11/13/2025
As FORR Chairman, I feel I must say the following in order to convey this message to every individual FORR member.
This past Sunday at the November Central Committee meeting, the Central Committee Representatives voted to not authorize a by-law change proposal that would have allowed members of FORR to wear a Freedom of Road Riders back patch.
If the by-law proposal change had been passed, the choice to wear a back patch would have been left to individual members.
The following reasons were brought forward by the CC reps, and recognized members in attendance, as to why the by-law proposal change should fail:
1. FORR members who wear the back patch of another organization, threatened to leave FORR if the FORR back patch was approved.
- So it’s ok to wear someone else’s back patch but not our own? Our members can represent another organizations instead of FORR, and that’s a reasonable expectation for our members?
2. That if we choose to put a back patch on our vest, we are putting a target on our back.
- So all the other organizations, ABATEs and SMROs across the nation, that have a back patch have put “targets” on their backs?
3. IF we have a back patch, MCs can come in and take us over.
- When was the last time an MC took over an ABATE or SMRO with their own back patch? Do you think MCs appreciate what we do for motorcyclists rights, or do you think they’d want to do it themselves?
4. What if we have 1 member who does something stupid while wearing the back patch? What will an MC do?
- We have members now and in the past, that have done some stupid things without a back patch, and it has been handled then, now, and will be in the future. We don’t exist without the blessing of the MCs because they know we fight for them at the state capitol.
5. What if we are confronted out of state for having a back patch?
- The whole purpose of the back patch is to create an identity for us. For others to ask “Who are you, and what do you do?” It gives us an opportunity to talk about FORR and what we have done for motorcyclists rights in Missouri. As far as being confronted, the FORR back patch was approved by the MCs and that the back patch will not be offensive to anyone if there are no rockers or territory patches.
We don’t have an identity because no one knows who we are or what we do.
We fought so hard to get freedom of choice when it comes to the helmet law, but our freedom of choice to wear or not wear the back patch isn’t even an option because we are worried about what ifs, maybes, and hypothetical situations.
We are a dying organization and need to do everything in our power to recruit new, and younger members.
I believe the back patch will get us these new, younger members but we will never know until we pass this bylaw change proposal.
We have approximately 1300 members. Of those 1300 members, approximately 500 are life members. That leaves 800 paid members through out the state carrying the organization. 800! 800 annual membership dues at $30 a member is only $24,000. How much do you think it costs to run the organization annually?
For the last decade I’ve been coming to Saturday committee meetings, and Sunday CC meetings, we talk about the same problems over and over and over and offer the same solutions over and over and over again. Nothings has changed.
We have been in decline since 2016 and have done nothing to help stop the exodus of members.
It is much easier to ignore a problem, or be the Monday morning Quarterback. Always critiquing and never stepping up to be the Quarterback, or offer a solution.
So when a solution presents itself, what do we do? We shoot ourselves in the foot, and handcuff the younger members who want to do more than just sit around and reminisce about days past. Members who actually want to make a change in the organization.
If we die as an organization, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. Because we didn’t do everything we could to recruit new members. Younger members. Members to pass the torch to, or pass on a legacy. If we are no more as an organization, what do you think will happen? The possibility of you being required by law to wear a helmet while riding is far greater a certainty than MCs worrying about a member of FORR wearing a back patch.
So what do you as a member want to do? Do you want to be a member of an organization that no longer exists or do you want to be a member that says “we did everything we could”, and save this organization?
If any member feels they would like to wear a back patch, and possibly save this organziation, go to your next local meeting and let your Local cabinet hear what you have to say. Tell your Local CC Rep that you want this by law passed at the next CC meeting in January.
Don’t let bias or FEAR speak for you!
Thank you
Joe “DC” Karr
FORR Chairman
