February Officer Connection

Daytona Bike Week is right around the corner and that means spring is in the air. In just a couple weeks, I’ll be down in Florida for the event many consider the “official” start of riding season. It’s already been a busy year, with planning for rallies and Regional Officer Connection training. Of course, with Harley-Davidson’s 120th Anniversary and the 40th Anniversary of the Harley Owners Group coming up in July here in Milwaukee, it’s only going to get busier.

There’s a lot of anticipation building towards those events, and one of the frequent questions we’ve been getting is whether there will be a Chapter Parade of Flags during the anniversary. The answer is a resounding Yes! With riders from all over the world in attendance, this is always an awesome event, and one not to be missed. We are still working on the details, including the process for registration, and more information about the parade will be coming very shortly. Stay tuned.

Another question we’ve received is about the higher registration fee for the Mighty Big Bend Rally in Texas this May. The fee is a little bit higher than typical for a H.O.G. Touring Rally, leading some to ask why. The simple answer is because we are offering more and higher-quality meals as part of the rally package. That’s not to say the food isn’t great at other rallies, but we are trying something a bit different with this one by offering an even more premium dining experience as part of the rally package. If the Mighty Big Bend fits into your schedule, I hope you can join us and let us know what you think.

I hope to see many of you in just a couple of weeks down at Bike Week in Daytona. If you are planning to attend, please make sure to check in with H.O.G. at the Speedway and say hello.

As always, thanks for everything you do to make the Harley Owners Group the biggest and best riding club in the world.

H.O.G. Bike Week Challenge and Member Rides in Daytona

Daytona Bike Week (March 4-11) is coming up fast, and once again H.O.G. has a full slate of activities for members planning to attend. In addition to displays of the new 2023 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, including 120th Anniversary models, Parts & Accessories and Apparel, free motorcycle demo rides, and a H.O.G. Check-In at Daytona International Speedway, H.O.G. members can participate in an exclusive H.O.G. Bike Week Challenge. Get your passport punched at six of the seven participating dealers while also picking up a unique poker chip at each location, and then return to the Daytona Speedway to pick up a special H.O.G. gift.

In addition to the challenge, H.O.G. is hosting three member rides during the week:

Wednesday, March 8: Orlando H.O.G. Ride to Kennedy Space Center. Departs from Daytona International Speedway.
Thursday, March 9: H.O.G. Ride to St. Augustine. Departs from Daytona International Speedway.
Friday, March 10: 8th Annual H.O.G. International Ride. Departs from The Chapel in Ormond Beach.

Need a place to store a trailer on the ride down? Select H-D dealers are offering riders free trailer storage. Park it securely and ride into Daytona worry-free. For a complete list of participating H-D dealers, visit H-D.com.

For all the details about Bike Week, including the H.O.G. rides, visit H-D.com/Daytona.  

How to Book a Harley-Davidson Museum Chapter Tour

If you or your H.O.G Chapter are planning a visit to Milwaukee, a stop at the Harley-Davidson Museum is a must! If it’s been a while since your last visit, there are a lot of new things to see and do around the campus, including two all-new retail stores and an enhanced Experience Gallery.

Whether you are visiting during this year’s Homecoming or at any other time of the year, the Museum campus is a can’t-miss destination for any Harley-Davidson enthusiast. General admission for all H.O.G members is free. Staff guided tours are available, with new content and new guides. The Museum staff can also provide enhanced experiences for visiting chapters with a tour from its new portfolio. Call or email Lynda Fletcher for more information, questions or to get your group’s visit on the calendar. She can be reached directly at 414-287-2704 or [email protected] and can’t wait to connect with you.

See the USA from Your Saddle on a H.O.G. Rally

The H.O.G calendar is packed with opportunities to experience some of the best roads and riding the country has to offer, create new unforgettable memories and share them with fellow riders. Registration is open for all 2023 H.O.G. Touring and Regional Rallies and spots are filling fast for the touring rallies. Please share the schedule with your chapter members and consider planning a ride to an upcoming event.

