I'm writing this on December 25th, {Christmas day for those who bother with such things) but by the time Open House has been to 'final repro' then to the printers, then back to the NABD office to be packed by all too-few volunteers, I suspect it will be the end of January before you receive it through the post. So I'll wish you all a somewhat belated 'Happy New Year'. 
Right, that's the pleasantries out of the way, now let's get down to business. 

Other Groups for Disabled Riders: 
It is a fact that over the last few years a few new 'disabled rider' groups have sprung up around Britain and in Europe. Some are pretty good; others are not so good. Some are genuinely trying to help disabled bikers; others are more interested in personal financial gain. The NABD is always happy to help new groups set up in other countries, as much of our work is restricted to the UK and Eire. {Our adaption grants cannot be given to people outside of the UK and Eire, though we constantly help people around the world with wide ranging- advice and adaption design). Recently I have been asked to help a group to start up in the USA and there has been talk of another group wishing to start in Germany. We will give these groups as much help as we can, provided that they are non-profit making, honest, and dedicated to helping disabled bikers. The NABD, over recent years, has proven itself to be the world leader in the field of motorcycling for disabled people (a fact of which we are rightly proud). This fact was once again confirmed with the continued success and expansion of the association throughout 2003. We now have plans to make 2004 an even greater year for the NABD {details will become apparent through future issues of Open House). 

You've Been Nabbed 12A, 14th - 16th of May 2004: 
The national rally is returning to its roots {due to popular demand). We have confirmed a new site in Cheshire, just a few miles from the old Capesthorne Hall site. Since moving from Capesthorne Hall to York Dragway, we have seen a reduction in the numbers of people attending the event. Hopefully this return to a new Cheshire site will reverse that trend. The new site is Astle Park on the A535 between Chelford and Jodrell Bank Observatory. There is easy access from junction 18 of the M6 via Holmes Chapel. There should be an A4 poster for the rally enclosed with this magazine, please put it up in a prominent place in your local pub, bike shop, college, or wherever. Though the event will no longer have a drag strip, we are planning many new aspects to the entertainment, which I'm sure will go down a storm. As always we aim to make the event good value for money as well as a good fund-raiser (it's not as easy as it might sound to achieve both). As always your kids are welcome at the event (free entry for under 15's) but, as in previous years, they will not be allowed in the main marquee. However, at the request of several members, there will now be live bands in the smaller marquee in addition to as the usual disco. There will also be some organised games for the kids on Saturday afternoon to give parents a chance to relax for a couple of hours. As always we are looking for good-hearted folk to volunteer for marshalling. This usually entails a four-hour shift each day, and none of the marshalling jobs are particularly arduous. If you would like to volunteer, contact Shirley in the NABD office and give her your details, including when you expect to be arriving on site. Every marshal will receive a free rally T-shirt, a discount on food, and a certificate of thanks. The advance tickets for this event remain at the same price as last year; Members £12.00, Non-Members £14.00, for those paying on the gate it will be £18.00. Members of affiliated clubs can buy advance tickets at the NABD members price of £12.00, but only if they are ordered via their club. Advance tickets are available from the NABD office, cheques should be made payable to NABD (please enclose an A5 stamped, addressed, envelope). You can also be purchase tickets by credit card via the on line shop on the NABD web site, www.nabd.org.uk. The closing date for advance ticket orders is May 1st 2004. 

NABD Merchandise: 
We have quite a broad range of NABD merchandise, including T - shirts, vests, sweatshirts, paddock jackets, tankards, badges, baseball caps, belt buckles, etc. This can be purchased on NABD stands at events, by post from the office, or via the 'on line shop' on www.nabd.org.uk. As of this issue of Open House I have also included a merchandise page. We are adding new items to the merchandise over the next few months, so keep an eye on the web site and I will also update you in future issues of Open House. (At present credit card payments can only be made via the on line shop. Merchandise orders to the office should be accompanied by a cheque made out to NABD). 

Open House; 
Over the next few issues of Open House you will notice one or two changes to the regular format. As of this issue, the new 'Merchandise' page has replaced the ''Information' page which listed the contact details of engineers and insurance brokers. These contact listings had grown too long to fit onto a single page, so it has been decides to lodge these details at the NABD office for anyone who needs them. The listing of affiliated clubs has also grown to a size that makes it impossible to fit them all in, so as of the next issue of Open House I intend this list to be transferred to the web site only (unless a lot of affiliated clubs object). It is always something of a problem to know how people will react to changes of this nature, so I am always happy to receive comments from members. If you have any comments or suggestions (or articles you wish to submit) e-mail openhouseATthenabd.charitydays.co.uk If you wish to submit an article for Open House by e-mail it is preferred as an attachment in Microsoft Word or RTF (cause it's a bugger taking all the little arrows out of stuff submitted in an e-mail). If you are submitting photos, please send them via the post to the office (original prints are best, but if you have to send digital images on a CD they must be 300ppi minimum and preferably saved in tiff format). If you're unsure telephone the office first. 

