Meet the Board
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Christy Gunderson Iowa Secretary secretary@mrfae.org |
Christy Gunderson lives in Iowa. She enjoys time with her 3 children, family, friends and animals. When unable to catch the sun out riding, she works in her gun shop.
Christy became MRF A&E Secretary 2023. She has been a member of ABATE of Iowa for several years and has been District Secretary since 2020. Christy has also been a member of the MRF for several years and has been the Assistant State Rep of Iowa since 2019 and has enjoyed growing membership. She has attended numerous Iowa STEAMs, Heartland STEAMs, MOTMs, and Lobby Days in Iowa and other states.
Christy looks forward to staying involved in motorcycle rights, education and awareness.
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Michelle Backlund Minnesota Treasurer treasurer@mrfae.org |
| Michelle has been a member of ABATE of Minnesota since 1989, a member of the MRF since the late 1990’s and active in the executive board for ABATE of Minnesota since 1997 as the State Treasurer.
She has been to many of the Heartland STEAM and Meeting of the Minds conferences and has also attended one of the Bikers in the Beltway events. She enjoys meeting like-minded motorcyclists. The number of people willing to get involved and really make a difference is small compared to the number of riders. So, it is great to get together as much as possible to share ways to keep the movement alive. She and her husband ride whenever they can and always make the annual pilgrimage to Sturgis to visit the many friends they have made in South Dakota. They hope to live there someday.
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Ron Braaksma Iowa Board Assistant – Smart Trainer/Safety trainer@mrfae.org  |
| Ron got his first motorcycle in 1968. For a few years in the nineties, he didn’t have a car, but always had a bike. He became an over-the-road truck driver in 1977 and drove about 150,000 miles a year before retiring in December 2019, so you can say he lived on the highway.
Ron joined ABATE of Iowa about 1990 and became a life member about 1993. He joined the MRF about that same time. He started coaching motorcycle rider classes in 2007 and became a Share the Road presenter about 2009. When he learned about MRF A&E he wanted to be a part of it. Highway safety, and specifically, motorcycle safety has always been a priority. Ron’s only regret is that he didn’t get involved earlier. Ride Safe
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Rich KinKade Illinois Website web@mrfae.org |
| Rich started riding Minibikes in the mid 1960’s and then trail bikes on the Oregon Coast. He purchased his first street bike while in the Airforce.
He joined ABATE of Illinois in 2002 and then the MRF few years later. Rich has been a Safety & Awareness instructor for more than 20 years providing classroom presentations to young High School drivers. He and his wife own a 2018 Indian Roadmaster Elite and ride whenever they can however, with 8 grandkids they are extremely busy. They are hoping to retire within the next couple of years and do more riding and traveling.
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Vacant, taking applications – Grant Writer, Please contact Lane Triplett vice-chair@mrfae.org |
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Vacant, taking applications – Board Assistant – Media Relations/PR, Please contact Lane Triplett vice-chair@mrfae.org |
| The MRFA&E is a 501(c)3 Corporation and all donations are tax-deductible
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