Bikers For Best Friends

Can You Help Us?

BikerMark — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:57:36 GMT

Riding season is either here in your area or very, very close to happening. With that, do you know of a ride or biker event that benefits animals? We want to post information on upcoming biker events for animals so that Bikers for Best Friends members know what is going on, mark their calendars, and attend. If you know of an event in your area, please send the details to mstefanowski@gmail.com with "BFBF Event" in the subject line and they will get posted. Thanks. Ride Safe and Ride for the Animals!

Star Power and Now Honorary Biker For Best Friends

BikerMark — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:36:30 GMT

She can sing. She can dance. She can act. Heck, she can even compose songs that will knock your socks off. If her resume doesn’t impress you yet, just wait a couple years until she becomes a teenager. It’s anybody’s guess what she’ll have picked up by then. …

Eleven-year-old Olivia Hill is not your average pre-teen. At an age when most kids are trying to scrape together enough allowance to go watch a movie, Olivia is starring in them. And where most kids are trying to beg mom and dad for a new pet, Olivia is saving lives by supporting shelters and rescues at every opportunity. She’s the first to encourage her friends — and anybody else — to adopt, not purchase, their next pet.

Olivia and friends

As for the creative lifestyle, in Olivia’s case, she had a leg up in that department with her family. Her mother, Tamara, is a writer/director, and her father Warren is a critically acclaimed musician. Even so, good genes can only carry you so far. Olivia had to decide to walk that path on her own.

No worries on that count, though. She started singing onstage with her dad at age two, and then began composing her own stuff at age four. Since that time, she has performed the leading role in the play Annie, has received multiple awards for her creative efforts, and has written more than seventy songs along the way. Safe to say this kid has joined the family biz, full steam ahead.

With all the praise and awards, however, she doesn’t let the fame go to her head. Nope, she’d rather focus her time helping out along the way. For instance, when she goes out trick-or-treating for Halloween, she doesn’t ask for candy. Instead, she collects financial donations for UNICEF. How’s that for paying it forward?

Few causes come closer to her heart, however, than helping animals. In addition to all her volunteer work, she has always wanted to open a sanctuary, which is why a certain Best Friends’ member, who also happens to groom Olivia’s dogs, knew exactly what to give her for Christmas in 2008: a sponsorship at Best Friends.

Olivia was thrilled. She’d never heard of Best Friends before, but in no time at all was reading everything she could about the work Best Friends does for the animals. Ever since, she has wanted to visit the sanctuary. So when the family decided to move from Colorado to California, Olivia talked her folks into stopping at Best Friends for a couple days.

“I was totally blown away,” explains Olivia. The sanctuary was everything she’d hoped for and more. (The family already plans to return.) They did the tour and then spent a day volunteering over at dogs, where they promptly fell in love with some puppy mill rescues, among others.

Later in the day, they carved out some time for a quick stop at parrots. At parrots, Olivia decided to sing them all a song, and at one point while she was belting out a high note, they just had to chime in and join the fun. A musician has never truly lived until an animal or two decides to join in on a jam session.

In her new life in California, Olivia already has multiple projects in the works. This kid is going places, for sure. But even so, she has certain priorities that will never change. Whenever the animals need volunteers, at Best Friends or anywhere else, she makes one thing perfectly clear. “I’ll be there!”

Story by David Dickson
Photos by Sarah Ause

While Olivia is a bit young to ride, her dog groomer that gave the membership is a Biker for Best Friends. So we gladly bestow an honorary Bikers for Best Friends membership to Olivia.

Anit BSL Protest in Denver August 25th

BikerMark — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:54:08 GMT

Hey Colorado Bikers, here a chance to take a ride and make a difference. On Tuesday August 25th at 1:00pm, DenverKillsDogs.com is planning an anti-BSL protest at Denver City Hall (1437 Bannock Street).

Please join us and help let the leadership of Denver know that BSL is wrong and that it doesn't work.

If you plan on attending, please bring a hand held American flag, poster size photos of dogs that would be banished by Denver, and/or a dog collar attached to a leash to symbolize the dogs killed by the breed ban. Please do not bring your dog to this event.

Revving Up Support

BikerMark — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:32:39 GMT

If ever there were two model ambassadors for Best Friends, it would have to be Mark Stefanowski and his wife Kristin Bresnan.

For the last several years, Stefanowski and Bresnan have been vigorously active in supporting the mission of Best Friends through Bikers for Best Friends, a community of motorcycle enthusiasts committed to raising money for, and awareness of, the organization in the biker community.

The couple went above and beyond in their support recently by purchasing 50 memberships—one for a Harley Davidson dealership in each state.

