kbasa wrote:

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BoomaKatooma wrote:

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"IMO this is the result of a concerted effort to "sanitize" the Yankee Beemers and the old-timers who don't read this forum but were in West Bend are mighty unhappy with the results. The lack of "YB Pride" was painfully evident. The question is what are we going to do about it? "

You might have something there! sanitize us, never! make us go away, some have, will they come back, when the issues that caused their divorce being resolved! maybe, I don't know, but I know this, it's time to get the Dogs off the porch! The day I compare a motorcycle club to bright puffy scrambled eggs, someone shot me!

As a former president of the YBs, now ex-officio and on the other side of the country, let me add my thoughts.

First off, you guys seem to spend way too much time worried about breakfast and food and too little time worried about motorcycles. Who are the current road captains? If there aren't any, (which is my suspicion), this is a telling point - the focus on riding isn't the prime directive in the organization without them. I'd propose that you find a spot where folks can gather, have the club provide coffee and donuts and spend your time out in the parking lot doing what motorcyclists do - bullshitting and looking at bikes. Find a VFW. In the winter, show a movie, get some guest speakers, hold it at Max's or something, but put the motorcycles first. We're a motorcycle club, after all.

Secondly, the current Boxer Shorts, while a fine club magazine, doesn't have that healthy dose of Weird in it that it used to. No offense to Victor, but the peculiarity of the newsletter allowed us to gather and hold members from all over the country, because we were so different than everybody else. If you polish enough of the rough edges off, nothing will stick.

Remember, the purpose of the club is not the club. The purpose of the club is to provide a framework of events that make people get out on their motorcycles and go somewhere. It's still summer. Organize an ice cream ride to Carlisle, a meet at the Owl's Head museum, an excursion to one of the Super Sundays down at Marcus Dairy - something.

Having just returned from the MOA rally in WI, I was sorely disappointed that the YBs weren't a presence at the event. I think there were more YBs in attendance when I went to the Oshkosh national back in 93 - and the club only had 50 members.

Now, get to work.

You know what to do. Bikes and people first.

We're headed to Laguna Seca this weekend for the MotoGP. Got a Big Dog Pass (suite over turn 3, meals at the track, AC, TV in the suite, priority parking) and are staying at the Quail Lodge.

Blast5 wrote:

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kbasa wrote:

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Remember, the purpose of the club is not the club. The purpose of the club is to provide a framework of events that make people get out on their motorcycles and go somewhere. It's still summer. Organize an ice cream ride to Carlisle, a meet at the Owl's Head museum, an excursion to one of the Super Sundays down at Marcus Dairy - something.

That is what I was hoping for when I joined the YB. Getting together with other MC's and haveing a destination for the weekend. In the past three years , it has only happened a couple of times for me. Once with Bill P to Rhinebeck and again with Paul C. for a backwoods ride in CT. I know Dana does his pancake rides also but have not been able to attend because of conflicting schedules.

As to organizing rides to Indy, that is wonderful for the folks that have no problems getting a week off but I would really like to see more local stuff like Dave says....i.e. Marcus Dairy, ice cream runs to wherever, meet at one of the numerous dealer's events...stuff like that.

Just my .02 worth (get what you pay for )

Bill K

Bill, this is how rides get started. Put the call out. Collect friends. Make a ride.