March 2024 Newsletter
Who We Are!
In case you were wondering, The Border Riders Motorcycle Club “BRMC” is a not-for-profit 501(c)(7), designed for gay men who like to ride motorcycles & who like to go camping on their motorcycles. Our membership spans the Pacific Northwest with the greatest participation in the Portland, Seattle, & Vancouver B.C. areas. We are one of the largest, & longest running gay motorcycle clubs in North America. We welcome like minded guest to come meet us at our Meet & Greets &/or on our Day-Rides.
Table of Contents
All the news you need to know about the BRMC
February 2024 Banquet Recap : By Darryl H.
Photos : By Tom C.
March Meet & Greets : Portland, BC, & Seattle, we see you, come see us!
Plus
Member’s Birthdays
The BRMC 2024 Calendar of Events
Non BRMC Motorcycle Events
Request for Pictures & Closing Comments
February 2024 Annual Banquet
BRMC Group Photo Feb 2024
By Darryl H
The 54th banquet was characterized by an Excess of Abundance. Abundance of camaraderie, abundance of food, abundance of reflection.
An abundance of traffic meant I was a slight bit late to the Pumpjack. Delighted to see folks who I had not seen for years. There was an abundance of pocket pool. Unfortunately not many general patrons on a Saturday afternoon, but Ron was able to share with a couple about the club. Then the mass departure to set off for the banquet proper.
Even more members arriving directly to the banquet hall. Abundance of joy to greet them all. Rider of the Year and High Milage received custom t-shirts by Todd McN. Departing president bucked the trend with just a few jokes, but provided the highlight of the presentations with Passing the Talisman of Numinous Power to the new president. Historian provided historic insight. The video presentation spurred an abundance of reflection. More on that later. On to the abundance of food, much enjoyed by all.
The event ended with everyone circling the chairs for a simulated campfire. Campfire was provided by a video on mobile device. History and preservation thereof were the central focus of discussion. Recalling who sponsored whom brought old time members back to life. And what happened to the gavel?? And from whence came the Talisman of Numinous Power?? Then folks started making their departures as travel schedules compelled.
A few returned to the Pumpjack where an abundance of throbbing drums and flashy disco lights dominated the dance floor.
February Photos
March 2024 Club Meeting
The March meeting will be held Saturday the 16th at Jeremy W’s in Kent, WA beginning at 4pm.
Registration opens on 3/1 and closes on Wednesday 3/13.
You can register here, and we will see you there!
March Meet & Greets
Portland M&G
On Wednesday, March 6th, we will meet for dinner at 5:30 at the Kenton Station (8303 N Denver Ave, Portland, OR 97217). We will then move over to the Portland Eagle (835 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97217) for a social hour starting at 7pm. We hope to see you there! It is a great way to learn about the club and meet some of the guys. Check it out!
BC M&G
We are still looking for a member in BC to take the lead on this. Please let Dennis know if you are able do this.
Seattle M&G
The location for the March Meet & Greet on Wednesday 3/20 at the Lumberyard again as really didn’t happen in February. 9630 16th Ave SW, White Center/Seattle.
A Brothers Birthday
We have 3 members with a birthday in March. Be sure and help us make them feel special.
March 1st - Doug H
March 3rd - Randy T
March 9th - David H
Reader’s Corner
A place for you, the reader, member and/or guest, to contribute.
Tell us about your travels, adventures, mishaps, etc.
To contribute, send your story & pictures to News@BorderRiders.com
Keep in mind, you can write about a trip that happened over the summer. It’s doesn’t have to be something you did last month.
Team Oregon Road Riding Tactics and Highway Speed Advanced Braking Clinic Motorcycle Classes
Classes are going fast, get 'em while you can! (As of 3/1, there are only 5 spots left.)
The 2024 schedule has been confirmed and we got what we wanted. We will start off with the Road Riding Tactics “RRT” on Saturday, July 20th & Highway Speed Advanced Braking Clinic “HSABC” on Sunday, July 21st. This is the same weekend as our July Campout which, not so coincidentally, is near the Oregon Coast & the location of these classes. Both classes will be held near Astoria Oregon. Attending the campout is not required to attend the classes but we hope to see you at both.
