WELCOME, SAM! CHAPTER OFFICER NEWS HARLEY OWNERS GROUP® OFFICIAL CHAPTER NEWSLETTER MARCH 2016 H.O.G.® RALLIES! RIDE BIGGER! HAVE MORE number of these rallies share the same In light of this, we are evolving both our FUN! The rally season is here, dates. For example, in June there are rallies and the rally proposal process and this year brings some five rallies on the same weekend. This to facilitate more regional H.O.G. Rfantastic opportunities to enjoy forces members to choose between rallies. We’re confident that H.O.G. great riding experiences with other rallies, or sometimes opt out of members will like both the approach H.O.G.® members. attending altogether. When you add the and the execution of rallies as we move additional opportunities for members to forward. Please see JT’s article on page It all kicks off March 31st with the participate in Chapter rides, overnight 4 for more information. Louisiana H.O.G. rally and continues rides, dealer events, and other non- with The Brew City Experience; Rollin But for now, keep in mind that pre- H.O.G. events, you can see there’s a lot on the River; the Pacific Northwest registration is open for 2016 rallies; of competition for members’ free time. rally, Iron Adventure Run, Back to the don’t miss out on the fun! Bay, History in the Hills, and the Open For some time now our rally attendees See you on the Road! Road West—just to name a few. If you have asked us to consider a more want a cross-border experience, there regional approach, meaning fewer and are rallies in Canada and Mexico, as larger rallies. We put this concept to well. And new for this year, some of the the test over the last few years with rallies will have the Harley-Davidson significant success. One example demo experience! Please visit is in the Pacific Northwest, where hog.com for a full list of rallies. the Washington, Idaho and Oregon rallies were combined. The net result In all, there are more than 30 H.O.G. was an 80% increase in attendance, rallies planned for 2016 in the U.S. And, Tim Budzien significantly more miles ridden, and ® while rallies offer great fun and riding, Director, H.O.G. increased attendee satisfaction. they also present a challenge as a and Membership Programs INSIDE: 3 WHO WE ARE 5 H.O.G.® PIN STOPS FOR 2016 4 H.O.G.® RALLY PLAN 2017 6 MUSEUM HAPPENINGS 2 WELCOME, SAM! – THE HOW WELCOME, SAM! First off, I am extremely humbled and excited to join the H.O.G.® Regional Team. This is truly a dream role for me. little about myself: importantly, I love to ride. I’m currently As Senior Regional H.O.G.® Harley-Davidson has been on a Super Glide® but will be upgrading Coordinator, I look forward to in my blood since I was born. to a touring model this season, so I deepening my current connections MyA father rides, so I’ve been around can enjoy longer rides with all of you and creating new ones within H.O.G. the brand growing up—starting off fine folks. This includes working very closely riding on the back, to now riding by his 2016 marks the seventh year in my with the H.O.G. Regional Team to side. For many reasons, even before I Harley-Davidson career. I started at the support Rally and Chapter activities. started working here, I knew this was a museum in 2008 (during grand opening) Please feel free to reach out with any company I wanted to be part of. I can’t and my first role was in Customer questions, ideas, or thoughts you think of another organization where you Service. A few years later I became the may have. You can contact me at find such an awesome group of people Lead of Group Tours and Operations. [email protected]. as you do with H.O.G. It’s just special. In that position, I was responsible for I’m looking forward to working with Some of my interests include: playing ® building relationships with H.O.G. all of you. rec league softball, going to sporting Chapters and dealers. It was in this events (Go Packers and Brewers!), capacity where some of you got to Ride on! and attending the many festivals know me, either when you visited the Sam Klein Milwaukee has to offer. Of course, most museum or saw me at HOT. Sr. Regional H.O.G.® Coordinator 2 WHO WE ARE H.O.G.® RALLY PLAN 2017 – THE HOW s the New Year begins and The answers here are not so clear or Always remember to ask yourself, is thoughts turn to the riding easy. Many of our members think we what we are doing promoting more season, a little self-reflection spend entirely too much time focused diverse riding opportunities for our can’tA hurt. We are very lucky to get on those things that do not have to do members? More chances to go to new to travel all over this great land, lucky with riding. and interesting places? More time to to be able to do it on the back of the Think back to when you first got your hang out with the people we choose to best motorcycle in the world, and Harley®—the excitement, the fear, hang out with? Always remember why lucky to have our brothers and sisters the attitude—it was a new world with we bought the best motorcycles in the ® in H.O.G. But with all this fortune a endless possibilities and all you had world—to ride. Always remember who nagging question seems to linger… to do was ride. No one ever bought a we are—The Harley Owners Group, The WHO ARE WE? Harley to administrate, to raise money, Official Riding Club of Harley-Davidson. Well on the surface it seems simple— to go to more endless meetings…NO, we are the Harley Owners Group®. That they bought it to ride. bonds us as owners of and enthusiasts As we travel and talk to members, of Harley-Davidsons. Digging just a bit current and former, we hear lots of deeper we are the “Official Riding Club reasons as to why we have lost our of Harley-Davidson,” which makes it way. We all have big hearts. We all want clear we are a riding club and that we to do good deeds, but what seems to are a riding club connected to Harley- take over is everything except the ride. Todd “THOR” Robinson Davidson Motor Company. So again… H.O.G.® Regional Mgr simple…we ride Harley-Davidson® Our guiding principles found in the ® motorcycles. H.O.G. Chapter Charter keep it pretty simple. It seems to be the local tribal So I think the real question starts when wisdom getting in the way of most we start digging into the real reason Chapters fulfilling the goals of most we, as officers, exist. Do we exist to riders. Keep it simple…Ride and administrate? Do we exist to raise Have Fun. money? Do we exist to lead meetings? 3 H.O.G.® RALLY PLAN 2017 – THE HOW Below are answers to some of the Q: Is this new plan set to replace questions you probably have as you National H.O.G. Events? read through this communication about A: This program continues to involve the new rally process. H.O.G. members as the core creators of the H.O.G. event. Q: Why are you not letting us Each rally continues to operate decide where and when the as it has, only the process for site rally is taking place? selection will be different for the A: The H.O.G. Regional Manager ou have read Tim’s article has always had the final say 2017 rally season. about riding, having fun and regarding the where and when. Q: Will the rally committee getting together as members This new process removes a large positions remain or is that ofY the largest factory sponsored burden that was put on H.O.G. going to be different? riding club. Just as Harley-Davidson members, who spend a lot of time A: Current positions remain the same. introduces new models each year, we in crafting proposals. Over the years with the current rally are introducing a new model for the program, we did add a couple of Q: Will the Regional Manager be in H.O.G.® Rally Program. positions. As we all move forward charge of the rally? together into 2017 and beyond, we As Tim mentioned, H.O.G. recognized A: That piece will not be any different the need to update the program and than current program guidelines. The may see a need to modify the core simplify the process. Regional Manager continues to be rally team as well. What isn’t going to be different is that the final decision maker, overseeing The current/2017 rally positions H.O.G.® members will remain very the development of rally plans, rally list includes one person in each of involved in the planning and organizing budget, pricing etc. the following positions: • Rally Coordinator of 2017 H.O.G. Rallies. Q: Does this new process mean state • Rally Treasurer rallies will merge? The following are new procedures • Rally Registration Coordinator for the H.O.G. Member organized A: First off, “State” was removed to eliminate misconceptions, • Rally Secretary H.O.G.