1) Labor Day Weekend in WNC: Asheville and Big Bradley
2) HIPAA Call to Action
3) Asheville hopping with beer-loving tourists
4) The Great Smokies Craft Brewers Brewgrass Festival
5) Opportunity to Meet Your Federal Senator from SC
6) Biker Ezine Reader Letters
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1) Labor Day Weekend in WNC: Asheville and Big Bradley
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http://www.fastfreds.com/trips/labordaywnc/index.htm
Labor Day Weekend in WNC: Asheville and Big Bradley
Photos and article by FastFred Ruddock, September 2007
While it was raining all weekend on the coast the mountains were pleasant and cool. Saturday was spent riding and seeing a few sights in and around Asheville. Saturday afternoon and Sunday several legislative warriors rode to GRCMMCC and we discussed ... Full Story and Photos >>
http://www.fastfreds.com/trips/labordaywnc/index.htm
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2) HIPAA Call to Action
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FF Note: Federal law currently allows your medical insurance provider to deny coverage for injures from various recreational activities including driving your motorcycle to work. Please take action today!
HIPAA Call to Action
With Congress poised to return today from a sleepy month off from Washington, it's a great time to call or e-mail your federal legislators and remind them to support HR 1076 and S 616, the two pieces of legislation filed on behalf of motorcyclists to fix the discriminatory loopholes in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These two pieces of legislation are currently sitting in committee before both bodies of Congress. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) encourages you to contact your Senators and Representatives this week.
The HIPAA loophole mentioned above allows employer-sponsored health insurance plans to deny payments for particular injuries that stem from any risky recreational behavior. Another wrinkle is that the employer can determine what behaviors they want to define as risky. Some have refused payment of hospital bills for injuries as common as sprained ankles resulting from jogging. And although it is a legal form of transportation subject to taxes, tolls and licensing fees, for some reason motorcycling is specifically mentioned in HIPAA as a hazardous recreational activity.
Support for HR 1076 and S 616 has been growing recently, and we have the State Motorcyclists' Rights Groups (SMROs) to thank. Grassroots activism on this issue has been growing, and this spring saw a swell of SMROs visiting Washington DC to lobby for this issue directly. A quick glance of the congressional supporters reveals that those states that visited DC are responsible for the bulk of the co-sponsors on the House bill.
Writing, phoning and e-mailing your elected officials is important, but of course nothing drives an issue home better than a face-to-face visit with your elected officials. Can't make it to Washington? Not enough vacation time or extra cash for airfare? Why not schedule a visit with your federal elected officials on their home turf in their district offices. If you can't meet directly with an official, ask to meet with an aide.
Not sure what to say when you contact your legislator? There is a wealth of information about this issue on the MRF website going back several years, and you can always call the MRF office in DC to discuss federal motorcyclists' rights issues before meeting with a legislator. And of course, you should also contact your SMRO for guidance and assistance before visiting your legislators.
Congress is flipping over the closed sign and resuming business this week, so make it a point to contact your legislators in the very near future. They have a lengthy (for Washington) work period with no more formal breaks until target adjournment at the end of October. With continuing support from motorcyclists and SMROs nationwide, as well as our partners in DC, we can get this discriminatory loophole fixed.
You can reach the US Capitol Switchboard and your Member of Congress at 202 224 3121.
MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice-President of Government Relations
jeff@mrf.org (e-mail)
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3) Asheville hopping with beer-loving tourists
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FF Note: I suspect those who have taken the Brews Cruise and know Mark might enjoy this
article.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007709010311
Asheville hopping with beer-loving tourists
By Tony Kiss
TKISS@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
September 1, 2007 12:15 am
It's 315 miles from Huntsville, Ala., to Asheville, but it's a trip Jim Trolinger makes with one main mission - to buy and enjoy local beer.
"If there's a beer capital in the South, it's got to be Asheville," he said. "There's nowhere else in the South like it. It's the best (beer town) that I can drive to in less than a day."
With five craft brewing companies in Buncombe County, and a sixth under construction, Asheville is increasingly becoming a destination for beer-loving tourists like Trolinger, a trend that's being noticed by the Asheville Visitor and Convention Bureau.
While some come just for the beer, others travel to the area for traditional vacations, then spend time - and money - prowling the breweries. Beer tourism has also helped the local breweries as they've expanded sales into surrounding states.
Asheville's annual Brewgrass craft beer festival has drawn visitors from around the world.
And the booming beer scene has even led to a tour service that takes visitors around to the local breweries, offering them backstage tours and samples.
Deuane Hoffman and his wife, Carolyn Blatchley, have already made one haul to Asheville from Harrisburg, Pa., to sample and buy beer, and they're returning in September for the Brewgrass festival.
"No other small city in America has as many micros and beer bars as Asheville," said Hoffman, who frequently travels the country in search of local brews.
What makes Asheville special
"Asheville is a little unique in that it's a getaway town, and there's an active beer scene," said Bob Townsend, editor of Southern Brew News, which reports on the regional beer scene. "There's a good vibe there, and a lot of good breweries. I don't think Atlanta is sought out nearly as much (by beer tourists)."
The city's reputation as a beer destination "extends beyond the state," said Julie Bradford, editor of the nationally circulated All About Beer magazine. "You have a great collection of breweries." She's not surprised that craft beer fans will seek it out while on vacation. "It's important (for beer-loving tourists) to find unusual beers at any destination," she said.
In the world of craft brewing, Portland, Ore., leads the pack with more than 28 breweries.