The Boulder, Colo. couple did the incredibly generous deed by participating in the Give the Gift campaign, whereby members and supporters purchase Best Friends memberships for friends, family, or—in Stefanowski’s case—a favorite franchise. The goal of the program, part of Best Friends 25th anniversary celebration, is to double membership by the end of the year.

“We were sitting around thinking, ‘we haven’t given any money to Best Friends in a while,’” Stefanowski says when asked what compelled him and his wife to give so many memberships.

They had decided they wanted to do more than just donate. They also wanted to help boost membership and expose Best Friends to a larger audience.

“The Give the Gift program gave us the opportunity to spread the word about Best Friends, and that’s what this year is all about,” says Stefanowski in reference to Best Friends 25th anniversary.

Owner of a mobile dog-grooming company, Bresnan made her first trip to Best Friends three years ago, just in time to volunteer with a group of dogs Best Friends rescued from Lebanon. She ended up adopting one of the dogs, named Louise. Since then she and her husband, a computer sales rep, have become regular volunteers at the sanctuary and have spearheaded their own fundraising campaigns for the organization.

Six months ago they raised $1,500 for Best Friends with Riders Pledging Miles (R.P.M.). Piloted by Stefanowski and Bresnan, R.P.M. brings motorcycle enthusiasts together in donating a certain amount to Best Friends for each mile ridden over the course of a trip, a weekend, or a season. The couple racked up 9,000 miles themselves in making their own pledge.

So what motivates such avid support?

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve given a dollar or just a minute of your time, everyone at Best Friends makes you feel part of the family,” Stefanowski says. “We really feel appreciated, and we love the organization. That’s what motivates us.”

Stefanowski and Bresnan are also big supporters of their local Longmont, Colorado Humane Society. Each winter Stefanowski joins other supporters in taking a winter plunge in a nearby lake, an event that raises money for the shelter.

Resources

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:06:59 GMT

Documents

Links

Roadie Is Truly A Harley Woman

Ross — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:22:01 GMT

It was a sunny morning in June and, needing a few items for a Tennessee trip the next day, I fired up the 90 Springer and took the back way to town (several curves and hills).

Going down the first hill, I noticed a small stick or tiny critter in the road. When I turned around to check it out, it turned out to be a 3 week old kitten crawling out of the roadside grass. After cleaning off a few bugs and dirt, I wrapped her in a small towel and put her into my saddle bag. After dropping her off at the Vet's, I continued on my errand run but now needed a few more items (formula, bottles and wraps). She checked out okay and was added to our family of four other rescued cats. Since she required almost constant care, she made the trip to TN with my wife and me. If I had not taken the long way to town that day, the car that passed us would not have seen her and the result would have been another road kill! Roadie is truly a Harley woman now, as she runs to the window when I arrive home on the motorcycle, ready for another ride!
James G. Smith

RPM's - Riders Pledging Miles : Ready to Ride in 2009

BikerMark — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:19:22 GMT

First thing that I did when I woke up on 1/1/09 was let the dogs out. Right afterwards I went over to my Road King and reset trip odometer A to zero. I am ready to begin my second year of riding for the animals. My personal pledge this year is to pledge $0.05 per mile. Please join me in riding for the animals in 2009...get out and crank up some RPM's!!

Bikers With A Cause

Ross — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:11:39 GMT

The Foundation of Animal Rescue Motorcyclists recently held their second meeting on Sept. 21 in Naperville, Illinois, where they discussed the dynamics and mission of the organization. The founder, Beau Harasti, wanted to start a biker gang that got together but didn’t drink and start fights. Rather, they would prevent cruelty to animals and stop needless euthanizing.

For the rest of the article, please see Bikers with a cause in the Columbia Chronicle.

Posted by Ross Hartill, Best Friends staff

Bikers For Best Friends Rides Again

Ross — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:50:25 GMT

More than 100 animal lovers turned out in September for Best Friends’
Third Annual Poker Run and Adoption Event. Riders headed out on a
designated route through the Golden Circle of Southern Utah, making five
stops along the way, including a stop for lunch at Best Friends Animal
Sanctuary. Potbellied “hawgs” Harley and Sprocket (from Best Friends’
Piggy Paradise) were on hand to welcome the bikers.
Participants drew a card at each of five stops along the route, giving them
the equivalent of a poker hand by the time the ride wrapped up back at Zion
Harley Davidson in Hurricane, Utah. The person with the best
poker hand won $1,000 in Harley Davidson Gift Chips.
But the real winners Saturday were the five dogs and
one cat who found forever homes at the adoption event
at Zion Harley Davidson. Best Friends, Because
Animals Matter, Providing Animals With Support
and Sadie’s Safe Haven all brought animals to the
event in the hope that they would find families
to fall in love with them. The event also raised over $4,000 which was divided up to the groups participating in the Adoption Event at Zion Harley Davidson.