Pretty in Pink: 
You should find a book of tickets for the draw enclosed with this issue of Open House. If you would like to have a chance at winning the magnificent, fully refurbished, 'Beach Bastard' trike, fill in your name and telephone number (or address) on the ticket stubs and send them back to the office (please retain the main part of the ticket). Do it now, don't shove them in a cupboard and forget them. If you have already bought some tickets, sell these to your friends. The draw will take place on May 15th at the 'You've Been Nabbed 12A' rally. Winners will be notified and a list of winners will be published in Open House. 

NABD Office: 
As I mentioned in the last magazine, we now have the office staffed on a full time basis thanks to a grant from the National Lottery 'Community Fund'. Our new office administrator, Shirley Hauxwell has already proven to be worth her weight in gold, dealing with a massive increase in enquiries following the recent TV documentary and the publication of NABD articles in numerous magazines. The office phone/fax line 0870 759 0603 is open 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday. 

TV Documentary:
We now have copies of the 'Disabled Bikers' 1-hour documentary done by Granada Men & Motors which does an excellent job of showing what the NABD is all about. Narrated by NABD patron Billy Connelly, it features interviews with Neil Hodgeson (NABD Patron), Mik Scarlet (NABD Patron), Eddie Kidd, and lots of NABD members, rep's, and committee members. It also shows a lot of footage from last years national rally. We can supply it on VHS or DVD for £5.00 each, or on CD £4.00 each (CD available as MPEG or WMF files) prices include post and packing. If you would like a copy of this excellent program send a cheque made out to NABD for the appropriate amount, (please allow up to 28 days for delivery). You can also get copies via the on line shop on the NABD web site (payment by credit card). 

Adapted Bikes/Trikes: 
When we put NABD information stands on at many events around Britain it is always a struggle to find people who will put their adapted machines on display at the stand. It makes a huge difference to have two or three adapted machines available for people to look at. If you have an adapted bike, trike, or combo, and would like to attend any of the following events, contact the office, or e-mail Rose Fitton. The main events we are looking at are; The South & West Custom & Classic Show, The BMF Show, The Welsh National Motorcycle Show, The Ramsey Sprint, The Farmyard Party, The Rock & Blues, The Bulldog Bash, The Mobility Roadshow, Stormin' the Castle. In most cases we will be able to let you have a free ticket for the event if you are displaying your adapted machine. 

Bikes Trikes & Combo's on Motability: 
In the last issue of Open House I said that the introduction of this new aspect of the motability scheme was still on track for the early part of 2004. The latest update I have had from the Motability directors dealing with this project is that the completed proposal papers are to be put before Motability Board of Governers in February. All things being well we should be able to announce the launch of the new scheme in the next issue of Open House which is due to be published in April. We have requested that Motability set up the scheme on a Hire Purchase basis rather than Lease Hire, as we expect the vast majority of disabled riders using the scheme to require vehicles with extensive adaptions built in which would not lend themselves easily to a second hand market. Blue Badge Holder: There has been a bit of a delay in getting the design project started at Salford University. The funding for the project has been agreed with the Mobility and Inclusion Unit of the Department for Transport, and the project is now ready to start. I expect that we will be publishing the results in the next issue of Open House. As I mentioned in the last issue, an enterprising NABD member has been developing his own design for a badge holder. This has shown great promise, though it needs further development. At present he has a small number of badge holders manufactured, though these do not have provision for the parking clock which must accompany the badge in England and Wales. Members from Scotland and Ireland who want further information on these should contact the NABD office. We are making representations to the relevant authorities about the discriminatory nature of disabled people in England and Wales being required to use a parking clock when it is not required elsewhere in Europe, but at present it is a legal requirement so the final design of badge holder will have to accommodate both the badge and clock. Our long term goal is still to have a completely new disabled parking badge system for bikes and trikes. This has to be dealt with on a European level, so it is unrealistic to expect it to happen within the next couple of years. In the mean time the new badge holders (when the project is complete) will be available via the NABD for cost price to any disabled people who require them. 

NABD 2003/2004: 
The past year has without doubt been the finest year in the history of the NABD. More people than ever have benefited from the services offered by this association. Support for our aims has grown, as has our reputation as the worlds leading authority on motorcycling for disabled people. It seems a million years since them early days of making it up as we went along, and little meetings in the back rooms of pubs in Stockport. We have come such a long way, and I don't mind telling you, it makes me choke up with pride when I think about it. 

But, (and there is always a 'But') we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. There is still a vast amount to be done. 2003 was a stonker, which means we have to make 2004 even better than that. This can only happen with the support of good people like yourselves. So what I would like to ask is that each member set themselves the task of bringing in at least one new member, affiliated group, or donation, before the national rally (that gives you about 3 months). It's time to mobilise the NABD troops and start the climb to even higher levels of success! I think that's about it from me for the moment, it's now 1.30am on Boxing Day (and what is that all about? Boxing Day....I just don't get it!) so I'm off to check the bear trap on the roof for evidence of disabled Reindeer and/or fat bloke.