The sections below are short descriptions. Follow the heading links for more detailed information.
Members are expected to maintain a sense of pride for the chapter. The chapter encourages members to ride bikes to all chapter activities, but we would rather have your participation than your bike. Be active and contribute.
Why belong to the Foothills H.O.G. Chapter?
There are obviously National H.O.G. members out there who do not belong to a local chapter. I guess some would ask "Why should I spend another $24 just to belong to a local chapter?" I hope I can assist you in making that decision.
Our chapter, the Foothills Chapter, has a benefit not enjoyed by all local chapters.About 2-3 times per year, the dealership has a special event that usually includes a Friday evening H.O.G. night that includes special discounts and food for Foothills Chapter members.
Do you like a FREE holiday party? Our members are treated to a free dinner and entertainment evening if they choose to participate. The value is usually more than the membership fee.
Members receive notices and reminders of special events, rides, etc. that are not publicized to the public.
Finally, you get a newsletter, The Spirit of 76, six times per year where you get information from the officers and other members.* Membership in a local chapter requires a national H.O.G. membership.
Membership Renewal
Everyone is reminded that December is our membership renewal month for the Foothills Chapter. The current membership year ends on Dec 31.
EVERYONE who is a current member of the Foothills Chapter, regardless of the date they joined or renewed during the membership year, must renew their membership before January 1 to remain an active member. Our new membership year begins on January 1 and ends December 31. We encourage everyone to renew their membership as soon as possible during the Nov/Dec time frame for the coming membership year. All current membership renewals and new memberships completed during the months of November and December will be good until December 31 of the following year.The annual membership fee is $24.00 per person.
All individuals who desire Foothills Chapter membership must have a current National HOG membership and must show their National HOG card at the time of renewal. Please bring your National HOG card with you when you go to the Chandler HD parts counter to renew. The procedure for renewal involves reading and filling out all blanks on the H.O.G. Chapter Membership Enrollment Form and Release for each person who is a member of the local chapter. This is an opportunity for everyone to check to make sure that we have current information, especially addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, in the chapter database. Please print legibly. We use this information to send you important information about chapter activities, including the chapter newsletter - "The Spirit of 76".
Chandler HD and the leadership of the Foothills Chapter, Harley Owners Group, appreciate your interest in being an active member of our chapter. "Riding and having fun" is our reason for coming together as a HOG group.
Local Chapter Members Must be National H.0.G.Members
Just a reminder - In order to enroll as a member of your local chapter, a person must hold a current national H.O.G. membership. Why? Being able to join a local chapter is one of the many benefits of National H.O.G. membership, and H.O.G. in turn supports local chapters through Primary Officer Training, handbooks, publications, general liability insurance, and a variety of other resources and supplies helpful in running the chapter. It is the local chapters responsibility to verify National H.O.G. membership before they sign up local chapter members. This applies whether it's a couple, a family or any other type of combination, and it applies to each individual. Verifying an individual's National membership is not difficult.
The simplest way is to ask to see their National H.O.G. membership card and check if it is current. If they say, "I don't have it with me," or "I'll bring it next time," or "I'll send in my National membership as soon as I get home." then simply explain that when they remember their card, or bring it in next time, or get their new National membership card, all they have to do is show it to you, and you'll sign them up as a local chapter member then. What I often tell chapter officers is that there are three things needed to sign someone up as a local chapter member.1) a current National H.O.G. card
2) a signed Chapter Membership Enrollment and Release Form
3) the chapter dues.If they're missing any of the three, they can't sign up for local chapter membership. This way you don't have to keep track of what you're gotten from whom and whom you have to track down to get the rest of the information.
H.O.G. and Chapter insignia are available from Chandler Harley Davidson. You are encouraged to wear the insignia to general meetings, business meetings and other club activities.
The group has a supply of patches and pins for sale. We have both large and small H.O.G. patches, reflective patches, Foothills Chapter rockers and L.O.H. patches.
We also have a nice Foothills H.O.G. pin. The large patches sell for $16.00, the small ones $7.00, the large L.O.H. patch sells for $14, the small one for $5. The Chapter pin sells for $8.00. All can be purchased from the merchandise counter.
The chapter name pin is just right for a lapel, jacket, or vest. The HOG name badges are $8.00 each. They are 3" X 1 1/2" silver plastic with the military clutch back with the chapter name and HOG logo.
We have to order them with a minimum order of 12, therefore, see the Chapter Secretary to place your order.
Foothills Chapter Name Rockers
A rocker to wear on your vest with just your name. Great to have in case you forget your name tag. To place your orders use the attached order form. The form is in the Adobe Acrobat Reader format. Print out the form and take it and your check to Roger or Sue Campbell, Secretary.
