Chicago’s Jewish motorcycle club has a new plan to recruit Milwaukee bikers after efforts to form a Jewish motorcycle club in Milwaukee stalled.
The Chicago Chaiway Riders are offering “north of the border folks” associate membership in their club, which comes with full access to their Meetup site with information on club events.
Associate members get all of the benefits of full club members, except for voting rights and the ability to run for the club’s board. They pay half of normal membership dues, just $18.
The Chicago club made the decision to offer associate membership after about 10 Milwaukee motorcyclists expressed interest in forming a Milwaukee club, but only one ended up joining in on planned rides.
The hope is associate members will be introduced to the concept of a Jewish motorcycle club and then eventually form their own club in Milwaukee, said Fred Brostoff, president of the Chicago Chaiway Riders.
The Chaiway Riders also started a Meetup site for interested Milwaukee bikers, who they call the “Milwaukee Machers.” The site currently gives information about ongoing Chicago rides.
Membership Chair Adam Bezark said COVID-19 has deterred riders from joining. Once the pandemic has passed, he expects a Milwaukee club to form.
Brostoff said he partially attributes the slow start to the many existing motorcycle clubs in Milwaukee, the home of Harley-Davidson. He said people may be reluctant to join “yet another club.”
At the same time, Brostoff said being a member of multiple clubs is manageable; he’s a member of four motorcycle clubs himself.
Forming a Milwaukee club, as opposed to maintaining the associate membership model, would make rides more convenient for Wisconsinites. Before the pandemic, the Chaiway Riders met at a local restaurant for breakfast every Sunday at 8 a.m.
“To try to attract members from Milwaukee would force them to have to ride an hour just to get to breakfast, and then go off on a ride and have to get back home at the end of the day,” Brostoff said. “It might be expecting a little too much on a regular basis.”
Bezark said only six to 12 people are needed to officially form a Milwaukee club.
“I’m optimistic,” Bezark said. “It should be doable.”
Those interested in becoming associate members should contact Adam Bezark at 847-636-1070 or Bezeeebear@Gmail.com.
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