Merrimack Valley Studio Productions

Iron Mike back on the podcast to talk about what's been going on at the Boondocks chapter in Florida this summer.

Sig & Maker returned to the table this morning to knock the rust off from our Summer Break.

We caught up on some of our more recent adventures and look forward to some new ones on the horizon.

Seasons are changing and we talked about that for a bit.

Sig talks about their Guitar Raffle and the upcoming fundraiser on the 12 th of September.

We look across a very full Fall Run Calendar and called out a few specific events coming up.

Looking forward to wrangling the whole table back onto the podcast and looking for some chapter call ins as well.

Knights On Topic

Season 8 Episode 4

Today we welcomed Brother Slider back to the podcast and Sig & Maker gathered on a Sunday morning to record this month's episode of "Knights On Topic".

Current topics and news – we discussed last weekends Masters Tournament, our collective inability to embrace golf, Harley Davidson's rebranding campaign launched this week called R-I-D-E, and briefly mentioned tomorrow's Boston Marathon & the forecast for temperatures in the high 20's.

Hard Pass – Sig throws out some great topics around visibility on the motorcycle. The group has some interesting thoughts on lighting, clothing, and riding positions.

Finally we wrap up nearly 50 minutes of conversation with some discussion about upcoming events including the Parent Chapter's Car & Bike Show and our DC Knights Coalition and Memorial Ride!

Well worth a listen.

Thanks to everyone that makes this podcast series possible Month after Month.

Join our MVP Team

Facebook Group: THE Merrimack Valley Studio Productions MVP's

Recommended Follow:

Lost Art of the Gentlemen Instagram

@lostartofthegentleman

Featured Cigar(s):

El Maestro by William Ventura

El Maestro - El Maestro means the master blender in Cuban culture, and this cigar is definitely worthy of the name! The El Maestro features Dominican filler, Sumatran binder, and a Mexican San Andreas or Habano wrapper. This is a fresh and mellow smoke that's still medium bodied, with flavors of espresso, cedar and ginger. (renegade cigars review)

ADVentura Cigars

https://www.adventuracigars.com

Featured Bourbon:

Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon

Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon is a unique, premium Kentucky straight bourbon aged at sea on ships, allowing constant ocean motion and temperature swings to accelerate maturation and impart a distinct, briny, caramel flavor.

https://jeffersonsbourbon.com/whiskeys/jeffersons-ocean-bourbon

Brothers TC, H-VAC, and Laffa join the podcast to talk about the Granite State - Boston Summer Party coming up in August. If you thought last year's soiree was epic, they promise that they're out make it even more impressive.

These three muskateers are lighting the region on fire, sometimes literally, as the plan Car Shows & Food Trucks at the local Legion Post and promise to make another great showing at the 2nd Annual NH VetFest.

We cover a lot of ground, figuratively and literally as New England gets ready to launch into another riding season!

Knights On Topic's monthly episode welcomes back Maker, Sig, Indy, & Scrubs to the table for another great conversations.

In The News & Current Topics

The crew revisits the Guthrie Investigation, the War with Iran, and gives recognition to our own NK Hurricane as he grabs the Headlines with his heoric response to a swimmer in distress while on vacation.

Hard Pass

Hard Pass is quickly becoming one of our favorite regular segments as the crew responds to a variety of topics deciding whether they take it or pass on the idea. You have to listen to hear what we discussed this month.

Events .. Past, Present, and Future.

Recapping some of the more recent events in the past month and looking forward across the NK Nation to what's coming up. With April on the door step, things are ready picking up!

Tune in and become a regular listener.

Be part of the conversation!

This week we welcome Brothers Knuckles and Jenga to the podcast to talk about the Big Dawg Chapter in Georgia.

The chapter has taken on an amazing challenge to build a Retreat and Meeting Property. They detail the program goals and the progress they're making on the 3 acre property with the construction of the "Dawg House". They are well on their way to making this location a great resource for local veterans.

With ambition and detemination, the Nam Knights Big Dawg chapters is making progress toward their goals.

Join the conversation and see how they are navigating this path.

American Legion Riders Post 03 Joins the Veterans Assembly Hall Podcast

The American Legion Riders Post 03 from Nashua, New Hampshire, joins us on the Veterans Assembly Hall podcast. Representing the Riders are Chief and Jeremy.

Jeremy introduces himself as a relatively new Legion Rider, currently serving in the Massachusetts National Guard, where he has dedicated the last 28 years of his life.

Chief, a familiar face on the podcast, shares insights from his previous appearances.

We begin by asking Chief about the significant community donations the Riders have made recently. He explains that these funds were raised during their Annual "Cabin Fever" Party held in January of this year. He likens the event to "drinking from a fire hose," emphasizing the challenge of keeping everything organized. Once the event concludes, the group gathers to decide how to allocate the funds to benefit the community.

