Blue Knights GLRC News & Information

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One of the best known secrets in our organisation is that a minority of members actually vote. Do your part this time around, call the candidates and seek their opinions on various issues. In order to not display bias, we are presenting all candidates up for election this year. Click on their name for their flyer.

Yes, youve read the heading correctly. Having seen how difficult it is for an incoming secretary to take over mid meeting and subsequently put out a newsletter and minutes, Ive decided to give new GLRC Secretary Tom Peed a break and handle this task one last time. After this mulligan the newsletter will be all about Tom, and I look forward to reading his future issues.

The 2010 Summer GLRC was exactly as I suspected it would be; a good time! The hard working members of OH II did a great job. It was cool to receive an engraved shot glass instead of the usual pin or t-shirt, although I was disappointed to not get anything to put in it. Friday night featured pizza and free flowing libations to help fuel the members while they hung out around the pool and shared the gift of gab.

The Saturday business meeting was interesting, to say the least. Usually I include the minutes of the meeting with the September newsletter, but due to the length of some of the reports Ill be sending them out as a separate file to keep from overloading your servers. At the meeting we had several guests from the Midwest, Rio Grande, Mason-Dixon and Tri State conferences (and NO, not all of them were running for office). Its great to see other conferences coming to the GLRC weekends. This was the meeting where Chairman Bill Drees passed the gavel to our new Chairman Bill Haylett. Also officially voted in to office were yours truly as the new Vice Chairman, Tom Peed (OH III) as the new Secretary, and Joe Kubicek (WI VI) as the new Treasurer. John Gordon remains our International Rep. Congratulations to the new GLRC board.

And what could be better to have after a long meeting than a hot dog as long as your arm? Post meeting most everyone hit the highway and rode into Toledo to patronize the famous Tony Pacos Restaurant. I finally manned up and took on the MOAD (Mother of All Dogs), and when it arrived I was glad I didnt eat breakfast that morning. Its truly a beast, and I know of at least three other members who rose to the challenge and bested the MOAD. By the banquet I was still full, and the thought of another meal wasnt appealing. (Un)fortunately for some the buffet ran out of food, so they were diverted to the hotels buffet, so they got to gnaw on prime rib and crab legs! Sometimes it pays to be last. Other than a bumper to bumper ride through Chicago in 99 degree heat on the ride home it was a great weekend. Thanks OH II!

What would a newsletter be without a little bull sheet! Tom permitting, Ill still contribute to the GLRC newsletter under this column (so you arent rid of me yet).

Thisll be the last time I rant about dues, GLRC or otherwise (thatll be Joe Kubiceks new job). After three years, Ive found that there are still chapters out there that dont quite understand the different tiers of dues that are paid annually. Ontario/NY V rep Paul Croteau submitted this explanation to me, and I share it with all of you.

Webmaster's Note: There are three levels of dues for our chapter Presidents to understand:

1) Member Level - A member pays their dues to the chapter. The cost is decided by the chapter executive. A portion of these funds are sent to the International (see International Level), the rest retained for chapter use.

2) Conference Level - The chapter pays their chapter dues to the Conference - in our case the dues are $20.00. These funds help run the Conference and provide your chapter representative a vote at the meetings. Just because you don't send a representative doesn't mean you don't need to pay; it only means if you don't pay, you don't get to vote. These funds are mailed to the Conference Treasurer.

3) International Level - The chapter pays their membership dues (from the members collectively) to International Headquarters in Maine. These are the dues submitted with the 'renewal package' sent out the start of each year.

Paul gives very good explanation of what dues were responsible for and who gets them. In past issues Ive explained what your GLRC dues are used for, so I wont bore you again. If you still dont understand this, please contact your state rep or a member of the GLRC board, and well do our best to clear up the mystery for you.

The below list contains the names of the five lucky recipients of the Blue Knights Scholarship fund, awarded at the 2010 International Convention (and drawn by the GLRCs own John Gordon). As you can see, two recipients are from the GLRC. Congratulations to all the winners!

As this is my final newsletter, I want to say its been an honor and a pleasure serving as your secretary/treasurer these past three years. The newsletter has been a labor of love (and like most relationships Ive had my ups and downs with it), and I hope youve found it to be entertaining as well as informative. Thank you all for your contributions, and for the infinite patience youve given me when Ive made mistakes (hey, Im human!). Ive always thought that I was doing the work of two people, and with the split of the secretary/treasurers position I finally have proof that I was right. Please give Tom and Joe the same consideration youve all shown me; theyll both be excellent officers. Remember that GLRC patch and pin sales, as well as administration of the GLRC Travellers program are now handled by Tom Peed. Updated forms are available on the GLRC web site. Collection of GLRC dues and general finances are now handled by Joe Kubicek; please mail your dues checks directly to him.

ILL	IND	MI	NY	OH	ONT	WI

I - PD	I - PD	I - PD	V - PD	II - PD	I - PD	I - PD
II - PD	II - PD	II - PD		III - PD	IV - PD	II - PD
IV - PD	III - PD	III - PD		IV - PD	V - PD	III - PD
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VI - PD	V	VI - PD		VI - PD	VIII - PD	V - PD
VII	VI	VII		VIII	IX	VI - PD
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X - PD	VIII - PD	XI - PD		X - PD	XI - PD	VIII - PD
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XII - PD	XI			XII - PD	XIV - PD	X - PD
XIII - PD	XII			XIII - PD	XV - PD	XI - PD
XIV - PD	XIII - PD			XIV - PD	XVI - PD	XIII - PD
XV - PD				XV - PD		XV - PD
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XX - PD				XVII - PD		XVIII - PD
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XXIII				XX
XXV				XXI - PD
XXVI				XXII - PD
				XXIII - PD
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				XXVI
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If your chapter still hasnt paid their 2010 GLRC dues, please do so as soon as possible. Mail your $20.00 check (payable to the GLRC) to:

Joe Kubicek
GLRC Treasurer
10939 W. Bobolink Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53225
PLEASE clearly indicate your chapter name and number in the memo section of your check so your chapter receives proper credit.

My final days as your Vice Chairman are here, and I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support. I can only say it has been a very interesting term at the least.

I am now looking forward to being your Chairman and will tell you now that my door and phone will always be open for you. I may not have all the answers but I will try to get them for you.

With that said I would like to say hats off to Montana 1 for a good job at the International Convention. If you missed it, you missed a great time. There are many beautiful places to see and a great deal of history in this area. In fact, Billings itself is the only place in the USA where you can get a $25.00 hot dog.

The International Board also did an outstanding job of covering up an investigation of our own President Dave Mulford. Mum was the word of the day and many special board meetings were held to ensure the silence of the Board to the membership. Good job guys.

After all, who knows what the outcome of this investigation would be if Pat Fox and Dave Mulford did not hand pick the investigation team to investigate the charges against Dave.

Why would the board think that the membership would be interested about any misconduct of our President That must be just part of the norm, after all he is our leader and think about it President Clinton got away with it, why not Dave.

Lets take a moment and think about this. It is an election year and both the President and the Vice President are up for reelection and if I was them, I would not want anything negative coming out of this. Lets do this instead. Lets change the investigation around and go after the office manager. After all she is the one who took the complaint and turned it over to the board. Maybe she was only doing her job; or maybe she should have just asked Pat what to do and then maybe he would not have had to ask Dave for advice.

Shame on the whole Board. I cannot believe that they would just stand there and let this happen. Are they all just looking at their own advancement? You cannot blame just a couple of board members, I understand if you are the lone wolf in a meeting and you make a motion and the rest of the board just looks at you with that deer in the head light look and do not have the back bone to even second the motion, thats just sad.

I was told by the Vice President that the investigation was over but the next day heard that the investigation was still on going. I wonder do I have a big Duh on my forehead or was that just told to me to keep me quiet.

Not sure and I will not speak for the 20,000 dues paying members, but I would like to know the truth and I believe that the board has a duty to be up front if the President did something wrong even if it was just inappropriate behavior, we need to know. This could be our next leader and it would be nice to know if he has the ability to conduct himself as a true leader and a professional in public and around office help.

I truly wish I was able to attend this falls GLRC as I attended last falls. Funds and some family problems curtailed much of my travel this year. I dont have the benefit of a job or an organization to pay my way or care for my family. Timing is not on my side right now. I have family history in the Toledo area and wished to revisit some of what I havent seen in over fifty-five years but it was not to be at this time. Please be sure and get quickly through this politics and have a great conference.

You, the members, will vote this fall and either vote one way and rubber stamp negatives in this organization or vote another way and show you want a return to the principals on which this club was founded, to be a family club for all the members benefit, not for the benefit of few with power.

The officers of this organization put themselves out to have the best intentions of the organization as our platforms but it all too often appears that some of us have the best intentions of ourselves as our goals.

We are not paid professionals running this organization, but we should at least be held to a standard to which we would hold others. But the politics and political back room business has not changed in this organization. Those involved continue to misinform and obscure that which should not be hidden from the members. Yet this continues to be a rule rather than an exception. Mistakes are made but honesty, common sense, good intentions, and dignity should be the litmus test.

I warned you all in my first speech that I would continue to try and return this club to the control of the membership. I have been outspoken for over thirty years. It is a character fault NOT politically driven flaw. It is an intense desire to do the right thing. Often I observe bylaws being bent or even ignored when they dont fit someones intent or true purpose. Relying on the complacency of the membership is the norm. I continue to try and get the membership to pay attention to what is REALLY being said and done. But inevitably it all depends on the memberships vote or lack of vote. You can regain control of this organization with your vote. I hope you will vote for me.

All of you be sure and return to your homes safely and dont forget to hug your children.

I am sorry to say I am unable to attend the Fall GLRC as I will be moving my son, Matt, back into college. I had planned on being at the GLRC but wrote down the wrong day he was moving. I know Ohio II will put on a great time.

I have been your International President for the past 20 months and I am proud of how they have gone. There have been ups and downs but we continue to work to make this the best motorcycle club in the world. Your International Board has worked well together and through their hard work we have gotten a lot accomplished. I think we have gotten back to the fun and will continue to do so. I feel that the communication throughout the organization has improved as I still continue to get many ideas on how to improve your club. Keep the ideas coming.

We currently have the BK Scholarship up and running. We gave out five $1000 scholarships at this years International Convention. In the future, I want to work to increase either the amount or number we are able to give back to our membership.

We have an alternative darker shade of blue vest that will very soon be available for purchase through the International Office. The International Office will sell both the light blue and a new dark blue vest. We have been working with several companies to get the best product for the best price for you the membership. This darker shade of blue will assist us in getting younger members and working towards a better image throughout the world. Lets make the Blue Knights BLUE.

International Treasurer Russ Harper and I continue looking into the various organizations that have published and taught misinformation on the Blue Knights LEMC. These organizations have listed us as an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang or associated with them. I have been in contact with members whose own law enforcement agencies will not send them to certain classes or training as their department knows they are BKs. This is going to stop. We need to help our members. If you know of any such instances or organizations that will not let you, as a member of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Organization join their organizations, PLEASE contact me. Due to this, I am working on joining the Midwest Cycle Intelligence Organization (MCIO); I then want to join another organization, the International Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Investigators Association (IOMGIA).

We have a new web site. If you have not looked at it, please do so. Our new Web Master John Long is working his butt off and assisting all the time. With his assistance, I think we have moved the web site forward, and we will continue to do so. We continually tweak the web site, so if you have questions or concerns, PLEASE contact either John or myself. Thanks.

With all that said, I would like to announce that I am running for re-election as your Blue Knights International President. I hope you have been satisfied with my term so far and I would like to continue. I ask for your support in my bid to return as your International President.

One last thing, this is an election year!! The last several elections we have never had over 30% of the membership vote. This is your club and you decide on who is going to run it. Please vote!!! If you do not vote you are losing your voice within the club. Your vote is one of the many ways you can influence how this club is run. Look into the candidates and VOTE!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for your time and enjoy the weekend. If anyone has any questions, concerns or comments please contact me.

Well, its over. The 2010 International Convention in Billings Montana was well worth the 2,700 miles I put on (and NO, I didnt get lost!). The members of MT I were gracious hosts to the 880 attendees, and did their best when confronted by the issues that arise during large BK conventions. The area was spectacular for riding. While I was the only member of my chapter to not ride the Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Loop (due to a few late nights with the Belgians and a few new faces) I was told it was fantastic, with enough twisties to make it fun and views to take your breath away. Trust me, Im not complaining, as the fun I was having with my late nights/early mornings made up for it. I did make it down to the Little Big Horn Battlefield, which was an eerily quiet place where ghosts walk in the daylight. The park ranger who gave a history of the battle reminded me of R. Lee Ermy, and he was both highly informative and entertaining. Of course, the following day the great, great grandson of Sitting Bull was there giving a lecture and signing books. Just my luck.

And doing the GLRC proud, a number of awards were snagged by various members and chapters of our conference. Congratulations to these deserving recipients:

Unfortunately GLRC members Glen Wheat and Pam Carleton lost their election bids for the BOG. The 2012 International Convention will be in Tyler Texas, hosted by TX XXXIV, and will be one week later than normal (July 22-27, 2012). Registration forms are now available for the 2011 International Convention in the Greater Hampton Roads area (July 17-22, 2011), hosted by VA V. The host hotel will not be accepting reservations until after August 15, 2010. You can obtain further info on the next International by visiting their web site: www.bkconvention2011.com.