Rebels Rumble for the Animals

BikerMark — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:17:45 GMT

What do you get when you combine a great fall day, beautiful changing leaves on Aspen trees, and 105 motorcycles rumbling through the Colorado Foothills? On September 20th, you got the first Rebels for the Paws Poker Run.

The Rebels for the Paws are the creation of Bikers for Best Friends Ambassador Team leader Mark Stefanowski and Colorado Ambassador Kristin Bresnan. The vision is to grow the Rebels for the Paws rides as recruitment and promotional events for Bikers for Best Friends, raise funds and awareness for local animal organizations, and get riders from all over the United States to make a yearly journey to Kanab to experience the annual Bikers for Best Friends Poker Run that stops at the Sanctuary.

The Colorado ride was a scenic 134 mile tour of Boulder, Golden, and the Foothills just west of Denver. Riders stopped at some great establishments to draw cards to create a poker hand. In fact, one of the stops was the Longmont Humane Society, the local beneficiary of the event, where riders got to take a break from the ride and meet some of the animals available for adoption. Coinciding with National Puppy Mill Awareness Day, the event also allowed riders to hear some information about the dangers of Puppy Mills and pick up literature on how to avoid puppy mill dogs. As the day came to an end, the group was treated to a concert from local favorite, Brethren Fast and an amazing dinner.

Special thanks go out to High Country Harley Davidson/Buell in Frederick, CO for hosting the event and TombstoneCards.com for their generous sponsorship.

If you are interested in joining the Rebels for the Paws and setting up an event in your area in 2009, please contact Mark at mark@pledgeyourpassion.com.

Photo by Maria Greco

BFBF 2008 Brochure.pdf

Anonymous — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:14:12 GMT

ZionHarleyPokerRunFlyer.jpg

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:06:29 GMT

Bikers Saddle Up and Ride to Best Friends

Ross — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:38:12 GMT

Join Bikers for Best Friends for Poker Run and Adoption Event.

Get your motor running and join us for the best event of the season! Bikers for Best Friends 3rd Annual Poker Run and Adoption Event is next weekend and you won’t want to miss it! Rev up and have fun while you’re helping support homeless animals!

Click here for downloadable flyer to print out and post about!

What: Best Friend Poker Run & Adoption Event

Where: Zion Harley Davidson
2345 N. Coral Canyon Blvd
Washington, Utah 84780
(435) 673-5100

When: September 6, 2008
Poker Run Onsite Registration 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
pre-registration available at Zion Harley Davidson before Sept 3 at 4:00 p.m.

Adoption Event held onsite at Zion Harley Davidson from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Prizes!:
$1,000 worth of Harley Davidson Gift Chips for best hand
$250 worth of Harley Davidson Gift Chips for worst hand
Perfect adoptable pet of a lifetime – priceless!

The Poker Run!
Mosey on over to the main sales desk at Zion Harley Davidson to get registered ASAP! For $30 you’re part of the festivities, which includes: a gourmet lunch, a stunning event pin (if you’re one of the first 175 folk to register, okay don’t mosey too slowly!) and a poker hand.

The event ride will leave from Zion Harley Davidson heading towards Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for an outdoor lunch. At lunch riders will get a chance to meet some of the animals including our Biker mascots, Harley and Sprocket. Riders will then head back to Zion Harley Davidson where we will announce the winners and hand out prizes to the lucky winners.

How Do You Win?
Riders stop at five locations along a designated route and at each location they draw a card. At the end of the event the will have drawn five cards which is the equivalent of a poker hand. Best hand wins, worst hand wins, but we’re all winners when we’re having a great day making new friends and supporting animals in need! And the ultimate win – falling in love with a new furry buddy!

The Adoption Event!!
While the Poker Run roars about the Golden Circle of Southern Utah, wonderful pets will be falling in love with their new forever families at Zion Harley Davidson! Organizations like Because Animals Matter and Sadie’s Safe Haven will have their best and brightest, groomed, giddy and ready to go.

Best Friends will also be on hand with some of our Adorable Adoptable! Great pets like Guardian, a regal fellow who’s perfect, and Mariah, a spunky young girl, will be there waiting to meet you! There could be puppies like Gem, (pictured here) ready to steal your heart and wiggle her way into your sidesaddle!

Don’t forget that’s September 6 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Zion Harley Davidson to meet your love match!

If you would like any additional information on the Poker Run or how you can get involved with Bikers for Best Friends, please contact Ross at rossh@bestfriends.org.

