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[Fired00d]

FYI- Just received an email today concerning my HOG membership renewal. I had been procrastinating for the longest time about purchasing a life membership, and after this email it may persuade me to upgrade my membership to life with next renewal. Currently if you've been a member for five consecutive years (full member) you can upgrade to "life member" at the cost of $300.00 (versus $500.00 if you have not been a member for five consecutive years). Associate Membership status to renew at "Life Membership" (again after five consecutive years) is $150 (versus $250 if you have not been a member for five consecutive years).

Now for the prices after January 1, 2006....

Life Membership (Full) - $650 (after five consecutive years - $400)
Life Membership (Associate) - $325 (after five consecutive years - $200)

Bottom line is: if you purchase Life (Full) now (before 1/1/2006 you save $100) and Life (Associate) now (before 1/1/2006 you save $75). That makes a grand total of $175 savings.

I'm not advocating upgrading to "Full" membership by no means, but just think what $175 can buy you in "chrome" or accessories?  

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[SE_ULTRA]

That does bring up a question...at least to me. To H.O.G. or not to H.O.G., that is the question.

How many of you are active with your chapter? I have never been a member...should I be?

[spydglide]

Hey Fired00d, if I was a young man like you, I'd go for the deal on the life membership.  I'm so old, I'd buy membership by the week if they'd sell it that way.  Har!  [smiley=drink.gif] spyder

[JCZ]

I continue my National HOG just so I can retain the road service.  Not hooked in to the local HOG thing......just got no interest and spend money fast enough without any help........and never had a problem finding somebody to ride with.

[Twolanerider]

I don't do the local chapter thing.  Hell, they meet at the dealer's parking lot and think that 12 blocks to dinner is a long ride....  I do the membership for the state rallies and other national events.  Some of those are well worth attending when schedules allow.  But the local stuff...?  Bubkus.

[sefatboyscott]

My experience with local chapters is this. They want ALL my money> every meeting is money money money. Some of the members are cool. A good place to meet people if your new in the area I think.....beyond that its always something, local dues, renewels, money for parties and charities on and on, and it seems the rides are usually short, and dinner rides.ha........ours goes less than 2 miles to their dinner spot from the dealership. You can walk to it rather than ride and save gas!

If you never been to a local chapter meeting it goes something like this

We need money for this
We need money for that
We need volunteers
oh want to buy a raffle ticket?
Oh we also need money for this other thing and that other thing.
We have these things for sale
and we need donations for this..

That about sums it up!

[Crawdaddy]

I continue my National HOG just so I can retain the road service.  Not hooked in to the local HOG thing..

Road service was why I joined in the first place.  I had a flat coming back from Natchez Trace with the wife in July (103 deg) near Hope, AR.  Called the number and got a bimbo who did not know what a Harley was from a truck.  To make it worse, it was Sunday no dealers open, Little Rock 100 miles away, and closed on Monday.  She kept asking for and address and I couldn't pin down my location except I was on the HWY next to a sorgum field 5 miles south of Hope.

Two angels on Harleys went by and saw my problem, turned around and stopped.  One guy had a plug kit and a 12 V compressor in his tour pak.  Lucky me, still made Hot Springs by happy hour.

Anyway, I was not impressed with the call center.  I called them back and cancelled my request, and they hadn't even started to send help.  They were looking for a wrecker that could pull a motorcycle.  I think AAA would have been better to call.  However, I did by a life membership last year when renewal came around.

[greglyon]

I've been an active HOG member at the local level for several years.  In fact, an officer of the chapter.  I think the comments expressed are right on and should serve notice to hog chapter officers  why some people opt out.  

Our chapter is large enough that the group splits with some doing the 5-10 mile dinner ride and others doing a 250-350 day ride around Arizona. Chapter membership is a great way to meet people with a common interest.  There are 6 chapters in the Phoenix metro area and I would bet each has it's own way of doing things.  Perhaps a different chapter is more in tune with your riding style and less committed to the almighty $$
        

[WFP]

I'll echo what's been said above...I have been a National HOG Member since my RK was bought in 1997.  Was given a local membership with the purchase but since the dealer is 60 miles away we never did any events.  Three years ago, we did a Poker Run sponsored by the Bridgewater area HOG.  We decided to check out that local HOG and went to a meeting to join.  What a waste of time.  The infighting did nothing to make us feel welcome.  We never went back.

Before GPS, the HOG Tour Book was my lifelne to dealer T-Shirts, yeah, they are overpriced but it is a sickness.  Still like the book to see if any new dealers have opened.  I have ridden to every dealer in New England and all but 3 in New York!  Someday I will hit those upstate dealers...just not this year.

I also decided to do the life upgrade for $300.

/Bill

[grc]

I've been a member since I got the free membership with my first Harley, mostly due to inertia.  I don't participate in the local chapters, don't go on the group rides, etc.  I hadn't really thought much about it until this thread, but there really is no good reason for me to be a member.  As for the roadside assistance thing, I get that through my vehicle insurance.  So what I basically get for my $$ is a patch and a pin.  Just call me "dumb a$$".

Jerry

[naitram]

i keep my national, and throw $25 to the local every year to get discount at the dealer. never been to a meeting

[mr_magoo]

I guess all chapters are different.  We pay dues each year of $20.  Yes you can buy 50/50 tickets (its your choice) ,  you are not asked for anything else (dealer cover most everything else)  our last capter ride was about 150 miles.  Sounds like some are alot more active than others,  and our dealer lets the chapter run its self.  

[JCZ]

My experience with local chapters is this. They want ALL my money> every meeting is money money money. Some of the members are cool. A good place to meet people if your new in the area I think.....beyond that its always something, local dues, renewels, money for parties and charities on and on, and it seems the rides are usually short, and dinner rides.ha........ours goes less than 2 miles to their dinner spot from the dealership. You can walk to it rather than ride and save gas!

If you never been to a local chapter meeting it goes something like this

We need money for this
We need money for that
We need volunteers
oh want to buy a raffle ticket?
Oh we also need money for this other thing and that other thing.
We have these things for sale
and we need donations for this..

That about sums it up!

I've been to three different HOG chapters in our area and it sounds like you go to the same one.

Oh, by the way..........AAA will not tow bikes, neither will the Chevron Auto Club or Allstate Motor Club..........that's why I got the HOG National, for the bike.  I've used it twice and damn glad both times, that I had it.

[hd-dude]

I just renewed my national mebership for 3-years as a full member. I have never been to the local meetings due to comments from others that have been that are right in line with what others here are stating (money, money, money). I hope I never need the tow service but its good insurance to have.

[ParrotHD]

You're all invited to join Decatur Chapter Illinois HOG.  Dues are $12 annual.  You are never asked for any other money.  Volunteers are sought to do things like sell race programs at The Mile to raise funds for the chapter.  Dinner ride destinations are almost always over an hour away until the winter months.  We do several two and three day rides during the season.  Almost everybody plays well with others.

I'm sorry to hear that most of you have had bad experience with HOG.  I'm the director of our chapter and I think we have a pretty good time, all centered on riding H-D motorcycles.  Our dealer is actively involved with the chapter, and that makes a big difference! [smiley=banana.gif]