Bronz?

[scumdog]

I went - I listened - I hardly shut up.

BRONZ is definitely worth supporting.
We all should get behind it. I'll post some ideas on why and how shortly.

Glas to see SOMEBODY went to the BRONZ meeting - and came away with a positive attitude too!

Not the usual KBer (or kiwi for that matter) who instead would have (a) moaned about how useless BRONZ is and (b) not got off their lardy arse and gone to see what BRONZ is like and (c) HAD they gone along would have said nothing and then posted on KB what a shit outfit BRONZ is 'cos they never listened....

Cynical?
or trying to provoke another 'somebody' to attend BRONZ and do 'something'?

You decide.

[oldrider]

I speed read this months KiwiRider article by BRONZ with the intention of getting back and reading it fully later.
My son in law has taken the book before I could do it.
My reason for wanting to get back and read it properly and think about what they were saying is that at the conclusion of the brief read I was feeling pissed off with them (BRONZ)
My thoughts were that they seemed intent on focusing all of their energies on attacking older drivers with the intent of making it more difficult (and expensive) for them to be on the road. (A cause not without some merit)
I personally felt threatened by their tone, probably because I am on the fringe of being one of their target population.
My thoughts were, with all the problems facing us (bikers) what are they (BRONZ) pissing about wasting their time attacking the oldies, haven't they got better things to do.
I know that there are older drivers that shouldn't be on the road and I have taken it upon myself to challenge many of the ones I see holding up traffic or doing really stupid things with their vehicles because I have a vested interest in how they are perceived.
My wife and I are going to be judged and treated according to how they behave now, in the very near future and they (oldies) really piss me off when they are queering the pitch for us later.
I wouldn't mind BRONZ's attitude if all in the motorcycle world was bright and rosie but they should focus on cleaning up their own backyard before they clean up on the seemingly defenceless oldies.
I have looked at the BRONZ site and tried to find out a bit more about what it is about but the impression I get is that they remind me of the type of people who get appointed to the firms "Safety Officer" position after they have been the least safety conscious employee in the firm.
They also seem, as has been mentioned before, to be a group who are more interested in, meeting protocol, rather than, meeting purpose.
If I am being unfair here, so be it , I am writing to express what I feel the image of BRONZ is in my mind as BRONZ has sold it's self to me when I have glanced in their direction.
Ones perception is after all ones reality is it not.
I am happy to stand corrected and be condemned if I am out of order but these are my current, feelings and thoughts about BRONZ so thought I would express them. John.

[Ixion]

I think you hit it pretty well Mr Oldrider.

But, doesn't mean that the organisation need be written off. The people running it are bikers, and maybe need just a bit of gingering up. I' like to think so , anyway.

Easier to reapir than rebuild. Sometimes.

I'm fairly sure that even if they're not watching these threads, someone will tell them of the discussion.

[The Stranger:Me]

Hmm,
Thank you John.

I must admit, I haven't read the article, but shall go and buy KR very soon.

I was present when BRONZ Auckland formulated it's response to the proposed changes in legslation re older drivers.
I thought our discussions were a fairly even handed attack on all drivers, not just the old. However the legslation is specifically about older drivers so we did have a reasonably narrow focus.

The guy whom writes the article for KR tends to pick a topic which is reasonably current (where possible) to write about, and as this legslation is currently up for review picked this one at this time.

It is not a case of BRONZ being out to target older drivers at all, we do not have you in our sights in particular. We do work hard to try and improve the lot of motorcyclists in all areas, however we would be remiss if we did not attempt to address issues surrounding older drivers when this legslation is up for review.

I would heartly encourage you to join and attend BRONZ meetings etc in your area and in that way have your say in how BRONZ should best serve motorcyclists.

[The Stranger:Me]

Just went through the article.

I think you should actually read it properly before posting criticism of it.

I submit that it is fair and even handed, and actually more a swipe at the proceedures used than a swipe at the aged for the sake of age.

And whilst you are at it read the statistics offered, they are rather chilling. Each statistic is someones life and a family damaged, not just a number on a bit of paper!

[oldrider]

[QUOTE=CaN]Just went through the article. I think you should actually read it properly before posting criticism of it.QUOTE]

I did say I speed read the article and that I don't have the mag at the moment to re-read it.

I also said I was happy to be contradicted.

I just posted how I felt about BRONZ and I wonder how many others feel negative towards BRONZ without really stopping to look at it in depth.

In other words how much apathy is there out there and what does BRONZ really do to encourage new interest or members etc?

I gave the article a brief scan and it endorsed the negative feelings rather than the positive as a result, so I shared my feelings on this thread.

