it's about respect

Our World - Our Way

It's said the only sure things in life are death and taxes. But there's a third, often forgotten certainty - change.

The Rendezvous has tried to change with the times, and I think we've done a pretty good job. We can't control change. Nobody can. Still, we do our best to adapt and cope, and keep constant what we can.

The Rendezvous just celebrated its 22nd year. And I can't get your 20, 10 and 5 year pins in fast enough to get them out to you as an expression of our appreciation for your years of loyal attendance.

You all know by now that the official annual attendance figure is "One more than last year", but the past few years have seen that extra person get younger. Or is it that the rest of us are just getting older?

Must be we're getting older.

My sons are seasoned staff, and their offspring are in training. Well, not really training. More like watching, enjoying, and wanting to participate. Just like my sons all over again.

Bikers.

And not just because their first bike was a plastic Harley with training wheels.

Being a biker is a way of life as much as it is riding a bike. You don't stop being a biker when your bike blows up and you spend a year or more rebuilding it. No, you're still you. Happy just to be alive. And we have our priorities straight. We don't dress to impress. We don't care if someone disagrees with our preference of Levis over Dockers, or well-worn boots over Guccis.

Our growth over the past few years has brought a younger, less seasoned breed of biker. I've no doubt they'll become part of the family, and be there to get their own ten and twenty year pins, but right now they are still in their infancy, and it's our duty to show them our world, our way, once they've decided they want to be one of us.

You've seen our written rules on the backs of your tickets, and since I hate rules as much as the next person, I tend to rely on the unwritten "rules". The little things that set us apart as an elite group of individuals. The reason we've pretty much kept things as they were from the beginning, with the exception of adding to your comfort and safety.

We respect the women who are proud to lift their shirts for your viewing enjoyment, and applaud those brave ladies who strut their stuff on stage Saturday night. We would never force them to show their assets if they don't want to. Never.

We used to strap our tent to the back of our bike and take up a twenty foot square area in the campgrounds, but some of you long-timers are becoming too battered and abused to sleep on the ground anymore. Yes, there are more trailers and motorhomes coming every year, but we're doing our best to accommodate all. Trust me, you rookies will appreciate trailers being allowed when you're celebrating your 20th Rendezvous.

Not to get off topic, but regarding the trailers, I'd just like to say that of all the events I've attended, from Laconia to Daytona and over to Sturgis, the ratio of trailers in comfy campgrounds to bikes has us beat ten-fold.

Now, where was I...?

"Change".

I'm going to fight it tooth and nail, and do my damnedest to make sure the Rendezvous remains the event that has brought so many of you back year after year. An event for bikers, by bikers. Complete with the respect and honor that sets bikers apart from the rest of the world.

There will continue to be room for one more, and it is our duty to show that new person how, and why, our world has worked so well for so long. I'm counting on you.