A Female Units Club rules of Etiquette
                                    

In my 30+ years of riding & living club life in various states, I have seen many changes.  I have been everything from ‘party animal’ to ‘wife’ and have had some excellent teachers.  Brothers have sat and talked with me when they were pissed off at their o’lady.  Just listening to what they were bent-out-of-shape over gave me some very good advise.  When I was needing someone to talk to, I could always find a down to earth, straight shoot’n brother… the talks and a good ride would set my head right again.

Now, I know things change… times change.  But I have tried to keep the basics that were instilled in me because I believe in them & I love this way of life.  Living by these,

I have earned respect & love.  Hell, at times they kept me alive and kept my sanity… I never said I was an angel!

While trying to get along with the new comers to club & independents, I have encountered many new ‘Rules of Etiquette’ that I’ve been having a bit of a problem swallowing.  Even with the changing of times, I figure there should still be some basic guideline to live by.  So I looked into my heart & put together a list of things I was taught. 

But before I get into the rules/guidelines I was taught & try to live my life by, I feel a ‘disclaimer’ is in order:

My purpose is not to make others live by these rules or to say this is the only right way to think.  Like any place you go to work, there are differences in how organizations do things and how they look at the bottom line.  I offer these rules out of my love for the Club way of life.  Take them for what they’re worth.

Rule # 1:          It’s a Man’s Club!

Knowing & accepting this from the start will save a lot of hassles.  It’s like marrying a man & then trying to change him… then he wouldn’t be the man I fell for in the first place.

Rule # 2:          Property Patch = Pride!

I have had to earn both property patches that I have worn thru the years, by proving to my Man that he could count on me.  Before my man would put his patch on my back & claim me as his woman, I had to prove he could trust me, believe me & count on me when it mattered.  Now some have thought the property patch was just to keep a female unit safe from ‘predators‘, a great way to get a chick in bed, or even that it meant you were a possession.  But I take pride in my Patch.  I earned it & I’m proud of my Man… I BELONG TO HIM AND NO OTHER.  See rule #1.

Rule #3:           Don’t expect to be treated like a Queen, unless I treat my man like a King (in private & in public!)

Lighting his cigarette, getting a drink for him so he doesn’t have to leave a conversation that he’s deep into… These are a couple of examples of things that will make him proud that I am HIS WOMAN.  If you don’t think so, when you see the look of love & pride in his eyes you will.  Remember, your actions reflect on your man.  See rule #1.

Rule # 4           Get a grip on reality!

Running thy mouth in public can lead to bullshit.  If I’ve got a problem, I will discuss it with my ol’man in private.  Work it out together or get his permission to take care of it myself.  When all else fails & with my man‘s consent…  meet her in the back yard.  See rule #1

Rule # 5           Cover my man’s ass.

I was always taught to walk a bit behind my man & keep alert to cover his ass.  The reason for the positioning was that if something happened, my man wouldn’t clip me when he reacted.  I would be just to the side/behind & that would give me a chance to see what was happening & react.  Being my man’s backup was unexpected & worked to our advantage.  See rule #1.

Rule # 6           SHUT  THE  F  _   _  K UP!!!

Means just that… There have been times when I have walked in on a conversation & not gotten the whole picture.  Listening to my man has saved me from embarrassment more than once.  I look at it like being a secretary in a business.  I don’t tell my employer what to do or how to think.  When I do want to put my ideas across, I find a tactful way to handle it. He shows me the respect (has regard for my experience & intelligence) to listen. Any questions… refer to rules #1 & 3. 

Rule # 7           SHOW RESPECT… EARN RESPECT

This has always been a BIGGY no matter where I’ve been.  A person earns the respect they get.  Pretty self explanatory, huh?! Any questions… see rules #1 & 3.

Rule # 8           DON’T  RUN C  -  U  -  N  -  T  SHIT!!!

NOT THAT… this term came from about over 25 years ago and stood for

‘CAN’T UNDERSTAND NORMAL THINKING’, not the female anatomy.
 Example:  If I have a problem with someone, I talk to my ol’man first (this will also cover thy ass) & try working it out.  I don’t burn up the phone lines drawing others in by running shit to get backing.  This usually blows the situation out of proportion.  Questions… see rules #1 & 4.

Rule # 9           Don’t cut my ol’man off!  That’s just an invitation to find it elsewhere!

Trust me… this is one of those things a Brother told me.  There are a lot of female units out there willing to spread their legs or open their mouths just for a ride on a Harley.  See rule #3 

Rule # 10         It’s my job to keep my Man from having a short in his wiring… SIGNAL!

I know, this may seem too old school for most of you, but think about it. Even though most bikes come with turn signals now a days, when I’m riding in a pack, those signals can be obstructed by other bikes but your arm won’t be.  This will not only let the ones behind us know what to expect, but can also help keep bikers & citizens alike from piling up behind us or even on us.  See rule #3.

Rule # 11         C  -  Y  -  A  (cover your ass)

If I go out partying & pulled some dumb shit… my man will hear it from me… not someone on the streets that might be exaggerating or twisting the facts.

Rule # 12         What happens here… stays here.

This should also be self explanatory.  Any questions, see rule # 1 & 4.

Rule # 13         Can’t trust ‘um… don’t need‘um.

Thru out my life I have encountered many like myself fortunate to enough get ‘gut feelings’ about people.  It may have taken a few days or a couple of years to see why I felt I couldn’t trust him or her, but the time would come. This got me in the habit of standing back & watching, people can be very interesting.  See rule #1

As I stated at the beginning, these are my learnings. 
 This won’t be for everyone & I bet a bunch will have a problem swallowing some of this.  Just keep in mind we’re all society’s misfits.  This fact, our pride and our love of riding is what has drawn us together into the club life.  By the way… the older/hardcore club ways are: sit down, shut up & get a grip.

I love my life!! Liz