General Meetings
The General meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm to report to the general membership the decisions made at the Business meeting, as well as to bring the membership up to date on the other club activities. Meetings are held at Bethany Community Church located at 6240 S. Price Rd., Tempe, which is on the West side of the 101 and just North of Guadalupe. The Chapter brings in sodas to sell to members with proceeds being donated to the church. In addition, the Black Sheep will provide water.
The Business meeting is a planning and organizational meeting held at Chandler Harley Davidson, located on Chandler Blvd. at 56th Street. The meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. All members are welcome to attend. If you have questions or suggestions, please submit the topic for discussion to a board member in writing prior to the meeting.
DEFINITIONS
The chapter has a number of scheduled rides each month. Some of them are Sunday breakfast rides, dinner rides and other scheduled rides throughout the month. Chapter rides always depart from the dealership. The ride will proceed to the destination, sometimes with intermediate stops. The ride ends when the chapter reaches the destination. For all scheduled chapter rides, please plan to arrive at Chandler Harley Davidson 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. this will allow time to sign in and attend the mandatory pre-ride safety briefing.
Chapter activities are conducted primarily for the benefit of H.O.G. chapter members. There are three categories of activities, all activities are identified as follows:
- Closed events - Chapter events which are open to chapter members and one guest per member.
- Member events - Events that are open only to H.O.G. members
- Open events - Chapter events which are open to chapter members, national H.O.G. members and other guests as desired.
All rides are closed events unless otherwise indicated.
Dinner rides alternate monthly between Tuesday and Thursday nights. Check the activity calendar on www.foothillshog.com to see which night it will be on. The ride meets at CHD at 6:30 pm and leaves at 7:00 pm.
For those of you who are either new to the Foothills Chapter or new to riding, these Dinner Rides are a great way to get into the swing of
riding with our group. Because they usually see a smaller turnout than the groups who attend the weekend rides, and are usually attended by a minimum of two Road Captains, the atmosphere is very relaxed.
Harley is the new addition to our Foothills family. He is awarded to the person who is served last at a dinner ride. Harley should join you on your rides for the next week and be returned at the next dinner ride.
Percy the chicken - was retired in 2006.
Foothills H.O.G. sponsors a Sunday Morning Breakfast Ride every Sunday unless it conflicts with another Chapter Sponsored event. We try to have a different and interesting destination planned.
Sunday morning rides for breakfast meets at CHD at 7:30 am and leaves at 8:00 am. This ride meets at Chandler Harley-Davidson. Please check calendar for the most up-to-date information.
The last person served at breakfast wins FAT BOB! FAT BOB should join you in your rides for the rest of that week. If you win, you should return on the next breakfast ride to hand him to the next winner.
If your are interested in helping organize a Sunday Breakfast or dinner ride, please email the activities officer or any of the chapter officers.
FYI Rides
Rides that are not sanctioned by the chapter but the information is passed on to the members.
All hand signals by the Road Captains shall be passed along the group by each member and passenger.
Ladies of Harley. The Ladies of Harley was established in 1986. It is a program sponsored by Harley-Davidson to support women enthusiasts (both riders and passengers) in the sport of motorcycling. Members receive a Ladies of Harley patch and pins the first year of membership.
Poker Run
A fund raising event held at many dealerships. The entry fee entitles each participant to ride a pre-determined route with stops to pick cards to complete a five card poker hand. Usually at the end of the ride, additional cards can be purchased to improve your hand. Most often there is a first, second and sometimes low hand winner. Prizes are awarded.
P.O.T.
"Primary Officer Training", a program to equip chapter officers with the knowledge and skills necessary to help run a H.O.G. chapter.
A liability waiver document H.O.G. members are required to sign to participate in any official H.O.G. event in the U.S.
Foothills Riding Guidelines intended for the organized and safe movement of a group of motorcycles.
To encourage participation in scheduled Chapter activities, points are awarded. Each member who participates in a Chapter Ride is awarded a point. Chapter ride pins are awarded on the number of points accumulated.
As a member of the chapter, Road Captains bear the responsibility of moving the Chapter safely to our destination.
Slinky Effect
The Slinky effect occurs when a rider in the group allows too much distance to develop between his or her motorcycle and the rider just ahead. Once this occurs, the rider tries to speed up to catch up and slow down to maintain the pace of the group.
The Spirit of 76 is the Foothills Chapter bi-monthly newsletter publication. Members are encouraged to submit articles about rides, biographies, safety and technical tips, black and white pictures, etc.
The Staggered Riding Style is the preferred riding style for general riding for it's overall safety for all participants in a group ride. It is alternating rider positions on either side of the lane being traveled so that everyone is able to maintain visual contact of all riders.
State Rally
These are a lot of fun. Spend the weekend with hundreds of fellow riders. Experience Field events, i.e. a slow race, poker runs, bike show, nightly entertainment, just to mention a very small amount of what’s to do at a rally. You’ll want to pre-register whenever possible just to make sure you receive a rally T-shirt and pin. Not to mention meal tickets you may not be able to purchase at the rally.