MRA Vic to be wound up?
The 32-year-old Victorian institution could be dissolved at its next – and quite possibly the last – AGM on March 18, with a new organisation to start from a clean slateThe future of the 32-year-old Motorcycle Riders Association (Vic) will be decided by a membership vote at its next AGM on Friday, March 18.
At the AGM, a special resolution will be put to members that the MRA be formally wound up and all assets, including intellectual property, be “packaged and transferred to the Victorian Motorcycle Council to carry on protecting and promoting riders’ rights”.
The Victorian Motorcycle Council (VMC) holds positions in both the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council and Australian Motorcycle Council.
In the latest MRA newsletter, a number of reasons have been spelt out for the organisation’s future coming to such a dramatic impasse.
“The committee has had to look realistically at how effective the MRA has become and ask the question: ‘is this in the bets interests of the riders of Victoria’?” wrote Kerry Walton, the current president.
“For many reasons we cannot rid the MRA of the negative vibes and baggage from the past. We have tried to move on and rebirth the MRA as the new kid on the block, but cretins from the past keep popping up I conversations with government organisations, potential sponsors. All the good work a small crew of hard workers makes gets spoiled by the actions of a few.
“The MRA mailbox should be full of membership applications, but instead it gets filled with historically insignificant rubbish aimed at dragging us down and forcing us to look inwards rather than fighting the real battles. So it’s time to move forward.
“I sincerely request each and every member to come to the 2011 AGM…. because it has come to a crossroad.”
Even though the membership decline over the past 12 years has now been arrested, the MRA executive questions whether the “MRA is the best vehicle to represent riders moving forward or is there a better way”.
It was also noted that MRA membership has dwindled since the explosion of social riding clubs in recent years.
The MRA hierarchy believes rebadging the organisation will be more a problem than a solution, and is adamant that a new group has to be formed, backed by the motorcycle industry and community, with no formal ties to the MRA.
If the MRA ceases to exist, events such as the Cranbourne MotoGP Run and Toy Run won't be affected, with a majority of the latter already organised by Ulysses Club branches.
The MRA was founded in May, 1978, for the promotion and support for road safety, fair and sensible laws, and a better image for motorcyclists.
The 2011 MRA AGM will be held at Galways Arms Bistro in Keilor at 7.00pm on Friday, March 18. The location is 670 Old Calder Highway.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
