Motor Maid club honored
By: Nicole Carlson, Staff Writer
June, 12 2007
In today's world, it is not unusual to see a woman riding solo on a motorcycle. Women make up a large portion of the riders on the road. Although the presence of women motorcycle enthusiasts may be more noticeable more recent years, the concept of women riders is not a new one, especially to the Motor Maids.
Motor Maids, Inc. is the oldest motorcycling organization for women in North America. The club is also one of seven to be inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame during the 2005 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
The club got their start more than 65 years ago when motorcycle rider Linda Dugeau of Providence, R.I., began contacting different groups seeking out other women riders. According to the group's Web site, Dugeau's thinking was that there might be other women who owned their own motorcycles who may want to get together.
From her research, Dugeau compiled a list from which the Motor Maid organization was founded with 51 Charter members in 1940. One year later, the American Motorcycle Association Charter #509 was issued to the club.
The first president, Dot Robinson of Detroit, Mich., held the position for 25 years. She is considered a co-founder of the club, with Dugeau. The pair founded the Motor Maid club on the premise of uniting women motorcyclists in promoting motorcycle interest. Robinson resigned in 1965.
Today, the Motor Maids include women from the United States, as well as Canada and a few other countries. The current president is Brenda Thatcher, who was recently re-elected during the national convention.
Motor Maid Kathleen Anderson of Minnesota served as the fourth president of the club from 1978-1987. She also served as secretary and vice president. Overall, Anderson said she has held some type of officer position for about 40 years.
Anderson is currently the oldest past president in the organization and is one of three women currently serving as Executive Counselor. Anderson has been a Motor Maid for 50 years and was recently honored at the club's national convention in Maryland for her lengthy dedication to the group.
Anderson lives in Inner Grove Heights, Minn. She has traveled to the Sturgis for more than 40 Sturgis Motorcycle Rallies. In the past, she traveled with her family, including her grandchildren. Although her husband passed away, Anderson still rides with her daughter, Pat Crosby. Crosby has been a member of Motor Maids for more than 40 years.
In addition, Anderson has ridden her motorcycle in every state in the union except Maine. She has even traveled to Canada on a number of occasions. Currently, the 81-year-old rides a 2002 Harley-Davidson Dyna Glide. She said she usually rides a Harley-Davidson.
Anderson and her husband were friends with Pappy Hoel, the man credited with starting the rally 65 years ago. She said Hoel would send her and her husband a box of pamphlets promoting the rally so they could pass them out at events they attended. "That was when there were about 500 of us who went (to Sturgis)," she said.
She said her family attended hill climbs and other motorcycle affiliated events every weekend and distributed the pamphlets. "We would say, ‘Come to Sturgis, come to Sturgis,'" she said. "When it got so big I used to ask myself ‘What have I done?'"
Anderson got her start on a motorcycle riding in her husband's sidecar. She continued to ride beside him with her oldest daughter. However, when she had her second daughter, she said it got too crowded in the sidecar and she began riding her own motorcycle.
One event that Anderson said she never misses is the Motor Maid's National Convention. The convention is held each year in July. She said the event takes place all over the country, from California to Florida to New York. "Wherever it is, we just plan on going there," she said.
Motor Maids can only attend the convention on a motorcycle. In addition to conducting formal business, the women also hold field meets and road runs during their meetings. Each year during the national convention, they hold a Dot Robinson Road Run.
Anderson said more than 220 women attended the national convention last month in Maryland. Of those who attended, 84 competed in the road run. She said there were many first-timers and older women who did not compete. In fact, Anderson said there were 52 members who attended the convention for the first time.
Anderson said that although she does not compete in the road run anymore, Jeanne Deak and Jan Barrett, both former presidents and in their 80s, still compete each year. Anderson does have one win under her belt. "I've placed many times, but I've only won it once," she said. "I was happy to win that."
Although the convention is for the members of the Motor Maid organization, Anderson said members invite and welcome husbands. She said this year there were about 80 guests who attended the convention. "They plan things for them too," she said. "Sometime they end up having more fun than we do."
In 1944, the Motor Maids held its first formal convention. That same year, New Jersey was the site of the first regional meeting. Club members, at that meeting, selected royal blue and silver gray as the official colors of the Motor Maids. Uniforms also got their start at this meeting. According to the Web site, initially the uniforms were "tailor-made of silver-gray gabardine with royal blue piping." Currently, members wear gray slacks, royal blue over-blouse with white boots a tie and white gloves.
The initial constitutional article established the requirements for membership into the Motor Maids. The document requires that all members are women who legally own and operate their own motorcycle or one belonging to a family member.
Although the Motor Maids have been around for a long time, the club is still attracting young new members.
The oldest member of Motor Maids, an 87-year-old woman, attended this year's national convention in a sidecar. Anderson said another woman, age 85, also attended.
"There's a few of us who are still going," she said. "We don't want to miss it (national convention); it's like a family reunion."
Motor Maids who have attended two conventions and have ten consecutive active years of members may apply for Life Membership. After 25 years of service, a Motor Maid can become a Silver Life Member. A Golden Life Membership is awarded to members who attend at least 10 conventions in 50 years.
In addition to the national convention, smaller district meetings and get-togethers take place throughout the year. District directors, who are appointed by the president, are responsible for keeping their area membership active and informed. They must also host at least one get-together every year.
Anderson said the women like to take visitors to different places and show-off their towns. "We enjoy getting together," she said. "It keeps us active and we get to meet each other."
Being a member of the Motor Maids for such a long time has given Anderson the chance to see the group change over the years. She said she has noticed the rules getting a little less strict.
"We used to have a very strict dress code," she said. "We still can't ride in short or anything, but that's strictly for protection in case of accidents."
Anderson added that the structure and details of the organization have become more technical. She said all of the extra burdens made it more work for the president and other officers. "We have to get insurance and things like that and we never had to do that when I was president," she said.
This year, she and her daughter will travel with other Motor Maids to Sturgis for the rally. She said over 50 members will be making the trip. "The girls are so excited about going out there," she said. "They really like to come."
Anderson said that while her daughter would ride her motorcycle, she said she will most likely travel by car. She said she has been shortening her rides quite a bit in the last few years. "I'm going to be 82 this year and I think it's time to start taking very short rides," she said. "I don't feel that I'm able to take the heat and ride in the rain anymore. But I still do enjoy riding."
Anderson said most of the members would arrive on Aug. 8. They will have a parade that evening in Sturgis and another in Rapid City the next day. They will also attend the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame breakfast Wednesday morning.