Welcome to the Atlanta Chapter's Website. Harley-Davidson of Atlanta established the Atlanta Chapter on September 19, 1985. We are the oldest H.O.G. Chapter in Georgia. All of the officers hope you will take a look around and enjoy your stop here. Be sure to check out the Calendar. We try to keep a good variety of rides and events to fit into everyone's schedules. If you are a local or just passing through town and have any questions feel free to contact any of the Officers. If you are interested in joining the chapter, we have membership applications available here on the site. We are here to "Ride and Have Fun" and hope you will come out and join us soon. Atlanta Chapter Officers |
HOGWASH
Official Newsletter
Atlanta Chapter, Inc.
Chapter Number 0788
November 2009 Issue
October 19, 2009
Advertising
Advertising in the HOGWASH
Advertising Rates
Articles
Director's Article
Assistant Director's Article
Secretary/Treasurer's Article
Head Road Captain's Article
Safety Officer's Article
Activity Officer's Article
Membership Officer's Article
LOH's Article
Head Photographer's Article
Historian's Article
Web Master's Article
Member Comment
Potpourri
Road Trip
Road Trip Recap
Charities We Support
MDA
Important Links
Harley-Davidson of Atlanta Web Page
GA State H.O.G. Rally Web Page
National H.O.G.Web Page
Important Stuff
Event Schedule
Tentative Event Schedule, 2009
Event Statement
Mission Statement
H.O.G. Chapter Online Privacy Statement
Member Benefit Change
Official Newsletter
Our Sponsor
Join the Group
Membership Application
Guestbook
Meet the Officers
Chapter Officers
Atlanta Chapter Picture Gallery
PhotoBucket
PhotoBucket Members ONLY
Picture Gallery
Members Only
HOGWASH Archives
HOGWASH Print as Mailed
Atlanta Chapter, 2009
Director
Chris Robey
770-367-1386
atlhogdirector@gmail.com
Assistant Director
Bobby Conway
678-384-0313
atlhogasstdirector@gmail.com
Secretary/Treasurer
Rene' Durham
770-944-1340
rene@hdatlanta.com
Head Road Captain
Diana Bodden
404-992-3548
harleybaby94@aol.com
Safety Officer
Jim Byrd
770-843-6700
atlhogsafety@gmail.com
Activity Officer
Erik Grandowski
404-580-6759
erik@grandowski.com
Membership Officer
Bret Graddy
678-567-5271
graddybr@comcast.net
LOH Officer
Melissa Fuller
404-226-1460
melissafuller@rbc.com
LOH Officer
Valerie Daniel
404-538-0250
valdan528@att.net
LOH Officer
Karen Mathiasen
770-354-4779
kmathiasen@yahoo.com
Head Photographer
Chuck Fuller
404-402-4088
atlhogphoto@gmail.com
Newletter/Web/Historian
B.K. Ellis
770-471-0306
bkellis@atlantahog.com
Editor
Chris Houghton
770-944-1340
chris@hdatlanta.com
Road Captain
Andy Andresen
770-502-0847
andyandresen@att.net
Road Captain
Tom Arnold
770-313-3886
tomn2hd@bellsouth.net
Road Captain
Ed Chowning
770-505-9404
edchowning@bellsouth.net
Road Captain
Mack Hall
770-445-2343
usachevy1@bellsouth.net
Road Captain
Steve Magel
678-354-3560
steve.magel@shawinc.com
Road Captain
Karen Mathiasen
770-354-4779
kmathiasen@yahoo.com
Road Captain
John Morgan
678-982-1589
roadcptn@yahoo.com
Road Captain
Andrea Oparnica
770-974-4332
andreaoparnica@gmail.com
Road Captain
Jack Parton
770-472-7994
jackparton@comcast.net
Road Captain
John Provost
404-535-3447
jprov91301@yahoo.com
Road Captain
Gene Williams
404-805-8119
williamsmobile@bellsouth.net
Shane's Rib Shack Social
October 20, 2009
Birthday Ride
October 25, 2009
Chiha Festival
October 29, 2009
Haunted House Ride
November 3, 2009
Atlanta Chapter Business Meeting
November 5, 2009
HOGWASH Articles Due
November 7, 2009
Signal Mountain Ride
November 10, 2009
Birthday Ride
November 11, 2009
Veterans Day Ride
November 14, 2009
Pole-ar Opposites Ride
October 16, 2009
Shane's Rib Shack Social
November 19, 2009
Atlanta Chapter Meeting
November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
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:
If you are interested in becoming a H.O.G. member, contact Rene' Durham, or call 770-944-1340
RIDER'S REWARDS PROGRAM ENDING
After much consideration and discussion with both our customers and employees, we have decided to eliminate the Rider’s Rewards Program on December 31, 2009. You can still use your card and earn points from now until December 31, 2009, after that time no points will be issued. All points must be converted to a gift card by December 31, 2009. We are notifying you this far in advance so that you will have time to cash in or take your card to the next level before expiration.
