Veterans of Foreign Wars Motorcycle Group of Texas

“The Ride 2004-2005”

The VFW Department of Texas 2004-2005 State Commander John Fair, affectionately known as “Big John” wanted to do a special project of for the M.A.P. program during his term in office. He was a motorcycle enthusiast and rode a big beautiful Kawasaki Trike. So he asked around if anyone would like to make a run with him across the state. It just so happened that the Sr. Vice Commander, Duane Shriver and the Jr. Vice Commander, Russ Richards were also motorcycle enthusiast. So they said great let’s plan a run that will raise funds for M.A.P.

Russ Richards began to put the plan together and he had an unfortunate accident on his motorcycle. This kind of put him out of commission for a while. Big John started looking around at his officers to see who else was a rider and he found out the his then, Area III Coordinator, Norm Brawner had also been a motorcycle enthusiast since he was a young teen. So he asked him to take over for Russ. He agreed to do so and the planning was back on.

After 2 months of planning the ride finally came together. It was a very ambitious plan that would begin on Saturday, September 25, 2004 at the VFW Post #3892 in Harker Heights, Texas and ended after 20 stops at VFW’s across the State, some 1,291 miles later on Wednesday, October 5, 2004 at the VFW Post #6873 in Abilene, Texas, just in time for Big John’s Homecoming that same weekend. There were about 10 members who rode the whole ride from start to finish, and as well as a couple of trucks with members that wanted to be a part of the program even though they were not motorcycle riders. There were riders and still others in cars and motor homes who joined in when they could and dropped out when they had to. Everyone arrived safely and no breakdowns, with the exception of one of the motor homes brakes failing, but that’s a story for another time. But, over all it was a ride to remember that raised over $25,000 for the M.A.P. program, which is something those who were involved, are still very proud of and a time of camaraderie that they will never forget. A time which made 4 VFW Members stop to say, “This is something that could be a great asset to our Organization as well as to our Veterans.” “This could be a way to reach the younger generation of Veterans.“

So the idea came to life and the planning began to start a Veterans of Foreign Wars Motorcycle Group. The bike riding community is a close net family group that has a common bond in life. Just like the VFW members that are Brothers and Sisters in Arms.

“A Dream is Realized 2004-2005”

As the previous story stated this was begun by 4 VFW members that loved riding their motorcycles.

So in January they decided to get to work on how to make it become a reality for everyone in Texas, with hopes that some day it would carry on across the nation. They began by meeting with each other and figuring out how the formation would be accomplished.

The four of them began to work on the By-Laws to govern the group. They discussed how no matter what, the VFW had to be protected from any liability, for any occurrences that might take place or happen on a ride. They began by contacting the Marine Corps Motorcycle Club, since one of the 4 members belonged to the group as a support member. They took the Marine Corps M.C. By-Laws and said yes they were good; but a lot of the items in them would not pertain to our group. We do respect the beliefs of the 1% Clubs but they felt that they were 100% Veterans and 99% Motorcycle Enthusiasts and that we do not share in some of their beliefs. This was a new venture for the VFW and the business group members were concerned about the image a group of Blue Jean, Tee Shirt, Leather Vest Wearing Motorcycle Club (M.C.) members would not reflect well on the VFW, so they decided they would call the organization a Motorcycle Group instead of a Motorcycle Club, and the back patches would be a two piece set up and not a 3 piece set up as most 1%’s are. This should satisfy all parties involved.

They then asked for a set of the By-Laws from the VFW Motorcycle Club in California, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association in Colorado, and a copy from the American Legion Riders in Texas. They then began to form a set of By-Laws to work for their group. After picking what to leave in and what to take out, one of the member’s wives typed up the initial draft of the VFWMG of Texas By-Laws. They went back and fourth and made many changes until they felt it would work. They then contacted the Department Adjutant who was a Lawyer and asked what else needed to be put in to cover the VFW. After he made a couple of small changes the By-Laws were formed and they were now well on their way to becoming a legitimate group.

Now how about a logo, the Auxiliary member contacted a group that made patches for a number of the 1% bike groups across the nation and said; “I want a patch that works for us and will not offend the 1% clubs.” After months and a few changes, a logo was born. It would be a large circle made up of ribbons on top and bottom and the center empty so that the VFW patches could be sewn in the middle with one rocker on bottom to show the type of membership the Veteran held. Charter Member would show that they are a VFW member who rides a motorcycle and helped form the group, Unit Member would show that they are a VFW member and they also ride but that they joined after the charter period. A support rocker would show that they are a VFW member, but they do not ride a bike, however, they still want to be a part of the group and help out where ever they can.

Six months after all off this began it was taken to the Department Council of Administration for approval of the By-Laws and the permission to form the VFWMG. It was passed that the organization could begin on a Post or District level. This meant that a Post or a District would ask their membership to host or sponsor a VFWMG Unit, which would be similar to an Honor Guard Unit for the Post; only instead of rifles, they would use their motorcycles. With the formation of the now popular Patriot’s Guard Motorcycle Organization, they never realized just how true that would be.