Full details and registration links for all H.O.G. rallies are available on the H.O.G. Rally Map.

2023 H.O.G. Touring Rallies

Run the Gulf H.O.G. Touring Rally, February 27-March 2, New Orleans, LA to Gainesville, FL
Spring Heat in AZ H.O.G. Touring Rally, March 25-28, Fresno, CA to Apache Junction, AZ
Mighty Big Bend H.O.G. Touring Rally, May 1-5, El Paso to Lajitas, TX
Natchez Trace & More H.O.G. Touring Rally, May 9-14, Indianapolis, IN to Slidell, LA
The Ozark Highlands H.O.G. Touring Rally, June 17-21, Texarkana, AR to Columbia, MO
Ring of Fire H.O.G. Touring Rally, August 29-September 2, Tacoma, WA to Chico, CA
9 Passes H.O.G. Touring Rally, September 5-9, Chico to Lancaster, CA

 
2023 Regional H.O.G. Rallies

Bossier City Breakout H.O.G. Rally, April 21-23, Bossier City, LA
Mid-America H.O.G. Rally, June 22-24, St. Charles, MO
“N” the Burg H.O.G. Rally, July 26-29, Fredericksburg, VA
H-D Homecoming/Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary & H.O.G. 40th Anniversary, July 13-16, Milwaukee, WI
Battle Cry of Freedom H.O.G. Rally, August 16-19, Gettysburg, PA
Bikes, Beaches & Bridges H.O.G. Rally, October 4-7, Clearwater, FL

2023 H.O.G. Check-Ins

Daytona Bike Week, March 4-11, Daytona Beach, FL
Arizona Bike Week, March 29-April 1, Scottsdale, AZ
Thunder Beach Spring Rally, May 3-6, Panama City, FL
Myrtle Beach Bike Week, May 13-20, Myrtle Beach, SC
Tennessee Motorcycles & Music Revival, May 18-21, Hurricane Mills, TN
West Coast Thunder, May 26-28 Riverside, CA
Ohio Bike Week, May 26-June 4, Sandusky, OH
Rolling to Remember, May 27-28, Washington, DC
Americade, May 31-June 3, Lake George, NY
Laconia Motorcycle Week, June 10-17, Loudon, NH
Harley-Davidson Homecoming, July 13-16, Milwaukee, WI
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, August 4-11, Sturgis, SD
Bikefest Lake of the Ozarks, September 13-16, Osage Beach, MO
Northwoods Fall Ride, September 14-16, Tomahawk, WI
Bikes, Blues & BBQ, September 20-23, Rogers, AR
Street Vibrations Fall Rally, September 21-24, Reno, NV
Biketoberfest, October 19-21, Daytona Beach, FL

H.O.G. Officer Spotlight: Road Captain

According to the Chapter Charter , the sole responsibility of the Road Captain, a discretionary officer position, is assisting in the planning of routes for chapter rides. That’s it! Contrary to popular belief, it is not the responsibility of a Road Captain to function as a safety officer, conduct pre-ride safety inspections, mandate rider training requirements, or even to serve as a group ride leader. The Road Captain’s most important responsibility is to follow H.O.G.’s number one rule: Keep it simple and have fun! That means focusing more on planning great riding activities rather than on the organizational details of group riding.

In addition to having a Road Captain, chapters can also have ride leads, an informal position, to assist in the execution of group rides. Ride leads can lead rides, help plan routes, conduct rider meetings, and organize and assist other riders before and during a ride. If you have any questions about either of these roles, reach out to your H.O.G. Regional Manager.

Issue Chapter ID Cards

Being able to quickly identify active chapter members is a time saver, especially at busy rides and events and for chapters with large enrollments. An easy solution is to issue chapter identification cards to members once they have paid their annual dues and signed the waivers. You can order custom chapter identification cards from the Norscot H.O.G. store.

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