Our conversation turns to the importance of connecting with and supporting local organizations. This year, the Riders chose to support two organizations: the Worker Bee Fund and the Nashua Center. Chief discusses the reasons behind their selection.

Jeremy elaborates on this topic, expressing how vital it is for the Riders to remain connected to the community. "I've known American Legion and VFWs; they're always involved in some way, but I didn't fully understand how it all works," he shares. "Now, by observing, I'm learning a lot. It's super important."

He notes that the Legion Riders serve as an extension of the post. "The post isn't going anywhere, but those of us in vests are the eyes and ears in the community. We are the recruiters and the brand, keeping the message of community support and veterans alive."

Chief emphasizes the need to attend each other's events, stating that even brief conversations can have a lasting impact throughout the year. When asked about the significance of building personal connections, he replies, "It's very powerful. I've always believed that it's not what you know, but who you know." He consistently makes an extra effort to attend events for this reason.

Jeremy highlights the upcoming Tough Ruck on April 19th. As a committee member, he discusses the enthusiastic response from participants and how the Legion and Riders can support veterans and first responders along the route. We take a deep dive into the route, the rucks, and the event's evolution.

Chief reminds us that the Nashua Legion Riders and those from Manchester By the Sea will be present at the Motorcycle Expo in Wilmington, MA, on March 7th and 8th.

In closing, Jeremy shares how he manages the Riders' social media platforms, emphasizing the importance of these tools for communicating with the broader community.

The Knights return to the table to continue the conversation.

Current Topics in News & Media

• The Guthrie Investigation
• Hammer's Wilderness Videos aka Teddy Talks

Hard Pass

• Sig provides a great topic for the group.
• "If you could purchase an second motorcycle, not a Harley, what would it be?"

Technically Speaking

• Facebook Event Pages
• NK Portal's Event Page

Community Engagement

• Crew talks about ways to engage with the community
• Our participation in the town's Wreaths Across America
• Shout out to the Dracut Funeral Home

Events

• Recapping the past month
• Looking ahead to this and next month
• Reviewing the calendars

• Call-in episode from the NK Boondocks Chapter (FL): two hosts from the Merrimack Valley Studios (Maker, Sig) join Iron Mike to discuss winter weather and motorcycle chapter fundraising/event practices, the Ribeye Roundup, sponsorship strategy, community partnerships, and Iron Mike's walking-stick hobby.

Main points

• Weather contrasts: Northeast hit by one of the worst winters in 10 years; Sig had only ~4" of snow and warm yard-work temps; Florida saw morning frost but quick warming and an ongoing severe drought affecting wells and farming.
• Iguana bounty/food note: Florida pays ~$20 per iguana; cold snaps produced mass kills that bounty hunters collected; Keys restaurants are using iguana meat (e.g., tacos) as a tourist novelty.
• Ribeye Roundup changes: Annual chapter fundraiser renamed/adjusted after 15% ribeye price rise — switched to beef filets (cheaper, better received). Event format: sit-down steak meals, first Saturday in Feb, usual turnout 100+ but down ~40 this year due to scheduling conflicts; still profitable.
• Elks Lodge partnership: Lodge buys/cooks/serves/cleans; chapter pays hall rental + insurance only — avoids upfront food risk and uses leftovers effectively.
• Sponsorship strategy: Systematic local-business rotation to avoid "gift fatigue"; prompt thank-you letters within 3 days and framed certificates for display to increase sponsor visibility and goodwill; public social-media thanks used.
• Inter-group relations: Build reciprocity by attending others' events first; give recognition awards to visiting groups to encourage repeat attendance; donated flagpoles to support partner events.
• Personal craft hobby: Iron Mike makes custom walking sticks for Vietnam vets in his chapter (personalized details like miniature hammers); hobby is non-commercial and craft-focused.

Key takeaways / Actions

• Effective fundraisers: control costs (menu flexibility), partner with venues that assume food risk, and schedule to minimize conflicts with other chapters.
• Sponsorship best practices: rotate targets yearly, send rapid written thanks, provide visible recognition (framed certificates), and publicize sponsors.
• Community-building: reciprocity and tangible recognition grow attendance and cross-club support.
• Small personalized gestures (custom awards/handcrafted items) have outsized impact on loyalty.

We're pulling up a chair at the Roundtable with these legends! Sig returns to join Indy, Scrubs, and Maker for the 1st podcast drop of the year.

We started by recognizing the 35th Anniversary of Desert Shield & Desert Storm. Its a great conversation as we talk about some of the significant milestones associated with the campaign and share some personal experiences and impressions.

We then add some comic value with a round of "Hard Pass or Must Have". From cupholders to fuzzy seat covers, no one is safe, nothing is off limits.

Talking about events from the past year and those that are quickly approaching in the next few weeks or months. Shout out to many of our favorite adventures.

Its a great start to a new year on the podcast at the Merrimack Valley Studio Productions.