If you would like any additional information on Adorable Adoptables from Best Friends, please contact Danielle at daniellea@bestfriends.org.

Meet Bikers for Best Friends in Milwaukee!

jhayes — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:54:44 GMT

Bikers for Best Friends Network Members Head to the Harley-Davidson 105th celebration in August

By Kim Boggs, Best Friends Ambassador

Are you planning to “ride home” to the Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary celebration in Milwaukee, Wisconsin August 28 through August 31, 2008? If you are, you’ll have an opportunity to meet other Best Friends supporters as they roar into Milwaukee to spread the word about Bikers for Best Friends and maybe even raise a few dollars for the animals along the way. I will be there and I hope you will be too!

The Event

Once every five years, Harley-Davidson, Inc. invites bikers from all over the world to return to the city where Harley got its start for a long weekend jam-packed with music and events. All of southeastern Wisconsin participates in the event with dealership-sponsored block parties, a one-day Harley Owners’ Group 25th anniversary event on the grounds of Miller Park baseball stadium (now that’s a lot of bikers!) and the grand opening of the new Harley-Davidson Museum. The event wraps up with an all-motorcycle parade that shuts down Milwaukee’s interstate for several hours. Some of the smaller parties are free but the official events require either a HOG membership and/or a valid event passport purchased directly from Harley-Davidson. For more information or to purchase tickets, see the Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary Celebration website.

• Do you live in Milwaukee and would like to help us spread the word at one of the smaller, free events?
• Do you already have your event passport and want to help spread the word as you “ride home” or while you’re there?
• Do you plan to ride your motorcycle in the parade?

Here’s how you can get involved!

R.P.M. – Riders Pledging Miles

First, did you know you can raise money for the animals just by riding? Keep track of the miles as you ride to the 105th Anniversary event and pledge to make a donation to Best Friends for each mile. For more information about the Bikers for Best Friends R.P.M. campaign launched this year by Mark Stefanowski, the Bikers for Best Friends Ambassador Team Leader, click here.

Be a Walking Billboard

Second, wear your Bikers for Best Friends t-shirt or other Best Friends gear. Tell anyone who asks why you’re a supporter and be prepared to hand out the website information and, if you can, collect e-mail addresses. This is a great opportunity to spread the word and expand our network to other parts of the country and maybe even other countries! If you don’t have a Bikers for Best Friends t-shirt, you still have time to purchase one by calling the sanctuary gift shop at 435-644-2001 extension 4144 or giftshop@bestfriends.org.

Smile! We want pictures showing you and your friends at the event in your Bikers for Best Friends gear! Be sure to send in the pictures after the event or get in a picture with one of our members at the event. Keep an eye open for our members wearing “Ask Me About Bikers for Best Friends” nametags. Pictures and email addresses of interested new members may be sent to Kim at duckyjd@gmail.com or through the Best Friends Network member name duckyjd.

Look for this nametag →

If anyone has a pass to ride in the parade and would be willing to fly a Bikers for Best Friends flag from your bike, please let us know! We don’t have one yet but we’ll try to come up with one.

Meeting Time and Place

Third, here’s your chance to meet other Bikers for Best Friends members. Look for members wearing “Ask Me About” logo nametags and Bikers for Best Friends t-shirts gathering just inside the Mid-Gate at the Summerfest Grounds at the 105th Anniversary celebration at 3:00 p.m. on both Friday, August 29 and Saturday, August 30. It’s a chance to meet members from other states and maybe even get in a group photo. Members will stay at the meeting location from 3:00 p.m. until just before 4:00 p.m. both days so please add this to your itinerary! We want to meet you.

We will also informally arrange a meeting time and place on Thursday or Friday (TBD) to provide Bikers for Best Friends information to those of you who want to help spread the word while at the event. Bikers for Best Friends needs you! If you will be at the official or local events anyway, why not help us share the Bikers for Best Friends message; We like to ride. We care about animals. Simple as that.

Ride safe and see you there!

• For more information, see the Bikers for Best Friends community

• Want to help get the word out about Best Friends? Please consider becoming a Best Friends Ambassador

Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends staff
Photo credit: Kim Boggs, pictured with Doodlebug, is a network member (duckyjd) and Bikers for Best Friends Ambassador in Chicago, IL.

Bikers For Best Friends 3rd Annual Poker Run

Ross — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:13:37 GMT

Bikers For Best Friends 3rd Annual Poker Run is taking place on Saturday 6th of September 2008.

