Since the International Board reinstated the Grand Tour at the 1998 convention it has grown every year. In 1999 we had 32 members complete a Tour. After a note in the Newsletter in the spring of 2001, participation started to grow again with 31 members finishing a Tour in that year. Grand Tour participation has grown each year till 2007 when 274 members completed a Tour. In the years from 1998 through 2008, 1370 members have earned a pin. Have you participated in the Grand Tour? Plan to run the Grand Tour this year, either by yourself, with a few Red Knight friends, or with your Red Knights Chapter, and help spread the word to other firefighters about what a great organization the Red Knights are.
What is Grand Tour?
When the club was young, the easiest way to tell others about it was by word of mouth. This meant that the members had to get out to visit other firefighters in their areas, and one of the best ways to do that was to visit Fire Stations. Someone came up with the idea of rewarding members who made a certain number of visits with a certificate and a pin. Proof of these visits was needed and so the idea of Grand Tour was born. After visiting Fire Stations beginning with the letters G R A N D T O U R members were given a pin. Over the years, other rides were added since some members were not able to find new stations to visit beginning with these letters. RED KNIGHT and FIRE HOUSE rides were added and for members from remote areas, a ride to visit twelve stations beginning with any letter of the alphabet.
At the 2009 Spring Executive Board Meeting in Syracuse, NY, it was decided to make some changes to the program. After numerous inquiries as to why we did not have a separate pin for each of the four rides available, it was decided that we would offer a three inch patch (of the same design as the pin) with a rocker for each of the rides. A database will be kept to track who has completed the rides and when a member has completed all four rides he will also be awarded a pin. When you have completed your visits simply fill out the application form and return it with your pictures to the G.T. chairperson and he/she will send you your certificate and patch and rocker (or just the rocker if you already have a patch). When a member has earned all four rockers, he will be issued a pin as well. If you are riding as a group, you need only send one application form with the names of the participants attached. Photo albums will be kept displaying pictures of everyone who has completed the Grand Tour and will be available at all future conventions. You may also send your application n and photos electronically and we will show your pictures as a slide show at future conventions.
Since the International Board reinstated the Grand Tour at the 1998 convention it has grown every year. In 1999 we had 32 members complete a Tour. After a note in the Newsletter in the spring of 2001, participation started to grow again with 31 members finishing a Tour in that year. Grand Tour participation has grown each year till 2007 when 274 members completed a Tour. In the years from 1998 through 2009, 1605 members have earned a pin. Have you participated in the Grand Tour? Plan to run the Grand Tour this year, either by yourself, with a few Red Knight friends, or with your Red Knights Chapter, and help spread the word to other firefighters about what a great organization the RKMC is.
How do I earn a Grand Tour Patch, Rocker and Pin?
In order to earn a Grand Tour Patch and rocker you must first get an application form from the G.T. chairperson or download it from this page, then during the course of one (1) riding season, or for those of you lucky enough to be able to ride all year, one (1) calendar year you must visit nine (9) fire Stations whose names begin with the letters GRAND TOUR, RED KNIGHT, FIRE HOUSE or twelve Fire Stations beginning with any letter of the alphabet (this is for members who live in some of the more remote areas and may not be able to come up with Stations beginning with the required letters). You must have a picture of you and your motorcycle taken at each Station, with the name sign visible. Co-riders may also earn a Patch and rocker and a rider and co-rider may have their picture taken together. Group photos are OK as well if you are doing the Tour as a chapter.
After you have earned all four rockers you will also be awarded a pin.
At the Board Meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, at a suggestion by a couple of members of NY Chapter 33, a fifth ride was added. The ALPHABET ride will require you to visit fire stations beginning with every letter of the alphabet. There is no time limit on this ride so if you wish you may take more than one riding season to earn this rocker and you will not need to earn it before you are awarded a pin.
The question has also been asked if the same fire station can be used for different rides. Three of the rides have an ‘R’ in them, two have an ‘O’, two have a ‘G’ and so on. The original objective of the program was to visit as many stations as possible but we realize that with this many different rides, letters sometimes become scarce so we will allow you to use a station over in a different ride, but please visit the station on different days for the different rides.
