A little more history—

Our emblem first appeared in late 1983. Back then four men (all recovering addicts or alcoholics living in San Jose, California) had the vision for a new clean & sober motorcycle club. After some consultation with the pre-eminent club in their area, the “Messengers South Bay M/C” was created. Their patch may or may not have been conceived as a 3-piece, but it was born as the 1-piece patch we have today.

In 1985 those four (and the others who had joined them) patched over to another, much larger and well known, clean & sober motorcycle club. The Messengers South Bay patch was rolled up and put away.

As time passed, the four original Messengers went their separate sober ways. One of these men moved from the Bay area to the western slope of the Sierra Nevada.

More years passed. Then one day another local rider in recovery turned to this man and said, “There’s enough of us—we ought to have a club.” These two very quickly grew to more than a dozen who had the desire to form a clean & sober motorcycle club in the mountains. Once again, like 15-and-a-half years before, a club was born.

The Messengers had its second incarnation as the “Messengers Central Sierra M/C.” And, after a long absence, the wheel & book emblem came back out into the light of day.

What it signifies—
(The “quotes” in italics are from the book depicted on our emblem.)

The wheel on our patch is, of course, a motorcycle wheel.

Above the wheel is the club’s name, Messengers. That name is rooted in our purpose, and it reveals our function—to carry a message of hope & freedom and show that there is a way out of the living hell called addiction or alcoholism.

“Your job now is to be at the place where you may be of maximum helpfulness to others”

The outer part of the wheel is the fellowship; it’s what holds us together. We each have a place on that rim. It’s all of us, joined together “in brotherly and harmonious action.”

The spokes are the many paths to God, or a higher Power.

“In our personal stories you will find a wide variation in the way each teller approaches and conceives of a Power which is greater than himself.”

The hub, which can’t be seen behind the open book, is that Power by which we now live. It’s what really holds us together. And yet it cannot be adequately described. “. . . it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God.”

The book in front of the wheel is the “Big Book,” Alcoholics Anonymous, where the program of recovery was first described and outlined, and where “clear-cut directions are given showing how we recovered.”

It’s open because the words inside can’t do any good unless they are read and acted upon.

The triangle in front of the book is (obviously) taken from the logo of what a friend of mine in SoCal called “the mother Fellowship.” It reminds me to stay active in whichever 12-step Fellowship that I’ve been planted.

The letters opposite each side of the triangle stand for “the essentials of recovery.”

The “W” (for willingness) reminds me that all this remains just theory until I act upon it. Another old friend with many years in recovery liked to say, “The only magic around here is action.”

The “H” (for honesty) reminds me to be real with myself and with others, and to act with integrity. Very simply, say only what is true and do what I say I will do.

The “O” (for open mindedness) reminds me that I don’t know everything and I might learn from anyone. I would often do well to talk less and listen more.

Under the wheel is “ONE RIDE AT A TIME.” This reminds me that I have only a daily release from hell on earth. And that life is lived now, not yesterday or tomorrow.

Under that is “Central Sierra” the general area where we live, followed by “M/C” for motorcycle club. The Messengers is more than a just group of people who love to ride.

Like other M/C’s, our club requires a prospect period before full membership is granted. We exist for a purpose greater than only our own enjoyment.

“There is, however, a vast amount of fun about it all.”

“But just underneath there is a deadly earnestness.”

The bottom bar below our patch speaks for itself.

(Written by “just another member of the club” in 2010.)