With that said, its time to turn our full attention to the 2010 Summer GLRC in Perrysburg Ohio. See you there!

Okay, all bull aside on this first issue. Several members of WI VI have become sick with a sore throat/upper respiratory infection since returning from the International in Billings. One member was hospitalized (there were other health issues involved with him). As of this writing, doctors were still trying to diagnose the illness, and one of the things being tested for is Legionnaires disease. Several months ago there was an outbreak of Legionnaires here in Milwaukee, and the source was traced back to a water feature in a local area hospital. It may be a coincidence, but a GLRC group photo was taken in front of the waterfall/fountain in the host hotel. Please let me know if anyone from your chapters who attended the convention was sick shortly afterwards, and if you are experiencing these symptoms I urge you to seek medical treatment.

At the International convention International President Dave Mulford unveiled the alternate blue vest. Its dark blue (almost a midnight blue) and is very well made. Several members (me included) stated that wed wear this vest over our current light blue smurf vest. Now dont get me wrong, Im not 100% ready to give up my black vest and chapter colors, but I can get on board with this alternate color. A final cost for this vest has not been established, but President Mulford hopes to have them ready for order very soon. With any luck this alternate color will attract younger members who dont want to wear the smurf vest. Remember: this is NOT a replacement for the current blue vest, but a color option sanctioned by the International to be worn instead of the black leather or denim vests. As more becomes available on this Ill keep you posted.

Just one more thing from this years International, namely from the BOG meeting. Only TX XXXIV (Tyler) bid to host the 2012 convention, so like a masochist in Dallas were Texas bound! Heres the skinny on the 2012 convention: Its one week later than usual (July 22-27, 2012). The host hotel will be the Holiday Inn (183 rooms), with room rates of $94 per night (theyre honoring this rate two days prior to and after the convention). The rate includes a full buffet breakfast with made to order omelets. There are six additional hotels within walking distance of the host. The banquet will be Thursday night and will be off site at the convention complex. Registration costs have not been determined as of yet. As more info becomes available Ill get it out in the newsletter.

Did you know that two of our conference officers serve on the International Convention Committee? Joe Kubicek and I have been appointed to this committee, which offers advise to any chapter interested in hosting an International or regional convention. The committee also looks for ways to improve conventions. Got a suggestion for improvement? Well, send it to me (Im Committee Chairman) and Ill get it out to the rest of the committee. No idea goes unexplored, so send us your thoughts. Keep in mind that were advisory only, and dont interfere with the actual running of a convention.

I received an e-mail from our GLRC Vice Chairman Bill Haylett the other day. It seems that we dont have any chapters submitted for the GLRC Traveling Recruitment Award this year. Now I know that there are chapters out there who have recruited several new members in 2009 but havent bothered to fill out the simple form and send it to Bill. Its on the GLRC web site, and Bill has extended the deadline for submission until August 8, 2010. The dates for recruiting new members run from 7-31-09 to 7-31-10. So get your submission to him ASAP! Bill has even forgone the official form, and will honor your submissions via e-mail. Dont let your chapters recruiting efforts go unrecognized.

Unless youve been hiding under a rock, you all know that the 2010 Summer GLRC is just scant weeks away. The cut off for early registration is August 6. Afterwards the cost jumps up $5. Save yourself a few dead presidents and register early. The members of OH II will appreciate knowing youre coming. Registration forms are still available on line at the GLRC and OH II web sites. And remember to have your GLRC dues current! You cant vote at the business meeting unless your chapter is paid up. The current list of paid chapters follows this page, so check it out and PLEASE pay your dues!!!

ILL	IND	MI	NY	OH	ONT	WI

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IX - PD	VII	X - PD		IX - PD	X - PD	VII - PD
X - PD	VIII - PD	XI		X - PD	XI - PD	VIII - PD
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XII - PD	XI			XII - PD	XIV - PD	X - PD
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Webmaster's Note: There are three levels of dues for our chapter Presidents to understand:

1) Member Level - A member pays their dues to the chapter. The cost is decided by the chapter executive. These funds to go the International Level.

2) Chapter Level - The chapter pays their chapter dues to the Conference - in our case the dues are $20.00 These funds help run the Conference and provides your chapter representative a vote at the meetings. Just because you don't send a representative, doesn't mean you don't need to pay, it only means if you don't pay, you don't get to vote. These funds are mailed to the Conference Treasurer.

As Kevin Bacon said in Animal House, Remain calm; all is well! I received the following update about the 2010 International Convention on the BOG Yahoo Group, and want to share it with all of you to allay your fears.

We've been pretty busy since the tornado in Billings, but it IN NO WAY WILL affect the International Convention in Billings. The damage was confined to a small area on the northeast section of the city and our "epicenter" is on the southwest, far from any damage. The county's multipurpose arena was heavily damaged and fortunately we chose the Holiday Inn's convention center as our main venue. None of the rides in the area have been changed nor any of the proposed attractions. My apologies to everyone who has been waiting for a convention update from Billings. The work hat I've been wearing has taken up a great deal of what should have been convention preparation but rest assured that Montana awaits all of the Blue Knights with open arms, friendly people, and hopefully clear skies.

Dave Evans, President
Blue Knights, Montana I

As long as Im talking about the International Convention, I offer this bit of advice for anyone heading to Billings. If youre one of these seat of the pants types who prefers to find your hotel rooms on the road instead of booking ahead (like me and Joe Kubicek), you may want to reconsider your M.O. With the potentially large number of Knights traveling to Billings and given the time of year, you may have considerable trouble locating affordable lodging, especially in South Dakota. Rooms in the Rapid City area were averaging $135 a night and UP (for such chains as Motel 6 and Super 8). You can find bargains on line, but you have to hunt for them. I was able to get a room in Sturgis for $84 at a Super 8 through one of the on line services. If you havent arranged hotels for your trip, please take the time and do so. You dont want to spend a night at the local Dennys Restaurant (Ive done it and it wasnt pretty, but thats another story best told over a frosty one).

Recently, our brother and sister Blue Knights in OH II sent out letters about the upcoming 2010 Summer GLRC in Perrysburg. The letters went to people who attended their spring conference in 2008, asking them to return this August. I didnt receive one, presumably because I sent in my registration already. This tells me that registrations are low and slow in coming in. As a past convention host, I cant begin to tell you how much of a nightmare late registrations and walk ins cause. Running a convention takes a lot of work. The host chapter doesnt need the added aggravation of not knowing how many people are attending until the last minute. Im urging all of you who plan on attending the Summer GLRC to get your registrations to Ohio ASAP. Dont put our fellow BKs in a tough position.

As of this writing, we still dont have anyone officially bidding for the 2011 Spring and Summer GLRCs. Hosting a conference does take work on your chapters part, but the rewards offset the effort. There are currently 88 chapters in the GLRC. That means there are 88 new places to ride to. Consider bidding for a GLRC. Talk it over at your next chapter meeting. If your chapter is interested, contact me or Joe Kubicek. Were both members of the International Convention Committee, which primarily offers advice on running an International convention. However, weve also given direction to chapters interested in hosting a regional conference (most recently to KS VIII to host a MWRC). If you have questions, we can help. It doesnt take a million people to put on a regional convention; a smaller chapter can do it. All it takes is the desire to play host to your fellow Blue Knights for a few days. Give it serious consideration; you wont regret it.

One last thing on conferences: Ive been a frequent flyer to conferences outside the GLRC, namely the MWRC (our brother and sister Knights to the west). Folks, they put on a convention every bit as fun as our GLRC. If youve never been, you owe it to yourself to head west and experience their Midwest hospitality. The next MWRC is in Grand Forks North Dakota, September 10-12, 2010. Info and registration forms can be obtained on the MWRC web site. If you really want to go outside your GLRC box, head across the pond and go to a European Convention. I can tell you that my first EC in Belgium was one of the best Blue Knights events Ive ever attended. Imagine 450 Blue Knights singing, dancing, and partying until dawn. Dont speak a foreign language? No problem! Almost everyone Laura and I encountered spoke English (some better than others, but all were understandable). We had such a great time I didnt even mind not having my bike there. Our European brother and sister Knights were gracious and made us feel very welcome. Next year, the EC will be in Nice, France (the French Riviera, near Monaco and San Tropez) May 26-29, 2011, hosted by France V. In 2012 itll be in Croatia, and Im told that the last EC in Croatia was a blow out party! Im already making my plans to return to The Old World; maybe you should too. Trust me, you wont regret it one bit.

I hope to see you all in Billings in a few short weeks. Please ride safely, and keep an eye out for our friends in the outlaw MC community when out on the highways. Keep the shiny side up, the rubber side down, and always Ride with Pride!

ILL	IND	MI	NY	OH	ONT	WI

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XXV				XXI - PD
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				XXVI
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July 10 the above listed chapters have paid their 2010 GLRC dues. The summer GLRC is just around the corner; please make sure your conference dues are paid before the convention. You know the drill: send your $20.00 check (payable to the GLRC) to:

Please make sure you include your chapter name and number on the check to ensure your chapter gets properly marked as paid. Your dues help keep the GLRC up and running. Please get your chapters current on their dues before the summer GLRC.

International GLRC Representative

Since my last report, the Great Lakes Regional Conference conducted our Spring meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin. During our meeting, our 2010 to 2012 officers were nominated, and everybody is unopposed. Bill Haylett, New York V, will be the Chairman; Dennis Hafeman, Wisconsin VI, will be the Vice-Chairman; Tom Peed, Ohio III, will be the Secretary; and Joe Kubicek, Wisconsin VI, will be the Treasurer, and I was re-elected as the International Rep. For the first time since the Great Lakes was formed, we have separated the Secretary and Treasurer position. The hotel, the food, and the friendship were top notch. I was very impressed with Lambeau Field which was within walking distance from the hotel. We took a tour of this amazing facility, and one of our stops was to visit the owners box. Just before we left this area, I asked our guide where the Dawg Pound was located? He was a good natured young man, and he took it in stride. He told us about the padding where they do the Lambeau Leap.

I tried to keep this board and the members of our conference updated on Dick Lear since he became ill in January. For the 100 plus days that he remained in the hospital, his wife Diana never left his side. She had taken a leave of absence from her employment with the Muncie City Schools; however, she had to pay for both hers and the employers share to maintain their medical insurance. Many people donated to this worthwhile cause and for that I thank you. One person wanted to help her friends family in a special way. In the tradition of the Blue Knights she went above the ordinary, and that person was Ontario IV member Pam Carlton. During the banquet in Green Bay, she raffled off an English Bobbie Helmet. That night almost $1,700 was raised to help Diana thanks to Pam and her idea.

I am happy to inform you that International Honorary Eric Estrada is again working to make the Blue Knights name one of quality. On June 19, 2010, Eric will be present at a motorcycle run in which Indiana I is a co-sponsor. All proceeds will be donated to the Delaware County Alzheimers Association. Once again Mr. Estrada is demonstrating to our membership that he is honored to be a member of this organization.

Our next GLRC will be the summer conference meeting at the Holiday Inn French Quarter, in Perrysburg, Ohio. The dates are August 27 to 29, 2010. More information is on our web site. I checked the hotel web site, and they did survive the tornadoes that swept this area last week-end. So it sounds like the party is on.

I would like to thank everybody for their kind words and prayers following my recent surgery.

Thanks to John Gordons fine info distribution system you heard about my little excitement and many and have prayed/called/emailed, encouraging my well-being. I read ALL the kind notes on my Blackberry-sorry Im not good enough on it to answer (wasnt before I got sick either). I guess you can say its better to be lucky than good (works for me).

I am truly one of the luckiest men in the world in many ways as the cause was something I have been living with all my life. I had a hole in the septum of my heart for 53 years that should have kept me from getting hired as a P/O, especially after I ballooned up to nearly 300 lbs. OTJ! (I made it through sports as a kid, too!) Even when I was a lard butt on the PD-I NEVER lost neither a foot chase nor a fight. Had the stroke on March 30^th (caused by the hole), was not happy with the amount of recovery, so went to doctor who put me on stress test and found I had a heart attack in the previous 1to 2 weeks and wanted to admit me to the hospital for a stint. By the time I was in, the doctors determined to Lifeflight me to Peoria to a world renowned surgeon whom, the doctor told me, if it were him getting the work-this was one of only 2 doctors who he would allow to do this (pretty good recommendation!)

Thursday June 24^th, this Dr. cracked my chest open and patched the hole caused by the heart attack, and bypassed the dead part of my heart and fixed the hole Ive carried for 53 years (that should have never allowed me to play sports or be a cop!). 5 days later, I was noticing getting things coming back that had not come back in the 3 months since the stroke! Things I had thought might be lost forever were returning!

I am breathing better than ever in my life. They are telling me that I am going to be taking less diabetes medication than I have for 9 years and all it costs me is the loss of a riding season and a few scars! My local dealer is kindly going to store and maintain my beloved PO Special for free (you might remember her- she is the lady who sprung for the free lunch during the 2008 Convention. Again Im blessed with wonderful friends!) I am newly energized to do something to help something that has brought me such joy, the Blue KnightsŽ.

See you in Billings. Im out of the hospital Friday July 2 with a new lease on life.

