Words from the ELAM ChairI took over Chairmanship duties at the end of May from Chris Cotter. It’s a great privilege to be the figurehead of the group which has been a fundamental part of my motorcycling background. Safety and progress are my overriding mantras.
I joined the IAM first as a motorist, then in 2005, I took up biking and joined ELAM a year later. Like every other full member in the group I’ve had the benefit of being coached and mentored by the Excellent Observer Team with pretty much the same format as we use today. I was accepted into the Observer Team a year after passing my Test – it’s a great honour and I was able to pass on the skills I was taught to very many Associates in the intervening years.
Like many of the previous group Chairmen, apart from looking at ways to grow the group membership, my aim is to get more of the Full Members to join the ranks of the Observers.
Being an Observer involves a big time commitment which can’t be ignored; but the benefit is you get additional help and training and a great deal of satisfaction from seeing your Associate develop, you will be a major factor in getting them through the test.
I’m glad to see so much activity and continued support from everyone in the group for all the official ELAM and Ad Hoc social rides. If there’s anyone reading this who hasn’t participated in any social rides I urge you to try one out – you won’t regret it – they’re a lot of fun and well organised.
If you have any ideas that you think the group might benefit from please don’t be shy about mentioning them to me. I’ll seriously consider anything that’s serious. My contact details are in this edition of Progression.
I look forward to seeing you at our next group event which will be listed in the Forum calendar.
Meantime ride safely and enjoy the summer – it’s the ultimate biking season !
See you out there.
John Saffer
Group Chair
e-mail: chair@elam.org.uk
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