| Author | Message | ||
     Gregtonn |
If anyone has email or snail mail addresses to send letters relating to the Buell shutdown please post them here. Thank you, Greg Tonn | ||
| Greg_e |
One word of warning... Anyone coming off like an uneducated @$$hat will do us all harm in writing letters. I would suggest a mild tone to express your displeasure with the decision, and we should gather as many financial facts as possible for a defense. (Message edited by greg_e on November 15, 2009) | ||
| Jammin_joules |
Point shared Greg. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/406 2/514563.html?1258336431 | ||
| Seanp |
You know, I'm as pissed as the next BadWebber about H-D killing off Buell, but what purpose is served by complaining about it to H-D? Is there any possibility of them taking back their decision? Or might people's efforts be better utilized by trying to figure out a way for Erik to continue his magic elsewhere? Perhaps a letter-writing campaign to another manufacturer who might pick Erik and his crew? | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
No other manufacturer should buy Buell. Let us invest in Buell. Id be willing to invest quite a bit into this company and Im sure many others would as well. | ||
| Gregtonn |
Sean, There a many players other than HD that can help the cause. The intent is disseminate the correct information to as many of these players as possible. G | ||
| P47b |
I agree with you Grag_e that we need to be calm, clear and direct. Motorcycle magazines, Wisconsin legislator, and H/D. | ||
| Greg_e |
Well, they didn't sell it, and so far have not destroyed the tools or moved them out of the country, so yes there is a possibility that if enough stock holders can be convinced that this was stupid, then it could easily be put back online. | ||
| Court |
This could, and should, be a WIN-WIN deal . . .Harley-Davidson licenses certain Buell IP and insures the agreement strictly forbids access to anything such as their dealer network, business systems . . blah, blah, , blah. If I were writing Wisconsin Legislators I'd start with Representative Scott Gunderson and Senator Mary Lazich As has been pointed out in other threads . . . . Our cause is best served if your letter is:
If some of you who want to write are uncomfortable with how to address folks in the state legislature or would like a "sample" letter we can get some to post a template here. Very important to stay on the high road . . . these folks are very interested in any sort of surviving entity that can come from Buell. | ||
| Greg_e |
A well written semi form letter would be a good idea. | ||
| Poppinsexz |
+1 on the formed letter | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
a "sample" letter we can get some to post a template here. That would be great..... I suggest we send a snail mail letter to every motorcycle mag we have subscriptions to... Editor Roadracing World PO Box 1428 Lake Elsinore, CA 92531-1428 AMA 13515 Yarmouth Dr Pickerington, OH 43147 MotorCyclist 6420 Wilshire BLVD Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515 Just a few I have within reach.... | ||
| Court |
HELPFUL TIPS - this is for a legislature. Adjust accordingly for media and others. For those of you who are not fluent in writing letter or may not have occasion to write often. Key points below are great guidelines Be polite, courteous and respectful A REAL letter . . . on paper with an envelope and stamp . . is VERY powerful. Ready . . .set . . GO !
http://www.kshealthconsumer.com/legislator.htm http://www.wright.edu/nursing/healthpolicy/module5 .htm http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC0101 85801033.aspx?CategoryID=CT101470651033 | ||
| Greg_e |
Try to sign with a ball point pen so that you make a real impression into the paper, yes they do check this type of thing to see if it is just something ripped off a color printer from a form and "rubber stamped" with your signature image. I wonder if a real hand written letter might do something to get the message actually read. No one actually hand writes letters anymore and it would show that some real time was applied. The novelty might be worth something. | ||
| Spiderman |
I just hit a reply all email from all the H-D high ups with a photocopy of my spider-buns!  | ||
| Augustus74 |
Court - if you say it, it definitely carries some weight, but what exactly am I supposed to ask the legislator to do? Give Buell a loan like the car companies?? And does it hold any weight if I don't reside in said district? | ||
| Swordsman |
You guys beat me to it... I was going to start this same thread this morning. I'm curious though, why bring it up to legislators? I can't think of why they would care, or how they would even get involved...? Or is that simply being used as a template for a letter to others? ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on November 16, 2009) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Well, 180 voters are out of work. A lot of small businesses in the area will be affected by the closure possibly putting other people out of work. It would be to their constituency's benefit for Buell to re-open. | ||
| Court |
>>>why bring it up to legislators? It can't hurt them to be aware of it. I have a phone conference this morning with folks about a group of investors. If the time comes that an investment group shows up looking for local tax incentives, IRB's or any kind of local help I'l like for the local legislators to at least be aware. In the last meeting I had the local politicians were ready to do any and everything to help save jobs. They also realize that it's not an "East Troy" problem but a Wisconsin problem. There were about as many folks supporting Buell, at vendors and fabricators, as there were working at Buell. I'm hoping folks adopt something like a "3 letters a week until we get some news" approach. If you'd rather . . . write the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . . . a motorcycle magazine of one of the Board of Directors and just simply as "why is Buell not being sold?" | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Mailing Address: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel C/O Chuck Melvin P.O. Box 371 Milwaukee, WI 53201 According to the MJS website, Chuck is the Assistant Managing Editor for business Date yet to be determinded We are in a holding patern until we get a go from Court. (Message edited by wolfridgerider on November 16, 2009) | ||
| Court |
