**Bold Name indicates participant has advanced to the next award within the last month.
Each time the chapter sets a date for a ride it declares whether the mileage accumulated will count toward the chapter's "In-the-Wind" program. This is a voluntary program set-up a long time ago to encourage rider participation in a friendly, competitive atmosphere.
Miles ridden by participants are tallied for both chapter members and non, then for every thousand miles a patch is earned. The first 1,000 mile patch is the largest and the subsequent mileage patches are smaller. Following 20,000 miles, an individual rider may qualify for a new patch every 5,000 miles. Purchasing every mileage patch is not required for participation - get only those you want.
The rules for the program are posted along with the prices for patches. There is a nominal fee for each patch to cover the cost of having them produced. While the rules might seem kinda "Official" they exist to keep a level playing field. Remember - the object of the program is to enjoy sharing the road with fellow riders. Showing how much you share it is just a bonus.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this program is to encourage riding with Tacoma Chapter, and to give those who do a means of demonstrating it by displaying the mileage patches they have earned.
PARTICIPANTS: Riders of motorcycles and trikes and their passengers may participate, whether members or not. The driver and one passenger of a breakdown vehicle are also eligible to earn miles if they accompany at least one motorcycle or trike. More than one breakdown vehicle may participate and receive miles on any particular run.
AUTHORIZED EVENTS: “In-the-Wind” miles must be authorized in advance by a majority vote of members present at a business meeting. The chapter may approve more than one event on any given day.
IMPROMPTU RUNS: In the event of an impromptu run, which is scheduled last minute and unable to be discussed during a meeting, if three or more Chapter members participate in the run and the Chapter Officers approve the run as “In-the-Wind” prior to the event, then the mileage from that event will count toward “In-the-Wind” miles. If you are coordinating such an event, an e-mail may be sent to officers@tacomaabate.org to receive approval prior to the event.
PARTIAL CREDIT: Anyone joining a run after the starting point, or leaving before the ending point will earn only the miles they completed on the run.
PRE-DETERMINED DESTINATIONS: If an “In-the-Wind” approved run has a pre-determined destination (such as a particular party or event) the miles earned will be round trip from the designated starting point. In such cases, participants may arrive at the event separately, but must actually participate in the event. Out of state destinations may only be MRO events, and not more than 400 miles away (800 miles round trip).
EXCEPTIONS FOR NON-RIDERS: Persons unable to ride because they must transport equipment needed for an “In-the-Wind” event are eligible for the same miles as everyone else. Chapter officers and designees who are on official ABATE business at the same time an “In-the-Wind” run is taking place will receive the same miles that they would if they were on the run.
AUTHORITY: The Road Captain (or an officer or designee) will determine the miles earned and issue mileage slips to participants. If mileage slips are not available at the time, a list of participants will be compiled and the slips passed out later.
PATCHES: Participants are responsible for their own mileage slips. No replacements will be issued for lost slips. When a person has accumulated 1,000 miles or more, the slips are submitted to the Road Captain who will verify the total and issue the appropriate patch and a slip for the excess miles over the thousand. The fee for the first 1,000 mile patch is $5.00 and $2.50 for each succeeding thousand mile patch. The highest attainable patch is “Veteran 20,000+” and is $3.50.