American Spirit MC was founded in November 1993. For about two years, a group of us would get together every Sunday and ride - Charlie, Earla, Klaus, Richie, Roy, Jay, Michelle, John, Roanne and Kathy. Others would join us week to week - sometimes we'd have 12 - 15 bikes.
We'd go to Bear Mountain, New Hope Pennsylvania, Bushkill Falls etc. We'd always have a great time (Kathy would follow the group in a car with the kids - her two and sometimes others.)
The founding members - Richie and Kathy especially wanted a club so we could be identified as a group. Most of us had belonged to other clubs, which had folded, and some were shy about going through it again.
Our monthly meetings were, and currently are, held at member’s houses. We talked about the pros and cons of a club. Our by-laws, fashioned on the other club's were changed slightly giving everyone the same privileges.
We wanted a club whose members were friends allowing us to discuss differing points of view without many issues. The group discussed a 3 month "get acquainted" period so we could see how new members rode with the group and fit in with us. Also it gave prospective members time to see if we were the kind of group they wanted to belong to.
The patch was discussed during the second meeting in December 1993 and it was decided to amend a previous patch - it was based on a US Military shield - we added the American and POW/MIA flags and decided to display the patch exclusively on the back of the vest. It was thought to be easier to identify if the back was uncluttered. We wanted a uniform look.
We decided to become a club that would support Veterans. Many ASMC members were also AMVETS members so we donated our run proceeds to them for their Northport Veterans Hospital fund. During 2004, we sponsored an event to benefit the families of those members of the 69th Infantry activated to serve in Iraq.
It was also decided that American Spirit would be a club that was family oriented - kids could ride with us because we did family things.
Richie had suggested that the charter members should have a say in the direction the club should go. The basic foundation of the club could not be changed. This is in the first paragraph of the by-laws.
Membership in the AMA was also decided on to help steer the club in the right direction. We wanted to improve the image of the motorcycling community.
Of the original 10 members - 5 moved out of state, 3 left to join other clubs, 1 left for personal reasons. Kathy P. is the only Charter member to remain actively involved with American Spirit. A Board of Directors was formed to make sure ASMC would always remain the type of club it set out to be.
Jim S. joined our club in 1996. He worked on LI but lived in upstate Guilford. He attended a few meetings and then told us there were some people near his home who wanted to start a club. He mentioned his affiliation with our club and suggested he head up a new chapter in Guilford. Thus the birth of the Tri-County chapter (June 98- AMA charter 6930).
Carl and Dolores joined American Spirit in 1997 and moved upstate to Rock Tavern, NY in 1998. We asked them to start their own chapter of American Spirit - the Mid Hudson chapter. They applied for their AMA Charter in November of 2004.
After our 2002 Tombstone Tour Joey Pots and Frankie Pans joined our Long Island Chapter. They, in turn, brought in Gary, Mitch, Bob, Dennis, and Mike and Cathy G. At at about the same time, Kathy and Tom, were happy to welcome Mike (Pizza Man) to the club. With this influx of new members and their willingness to step forward and assist with the running of the organization, we elected to start a Suffolk Chapter. ASMC Suffolk began in January of 2003 and received its AMA Charter shortly thereafter.
There are currently seven chapters of the American Spirit Motorcycle Club: The Founding NY Chapter, ASMC Tri-County, ASMC Mid-Hudson, ASMC Suffolk, ASMC Mid-Island, ASMC Pennsylvania, and ASMC Catskill.
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