Everyone here at Harley-Davidson of Atlanta is looking forward to new and exciting things for our customers.
Sincerely,
Jeff Eubanks
General Manager
DIRECTOR’S ARTICLE
Happy Thanksgiving, I hope that everyone has a great holiday and eats lots of turkey. November is the time to be thankful, although I think every day should be that time. This past year has had a lot of ups and downs, for some more downs than ups. With the economy, job loss and most recently the floods that affected so many in our area it's hard sometimes to look at the bright side. But there is a bright side, just come out to one of the chapter events. It doesn't matter if it's a ride to the Dragon or Wii Bowling at the pavilion, it's always fun and uplifting. In all the years, I have been a member of this chapter I can't remember one event I have been to that I thought to myself, "well that sucked.” Just like with most families when your feeling down there is always someone there to help pick you back up.
With the winter months approaching and fewer rides on the calendar members will see each other less, but don't let this be a reason to disappear. Call up your friends and meet for dinner, if you're a new member set up a social at a local restaurant in your area and meet other members who live close to you. There is nothing bikers like more than food and an occasional adult beverage, shhh don't tell anyone. If you would like to set up a social contact me or one of the officers with the date, time and place, and we'll make sure it gets in the HOGWASH or weekly update.
The November Meeting will be held at the Golden Corral at 6975 Douglas Blvd. in Douglasville in front of Lowe's, on Thursday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. I hope everyone will come out to break bread with your fellow HOG members. Don't forget to RSVP when you get your eVite. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
Chris RobeyIt's hard to believe it's almost November. I don't know about everyone else, but I've had a blast this year. I've put several more miles on my bike and the majority of those were riding with all my Atlanta HOG Chapter Friends. I think back on the New Years Day Ride and how cold it was, Mardi Gras Ride, New Member Ride, Cherry Blossom Festival Ride, Blind Dawg Poker Run, Police Memorial Ride, Chapter Picnic, Bug Run, Million Mile Monday Dragon Ride, Rise & Shine Brunch Ride & Meeting, Saddle & Paddle, all the movie nights, and the state rally. One thing about it, if you like riding and having fun then you are definitely in the right chapter! Oh and all these rides were just the ones that either, I led or was directly involved in. As we start into the winter months and the good riding weather is scarce, I want to ask our membership to think about places you'd like to ride next year. As I write this, we just had our Road Captain's/Ride Leader's meeting. Many great ride ideas were produced. We have Road Captains that are planning on leading rides to assist members in obtaining their covered bridge patch next year. If you are interested then see Rene at the dealership and pay $20 for the book. Once you have been to 10 of the covered bridges and have photographic evidence you will receive your patch at the next meeting. We are also brainstorming about doing rides next year that will help you obtain your ABC's of touring patch. Go to www.members.hog.com to get the rules and regulations.
As you may or may not know next year is our chapter's 25th Anniversary. We are planning several things to mark this. Reunion rides and a special chapter 25th Anniversary logo design to celebrate. If you know, any former members invite them back for our anniversary year. We also are planning some fund raisers throughout the year to raise money for our various charities and to fund the chapter. We plan on raising enough to have one killer Christmas Party next year.
Please remember that all business meetings are open to any member of this chapter and any ideas you have or anything you would like to address to the officers should be addressed at these meetings, or for that matter, can be addressed at our monthly meetings or in private if you'd like. Anything that can get us to our ultimate goal – which is Riding and Having Fun.
Well, everyone enjoy riding and your Thanksgiving with your families and remember our Christmas Party is coming up so join the committee to help plan.
