Annual Charter for H.O.G.® Chapters

Articles:
I - Purpose
II - Sponsorship
III - Application and Term of Relationship
IV - Name and Affiliation
V - Officers
VI - Membership
VII - Dues
VIII - Activities
IX - Chapter Publications
X - Trademark License
XI - By-Laws
XII - Amendments
XIII - Disbursement of Funds
XIV - Disclaimer
XV - National, State, Local Laws
XVI - Operating Policies (U.S. Chapters only)
Preamble
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.
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Article II – Sponsorship
- 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.
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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.
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Article IV – Name and Affiliation
- 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.
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Article V – Officers
- 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.
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Article VII – Dues
- 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.
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Article
VIII – Activities
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.
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Article IX – Chapter Publications
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.
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Article X – Trademark License
- 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.
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Article
XI – By-Laws
- 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.
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Article
XII – Amendments
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.
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Article XIII – Disbursement of Funds
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.
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Article XIV – Disclaimer
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.
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Article XV – National, State, Local Laws
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.
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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.
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© 2009 Pioneer Valley H.O.G.® Chapter
#2191. All rights reserved.
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