As I also said, my perception is my reality and I haven't had any "must join" vibes from BRONZ apart from this thread and I defend my right to post on that. John.

[oldrider]

I would heartly encourage you to join and attend BRONZ meetings etc in your area and in that way have your say in how BRONZ should best serve motorcyclists.

Yes, well I have started that process.
There are two branches available to me for membership. Timaru or Otago.
I "Googled" BRONZ and had to sort through a lot of crap before I found it.
The site has been refreshed considerably since I last looked at it, impressed this time.
I rang the Timaru branch contact number and Ron is sending me some material about the organisation and advised of where and when they hold their meetings.
I don't know if I will be able to make it to the meetings but I will give membership serious consideration. Cheers John.

[laRIKin]

Is there a CH.CH (Canterbury) member of BRONZ here on this forum?

And what is it like now?

Years a go a mate came back from over seas to rejoin (went to a meeting) and no one would talk to him.
So just left pissed off, as it was not the same sort of people that were their when he had left.
He got the feeling that it had lost momentum (nothing new to do) and just was winding down and was very cliquy.

I'm not really trying to run it down, as they have done good work.
Just want a up date to what it is like now.
And what are doing etc.

http://bronz.org.nz/

After sending E-Mails and searching.
I found this.

http://www.bronz.org.nz/news/national.htm

So now I know.

[oldrider]

Well I got my bike ship shape today and Mrs O/r and I rode around to Timaru via the McKenzie country and attended a BRONZ branch meeting there.

Answering CaN's challenge above.

They were/are a nice bunch of guy's and made us very welcome.
Their meeting was reasonably short and quite formal (about 1 hr) 4pm to 5pm.

We had a 140km to ride home, via Waimate, so didn't have time to do much socialising after the meeting unfortunately but it was a good ice breaker.

I had a little inward laugh to myself re my thinking BRONZ was getting at the older drivers in the KiwiRider article, all of those at the meeting were all at least my age or older!

I have a much clearer understanding of what BRONZ stands for now.

The one thing that seems consistent about BRONZ is that they are struggling for active members everywhere at a time when (In my opinion) bikers need to be united and strong.

Are there any other organisations, besides BRONZ doing their work?

How else are we going to combat the socialist rule/law makers that are eroding our rights and requirements that allow us to remain free spirited motorcyclists.

There has to be a better way of empowering our united voice so that they can not and dare not ignore us and if they do, they do it at their peril.

Think about it, we seem to be being ignored with impunity at the moment!

How many motorcyclists are there in New Zealand? Does anyone really know?

There seem to be too many self interested (not a criticism) and varied biker groups, spinning their wheels, castigating each other, throughout NZ while the bureaucrats and politicians run rough shod all over us.

Are "WE" going to do anything about it. :spudwhat:

Big dave has made a start.

BRONZ have been battling away.

They need more support!

So far I'm only thinking about what I can do to help but at least I'm thinking. Cheers John.

[Big Dave]

I have a few days updating and building web sites and 2 kiwi rider articles to pen - and then its focus on BRONZ/Politics again - when is the next AKl meet - next wednesday?

[The Stranger:Me]

Well thank you oldrider for taking the time. Great stuff.

The next Auckland meeting is the wednesday after that, the 19th of April.

[oldrider]

We had our local Ulysses branch AGM tonight and after the meeting we had an informal discussion about BRONZ and their situation and the role/function that they play in the politics and the protection of our (bikers) rights.

It was pretty unanimous among the group that all biker groups should show support and get in behind BRONZ and give them backing so that they can wield a bigger better stronger stick on our behalf.

It was also considered prudent to back BRONZ rather than try to reinvent the wheel. The infrastructure of BRONZ is already in existence and it just needs our support and backing.

It was not an opportunity for anything more positive tonight but we are going to carry on thinking and discussing what we can do to help.

Everyone present felt that "now" is when BRONZ really needs us, (and we need them) rather than later, because the f**ck wits of politics are creaming us and pulling the rug out from under our wheels.

We are trying to light a fire here. Will keep you posted, Cheers John.

[Big Dave]

The next Auckland meeting is the wednesday after that, the 19th of April.

Do you know/can we post - what is on the agenda?

[The Stranger:Me]

Do you know/can we post - what is on the agenda?

Buggered if I know Dave, I just turn up. Never really been one for protocol.

I am happy to speak to Finn, like I gather you got something/s you wish to include.

You can obviously call him though.

[Big Dave]

I gather you got something/s you wish to include.

Looking for some inspiration atchally.