RECOGNIZE WHAT YOUR COLORS STAND FOR

[Shawtie Forbidden Sayntz SC Prez]

some of you may already know. If you do already know…then I implore you to help me spread this seed of knowledge:

The understanding of this very delicate subject. Address a "Rocker" situation that is very pertinent to what it is we all desire to do. I am going to precede all of my statements with a question for you:

If you saw some one wearing one of your club vests and that person was not a member of your club, what would you say/do? Would that even be a problem to you? (This question is rhetorical)

There are different types of bikers out here. Not different as in better or worse but different as in the rules that we follow. Problem is that many of us are ignorant. Ignorant as in the literal meaning of the term "WE JUST DON'T KNOW"…so yourself and others with all that I am about to pass on to you!

Here is a step further for those in fraternal organizations: If you saw someone wearing your Masonic/OES symbol or fraternity/sorority symbol and they were not a member of your organization… would that be a problem? (Another rhetorical question).

The world of the "Outlaw" is much different than that of what most of the bikers in the world are.. Again not better or worse but different in that the "Outlaw" follows a different code of ethics and have standards by which they are judged. In my interactions with the "Outlaw" biker I have nothing negative to say about them. I have had very good interactions with them, based upon the idea that I respected them and did nothing to infringe upon their "way of life". In reciprocity they have done nothing to infringe upon my "Life Style". Notice the choice of words. I love my bike and the bike world. That is why I try to stay so involved. The "Outlaw" on the other hand lives a biker's life. What that means to you is totally up to you to disseminate; yet I think that most of you in measurement will agree when I say that the depth of allegiance to your colors is not comparable in reality. If you believe that it is…then you may need to seek out and fill yourself with the knowledge to correctly pursue that "way of life"!

Now in the end I will pass onto you the history of the 3 Piece Patch as I have researched it…but the SOLE REASON behind this writing selection is to pass on another piece of information that I think will benefit us all, as I have had it explained to me and as I understand it. What I want to talk to you all about specifically is YOUR BOTTOM ROCKER!

As I understand it: the bottom rocker is supposed to signify where you and your club Hail from! As an "Outlaw" club your bottom rocker has a State on it. Not a city and state but just a state! The reason: "Outlaws" claim states! They claim the entire state in the "Outlaw" world! So if your bottom rocker has a state with no city in front of it then either you are an "Outlaw" club or you are perpetrating (faking) as an "Outlaw"!

No go back to the questions I asked earlier in BOLD and BLUE …

As an MC, SC, RC or anything other than an "Outlaw" you should have a city before any state on YOUR BOTTOM ROCKER! Now I know that some of you are looking at this and thinking every type of thing that you can think. I myself tried to share this with my local MC scene last night at my bike night over the microphone. I was met with mixed reviews. I only thought to share this because I care. I hope that you all care about your clubs and your world too. The reality of the situation is that the "Outlaw" clubs are not bad people by any means. They do not intend to take over or regulate our world. Matter of fact they intend to do nothing of the kind. They only want us to respect their world and not infringe upon it! I think it is a fair trade. The alternative is to have unnecessary drama based upon something that could've been avoided from the jump. With the ignorance that I spoke of earlier…WE NEED TO DO OUR BEST TO SPREAD KNOWLEDGE TO PRESERVE THIS THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH!

I WANT TO PUT THE ALTERNATIVE IN PERSPECTIVE:

If you are at a function and YOUR BOTTOM ROCKER is in violation and perpetrating an "Outlaw" club and one of its members approaches you any number of outcomes can arise. Win or lose we all lose! People who are attending the event will have to deal with something that has nothing to do with them. The people who own the venue will probably not be eager for your return. WE ALL KNOW HOW HARD IT IS ALREADY TO SECURE A VENUE. You may lump those that care about you into a possible outcome that could have been completely avoided. Again refer back to the questions in BOLD and BLUE.

I want no one to misconstrue what I am saying. I do not want anyone to fear or feel as if you are being threatened by anyone. I am merely just asking that we educate ourselves on that which is right in front of our face and respect what it is that we now know, in order to preserve what we all claim to hold so dearly. If you can't feel me and what I am saying…then as I heard at the PROC "It is what it is"!

I feel I am doing my part to educate the masses…are you? Please pass this one on!

Now for the History Lesson:

HISTORY OF THE 3 PIECE PATCHES

The American Motorcycle Association (AMA) was founded in 1924 as an organizing arm to promote motorcycling riding in America . They sanctioned groups of riders from the same area that rode together as clubs. Some wore complete matching outfits with the name of their club stitched on the back of their shirts and/or jackets.

At events the AMA would give out awards for the best dressed clubs. This was the start of the motorcycle clubs patches.

During an event in Hollister , California in 1947, an exaggerated news story that was later made into a movie called "The Wild One" starring Marlon Brando. The AMA wrote an article in their magazines stating that 99% of their members were law-abiding citizens and only "1%" are outlaws. This then began what today is known as Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs (OMG) and 1%'ers. These clubs were then banned from all AMA events and functions.

In order to designate themselves as outlaw clubs to all other clubs, the 1%'ers cut their club patches into 3 separate pieces. The top rocker identified the club name, the center identified the emblem or crest of the club, and the bottom rocker identified the STATE from which the club was located.

The term colors is used in referring to a motorcycle club's patch setup. Rockers on top and bottom, patch in the center. Because all three parts are separate, the term three-piece- patch is used.

Motorcycle clubs differ from motorcycling organizations as they have a probationary "Prospecting" or "Striker" time required before the club members (namely "officers" of the respective club) decide whether the individual (Prospect/Striker) will be accepted into the group and allowed to wear, or to "Fly" the colors of the club. A separate "cube" with the letters "MC" on it clarifies and distinguishes them as a club and not an organization.

RECOGNIZING CLUB PATCHES

1. A one piece patch is a family or social club.

2. A 2-Piece patch has many different meanings and variations as long as it's done with "respect" to other clubs. (WHO DETERMINES RESPECT? THINK IT THROUGH…WHY PUT A CITY ON YOUR ROCKER)

3. The 3-Piece patch normally identifies the club is a traditional motorcycle club (MC).

4. The diamond patch with the 1% or 13 worn with the 3-Piece Patch is a 1% or support club.

5. Nomad rocker is worn only when a member continues to live a lifestyle within the definition of the word "Nomad"... A person with no fixed address.

6. Many national organizations in the 1980's joined their rockers in with their patch to avoid any designation or confusion within the biking community. An example of this would be the "Harley Owners Group" (HOG) or the Blue Knights.

A Few Points To Remember!

Never, under any circumstances, ever touch member's colors. Members take extreme pride in their colors and rightly so. They have gone through a rigorous and time honored tradition to "earn" their colors and therefore they treat their colors with the utmost respect and will protect and defend their colors at any and all costs.

Never ask a member to borrow or wear his jacket with their colors on it as you'll likely get a swat up the side of your head. The only time a non-member is permitted to wear the club's colors (and this varies from club to club) is ONLY when worn by a FEMALE passenger riding with the club member.

Always ask to take a photograph of a club member and/or of their bikes. If granted permission (and you usually will providing you asked first) NEVER take a picture of the license plate area.

In the event you do start taking pictures of a "biker" on the road, do not be offended if he "flips you the bird" or gives you the "solo finger salute" as this is actually a common friendly gesture in the biker world.