Member Name: Ryan B
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Beard Type (style): Year round: Petit Goatee. Bearduary Goal: Van Dyke
Member since: 2007

Do you feel like you are treated different with a beard (by:girlfriend, the public, your pets etc)?
I've had the goatee for a few years now (my wife has never seen my chin!), so I don't really notice a difference. Now that I'm going for the full beard, I do get some looks wondering I'm going for more, or am just lazy.

Who are your beard heroes?
Pretty much everyone who competes in the World Beard Championships. Their level of commitment is just awe inspiring. Sam Elliot has a pretty sweet stache too.

If you had to be in one of the cars in "Cannonball Run" the movie, which would it be and why?
The Subaru. Two words: Rocket Engine.

Any words of wisdom for your fellow members?
Just to stay strong - It'll grow in full and luxurious before ya know it!

Member Name: Vin
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Beard Type (style): Slick Chinstrap
Member since: 2005

Do you feel like you are treated different with a beard (by:girlfriend, the public, your pets etc)?
I'm a stranger, in a strange land without.

Who are your beard heroes?
Doug Martsch. Can't you hear the teen angst behind that beard?

In a fist fight who wins, Glenn Danzig or a Manatee?
Well a Manatee has whiskers as opposed to Danzig, so my guess, Danzig would trap the manatee in his underground basement dungeon, starving them slowly so the skin would be loose enough to make a bodysuit.

Any words of wisdom for your fellow members?
Keep on truckin yow!

Member Name: Ben Nabors
Location: New York City
Beard Type (style): Pre-Conquistador (red tint and clean around the collar)
Member since: 2006

Do you feel like you are treated different with a beard (by:girlfriend, the public, your pets etc)?
Yes. I sometimes suffer with my beard. My girlfriend hates the initial stages, complaining of scratches and rashes. I tell her that this is what love is, but she still wants me to shave. Employers complain about the beard sometimes. Once I was told that my beard made me look dirty. That's probably because my coverage was sparse, which made me look a little dirty. Family members give me doubting looks. But once it's in, the beard is really in, and doors slide open like a sci-fi film set.

Who are your beard heroes?
ZZ Top, R. Kelley, Kenny Loggins, Bob Ross, Michael McDonald, Father Yod of the Source Family, Kenny Rogers, and Michael Keaton in Mr. Mom. I'm noticing that most of my beard influences are musicians. I guess great things are happening with beards in song.

In a fist fight who wins, Glenn Danzig or a Manatee?
I actually saw this fight a few years ago. Sean Connery won.

Any words of wisdom for your fellow members?
A beard can be a bridge between you and your future with a mustache. If the time comes to shave, why not leave the beard lid on for a few days and see how it works out? John Oates was never so right.

Member Name: Jonah Kagan
Location: Los Angeles by the sea
Beard Type (style): whatever grows (apparently a chin curtain with a cholo-stache if i'm not careful)
Member since: 2008

Do you feel like you are treated different with a beard (by:girlfriend, the public, your pets etc)?
Of course. Considering not many high schoolers have the dedication, desire, or the ability to grow facial hair, my beard tends to draw more attention than the average adult's. So far, everybody's been really supportive. Most people just like to say, "Hey look it's turning orange!" (I think the sun is bleaching it). The only other notable reaction was being offered a prostitute in Honduras. And pets? The family of chimpanzees that live in my backyard keep trying to pick fleas out of it, but other than that nothing...

Who are your beard heroes?
Yu Zhenhuan (world's hairiest man), Wolverine, Merlin

Being only 16, what do you attribute your impressive growth to?(your parents lying to you about your age, excess hormones in the milk and meat supply, the fact that you are a recent cuban baseball defector, etc).
I'm lazy. I have Jew genes. I have to have a beard in order to become a Kung Fu master. On a science field trip in eighth grade I was bitten by a radioactive tarantula and instead of developing spider powers I grew hair all over my body, which I then trimmed down to a modest beard. (I was also able to shoot web out of my...um...yeah...but everybody seems to attribute that to puberty)

Any words of wisdom for your fellow members?
They should be giving their wisdom to me. I'd say I'm a bit inexperienced in this field. That being said, I do get asked a lot "Why do you have a beard?" Here are some answers that work for me:

It's Bearduary!
Why don't you? (especially good for girls)
Because your mom likes it.
Beard?! What beard?! (pause, then reach up and touch face) Oh, I guess I forgot to shave this morning...
And my last words of wisdom: Don't take your mustache growing abilities for granted. Not everybody is blessed with full coverage.

