Following is the Annual Charter for H.O.G. Chapters, the official document
that defines the relationships between the local chapter, the sponsoring
dealer, and Harley Owners Group®. The articles in the Charter are binding;
that is, you can count on the Charter as the "final word" for any question
you might have.
Remember: It is the responsibility of sponsoring dealers/retailers to
ensure that their chapter meets the requirements set by H.O.G. in the Charter.
The director and other officers are to uphold the Annual Charter for H.O.G.
Chapters in all chapter business and activities.
The Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) is an organization founded and sponsored
by Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The group was established to offer motorcycling
benefits and services to Harley-Davidson enthusiasts throughout the world,
and to develop a close relationship between the Harley-Davidson rider,
the Harley-Davidson dealer and Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
The opportunity to start an independent chapter affiliated with the
Harley Owners Group is offered to bring members together for the common
interest of promoting motorcycling activities. The goal of each chapter
is to generate an increased level of enthusiasm for riding Harley-Davidson
motorcycles. The chapter shall be a family-oriented and a nonpolitical
organization.
Article I – Purpose
The purpose of the local chapter shall be to promote responsible motorcycling
activities for Harley Owners Group members by conducting chapter activities
and encouraging participation in other H.O.G. events.
Chapter activities and operations shall be conducted in a manner consistent
with a family-oriented, nonpolitical philosophy.
Each chapter must be sponsored by an authorized Harley-Davidson dealership.
The decision to sponsor a chapter shall be undertaken solely at the dealer's
discretion.
An authorized Harley-Davidson dealership may sponsor only one H.O.G. chapter.
The sponsoring dealership shall have absolute authority to require that
the sponsored chapter conducts its operations and activities in accordance
with the sponsoring dealership's standards. The sponsoring dealership shall
require the chapter to operate and conduct activities in accordance with
this charter and H.O.G. operating policies.
The sponsoring dealership shall have authority over, and approval rights
regarding, the content of all chapter publications.
The sponsoring dealership shall have authority over any and all matters
pertaining to chapter membership.
The sponsoring dealership may establish chapter dues, which dues shall
be used solely to pay or defray the cost of chapter administration.
Back to top Article III – Application and Term of Relationship
Chapter affiliation with H.O.G. shall be for a one year term and shall
be subject to annual application and acceptance by H.O.G.
The Harley Owners Group, a division of Harley-Davidson Motor Company, is
the governing body for all H.O.G. chapters. Each chapter affiliated with
the Harley Owners Group shall be a separate and independent organization
providing services to its chapter members on a "not-for-profit" basis.
Each affiliated chapter must adhere to this Charter and to H.O.G. Operating
Policies.
Affiliated chapters shall be named after the respective city or locale
of the sponsoring dealership. H.O.G. shall have the right to approve chapter
names.
Should H.O.G. determine, in its sole discretion, that a chapter is not
adhering to this Charter, H.O.G. may rescind its recognition of the chapter
as a H.O.G. affiliated organization. Dealerships may likewise rescind sponsorship
of their chapter at any time, at which time the chapter's H.O.G. affiliation
shall also cease.
Affiliated chapters shall have the following primary officers: Director,
Assistant Director, Treasurer and Secretary. Other discretionary officers
may be appointed as needed.
The sponsoring dealer may assume any, or all, officer position(s) including
their respective responsibilities and may remove any officer from office
in the dealer's sole discretion. The sponsoring dealer may determine how
chapter officers are selected and the length of their terms in office.
The sponsoring dealer has the authority to require the chapter to perform
to the sponsoring dealer's standards and is to assure H.O.G. that the chapter
abides by this Charter and the Operating Policies.
The duties and responsibilities of the primary (required) chapter officers
shall be as follows:
Director: The Director shall uphold this Charter and the chapter
by-laws, conduct chapter meetings and coordinate chapter officer responsibilities.
Assistant Director: The Assistant Director shall assist the Director
in carrying out the Director's duties. The Assistant Director shall also
be responsible for promoting membership, membership orientation, membership
retention, and keeping the chapter members informed of H.O.G. programs.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection
and disbursement of chapter funds, reporting the financial transactions
to the membership on a monthly basis, submitting an annual financial report
to H.O.G., compliance with all revenue recording and reporting requirements.
Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for the administrative
needs of the chapter, keeping the minutes of chapter annual business meetings
and general meetings, oversees the position of membership officer if it
exists, ensuring that all chapter members are current H.O.G. members, having
on file a signed copy of the Annual Chapter Membership Enrollment Form
and Release of each member as signed on an annual basis, and submitting
to H.O.G. the H.O.G. Chapter Charter Application and any other reports
as required by H.O.G. Further, the Secretary shall ensure that all insurance
requirements are met (including participant signatures to required release
forms), shall ensure preparation of injury report forms, timely submission
of injury report forms to the appropriate insurance company and shall be
responsible for the maintenance and storage of release forms and injury
reports.