Goedendag everyone! Yes, Im showing off (and borrowing from my Belgium for Dummies book). So whats up with the Flemish greeting? Well, Laura and I just came home from the European Convention in Oostduinkerke Belgium, thats why. Our hosts, the members of Belgium VI and VII were incredible. We flew over a few days early and spent time touring the beautiful cities of Brussels and Grimbergen before heading to the coast for the convention. Im not going to turn this into a Blue Knights version of a slide show, but suffice it to say it was an amazing time. This was our second trip across the pond, and believe me it wont be our last. Next year the EC is in Nice, France (the French Riviera). Until then Ill be practicing my French!

And travel seems to be the theme of this months newsletter. I barely have time to unpack my luggage before I toss it all on the bike, grab Joe and Doni Kubicek and head west to the MWRC in St. Joseph Missouri. June and July are filled with excellent travel opportunities for the Blue Knights, so many that you just dont have enough time to get to them all. For instance, by the time you read this, the Wisconsin State Convention will be getting underway in Lacrosse Wisconsin. Of course, theres the crčme de la crčme of Blue Knights events; the 36^th Annual Blue Knights International Convention in Billings Montana July 18-23. If you havent registered yet, what are you waiting for? Its not too late to get a hotel (although the host is sold out) and secure your place at this great event. Looking for something a bit more down the calendar? Well, get your registration in for the 2010 Summer GLRC in Perrysburg Ohio, hosted by OH II. Itll be your opportunity to welcome in the new GLRC Executive board, as theyll be taking office on August 28. OH II did a great job when they hosted the 2008 Spring GLRC and I have no doubt that theyll do an equally great job in August. But youll never know unless you go. SO BE THERE!

This months newsletter is flyer heavy, and I encourage all you loyal readers to check them out and make plans to attend if you can. Remember to wear your BK colors proudly when attending! You never know when an opportunity to recruit a new member may pop up. It doesnt hurt to keep an application or two handy in the tour pack either, just in case you meet that prospective member.

Leading off is a warning from our International President Dave Mulford regarding our friends in the outlaw biker world. This was borrowed from the BOG web site and was received from Brian Brackin of the Dothan Chapter of Blue Knights. It states: I just got information from an officer from south Alabama. According to a CI, talk within the Mobile Chapter of the Bandidos is that they are pissed that two new LEO clubs have popped up in Alabama (Defenders and Law Dawgs). Supposedly, they are going to start approaching cop clubs (specifically mentioned Blue Knights) and trying to get bottom rockers removed. This information was meant to be spread around to all officers that ride with a club with the suggestion of staying armed while riding with your colors (why someone would not do that I dont know).

We need to treat every threat, whether actual or implied, as credible. Practice your situational awareness skills and keep your eyes open and your guard up when riding, especially when wearing your colors. Dont put yourself in harms way ala the Iron Pigs incident in Sturgis and avoid hanging out in places frequented by outlaw bikers.

Is there a better subject to put under the bull section than politics? The election season is off and running. If you didnt read through the minutes from the 2010 Spring GLRC (and who could blame you?), there are going to be changes coming up in your GLRC Executive Board this August. Nominations were held for the 2010-2012 GLRC Board in Green Bay, and all candidates were nominated unopposed. Theyll be taking office at the 2010 Summer GLRC in Perrysburg. Your new board will be: Chairman Bill Haylett (NY V), Vice Chairman Dennis Hafeman (WI VI), Secretary Tom Peed (OH III), Treasurer Joe Kubicek (WI VI), and returning as your International Rep John Gordon (OH XVIII).

International President: Dave Mulford (incumbent), Peter Domiziano (current Intl. Secretary), and Past International President Bob Flanagan.

International Vice President: Pat Fox (incumbent) and D.J. Alvarez (RGC Intl. Rep)

International Treasurer: Russ Harper (incumbent) and Past International VP Jerry Bryan.

Running for the BOG (elections to be held at the BOG meeting in Billings Montana):

If your chapter president cant make it to the International, and you know of a chapter member who will be there, make sure that member secures a letter of proxy from the president for voting rights. Have that member attend the BOG business meeting and VOTE! Support the candidates who are best for the job and for the club. An important reminder: you MUST have your BK membership card to get in to the BOG and General Membership meetings (these meetings are closed to all but card carrying members). The International will be a great opportunity to meet the current International Executive officers and the other candidates for office. This is your chance to question them about their vision for the future of the club. Dont be afraid to ask questions; these men are seeking to be your representatives and you have the right to know where they stand and why they are seeking office. Campaign posters always paint a rosy picture; this is your chance to get your questions answered right from the horses mouths.

Okay, its time for me to put down the bull pen for this month. The weathers too good to waste sitting at a computer, and theres a BK event out there somewhere with my name on it. So its time to put the rubber to the pavement and ride! See you all down the road.

If you didnt make it to Green Bay for the 2010 Spring GLRC, all I can say is that you missed out on a great time! Having partied with the members of WI X (Green Bay) in the past, I knew Id be in for a wild weekend, and I wasnt disappointed. The WI X Wrecking Crew had two hospitality suites running with a variety of beer, soda, and top shelf booze to grease your wheels. And it wouldnt be a WI X event if it didnt have plenty of that infamous Apple Pie to imbibe. The food all weekend long was outstanding, with a tailgate style cookout on Friday (unfortunately moved indoors due to rain) and a Saturday night banquet featuring beef, chicken and fish. There was no way anyone was going to bed hungry or thirsty (or sober for that matter). If you did it was your own damn fault. Lord knows I didnt!

Friday night saw the triumphant return of the SNORT Team, resurrected from its long dormancy by Joe Kubicek (WI VI) and yours truly. Saturdays business meeting went quickly and smoothly. You can read all the details in the meeting minutes, which are included in this months newsletter.

After the banquet Saturday night, Pam Carlton of ON IV donated a British Bobbie helmet, and WI X President Geno Russo demonstrated his cunning linguistic skills as an auctioneer, raising $650 to be donated to the family of Dick Lear. Passing the helmet afterwards raised the total donation to $1,300. A member of OH XVII won the longest distance award (sorry I didnt get your name), with 680 miles traveled. IL XI won largest chapter in attendance, with 17 members/spouses present (stealing it from my chapter WI VI, who had 11 members/spouses).

WI X provided more entertainment than just the liquid variety. Saturday night the members were treated to the incredible talent of fiddle player Chris Carey. Chris and his partner Tommy fired up the crowd with a great mix of country and southern rock. Just inside their first set, the boys performed a moving rendition of Amazing Grace in honor of the members of Heaven I. Just writing about it gives me goose bumps.

Unfortunately, I have one casualty to report. Ohio State Rep Rich Labis and his son crashed en route to the convention. Both are alright (bruises and road rash), but Richs bike was totaled.

I raise my glass to Dane, Geno, and all the members of WI X for a terrific convention. According to Dane, they had 170 attendees show up, representing 40 chapters and one member at large. An excellent turnout; congratulations for a job well done

Greetings everyone! This months column will be shortened due to the inclusion of the minutes from the 2010 Spring GLRC. There are a few things of interest I want to get out to the membership. This first one is geared toward our former members of the military. I dont profess to completely understanding this, but it bears checking out for you retired military guys.

A LITTLE KNOWN VETERAN BENEFIT YOU SHOULD PRINT OUT AND FILE VETERANS NEWS & INFORMATION
"Aid and Attendance"

Regardless of your personal status, consider passing this along to all veterans, families of veterans or individuals with veterans in their family. "Aid and Attendance" is an underutilized special monthly pension benefit offered by the Veterans Administration for veterans and
surviving spouses who require in-home care or live in nursing homes.

To qualify, a veteran (includes the surviving spouse) must have served at least 90 days of active military service, one day of which is during a period of war, and must be discharged under
conditions other than dishonorable.

The veteran's benefit is $18,234 annually (paid monthly), and increases to $21,615 if a veteran has one dependant. The surviving spouse alone is $11,715 annually. For more information, call 1-800-827-1000.

A little-known veterans' benefit for long-term care expenses is available to wartime veterans and their spouses. But the benefit is being overlooked by thousands of families, industry observers say.

The Special Pension for Veterans' Aid and Attendance pays up to $1,644 a month, $19,736 annually, toward assisted living, nursing homes or in-home care for veterans 65 and older who served at least 90 days and one day during wartime - stateside or overseas. Veterans and their spouses can receive up to $23,396 annually and spouses of deceased veterans, $12,681. Yet, an estimated $22 billion a year goes unclaimed, said Don Soard, a volunteer with Operation Veteran Aid in Oklahoma City. In 2007, only 134,000 seniors nationwide received the benefit, which was established in 1952. "Literally hundreds of thousands don't even know about it," Soard said. "Due to incomplete information, many disqualify themselves on income or assets or find the paperwork too burdensome." Streamlined process - Soard helps families complete the necessary forms, so that approval comes in four to six months. The process is streamlined for vets who are blind or have memory issues and widows with medical needs, he said. Most applicants qualify and payments are retroactive, Soard said. The few who are denied on excessive liquid assets can seek financial advice to qualify, he said. Soard started his volunteer mission two years ago, following the deaths of two family members who served in WWII. "If they'd known about this benefit, they'd have a much better quality of life in later years," he said. "Without it, many vets are forced to go on Medicaid." Oklahoma is one of nine states where the welfare program doesn't cover assisted living costs. Assisted living often can be an alternative to a nursing home when 24-hour skilled care is not an absolute need, said Willie Ferguson, executive director of Legend at Rivendell in Oklahoma City. "But if someone just has Social Security and a small pension, it's not enough to live here," Ferguson said. According to a 2008 MetLife survey, assisted living in Oklahoma averages $2,346 a month, while nursing homes cost $153 a day for a private room. Of 73 Legend residents, nine receive the veterans' special pension, including Tom Bowen, 77, of Moore. Until I toured this operation, I had no idea the benefit was available," said Bowen, a retired engineer technician from the Federal Aviation Administration who served stateside during the Korean Conflict. Bowen recently moved into the Legend facility following several mini strokes and a diagnosis of short-term memory loss. "It's been pretty hard trying to handle expenses on my own and being able to replace savings," said Marie Bowen, his wife of 57 years. Finding a nearby facility and learning about the special veterans' pension has been a godsend, she said.

This next piece is sent to me from Mike Haldeman, the President of WI VIII (Lacrosse).

Greetings! As President of Wisconsin VIII, I am personally inviting you to join us at the 2010 Blue Knights State Convention held in the beautiful La Crosse area. Two escorted rides are being planned and information about several self-guided rides will be available. Any of you who have been in our area know about the roads we have. This area has been referred to as Gods Country and if you have ever ridden our roads you know what this means. For those of you who have never been in the La Crosse area, this is your opportunity to join us for rides on some of the most beautiful roads in the state.

Even though this is a Wisconsin State Convention, we would like to extend this special invitation to you and all other Blue Knights in your Chapter to join us for this event. You will get to meet new friends and touch base with old friends.

Food will be provided by Sergeant Smoker BBQ. Beer, soda and water are included in your registration fee.

The festivities will begin on Friday evening, June 11 at Wisconsin Veterans Memorial County Park and Campground in West Salem and end on Sunday morning, June 13. Camping is available and hotels are within a short driving distance. More information and the registration form can be found on our website at www.wiblueknightsviii.org.

As I said, this months submission is short and sweet. Ill have more tidbits next month.
Ride with Pride,
Wrongway Dennis Hafeman

Here is a large picture of Dick Lear's last ride here on earth. He is now at Heaven I enjoying himself.

From Your Secretary/Treasurer

Finally its here!!! Im referring to spring, of course. The coming of spring heralds the arrival of another great riding season with the Blue Knights. Weve all had plenty of down time this winter; stuck in the house with snow up the wazoo. Hopefully weve all spent some quality time on the new and improved BK International web site planning those upcoming trips, and not just doing some late night porn surfing. The GLRCs very own John Spider Long (our International Web Master) has spent a lot of time getting the new web site up and running. If you havent logged on to it lately, you really should check it out. And as long as youre there, do a little browsing and see what conventions tickle your fancy. Make plans to attend and enjoy what the Blue Knights are all about; good times with good friends.

In a few short weeks the 2010 Spring GLRC will kick off what I forecast to be a great riding year. WI X (Green Bay) promises to give us a weekend we wont forget (although Ive spent many weekends with WI X and cant remember a thing). If you havent registered for this event yet, forms are still available on the GLRC web site. The agenda for the May 1 business meeting is included in this months newsletter. Copies of the minutes from the last GLRC will be available at the May 1 meeting.

And speaking of GLRC registration forms, did you know that theyre available for the 2010 Summer GLRC as well? OH II (Toledo) has them on their web site, as well as being posted on the GLRC web site. If you cant make it to Green Bay, youve got to come to Perrysburg. Hell, if anything youve got to experience the MOAD at Tony Pacos Restaurant. Its not for the faint hearted!

Recently, I was told that MT I had increased the room block in the host hotel for the 2010 International Convention. I was also told that these rooms were going fast. If youre planning on going to Billings (and I strongly recommend you do) check out the room situation on the MT I web site. If you cant get into the host hotel, never fear. There are plenty of overflow hotels within spitting distance of the host hotel.

Were still looking for chapters to bid for the 2011 Spring and 2011 Summer GLRCs. If all this talk about conventions has made your heart race, consider putting on a bid.

Greetings to all you loyal readers of this newsletter! I want to start off my column this month with an explanation about the GLRC dues. It seems that there are a number of questions about what they are, and why chapters are asked to pay them.

