INTRODUCTION
Patch-wearing clubs have a formal hierarchy with a structure that is similar in most clubs. The positions of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and sergeant at arms a between others re known as “officers”.
A new officer is elected whenever an existing office-holder is unable to carry out his job properly, usually due to imprisonment or sickness (motorcycle crashes etc).
Most gangs hold regular meetings, that all patchmembers must attend to discuss matters relating to the club. The majority of clubs are run as a democracy with every patchmember having one vote.
Each chapter has its own set of officers. A “chapter” is a group of gang members under the control of one president.
RANKS
Founder and Co-Founders
Yet we have no idea of the exact number of Founders, all those who will start a Chapter in this group once they get their bike they will be considered as a Co-Founder, and will wear a specific patch.There's no President if there's a Founder or a Co-Founder in a Chapter.
In the case there's a Founder and a Co-Founder or 2 Co-Founders in a single chapter there's no President and no Vice President.
International President
The International Prez will take decissions for the chapters worldwide, and is the figurehead of the club around the world.
National President
The National Prez is the one that will talk in the name of the club in his country, also he can take decissions or give his opinion on chapters around the country he is in charge.
PRESIDENT
The prez is the leader of the chapter. He is the clubs figurehead and is usually the spokesman when dealing with the police or the media. The prez is the chairman at club meetings and represents the chapter at national meetings.
VICE PRESIDENT
The vice president is second in charge and fills in when the president is away. The vice prez is often the heir apparent to the clubs leadership although this isn’t always the case. It’s his job to make sure that matters passed at club meetings are carried out satisfactorily.
SERGEANT AT ARMS
The sergeant at arms is basically the club's “policeman” although most would not like to be referred to in this way! He enforces club procedures and maintains order at club meetings. The sergeant is in charge of security at club's events and he is responsible for “back ups” (attacks on rivals). The sergeant looks after the club's firearms and other weapons.
The sergeant at arms is sometimes known as the “master of arms”, (although “sergeant at arms” has become much more common). The sergeant wears a military style sergeant’s badge.
Enforcers
The Enforcers are here to help the Sergeant At Arms in this job, mainly they are here to stand guard in meeting or in events, somehow they're the security.
SECRETARY
The secretary is responsible for the clubs paperwork. He keeps minutes of meetings and records dates of significant events, such as anniversary dates (when prospects gain their patch). He corresponds with other gangs and it’s his job to keep members informed of upcoming events. The secretary is usually responsible for keeping records of club assets although the treasurer will do this in some gangs.The positions of secretary and treasurer are often combined if no other member can be found to complete the job.
TREASURER
The treasurer is the chapters’ money-man and he’s in charge of collecting club fees, run funds etc and paying the bills. The treasurer is responsible for collecting any debts owed to the gang and usually gets the job of checking out business opportunities prior to any decisions being made. The treasurer is usually the person who handles the proceeds of a gangs illegal activity.
The positions of secretary and treasurer are often combined if no other member can be found to complete the job.
The Wise One
The Wise One, also known as "Chaplain" in other clubs often looks after the spiritual needs of club members, helps out when someone goes to the big house ( jail ), conducts marriages rides, funerals etc...He's also the one along with the Prez that will say if the Prospect is ready to get his patch or not.
ROAD CAPTAIN
Most motorcycle clubs have a position known as Road Captain. He is in charge of logistics during a club run. He plans the route and organises refuelling stops etc. The Road Captain rides at the front and leads the pack with the president. The position of Road Captain is usually a “non executive” position.
Assistant Road Captain
He will assist the Road Captain to plan the route for the runs, it's always better to have more then one opinion. As the Road Captain is leading the group with Prez, the Assistant Road Captain will close the road.
PATCHMEMBERS aka Riders
Patchmembers are members of the club who have earned the right to wear the gangs colours, after a suitable period spent “prospecting”. They take part in the running of the club and attend the gangs weekly meeting. They are commonly referred to as “members” or, in some clubs, “patches”.
Nomads
A Nomad is a club member who does not belong to any specific chapter, yet has privileges in all charters ( which means he's always welcome in any Chapter, can assist meetings, but can't take votes, unless he's invited to do so. ) As the name implies, the Nomads will go anywhere to take care of business. The only one who can call in the Nomads however is either the national president or a charter president.
PROSPECTS
A prospect is a “prospective” member of the club who is yet to earn his patch. Prospects are expected to do what they are told and follow the orders of patchmembers. They must be prepared to engage in illegal activities to prove their loyalty to the club. Prospects have no voting rights and do not attend meetings unless invited in. Prospecting perioid will last from 6 months to a year.
HANGAROUNDS
Some gangs have a stage before “prospect” which is known as “hangaround”. The purpose of the hangaround stage is to become known by all members before being accepted as a prospect. The hangaround period can be up to six months if needed, but will last one month if the Hangaround is voted Prospect before.
Hangarounds can also be “Friends of the Club” which are close supporters of the club. They are often “regulars” at the clubhouse and actively support the club, attending functions and taking part in events, in that case they will not wear the Hangaround patch.Founder Bryan Mestre 8/18/2012
Patch-wearing clubs have a formal hierarchy with a structure that is similar in most clubs. The positions of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and sergeant at arms a between others re known as “officers”.