The duties and responsibilities of the discretionary (optional) chapter
officers shall be:
Activities Officer: The Activities Officer shall be responsible
for the administration of chapter events.
Ladies of Harley Officer: The LOH Officer shall be responsible for
encouraging women members to take an active part in chapter activities.
Road Captain: The Road Captain(s) shall be responsible for assisting
in the planning of routes for chapter rides and keeping the Chapter informed
of all H.O.G. programs.
Editor: The Editor shall be responsible for assembling and organizing
written, oral (broadcast) and electronic material for chapter publications,
e.g., newsletters, press releases. All chapter publications, whether written,
oral (broadcast) or electronic, shall be subject to approval by the sponsoring
dealer prior to publication.
Safety Officer: The Safety Officer shall be responsible for providing
chapter members with information relating to the availability of rider
training.
Photographer: The Photographer shall be responsible for obtaining
and organizing chapter photographs for use in chapter publications and
chapter history albums.
Historian: The Historian shall be responsible for the preparation
and maintenance of a written account of the history of the chapter, to
include officer positions, chapter activities and membership levels.
Membership Officer: The Membership Officer shall be responsible
for ensuring that all chapter members are current H.O.G. members, having
on file a signed copy of the Annual Chapter Membership Enrollment Form
& Release of each member as signed on an annual basis; maintains chapter
membership report, providing quarterly updates to the H.O.G. office or
maintaining on the Chapter Business site of members.hog.com.
Webmaster: The Webmaster shall be responsible for assembling and
organizing material for the Chapter Website and seeking approval from the
sponsoring dealer prior to publication.
All Harley Owners Group members may join any affiliated chapter. An expired
membership in H.O.G. automatically terminates local chapter membership.
It shall be the responsibility of each local chapter to ensure that chapter
members are current H.O.G. members and to maintain on file in the chapter
records a signed copy of the annual Chapter Membership Enrollment Form
and Release of each chapter member. It shall be the responsibility of any
person applying for, or renewing, membership in a local chapter to provide
proof of his or her National membership as a condition of eligibility for
membership.
The sponsoring dealer may suspend or terminate a person's membership in
the sponsored chapter if the sponsoring dealer, in the sponsoring dealer's
sole discretion, determines that a member's conduct is undesirable or contrary
to the sponsoring dealer's interests.
Chapters are to be not-for-profit organizations. The sponsoring dealer
may, in the sponsoring dealer's sole discretion, establish chapter dues
to be utilized solely to pay or defray the cost of chapter administration.
Chapters may conduct legitimate fund-raising activities to assist in paying
or defraying chapter operating expenses or to raise funds for charitable
purposes. All such fund-raising activity shall be subject to approval by
the sponsoring dealer.
Chapter events and activities are the sole responsibility of the local
chapter. These events and activities may include any family-oriented, safe
activities that promote a positive image of the sport of motorcycling and
that appeal to the chapter membership.
All material published by the chapter must include the official chapter
name and number. All chapter publications, whether written, oral (broadcast),
or electronic must be approved by the sponsoring dealer. If, at any time,
H.O.G. determines in its sole discretion that a chapter publication is
incompatible with the family-oriented, nonpolitical philosophies and/or
objectives of H.O.G., the chapter recognition as a H.O.G. affiliated organization
may be terminated. A copy of all chapter publications of any type must
be sent to the H.O.G. office.
The trademarks H.O.G.®, HOG®, HARLEY OWNERS GROUP®, L.O.H.®,
LADIES OF HARLEY® and the following H.O.G. logos (the "H.O.G. Trademarks")
are among the many trademarks of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. These H.O.G.
Trademarks may not be altered in any way and cannot be used in combination
with any other words or graphics.
The issuance or renewal of this Annual Charter for H.O.G. Chapters shall
constitute a limited license to use the H.O.G. Trademarks for the
term of this Annual Charter for H.O.G. Chapters.
The Chartered H.O.G. Chapter's license to use the H.O.G. Trademarks
is
limited to use in conjunction with the official chapter name and use in
conjunction with material relating to chapter activities.
The current H.O.G. eagle logo shall be displayed only with the official
chapter name, which official chapter name shall be displayed above the
H.O.G. eagle logo and within the official H.O.G. chapter chevron as depicted
below.
Chapters must obtain approval from H.O.G. prior to using H.O.G. Trademarks
on any material other than chapter publications. T-shirts, pins and all
other items are only to be produced by authorized licensees of Harley-Davidson
Motor Company and shall likewise be subject to prior approval by H.O.G.
Chapter use of the H.O.G. Trademarks may continue only so long as this
Annual Charter is in effect between H.O.G. and the chartered chapter and
the chapter operates in accordance with this Annual Charter and H.O.G.
