Black Sheep

BsHDfC e-Mag february 2018 | Page 3 by Marty Edwards Millennials (also known as Genera on Y) are the genera onal demographic immediately following Genera on X. There are no precise dates for when this group started or ended, but researchers generally use the early 80s as a star ng point and the mid 90s to the early 2000s as their ending birth years. Either way, they're here and they're not leaving! Baby boomers (born from the the early-to-mid 1940s and ending birth years ranging from 1960 to 1964) o en mock the millenials, deeming them to be lazy and en tled. We give them names such as Cupcake, the social [media] genera on, the Harry Po er genera on, the unemployables and genera on ADD. If they ARE lazy and en tled we have to ask, "How did they get this way?" Whose kids are these? Who gave them everything they wanted AND a trophy for every mediocre accomplishment? We did! The baby boomers did and our li le chickens have come home to roost. As Chris ans, we have no right to degrade or generalize any group of people; as in: "All bikers are alike! Leather clad, hairy beast who 'do nothing but drink beer and cause trouble.'" We should be the first to understand that in any people group, all are not the same. Sure, some millenials are pre y self-absorbed, and some bikers do li le more than drink beer and cause trouble. But how about we cut them the slack that we o en wish we had from civilians driving cages? To their credit, Millennials are known by sociologists and researchers as the most volunteering group of society today, known for their energy and readiness to serve a worthy cause. One author writes, "Millennials don't want to be managed, they like to be led, coached and mentored. This genera on is on fire and ready to go. Are you ready to change the world?" (Farshad Asl) Black Sheep is a worthy cause and we are always interested in new recruits. With a whole new genera on of riders beginning to be able to afford a Harley-Davidson, perhaps we should be less cri cal and more invi ng. Maybe we could become their mentors instead of their cri cs? "Millennials don't want to be managed, they like to be led, coached and mentored. This genera on is on fire and ready to go. Are you ready to change the world?" Most riders in this age demographic will lean towards buying a sport bike – but some will end up buying a Harley or an Indian or a bobber, and those are the ones for which we want to keep our eyes open. The Do's and Don'ts of Recruitment 1. We have a saying in Black Sheep: "Don't talk anyone into joining and don't talk anyone out of leaving." But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be proac ve about introducing ourselves and telling people who we are and what we do. 2. Respect is a favorite word among bikers. Let's respect those who are younger than us as we would want to be respected. Let's not tease someone who rides a bike smaller or older or less expensive than ours. (Street 500, Street 750, Sportsters, Indian Scouts, custom bobbers, etc.) I can't imagine why anyone would do that but I see it all the me. It's always in jest, but the insult s ngs just the same. This ministry isn't just about motorcycles. It's about mee ng people and sharing the Gospel. Everyone deserves courtesy and respect. 3. Be open and prepared for new ideas and new ways of doing things. Take a deep breath…it's a good thing. 4. Promote our Juventus (hoo-ven-toos) riders and stop mispronouncing their name in jest. Juventus is a La n word for youth (40'ish) and if this ministry is to exist another decade, it will be because of a new, enthusias c genera on of younger riders. The Millenials

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