Publications

Article Published by Jonna Travels - 2017

A Biker's Life

Battle Buddy: Strengthening the Bonds of Sisterhood

July 3, 2017

Today's blog post comes from guest contributor: Sisters Eternal WMC, National President, Blaze. If you are interested in contributing an article, contact me via email (sisterseternal.twinkletoes@gmail.com) for details.

As a WMC, our sisterhood often faces a common misconception of what club life and/or prospecting entails. Many independents will spend a surplus of time researching the Internet, reflecting on the history of what is considered “motorcycle gangs” and forming assumptions based on stereotypes from various articles. While every club is unique in its own way, I believe our sisterhood truly is like no other club. Our mission includes, but is not limited to, developing members by education, training, positive reinforcement, and maintaining a strong self-esteem. We are a very close-knit, cohesive, and family oriented club which is displayed by each member no matter their location.

 

When I was prospecting Sisters Eternal WMC, I had the blessing of doing so with “Scout,” a Corporal for the United States Marine Corps. In the military, a “battle buddy” is a partner assigned to a soldier. Each battle buddy is expected to assist their partner both in and out of combat. Similarly, prospecting for a motorcycle club with a battle buddy comes with advantages. Buddies tend to keep one another informed about key instructions and information, promote cooperative problem-solving, provide encouragement to one another as well as motivate increased confidence, decrease stress, and promote better leadership skills.

 

Throughout the prospecting period, battle buddies spend quite a bit of time with one another. You get to know each other and gain a much deeper bond than you would have expected. You share laughter and tears as you overcome the obstacles of life together. You become involved in many aspects of each other’s lives, such as spending time with one another’s family, taking care of one another when they are injured or ill, working on projects together, dancing like no one is watching, or taking a morning walk down the beach to find your buddy’s shark fin which was lost in the surf the night before.

Scout and I were enjoying a morning cup of coffee at the Lone Star Rally in Galveston, Texas, when we decided we wanted to do something to commemorate our bond. We rode up to one of the more entertaining tattoo parlors on the island where we had the pleasure of working with a California artist who was in town for the rally. We thought it would be appropriate to design one another’s tattoos, so that’s exactly what we did! We created shark tattoos for each other and each had the same sugar skull face to capture the unity among our Sisters. I designed Scout’s shark with flames coming up the tail to capture who I am, but even more importantly to capture the strength of our bond. No matter how hot the fire is that we walk through together, we will always rise above soaring higher and stronger than each time before. I know this is the same reason Scout chose the Marine Blood Stripe to run through the body of my shark: to commemorate the sacrifice and strength of our bond. Reflecting on my journey through the prospecting period, becoming a patch holder of Sisters Eternal WMC, as well as the bond that has continued to grow thereafter, I could not imagine my life without my battle buddy.

As with all my Sisters, I know that they will be there for me, even when I can’t be here for myself, to cheer me to my greatest heights and to console me when I have fallen. They stand up for me and lie down beside me. Sisterhood isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what. It’s nothing like anything you could have ever imagined and yet so much more.

 

“She is your Sister. She is your mirror shining back at you a world of possibilities. She is your witness who sees you at your best, your worst, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime. She is your midnight companion. She knows you are smiling even in the dark. She is your Sister. She is your heart.”

 

 

Sisters Eternal WMC, National President, Blaze

https://www.sisterseternalwmc.com

 

The founding members of Sisters Eternal WMC desired a higher level of club commitment, to be held to a higher standard of honor, as well as to garner a deeper respect from the motorcycle community. As a result, our passion for riding and our dedication to the support of our community, we are respected by Motorcycle and Riding Clubs across the nation.