Operating Policies. H.O.G. may, at its sole discretion, terminate the chapter's
limited license to use the H.O.G. Trademarks at any time upon thirty (30)
days' notice in writing, and the chapter will immediately terminate all
use of the marks when the notice becomes effective.
The chapter shall provide such assistance as may reasonably be requested
by Harley-Davidson Motor Company to protect the H.O.G. Trademarks in the
locality of the chapter's operations.
This Charter shall be adopted and serve as operating policy for H.O.G.
chapters and must be available to all chapter members.
Chapter by-laws, if needed, may not replace, supersede or conflict with
this Charter and H.O.G. Operating Policies. The sponsoring dealer and the
H.O.G. office must approve chapter by-laws prior to publication or implementation.
Once adopted, a copy of the chapter by-laws must be furnished to the sponsoring
dealer and H.O.G. office and must be available to all chapter members.
H.O.G. may amend this Charter at any time at its sole discretion based
upon H.O.G.'s review of chapter developments and needs or because of conflicts
with national, state, or local laws.
In the event of dissolution or final liquidation of the Chapter, all
of the remaining funds and property of the Chapter shall, after paying
or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities and obligations
of the Chapter and for necessary expenses thereof, be distributed to such
organization or organizations as are organized and operated exclusively
for charitable purposes and which qualify as an exempt organization or
organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In
no event shall any of such assets or property be distributed to any director,
officer or private individual.
While the chapter may be affiliated with H.O.G., it remains a separate,
independent entity responsible for its actions. All Harley Owners Group
members and their guest(s) participate voluntarily and at their own risk
in H.O.G. and H.O.G. chapter activities. The sponsoring dealer, H.O.G.
and Harley-Davidson Motor Company, its subsidiaries and distributors and
local chapter officers are and shall be released and held harmless by the
member/guest for any injury or loss to the member/guest or to his or her
property which may result from participation in H.O.G. and H.O.G. chapter
activities. This means that each and every member of the local chapter
and their guest(s) have no ground for legal action against the sponsoring
dealer, H.O.G., Harley-Davidson Motor Company, its distributors and its
subsidiaries, the local chapters and their respective agents and employees
for any injury resulting to them or their property.
If any part of this Charter should be invalid for any reason whatsoever
under any national, state or local laws having jurisdiction over the subject
matter of this Charter, then that part shall be considered deleted from
this Charter and the rest of this Charter shall remain valid and in full
force and effect.
Article XVI – Operating Policies (U.S. Chapters
Only)
Recision and Termination of Sponsorship: In the event a sponsoring
dealer decides to terminate or rescind sponsorship of a chartered chapter:
The sponsoring dealer shall inform the appropriate H.O.G. Regional Manager
of the sponsoring dealer's intent to cancel or terminate sponsorship fifteen
days prior to providing the chapter with written notice of termination
or recision of sponsorship. Such notice shall be afforded by telephone
or facsimile transmission.
The sponsoring dealer shall provide the chapter with written notice that
sponsorship is terminated or rescinded, setting forth the reasons for termination
or cancellation. Said notice shall be effective fifteen days subsequent
to date of delivery of the notice. A copy of the sponsoring dealer's written
notice to the chapter membership shall be sent to the Regional Manager.
Any subsequent application for charter by a group proposed to be sponsored
by the former sponsoring dealer shall not be considered for acceptance
for a minimum period of three months following the sponsoring dealer's
termination or recision of the dealer's sponsorship of the former chartered
chapter.
Assistant Director Duties: The assistant director shall also act
as H.O.G. State Rally liaison and shall ensure that information regarding
H.O.G. State Rallies is communicated to the chapter membership.
Treasurer's Duties: The chapter treasurer shall also be responsible
for administering any and all federal, state and local revenue reporting
and taxation requirements.
Dues: Annual chapter membership dues may not exceed twenty four
dollars ($24.00).
Chapter Activities:
Chapters must hold a minimum of four closed events per year.
Closed events are those chapter events which are open to chapter
members and one guest per member.
Member events are events that are open only to H.O.G. members.
Open events are those chapter events which are open to chapter members,
national H.O.G. members and other guests as desired.
Membership: In order to suspend or revoke a membership in the chapter,
the sponsoring dealer must do the following:
Notify the member in writing of the cancellation of his chapter membership.
Give the reason for the cancellation in clear, concise terms.
Refund the member's chapter dues for the year.
Send a copy of the cancellation letter to the appropriate Regional Manager.
Newsletters: Chapters must publish a minimum of six newsletters
per year to be eligible to maintain H.O.G. affiliation. Newsletters can
consist of any printed material informing the membership of activities,
i.e. post cards, flyers, multi-page publications, etc. Activities listed
in the newsletter must indicate whether it is an open event, H.O.G. member
event or closed event.
Chapter Status: Any chapter which fails to conduct any events or
fails to publish six newsletters in one year, shall have their chapter
recognition as a H.O.G. affiliated organization rescinded.