These classes are being offered as a set. Registration is open & will be available through the BRMC Website “only”, & the cost for the set is $180. There are only 12 openings so they should fill up fast. Once full, I will run a small list of people who want to be notified if someone should decide to cancel their reservation. All cancellations must go through Stan.
The first class, Road Riding Tactics, is designed to improve your street skills. You will ride your own bike & wear your own protective gear during the exercises. The course combines 9 riding exercises with range-side discussions. Participants increase awareness of crash situations and how to avoid them. The riding exercises build precision and confidence with the skills riders use every day, such as slow, tight turns, braking in a lean, quick lane changes and negotiating faster curves.
This class is a great annual review for intermediate & skilled riders. The class starts at 1 p.m. and last 4½ hours.
The second class, the one you’ve all been waiting for, is the Highway Speed Advanced Braking Clinic “HSABC”. This class is designed to take us up to highway speeds and allow us to learn how to stop our bikes quickly & safely in a controlled setting.
The regular Advanced Braking Clinic “ABC” is one of best classes anyone could take & this class expands on the skills acquired in the regular ABC. The skills acquired in the ABC are one of the 9 lessons in the RRT class. Yep, this was intentional. This weekend is all about improving your daily skills and mastering your braking skills & both slow speeds & highway speeds.
This class is intended for riders with at least 2 years’ experience and who have already taken the RRT or Advanced Braking Clinic. The class starts at 1 p.m. and last 2½ hours. The “HSABC” is currently not part of the normal offerings by Team OR so you will not be able to find it on their website. This is something Team OR is offering to us as a special event.
Here is the fine print. You will need to have a motorcycle endorsement, be able to prove you have motorcycle insurance, & your bike must be in road worthy/safe operating condition.
If you have any questions about these classes or motorcycle training in general, please contact Dennis at president@borderriders.com.
Gear Store
The Gear Store is closed until Victoria Day Weekend. Feel encouraged to reach out to VP Lance if there is something you want to make sure will be available at the event so he can order it in for you.
From the Handlebars of the President
First thing is that for all of those not at the banquet please extend a big thank you to Stan for being our president for the past few years and keeping the club on track. am pleased to serve as your president for the upcoming year. The big thing in the next couple of months is preparation for our annual VD weekend in June. We have a good team, a few changes we are going to implement from the committee report and a lot of history to draw on.
You can tell that riding season is approaching with the motorcycle insurance ads now running on television and the hills in Eastern Washington starting to turn from brown to light tinges of green.
I’m looking forward to riding regularly again – with the leg injury and hip replacement it has been a while. Another thing I will appreciate that I wasn’t in the past is being able to have good riding immediately after pulling out of the driveway – no riding for miles in Seattle area gridlock to get to good roads. Albeit I will be splitting my time between Seattle and Yakima, but most riding will be out of Yakima. I’ve seen bikes on the road over there on the good mild days, but winter hasn’t lost its grip and keeps going back to winter. I still have 2 problems –snow in the driveway and don’t have a bike there ----yet.
If you haven’t already, mark your calendars for the 3rd weekend of the month for meetings or camping trips for the rest of the year. For March the meeting will be at Jeremy’s in Kent, hoping to see you there.
Dennis H.
2024 President
Vice President Chatter
From a device of the President of Vice, I mean Vice President:
To the opponents I vanquished in a hard fought election, lick your wounds, bide your time and try again next year. I look forward to carrying out my duties so please misbehave so I can rain punishments upon you evildoers. May Spring arrive soon so we can all share a ride, or snacks at a Member’s home as we await fair weather. Get your bikes ready, dust off the gear and let’s make this year one of our best. Warmest wishes, Half Sack.
Lance D.
