I am a memeber of a clean and sober motorcycle club. A point of order
has been brought up, and I am trying to find the proper way of
handling the situation. The point in question, is the proper etiquette
for a retired patch holder. The person in question was allowed to
retire, and keep his club patch, rather than face dismissal from the
group. He has since joined another club, without offering the return
of our club colors. This seems to me, and others, to be a breach of
etiquette. Can you help me, please??

Dear wulfenone-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question.

I posed your question to Mike Gregor, Vice-President of a chapter of
Blood Brothers International (a world recognized and regarded
motorcycle club made up entirely of police officers). He offered this
explanation:

In most motorcycle clubs the patch representing membership in the
organization is often referred to as “the club colors” or simply “the
colors”. The colors are treated with great respect and reflect a
member’s allegiance to his fellow bikers. To disrespect the colors
would be tantamount to disrespecting the entire group. As such, this
violation would be seen as a very serious offense. While is it
difficult to comment about the proper etiquette in your particular
club or in “all” motorcycle clubs (since rules tend to vary from one
organization and one set of circumstances to the next), it is safe to
say that most carefully organized and legally sanctioned clubs have
bylaws dictating the behavior of its members. Without bylaws your club
members may basically act at will and do as they wish.

As for taking the colors and not returning them upon departure, this
would depend largely upon the rules of the club. If the person was a
long established member in good standing at the time of his departure,
it is customary in some clubs to allow them to take the colors as a
memento ONLY. Having said that, it is also “understood” that he will
not display (i.e., wear) the colors in public. If he were to join
another club, it is likely that the new club would not permit him to
wear the colors of his previous group anyway, nor would it be
appropriate for him to do so.

Even without bylaws, Gregor said, it is indeed customary for the
colors to be returned to the club on a member’s dismissal. If the
member retires in good standing though, the custom is usually that
which has been previously established by precedent and again, the
customs vary from club to club. Without bylaws, however, one would
have to rely on personal integrity, which unfortunately is a difficult
virtue to impart on each individual. Getting the colors back under
these circumstances would be equally difficult to legally enforce
unless there is some other legal provision or disclaimer indicating
that the colors are the property of the organization. Even then, if
the member has retired, and for all practical purposes remains a
life-member after his departure, he may have some legal claim to the
colors that might prevent you from re-calling them. I suggest you seek
the advice of an attorney if this is the situation.

Bylaws give the club a means of legally enforcing the rules. If your
club adheres to formally established bylaws you may have some legal
recourse and you may be able to seek relief from the former member in
civil court.

Consider these excerpts from one club’s bylaws as an example:

BYLAWS
http://www.geocities.com/praetorianmc/praetorianpage4.html

General Provisions:

Section “K”:
“Members shall not act in a manner, which would bring any negative
image upon the club or himself while wearing the colors.”

Section “M”:
“The Club Colors” shall remain the property of the club unless a
member has been in good standing for a period of 10 years. After the
10 year period the “Club Colors shall become the property of such
member.”


I hope you find that that my research exceeds your expectations. If
you have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga



INFORMATION SOURCES

BLOOD BROTHERS INTERNATIONAL
http://www.bloodbrothersmc.org/

BYLAWS
http://www.geocities.com/praetorianmc/praetorianpage4.html


SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:

MOTORCYCLE CLUB BYLAWS

MOTORCYCLE CLUB CODE OF CONDUCT

MOTORCYCLE CLUB COLORS ETIQUETTE

MOTORCYCLE CLUB PATCH ETIQUETTE

Your answer was both professional, and seemed thorough. I also liked
the fact, that you contacted someone personally involved with the
lifestyle in question. This was, to me, the best way to answer the
problem at hand. Thank you very much, for your time, and effort!!

Etiquitte and motorcycle clubs are two terms rarely found in close proximity

Unfortunately Mister, you are quite wrong. If you had read the
question, you would have seen the fact that I ride, CLEAN AND SOBER.
Over 5 years now..... there are many such groups here on the West
Coast. Even in the "Outlaw" groups here, there is a certain moral
standard, adibed by all, "or else". It seems to me, you have had
little contact with my people, outside of some sort of steroetyped
Hollywood celluloid.

AMEN Brother!

tutuzdad-ga