Actually . . . I just got off the phone . . . I'd suggest folks get their letters written and then sit tight to send them. I'll coordinate the date with Wolfridgerider who I am unilaterally conferring the title of "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Letter Coordinator". Mark . . shoot me your number and I'll call around 3:00pm with details. I'm curious as to just how powerful the internet is. How many letters do you think we could get folks on BadWeb to send? I'd like to think hundreds but there have been many times in the past when folks can frothed up on line but when it comes to to DO the enthusiasm fades. I'd love to see this thing get legs . . . I think we can do some good. Court | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I now have a TITLE??? My head is gonna swell! PM on its way and I will edit my post | ||
| Court |
>>>I wonder if a real hand written letter might do something to get the message actually read. No one actually hand writes letters anymore and it would show that some real time was applied. I'll share one of my OLD time business secrets . . . there is NOTHING more powerful than the written letter. This is how I ended up on Air Force One and how I ended up speaking with Dionne Sanders at the NFL Players Banquet. E-mail is cheap and easy to delete. A written letter on the other hand has to be dealt with by someone, somehow. If you make the letter aggressive or angry . . . you provide an instant reason to throw it in the trash/shredder. If you write a polite letter and if the letter looks nice . . . it requires someone to do something with it. The folks who typically open them generally aren't sure they have the authority and don't want to get in trouble. So they'll escalate the letter to their boss or corporate communications. In addition. . . . and I really shouldn't be telling you this . . I use some subliminal tricks. What the hell, you're friends. Whenever I meet someone . . . Let's use former Harley-Davidson President Rich Teerlink as an example . . . I wait 3 days and follow up with a hand written note. It's not just ANY note . . . I send them on William Arthur custom made note cards with the finest engraving in the finest, cloth lined envelopes I can buy. As many of you who have received crap from me know . . . I am an avid user of fountain pens with the old ink wells so many times there is ink splattered about my signature. When someone's secretary sees this thing . . . kinda like a FedEx package that arrives marked "URGENT" . . . they'll interrupt their boss to hand it to them. I want the mere FEEL of the paper to make them think it's important before they read one word. What have I accomplished with this? Stick with me now . . . There is a little thing we're all victims of called "memory trace". Some scientists actually refer to this as an Engram and go into great detail to describe the biological change that occurs in the brain . . but regardless of what I've picked up at M.I.T. or Columbia . I'm a construction worker and that shit's all Greek to me. What I do know if that our memory works on a funny way . . think of dragging your finger through syrup standing on a plate . . . you drag it through once and after a moment all evidence is gone. But . . wait a few seconds and do it again and the "impression" lingers. We tend to forget stuff we are exposed to fairly quickly. But . . . when that letter comes, the really nice letter that makes a visual impression AND makes a person feel important . . it magnifies that memory. The first time I met Teerlink if I'd done nothing he'd have never remembered me. But . . . even in 1987 . . . I made sure to write him a letter and guess what . . . the next time I saw him . . . and someone introduced us his eyes lit up . . "Court. . . Court . . hmmm. . . oh, yeah, you’re the one who wrote me the nice note". After that he, his wife Anne, daughter Victoria and my family were good friends. He'd even recognize my kids at events. Did the letter make the difference? Who knows? But . . I can give you hundreds of such examples and I'm convinced it's made otherwise impossible business deals work. Some folks get hung up on what to write. Words are funny. They can help a great deal . . . but just like this letter writing the more important thing is to ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING. If you are a poor writer or uncomfortable . . write like you talk. Say what you feel and follow your heart. There are times. . . when I (yes, even I) am at a loss for words I use my old stand by "Thank You". I've never had using those two words result in anything but good. I know . . I know . . it sounds like, in fact it is, a lecture. But . . I think there is some REAL good that we can do and if we could really get, say the 400 folks who came to Homecoming last year, to write a couple letters expressing concern for not allowing Erik Buell to at least take the tattered pieces that Harley-Davidson has said they don't want . . . Well . . . you might just be surprised. Court | ||
| Oldog |
This sounds like a great start I like this much better than Boycotts or the like, We need to support the dealers that support the brand, as po as we are over this it, I like it LETS DO THIS BFFB! | ||
| Moxnix |
I'll put together some variations on the theme, depending on recipient or audience. When someone gives the green light, they will quickly be ready to go out as required. Two quick quotes from the African bush: 1. He who defecates in the road meets flies on his return. 2. The ants devour the elephant. Now all we need is to do is send the message on the jungle drums at the proper time. Buell folk already own the corners; they can own this, too. | ||
| Slaughter |
Been fixing my tranny all day Sat and racing yesterday so missed all the latest. Keep it rolling, I'm in for a written letter. Another trick (works for me here as a lover of fountain pens) - when you loan somebody a pen, loan them a fountain pen but keep the cap. The pen WILL find its way back to you EVERY TIME! | ||
| Court |
>>>The pen WILL find its way back to you EVERY TIME! I assume you have a collection of ruined shirts too? . . . never a problem finding rags in my place. | ||
| Xbrad9r |
hey Court...sent you a pm, let me know when you have time if I can do anything else. Thanks for everything you are doing. | ||
| Jb2 |
I'm in. Is this the thread to watch? Making a bomb run later this week(motorcycle related) to VA & NC but can have something together pretty quickly. Kim could mail it Friday. After seeing the new Buell that wasn't released has me burning. | ||
| Swordsman |
I'm curious about the contents. Should we: a.) Gripe about the fact H-D closed Buell and refuses to sell? b.) Question H-D's reasonings for not selling Buell? c.) Complain about the way in which Buell was closed (severing nose, yadda yadda)? d.) Mention anything about our suspicions, Dale's blog, etc.? e.) Something else? There's a lot of emotions and questions going around. If this is to be a concerted effort, I'd like to know a specific intent for these letters. It'll help me write. Cuz I'm REALLY slow. ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on November 16, 2009) |
