By Michael Marino

AMA North Dakota State Coordinator Jerry Mayer’s passion for motorcycles began on a whim.

Mayer said he began riding motorcycles when he was 20, when he was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas. One day, he decided he wanted to try motorcycling.

He went to a Honda dealership and bought a new Honda dual sport. The dealer offered to trailer the motorcycle to Mayer’s home, but Mayer insisted he would be OK.

He said his ride was a bit hair-raising, because he was trying to figure out how to shift gears on the interstate.

“I don’t know how I didn’t kill myself,” he said.

While his trial-by-fire introduction to motorcycle riding was ill-advised, that day began a 40-year riding career during which Mayer has taught hundreds of individuals how to ride motorcycles correctly and safely. Now he is focused on promoting the AMA to his fellow North Dakotan riders.

Mayer has been an on-road urban and touring rider, as well as the owner of the Southwest Motorcycle Training riding school in San Antonio. He said he’s taught hundreds of individuals to ride and joined the AMA because he wanted to be part of an organization that was “there for me and my students.”

After 21 years as an AMA member, Mayer read about the EAGLES program in American Motorcyclist. Each letter of the EAGLES acronym stands for an important element of advocacy: Education, Activism, Growth, Leadership, Expertise, Skills.

He joined the program because he wanted to learn more about the ways the AMA benefits its members. Mayer said the training made him aware of the many ways the AMA protects and supports the motorcycle lifestyle.

“I didn’t know half of the things that the AMA does,” he said.

In his role as the North Dakota State Chapter coordinator, Mayer is sharing the knowledge he gained through EAGLES training with other motorcycle organizations. He hopes his efforts will increase the number of AMA members in North Dakota, as well as strengthen the AMA’s ability to speak up on behalf of motorcyclists.

He also checks proposed legislation in the state legislature, and participates in a statewide Vision Zero working group.

If you are interested in becoming an AMA State Chapter coordinator, contact Marie Wuelleh, AMA State Chapters and Volunteer Manager, [email protected].