Bridgeport HOG Bi-Laws
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.
Article II - Sponsorship
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.
An authorized Harley-Davidson dealer may sponsor only one H.O.G.
chapter.
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.
The sponsoring dealer shall have authority over, and approval
rights regarding, the content of all chapter publications.
The sponsoring dealer shall have authority over any and all
matters pertaining to chapter membership.
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
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 dealer.
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. 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
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 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 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.
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, 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 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.
Article VI - Membership
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 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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