Heres the legalese on conference dues. This is taken directly from the International Constitution and Bylaws, Article V (Conferences) Section 5.05 (Dues). I quote: Conferences shall receive from the International treasury one dollar ($1.00) for each member that is registered within the Conference boundary with the International. Conferences may assess Chapter dues to its members and chapters wishing non voting membership. No mystery here. At least twice a year I, as your GLRC Treasurer, receive a check from the International; this check varies in amount due to fluctuations in memberships. Its deposited in our conference checking account (as are all checks I receive). Back in the day when the conference first formed, it was decided that chapters would be asked to pay $10 (since raised to $20 due to increased prices) to help offset the costs of running the conference. Most chapters pay; some do not.

What do these dues pay for? Well, for starters, chapters who are current in paying their GLRC dues have the right to vote at the GLRC business meetings. But these dues do more than pay for voting privileges. GLRC dues pay for such mundane things as office supplies (paper, envelopes, and toner); currently all files for the conference since I took over this office are backed up on a memory stick paid for with dues money (the stick is conference property, meaning it stays in the possession of whoever the GLRC Secretary may be and not me personally). Postage, once our biggest expense, is also paid for with dues money. Copies of the prior minutes, treasurers report, and agenda for both of the GLRC business meetings are also paid for from the treasury. GLRC dues pay for the upfront costs of such things as the new GLRC patch and conference pins. The Travellers Pin program is kept up and running with dues money. All awards, such as meritorious service or certificates of appreciation presented by the GLRC board are purchased with dues money. Name tags and badges for state reps and board members are purchased from these funds, as well as conference specific bottom rockers bought from the International. The GLRC Executive Board receives money from the treasury to help offset travel expenses so they can attend the two regional conferences; the chairman receives an addition stipend to attend the International convention, and the International Rep gets up to $700 to attend the Inaugural Ball/Election weekend in Bangor Maine.

All charitable contributions on behalf of the conference are taken from dues money.

Our GLRC chaplain is reimbursed for cards or flowers sent on behalf of the conference to ill members or families of members transferred to Heaven I.

New chapters are given a waiver their first year. Afterwards, they are asked to start paying dues. As you can see, GLRC dues are used to pay for a lot of stuff the conference needs to keep running. So please do your part to keep the GLRC financially strong.

And one final thing on GLRC dues: if your chapter hasnt paid for 2010 and youre planning on attending the spring GLRC, PLEASE get me your dues prior to the business meeting on May 1. Itll make things go much smoother for everyone involved.

Its official: after several long months of surgeries and recovery, our esteemed GLRC Chairman Bill Drees is back on his feet and at the helm again! As of March 21 Bill has resumed the duties of his office; all concerns regarding the conference should be directed to him and no longer to Bill Haylett (our acting chairman). I personally want to thank Bill Haylett for the outstanding service he rendered to the GLRC while Bill D. was recovering. And with the new heart valve Bill D. is truly full of bull.

Remember, nominations for the election of the 2010-12 GLRC Executive Board will be made at the 2010 Spring GLRC business meeting (May 1, 2010). Elections will be held at the 2010 Summer GLRC business meeting (August 28, 2010) in Perrysburg Ohio. The bylaws (Article V, Section 5.03 Officers) state that only Regular members who are currently serving or have served as a chapter president can hold the offices of International Rep, Chairman or Vice Chairman. Any Regular member can hold the office of Secretary/Treasurer. Associate or Honorary members cannot hold any of these offices.

Okay, heres where I hop on my soapbox for a few minutes. And heres my usual disclaimer: as always, the opinions expressed here are mine alone, and are not those of the GLRC board or any other Blue Knight. Regarding upcoming elections: over the next few months were all going to hear a lot of campaign promises from candidates for International offices, as well as from other candidates for offices within the club. As the editor of this newsletter, I will present all campaign flyers impartially, regardless of my personal feelings about the candidates. What Im challenging YOU to do is this: for starters you need to GET INVOLVED! Dont just sit on the sidelines and think someone else will do it. Every vote matters, and as dues paying members your vote is your voice. Really listen to what these candidates are saying, and not just what theyre putting on their campaign posters. Do your homework before the elections, and research them and their platforms before the ballots come out. Any incumbents seeking reelection need to be evaluated; did they keep the promises they made during their terms? Ask questions, both of the candidates and of other members who may know more about them than you do (especially important for you newer members). Above all keep this in mind: vote for the candidate who will be best for the club. Everyone has an agenda, but that agenda should be about what is best for the Blue Knights and not just for one person (or a select group). Officers are your elected representatives, and as such they should be doing what the club wants and not just what they feel is best. Lastly, take the time to vote. Returns for International elections are always dismal. If you dont vote, you cant bitch about how the club is being run. Okay, Im done preaching for now.

Weve all experienced comebacks in our lives. Some were good (like Minnesota Vikings Brett Favre); some not so good (like NY Jets Brett Favre). During his career, Elvis Presley made more than a few notable comebacks. Well, heres one comeback that doesnt involve a fat drunk guy in a leather outfit (scratch that; this comeback actually DOES): the triumphant return of the SNORT Team! Once thought as extinct as the dodo bird, the SNORT Team is being revived by a stalwart group of GLRC members who saw the need to kill record numbers of brain cells in the name of fun and personal achievement. What exactly is the SNORT Team you ask? Well, its an acronym for Special Nasal Operations Requiring Tequila. I wont delve into the exact mechanics involved in joining, but suffice it to say its an experience you wont soon remember! Do you have what it takes to wear the SNORT Team patch? See your local SNORT Team recruiter, coming soon to a hospitality suite near you.

Well, Ive rambled on long enough for this month. Its time for me to start getting things together (Tums, Advil, Visine) for the wild weekend with the Wrecking Crew of WI X.

The February 2010 International Board meeting took place on February 23, 2010. I must admit that I was about 10 minutes late in making my call-in, as I was at my grand-daughters school music recital. The new up-to-date Blue Knights International Website is up and running. There have been a few complaints about being able to log into the members-only section. Remember that your membership ID number is the User Name and your last name (IN CAPS) is the password. The board discussed at length with Mark Howard different ideas on how to improve the web-site. The Internet Committee is open to your input. If you have any suggestions, please contact Webmaster John Long at longjc@verizon.net

Agenda Item 2010-004 dealt with the issuance of a Blue Knights Scholarship. This item was passed unanimously by the board. This year five (5) Blue Knights immediate family members (son/step-son, daughter/step-daughter, or grandchild) will be able to apply for a $1,000 scholarship to assist them in the furtherance of their education. Applications will be available from any International board member and will be available on the web-site in the members-only section. Applications must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2010.

International Office Manager Bessie Small reminded the board that your 2009 membership cards are still valid until April 30. The main reason for this reminder is the office is one employee short. Historically, when chapters dont receive their new cards in a short period of time, they call the office to inquire why things are taking so long. Getting this years cards out could take a little longer than normal, so please be patient.

Under Old Business we returned to the nominations of International Honoraries for 2010. More information in support of nominee Christine Fulton had been provided and with this new information, we voted to welcome Ms. Fulton as an International Honorary.

Agenda Item 2010-002 was withdrawn. Agenda Item 2010-003 was tabled in order to provide more information on the proposed booklet. Several Reps. have had this idea in the works, and as a result, they are going to put all of their information together to make this book a very useful tool for our members.

Under the Good of the Organization, President Dave Mulford, Vice-President Pat Fox, and Treasurer Russ Harper announced that they will be seeking re-election of their current positions. Rio-Grande International Representative D. J. Alverez announced that he will seek the position of Vice-President. No other announcements were made.

Since my election as your International Representative, I have tried to get current information out to you. It is virtually impossible to get it to the 2,900 members of this conference on my own. I want to thank Paul Croteau, the conference webmaster, for keeping my information posted and up-to-date. I also want to thank Secretary Dennis Hafeman for having the patience in publishing the newsletter until after I send him my information. Finally, I would like to thank all of the State Representatives. They stay in contact with their chapters, and always make sure their members have the information they need. You all are truly the unsung heroes of this conference.

Our next meeting will be on April 27, 2010, at 8:00 PM, EDT. Deadlines for submitting agenda items will be April 13, 2010 at 9:00 AM, EDT. This means that the Agenda will be published no later than April 20, 2010. It will be posted on the web-site and sent to the state reps. for distribution.

Riding With Pride,

John P. T. Gordon
International Representative
Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Inc.
Great Lakes Regional Conference

I received this e-mail from John Gordon, originally from Mike Fletcher (BK News Executive Editor):

I just received my advance copy of the BK News and I am disappointed. The printer got messed up in their communications and while it is in 4 color they omitted to do the glossy cover.

There is not much that can be done now as they are all printed, except for a cost break.

They have promised to have the glossy cover next issue - I will double check prior.

The main planned ride for Saturday (before the Jack Daniel's event) will be a ride to Maggie Valley, North Carolina to visit the Wheels through Time Motorcycle Museum. This is an awesome place with some fantastic displays. One of the displays due to close was a Police section, but the owner has agreed to keep it until later this year. You can find out more through their web site.

If you have ever been to Pigs in the Smokies, this is the biggest and best yet. If you have never attended a Mason Dixon Conference event, this is always a good one to start with. You will have the opportunity to meet Blue Knights from all over with no responsibilities except to have fun and enjoy yourself.

If we get enough people wanting to take a Motorcycle Safety Course on Sunday afternoon we will host it also. The important thing here is to RSVP ASAP to David McCroskey DM2098@aol.com

We have a lot of things planned for our guests.... the important part is to be there!
Registration forms can be found on the Tennessee III web site www.blueknightstn3.com
Please send your registration in NOW....

GLRC Dues Chapters Paid as of 10 Apr 2010

ILL	IND	MI	NY	OH	ONT	WI

I - PD	I	I - PD	V - PD	II - PD	I	I - PD
II - PD	II - PD	II - PD		III - PD	IV - PD	II - PD
IV	III - PD	III - PD		IV - PD	V - PD	III - PD
V - PD	IV	V		V - PD	VI - PD	IV - PD
VI - PD	V	VI - PD		VI - PD	VIII - PD	V
VII	VI	VII		VIII	IX	VI - PD
IX - PD	VII	X - PD		IX - PD	X	VII - PD
X - PD	VIII - PD	XI		X - PD	XI - PD	VIII - PD
XI - PD	X			XI	XIII - PD	IX - PD
XII - PD	XI			XII - PD	XIV - PD	X - PD
XIII - PD	XII			XIII	XV - PD	XI - PD
XIV - PD	XIII - PD			XIV	XVI	XIII - PD
XV - PD				XV - PD		XV
XIX - PD				XVI		XVII - PD
XX - PD				XVII - PD		XVIII - PD
XXI				XVIII - PD
XXII - PD				XIX - PD
XXIII				XX
XXV				XXI - PD
XXVI				XXII - PD
				XXIII
				XXV
				XXVI
				XXVII
				XXVIII

Okay, so now that you know what your GLRC dues are for (cause you read my Pulitzer Prize winning column), PLEASE send them in! Send your $20.00 check (made payable to the GLRC) to me at:

Please put your chapter number in the memo section of your check so I can make sure your chapter gets marked as paid.

I have the scholarship applications in hand. Please pass along to your chapters that any Blue Knight, child, step-child, or grand-child can apply. Five scholarships will be given away at the International Convention, so time is of the essence.

Faith and begorrah laddies and lasses, can you believe tis March already! And we all know what that means; St. Patricks Day; the celebration of the patron saint of corned beef and green beer. The beauty of the Emerald Isle (and a few pints of Guinness) was my inspiration for this months newsletter. So Erin Go Braless!

Sing along with me: When I.R.S. eyes are smiling. What in the name of Sister Mary Elephant am I talking about? Well, tis a wee musical reminder that all chapters must file their 990-N E-Card with the IRS by April 15, 2010. The 990-N is required for any organization that claims to be non profit, and must be submitted to keep your status intact. You can find the link to the e-card on the official government site: WWW.IRS.GOV. Like most government web sites, this one takes a few minutes to maneuver around, but the actual e-card is easily submitted once you find it. You will need your chapters EIN number to complete this card. Failure to submit your 990-N three consecutive years can result in losing your non profit status.

And what would St. Patricks be without a bit of the green? In this case, I mean Green Bay, the site of the 2010 Spring GLRC (April 30-May 2). I recently spoke with Wisconsin State Rep Dane Nelsen about the upcoming convention, and hes filled me in on what will be one great party. WI X is planning a tailgate party, and Saturday nights entertainment will be by Chris Carey, one hell of a fiddle player. And while its not Irish, Im told therell be plenty of the (in)famous WI X Apple Pie on hand to make you see leprechauns and make you feel plenty green in the morning. At this point registrations are few, so please get your registrations in as soon as possible.

Well Danny Boy, the pipes the pipes are calling, so I fear we must part for now. Happy St. Patricks Day!! See you all very soon in Green Bay.