The proposal was passed unanimously at the State Convention in June of 2005 as Big John was leaving office and Duane Shriver was coming into the office of State Commander. The council had voted to let the dream begin and those involved hoped it would become a dream come true. It was moved and approved that any Veterans of Foreign Wars Post or District in the State of Texas, which wishes to do so, may sponsor a Veterans of Foreign Wars Motorcycle Group Unit. Each member of the group provided they are a member in good standing of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, may wear a patch which reads, “Texas, with the Cross of Malta, and Post or District Unit #, and or Charter Member: And “In accordance with Section 709 of the National By-Laws, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Motorcycle Group of Texas Unit sponsored by a Post or District, shall be at all time under the direct control of the membership of the sponsoring Post and District.” They also required for them to be affiliated with the “American Motorcyclist Association”, which is a group that provides liability insurance for sanction runs involving the public because of liability concerns of the State and National Officers.

The only thing that remained was to get the rest of the required 10 rider members and to start the very first Unit. It did not take long to recruit those and at the Mid Winter Conference in January 2004, 15 VFW Riding Members had come forward and said, “I want to be a part of this idea.” So Unit One was made up of members from all over the State of Texas. They came from 9 different Post and 6 different Districts. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Motorcycle Group of Texas was on its way.

Charter Members:

“The First Year 2005-2006”

By August it was decided that it would be advantageous that the Ladies Auxiliary be included in the group appointments since it quickly became evident that their help was going to be both wanted and needed. So by August there was a By-Law Change put into place by Unit 1 members to allow Auxiliary and Support members to hold Only Appointed positions but they would be included in the group’s decisions but would not have a vote.

Then it was decided to include the Ladies Auxiliary Patch in the center of the back patch and the Auxiliary Rocker to show that they are a proud family member of a VFW member and that they are a member of the Ladies Auxiliary and want to be a part of the group. Even though some do ride it was decided that they were first and far most a Ladies Auxiliary member and a rider second. So in August of 2005 permission was obtained to allow the Auxiliary Members of the VFWMG Units to wear the Ladies Auxiliary Patch on the back of their Vest.

By December it was brought to the attention of Unit 1 that Men’s Auxiliary members wanted to be a part of the organization as well. So the Men’s Auxiliary Rocker was added for the Men family members of Veterans that proudly said so by joining the Men’s Auxiliary sponsored by a VFW Post. Thus the Patches that proudly showed we were VFW, Auxiliary and Motorcycle Enthusiast were now being worn proudly.

Two more Units are formed up in the month of December of 2005. They were Unit 2-6873 Abilene and Unit 3-9299 Alvarado. At Mid-Winter the first State Report was given to the Council of Administrative to let them know of the progress the group was doing. With 3 Units they had grown from the original 15 members to 54 VFW, 10 VFW Support, 13 Ladies Auxiliary and 7 Men’s Auxiliary for a total of 84 members and 3 Units. Groups had completed

Things were going well and by the State Convention in June two more Units had formed. They were Unit 4-4199 Midland and Unit 5-8787 Austin. The activity report given to the Council of Administration was very impressive. The organization was now 175 members strong with 109 VFW, 13 Support, 29 Ladies Auxiliary and 23 Men’s Auxiliary members in 5 Units and one that was about to be formed. Each group except for Unit 1 was holding monthly meetings and weather permitting monthly rides and fundraisers. Unit 1 was always designed to be the Anchor Unit. The Unit would be the one that started it all and would be the one to handle all of the necessary day to day operations of the organization.

Well with growth comes change and there were a total of 6 changes made to the operations or By-Laws to make things fit better for all concerned. The Founding and Charter Member, Norm Brawner was appointed by the newly elected State Commander, Russ Richards as the Special Event Chairman, which the VFWMG was to be a part of. He was expected to keep the Department Commander apprised of the progress through out the VFW Year.
 

“The Second Year 2006-2007”

Now things had kind of leveled out. We have only added one more Unit in 6 months. It is Unit 6-1475 Amarillo and we now have 205 members. All of the Units have been working as hard as they could to show the Post and Membership across the state just what a benefit the organization will be for the VFW. So it is decided in this report we should show some numbers to prove or worth.

The report recap for a 6 month period is:

While the Mid Winter numbers were impressive enough, they are a very quickly over shadowed by the year end numbers. Membership has now grown to 271 members, 165 VFW, 15 Support, 51 Ladies Auxiliary and 40 Men’s Auxiliary.

With a report recap of for 1 year: While a report showing different types of projects is shown in report a total of projects and number of volunteers or hours is not listed however the $ amounts are re-capped as:

So to recap the year a total of 94 new members have been added to the roster of Post and Auxiliaries across the State and just shy of $268,000 has been collected, donated or spent to further the goals of the VFW and the Auxiliaries.

What an achievement for such a young organization.