Bobby Conway
Assistant Director, Atlanta Chapter
Please ride safe and responsible,
Rene' Durham
Secretary/Treasurer, Atlanta Chapter
Ride Safe and have fun,
Diana Bodden
Head Road Captain, Atlanta Chapter
Jim Byrd
Safety Officer, Atlanta Chapter
What Are My Chapter Dues Used For
In the October Issue of HOGWASH, I discussed why your Atlanta Chapter HOG membership was such a great benefit to your motorcycling enjoyment, much like a great set of gloves or a chrome luggage rack. When you really think about it, these items are not required for a ride, but they make the journey more enjoyable because of what they do.
Well, your membership in the chapter works the same way; sure you can go and ride alone (sometimes that's not such a bad idea ) but it's much better with friends. And besides your Atlanta HOG family, how many of your other friends have bikes and are ready to chew up some miles with you?
Now that we all agree that chapter membership is a good thing to have, some members have asked one simple question. How is the membership dues spent? Well, to answer this, let's do a little forensic accounting and take a look:
In order to provide a complete picture, we will use 2008 as our test case since 2009 is not complete. Here is a snapshot of our income for 2008:
Membership Dues Paid: | $4,270 |
50/50 Proceeds: | $635 |
Newsletter Advertising: | $1,445 |
Soft Drink Sales at Events: | $490 |
Other Income: | $4,234 |
Total Income for 2008: | $11,074 |
So, in 2008 our overall income was $11,074, which may seem like a good bit of money to operate our chapter, but let's take a look at the other half of the equation, the 2008 operation costs:
HOGWASH Printing & Postage: | $2,752 |
Chapter Door Prizes: | $863 |
Attendance Gift Card Prizes: | $450 |
Primary Officer Training: | $1,463 |
Meeting Meals (loss): | $610 |
Charitable Donations: | $805 |
Holiday Party | $1,763 |
Total of all Other Expenses: | $3,818 |
Total Expenses for 2008: | $12,525 |
As you can see, in 2008, the chapter operated at a loss of $1,750. Don't be surprised; we often operate at a loss. For years our chapter has been subsidized by the dealership and the small cash reserve account established years ago. However, with the economy hitting the crapper, times have changed. Our new recipe for success in 2010 is a healthy slice of financial independence, smothered in great riding, served up with a side order of fun.
To kick off 2010, we need to make sensible financial changes get off our perpetual "dealership bailout program" Here are a few items we are considering:
1. Electronic Delivery of the HOGWASH – Zero printing & postage, unlimited pages, and color photos! This change alone will save 22% of our overall costs.
2. Chapter Meal Losses - If you RSVP’d for a meal, show up and pay your $5.00! There’s no need for the chapter to cover this shortfall.
3. Charitable Donation Reduction – In the past, Atlanta Chapter HOG has been a giving member of the community by supporting causes like Share House and Southeastern Guide Dogs. We will continue to select a different charitable organization each year and support their cause, but in moderation.
4. Keep the Membership Renewal Fee at $20 - In these economic times, saving is important for everyone, so the 2010 renewal fee for the chapter will be the same $20 it’s been for years.
In 2010, we hope to get the same incredible level of enthusiasm from everyone as we did in 2009 to assist with the chapter's income producing events such as the summertime grilling, and concession sales at the Bikes and Beauties event to name a few. Also, we will be looking forward to increasing our membership base next year with some incentive programs.
Additionally, to keep everything in check, your chapter officers are creating an operation’s budget to measure the success of our cost-saving, moneymaking efforts. This report will be published and updated at chapter meetings so everyone can measure the progress.
The financial goal for next year is to earn and save enough for a kick- ass, holiday party in 2010 that's FREE for all members! Think about it, renew your chapter membership for $20 in 2010, enjoy a full year of riding and fun, then attend the holiday party next December (which typically costs $10.00) for free. That's the same as getting 50% off your yearly dues!
I realize this article is a far cry from what's typically published in the Hogwash, great stories about sharing the road with good friends, but I wanted to make sure everyone knows how the chapter dues are utilized to enhance your non-riding experience, and how we plan to save money to improve these experiences for 2010, the chapter's 25th Anniversary year.
Erik Grandowski
Activity Officer, Atlanta Chapter
Who’s Riding Next to Ya
This month features two more chapter members as a way to help us get to know each other better. We've got lots of interesting members in our group, and it's fun to learn a little about who's riding next to ya.
Name: Beth Barrett
Road Name: Lashes
Meaning Behind the Road Name: If you don’t know Beth already you’re missing a chance to know a wonderful person. Even with the challenges of chemo that she’s been through you will never see her looking less than 100%, including make-up.
