News and Trips Sunday,September 14, 2008 Diane Ortiz to lead women riders at NY City Race for the Cure Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz will again lead a group of women riders at the NY City run/walk for the Komen Foundation. It is anticipated that over 10,000 women will participate and all proceeds will go to the Komen Foundation, a leading group in the fight for breast cancer research. If you are a woman rider interested in participating, please contact Diane for more information July 2008 New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee pubishes "Safety Matters" a eight page newsletter on traffic safety with an article on page 7 on Riding in the Rain by Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz. See the newsletter at Governors Traffic Safety Matters Summer 2008 Friday, June 20, 2008 Harley-Davidson of Nassau County in Bellmore, NY hosted a free Garage Party with Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz as a featured speaker Diane is shown in the photo in the center, kneeling in the denim shirt. A Garage Party is a social gathering to give poentential female riders exposure to the Harley-Davidson motorcycling experience and connect them with other women riders. Fundamentals of motorcycling such as how the controls work, differences in models, safety education and motorcycle jargon are discussed. The event provides a fun way to obtain basic information for non-riders who have little or no prior knowledge of motorcycles. The event will cover motorcycle orientation, apparel, learning to ride and customization. Complimentatry food and drinks will be provided as well as surprise gifts and activites! Bring all the questions you ever had about motorcycles. Learn why women ride with motivational speaker, motorcycle journalist and Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz. Wondering what a full dresser is or how to pick up a dropped bike? All these questions will be answered and more! See Harley-Davidson of Nassau County for more information. Thursday, June 5, 2008 Big Apple President Diane Ortiz participated as part of the Americade Women's Roundtable at the Roaring Brook Ranch in Lake George This forum was one of Americade's "Featured Evening Speakers" and was moderated by the Women's Motorcyclist Foundation's Sue Slate. It took place on Thursday evening starting at 8 PM. Diane also gave forums on How to Find the Right Bike Fit for You - Good Input/Good Output on Tuesday at 10 AM, and How to Kick Those Stumbling Blocks Out of Your Way! on Thursday at 11 AM. Sunday, April 13, 2008 Big Apple Motorcycle school authors two motorcycle articles published in Newsday Wheels section President Diane Ortiz wrote one story on the Piaggio MP3 400 and George Tranos wrote another story on the Kawasaki Ninja 250 and the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob. See our Published Articles for these articles Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13, 2008 Big Apple Motorcycle School particpated as a vendor at the Northeast Motorcycle Expo at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood Our booth at the Northeast Motorcycle Expo Sunday, March 30, 2008 Big Apple Motorcycle School motorcycle leads Suffolk County Half Marathon in Selden Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz led the runners in the Suffolk County Half Marathon and 5K that started and ended at Suffolk Community College in Selden. Her motorcycle was tracked with Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) equipment to indicate to the race director where the lead runner was. This combined two of Diane's passions - motorcycling and Amateur Radio. For more on Amateur Radio and the APRS system see ARRL - the national association for Amateur Radio Saturday, March 15, 2008 Big Apple Motorcycle School booth at the business expo at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz was available from 10 AM to 4 PM to answer your questions and schedule lessons. Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Big Apple Motorcycle School President participates in Newsday Jobs Panel Former Newsday staffer and current Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz spoke with current Newsday employees about future job and career opportunities in a forum called "Yes, there is life after Newsday." Other participants included Carolyn Coldwell, former business and court reporter and now a clinical social worker; Ron Roel, former Act II and real estate editor and now president of Roel Resources, LLC; and Pat Calabria, former sports reporter and now Vice President, Institutional Advancement, of Farmingdale State College. The panel was moderated by Newsday report Patricia Kitchen (at right in photo above with Diane Ortiz) Friday, February 22, 2008 We now accept Visa and Mastercard For your convenience, you may now pay by cash, check, money order, Paypal or credit card. Friday, December 28, through Sunday, December 30, 2007 Big Apple Motorcycle School booth at the New York Motorcycle Show Come and visit us at our booth at the International Motorcycle Show at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City on December 28-30. Tuesday, November 13, 2007 Big Apple Motorcycle School to speak at BOCES training classes Diane Ortiz, President of the Big Apple Motorcycle School, will be speaking at both sessions of the Suffolk County BOCES motorcycle technician training class on Tuesday, November 13, 2007. Sunday,September 18, 2007 Big Apple Motorcycle School recognized by Hicksville Chamber of Commerce James E. Pavone, President, Hicksville Chamber of Commerce presented Diane Ortiz, President of the Big Apple Motorcycle School in Hicksville, a plaque recognizing the school's membership in the chamber at the annual Installation and Awards Dinner at the Fox Hollow Inn. Sunday,September 9, 2007 Diane Ortiz leads women riders at NY City Race for the Cure Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz led a group of women riders at the NY City run/walk for the Komen Foundation. Over 10,000 women participated and all proceeds went to the Komen Foundation, a leading group in the fight for breast cancer research. The 14 women riders led the way for the walkers up Central Park West. Diane was riding a Harley Sportster 1200 loaned to her by Harley-Davidson of Nassau County in Bellmore, NY Thursday, May 17, 2007 NY State Prelicensing course will be offered weekly The Big Apple Motorcycle School will offer a weekly NY State Prelicensing course starting on May 17. Saturday and Sunday, May 5 & 6 Booth at Long Island Bikefest Show The Big Apple Motorcycle School will have a booth at the Long Island Bikefest at Splish-Splash in Riverhead. Please visit us there! Monday, April 30, 2007 Introduction to Motorcycling course to be offered at Amityville Library Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz will offer an "Introduction to Motorcycling" seminar at the Amityville Library from 7 to 9 pm. This 2-hour session is geared towards the prospective new motorcyclist and will cover the basics of learning to ride. Diane will discuss motorcycle training and riding safety. Each participant will also be given information about riding gear, maintenance and motorcycle models available. Preregistration is required - please contact us to register! Friday, November 17, 2006 Diane Ortiz speaks on motorcycle training Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz participated in Woodstock Harley-Davidson's Fall Garage Party. The Garage Party was an introduction to motorcycling for 55 women from throughout the area held in Kingston, NY, on Friday, November 17. Diane discussed motorcycle training and riding safety with each of the seven groups of ladies. The women were also given information about riding gear, maintenance and motorcycle models available.