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Rogue Nation Logo
 With tongue firmly planted in its cheeks, Rogue Ales has posted on-line its intent to form a 21st-century, voluntary micro-association of people who share values and desire a chance to inhabit an independent Country that embraces change. Located to the left of Boredom and to the right of Irresponsibility, the Rogue Nation is a centerpiece to the celebration of American Beer Month.

There have been many Rogues throughout history — Rogues who have said, "Maybe everyone is wrong?" — Rogues such as Henry Ford in regard to the auto industry, Albert Einstein looking at time and space, Columbus facing the horizon, Galileo whilst looking at the stars. In October, 1988, Rogue Ales faced the brewing industry and said, "What if people want beer with taste?"


Infrastructure

During the last century the infrastructure for our Nation’s formation were patiently put in place:

10/12/88 Microbrewery and Meeting Hall established in Ashland, Oregon.
05/10/89 Microbrewery and Meeting Hall established on the historic bayfront in Newport, Oregon.
10/15/91 Rogue Charities, a micro-foundation, established.
**/**/92 International Association of Rogues (IAR) established, an eleemosynary institution dedicated to [finding old file], now consisting of over 1,500 members.
05/05/93 First Rogue micro-ambassadorship sold to Phred Kaufman for Japan.
07/17/93 Rogue Nation went to the dogs, electing a Labrador micro-pup named Brewer as President.
02/14/94 Rogue’s Micro-Museum opened in Newport, Oregon.
04/15/95 Meeting Hall established on the south side of Yaquina Bay in Newport, Oregon.
08/08/95 Rogue’s micro-newspaper and Official Organ of the Rogue Nation, 100% Pure Rogue, published its first edition.
11/04/96 Micro-Wildlife Preserve established in honor of Brewer Maier’s birth, inhabited by Livingston Iguana.
05/01/97 First degrees granted by the Micro-University of Rogue.
10/9-12/98 Six thousand Rogues hold a micro-celebration honoring the Nation’s 10th anniversary.
11/01/98 Rogue’s Micro-Casino established in Newport, Oregon, with 4 blackjack tables and 5 video-poker machines.
02/01/99 Rogue’s Micro-Hotel established in Newport, Oregon, with 3 micro-units.
12/31/99 Rogue’s Micro-Conference and Meeting Center established in Newport, Oregon.
01/01/1996 Rogue’s on-line micro-newsletter established, now with 7,000 voluntary subscribers.

During this century we have:
3/23/00 Established an additional Microbrewery and Meeting Hall in the Seattle, WA area.
4/1/00 Doubled the size of the Micro-Conference and Meeting Center in Newport, OR.


The Rogue Nation’s Declaration of Independence

The logical next micro-step for Rogue’s worldwide Revolution.

We, the undersigned Rogues, with tongues firmly planted in our cheeks and with the inherent power derived from within, declare the intent to form a Micro-Nation — the Rogue Nation — a global alliance without borders, its citizenry possessing an unswerving, responsible allegiance to the Rogue within, unfettered by: limitations imposed by others, commonly-accepted bullshit, or rules totally lacking in reason.

We seek to be a 21st-century voluntary association of people who share values and desire a chance to be part of a nation embracing change.

We have for too long existed as disparate entities. Now is the time to join together and open citizenship to all Rogues.


We Declare That

I. There have been many Rogues throughout history, Rogues who have said, "Maybe everyone is wrong?" — Rogues such as Henry Ford in regard to the auto industry, Albert Einstein looking at time and space, Columbus facing the horizon, Galileo whilst looking at the stars — Rogue Ales facing the brewing industry and saying, "What if people want beer with taste?"

II. Specific contemporary events require the formation of a Rogue Nation as the next logical micro-step for our worldwide Revolution.
  • Dawning of the 21st century.
  • $2.00/gallon gas.
  • Government breaking up Micro-Soft.
  • AOL buying CNN-Time Warner.
  • Life magazine ceasing publication.
  • Stock market crash.
  • WTO demonstrations.
  • Presidential election politics.
  • Big 3 beer monopolists flexing their power.
  • Indians getting special fishing and gaming rights.
  • American Beer Month in July.
  • WHY NOT?

Over time Rogue has developed the principles of our Revolution. We started with six statements we called our "Fundamental Agreement."
  • The way ahead is clear.
  • Be honest about the battlefield.
  • Throw out the old rules that don’t make sense.
  • Get out of the comfort zone.
  • Go to the front of the fight and stay there.
  • And most important, cut out all the bullshit.

As Rogue evolved, we developed behavior principles based on the fundamental agreement. The five rules dubbed "The Rogue Way" are:
  1. Listening generously.
  2. Speaking straight.
  3. Being there for each other.
  4. Honoring commitments.
  5. Acknowledgment/appreciation.

These behavioral principles sparked the need to define further acceptable behaviors. Some of which are:
  • Rogues take risks.
  • Rogues are willing to shun titles and personal financial success in the pursuit of the greater good.
  • Rogues pursue the long shot.
  • Rogues have respect for diversity.
  • Rogues are never satisfied to rest on past laurels.
  • Rogues work hard.
  • Rogues are driven to succeed in their chosen field.
  • Rogues ignore the accepted patterns and blaze their own trails.
  • Rogues have raw talent and focus on that talent.
  • Rogues are hones with themselves and others.
  • Rogues are rebels.
  • Rogues have one foot in reality to let them get the job done, but they are, nonetheless, led by their dreams.

And two years ago, on our 10th anniversary…
  • We are a small revolution, which expresses itself through handcrafted beers and this is the way we conduct our business.
  • The spirit of the Rogue brand, even the name, suggests doing things differently, a desire and a willingness to change the status quo.
  • A Rogue beer is crafted to give it unique character, innovative in its makeup and brewing, a beer that has not compromised quality. If a beer cannot be all of these things it should not be made at all.
  • We do what we do to become a meaningful industry leader through the products we create and by building an organization that is successful without being big, bureaucratic, or common.
  • To be a leader doesn’t mean you have to be the biggest. The best leaders lead by example and by doing things the right way, even if it means going against the grain.
  • Rogue will stand up to the big guy trying to bully his way into whatever business or territory he wants.
  • Rogue will be David, only this David doesn’t really care if the stone hits the giant or not. Just the idea of throwing the stone is exciting.
  • We make products for the beer connoisseur, the entrepreneur, and the revolutionist.


Rogue Ales • 2320 OSU Drive • Newport, OR 97365 • Phone: 541.867.3660 • Fax: 541.867.3260