The Damascus Wheelers originated as a group that rode black 350 Honda Night Hawks in all the Shrine Parades. The Nobles that owned the motorcycles bought them and the uniforms at their own expense and used them exclusively to be a part of this Unit. It is unknown when the Unit started or much information about it as formal records were not kept.
The Unit we have today uses the original name and the same Logo as the original Wheelers but that is about the only similarity. The current format of the Damascus Wheelers reformed in 1997 by authority and permission of the then Potentate Erwin M. Newell. The founder held the Presidency for a number of years until the Unit had enough members to fill the officers stations.
The group today is alive and well and in fact one of the more active of the Clubs and Units in Damascus. The Wheelers meet the fourth Tuesday of every month with the exception of December. In December they typically support other Shrine Clubs that hold Holiday Parties and attend theirs. The qualification for membership is that you are a Noble of the Shrine and that your dues with the Shrine are current. Any Shrine Mason belonging to any Temple can join and we do have members from at least 3 other Temples that are Wheelers. The other qualification is that you either have to own a motorcycle or wish you did. If you own a motorcycle you are not required to own a type or size. ALL motorcycles are tolerated. The annual dues are $5.00 and this typically includes free admission to an annual picnic.
The meetings are always casual and little business is discussed. Events and other business are delineated via a monthly publication entitled the Wheelers Gazette. The Wheelers have never had a meeting that their spouses were not encouraged to attend. The dress code is biker casual and Fezzes are not worn or required to be worn. The Wheelers typically meet in a different restaurant each month and the majority of the communication is done via a Google email list. At this writing there are 106 email addresses on the list.
The Wheelers have many fun activities including their infamous HOGG DEGREE, their annual Poker Run to raise money for the Shriners Hospitals for Children, their annual picnic, Halloween Events and a Euchre Tournament to name a few plus many rides and purely social events. The whole purpose and goal of the Wheelers is to be the best social unit they can be and they do a good job at it
If you would like any information about the Wheelers you can contact the 2011 President: Matt Sansone at Matthew.Sansone@labor.ny.gov