Number of Years Riding? Beth’s been riding with her main squeeze Tandy, since 1994.
What Do You Ride & Why? Beth is the chief navigator on the back of their 2001 Electra Glide Classic. They have been fortunate to have been on many adventures together on the scoot.
Most Memorable Ride? When you've been riding since 1994, there are plenty of memorable rides and Beth shared a few as we talked. A visit to the 2007 NC State HOG Rally in the Outer Banks ranked as the top of the list. They rode with Rodney and Pat Still (her brother and sister-in-law). This was some place that Beth always had wanted to visit. Grab her the next time you see her and hear some of the stories. Whew Tandy, I'd keep her around so all those tales don't get out!
Name: Peter (Pete) Oparnica
Road Name: Pete doesn't currently have a road name, but I'll tell you there were lots of discussion and plenty of suggestions. I'm sure this article will prompt more ideas and suggestions. A man with that many tattoos needs and is deserving of a road name!
Number of Years Riding? Pete started riding dirt bikes as a child and has been riding more than 30 years.
What Do You Ride & Why? ’07 Road King Custom, a nice touring bike with comfort for the long road trips.
Most Memorable Ride? A 2006-road trip to Daytona and back with Andrea, his lovely wife. It was a long ride, and they had lots of fun as they met up with Pete's son who rode his bike up from Miami to ride with them in Daytona.
Melissa Fuller, LOH
The 2009 "Leaf Season" will be starting soon! There are some great organized rides, and I'm sure there will be several impromptu rides to the north Georgia Mountains and other destinations. These rides promise to have lots of "Kodak" moments, please send me any pictures you take along the way, so I can post them for everyone to enjoy.
Please email to: atlhogphoto@gmail.com
Chuck Fuller
Head Photographer, Atlanta Chapter
See you on the road,
Bret Graddy
Membership Officer, Atlanta Chapter
B.K. Ellis
Historian, Atlanta Chapter
Atlanta Chapter Web Page
Due to a review of our web page by national H.O.G., I have had to do some changing. I will no longer list chapter members’ birthdays on the web page. They will still be in the HOGWASH and on the web page in the HOGWASH Print as Mailed. I had to move the HOGWASH Archives and the HOGWASH Print as Mailed to a password-protected page. You will need a UserId and password to access these pages. I will print the UserId and password in the HOGWASH each month so you will have access to these pages. This is security protection for our members who names and email addresses appear in past and/or current publications. This does not apply to chapter officer/road captains per national H.O.G. This information is for Atlanta Chapter members ONLY and is not to be disseminated to NON-Chapter Members. These changes only apply to the web site. The HOGWASH publication will remain the same.
Keep Email Address Updated!
If you have updated your e-mail address, PLEASE send me your new address. I get several undeliverable e-mail messages each time I send a message updating members on up coming or changed events. Please, keep you e-mail address up to date and stay informed! E-mail me at hog@bellsouth.net. Thanks!!
B.K. Ellis
Web Master, Atlanta Chapter
6th Annual Signal Mountain Ride – November 7 – 8, 2009
Join me for the 6th Annual Signal Mountain Ride .Yes, for six years you have made this one of the chapter's most desirable and memorable rides. If you haven't ridden this one, now's your chance!
We will ride John's Mountain to the foothills of Lookout Mountain. Head up Raccoon Mountain and stop at the TVA Pump Station Reservoir. Travel a one lane road across the top of the reservoir for a spectacular view across many miles of canyon.
Then ride across the valley, onto Hwy. 27 toward Suck Creek and challenge our riding skills up and down the western face of Signal Mountain. Warm our souls in sunshine along the TN River until we reach the southern tip of Signal Mountain to embrace our tanks for yet another twisty experience. We will pass the Space Ship house, travel along the main Hwy. 127 and down the eastern slope of Signal Mountain. Stop in Whitwell for some fuel and share our colorful stories. From here, we head north on Hwy. 108 to Gruetli-Laager to be greeted by our last set of twisties on Hwy. 50 through Pelham and Hwy. 41 S into Monteagle.
As always, we will spend the night in Monteagle, TN at the Best Western Smokehouse Lodge. Details to follow.
The next morning, we will head to Suwannee University for breakfast and a stop at the Peace Memorial to pray for our fallen and active military.