Random thoughts and deep musings From the Mind of Wrongway

If my teaser about the 2010 Spring GLRC didnt inspire you, heres some additional information forwarded to my by Wisconsin State Rep and event chairman Dane Nelsen of WI X (Green Bay): The 2010 Spring GLRC is getting closer. April 30-May 2 in Green Bay WI. Registrations are starting to come in and we are continuing to work to put together a great convention for you at a great price. In addition to the info on the flyer/registration form (available on line) we are working to add even more for your enjoyment. Well have two hospitality rooms (smoking and across the hallway non-smoking). In addition to free beer (4-5 different flavors) we will also have free wines and cocktails and munchies. Well have live entertainment Saturday night. For those interested, we are arranging a personally guided tour of Lambeau Field (small additional cost) and scheduled transportation and free match plays for Oneida Casino. We will also have several raffles including a 50/50 each night, a gun raffle and a raffle to win your room comped for the weekend (1st prize) and one person's registration fee refunded (2nd prize). We have 80 rooms blocked until March 30, 2010. We can add more prior to that if needed, but no guarantees you will get a room after that date. So get your registrations in and room reservations completed ASAP. Like Lt. Aldo Ray says in Inglorious Basterds: Sound good? Yes sir! Thisll be a GLRC you wont want to miss.

I received this sobering information from Ted Englebart, one of the directors of WI VI (Metro Milwaukee). Its gleaned from the NLEOMF web site:

This years overall, 7 percent reduction in law enforcement deaths was driven largely by a steep, 21 percent drop in the number of officers killed in traffic-related incidents, reported NLEOMF Chairman and CEO Craig W. Floyd. However, that bit of good news was overshadowed by an alarming surge in the number of officers killed by gunfire.

Other findings of the preliminary 2009 law enforcement officers fatality report:

Footnote: Sadly, just hours after the preliminary 2009 report was released, we learned of the latest law enforcement death of 2009: Pierce County (WA) Deputy Sheriff Kent Mundell succumbed to gunshot wounds he suffered on December 21 as he and another deputy responded to a domestic disturbance call in Eatonville. He is the sixth officer from the Seattle/Puget Sound area to be gunned down in just the past two months -- a shocking spate of violence against law enforcement.

2010 is an election year within the Blue Knights. Offices at the International level, the Board of Governors, and the GLRC will all be up for election. Michigan State Rep Mike Scarborough sent in this handy information if you are considering a run for office:

The following is taken from the International Bylaws and deals with the election process and must be followed to run for an International Office. Please note that the dates to notify the International Office are not before March 1, 2010 but not after May 1, 2010.

The Officers shall be elected every two (2) years (odd numbered years) at the election meeting of the International to be held at the International headquarters the second Saturday in January at 09:00 a.m. for the purpose of counting ballots. They shall serve in their offices until the close of business of the meeting at which their successors are elected. If the election of Officers shall be delayed for any reason, an election shall be held as soon thereafter as convenient and each Officer shall continue to hold his office until his successor shall be duly elected. All Officers of the International must presently be or have previously served as the President of a local chapter.

1) Any regular member who wishes to be a candidate for an office on the International Executive Committee, President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer must contact the International Office Manager after March 1st but prior to May 1st of the year prior to the election and request to be placed in consideration for the nomination of that office.

2) At this time, the Office Manager shall fill out a nomination sheet on each candidate and forward it to the Verification Committee, immediately after the filing period closes. A) To qualify for an office on the International Executive Committee, a candidate must have served, or currently be serving as a Chapter President.

3) These Candidates submitting their names during the period shall have their names listed on the International Election ballot, if they meet the qualification for office as listed above. The candidates shall have an opportunity to place a photo and 200 word biographies, without charge, in the last edition of the Blue Knights News preceding the mailing of ballots.

4) Any member who fails to file for International office during the filing period listed above, shall have the opportunity to run as a write-in candidate for the office they wish to pursue, but their name will not be included on the International Election ballot and they shall not be given the opportunity to place a photo and biography in the Blue Knight News without charge.

The key thing to remember here is that these guidelines apply for seeking election to an International office. So far Ive heard of the following people running for International office: Dave Mulford and Peter Domiziano for president, Pat Fox and D.J. Alvarez for VP, Russ Harper for treasurer, and Jack Kaylor for secretary. As more candidates come forward Ill keep you all informed. If you are considering a run for a GLRC officer position, you simply need to state your intention to run, either in person or by letter of intent at the upcoming Spring GLRC business meeting (May 1) in Green Bay Wisconsin. A nomination and a second are required. GLRC officer elections will be held in Perrysburg Ohio at the Summer GLRC business meeting (August 28).

And speaking of the 2010 Summer GLRC in Perrysburg, did you know that registration forms are currently available on line? The dates for our summer convention are August 27-29, 2010. If you were at the last convention OH II hosted, youll remember what a great time it was (and the MOAD at Tony Pacos Restaurant). So get your forms on the GLRC web site (WWW.BKGLRC.COM) and make plans to attend.

From Your Secretary/Treasurer February 2010

INCREASE YOUR SIZE WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES! No Im not touting the miracle of Viagra or the latest Swedish pump; Im talking about the GLRC newsletter. This months issue would have required a kidney on E-Bay to pay for postage, and would have probably ruptured all but the hardiest mailman delivering it to your home. But the new electronic format has allowed me to send you bigger and (hopefully) better newsletters without bankrupting the conference. And thats not even touching on the additional depth of distribution or more penetrating reporting youre experiencing. Theres nothing I wont do to enhance your reading pleasure.

SIZE DOES MATTER! Of course Im referring to our GLRC checking account. Interested in increasing its size naturally? Well, the preferred method is for you to send in your 2010 GLRC dues. Your meagre $20 helps keep this great conference performing at peak efficiency. Check out the chapters whove contributed so far:

Illinois: II, V, IX, X, XI, XV, XIX and XXII
Indiana: II, III, VIII (new chapter waived)
Michigan: III, VI, and X
New York: NY V
Ohio: IV (new chapter waived), V, VI, X, XII, and XV
Ontario: IV, V, VIII, XI, XIII, XIV, and XV
Wisconsin: I (new chapter waived), II, III, IV, and VI

For some odd reason Ive got a hankering for a cigarette and a cold shower, so Im going to wrap this up for another month. Happy Valentines Day!

Random thoughts and deep musings From the Mind of Wrongway

I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken! It seems that I have to start off my column this month with some corrections to last months newsletter. In my haste to meet my deadline I apparently didnt proofread my work, and WI VI Secretary Joe Eagle Eye Kubicek caught a couple of errors yours truly made. Well, at least I know one person is reading the newsletter, even if hes just looking for mistakes! With that said, here are my infractions: In my article about the Crying Towel Classic I inadvertently failed to list my own chapter in the attendees. It seems that I listed WI V twice and not WI VI. I attribute that error to a problem with the nut behind the keyboard. Secondly, in Bills Chairman Comments Bill Drees says that hes looking forward to the 2110 riding season. Well, in my defense Bill also said that after his surgery hed feel 20 years younger, so maybe hes just being really optimistic about his longevity. Bill, Im pulling for you on your long term goals! What some guys wont do to get the Oldest Rider award at the International.

Are we a gang? This misguided accusation has haunted our club for several years now, and it seems that the so called gang crime investigators wont let it go. Well, I received an e-mail from Michigan State Rep Mike Scarborough with the web site for the National Gang Center. This web site gives definitions of what constitutes a gang, gang member, and gang crimes for the federal government and for each of the 50 states. You can check this out at:
www.nationalgangcenter.gov/content/documents/definitions.pdf

While Im loathing saying this, it looks like the Feds at least have somewhat of a clue. Some states however I know Ive said this before, and Ill say it again; if you dont act like an outlaw you wont be treated (or classified) as one. Our local sheriffs department has a slogan: Image is everything. Food for thought.

Remember what youve learned about these outlaw clubs, and be extremely careful on the road. With the 2010 riding season a few months away, it doesnt hurt to start programming the old brain box with some extra officer safety.

One of our brothers needs our help

IN III member Dick Lear is fighting a serious medical condition and needs your help. A fund has been set up to assist Dick and Diana with the medical bills. If youre interested in contributing, please send your donations to:

Dick Lear Fund
C/O Indiana 1
Blue Knights Indiana 1
P.O. Box 1962
Muncie, IN 47308

2010 INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

If youre planning on attending the upcoming International Convention in Billings Montana (and I hope you are) heres a teaser from MT I President Dave Evans regarding some of the organized rides theyre planning.

We'll be riding the Beartooth Pass and the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway each day, since it's the most popular route for everyone who comes here. One of those trips will also include a ride to Cody and the Buffalo Bill Museum. Another ride will go to the Chief Plenty Coups Museum and Little Bighorn Battlefield. A third ride will go into the Big Horn Mountains of northern Wyoming.

Now word around the campfire has it the host hotel block sold out in September of 2009. Rooms are still available (not in the BK room block) to the tune of $189 per night! But dont despair; there are quite a few hotels in spitting distance of the host hotel with rooms available. But dont wait until the last minute to reserve your room; Im sure theyll go fast. WCC Chairman Karl Hutchinson recommends checking the MT I web site for info on local hotels. Also, if youre planning on attending the combined WCC/SWC in Grand Junction Colorado, be advised that their host hotel block is also sold out! Karl is working on setting up another room block at a neighboring hotel. Check their conference web sites for updated info on these conventions.

PS: Please register early for this convention (and for ALL conventions you plan on attending). Having been a host to an International, a GLRC and a couple of Wisconsin State conventions I can tell you from experience that the host chapter really appreciates pre registrations (and that walk in registrations are a major pain in the kiester). Pre registrations help the host chapter figure out the amounts of food, refreshments, pins, etc that they need to put on a successful event. So please be a courteous guest and send in your registration forms early!!! Besides, your early registrations will save you a couple of bucks and in these tough economic times who doesnt want to save money?

January 2010 - International Rep (John Gordon) Report to Committee

From the Great Lakes Regional Conference, I bid the Blue Knights membership a Happy New Year. We hope that 2010 brings you happiness, prosperity, and good health. We hope that your Blue Knights travels will be safe and worry free. For the members who have not joined the retired ranks, we pray for your shifts on our worlds streets and highways to be injury free. Please remember those Ten Fatal Errors that an officer can make (your attitude, tombstone courage, not enough rest, taking a bad position, danger signs, failure to watch hands, relaxing too soon, improper use or no handcuffs, no search or poor search, and dirty or inoperative weapon) and dont become one of the news stories that have become all too familiar. Keep in mind that we have a riding season coming up, and there will be many Blue Knights weekends to attend. Dont forget that these Blue Knights events have some adult beverages, and I need help in its consumption.

Far too many of our friends have passed on to Heaven I, least of which was Gil Mitchell. Gil was probably responsible for recruiting more members to the Blue Knights than anybody and without ever receiving the proper recognition. He did this through his efforts and hard work on the Blue Knights web-site. In honor of Gils dedication to the Blue Knights, I will formally propose at our next meeting that the Blue Knights Web-site of the Year Award be renamed to the Gil Mitchell Award.

Our next Spring Great Lakes Regional Conference meeting will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin on April 30, 2010 to May 2, 2010. It will be at the Midway Best Western Hotel in downtown Green Bay. Our Summer Great Lakes Regional Conference meeting will be held at the French Quarter Holiday Inn in Perrysburg, Ohio, on August 27-29, 2010. This will be our election meeting for conference officers. It will also be time to visit the famous Tony Pacos Restaurant in Toledo. Make your plans now. More information is available on our web-site.

Are there any questions for me?
Riding With Pride,
John P. T. Gordon
International Representative
Great Lakes Regional Conference

From Your Chairman - Jan 2010

I would like to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year to all and if you dont celebrate Christmas, Happy Holidays. 2009 left a bit to be desired for some of us; hopefully 2010 will be more pleasant.

Thank you for all the prayers, get well cards and phone calls. They made a big difference and I am on the mend. I feel a little bit like George Bailey from Its a Wonderful life. It is a good feeling to know so many care but then what else would expect from a group like the Blue Knights.

The doctor told me all of the infection is gone so I should concentrate on building myself back up for the heart surgery. Until then I am still on oxygen. That surgery is scheduled for January 7th. The doctor also told me the operation will be a piece of cake compared to what I have been through. He also told me I would feel twenty years younger after surgery.

So I am looking forward to the 2010 riding season and seeing my friends again. Maybe if Im twenty years younger, my hair might grow back and not be so grey.

The Crying Towel Classic, Part Deux

It was a dark and distant epoch (okay, so it was thirteen years ago; no need to be so damn nitpicky about the time). Sparked by the building blocks of creation from Milwaukee, a new life form emerged from the primordial ooze that was Waukegan. That life form began to grow, slowly at first, but over time evolving into a creature unlike anything in the known universe; The Crying Towel Classic! The offspring of WI VI (Metro Milwaukee) and ILL X (Waukegan) has now reached dinosaurian proportions, and evidence shows that it will continue to evolve and expand to even greater size.

As the law requires me to provide, heres how the above theory goes for you Creationists in the crowd: On the Seventh Day God was resting, and while looking down on the whole of creation found that it was good but kind of boring. So lo, on this day hence called Sunday, God created football. And He found it good. God then created the Green Bay Packers, fashioning them in His image, and found them very good. He then created the Chicago Bears, fashioning them out of some left over stuff in the creation bin, and while finding them not so good decided to keep them around anyway, kind of like footballs version of the platypus. God then said go forth, draft and multiply. He then created the Crying Towel Classic, so His teams would have a paradise to live. And so, to honor Gods grand design, the lowly Blue Knights of Wisconsin and Illinois meet every Packer/Bear game to celebrate His benevolence with draughts of fermented malt beverages, food, and talk both plentiful and silly.

