Organized Chaos, formed in 2012 by a small group of female motorcycle riders, is driven by a two-fold goal—creating a community of motorcyclists who ride together, combined with a desire to make a positive impact in the local community.
"We aren't looking to upstage or replace other motorcycle groups in the area. Instead, we hope to complement existing groups and work together to create a positive culture that combines our love for riding with our desire to serve," said Lauren Warnecke. "We have no ulterior motives—we just want to ride and do good in our community. [Since] we are so diverse [of a group], we are able to reach a wide variety of philanthropic endeavors and use our strong presence in the community to assist other organizations in reaching their fundraising goals."
Organized Chaos, with about 50 members, definitely rides under the LGBT rainbow. Riders range in age from 21 to 55; some have kids; some even have grandchildren. About 85 percent of its members identify as LGBTQ, Warnecke said.
Off the road, the Organized Chaos riders are business owners, military, police officers, artists/performers, theater professionals, retail managers, education professionals, HR personnel, social workers, and more.
Organized Chaos is pending its 501( c )3 non-profit status.
"It is our desire to show the positive aspects of being affiliated with motorcyclists and riding: loyalty, friendship, brother/sisterhood, and stewardship," she said.
Organized Chaos organizes regular motorcycle rides—some open to the public, some exclusively for members. Rides vary in distance and location.
"We do city rides, mid-distance day rides to places such as Galena, Lake Geneva, or Starved Rock; and [also] overnight, weekend, and occasionally long-distance trips," Warnecke said. "We organize a couple of fundraising events each year, including a stocking-stuffer for Chicagoland homeless for the Night Ministry. We also collaborate with organizations such as St. Baldrick's, Backlot Bash, and HRC to provide support for their events."
The annual Ride For AIDS Chicago—a 200-mile, two-day bicycle ride that will be held in July—also is a key part of Organized Chaos' annual calendar, especially for Warnecke, who will cycle the Ride, while her partner, Julie Ballard, was a member of the Ride's crew last year.
About 10 Organized Chaos members will be part of the crew for this year's Ride, which Warnecke said "helps direct traffic and assist the riders in numerous ways. The motorcyclists can easily go back and forth between pits, groups of riders, and/or crew cars to keep communication and safety a top priority on the ride."
Warnecke, 33, who lives in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, was a Ride For AIDS Chicago rookie in 2013, and is back for another 200-mile grind this summer. She is a full-time clinical instructor in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She also is a freelance dance writer, writing previews and reviews for seechicagodance.com, and her own blog ( artintercepts.org ). And she is a dance writer for the Windy City Times.
"The Ride is two of the best and worst days of your life," she said. "Riders travel 200 miles by bicycle in two days. Aside from the money that is raised and advocacy provided through a high visibility event, the metaphor of completing a perceivably unachievable ride to [help in] the battle that individuals with HIV-AIDS fight every day has a profound effect on each rider. The ride is a life-changing event, and one that bonds you to each rider who you come in contact with. Toward the end of day one, we curse the ride and question why we ever agreed to do it. By the end of day two, we can't wait to get home to sign up for next year."
Ballard will be traveling for work during the 2014 Ride, so she will not participate. But Warnecke won't forget seeing her last year during the event.
"Each time one of the motorcyclists came across me they'd say hello and give a little engine rev for me," she said. "These tiny things are [very] motivating to the cyclists on the route, who sometimes will go 10 or 20 miles alone. It gives us a boost of energy to get to the next pit stop, or power up the hill. Though Julie won't be there this year, I wear an obnoxious flowered helmet on the ride, so any time an OC rider comes by me I'm sure they will say hello."
Warnecke likens the Ride For AIDS Chicago to Organized Chaos for its community-building aspect.
"The Ride For AIDS Chicago is a worthy and important cause that raises money for the Test Positive Aware Network ( TPAN ), an organization that provides vital services for individuals living with HIV or AIDS," Warnecke said. "We see examples of TPAN's success in the many riders, crew members, and organizers who are recipients of TPAN services. To see them thriving makes every ache and pain, every hill, and every drop of sweat totally worth it."
Organized Chaos is holding a fundraiser for the Ride For AIDS Chicago on June 8, starting at Parlour on Clark, a bar managed by one of its members. Registration will happen on site from 8-9:45 a.m. for motorcyclists and their passengers.
They will start riding at 10 a.m., bound for Argus Brewery.
"Argus has graciously agreed to host an after-party, where the beer will be free-flowing, and we will have a 50/50 raffle and social gathering. Folks who don't ride or cannot make it in the morning can join us for the after-party by meeting us at Argus at around 2 p.m.," she said.
Warnecke said 100 percent of the proceeds from this fundraiser will go to TPAN.
"Our fundraising is divided equally among the four members who are riding bicycles, to assist with them meeting their fundraising obligations of $1,000 each. Last year we raised $4,000 in a casual bar event and raffle, and this year we hope to match or exceed that [total]," she said. "This is also considered an 'open ride' for OC, meaning, it's an opportunity for us to meet and engage with riders from outside our membership."
The event is $15 for the ride and all-you-can-drink at Argus.
In June, Organized Chaos will ride in the annual Gay Pride Parade for the second time. Plus, the group will provide security and support for events such as Backlot Bash, HRC-HER, and Midsommerfest. Organized Chaos president, Kathy Guzman, is the senior editor at The L Stop, and has been a speaker at many LGBT-related events.
"Long term, we want [Organized Chaos] to keep doing what we're doing—working hard to create a structure that can support growth. Our board members, committee members, and staff are working purely as volunteers, as we grow we are expanding the vision of our organization so that we may continue to be effective in achieving our mission," said Warnecke, who is an associate member of OC and does not ride—she is just a passenger.
"There are about seven of us who are considered associate members—one rides, two are currently learning how to ride, and four of us are just supporters who love being part of a great organization. Most of the associate members have partners who ride."
The group is represented through Harley, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Victory, Suzuki and more, in sportbikes, cruisers, and touring bikes.
"Before the club officially formed, a group of 14 women arranged a cross-country ride to Sturgis, South Dakota for a famous motorcycle rally held there [every summer]," Warnecke said. "I feel very fortunate to have experienced the trip as a passenger. We had the time to visit a number of attractions, including Iron Mountain Road. It's considered one of the most challenging motorcycle rides in the country, and some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen. Everywhere we went, people were so excited to see a group of women riders. Another great experience was riding in the Gay Pride Parade last year. It was a kind of a big reveal for our group, showing thousands of people that there's a new group in town."
