Montana Motorcycle Safety Advisory Committee
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Meeting Minutes
June 18, 2001
1:30 – 3:30 PM
Second Floor Conference Room – Scott Hart Building
303 North Roberts Street
Helena, Montana
1. Call to Order
Chairman Dal Smilie called the meeting to order at 1:40 p.m. Present at the meeting were MMSAC members Ladd Paulson, Anita Drews-Oppedahl, Michele Hand, Ken Radovich, and Dal Smilie. Also present were Doug Tyrrell, MMRS Director and Michele Calvert, Program Coordinator from MSU-Northern; Albert Goke, Governor’s Highway Safety Representative from the Montana Department of Transportation; Ray Paige, Off-Highway Education Coordinator from the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks; and Ken Conrad, Instructor.
2. Minutes of October 17, 2000 Meeting
The minutes of the meeting of October17, 2000 were approved.
3. Introduction of new Director
Doug Tyrrell was introduced as the new MMRS Director. Doug came from Iowa and started May 1. Michele Calvert was introduced as the new Program Coordinator for MMRS and began in this position May 15th .
4. 2001 Training Season Update
4.1. Instructor Update – March 31st & April 1st
MMRS conducted an update for instructors on teaching the ERC. Chief Instructor Bob Reichenberg from California conducted the update. Classroom and Range activities were conducted to familiarize the instructors with the ERC. Twenty of the 22 active instructors attended the update.
4.2. Instructor Preparation – May 6-13
MMRS conducted an Instructor Preparation in Great Falls on May 6-13, 200. Chief Instructor Brad Malakoff from Washington conducted the IP. Five candidates attended the IP, and 3 new instructors were certified. All 3 new instructors will teach motorcycle safety classes for MMRS in 2001. Twenty-six MSF-certified instructors now teach classes for MMRS .
5. New MSF Basic RiderCourse® Curriculum
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation unveiled its new Basic RiderCourse® curriculum at the 2000 State Motorcycle Safety Administrators conference. The new curriculum uses adult learning techniques and focuses more student time on riding and judgment.
MMRS sent Roger Swearengen, Ken Radovich and Bob Reichenberg to Coulton, CA for training to become the BRC implementation team. There will be a BRC update held in Great Falls on July,28-29 to train the 13 instructors that will tearch the BRC in Great Falls, Billings and Missoula. The remainder of the instructors and ranges will convert to the BRC in 2002.
6. Training Sites
Discussion was held of the need for more range locations to better serve the client base as identified by the mission statement. Finding a training site in Helena continues to be a priority in order to serve the substantial demand for classes there. MMRS continues to be hopeful that the potential range site at the Rocky Mountain Emergency Services Training Center will be available for 2001. MMRS is seeking an alternate range site.
The Committee also discussed establishing cooperative training with North Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho. Opportunities may exist to use nearby instructors or send students to nearby classes just across the border. MMRS will follow up on this and report back to the MMSAC.
7. Private Training
The Committee briefly discussed the role of MMRS in encouraging privately offered motorcycle safety training. No private parties are currently conducting motorcycle safety training in Montana. The Committee recommended that no action was necessary at this time.
8. Reciprocity
The Committee discussed reciporcity with other states.
9. Examiner Please Test (EPT)
The Committee briefly discussed the role of MMRS instructors in the licensing process, and if the option for EPT existed, and was needed. Anita indicated that drivers training instructors had EPT as an option. Ken R. and Ken C. indicated that the instructors would be placed in a role that was unnecessary, that the minimum standards for completion of the class should suffice. The committee agreed that no change was needed.
10. Reports
10.1 Montana Riding Groups
Michele H. asked if MMRS had its informational materials on the list of motorcycle information available through Western Montana College.
10.2. Instructors
Ken Radovich reported that the implementation team was preparing to present the new Basic RiderCourse® to the current instructors and they were eager to adopt the new curriculum.
11. Next Meeting Date
The Committee discussed meeting again shortly after the 2001 training season is over. The Chairman will set the next meeting date.
12. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
