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.
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.
Membership
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
