FROM THE BEGINNING
The club has 10 elected officers: President, Vice President, Secretary/Historian/Recorder, Treasurer, Business Manager, Assistant Business Manager, Road Captain, Assistant Road Captain, Sergeant at Arms, and Assistant Sergeant at Arms. The club has certain requirements that must be followed.
Each member must apply and go through an initial probationary period for one year. They have strict bylaws that they must abide by. A member may own any type of motorcycle; it is not mandatory to have a Harley Davidson. All members must take care of each other in a brotherly manner. All members are responsible for each other's well being. Each member is screened. Drug and alcohol abuse is not allowed. We have a joint women club named the Lady Hye Riders. They are more than welcome to join as riders or honorary members.
Berdj Kasbarian used to belong to other motorcycle clubs. He did not want young Armenian men to get involved in other motorcycle clubs. So, one day, he decided to form the Hye Riders Motorcycle Club.
|
|
|
 |
He wanted Armenian men of all ages, to join together, help out the elderly, and to work with and for the Armenian community. In the meantime, the Hye Riders developed a special bond and brotherhood amongst themselves.
The “Hye Riders” are a group of Armenian men who love to ride their motorcycles. They organize events, ride their bikes, and live proudly as Armenians. The club consists of Armenian men who are in various types of professions. For instance, there are students, husbands, doctors, lawyers, mechanics, and businessmen, and so on.
The eldest member so far is forty-eight years old, yet the youngest one is eighteen. Although the bylaws state that the youngest could be at the age of eighteen, the oldest member can be up to the age of sixty-eight. The Hye Riders are not an outlaw club. They are a club of men who have joined together to keep the Armenian men unified as a single entity.
|
The Hye Riders display a patch on their jackets. The patch has the Tricolor Armenian flag, which frames Armenia's patriotic logo. The logo has an Eagle to the left and a Lion to the right. The Eagle and Lion carry the shield, which has all four of the ancient Armenian separate kingdoms. In addition, Mount Ararat is displayed in the middle.
These logo/patches are displayed on their jackets and can be clearly seen wherever they ride. The Hye Rider patch was formed and designed during the year of 1999. The Hye Riders motorcycle club had the honor and blessing by another significant motorcycle club to be known as the only Armenian motorcycle club formed in the United States. This recognition was done by a well known and respected club called "Vagos" (the "Vagos" were established in the early '60s). The Hye Riders are grateful for their support and understanding.
|
|
 |
|
 |
Everyone can see motorcycle or Harley Davidson riders on streets, freeways, and Interstate Highways. Each motorcycle club represents their ethnic background as well as their culture with their logos. Logos signify each motorcycle rider and his or her background. The Patches worn on the leather jackets of any Motorcyclist, is a way for people to identify the club they represent. Each club has something interesting to symbolize. Each patch and club signifies a club's involvement within the Harley Davidson and Motorcycle riding lifestyle.
The Hye Riders proudly represent their name and clean images wherever they ride. Each day, the Hye Riders carry their good reputation within the motorcycle and Armenian communities.
The Hye Riders ride twice a week. Most of the time, their rides are for charity and fundraising events. They also participate in Harley Davidson organized events to raise money, to donate gifts and toys to orphans in Los Angeles.
|
The Hye Riders also associate with other motorcycle clubs and ride with them. They have private and public group events. They also have family events, and often participate in Armenian events. For instance, the Hye Riders gathered up thirty-five people, which consisted of club and family members, to watch the movie "Ararat" together.
In addition, the Hye Riders organized a ride to the Ararat home to visit the Armenian Senior Citizens for their First Annual Thanksgiving Ride, which was a great success last year. They visited the elderly, spoke to them, spent time touring the Ararat home, and donated food as they joined the elderly for a nice Thanksgiving dinner. The elders were proud and happy to meet the men that seemed intimidating at first. But as the Hye Riders got prepared to depart, the Armenian Senior citizens bid them farewell with warm praises, heart felt blessings, and old Armenian songs as they waved goodbye to their visitors. As the Hye Riders started their engines, they waved back and promised to visit again, while the senior citizens sang out "'For he's a jolly good fellow"'. Then, the Hye Riders rode off to go visit their own families.
|
|
 |
|
 |
For Christmas, they had other non-Armenian Harley Davidson clubs join them for a ride to the Armenian Relief Society in Glendale. As the Hye Riders catered the event that was open to the public, nonmembers and family members joined them in celebration of the holiday festivities. They gathered donations and toys for the children in Artsakh. Members of the Armenian Relief Society were extremely grateful and excited for the dedication the Hye Riders and the adjoining motorcycle clubs had towards doing what they love to do to help out.
"Hye" Riders do not compete or declare territories. Each Hye Rider member has a great Armenian personality. Each one of these "Hye" Riders carries themselves with prestige and excellent mannerisms.
So, the next time you see a group of men on Harley Davidson's and Motorcycles, check out their jackets! Look for the Armenian Flags! If you see the logo, wave to them with a big smile, because they are the “HYE RIDERS”
|
|
|
|
