AMA staff keeps delivering critical services
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Although COVID-19 restrictions have forced nearly every American Motorcyclist Association staff member to work from home, we are continuing to provide the essential services our members rely upon.
Member Services
AMA Member Services remains open, helping AMA members and those wishing to join.
Manager Tiffany Pound and her team of member services representatives are answering phones and processing new memberships and renewals, as well as answering questions.
Call center hours have been adjusted slightly. Please call (800) AMA-JOIN from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Or email us any time at membership@ama-cycle.org.
Amanda Donchess, AMA director of membership marketing and services, is busy preparing and sending membership renewal notices through the U.S. mail and in email, monitoring the call center and helping other AMA departments get email updates and important information to AMA members and organizers.
Government Relations
The AMA Government Relations Department continues to protect your rights as motorcyclists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
All of the GRD staff members are responding to questions and calls for legislative or regulatory assistance from motorcyclists across the country.
“The biggest thing I’ve been doing is monitoring the COVID-19 situation and potential impacts on riding, as well as opportunities for relief for impacts organizers and businesses,” said Mike Sayre, AMA director of government relations. “Other than that, I’m working on developing our new advocacy software. And members can expect to see a refreshed and easier to use Rights Section of the AMA website in the coming months.”
Nick Haris, AMA western states representative, has been attending conference calls and Zoom meetings with public officials and fellow riders regarding ongoing legislative issues.
He also has been working with the Communications Department on a story for the June issue of American Motorcyclist about electric motorcycles and electric bicycles on public trails.
Gina Miller, administrative assistant, is fielding calls to the Government Relations Department, monitoring the Federal Register for noteworthy filings and adding bills to the AMA VoterVoice system for monitoring.
If you need assistance from the AMA Government Relations Department, email grassroots@ama-cycle.org or call (202) 220-1390.
Communications
The Communications Department just put the finishing touches on the May issue of American Motorcyclist, and copies should be arriving in members’ mailboxes in a couple of weeks.
The April issue is live online now at https://americanmotorcyclist.com/Members-Magazine-Archive. During April, the magazine is available to nonmembers, as well. So share the link with friends and family who are not already a part of the AMA family and ask them to join you!
We also are posting daily to the AMA social media channels. Check out Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
And be sure you are receiving all of the AMA e-newsletters, including AMA Extra, Hall of Fame Insider, AMA News & Notes and AMA Action Alerts. You can sign up at https://americanmotorcyclist.com/ama-newsletters-and-social-media-channels.
Recreational Riding
AMA Recreational Riding Manager Heather Wilson said coordinator Serena Van Dyke is processing incoming charter applications from AMA clubs and organizers, tracking down post-event paperwork and helping organizers reschedule events.
“I’ve been updating the AMA National Dual Sport Series and AMA National Adventure Riding Series assets,” Heather said. “And we sent out a charter renewal email reminder for those yet to renew for 2020.”
Wilson also is working on organizer resources and guides to help them with best practices for establishing a club or business, as well for as operating events.
More information about the AMA Recreational Riding program is available at https://americanmotorcyclist.com. Just look under the “Riding” tab.
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is closed for the duration of the COVID-19 order from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
But the work hasn’t stopped.
Program Specialist Paula Schremser is processing the donations received during the final phase of the Hall of Fame’s “I’m With Malcolm” appeal, which provides gifts for various levels of support. You can make your donation here at amagive.org.
She also is recording the donations made for raffle tickets for the 1973 BMW R75/5 sidecar rig and for the Lords of the Board Track custom raffle bike. You can purchase your chances to win those bikes here https://americanmotorcyclist.com/raffle-bike.
And Schremser is preparing upcoming campaigns to raise funds for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, which preserves the rich tradition of American motorcycling.
You can “virtually visit” the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame online and read the bios of the men, women, organizations and businesses that have made their marks on American motorcycling. Just go to http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame.