National Guidelines

 

 

As members of The Freedom Cruisers Riding Club we believe in total freedom. We have no initiation fees, no dues, no mandatory meetings, and no major commitments. We do not believe in club dictatorship, cliques, power plays, politics or any BS. We are not a 1% club, nor are we territorial, therefore we will not wear rockers on our backs. We respect all clubs and enjoy good relations wherever we go.

Mission Statement:

The Freedom Cruisers Riding Club (hereafter known as FCRC) is a family orientated club. We represent motorcycle riding, family, unity, camping, traveling, fun and the camaraderie of the members.

Purpose:

The Freedom Cruisers Riding Club is a NOT-FOR-PROFIT organization, operating with the sole purpose of promoting good, clean, and safe riding activities.

Officers:

Officers that are Members in good standing with the FCRC will govern The FCRC. The officer titles shall be:

National Level: President, Membership Director, Administrative Director and Web Master.

State Level:

State Director, Assistant State Director, Ride Coordinator, Press Relations Coordinator, State Secretary / Treasurer, Safety Coordinator.

Local Level:

Chapter President. (and if needed, Chapter Officers as specified below.)

FCRC Officer's Code of Conduct:

 

• As an Officer of FCRC you agree to follow all the Freedom Cruisers State guidelines, rules, and regulations.

• FCRC Officers are responsible for maintaining the public image and perception of the club. An FCRC officer should not publicly make any statements, in any form of communication, or commit an act, that portrays the club, or its members in a negative or unfavorable manner.

• An FCRC officer has a duty of loyalty to the FCRC, and fellow officers and members. An FCRC officer should not make any statement, or commit any act, which would cause his/her duty of loyalty to be called into question.

• All Officers of FCRC will be required to wear the FCRC Club Patch. All Chapter President must be patched, as well as any other appointed Chapter Officers.

• Chapter Presidents must keep The National FCRC notified of any changes to their email address, mailing address, and contact phone numbers. Chapter Presidents must notify The National FCRC of changes to Chapter Members' email address, mailing address, and contact phone numbers; and notify The National FCRC of any changes. The National FCRC must at all times have current information on the Chapter Presidents.

National Officer's Titles:

 

National President:

The National President will oversee the operation of the Freedom Cruisers Riding Club. It is the National Presidents duty to uphold all of the FCRC Guidelines at all times. The National President is responsible to choose his/her replacement upon leaving the Office. The National President has final say on the choosing and placement of all State Presidents. The National President holds the tiebreaker vote on all issues concerning National Business.

National Vice President:

The National Vice President is responsible for helping the National President oversee the operation of the Freedom Cruisers Riding Club. The National Vice Presidents duty is to help uphold all the FCRC Guidelines at all times. The National Vice President may be called upon to oversee the operation of the FCRC in the event the National President is temporarily unavailable. The National Vice President is appointed by the National President.

National Membership Director:

The National Membership Director is responsible to maintain the FCRC Membership Roster. The National Membership Director will receive, record, and update the Membership as needed. The National Membership Director will contact Chapter Officer's In Charge of any additions, transfers, or changes in said Chapter's Membership Roster.

National Administrative Director:

The Admin. Director will be responsible for providing support to new and current Chapter Presidents who are in the process of building and recruiting for their FCRC Chapter. Other responsibilities will be to provide support and maintenance of the Clubs Web Forum and to assume the duties of other Board Members when required.

State Officer Titles and Duties:

 

State Director:

The State Director shall oversee the operation of the Freedom Cruisers Riding Club as it pertains to their state. It is the State Director's duty to uphold all of the FCRC Guidelines at all times.

The State Director is responsible to place the Chapter President of a new Chapter when the new Chapter is opened. If a Chapter President resigns their position, the State Director is responsible to replace that Chapter President of that Chapter.

The State Director has the tiebreaker vote on all issues concerning State Business. It is the duty of each State Director to collect, verify, tally, and report to the National President the votes of the Board of Directors in their state on voting/elections at the National Level.

When The State Director vacates office, The Assistant State Director has the right to replace The State Director. If The Assistant State Director does not want the Office, The State Director shall nominate a replacement candidate, and notify The National President of the nominee.

No state will hold an election/vote on any state matter without the prior approval from the National Level.

Assistant State Director:

The Assistant State Director shall work at the discretion of the State Director. The Assistant State Director shall oversee the operation of the Freedom Cruisers Riding Club, as it pertains to their state, in the absences of the State Director. When doing so, the Assistant State Director shall hold all of the State Director's responsibilities, as well as the holding the tiebreaker vote on all issues concerning State Business. The Assistant State Director has the option to replace the State Director when the position is vacated.

State Ride Officer:

The State Ride Officer shall be responsible for scheduling Quarterly State Rides. The State Ride Officer will conduct State Rides as to include all State Chapters in The State Ride Officer's State. All State Rides must be scheduled a quarter (three months) before the ride occurs so that all of the State Chapters have the necessary time to include the ride into their Chapter's Ride Schedule. The State Ride Officer will include all information necessary to the Chapter Officer's In Charge that pertain to the ride. (e.g. routes, events, costs, etc.)

State Event Officer:

The State Event Officer shall be responsible to maintain the State Ride Calendar on the FCRC main web page. This is to include new events, updates, and all changes in FCRC Events, Chapter and State Events and rides. Only the National Officer's of FCRC, State Director's of FCRC, or the Chapter President's may post events and rides with the National Calendar.

State Public Relations Officer:

The State Public Relations Officer shall be responsible to maintain the FCRC Image with the public. The State Public Relations Officer will contact media and newspapers when necessary on behalf of the FCRC. The State Public Relations Officer is responsible to post photos on the FCRC State web page.

State Webmaster:

The State Director may appoint the State Webmaster in the event a state has a website. The duty of the State Webmaster is to update and maintain their State's Website.

State Board of Directors:

The State Board of Directors shall consist of the State Chapter Presidents. Each Chapter President will hold one (1) vote at State Board Meetings (formally called OIC Meetings). The State Director will hold, but is not limited to, an Annual Board of Directors' Meeting. More meetings can be held on an 'as needed basis'.

Voting:

At all FCRC meetings (Board of Directors, Chapter Meetings, etc.), the voting members present are a quorum. A simple majority of that quorum will determine the passage or defeat of the item.

 

Chapter Officer Titles and Duties:

 

Chapter President:

The State Director of the State of which the Chapter is located shall appoint The Chapter President of a Chapter. Normally, they will be appointed when he or she starts a Chapter. The Chapter President shall be responsible for the business of the Chapter. The Chapter President shall facilitate the scheduling of monthly Chapter Rides and Events. The Chapter President holds one (1) vote for State Board Meetings. Chapter President may send a proxy if unable to attend State Board Meetings. Proxies should be arranged in advance, if possible, with the National President or the State Director. The Chapter President may find it necessary to appoint additional Officers to help maintain order in a Chapter. In the spirit of keeping the FCRC on common ground, the following titles will be used for said Officers:

Vice President:

Vice President reports to the Chapter President. The Vice President shall act as the First Officer of a Chapter, and shall work at the discretion of the Chapter President. Duties can include scheduling or leading chapter rides, etc.

Road Captain:

The Road Captain's duties will include scheduling and leading rides. There can be more than one Road Captain per Chapter.

Tail Gunner:

The Tail Gunner shall ride at the rear of the formation and keep the riders together in a formation. The Tail Gunner shall be responsible to check with the Road Captain for the ride details, including the route, the destination, and the duration of a ride. The Tail Gunner should always check with the Road Captain of the ride to make sure the riding rules and hand signals are discussed before the riding group leaves on a ride. There can be more than one Tail Gunner per Chapter.

Safety Officer:

The Chapter Safety Officer shall be responsible to gather and present safety material to all Chapter members. The material can be discussed on Chapter Rides or Events, or at Chapter Meetings.

Secretary/Treasurer:

The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible to record the minutes of Chapter meetings and/or to maintain the treasury of the Chapter. If a Chapter elects to have meetings and minutes are kept, the Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible to send all Chapter Members the meeting minutes.

The Secretary and Treasurer titles and duties may be separated into two Officer's Titles. Their duties will remain same as described in this section.

Membership:

 

Membership in Freedom Cruisers Riding Club is open to anyone that is 18 years of age or older, any race, creed, or sex, and has a valid motorcycle license, or a motorcycle permit (limited participation), as well as proof of liability insurance. Members must own and ride a motorcycle. A spouse, or any other person, can also become a member if they ride as a passenger. All members must have a current application on file with the FCRC National Office. Members with a motorcycle permit may not ride on a Highway, at dark, or with a passenger. Therefore, they will be not allowed to participate on any rides the will include these restrictions.

Anyone applying for membership in the FCRC must fill out an online Application for Membership.
On the menu, click on Membership, then Membership Application. Fill out the online form and submit to the Membership Director for approval.

Applicants may choose a Chapter to join when they apply for membership. If you do not choose a Chapter, the Applicant will be assigned a Chapter if there is one within 50 miles of where the Applicant lives (city or town). If there is not a Chapter within 50 miles of where the Applicant lives, the Applicant will be placed as a Member At Large (MAL) until a Chapter starts in the Applicant's area.

A member may transfer to a different or new Chapter at any time. All transfer requests must be sent to the FCRC Membership Director to be processed and approved. Once a member transfers from a Chapter, that member may be subject to a vote of current members to transfer back.