No matter which version you choose to believe, the Crying Towel Classic has grown to its best attendance ever. Round Two of this annual friendly rivalry was Sunday, December 13, 2009, and was hosted by my chapter, WI VI. 59 Blue Knights were in attendance, representing the following chapters: WI IV, V, V, and X, IL X, XI, and XIX, and doing the MWRC proud were Paul and Kathy French of IA III (Des Moines), who blew off their chapter Christmas party to attend the Crying Towel Classic. IL X Chapter President James Mac McCarthy was resplendent in his new Green Bay Packer jersey, a fitting penance for the Bears losing the first game. The Crying Towel was proudly hung for all to revere. The drink was plentiful and the food excellent, courtesy of our host New Entertainers and the efforts of WI VI Secretary Joe Kubicek and his lovely wife Doni. After a titanic struggle, the Green and Gold were triumphant once again over the Inglorious Bearstards, with a final score of 21 to 14. WI VI Chapter President Jim Tiny Kindt had the honor of returning the Crying Towel to a suitably teary eyed Mac, once again sending it to its lair south of the Cheddar Curtain for a long winters hibernation. But the party didnt end there, as many Blue Knights stayed to enjoy the camaraderie that this unofficial club event fosters (as well as the later televised games). Both Creationist and Evolutionist had set aside their differences, comforted in knowing that next year the Crying Towel Classic would again unite them in a common bond of brotherhood and football.

Sounds like fun? Well, know this; the Crying Towel Classic is open to all Blue Knights, regardless of your beliefs or team affiliations. This is what the Blue Knights is all about; good friends getting together to enjoy good times. No politics, no agendas, just Brother and Sister Knights watching football and having fun. Become part of this growing event in 2010. Venues will be announced when the 2010 football season kicks off.

June 4-7: 2010 European Convention, Oostduinkerke Belgium (hosted by Belgium VI)

**Please check the web sites of the above listed chapters and conferences for registration forms and prices, and hotel information and room rates**

Hey, its never too early to start marking your calendar and putting in those off day requests. Make plans to attend one of these great Blue Knights events in 2010

From Your Secretary/Treasurer - Dec 2009

This month, I have to start off this newsletter with an editors correction (this is the point where you all collectively gasp and say it cant be true). Yes, it seems in my haste to get last months issue out, I forgot to list the charter date for WI I (Madison). For the record, they were officially chartered on October 22, 2009. There, all better.

And what better way to slide into our next (and related) topic. The conference continues to grow with two new chapters, both chartered on November 13, 2009. Welcome OH IV (Bellefontaine) and IN VIII (Elkhart) to the club.

The end (of the year) is nigh, and there are still a handful of chapters who have not paid their 2009 GLRC dues. Folks, the pittance your chapter contributes helps to keep this great conference running. Take a gander at the list of paid chapters and if your chapter is still in arrears PLEASE send me your dues! Remember, they are a mere $20.00. Incidentally, Ive started collecting 2010 conference dues, so beat the spring rush and send them in.

The new GLRC conference patches are selling like hotcakes! For the ridiculously low price of $3.00 you too can own one. Show your conference pride and order yours today. Did I mention that they make great stocking stuffers?

And finally, with the holiday season looming on the horizon, take a moment to remember those of us whove transferred to Heaven I, and keep our officers on the streets and our soldiers in harms way in your thoughts and prayers. On behalf of the entire GLRC Executive Board, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May the joy and love of the season bless each and every one of you and your families.

Heres the scenario: youre attending one of the bigger motorcycle expos, and while admiring all the bikes and accessories that you cant afford a couple of full patch members of the local outlaw MC walk by. As they pass, you see (because youre a trained observer after all) a number of patches and emblems youve never seen before. You find yourself wondering what in the hell do those things mean? Well, wonder no more Partner, cause this month were going to go into the cut and explain what some of those things signify, and why its important for you to know what they mean. My source materials for this article are: The Rebels by Daniel R. Wolf, Hells Angels by Yves Lavigne, The Brotherhoods by Arthur Veno, and our old friend the internet.

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, a bikers vest, also known as colors, a cut or cutoff (a term derived from the practice of cutting the sleeves and collar off a leather or denim jacket) can be characterized as a roadmap of his life within a club. All of us are familiar with the back patch and its significance, so I wont spend a lot of time writing about it with one exception: the prospect bottom rocker. In the outlaw MC world, a potential member (prospect or striker) is given a bottom rocker identifying him as working toward full membership in the club. After a period of time has elapse (sometimes as long as two years), during which the prospect acts as a gofer for the club, he is voted on by the full members of the club. If the vote is unanimous, the prospect becomes a member, and is given the complete set of the clubs colors. Why is this important? Well, many of the outlaw clubs require a prospect to commit a felony in the presence of at least two full patch members prior to being voted in. This practice is done to prevent undercover cops from infiltrating an outlaw club, and gives them something to hold over the prospects head in the event he decides to turn informant. The last time I checked assaulting a police officer was still a felony, and if a prospect want to make a name for himself what better way than to attack a cop. This is something to keep in mind when conducting that traffic stop, or walking around a non Blue Knight rally wearing anything that identifies you as a cop (like your BK vest).

Lets move to the front of the vest, and examine some of the patches you may see. The most prevalent is the 1%er patch. This patch was born out of the infamous Hollister riot of 1947, when the AMA stated that 99% of all motorcyclists were decent, law abiding folks. Rather than being insulted, the outlaw bikers adopted the 1% patch as a badge of honor, denoting the wearer as a righteous outlaw. Many outlaw bikers have gone so far as to have themselves tattooed with this emblem. This one usually goes hand in hand with the FTW patch/pin, standing for F*ck the World.

Nazi paraphernalia: Outlaw bikers wear swastikas and other Nazi emblems to shock the public. Wearing these items does not mean that the wearer is a member of the Nazi Party, or even a supporter. This practice started after WW II, when the most hated group worldwide was the Nazis. The purpose of wearing these items is to create outrage amongst the citizens. The possible exception to this is the SS lightening bolts, frequently associated with the Outlaws MC (more on that later).

Colored wings: These patches are purportedly used to denote sexual achievements by the wearer (namely the performing of oral sex), with the specific color denoting the particular womans race or her physical condition. Bear in mind that these acts are allegedly witnessed by at least two members. The purpose of the wings is two fold; first to show the bikers low regard for women, and secondly to screen out undercover officers, as sometimes these wings are earned without the consent of the woman involved. Some of the most frequently seen colors are: White (for Caucasian), Black (African-American), Yellow (Asian or possible for drinking urine), Green (woman with VD), Brown (for analingus), Red (menstruating), Blue (woman is a police officer), and Purple (deceased). One source even cited Golden wings for participating in a gang bang with more than 15 men, and wooly wings for sex with sheep!

White Cross: supposedly for digging open a grave, stealing an item from the corpse and wearing it on their colors.

Please note that many of the sources stated that the significance of the wings and the crosses mentioned above is NOT what Ive listed here. These sources stated that the colors have no significance, and that deviations such as bestiality and homosexuality are abhorred in the outlaw biker world and would not be encouraged with patches. They further state that the urban legend of the wings started several decades ago, and that outlaw bikers keep it alive because it shows class and separates them from the average citizen. Draw your own conclusions about these patches; I prefer to err on the side of caution.

The number 13: This one has two meanings. The first is that the number signifies the letter M, standing for marijuana or methamphetamine, denoting that the wearer is a seller/user of the drug. The second meaning may also stand for 12 jurors and 1 judge, meaning the wearer is his own judge and jury.

Upside down patch: This is a sign of disrespect. An example would be seeing a badge upside down, meaning a disrespect of police. Frequently, when the colors from a rival club are obtained they are displayed upside down in the club house.

The next patches I want to cover are those supposedly denoting members who have killed for the club. Again, some of my sources disagreed on the validity of this, so draw your own conclusions about its accuracy. The Hells Angels have the Filthy Few, the Outlaws the SS Death Squad; the Pagans have the Black T-shirt Squad, and the Bandidos the Nomad chapter. Another indicator may be the pin/patch TCB, meaning Taking Care of Business. (For you fans of Sons of Anarchy, the club killers wear a Men of Mayhem patch.) Of course the outlaws deny these allegations, saying that these patches indicate the hard partiers; the first to arrive at a party and the last to leave.

One of the most dangerous patches a Hells Angel can wear as far as law enforcement is concerned is Deguello, which means no quarter. This was the Moorish march General Santa Annas regimental band played during the storming of The Alamo. Members who wear this patch have violently resisted arrest, and dates back to the early 1960s. Like most Hells Angels colors, this patch is white with red lettering.

Back in the day, when a prospect was voted in to a club, his colors were subjected to various degradations, with being urinated on the most frequent initiation. These practices have supposedly stopped, as members now view this as desecrating the club colors. If you spot an outlaw biker with heavily soiled colors, chances are hes been in the club for a very long time. Most members maintain spotless sets of colors, and view them as their most prized possessions. How prized you ask? Lets look at the Hells Angels for that answer. Touching an Angels colors will earn you (at the very least) a severe beating. Stealing their colors or dragging them on the ground is a killing offense. An Angel who loses his colors can be thrown out of the club, usually after being beaten nearly to death. Still not convinced? In the 1970s, members of the Hells Angels Cleveland chapter went to Memphis Tennessee to establish a new charter. They got into a fracas with the local cops, who gave them a sound beat down. The Angels threatened to sue for infringement of their civil rights. However, the cops had also confiscated their colors, without which the members couldnt return to Cleveland. The law suit was dropped in exchange for the return of their colors. Thats the power of the patch.

Several of my sources claim that many of the Big Four no longer sport many of these patches or symbols on their vests, cleaning up their act as it were. Is that truly the case, or is it an effort to keep law enforcement in the dark? Only you can be the judge of that. Personally speaking, I tend to believe that there is some degree of validity given to each of my sources, whether they support or refute the meanings of these patches. Now when I see an outlaw biker, I like to think Im a little more savvy about who he may be when I see what he wears on his vest.

2009 PAID up GLRC Chapters

Illinois	Indiana	Michigan	New York	Ohio	Ontario	Wisconsin

I -pd	I - pd	I - pd	V - pd	II - pd	I - pd	II - pd
II - pd	II - pd	II - pd		III - pd	IV - pd	III - pd
IV - pd	III - pd	III - pd		V - pd	V - pd	IV - pd
V - pd	IV - pd	V		VI - pd	VI - pd	V - pd
VI - pd	V	VI - pd		VIII - pd	VIII - pd	VI - pd
VII - pd	VI - pd	VII		IX	IX	VII - pd
IX - pd	VII - pd	X - pd		X - pd	X - pd	VIII - pd
X - pd	X	XI - pd		XI - pd	XI - pd	IX - pd
XI - pd	XI - pd			XII - pd	XIII - pd	X - pd
XII - pd	XII - pd			XIII - pd	XIV - pd	XI - pd
XIII - pd	XIII - pd			XIV	XV - pd	XIII - pd
XIV - pd				XV - pd	XVI - pd	XV - pd
XV - pd				XVI - pd		XVII - pd
XIX - pd				XVII - pd		XVIII - pd
XX - pd				XVIII - pd
XXI - pd				XIX - pd
XXII - pd				XX
XXIII - pd				XXI - pd
XXV - pd				XXII - pd
XXVI - pd				XXV - pd
				XXVI
				XXVII
				XXVIII - pd

If you Don't see your name here, then you should consider the consequences for not supporting your conference.

Have you ever fancied yourself the next Mickey Spillaine or Joseph Waumbaugh? Do you ever find yourself reading the newsletter and saying I could write like that? Well, you can! This newsletter is yours. Become a contributing editor today. Im always on the hunt for articles and information to share, so send me your Pulitzer Prize winning submission. Please keep in mind that the newsletter is sent out to the state reps by the 10^th of each month, so send your submissions well in advance of the deadline.

If you found the article about outlaw bikers interesting, and would like to see other law enforcement or motorcycling related topics in future issues, drop me a line with your suggestions. I want to keep the newsletter informative and entertaining, and feedback is always appreciated.

Has illness or injury downed a brother or sister Knight? Let me know about it. I cant send them a bowl of chicken soup, but I can give them a get well shout out. Please let me know if a member transfers to Heaven I. We need to be there for the members family during those difficult times. By keeping the conference informed, we can all help the family ease the burden the loss creates.

From Your Secretary/Treasurer - Nov 2009

Another riding season is over, and its time to put our prized possessions away for the winter. In a back issue of the GLRC newsletter I found a great end of year maintenance article submitted by GLRC Safety Officer Thurlow Haskell. I thought Id share his storage tips with you, so here goes:

Check with your MOM (motorcycle owners manual) on the care and maintenance of your bike. Are you a few miles from the scheduled tune up? Why not now? Check your tires for spider cracks and air pressure. This may be a good time to replace that worn tire. Put the bike on its center stand or use a bike lift to get the weight off the tires (this prevents the tire developing a flat spot). Here are a few tips thatll keep your bike ready to hit the road in spring:

1) Check over your motorcycle for any mechanical problems. If you find something wrong consider fixing it now. Spring is a busy time for bike shops, and by addressing the problem now you can avoid long waits when riding season kicks off next year.

2) Change your engine oil and filter. Be sure to run the motor briefly to circulate the clean oil through the system.

