MSF Prepares for New Future While Maintaining Core Programs

While we all wait on the safe reopening of rider training sites across the country and around the world, the MSF team remains hard at work supporting RiderCoach re-certifications, responding to inquiries from coaches and programs, receiving and shipping training materials every Tuesday and Thursday, and providing eCourse support to students and training providers.

Meanwhile, the MSF vRETS webinar series – the Virtual Rider Education Training System Workshops with Dr. Ray Ochs, vice president of training systems – is an unqualified success. Since April 7, vRETS has gone live every week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the occasional, special Saturday session. To date, they have counted more than 4,400 registrations and 3,700 attendees, the RiderCoaches and others in the safety community logging on and diving into the content with Dr. Ray.

In response to state programs that have chosen to resume training, the MSF is developing recommendations for delivering classes while adhering to RETS standards, with companion documents on social distancing and maintaining a hygienic training environment.

“The MSF continues to work closely with all stakeholders in rider education and motorcyclist safety to seek solutions for today’s challenges,” said Robert Gladden, vice president of training operations. “Many state programs are experiencing significant turbulence, ranging from postponed classes, to loss of ranges on college campuses, to complete program shutdowns. However, the MSF’s many resources, from ourRiderCourse Enrollment System, to our varied RiderCourses, to our online Quality Assurance System, to our online Q-Center, to the Basic eCourse, remain available to qualified entities. We hope that all our partners in safety reach out to us for our help.”

The MSF is also revitalizing and reprioritizing initiatives, preparing for a new future. The organization is committed to working with industry colleagues to help in the recovery. And for many small businesses in the motorcycle safety community, the Motorcycle Industry Council’s guide to financial resources and government updates can be of great value.

“Every MSF team member in every state we work with wants to see us all ride it out, together,” Gladden said. “Team efforts and key partnerships matter now, more than ever.”

Link: MSF

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.