The third ABATE of Illinois

This section will be revised and updated periodically as I look back through
my archives and remember different events.- Jim "Pure Pork" Dean

Willie Lagerstrom, the first President of Central IL ABATE, was the first State Coordinator of ABATE of Illinois. Pauli (Lagerstrom) Ward, Willie's wife, became and continues to be the Office Manager of ABATE of Illinois. Willie passed away in March, 1998, from a long battle with complications from his double lung transplant.

At a meeting in Aurora, IL, on November 15 of 1986, the legal rights to the corporation of ABATE of IL (Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education) was turned over to a group of independent ABATE corporation representatives by Dave Rosen, who had started the 2nd ABATE of IL corporation, on April 6, 1986. There were 13 separate ABATE corporations at that time. See the founders picture on the history index page for the people that attended that meeting.

The second ABATE of IL incorporation was used until it was replaced by the third corporate version of ABATE of IL, which was chartered by the Secretary of State on June 5, 1987. The purpose statement of the 2nd corporation was not in line with what was needed and it is easier to kill the corporation and refile, than to make an amendment to the articles of incorporation. When the 3rd corporation was started, they apopted the name- A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education, that Central Illinois ABATE had been using since July 29, 1985, when they incorporated.

The "chapters" continue to be formed as separate corporations, with each "chapter" having one vote on the Board of Directors. This is different than how most state's ABATE organizations are organized, in that the individual chapters are the decision makers, thereby trying to guarantee that one person, or a small group, do not make all the decisions for the entire group. The Executive Officers run the day to day operation of the Corporation, but they are answerable to the Chapters through the Board of Directors for any actions they may make.

The "charter" that ABATE of IL gives to each "Chapter" allows it to participate at the Board of Directors Meetings and to be included in the group tax exemption, if they so choose. It is not required that they be under the tax umbrella if they choose not do that, because they are separate corporations under State of Illinois law.

"Look twice - save a life"