies an MSF course for all military personnel who ride, and the U.S. Navy now requires that all personnel who own sport bikes take the MSF Military Motorcycle RiderCourse after they have completed the MSF Basic RiderCourse. The MSF Military Motorcycle RiderCourse was developed in close collaboration with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Safety Center and is now available to all branches of the Department of Defense. The “Sport Bike Survival Guide,” a student pocket takeaway booklet written by accomplished sport bike riding instructor Nick Ienatsch with a foreword by Superbike Champion Ben Spies, is provided to all military personnel who participate in the course. In his keynote presentation, Admiral Johnson recapped a meeting held in January 2009 between the secretaries of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, representatives of the four major motorcycle manufacturers, and the MIC. At that meeting, the discussions focused on exploring opportunities to jointly and collaboratively reduce the risk for DoD service members who ride, and to establish follow-on efforts to enhance training, change attitudes and behavior, and maximize the riding experience. He presented sobering statistics related to DoD fatalities involving motorcycles: of 295 fatalities (FY 2006-08) involving motorcycles, sportbikes accounted for 75%. Within that group, 95% were males, age 21-33. Up to 51% had no training, and more than 25% had no license. Admiral Johnson observed that DoD high risk takers are attracted to high performance sportbikes, that there is an obvious correlation to fatalities and lack of training, lack of licensing, and inexperience, and that more of our sailors and marines are being killed on the highway than in combat. In addition to its collaboration with the MSF to develop the Military Sportbike RiderCourse, the DoD is involved in motorcycle safety promotion through multiple channels, including leadership training, standardized training across services, technology investments, policy refinements, industry partnerships, mentorship programs, and family engagement. Admiral Johnson strongly emphasized the willingness of the DoD to work with the industry on marketing to its service members, calling for more risk-focused marketing, with messaging that encourages the rider to match his or her experience to the bike, get trained before purchasing, and not to glamorize the speed/racing thrill. Admiral Johnson reaffirmed the DoD goal of collectively reducing risk, noting that discussions to explore industry initiatives will be ongoing and that the Industry and DoD Safety Chiefs will continue to collaborate at DoD safety forums. Chairman’s Award presented on behalf of honoree Secretary of Navy Donald C. Winter Admiral Johnson also participated in the MIC Chairman’s Award ceremony, accepting the award on behalf of Dr. Donald C. Winter, Secretary of the Navy. The Chairman’s Award series honors groups and individuals who have made special contributions of time and effort to the powersports industry. “We’re pleased to recognize Secretary Winter for his outstanding leadership among all the branches in promoting motorcycle safety, not only here in the United States, but throughout the world,” said Larry Little, MIC chairman and Cycle World vice president and publisher. “We’re privileged and appreciative that Admiral Johnson could be here to accept the Chairman’s Award on Secretary Winter’s behalf, and we applaud Admiral Johnson as well for continuing to support the cause of motorcycle safety and education.” MIC Chairman’s Award recipient Donald C. Winter is the 74th Secretary of the Navy, responsible for all the affairs of the Department of the Navy, which consists of two uniformed Services, the U.S Navy and Marine Corps, an annual budget in excess of $125 billion, and approximately 900,000 people. His office is also responsible for the formulation and implementation of naval policies and programs that are consistent with the national security policies and objectives established by the President and the Secretary of Defense. Previously, Winter served as a corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems sector, and as president and CEO of TRW Systems. Dr. Winter earned a bachelor’s degree with highest distinction in physics from the University of Rochester in 1969 and a doctorate in physics from the University of Michigan in 1972. He is a 1979 graduate of the USC Management Policy Institute, a 1987 graduate of the UCLA Executive Program, and a 1991 graduate of the Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security. In 2002, he was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering. The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. It is a not-for-profit, national trade association representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as publishing companies, advertising agencies, insurance firms and consultants. The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office adjacent to Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914.