Like most of the membership in Freedom of Road Riders, I got involved because I liked the parties.  I had no idea that FORR or Local 8 was ever involved in anything but having parties.  After a short time, my husband, Bob Reasoner, was elected Central Committee Representative for Local 8 (a position he held for 10 years) and I started attending CC meetings.  Terry Lee Cook was running for Chairman, and he noticed that I took extensive notes during the meetings (for Bob to use in his Local 8 report).  He needed a Secretary, and he asked me to join his Cabinet.  I was CC Secretary for 6 years, and worked with 4 different Chairmen (Terry Lee Cook, Jerry Hancock, Adam Brown, and Wayne Tipton) – and developed an understanding of the purpose of FORR – and learned that there were ways to be involved that had nothing to do with FORR.

Wayne “Tip” Tipton, Greg “Halfbreed” Mullanix, and Tom Pauley were instrumental in my finally taking the step to get involved in “Party Politics.”  The Legislative Coordinators (They all served in that position at one time or another) kept telling the membership that the way to make a difference is to begin at the grassroots.  The grassroots of party politics is the county committees.  And, it was apparent that there were lots of openings on those committees in counties around the state.  All you have to do is file for election – most of the positions are rarely opposed in the rural part of the state.  That’s not always true in the city, but in out-state Missouri there are rarely full committees.

So, I convinced Bob that we should file – our seats were open on the Republican Committee in Livingston County.  And, yes, we were elected, and we have been re-elected ever since!  About the time I retired from public education, I was elected Chairman of the Livingston Co. Republican Committee.  When you are Chairman, you are automatically a delegate to the legislative district committee, and the senatorial district.  And, this year, I was elected State Committeewoman from the 12^th Legislative District.

Also, a few years back, some of the Legislative Committee for FORR decided that we might be able to make more headway by working within the Departments in the State government, than we were in the legislative efforts.  So, we started setting up meetings within the Department of Transportation, and I began meeting with DOT people, Highway Safety people, Highway Patrol, Dept. of Revenue, etc.  Those connections have become a valuable tool for Legislative Coordinator Mullanix at this time – good things are beginning to happen.

I continue to serve on a committee working on the motorcycle section of the Blue Print for Highway Safety for Missouri.  Also, I have been appointed to the Governor’s Motorcycle Safety Program Advisory Committee.  Now that I’m not Chairman of FORR, I have been handling the event insurance for FORR Districts and Locals, and I’m District 2 Rep for Local 8, and District 2 Secretary/Treasurer.

I’ve been very fortunate to progress through the ranks of Local/District/State involvement in FORR activities.  All of this happened because in the beginning I enjoyed the parties.  Best of all – I still like the parties.  Freedom of Road Rider membership, and social events with the motorcycling community provide an opportunity to spend time with some of the nicest people in Missouri. 

Louis Reasener

Kim Tullis

 

Originally I got involved because my boyfriend took me to a local
meeting 7 years ago. I enjoyed the fun that we had and the camaraderie
of getting to know a variety of people. And I really loved to ride
motorcycles with JT and just being on a motorcycle. And I am now the
proud owner of a motorcycle. So, I was asked if I would run for
Treasurer several years ago. I did and I have had a wonderful ride on
the "Freedom Train" as the Local 6 treasurer.



I believe in having a CHOICE. I may not opt to ride without a helmet,
but by God, I want the choice to be made by me. I am upset that our
country seems to be turning into a crackpot nation. The choices and
liberties that we should have by right and privilege as Americans has
been turned into where we are being told what we can and cannot do. Our
choices are being taken away one by one. I believe that as an American,
I should have the right to many freedoms and choices. It appalls me to
know that the people of this nation do very little for their country,
except for those men and women who serve in the military and those who
also choose to make a difference.



Okay, I will get off my soapbox! I am a librarian by trade and the
information that everyone has at their finger tips is infinite. I am
only one among the 4,000+ members of FORR who try to make a difference.



So, as little Edith Ann would say "and that's the truth!"



Thanks for all that you do for the "Freedom Train."





Kim Tullis

Local 6

Treasurer

 

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