A new member must attend and ride a minimum of three (3) FCRC Rides before they can buy and wear the FCRC Patch. Patches may be purchased only from your Chapter's President, or the State Director if the member is a Member At Large.

Members of the Freedom Cruisers Riding Club must ride at least 3 rides and/or events in a calendar year to maintain their membership with the FCRC. Any members that have been awarded member emeritus, are honorary members of the chapter, or those on military deployment are not required to make the 3 ride guidelines.

If a member needs to take a leave of absence from the Freedom Cruisers, or their Chapter, the 3 ride guideline will be waived for the time of the leave of absence. All leave of absence requests must be submitted in writing to the Chapter President for approval. It the member is a member at large, the request must be submitted in writing to the State Director for approval.

Any member in good standing (a patch wearer) with the Freedom Cruisers Riding Club who can No Longer Ride Due To Illness or Injury may retain their membership in the Freedom Cruiser Riding Club as a Member if they wish, belonging to their chapter or to be a member at large.

Every chapter may have one member who does not own or ride a motorcycle but will attend rides in a Chase Car. This member may wear a FCRC patch.

We do ask:

• Always ride safe!

• Do not give the club a bad name.

• Get involved in the club when you can.

• Respect other member's rights and beliefs.

• Never disrespect or misrepresent the club Patch.

• We do promote motorcycle and public safety rules.

• UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will we be involved in any illegal activity.

 

FCRC Disclaimer:  Each member participates in activities solely by choice and participation itself relinquishes any responsibility of the Freedom Cruisers as an organization for any and all liabilities resulting in participation in any club related event or activity. All activities and events must comply with any State or local laws and ordinances. Any personal injury or property damage resulting during a club activity or at any time becomes the responsibility of the individual parties involved, and at no time shall the Freedom Cruisers be held liable.

Any individual involved in any illegal activities will be immediately scrutinized by the Freedom Cruisers Officers and subject to immediate removal from the club roster and membership roles and forbidden to claim any and all association with the Freedom Cruisers, to include, but are not limited to:

   A) Prohibited to participate in any activity of the Freedom Cruisers.
   B) The removal of any insignias of the Freedom Cruisers, including the Freedom Cruisers' Patch.

Starting a Chapter:

 

Any member may start a chapter. The Membership Director and/or National President must approve new Chapters before start up. Chapters may not be too close to another Chapter.

The member that starts the Chapter becomes the Chapter President of that Chapter.

The Chapter President agrees to adhere to the FCRC Officer's Code of Conduct. (See above.)

Chapters are required to abide by all FCRC Guidelines. The Chapter President is responsible for the conduct of the Chapter and it's adherence to the FCRC Guidelines.

When wearing the FCRC Patch, members of FCRC should not wear support patches for other motorcycle or riding clubs. (Excludes patches from AMA, MMA, HRCA, etc.) This includes, but is not limited to, 1%er club support patches.

Chapters may regulate their Chapters as needed. But, under no circumstances, may a Chapter adopt any rules, regulations, or guidelines that conflict with the FCRC Guidelines.

Chapters are allowed to design a Chapter Patch. All designs must be submitted to the National President for approval.

Chapters agree to link their website to the National and State Websites. Those links should be on the Chapter's Main Page.

Complaints on any Officer by any member may be presented in writing to either the National President or the State Director for your state. The Club State Officers will review any violation of the guidelines. The accused will be afforded the right to address the Club State Officers before a decision is made. An offending Officer may be removed from his/her position, or expelled from the Freedom Cruisers Riding Club.

FCRC Rides:

State Rides: State Rides are when all FCRC Chapters within a state meet and ride together. These rides are to be scheduled quarterly, weather permitting.  Only the State Ride Officer can call these rides. The State Ride Officer can either lead the State Rides or choose another FCRC Member to do so.

Chapter Rides:

Chapter Rides should be scheduled once a month, weather permitting. Each Chapter calls it's own Chapter Rides. The Chapter President is responsible to schedule and promote these rides for their Chapters. The Chapter President can either act as Road Captain for the ride, or select some else to Road Captain. Chapter Rides must be spaced as not to conflict with State Rides. The Chapter Rides should be posted on the National Calendar for information purposes. Chapter Rides should be open to all FCRC Members, regardless of Chapter Affiliation.

Called Rides:

Any Member of FCRC may 'call' a ride. To do so, you must be a core member of FCRC (patch wearer) and ask approval of your Chapter President. When seeking permission, members should have all of the details of the ride for the Chapter President. The Member that calls a ride is considered, but not required to be, the Road Captain of the that ride. Called Rides may not conflict with State or Chapter Rides.

The FCRC Board of Directors reserves the right to accept or reject members and to periodically, without notice, revise or amend guidelines and regulations where necessary.

Last updated 7 March 2013

Michael S. DePeralta "DOC"
National President