3) Drain your float bowl (carbureted bikes) by running the engine, shutting off the petcock and letting the engine use up the fuel in the float bowls. Put fuel stabilizer in your tank and fill it up (all bikes); this prevents condensation in the tank. Run your bike with the stabilizer in it for a few minutes to get it through the fuel system.

4) Check your battery. Clean the terminals and connect it to a Battery Tender or a similar type trickle charger. If you remove the battery store it in a warm, dry location.

5) Take the time to wash and wax your bike. Dry it thoroughly and cover it with a breathable cover.

6) Store your bike in a draft free, secure location, and remove your registration or other papers from your tour pack.

Thanks for the tips Tee! Proper maintenance now will ensure your bike being road ready in spring.

Outlaw motorcycle clubs. Weve all heard about them, and seen how our pop culture portrays them on programs like Sons of Anarchy, but how much to you really know about them? This month Im going to delve into the world of outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMG). The following information has been gathered from the 2009 FBI National Gang Threat Assessment report, the book Hells Angels by Yves Lavigne (1995) and the web.

AMA sanctioned motorcycle clubs have been in existence as early as 1914, but the outlaw clubs came into their own shortly after WWII. Many veterans returning home from the war couldnt settle down to suburban living, and several formed clubs such as the Booze Fighters and the Market Street Commandos for the purpose of riding, drinking, and raising hell. Over the 1947 Independence Day weekend in Hollister California, and two months later in Riverside California riots broke out at AMA sanctioned motorcycle events, fueled by these clubs. Riverside Sheriff Carl Rayburn labels these rebel bikers as outlaws, and from the mouth of an irate lawman a subculture was born. The AMA was quick to say that these outlaws represent only one percent of the motorcycling community, the outlaws responded by creating the 1%er moniker, a badge of honor in the OMG world. Since then, numerous outlaw motorcycle clubs have formed, with several being absorbed or patched over by the larger national clubs, or taken off the road when they refused the takeover. The national clubs maintain a network of regional and local clubs, referred to as puppet, support, or duck clubs. Many of these smaller local clubs carry out the criminal activity for the benefit of the larger national clubs and are a source for new members. The growth of these OMGs and their increasing criminal endeavors has made them the subject of numerous investigations by law enforcement. While drug manufacture and trafficking is still the number one source of income for OMGs, they have been tied to such crimes as murder, assault, kidnapping, prostitution, extortion, weapons trafficking, motorcycle and parts thefts, arson and witness intimidation. As of June 2008 state and local law enforcement agencies estimate that between 280 and 520 OMGs operate at the national, regional, and local levels. OMGs range in size from a single chapter to hundreds of chapters worldwide. Current law enforcement intelligence estimates that more than 20,000 validated OMG members, divided among hundreds of OMGs, reside in the US. Theyve come a long way from their origin as fun loving motorcycle enthusiasts.

For decades the major outlaw motorcycle gangs were referred to as The Big Four, those being the Hells Angels, Outlaws, Pagans, and Banditos. The 2009 NGIC identifies five gangs by name.

The Hells Angels MC (HAMC) is an OMG with 2,000 to 2,500 members belonging to more than 250 chapters in the US and 26 foreign countries, posing a threat on six continents. US law enforcement estimates that the HAMC has more than 69 chapters in 22 states with 900 to 950 members. HAMC produces, transports, and distributes marijuana and methamphetamine and transports and distributes cocaine, hash, heroin, LSD, MDMA, PCP and diverted pharmaceuticals. HAMC is involved in other criminal activity, including assault, extortion, homicide, money laundering, and motorcycle theft.

This gang formed in San Bernardino California in 1948, and adopted the winged deaths head as their emblem. Gang colors are red lettering on a white background, with the bottom rocker denoting the state the chapter hales from. Also referred to as The Big Red Machine, the HAMC is considered an elite gang in the OMG world. The 1970s were a particularly violent decade for the HAMC, as they became embroiled in a war with the Outlaws MC. The 1980s werent much better; the North chapter in Canada was wiped out by their own members when they were deemed too wild for the clubs own good. The bodies were dumped in the St. Lawrence Seaway after being gunned down in their own clubhouse. In spite of this, the club continues to be media darlings, having starred in B movies in the 60s, provided security for the Rolling Stones at the infamous Altamont concert, and even volunteering for duty during The Vietnam War. Past Oakland Chapter President Ralph Sonny Barger has become a pop culture icon and published author, and continues to be a major influence on the club to this day.

The Bandidos MC is an OMG with 2,000 to 2,500 members in the US and 13 other countries, and is identified as the fastest growing criminal threat in the nation. Authorities estimate that the Bandidos is one of the two largest OMGs in the nation, with approximately 900 members in more than 88 chapters in 16 states. Bandidos are involved in transporting and distributing cocaine and marijuana and producing transporting and distributing methamphetamine. Bandidos are most active in the Pacific, southeastern, southwestern and west central regions and is expanding in these regions to form new chapters and allowing members of support clubs to form or join Bandidos chapters.

The Bandidos were formed in 1966. The gang colors are red lettering on a yellow background (similar to the USMC), with the center patch being a machete and pistol wielding Mexican bandit. The Bandidos are a sister club of the Outlaws MC.

The Outlaws MC has more than 1,700 members belonging to 176 chapters in the US and 12 foreign countries. US law enforcement estimates that the Outlaws have more than 94 chapters in 22 states with more than 700 members. The Outlaws also identifies itself as the American Outlaws Association (A.O.A.) and Outlaws Nation. The Outlaws is the dominant OMG in the Great Lakes region. Gang members produce, transport, and distribute cocaine, marijuana and, to a lesser extent, MDMA. Outlaws members engage in various criminal activities including arson, assault, explosives operations, extortion, fraud, homicide, intimidation, kidnapping, money laundering, prostitution operations, and robbery, theft, and weapons violations. Its primary competition for territory is the Hells Angels.

The first chapter of The Outlaws formed in Chicago Illinois in 1959. Gang colors are white lettering on a black background, with a center patch being a skull with red eyes over crossed pistons, affectionately referred to as Charlie. The club motto is God forgives, Outlaws dont. Women are forbidden to wear anything with the club name on it except a property of Outlaws patch, which gives you an idea of their status. Since 1974 the Outlaws have been locked in a war with the Hells Angels, stemming from the murder of three Hells Angels in Florida.

The Mongols MC is an extremely violent OMG that poses a serious criminal threat to the Pacific and southwestern regions of the US. Mongols members transport and distribute cocaine, marijuana, and meth, and frequently commit violent crimes, including assault, intimidation, and murder, to defend Mongols territory and uphold its reputation. Mongols has 70 chapters nationwide, with most of the clubs 800 to 850 members residing in California. The gang also maintains chapters in Italy and Mexico. Many members are former street gang members with a long history of using violence to settle grievances. ATF agents have called the Mongols the most violent and dangerous OMG in the nation. In the 1980s the Mongols seized control of southern California from the Hells Angels, and today the Mongols are allied with the Bandidos, Outlaws, Sons of Silence, and Pagans against the HAMC. The Mongols maintain ties to Hispanic LA street gangs.

The Mongols also are referred to as the Mongol Nation or Mongol Brotherhood. The Mongols gang colors are black lettering on a white background. Their center patch is a scimitar wielding genie looking rider on a chopper. The gang literally shot into the national spotlight in 2002, following the infamous brawl with the Hells Angels in Harrahs casino during the Laughlin River Run. This clash left two Hells Angels dead from gunshot wounds, and one Mongol stabbed to death. Bloodshed continues to this day between the two gangs. The gang had been successfully infiltrated by the ATF, resulting in several arrests, but the gang has since resurged. An excellent book on the gang is Under and Alone by William Queen, the ATF agent who infiltrated the gang in 1998 and eventually became a full patch member and a chapter officer.

The Sons of Silence MC is one of the largest OMGS in the US, with 250 to 275 members among 30 chapters in 12 states. The club also has five chapters in Germany. SOSMC members have been implicated in numerous criminal activities, including murder, assault, drug trafficking, intimidation, extortion, prostitution operations, money laundering, weapons trafficking, and motorcycle and parts thefts.

The Sons of Silence were formed in 1966 in Niwot Colorado. The gang is predominant in the Midwestern and southern US, as well as southern Germany. Their logo (a 1 piece patch) is an American eagle superimposed over a letter A arch (very similar to the Budweiser emblem), with the club motto Donce Mors Non Separat (Until death separates us) underneath the eagle. Gang colors are black lettering on a white background. Like the Mongols, the gang had been decimated by law enforcement, but has resurged.

Now you know a little about the major players in the OMG world. There are literally hundreds of smaller clubs out there, but not all of them are criminal enterprises (such as the Christian Motorcycle Club). That said, in order to move in the OMG world these smaller clubs either associate with one of the national clubs, or have permission to exist. The internet is a great tool to learn more about these gangs, but a word of caution: several of the national gangs allegedly have software to track whos visiting their web sites, so be careful poking around.

With all this in mind, why would you want to associate with these guys? How cool do you think you look with your arm around a man whose club is involved in everything from drugs to murder? Remember, these self proclaimed outlaws hate society and especially us. They stand for everything we as law enforcement fight against. Theyre not putting an arm around you for brotherhood; chances are theyre gathering info on you to use later to discredit you and the Blue Knights. Remember what happened a few scant years ago in Sturgis between the Renegade Pigs and the Hells Angels? Outlaws and cops dont mix, even if we both wear vests and ride bikes.

Theres no love between OMGs and LEMCs, so dont put yourself in a compromising and quite possibly life threatening position by rubbing elbows with outlaw bikers. Were constantly fighting the outlaw MC label and trying to distance ourselves from the LEMCs who want to be on the fringe of this sub culture. Dont give the gang investigators any ammunition to use against us by associating with these outlaw clubs.

Next month well go in the cut, and shed some light on the various pins, patches, and symbols that you see on OMG vests.

I want to start out by welcoming the newest Blue Knights GLRC chapter to the fold. Wisconsin I (Madison) was chartered on . Welcome to the club!

Our Chairman Bill Drees continues to convalesce, and is making a slow but steady recovery. Please continue to refer any club business to Vice Chairman Bill Haylett until further notice; hes the Acting Conference Chairman until Bill D. gets back on his feet.

There are still a few chapters that have not paid their 2009 GLRC dues. Please get them in to me so I can close the books on 2009. As long as Im on the subject, you can start sending in your 2010 GLRC dues anytime! Remember, theyre only $20.00, and the money helps keep our conference running. If youre not sure if your chapter is current, drop me an e-mail and Ill let you know.

The new and improved GLRC conference patches are in. Through a great connection here in Milwaukee, I was able to get the patches made for a lot less than expected. Theyre selling for $3.00 a piece, and if you absolutely cant wait until the next GLRC and must have one (or several) they can be mailed out. You can check them out under the Sales section on the GLRC web site. Remember to make your checks payable to the GLRC.

And finally, on behalf of the entire GLRC board I want to wish each and every one of you a safe, joyous and Happy Thanksgiving.

Dayton Daily News Article

Blue Knights motorcycle club has more than bikes in common - Ohio Chapter III
members are mostly law enforcement types who have a charitable side

Don Winters sparkling eyes perfectly match the baby blue leather vest he often wears when hes out riding his motorcycle. The vest is adorned with Blue Knights patches and pins. I joined in 84 when I was a kid, he said. I was a motorcycle rider anyway and they had a charity event. I went and joined that day. I came here in 89 and have been a member of Ohio III ever since.

The Blue Knights is an international, law enforcement motorcycle club. Winters, semi-retired from the Carlisle police department, is president of the Blue Knights Ohio, chapter III. The overall idea is officers getting together and enjoying motorcycling, he said. They ride with people they know and trust.

The club is open to law enforcement employees active and retired and their family members, who can become honorary members. The club has dinners, breakfasts, monthly meetings and of course, group rides. Cruisers, sport bikes, scooters, Harleys, Hondas ... as long as it carries a motorcycle plate its welcome, Winters said. Blue Knights international was formed in 1974 in Maine. There are 599 chapters in 20 countries, boasting about 20,000 members. There are more than 130 members representing about 28 law enforcement agencies in the Ohio III chapter.

Members range in age from 82 to 23; three are female. Deena Neal, a police officer for Wright State University, is the only female member who works in law enforcement. A lot of men bring their wives and daughters, Neal said. Although I may be the only female member, I dont feel isolated or like Im the only girl there. Neal worked for the German Twp. police department for 23 years before taking the job at Wright State. She owns a 2003 Harley Fat Boy her fourth bike. Neal started riding about 15 years ago.

My brothers had bikes and theyd take me on rides every once in a while, but I wanted to ride more than that, she said. She bought her first bike from her brother before she even knew how to ride it. I thought, Im going to learn to ride this and if not Ill sell it back to him.

There were some beginners nerves. I mainly rode on back roads until I got comfortable, she said.

That strategy worked well until a large piece of farm equipment forced her to the side of the road once, as she was riding up a hill. Its hard to start back up when youre a new rider and on an incline, she said, laughing. Now its just like second nature to me.

Law enforcement and motorcycles have been linked since as far back as the early 1900s. The first Harley Davidson police motorcycle was delivered to the Detroit Police Department in 1908, according to the Harley Davidson Web site. Nearly seven decades later TV brought CHiPS, the hugely popular, bike cop show, into millions of homes.