Name: Phil Olsen (founder and self-appointed captain, Beard Team USA)
Location: Lake Tahoe, California
Beard Type (style): Garibaldi
Had a beard since: 1998

Do you feel like you are treated different with a beard (by:girlfriend, the public, your pets etc)?
Yes, but always in a positive way. People seek me out of crowds and compliment me on my beard. Also, sometimes to my embarrassment, people I meet casually will remember me long after I have forgotten them. It's the beard they remember, not me.

Who are your beard heroes?
The geniuses who invented the World Beard and Moustache Championships for making beard wearing competitive, social, and respectable.

Being the captain of BTUSA, what secret weapon would you love to posses in order for the team to reign victorious in every category, forever.
Human Beard Growth Hormone. So far it has not been discovered, but if we do discover it, we will keep it secret and use if only for ourselves. Until then, beer will have to substitute as our substance of choice.

Any words of wisdom for our members?
By all means make Bearduary permanent. The mere fact that it is March is no reason whatsoever to shave. Beard Team USA needs you at the next World Beard and Moustache Championships in Anchorage, Alaska, May 23, 2009.

Member Name: Ian MacManus
Location: Currently living in Manhassset NY (long island)
Beard Type (style): Traditional New England Lumberjack
Member since: 2007 (2 years strong!)

Do you feel like you are treated different with a beard (by:girlfriend, the public, your pets etc)?
I absolutely am treated differently due to having a beard. Some say I look younger, some older and some simply ask me to "stay the hell away from them" (Especially my wife). But all in all, I have been given alot of praise and respect for the beard I have grown by women and men alike.

Who are your beard heroes?
My Beard heros are as follows: Jesus, Kevin Youkilis, and the New England Patriots offensive line!

Is there a form of therapy that has been found to help men improve their growing ability?
I find that the best therapeutic approach to growing the fullest of beards is to have some of the biological attention normally given to the top of ones head and refocusing that will and desire to the face and jaw-line. Some sacrafices have to be made, so what better way than to take from the top and spread the wealth to other needed areas.

Any words of wisdom for your fellow members?
"Every forest began with a single sappling, so always be true to your beard and your beard will be true to you. Stay the course!"

Member Name: Louis Caldarola
Location: Brooklyn
Beard Type (style): Hollywoodian
Member since: birth and all 3 Bearduarian years

Do you feel like you are treated different with a beard (by:girlfriend, the public, your pets etc)?
That's definitely an interesting one to answer because having had a beard for most of adult life I get quite the opposite reaction. I usually have people treat me differently when I don't have a beard. My dog was never bothered by my beard only troubled when I would wear masks and dance around the house. Girlfriends never seemed to mind the beard and really,(no offense) I don't think I would have shaved it off if they didn't like it. The only negative reaction I believe I've had due to my beard was from my nephew, who asked me to hide my beard when I was walking him to the bus stop one morning. Granted, it was a more unusual beard in the Hulihee style, however it sparked a wonderful morning conversation and life lesson about not worrying or being concerned with what others think and going with what makes one feel good. Other than that, I think people treat me the same whether I know them or not and they mostly treat me strange.

Who are your beard heroes?
I can't say that I have heroes but I do admire the beard. There are so many with good beards, however, these are a few that I have been recently admiring. Daniel Higgs - full bohemian beard, Alfred Jarry - the Anchor, Franklin Rosemont - full beard, and Albert Ayler - goatee with a wicked white streak down the side.

What powers of persuasion did you use to get out of shaving your entire beard on the today show?
Yes, I did get out of there with my beard. However, it was more revolt than persuasion. After realizing that we had been mislead, miscommunicated to, and manipulated by the TV media (and those horrible t-shirts) and obviously seeing that "they" clearly had no idea what Bearduary was about, I had to make a stand and not become their spectacle. I told the remaining Bearduary members that had not "gone under the knife" that I would not let them shave off my beard, and that I would make a stand for bearded men everywhere, even if I was on national television. When it was my turn in the chair, I clearly and maybe a bit abruptly, disregarded introductions and stated that I was not ready to separate with my beard. Of course, the kind gentleman (Victor) was taken aback by this and said calmly, "how about a trim then". I said I would agree to a trim of my beard and perhaps a new style and if time permitted a haircut. Victor confirmed our agreement with a sweaty handshake and we began. I did apologize to Victor. I proceeded to start over and introduce myself and explain that we (the bearded guys) had been mislead into this charade. He was shocked but understood my agitation and did a fantastic job on my beard, sculpting it into the Hollywoodian style that I will be sporting at the year end event. I was pleased to see that others followed suit afterwards and held strong to their beards. VIVA LA BEARD!

Any words of wisdom for your fellow members?
Wisdom doesn't come from words or people, it comes just minutes before death. Be good.