Our return route will be different from last year. Generally speaking we head through TN, AL and into Dallas, GA.
Due to the length and nature of this ride, it is a 4.5 PIG. However, I encourage the less experienced to join us and challenge your skills. After all, this is the only way to improve!
WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
MEET: HDA 9:00 A.M.; Kickstands Up at 9:30 A.M. SHARP!
RETURN: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009 in time for dinner.
I look forward to seeing all of you and celebrating my Birthday!
Steve Magel, Road Captain
678.427.2429
Veteran’s Day Ride November, 11
Join us as we ride to the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park this Veteran's Day, 11/11/2009. The 5,500 acre Chickamauga Battlefield, scene of the last major Confederate victory of the Civil War, contains numerous monuments, historical tablets, wayside exhibits, and trails. Major points of interest can be reached by following the seven-mile auto tour. The Visitor Center includes exhibits, a bookstore, and the Claud E. and Zenada O. Fuller Collection of American Military Shoulder Arms. So come ride with us as we learn a little about our nation's history and honor the memory of the men an women who have died to keep her free. Meet at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Bremen, GA at 8:30 a.m., kick stands up at 9:00 a.m. For those of you who would like to have breakfast before the ride, we will be there at 7:30 a.m. and would love to have some company. Just let us know how many to reserve a table for.
Melissa Folds, Bobby Conway, Road Captains
The Pole-ar Opposites Ride November, 14
Ladies and Gents, come out and take a ride on the wild side with us on Saturday, November 14th as we meet at the dealership's pavilion at Noon and roll out at noon-thirty for the next LOH adventure! Karen Mathiasen (Fashion) will lead us to Moreland Ave. to Dance 411 Studios where the ladies will take a 1 hour private pole dancing lesson. Don't worry guys, Chuck Fuller will then lead the guys to a Firehouse museum close by (yes, they have a pole too). After the ladies enjoy their lesson the guys will meet back up at the dance studio, and we'll all go eat lunch at the Varsity. Because of the limited space in this dance class, we will take the first 20 ladies, who sign up by sending Erik Grandowski an email (Erik@Grandowski.com); he'll send you a Paypal request for payment of $20, which will reserve your space (sorry, money is non refundable). The firehouse museum is free of charge.
Melissa Fuller, LOH Officer
Atlanta Chapter is accepting business and personal advertisements for the HOGWASH! What a great way to promote your business, organization, service or personal information to all Atlanta Chapter members each month!
For advertising rates please click HERE.
Please contact Rene' Durham at 770-944-1340 for more information or to place your ad today!
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
H.O.G. CHAPTER ONLINE PRIVACY STATEMENT
Personal privacy and security of information are mutual concerns of H.O.G., its members, and visitors to Atlanta Chapter web site. This Statement explains H.O.G.'s Internet policies and security measures relating to personal privacy and information security.
The Atlanta Chapter collects and stores the following information about you when you visit the Atlanta Chapter web site: the name of the domain from which you access the Internet (for example, aol.com, if you are connecting from an America Online account); the date and time you access the site; and the Internet address of the web site from which you linked directly to our site. The chapter uses this information to measure the number of visitors to the different sections of its site. This helps H.O.G. to make its site more responsive to its members and prospective members.
H.O.G. will not obtain personally identifying information about you when you visit our site unless you choose to provide such information. If you choose to send e-mail, registration, or other personal information over the Internet, you do so voluntarily.
The Atlanta Chapter will not disclose personal information provided to it except as follows:
At your request, which may be oral, in writing, by telephone, electronic or other means we recognize;
To assist H.O.G. in evaluating its programs and to continue to improve the quality of your on-line and membership experience;
When disclosure is required by law, such as pursuant to court order, subpoena, legal process or government agency examination or investigation, or to protect or enforce our rights;
To companies that perform services for H.O.G. in connection with your membership, such as data processing and financial transaction processing companies and agencies;
To Harley-Davidson affiliated companies and carefully selected third parties for their own use to provide products and services, or other opportunities to you, unless you have instructed us in writing not to do so; and
In connection with Harley-Davidson corporate due diligence and audits.
By your use of and connection to our web site, you understand and consent to this privacy statement. If for any reason you are concerned that the personal or member information maintained by H.O.G. is not correct or if for some reason you believe H.O.G. has not adhered to these privacy principles, please notify us by calling 1-800-CLUB-HOG.