Maj. John DiPietro of the Miami Twp. police department was in front of one of those TVs as a kid and fell in love with motorcycles. He got his first bike when he was 16. As goofy as this sounds, that was my inspiration to be a police officer, too, said DiPietro, 45, who has three bikes. Im going to rebuild one to look like a California Highway Patrol motorcycle. The Ponch dream lives on, he said, laughing.

Personal riding aside, having a motorcycle in the department is great, too, DiPietro said. Theyre used primarily for traffic enforcement and special events.

I think everyone enjoys seeing an officer or deputy on a motorcycle. Its a reason for someone to come up and talk to us, he said.

But Blue Knights members arent just riding around aimlessly. A big part of the clubs activities is its charitable efforts, including donating money to several charities over the years, Winters said. The club also supports New York Police and Fire Widows & Childrens Benefit Fund.

Their help isnt always in the form of a check. Since 1996 the club has purchased and distributed 3,500 to 5,000 trauma bears, according to Tuck Fuller. The bears are to comfort kids going through a tough time, whether its watching Mom or Dad get arrested, testifying in court or being hospitalized.

Fuller, a retired FBI agent and Ohio III member, said the bears go to service providers and agencies that include hospitals, courts and rescue squads.

Communities including Tipp City, Lewisburg, Vandalia, Dayton, Huber Heights, and Sycamore and Good Samaritan hospitals have all been recipients. Sometimes the knights hand-deliver the bears to kids, like in July when members rode to Childrens Medical Center and handed out 50 furry creatures.

This is a way of giving back to the Miami Valley, Fuller said. Its great to put a smile on these kids faces.

Brenna Bretscher deals with kids on a daily basis as a math teacher at the Miami Valley School, where she also coaches varsity softball and junior varsity tennis. Shes an honorary member of the Blue Knights. Every person Ive met in that group has been so kind and helpful, she said. Its not what people think about cops, said Bretscher, whose dad, Bill, is a retired Bellbrook police lieutenant.

He encouraged me to take the course the state offers and it was a lot of fun, she said. Bretscher, 32, sometimes rides her Suzuki sport bike to work. The little kids think Im the coolest teacher ever, she said.

From Your Secretary/Treasurer - Oct 2009

Greetings my Brother and Sister Blue Knights! Last month the GLRC newsletter went to a completely electronic format, and so far the change has been very well received. Besides the tremendous cost savings to the conference, the newsletter is now available to every member of the GLRC. Together with the GLRC web site and the Yahoo group, information will be more accessible and communication within the conference will greatly improve.

And as long as Im on the subject of the newsletter, I want to remind all members of the GLRC that this newsletter is yours! As your humble editor, Im always looking for information pertinent to law enforcement, motorcycling, and articles about your chapters activities and travels. I encourage your submissions; just remember that the GLRC newsletter will be posted by the 10th of each month, so dont wait until the last minute to share your articles. This months issue features an article about one of our brothers in Afghanistan, submitted by Indiana State Rep Glen Wheat. If your chapter has a flyer for an upcoming event get it to me well in advance if you want it included in the newsletter. If I get it past the deadline Ill still forward it to Paul Croteau for posting on our web site.

Fall is officially upon us. But dont despair; theres still plenty of good riding to be had before the snow flies. Fall colors are coming in, so take the opportunity to enjoy them while theyre still on the trees and not on your lawns. Toss that rake in the shed and fire up the bike. Please remember that wet leaves are just as treacherous as ice, so take it easy while youre out enjoying Natures Technicolor display. And it doesnt hurt to pack your digital camera in the saddlebag; a fall colors ride is a great opportunity to work on earning your Travellers Pin. You can download the form from the GLRC web site. Its fun, easy to do, and earns a pin you can wear with pride.

Congratulations to Bill Murphy of WI II on his appointment as the Wisconsin State Safety Officer. Bill hales from the Madison Wisconsin PD, where he serves as a motor officer. Bill is also a MSF and Riders Edge instructor. Hell be replacing Clint Cagle, who stepped down to take the position of International Safety Officer.

Ride with Pride,

Wrongway Dennis Hafeman
GLRC Secretary/Treasurer

GLRC International Representative John Gordon

The Blue Knights International Board conducted its meeting on September 1, 2009. As I previously reported, there were several proposals on this meeting agenda, and that made it a long meeting which lasted almost 2˝ hours.

International Secretary Peter Domiziano reported that as of August 2009 the charity statistics (which includes goods, services and cash) totaled $12,320,677.92. Peter D. requested that if you have contributed anything to a charity and if it has not been reported, to please do so by notifying him. There is also a new charity reporting system in place on the International web-site in the members-only section.

All of the agenda items in their original form are posted on the GLRC web-site under the tab of the International Rep. A summary of those items that we discussed, along with the outcome, is listed below:

Agenda Item 2009-008 was suggested by Clint Cagle. He suggested that we pay an annual $1,000 fee to the National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators. The intent was to place the Blue Knights at the forefront of developing motorcycle safety and give us a voice and credibility at the State, National, and International level. Safety Chairman Cagle spoke to the board with his reasons why we should join the organization. After much discussion, this item failed by a 13-2 margin.

Agenda Item 2009-009 was suggested by Vice-President Pat Fox. It dealt with designing and issuing an identification card for the surviving spouse of any member who has transferred to Heaven I. Prior to the meeting Vice-President Fox learned from International Office Manager Bessie Small that this practice is already in existence, so this item was withdrawn.

Agenda Item 2009-10 was suggested by the presidents of the European Conference. They want to have a by-law change to Article VII Section7.03 Chapter Dues. Their opinion is that the $20.00 maximum that a chapter can charge a member for chapter dues does not cover all the costs anymore. This item was tabled until the next meeting.

Agenda Item 2009-011 was suggested by European Conference Rep. Koen Hutse. He suggested that the expenses be paid for the International Executive Officers and the Chairman of the Board of Governors to attend the European Convention in Belgium. The discussion covered that most Blue Knights members in Europe have never met with the board, and it is too expensive for most of their membership to come to the convention in the states. After much discussion this item was withdrawn.

Agenda Item 2009-012 was suggested by European Conference Rep. Keon Hutse. It dealt with paying the expenses for the founding fathers and European Liaison Officer Frank Gennari to attend the European Convention in Belgium. After much discussion this item was tabled.

Agenda Item 2009-013 was suggested by European Conference Rep. Keon Hutse. It dealt with two spouses of Belgium VI are making a DVD with movie clips and pictures to promote the Blue Knights. The old DVD is dated and cant be used in Europe. They want to present the new DVD at next years International Convention in Billings, Montana. This proposal, if approved, would have the International pay for their registration and hotel expenses. This item was withdrawn after discussion.

Our next meeting will be on October 31, 2009, at 9:00 AM (EDT). I will post the agenda and any proposals at the GLRC web-site in my section. Agenda Items 2009-010 and 2009-012 will be discussed again at this meeting. If you have any comments on these two items, please forward them onto me.

Riding With Pride,
John P. T. Gordon
International Representative
Great Lakes Regional Conference

IMPORTANT REMINDER

While Chairman Bill Drees is recovering from his medical misadventures, Vice Chairman Bill Haylett is the Acting GLRC Chairman. Please refer all conference inquires and issues to Bill Haylett until further notice.

As of October , 2009 the above listed chapters have paid their 2009 GLRC dues. Your GLRC dues keep this conference running, so PLEASE get them paid before the end of the year. Send your chapters dues to:

Remember, GLRC dues are a mere $20.00. Make your check payable to the GLRC, and make sure that your chapter name and number are clearly noted on the check so your chapter gets properly credited.

Illinois	Indiana	Michigan	New York	Ohio	Ontario	Wisconsin

I -pd	I - pd	I - pd	V - pd	II - pd	I - pd	II - pd
II - pd	II - pd	II - pd		III - pd	IV - pd	III - pd
IV - pd	III - pd	III - pd		V - pd	V - pd	IV - pd
V - pd	IV - pd	V		VI - pd	VI - pd	V - pd
VI - pd	V	VI - pd		VIII - pd	VIII - pd	VI - pd
VII - pd	VI - pd	VII		IX	IX	VII - pd
IX - pd	VII - pd	X - pd		X - pd	X - pd	VIII - pd
X - pd	X	XI - pd		XI - pd	XI - pd	IX - pd
XI - pd	XI - pd			XII - pd	XIII - pd	X - pd
XII - pd	XII - pd			XIII - pd	XIV - pd	XI - pd
XIII - pd	XIII - pd			XIV	XV - pd	XIII - pd
XIV - pd				XV - pd	XVI - pd	XV - pd
XV - pd				XVI - pd		XVII - pd
XIX - pd				XVII - pd		XVIII - pd
XX - pd				XVIII - pd
XXI - pd				XIX - pd
XXII - pd				XX
XXIII - pd				XXI - pd
XXV - pd				XXII - pd
XXVI - pd				XXV - pd
				XXVI
				XXVII
				XXVIII - pd

Indiana State Rep Glen Wheat

I received an email from Rick Kirk, BK IN XIII, who is currently in Afghanistan. Attached is a photo of Rick and his really cool Chinese Semorgh Bike taken today at the Kandahar Airport. Rick says to say Semorgh really fast three times...........

The bikes don't come with a name on them. You are supplied with several names that you can stick on the bike. They generally last three to five month before something breaks.

Kandahar International Airport (more commonly known as Kandahar Airport) (IATA: KDH, ICAO: OAKN) is located 10 miles (16 kilometres) south-east of Kandahar City in Afghanistan. The airport was built by the United States in the 1960s, under the United States Agency for International Development program. It may have been intended to be used as a possible U.S. military base in case the United States and former USSR went to war. It was occupied by the Soviets in 1979, and was severely damaged during the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the 1980s. It received further damage again during the US raids in October 2001, when the Taliban government was being removed. As of 2007, Kandahar Airport has been rebuilt and is used for both military and civilian flights. Since 2006 the airfield has been maintained by the Canadian Forces, but there are also other NATO forces present. It is sometimes difficult to locate the airport from the sky during daytime because of lack of contrast with the ground and the usual dust or haze in the area. But during night time the runway is well lit up and can easily be spotted.

Please keep our Brother BK Rick in our thoughts and prayers...........

--
Regards;
Glen Wheat
BK GLRC Indiana State Rep.
BK IN XIII
FOP IN 87

RWP and Ride Safe.....

A good story...

An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession. Like many young men his age, the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he didn't seem too concerned about it.

One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table four objects.

1 A bible.

2. A silver dollar.

3. A bottle of whiskey.

4. A Playboy magazine.

'I'll just hide behind the door,' the old preacher said to himself. 'When he comes home from school today, I'll see which object he picks up.

If it's the bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what a blessing that would be!

If he picks up the silver dollar, he's going to be a business man, and that would be okay, too.

But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunken bum, and Lord, what a shame that would be.

And worst of all if he picks up that magazine he's going to be a skirt-chasing womanizer.'

The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's foot- steps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his room.

The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them.

Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm.

He picked up the silver dollar and dropped into his pocket.

He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink, while he admired this month's centerfold.

'Lord have mercy,' the old preacher disgustedly whispered.

'He's gonna be a Policeman!!!

From Your Secretary/Treasurer - Sep 2009

If its raining, I must be in Xenia! I was last at the Greene County Fairground in 2001 for the Summer GLRC, and as I recall it rained then too. But the rainy weather couldnt dampen the good times had at the 2009 Summer GLRC, hosted by OH III. Chapter President Don Winters and the hard working membership put on a fine event. You just gotta love having a pig roast with three different types of pork served (with all the trimmings of course). It was great to see some new faces in the crowd, as well as improved attendance. I want to thank the membership of OH III for stepping up at the last minute and offering to host this convention.

The Saturday morning business meeting went relatively smoothly. You can read all about it in the minutes from the meeting later on in this newsletter. Several issues were resolved quickly, and all should benefit the conference and you, the membership. One thing thats most noticeable will be the new electronic newsletter. No longer will the conference be putting out a paper newsletter. You can find out the details on how this works and why we went to this new format on my random thoughts page. The new format should improve communication, and will allow more members access to the GLRC newsletter.

I want to take a moment to thank Past International President Connie Flanagan, WI VI First Lady Patti Kindt, Judy Haylett, Lois Gordon, and the host of other ladies (sorry, I didnt get your names) for their assistanc

GLRC Conference News & Information:

International GLRC Representative

From Your Secretary/Treasurer

GLRC Dues Chapters Paid as of 10 Apr 2010

Random thoughts and deep musings From the Mind of Wrongway

From Your Secretary/Treasurer February 2010

Random thoughts and deep musings From the Mind of Wrongway

One of our brothers needs our help

2010 INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

January 2010 - International Rep (John Gordon) Report to Committee

From Your Chairman - Jan 2010

The Crying Towel Classic, Part Deux

From Your Secretary/Treasurer - Dec 2009

2009 PAID up GLRC Chapters

From Your Secretary/Treasurer - Nov 2009

Dayton Daily News Article

Blue Knights motorcycle club has more than bikes in common - Ohio Chapter III members are mostly law enforcement types who have a charitable side

From Your Secretary/Treasurer - Oct 2009

GLRC International Representative John Gordon

IMPORTANT REMINDER

Indiana State Rep Glen Wheat

A good story...

From Your Secretary/Treasurer - Sep 2009

The Crying Towel Classic, Part Deux

Blue Knights motorcycle club has more than bikes in common - Ohio Chapter III
members are mostly law enforcement types who have a charitable side