Who Would’a Thought……..

      By Dee Vitale

 

Okay, so after about 35 years of riding on the back of my husbands bike and clanking helmets, I thought I should at least try to take the Safety Course to see if I could succeed in getting my motorcycle license.  It was just the beginning (around 12 years ago) that females were being spotted more frequently on their own bikes and looking rather cool.  After all, I HAD NOTHING TO LOOSE.  No one would know if I couldn’t handle this, and I could always just continue sitting on the back clanking helmets.  But I wanted to be a part of that “cool group” too.  With my “nothing ventured, nothing gained” attitude, I signed up, took the class, got my endorsement, bought my first bike (a sporty) and the rest is history.

 

Ok, now what?  I really didn’t want to hang with the guys or listen to them talk about their engines, much less drag Nick to the ladies side of the store (which back in those day…I remember it being a really small corner for ladies clothing), and hear Nick saying it looks “GREAT”, when he didn’t even look at me.  After a year of sitting in the audience of the General Meetings, I shyly (Yep….me shy) raised my hand during one of the meetings showing interest in becoming the Chapter Secretary.  I could do that, heck…..I did it every day at work.  I really don’t remember if I won the election or if I was appointed (for lack of competition), but that was the beginning of the best 10 years of my life (after raising the kids of course).

 

So, about eight years into this Secretary role and having already attended every possible LOH Weekend, ladies event and Chapter event, it was time for Dee to move to Assistant Director.  After a year of being Assistant Director and Secretary for 8 years, I had enough training and experience under my belt to run for the 2005 Chapter Director and I was “elected”…….YES………..E-L-E-C-T-E-D.  The first female Director for the Miami HOG Chapter #694.  I cannot tell you what a sense of PRIDE that was for me to be accepted by the good old boys (since they still had the majority of the vote).  What a whirlwind filled with tent parties, charity events, overnighters, LOH functions, Dealership Open Houses, Anniversary Parties, Boca Parties and Skill classes leading to a successful year.  Of course, like everyone knows, the success of the Director duly relies on HER board members and I had support all the way, guidance when needed and most important………FUN!

 

Okay, that’s how one would normally measure their successes, but the true success of my tenure within the HOG Chapter is the many friends I have made throughout the years.  Once you go to an LOH Weekend or work beside a Chapter Member while volunteering, you aren’t even aware that the bonding has begun and has carried forth even during my sabbatical.  Although for personal reasons I do not ride any more, I’m still drawn to the Ladies of Harley and all they represent.  With that being said, I guess it’s time to come alive again and become more active with my old and new friends of the sisterhood.  I’ll be joining you again in Cocoa Beach and have offered my two cents to Cindi through the experiences and training I have had with HOG.  We have our Queen Bee and her flock of Princesses, and I hope there is room for a “consigliere”…….Mama Mia what am I getting myself into????