San Diego is also a leading beer town, with at least 17 working breweries, but tourism officials there haven't noticed a travel impact, said Joe Timko with the San Diego Convention and Visitor Bureau. "We have major attractions, we have beaches and a number of things we publicize for tourists, but craft beer isn't up there with our promotional pushes," he said.
But in Asheville, the lure of craft beer is beginning to attract attention, said Marla Tambellini of the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau. "I don't know if it's the prime motivation for people coming here, but it has become more of an attraction or activity that people are engaging in while they are here," she said. "We've showcased the brewing scene to writers and bloggers while they've been here. It's something noteworthy (for the city)."
How it started
Asheville's beer scene began in 1994, first with the opening of Barley's Taproom on Biltmore Avenue, followed almost immediately by Highland Brewing, originally located in the lower level of the same building. In 1997, the Blue Rooster brewpub restaurant opened on Biltmore Avenue, and while it closed the next year, other breweries have thrived.
Jack of the Wood and its Green Man Brewing Co., Two Moons Brew-N-View (now Asheville Pizza and Brewing), French Broad Brewing and Pisgah Brewing have combined to make Asheville the liveliest brewing town in either North or South Carolina. A sixth brewery is under construction in Asheville's French Broad River arts district.
Another major element to Asheville's beer tourism is the Brewgrass Festival, an annual celebration of craft beer, happening Sept. 22 at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
"A full third of our guests come in excess of an hour from Asheville," said Brewgrass founder and director Doug Beatty. "We have an unbelievable number from the Tri-Cities area, a lot from Charlotte and Atlanta, and we've had them from Germany and Scotland."
Touring the breweries
Since Highland Brewing began making craft ales in 1994, visitors have been stopping by to watch, said founder and primary owner Oscar Wong.
While Highland is not generally open to the public and does not have a pub or tasting room, it welcomes guests who call ahead, Wong said. "We've had people from the Northeast, the West Coast and all around the South, usually because Asheville is a destination to begin with, and as a brewing city, the reputation is growing."
He believes beer tourism has helped Highland grow its business in Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. From three original employees, Highland now has a staff of 16.
At Asheville Pizza and Brewing, co-owner Mike Rangel often sees out-of-town visitors stop by for a cold beer and a slice. "We have people walking in from Ohio or Florida, who've looked us up online," he said.
All aboard
Last year, sensing an opportunity, Mark Lyons began Asheville Brews Cruise, a bus service that takes beer lovers on a bus tour of local breweries. Some tourists "don't want to find these places on their own," he said. "We thought we would make (a tour) educational and fun."
He expected the business might lag last winter, but "people don't stop drinking when it's cold, and you don't have (outdoor activities that compete for tourist's time)," he said.
The business now operates up to five nights a week, and Lyons sees a 50-50 mix of curious locals and out-of-town visitors. "We've had people from all over the country and Canada who are looking for that beer tourism thing, and they are finding it," he said.
With business strong, Lyons recently quit a day job at the Grove Park Inn to focus on Brews Cruise, and to try the same concept with Asheville's independent restaurants. "It's definitely a leap of faith," he said.
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4) The Great Smokies Craft Brewers Brewgrass Festival
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The Great Smokies Craft Brewers Brewgrass Festival
When: September 22nd from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Each year in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, we gather over 30 American breweries to showcase more than 100 different beers. We add a great lineup of national and regional bluegrass musicians that, in the past, has included such notables as Jimmy Martin, J.D. Crowe, The Osborne Brothers, Norman Blake, Tony Trischka, Bad Livers, Valerie Smith, Tony Furtado, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Sons Of Ralph. We also feature a variety of area food vendors and plenty of water. Read more at http://www.brewgrassfestival.com/
FF Note: Get your tickets now because this event will sell out prior to the 22nd.
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5) Opportunity to Meet Your Federal Senator from SC
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There will be a drop in with US Senator Lindsey Graham on Friday September 21 from 6-7PM at the BUDDHA LOUNGE & GRILL 1711 N. KINGS HWY (BUSINESS HWY 17) Myrtle Beach. Free Hor D'oeuvres will be provided with a cash bar (liquor prices will be quite reasonable). The Senator will speak for 10 minutes, answer question and the take pictures with the attendees. You all are cordially invited to attend to meet and greet Sen. Graham. More information will be forth coming as we near the event. Tom Herron (843-455-5548) and Randall Wallace (843-602-3845) have agreed to be the co-ordinators of the drop-in.
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6) Biker Ezine Reader Letters
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Paperless Traffic Tickets
Hey Fred, re your story on the paperless traffic tickets. Maybe the sheriffs could take a page from the fast food playbook and do away with words and numbers altogether by having just images and icons on touchscreens. In addition to being quicker, none of their deputies would have to be literate.
Aloha,
Warren
Cameras and Law Enforcement
Comments: Hi FastFred,
Just read the latest ezine. Hard for me to believe that cities are going to spend all that cash on video cameras when they can just take a look at the UK, where there are HUNDREDs of these cameras, and realize that the crime rate there is still skyrocketing. What a load of crap.
I'll spare you my opinion on what we need to do to stem the crime rate.
Thanks for your efforts (and for the newsletter).
Be well,
DLibrizzi in Piedmont, SC
Focus on Helmet or Cause of Crash
I am wondering what the helmet law has to do with this individual's death. Wasn't it a Right of Way violation that caused it? There is nothing in the article about whether or not the cage driver was ticketed for pulling out in front of the bike. Isn't this really the issue that the family and the media should be focusing on? If the driver hadn't cut him off, whether or not he was wearing a helmet would be a moot point because the accident wouldn't have occurred.
Judy in SC
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