A new officer is elected whenever an existing office-holder is unable to carry out his job properly, usually due to imprisonment or sickness (motorcycle crashes etc).
Most gangs hold regular meetings, that all patchmembers must attend to discuss matters relating to the club. The majority of clubs are run as a democracy with every patchmember having one vote.
Each chapter has its own set of officers. A “chapter” is a group of gang members under the control of one president.
RANKS
Founder and Co-Founders
Yet we have no idea of the exact number of Founders, all those who will start a Chapter in this group once they get their bike they will be considered as a Co-Founder, and will wear a specific patch.There's no President if there's a Founder or a Co-Founder in a Chapter.
In the case there's a Founder and a Co-Founder or 2 Co-Founders in a single chapter there's no President and no Vice President.
International President
The International Prez will take decissions for the chapters worldwide, and is the figurehead of the club around the world.
National President
The National Prez is the one that will talk in the name of the club in his country, also he can take decissions or give his opinion on chapters around the country he is in charge.
PRESIDENT
The prez is the leader of the chapter. He is the clubs figurehead and is usually the spokesman when dealing with the police or the media. The prez is the chairman at club meetings and represents the chapter at national meetings.
VICE PRESIDENT
The vice president is second in charge and fills in when the president is away. The vice prez is often the heir apparent to the clubs leadership although this isn’t always the case. It’s his job to make sure that matters passed at club meetings are carried out satisfactorily.
SERGEANT AT ARMS
The sergeant at arms is basically the club's “policeman” although most would not like to be referred to in this way! He enforces club procedures and maintains order at club meetings. The sergeant is in charge of security at club's events and he is responsible for “back ups” (attacks on rivals). The sergeant looks after the club's firearms and other weapons.
The sergeant at arms is sometimes known as the “master of arms”, (although “sergeant at arms” has become much more common). The sergeant wears a military style sergeant’s badge.
Enforcers
The Enforcers are here to help the Sergeant At Arms in this job, mainly they are here to stand guard in meeting or in events, somehow they're the security.
SECRETARY
The secretary is responsible for the clubs paperwork. He keeps minutes of meetings and records dates of significant events, such as anniversary dates (when prospects gain their patch). He corresponds with other gangs and it’s his job to keep members informed of upcoming events. The secretary is usually responsible for keeping records of club assets although the treasurer will do this in some gangs.The positions of secretary and treasurer are often combined if no other member can be found to complete the job.
TREASURER
The treasurer is the chapters’ money-man and he’s in charge of collecting club fees, run funds etc and paying the bills. The treasurer is responsible for collecting any debts owed to the gang and usually gets the job of checking out business opportunities prior to any decisions being made. The treasurer is usually the person who handles the proceeds of a gangs illegal activity.
The positions of secretary and treasurer are often combined if no other member can be found to complete the job.
The Wise One
The Wise One, also known as "Chaplain" in other clubs often looks after the spiritual needs of club members, helps out when someone goes to the big house ( jail ), conducts marriages rides, funerals etc...He's also the one along with the Prez that will say if the Prospect is ready to get his patch or not.
ROAD CAPTAIN
Most motorcycle clubs have a position known as Road Captain. He is in charge of logistics during a club run. He plans the route and organises refuelling stops etc. The Road Captain rides at the front and leads the pack with the president. The position of Road Captain is usually a “non executive” position.
Assistant Road Captain
He will assist the Road Captain to plan the route for the runs, it's always better to have more then one opinion. As the Road Captain is leading the group with Prez, the Assistant Road Captain will close the road.
PATCHMEMBERS aka Riders
Patchmembers are members of the club who have earned the right to wear the gangs colours, after a suitable period spent “prospecting”. They take part in the running of the club and attend the gangs weekly meeting. They are commonly referred to as “members” or, in some clubs, “patches”.
Nomads
A Nomad is a club member who does not belong to any specific chapter, yet has privileges in all charters ( which means he's always welcome in any Chapter, can assist meetings, but can't take votes, unless he's invited to do so. ) As the name implies, the Nomads will go anywhere to take care of business. The only one who can call in the Nomads however is either the national president or a charter president.
PROSPECTS
A prospect is a “prospective” member of the club who is yet to earn his patch. Prospects are expected to do what they are told and follow the orders of patchmembers. They must be prepared to engage in illegal activities to prove their loyalty to the club. Prospects have no voting rights and do not attend meetings unless invited in. Prospecting perioid will last from 6 months to a year.
HANGAROUNDS
Some gangs have a stage before “prospect” which is known as “hangaround”. The purpose of the hangaround stage is to become known by all members before being accepted as a prospect. The hangaround period can be up to six months if needed, but will last one month if the Hangaround is voted Prospect before.
Hangarounds can also be “Friends of the Club” which are close supporters of the club. They are often “regulars” at the clubhouse and actively support the club, attending functions and taking part in events, in that case they will not wear the Hangaround patch.Founder Bryan Mestre 8/18/2012