2024 Vice President
Road Captain Rumblings
As I write this a storm is raging outside. This is no social/political metaphor it's an actual fact. My back yard, what once was an in ground pool, is now ironically flooding. The windows have rivulets of water running their height as if someone is dousing their surface with a hose. It is making it hard to think of the coming riding season. My mind keeps locking on something I read somewhere once. The scene is of a woman in a garage taking to a mechanic. She's picking up her bike after a tune up. The day she brought it the weather was cold but dry. Today it is cold and rainy. As she shares her lament with the mechanic he informs her that he rides to work every day, rain or shine. She says to the mechanic "I bet you wish you had a car on the really rainy days". The mechanic replies "Nope, I just wish it wasn't raining".
Thinking of this allows me a shift in perspective. Riding a motorcycle isn't the problem, the rain is, and one day it will stop in favor of dryer conditions. This helps me put the season in to context. I open my phone and look at my calendar. The first day of spring is March 19th. That's just 20 days away.
Todd McN
2024 Road Captain
Treasurer’s Ramblings
Back to being your accountant is like a breath of fresh air. “Piggy Bank Looks Balanced”.
I am not sure I will make the March Meeting. If not, I will see you all at the April Meeting.
Sincerely,
Stan C
2024 Treasurer
Secretary Thoughts
2024 Calendar of Events
March 16th - Club Meeting - hosted by Jeremy W in Kent, WA.
April 20th - Club Meeting - hosted by Kas C & Chris M in Vancouver, WA.
May 15th to the 20th - Victoria Day Campout - Pine Flats near Ardenvior, WA.
June 14th to the 16th - Wynoochee Dam Run, Coho Campground at Wynoochee Lake, WA
July 19th to the 21st - Bruceport Campout and Team Oregon Classes, WA & OR
July 20th - RSP Road Riding Tactics with Team OR - Astoria, OR.
July 21st - Highspeed Emergency Braking with Team Oregon - Astoria, OR.
August 16th to the 18th - Bonaparte Lake Run at Bonaparte Lake, WA
September 20th to the 22nd - Rainbow Falls State Park, WA
October 19th - Club Meeting - host TBD
November 9th - Club Meeting - host TBD
December 14th - Holiday Party - host TBD
Monthly Meet & Greets
BRMC members will be available for interested individuals to meet and learn more about the club and how to get involved. For locations and times, check out the following list of times & location. Watch our FB for last minutes details pr changes.
Portland: Meet & Greet - 1st Wednesday of the month, 7 pm at The Portland Eagle. Dinner together normally proceeds the actual M&G. Dinner location moves so watch our FB Page for last minute details.
Vancouver BC Meet & Greet - The club is looking for a host for this event, please contact Dennis if you are interested.
Seattle: Meet & Greet - 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7 pm at someplace new. Watch the newsletter, website or Facebook for exact location.
Member & Guest Non-Sanctioned Day-Rides
In addition to the club's monthly M&Gs, local rides frequently happen on the 1st Saturday of every month. Additionally, members & guest going on an impromptu day-ride, or to some other activity, will post their plans on our FB page so others can tag along. Again, watch our FB page for last minutes details or changes.
To learn more about local event’s, impromptu events, or to check status on any event, check out our FB page or email the Road Captain at Captain@BorderRiders.com.
Hey, did you notice that trend? Yep, keep an eye on our FB page for last minute changes and details for all events.
Non-BRMC Motorcycle Events
The One Motorcycle Show in Portland is coming April 19-21. Club members will be meeting for the noon show on Saturday the 20th, prior to the April club meeting in Vancouver, WA. Contact Stan to RSVP. It’s always a lot of fun.
Get 15% off through the 17th using promo code : BORDER5
Contributions of Photos & Stories
Please feel encouraged to send us your photos of our activities to News@BorderRiders.com
Also, if you do anything interesting outside the club, we’d love to hear about it. Send us a short story with some photos and we will try get it into the next newsletter. It doesn’t have to be motorcycle related to be interesting. We are very diverse.
If you have photos and stories to share, please send to news@borderriders.com