Membership Info

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Chapter Purpose

The Beartooth Chapter of Harley Owners Group promotes the benefits gained from participating in the Harley-Davidson lifestyle: Ride and Have Fun!

We meet and develop friendships with other Harley-Davidson enthusiasts while taking pride in learning through shared experiences.

Membership Information

2010 Mileage/Ride Contest

Beginning at our first chapter meeting in January, 2010, we started a new contest. For 2010, the rules of the Mileage/Ride Contest are as follows:

For each and every monthly chapter meeting you attend, you will receive 1 ticket to put your name on and put into a pot. The pot will accumulate throughout the year.

For each riding chapter meeting you attend, in addition to the 1 ticket for attending the meeting, you will also get tickets based on the mileage from Beartooth Harley in Billings to the ride meeting destination (as calculated by the Chapter Activities Officer). There will be 1 ticket for each 100 miles, rounded up to the nearest 100. For example, if the chapter meeting is in Red Lodge (assuming Red Lodge is 60 miles), you would get 1 additional ticket for attending that meeting. If the chapter meeting is in Livingston (assuming Livingston is more than 100 miles one way), you would get 2 additional tickets.

For each Chapter ride you attend that is not a monthly chapter meeting, you will not receive 1 ticket for attendance, but you will still receive tickets based on the mileage (as calculated by the Chapter Activities Officer). For example, if you were to attend the Northern 500, you would receive 6 tickets.

In addition to that, you will also receive tickets based on your mileage in 2010 from the beginning of the mileage contest in April until the mileage contest ends in October. For every 1,000 miles you ride during the riding season (which will not be rounded up), regardless of whether you are attending a chapter event or not, you will receive 1 additional ticket.

At the White Elephant Auction in November, names will be drawn for prizes. The more times you get your name in the pot, the more chances you have to win. You must be present to win!

We will also draw names for giveaways at the monthly chapter meetings from that month’s tickets.

This contest will be separate and in addition to our regular annual mileage contest which is based on total odometer readings.

This contest is available only to Beartooth HOG members. Membership will be verified. In order to receive your tickets, proof of your attendance at the function is required. Make sure to LEGIBLY sign the attendance sheet for each and every rideyou attend. This is the only way you will get your tickets. Beginning in 2011, we will extend this contest from October 2010, to October 2011, and give credit for every 1,000 miles you ride during the entire year. Ticket awards for each ride will be posted on the upcoming 2010 ride card.

Tickets for rides on chapter functions will be handed out at the following chapter meeting once the attendance sheet has been submitted to the HOG Secretary. Make sure to collect, print your name and get your tickets in the pot for the monthly giveaways, as well as to get all of your chances in for the end of year grand prizes!

Beartooth Chapter Selection of Officers

The Annual Charter for H.O.G. Chapters states that chapters shall have the following primary officers: Director, Assistant Director, Secretary and Treasurer. In addition, the Beartooth Chapter includes the Activities Officer and the Membership Officer as primary positions. These six voting positions shall be elected by the chapter membership.

In addition to the above officers, discretionary officers shall be appointed annually. These officers are: Editor, Ladies of Harley, Head Road Captain/Safety Officer, Webmaster, and Photographer/Historian. The Head Road Captain/Safety Officer will appoint, with primary officers’ approval, additional Road Captains to insure appropriate ride coverage.

Election of Chapter Primary Officers

The six chapter primary officer positions shall be elected by the chapter membership for a term of two calendar years. The Director, Secretary, and Membership Officer shall be elected on even years (2008, 2010, etc.), and the Assistant Director, Treasurer, and Activities Officer shall be elected on odd years (2007, 2009, etc.). A chapter member is limited to two consecutive elected terms (but no more than five years) at any one primary officer position. At the end of the term limit, the member is eligible to run for a different officer position if they so desire.

Should a primary officer position become vacant, the position will be filled by appointment until the next election. At that time, the chapter membership shall elect a chapter member to fill the position until the next regularly scheduled election year (odd or even) for the position.

Elections shall be held during the November chapter meeting each year. Ballots will be given to chapter members whose membership is in good standing. Voting and ballot collection will be completed prior to the conclusion of the November chapter meeting. Absentee, proxy, or votes received other than at the November chapter meeting will not be counted. Elected officers will assume their duties at the January officers’ meeting.

Nominations for Chapter Primary Officers

Nominations for the primary officer positions will be open from the September chapter meeting through the October chapter meeting. Chapter members in good standing may either nominate themselves or another member in good standing for the positions to be voted upon in November. If nominating another member, verification of willingness to perform the duties of the office will be verified prior to the name being placed on the ballot. Nominations may be made during either the September or October chapter meeting or by written communication to the current Secretary. Nominations will be closed at the conclusion of the October chapter meeting. Nominations will be published in the November newsletter which will be published prior to the November chapter meeting.

