Tampa Bay Defenders LE M/C Chapter
Attend the Central Florida Chapter's First Meeting

Saturday, January 19, 2008 the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Defenders Motorcycle club made the trip to Lakeland to celebrate the beginning of our newest Chapter. The Central Florida Chapter was formed by brothers and sisters who for the past two years have been members of the Tampa Chapter. Our family has grown so rapidly that they decided it was time to fulfill their dream of bringing a chapter to their home in Lakeland.

It was an awesome event. Defenders came from South Carolina, Georgia and every Florida Chapter to share the experience. While the Tampa Chapter members were riding through the fog and damp morning air many of us wondered how many would venture out into the miserable weather for the event. We were not disappointed. Soon after we arrived at the Lakeland Police Department a count of bikes revealed that 105 gleaming motorcycles filled the parking lot. Approximately 140 members and associates had made the trip.

We enjoyed a number of speeches from out National Leadership and Central Florida President, Snake. We shared the fellowship and camaraderie of our brotherhood and soon made a short and scenic ride through the beautiful city of Lakeland. Afterwards we all filled the Molly McHugh's pub for an afternoon of food, refreshments and renewed friendships.

A slide show of the event can be found here.

A video of the meeting and our invasion of downtown Lakeland is here.

Photographs by brothers Shamrock and Saint.