CityView Magazine

58 | July/August 2017 willingness to pitch in and represent the club in honorable ways. "It's more about your heart than your beard," Johnny Awesome claims. Taking Shape Even though some beard clubs have been around for generations, Cape Beard is setting the bar for redefining what and who beard clubs are today. Challenge coins and their ensuing coin challenges are popular in the military, and Cape Beard has developed a challenge coin of their own, the likes of which are becoming popular practices emerging in beard clubs across the United States. Each coin is stamped with a unique numeric identifier and is presented to prospective members as a sign of initiation. A coin must be earned through means of support, participation, and enthusiasm for the club; it shows achievement. Apart from proving a proud identity, the coins are revealed at events—all members participate—and the man who displays his coin last is required to pay a penalty. e club has issued 22 honorary coins to those who aren't necessarily members, but have more than proved their loyalty. Honorary coins can be for venues, business owners, musicians, photographers, and the supporting Beardsmen of other clubs. A Full Beard is club is made of all walks of life. Young, old, men with nicknames like Master Splinter and Dr. Whiskey Wolf, and veterans seeking follicle freedom, these men are blue collar, grit-filled originals. e camaraderie between the beards is heartfelt and frank. ese men typically refer to each other as "brothers" and they are all about the hug. "It's about brotherhood. It's about the family we Even though some beard clubs have been around for generations, Cape Beard is setting the bar for redefining what and who beard clubs are today.

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