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STEVE ZURL
As an active member of Chester County ABATE, and a Life Member of ABATE of PA, Steve served as Chapter President and Public Relations officer. At A.B.A.T.E.'s 2004 Leadership & Legislative Seminar, Steve was the honored recipient of the Ed Fruecht Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award.
Steve is also a member of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) where he serves as one of Pennsylvania's Assistant State Representatives. “While ABATE of PA works for motorcyclists at the state level, the MRF performs a similar function at the federal level. Working with the MRF, we can ensure motorcyclists are given consideration with EPA, healthcare (HIPPA), and highway safety issues.”
“Throughout my life, everything I’ve ever been involved with, from outdoor sports, to motorcycles, to model planes, to skateboarding has been subject to government interference and legislation. If you want to responsibly enjoy a leisure-time activity, you have to be informed, and work with government to be properly represented. ABATE is the motorcyclist’s voice in Harrisburg.”
In his professional life Steve’s broad technical background prepared him for his career as a Systems Administrator for a global manufacturing company. Previous positions include Mechanical and Electrical design. To prepare for these technical roles, Steve received a B.S. Degree in Information Systems from Widener University, and an A.S. Degree in Applied Technology from Delaware County Community College.
As an active member of the community where he lives, Steve began his involvement in local politics, serving in several elected positions, and an appointed position in the Municipal Authority. Steve has been an active campaign worker for his party and individual candidates. Through his current elected position as Committeeman, Steve has been able to serve as a direct link between the residents and his party, making legislators aware of local issues and concerns.
Today, Steve continues to work motorcyclists’ issues, both at the state and federal level. When Steve is not working for us in Harrisburg, he’s on the road on his Harley Davidson Electraglide. “This is a beautiful country, and Pennsylvania is one of the most scenic states. From the small villages to the big cities, Pennsylvania offers something for everyone.”
STATE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
Steve Zurl
610-212-1820
Email PR Officer!
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Public Relations At Its Best!
Public Relations at its best! What’s next? Maybe the cover of People or Newsweek? I’m referring to the cover of the American Motorcyclist Association’s September issue of American Motorcyclist magazine. Charles Umbenhauer on the cover, with a feature story inside! A.B.A.T.E. of PA was featured in a national magazine with a circulation of around 300,000!
Looking at the magazine, I had feelings of pride, a sense of accomplishment, and a realization that A.B.A.T.E. of PA is prepared to deal with the issues ahead. That “face of A.B.A.T.E.” on the cover represents the thousands of members and District & Chapter officers, past and present, that give so much of themselves for what they believe in.
Much of what the article dealt with was the history of A.B.A.T.E. of PA, and its accomplishments. While this organization has accomplished much throughout its relatively brief history, it’s still “history”. I look at the accomplishments as a foundation we can build on as we plan for the future.
As for Public Relations, I’m hoping that the members of the AMA and A.B.A.T.E. of PA will get to know the value of each other’s organization through the magazine exposure. The AMA has been a useful resource to A.B.A.T.E. of PA and deserves support, and vice versa.
For the benefit of the newer members of A.B.A.T.E. of PA, I’ll take this opportunity to explain how the MRF and AMA compliment A.B.A.T.E. of PA. A.B.A.T.E. is a State Motorcyclists Rights Organization (SMRO). Its lobbying effort is limited to the state. The organizations that deal with federal legislation are the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF). While A.B.A.T.E. of PA represents bikers in Harrisburg, the MRF and AMA lobby for motorcyclists in Washington, DC. I urge you to consider annual memberships in both organizations. You’ve heard me say, “What we worked so hard for in Pennsylvania can be taken by the stroke of a pen in Washington.”
Speaking of Washington, I’ve been following the presidential campaign, and occasionally see stories that make me feel good as a motorcyclist. This isn’t a plug for any specific candidate, but I saw Senator McCain addressing a crowd of bikers at Sturgis. And recently, the MRF announced a meeting with the Republican National Committee to address motorcyclists’ issues. They’ve requested a similar meeting with the Democratic National Committee. I bring this up to point out the results of a good Public Relations effort by the motorcyclists. Why talk to bikers? We’re recognized as an effective lobbying “group”, with a tight network. This is a group that can make a difference! It wasn’t that long ago that no one wanted to bother with us. Through our work within the community, our commitment to safety, our ability to intelligently discuss issues, and our ability to turn out the vote, people are listening and understanding. I attribute this not only to persistent lobbying, but also to an excellent national Public Relations effort. It took a while, but we beat the image Hollywood painted.
While on the subject of elections, I need to touch briefly on the issues in Allegheny County involving County Council. I’ll leave the details of the meetings to Lynn Wesley’s article, but basically, Lynn and several others responded to a proposed Resolution. Through rational and reasonable discussions, the members in Allegheny County were able to hold off a Council vote, and continue discussions to determine if the resolution is really warranted. Good PR translated to good lobbying!
With elections a couple months away, and the media focus being on the presidential race, I ask you to look past the high-visibility campaigns, and get to know all the candidates, face-to-face if possible. County Council, Township Supervisors, and the School Board, have as much of an impact on your life as does a President! The Township Supervisors can exercise eminent domain. They enact ordinances. They implement local income and property taxes. They define the zoning, which is a legal taking of property. Yet “off-year” elections get a 14%-20% turnout in my area, and probably yours also! These positions are the “Farm League” for Harrisburg! We need to vote smartly in ALL elections, and ensure we advance the right people! Identify good candidates, and offer just a couple hours of your time to their campaigns.
Finally, I want to mention a nice PR effort by Kay Horner of Bald Eagle Mountain Chapter. Back in April, Kay started a job with the East Lycoming Shopper & News, a local news publication in Hughesville, Pa. Thanks to Kay, the paper ran a Motorcycle Safety Section in two issues in May. “I wanted to do what I could to promote May as Motorcycle Safety & Awareness Month”, said Kay. “There are members of our Chapter who submitted articles and gathered proclamations relating to motorcycle safety.” Thanks for your effort, Kay! We can never have too many friends in the media.
For information on the MRF and AMA, visit their web sites at mrf.org and ama-cycle.org
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