Working exclusively with Zion Harley Davidson located at Washington, Utah. Riders will leave the dealership and ride to Best Friends Animal Society located in beautiful Angel Canyon just outside of Kanab Utah where they will enjoy lunch in the amazing setting. Riding back to Zion Harley Davidson to find out the lucky winner of the poker hand and offer raffle prizes. While riders are out enjoying the scenery an Adoption Event will take place at Zion Harley Davidson benefiting local animal shelters and rescue groups.

For further information and details please stay posted to www.bikersforbestfriends.org or email me at rossh@bestfriends. Visit the Bikers For Best Friends myspace at www.myspace.com/bikersforbestfriends

Rebels for the Paws Poker Run

BikerMark — Thu, 22 May 2008 03:57:15 GMT

Look out Colorado....Here we come!

The Rebels for the Paws and host dealership, High Country Harley Davidson, will be having a Poker Run on September 20th, 2008.

The ride will start at High Country Harley in Frederick, Colorado; wind it's way through the foothills of the Rocky Mountains; visit the animals at the Longmont Humane Society; and finsh back at High Country with a performance by Brethern Fast.

Start spreading the word! Make your travel plans! Mark your calendars! It's going to be a great event.

For more information please contact Mark Stefanowski at mark@pledgeyourpassion.com.

PS - If you would like to have a Rebels for the Paws Run in your area, please feel free to contact me and I will be glad to help you get things going.

Picture of Aristotle courtesy of the Best Friends Guardian Angel site. Visit the Guardian Angel site for more information on this amazing dog.

Rebels for the Paws Hit MySpace.com

BikerMark — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:10:57 GMT

Become a "Friend" of the Group that Rides for the Animals!

The URL for the Rebels for the Paws page on MySpace is: www.myspace.com/rebelsforthepaws.

Stop by and visit, become a friend, share the page with others.
Most importantly, ride for the animals!

Ride Safe,
Mark

Rebels for the Paws

BikerMark — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:07:40 GMT

Riding for the Animals of Best Friends

We’re Bikers. We ride. That’s what it’s all about.

We are also part of a unique community of Bikers that care about animals and support Best Friends. We’re very fortunate to be able to bring two things together that we love and to have a place here online to come together and share as a group.

In trying to come up with a New Years resolution I stumbled upon an idea, why not combine my love of animals and my love of riding and do some good with it? Rebels for the Paws was born.

I walked out to my garage and took a picture of the odometer on my Harley and made the decision that I will make a pledge of five cents for every mile that I ride in 2008 to Best Friends. I created my blog on the Best Friends site to keep track, keep me motivated, and share my travels.

Then the real idea hit me; why not share this experience with the Bikers for Best Friends Community? There may be others that would like to join “the ride”. By coming together as a group, we can do more. We can ride more miles; have more fun; enjoy the ride just a bit more; and, most importantly, do some good by raising some money for Best Friends. So, if you are interested in joining me on this ride, c’mon! Go out to your bike and write down the mileage. Make a decision on how much you would like to personally pledge for every mile. Post a comment, start a blog, send me an email, do whatever you feel you need to do to keep yourself on track and motivated. Most importantly, get out and RIDE!

Please don’t think of this as a contest. This is really all about putting two passions together to create a great result. Share your mileage. Share your stories. Share your pictures. Get others to join you on this ride. However, on December 1st, 2008 take a second to total up your miles and send a donation to Best Friends.

It will be a great Christmas gift from Bikers for Best Friends.

Ride Safe.
Mark

Photo by Ross Hartil.

Another Biker Helping Out

BikerMark — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:13:25 GMT

Ross Hartil, the Bikers for Best Friends Community Manager, actually has a day job. Surprise! Ross is the Maintenance Manager at Best Friends. Well, with all that is going on at the Sanctuary these days, he has a ton on his plate.

Ross called me last week and after we talked awhile, I gladly volunteered to help him out with the Bikers for Best Friends Community.

If you read down the news stories on the site, you will see a story that explains why I'm here. Yes, the overwhelming power of Best Friends got to my wife and I and we were lucky enough to adopt Louise from Lebanon. With that little dog came an admiration of Best Friends that I'm sure will last a life time. With that admiration came a sense of responsibility to do what we can to support the work of Best Friends. Now, add all that to the fact that I love to ride my Harley as much as I love my dogs, and you have a natural fit for Bikers for Best Friends.

I think that great thing about this community is that it allows bikers that love animals to come together and share. If you have any story ideas or comments, please feel free to email me at mark.a.stefanowski@sprint.com. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing our experiences.

Ride Safe.

RE: Website for Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA)

efuery — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:53:31 GMT

You may want to check out www.bikersagainstanimalcruelty.org . It is a recently organized non-profit in CT.