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Frequently Asked Questions 

• Tell me a little bit about the origins of the Harley Owner's Group

Harley-Davidson® established the Harley Owners Group® in 1983 in response to a growing desire by Harley® riders for an organized way to share their passion and show their pride. By 1985, 49 local chapters had sprouted around the country, with a total membership of 60,000.

Rapid growth continued into the 1990s, and in 1991 H.O.G.® officially went international, with the first official European H.O.G. Rally in Cheltenham, England. Worldwide membership numbered 151,600, with 685 local chapters.

As the '90s continued, H.O.G. hysteria spread into Asia, including new chapters in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. By 1999, worldwide membership had hit the half-million mark, and the number of local chapters totaled 1,157. Today, more than a million members make H.O.G. the largest factory-sponsored motorcycle organization in the world, and it shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.
 

• When did the Harley Owner’s Group start, and when did the Langley HOG Chapter begin?
   
  The Harley Owner’s Group began in 1983 as a Motorcycle Manufacturer Sponsored Club. HOG celebrated it’s 25th anniversary in 2008 when the Motor Company celebrated the 100 year anniversary. The Langley HOG Chapter began in 1992, and was sponsored by the then O'Hara's Harley-Davidson dealership.  As O'Hara's had only one store in Delta. the Langley chapter was originally the Delta Chapter. Later O'Hara's opened the Langley store.  Shortly after O'Hara's became Southside Harley-Davidson, the Delta store closed leaving Langley as the only store.  The Chapter voted to change the name to Langley HOG in 2003/2004. Presently, HOG has over 1 million members’ worldwide!
   
• Why is the present Harley Davidson dealership, Barnes Harley Davidson involved in the local HOG Chapter?
  
  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. (Excerpt from the Annual Charter for HOG Chapters: Article II)
  
     
• Does the Dealership or the Chapter decide on the membership dues of the local Chapter? Does National HOG have any dues requirements?
  
  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. (Excerpt from Annual Charter for HOG Chapters: Article VII)
  
  Historically, the Langley HOG Chapter has established their own dues under the guidance of the sponsoring Dealership.  Effective January 1st, 2008, the Langley, B.C.. HOG dues were set at $20.00.
  
   
• What happens if my National HOG Membership expires: Can I still belong to the local HOG Chapter?
  
  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 for 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. (Excerpt from Annual Charter for HOG Chapters: Article VI, subpart 1)
  
   
• Do any of the Officers, Primary or Discretionary receive any compensation for their respective positions? How do you become an Officer?
  
  The Board of Directors may not compensate Directors for their services as such but may provide the payment of any and all expenses incurred by the Directors in attending regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors. (Excerpt for the Chapters’ Charter: Article 3.8)
  
  A member in good standing in National HOG and the local Chapter is eligible to become a Primary Officer. The positions are held for one (1) year, and nominations for the Primary Officers are taken from membership during the months of September and October. (Excerpt from the Chapters Charter: Article 3.5)
  
  Discretionary Officer’s are chosen by the Primary Officers and subsequent positions are held for one (1) year.
  
  The Dealership is the final authority on any and all Officers representing the local Chapter. (Excerpt from the Annual Charter for HOG Chapters: Article V)
  
   
• Who decides where the Chapter goes on the monthly Chapter Rides?
  
  Generally, the routes are chosen by the Road Captains under the direction of the Lead Road Captain. Sometimes, these are based upon previous rides from prior years, or something newly discovered. Rides have also started simply by a few members talking about someplace they would like to go. Others have been suggested by the membership.
  
   
• Do I have to own a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle in order to belong to a HOG Chapter?
  Most definitely YES! (Is there any other kind?)
  
   
• What is LOH? Who can belong to LOH? Does an LOH member have to have their own motorcycle?
  
  Ladies of Harley or LOH was formed by HOG National to be representative of women riders/passengers of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. When a woman rider/passenger joins HOG National, as either a Full or an Associate Member, they can automatically join HOG for no charge. LOH Members receive their own pin and patch along with the regular member pin/patch.
  
  While we encourage our Ladies of Harley to ride their own “machines,” some of our Ladies enjoy riding on the back of the bike. What better way to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of journey?
  
   
• Is HOG really a family? Does HOG promote family gatherings or is it just talk?

HOG National and the local Chapters do promote family gatherings. The Langley HOG Chapter has the Annual HOG Roast where the whole family is invited to join  is invited to join in the fun! The Chapter Rides are another way to invite future riders/members, and share in the fun.

While most people are born into a family, the HOG Chapter is a family that you join. You are sharing your love, passions and excitements for the open road           and the love of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. And like a family, you’re bound to find a special person or group of people that you will enjoy and want to share time with.

• How is the Langley Chapter of HOG governed?

          We are governed by our local chapter Bylaws which can be viewed by clicking on the link below.
         Chapter Bylaws