Nominations for Chapter Discretionary Officers

Nominations for discretionary officers may be submitted to the Secretary anytime from the September chapter meeting until the January officers’ meeting. Chapter members in good standing may either nominate themselves or another member in good standing for the positions by written communication to the current Secretary. The primary officers will vote to fill the positions at the January officers’ meeting. Discretionary officers will assume their duties immediately upon being voted into the position.

Beartooth Chapter H.O.G.®
Group Riding Policy

A group ride is one of the great on-roadway motorcycling experiences. Taking part in a group ride is a great way to share the fun and camaraderie of motorcycling.
--Riders Edge/MSF Guide

Road Captain/Ride Leader will be in charge of the ride and conduct pre-ride meeting before every Chapter group ride.
You will be expected to arrive for a group ride before the posted ride time with a full tank of gas and appropriate riding gear for the expected range of conditions.
Members and/or guests (spouses, children, grandchildren, and friends) will fill out appropriate release forms, as required for the ride.
The group will normally ride in a staggered formation. The stagger will be 2 seconds behind the bike directly in front of you and 1 second behind the bike to your left or right.
At times the group may move to a single file formation due to road conditions (narrow road, tight curves, etc.). Maintain 2 seconds behind the bike directly in front of you when in single file formation.
When passing slower traffic on a two-lane highway, the group should pass one at a time. After passing, pull far enough ahead to allow riders behind you to safely merge back into the group.
The group will adhere to all posted speed limits and traffic rules. Weather, road conditions and traffic will also be taken into consideration when determining the pace of the group. If the group is separated due to stop signs, traffic lights or motor vehicle traffic, the Road Captain/Ride Leader may find a safe and secure area to pull over or adjust the pace for the rest of the group to catch up.
In a staggered or single-file formation, do not pass the bike in front of you. If a rider leaves the group the remaining riders should adjust the formation while maintaining a good space cushion and following distance. Always use turn signals prior to changing your position.
Only the sweep rider will pull out of formation to assist a rider who may be having trouble. All other riders will continue until the Road Captain/Ride Leader finds a safe and secure area to pull the rest of the group to a stop.
Any rider wishing to leave the group for any reason will notify the Road Captain/Ride Leader at the earliest opportunity.
Consumption and use of alcohol is a serious personal responsibility involving the safety and welfare of family, riding friends and the individual H.O.G. member. Alcohol consumption before or during motorcycle activity is not safe responsible behavior. Therefore, alcohol is not to be consumed before or during a group ride. Once the final destination is reached and/or the ride ends, riders will be responsible for their own actions. In general, once the group reaches the day’s destination, the ride is over.
Group riding requires an extreme level of awareness and concentration. These rules are for your Safety and the Safety of those around you. If we RESPECT these rules, our Group Riding Risk can be minimized, and our enjoyment greatly enhanced.

Why No Bottom Rockers ?
Researched by Lynn Davis, Photographer, Historian

The Harley Owners Group® logos you wear on your vests and jackets are intended to be worn with only one rocker – a top rocker proudly displaying your local chapter name. Article X “Trademark License” (#4) of the Annual Charter for H.O.G.® Chapters states: “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.”

In the U.S., the abbreviation “MC” or the wearing of a bottom rocker can have a special social meaning. It is often used to designate territory. It is reserved for the “MC” community and its members to designate affiliation to those mutually recognized in the “MC” world.

The vests and jackets of people wearing lower rockers may become objects needed by “prospects” of other (three-patch) motorcycle clubs as a requirement for membership. Since the very early days there has been an agreement between H.O.G. and many other motorcycle clubs that as long as we do not authorize use of lower rockers, our vests and jackets will not be removed from our members. Norscot, our chapter patch supplier, does not, and will not, supply lower rockers. And, Harley Owners Group won’t authorize a chevron to go below the large H.O.G.® patch.

This is true even if the “3rd” rocker is not designating a territory and merely a nickname or club name. The use of a lower rocker violates the long lasting agreement that H.O.G. has had with the motorcycle club community.

Remember it’s not only you that you affect by wearing a lower rocker but all of your brother and sisters in H.O.G.

Please follow the Charter and respect the above agreement to avoid putting yourself in conflict with those clubs that wear lower rockers. Wear the H.O.G.® logo and your chapter chevron proudly … don’t wear a lower rocker!

Wearing a lower rocker conflicts with the trademark license granted with the Charter.