Reflections of a Rider Who Became an Officer


Ever look back at old pictures from the club and wonder who these people are? Try to see if you know anybody in them. See somebody show up for a ride or a meeting and everybody seems to know who they are and you have no clue. Or how about finding out that people we regularly ride with use to be officers for the club in various positions but have stopped. Then there are the officers and close friends who have served the club only to cease riding with us all together. Whatever happened to all these people? What keeps them from riding with us or serving as officers?

Having the experience of being an officer myself and having talked to quite a few former officers, I am no closer to an understanding of what happens to these people then I was before. Most shrug and play it off, some will entertain me with a conversation but none really point to what it was specifically. Well there is one exception (smiles) but we won’t go there. With all the people I have met and talked with about this, you would think I could get some really good material, but nadda.

So left to my own, I can only reflect on my experiences. We all start out as riders who want to ride with others. Some riders expect more as they continue to participate with the club, others drift away because they don’t make any connections, yet others move on for other reasons. And then there is the rider who says just tell me when and where and I’ll be there. These are the people who get it, who have a clear understanding of what this group is all about. In the beginning, we were all just riders, long before we became officers.

The recent ride to the Orlando Chili Cook Off reflects perfectly on what my expectations were prior to joining the group, riding together. This was a group event throughout the entire day and even into the days after. If you were on the ride, you experienced first hand the closeness of the group. If you have talked to anybody on the ride or read the forum, you know the tests we undertook that day. It was one long day and we did it together. We had lots of laughs, lots of memories and lots of heroes who stepped in to help others. There was no shortage of camaraderie.

Our chapter has quite the reputation for riding. We are second to none when it comes to the distances we will travel together. Reading the national site “Your mission – if you choose to accept it – will be a simple one: "To Ride and Have Fun."” This really is what it is all about. As we continue to tack on the miles each weekend, I would venture to state that we have more then accomplished the mission, we have turned it into a passion.

I joined the PBHOG to ride, it surely was not to become the Editor. I became the Editor to help support the officers who kept this group together through some very trying times. Even through all the controversy, we rode, because that is what we are, a riding club. It is the one constant that holds us together, there is no other. I have enjoyed my position on the board and have gotten to know many of you better as a result. For that I am grateful.

As we close on this year’s term of office, I would sincerely like to thank all the officers, past, present and future, for giving something back to the club. Especially to the board of 2007, you are all special people and we had an awesome year. Whether you are coming or going, been there and done that, or re-enlisting for another term, always remember who you were and why you found this group. It is true, everything does look better from the inside of a motorcycle helmet.