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
1. 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.
2. Chapter activities and operations shall be conducted in a
manner consistent with a family- oriented, nonpolitical
philosophy.
Article II - Sponsorship
1. Each chapter must be sponsored by an authorized
Harley-Davidson dealer. The decision to sponsor a chapter shall
be undertaken solely at the dealer's discretion.
2. An authorized Harley-Davidson dealer may sponsor only one
H.O.G. chapter.
3. The sponsoring dealer shall have absolute authority to
require that the sponsored chapter conducts its operations and
activities in accordance with the sponsoring dealer's standards.
The sponsoring dealer shall require the chapter to operate and
conduct activities in accordance with this charter and H.O.G.
operating policies.
4. The sponsoring dealer shall have authority over, and approval
rights regarding, the content of all chapter publications.
5. The sponsoring dealer shall have authority over any and all
matters pertaining to chapter membership.
6. The sponsoring dealer may establish chapter dues, which dues
shall be used solely to pay or defray the cost of chapter
administration.
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.
Article IV - Name and Affiliation
1. 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.
2. Each affiliated chapter must adhere to this Charter and to
H.O.G. Operating Policies.
3. Affiliated chapters shall be named after the respective city
or locale of the sponsoring dealer. H.O.G. shall have the right
to approve chapter names.
4. 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.
Dealers may likewise rescind sponsorship of their chapter at any
time, at which time the chapter's H.O.G. affiliation shall also
cease.
Article V - Officers
1. Affiliated chapters shall have the following primary
officers: Director, Assistant Director, Treasurer and Secretary.
Other discretionary officers may be appointed as needed.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The duties and responsibilities of the primary chapter
officers shall be as follows:
A. Director: The Director shall uphold this Charter and
the chapter by-laws, conduct chapter meetings and coordinate
chapter officer responsibilities.
B. 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 and keeping the chapter
members informed of H.O.G. programs.
C. 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.
D. Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for
the administrative needs of the chapter, keeping the minutes
of chapter annual business meetings and general meetings,
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.
5. The duties and responsibilities of the discretionary chapter
officers shall be:
A. Activities Officer: The Activities Officer shall be
responsible for the administration of chapter events.
B. Ladies of Harley Officer: The LOH Officer shall be
responsible for encouraging women members to take an active
part in chapter activities.
C. 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.
D. 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.
E . Safety Officer: The Safety Officer shall be
responsible for providing chapter members with information
relating to the availability of rider training.
F. Photographer: The Photographer shall be responsible
for obtaining and organizing chapter photographs for use in
chapter publications and chapter history albums.
G. 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.
Article VI - Membership
1. All Harley Owners Group members may join any affiliated
chapter. An expired membership in H.O.G. automatically
terminates local chapter membership and any associated
memberships. 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.
2. 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.
Article VII - Dues
1. 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.
2. 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.
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.
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.
Article X - Trademark License
1. 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.
   
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
Article XI - By-Laws
1. This Charter shall be adopted and serve as operating policy
for H.O.G. chapters and must be available to all chapter
members.
2. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Article XVI - Operating Policies (U.S. Chapters OnIy)
1. Recision and Termination of Sponsorship: In the event a
sponsoring dealer decides to terminate or rescind sponsorship of
a chartered chapter:
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. 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.
2. 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.
3. Treasurer's Duties: The chapter treasurer shall also
be responsible for administering any and all federal, state and
local revenue reporting and taxation requirements.
4. Dues: Annual chapter membership dues may not exceed
twenty four dollars ($24.00).
5. Chapter Activities:
A. Chapters must hold a minimum of four closed events per
year.
B. Closed events are those chapter events which are
open to chapter members and one guest per member.
C. Member events are events that are open only to H.O.G.
members.
D. Open events are those chapter events which are open
to chapter members, national H.O.G. members and other guests
as desired.
6. Membership: In order to suspend or revoke a membership
in the chapter, the sponsoring dealer must do the following:
A. Notify the member in writing of the cancellation of his
chapter membership. Give the reason for the cancellation in
clear, concise terms.
B. Refund the member's chapter dues for the year.
C. Send a copy of the cancellation letter to the appropriate
Regional Manager.
7. 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.
8. 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.
|