Welcome to the Atlanta Chapter's Website. Harley-Davidson of Atlanta established the Atlanta Chapter on September 16, 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
May 2010 Issue
April 18, 2010
Atlanta Chapter, 2010
Director
Bobby Conway
678-384-0313
atlhogdirector@gmail.com
Assistant Director
Erik Grandowski
404-580-6759
Erik Grandowski.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
Melissa Fuller
404-226-1460
melissa.fuller.com
Membership Officer
Bret Graddy
678-567-5271
graddybr@comcast.net
LOH Officer
Karen Mathiasen
770-354-4779
kmathiasen@yahoo.com
LOH Officer
Valerie Daniel
404-538-0250
valdan528@att.net
LOH Officer
Holly Martin
404-421-2082
kmartrx24@bellsouth.net
Head Photographer
Rick Parker
404-402-4088
rick@galleryparker.com
Volunteer Coordinator
Chuck Fuller
404-402-4088
cful@bellsouth.net
Newletter/Web/Historian
B.K. Ellis
770-471-0306
bkellis@atlantahog.com
Editor
Chris Houghton
770-944-1340
chris@hdatlanta.com
Welcome Wagon
Chris Robey
770-367-1386
athogwelcome@gmail.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
Glenn Folds
770-633-9128
folds@bellsouth.net
Road Captain
Melissa Folds
770-832-3332
dragonsinger@bellsouth.net
Road Captain
Mack Hall
770-445-2343
usachevy1@bellsouth.net
Road Captain
Matt Langley
770-214-1875
acowart061@yahoo.com
Road Captain
Steve Magel
678-237-7762
stevemagel@gmail.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
Robert Sexton
770-634-1369
pirate40@numail.org
Road Captain
Luc Vermeer
630-779-6278
ljvermeer@yahoo.com
Iron Butt Pre Ride Meeting
April 19, 2010
Shane's Rib Shack Social
April 24, 2010
Police Memorial Ride
April 27, 2010
Birthday Ride
May 4, 2010
Business Meeting
March 8, 2010
ADA Ride to Live
May 10, 2010
HOGWASH Articles Due
May 15, 2010
Iron Butt Ride -- CANCELLED --
May 15, 2010
Hotrods & Harleys
May 17, 2010
Shane's Rib Shack Social
May 20, 2010
Atlanta Chapter Meeting
May 21, 2010
Furlough Day Ride
May 22, 2010
Blake Gammill Memorial Ride
May 23, 2010
Hair of the Hog Ride
May 23, 2010
Pool's Mill Park Covered Bridge
May 23, 2010
Breast Sunset Ever Ride
May 25, 2010
Birthday Ride
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
Spring has sprung and I still can't get over all the participation going on in our chapter. You guys are great. As I write this article I just got back from the overnight covered bridge ride, although I was only able to attend the Saturday ride. We left HDA with 14 bikes on Saturday and met 14 bikes in Athens. What and awesome site going down the road. I want to thank our Covered Bridge Team.
I also mentioned in my last article my trip to Key West. Let me say that it couldn't have been any better. There's nothing like having my Dad and two of my closest friends to make that trip with on the bikes. I also want to give a personal thanks to Charlie Myers for allowing me to use his headset. We saw Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades; Tandy & Rodney even made it to a covered bridge on the way back.
Now, onto some chapter business that I feel I need to keep you informed about. We are in the preliminary stages of planning the Holiday Party. As it stands now, we are negotiating with "Dave & Busters" for the food and our party. Now at this point we are on track to be able to provide a party with a meal at little or no expense to members , however our budget will not allow us to have the same provisions for non chapter family members. Furthermore, in our business meeting we determined that the cut off a date for this to be at no expense is August 1 as it stands now. What this means if your spouse or friend or anyone that is a national HOG member joins the chapter after August 1, there will be a cost to attend the Holiday party. For non chapter members the cost will be more. There will be a cash bar for adult beverages. I'm expecting our budget if it continues to allow this to be a free event for all our members who are in the chapter prior to August 1. I think this will be a jam up party.
I also wanted to make you aware that we had to postpone our poker run, which will also consist of the raffle of a flat screen TV to benefit the chapter as well. We plan on having you, the chapter members sell these $5 tickets to friends, family, co-workers and whoever will buy them. These folks will not have to be present to win and it will be drawn the day of the poker run which is planned for September. Exact date to follow. As soon as these tickets are printed, I will let you know in our various means of communication.
I just want to let you all know that things are going great with the chapter. I love how active we are and I want to thank all the officers, road captains and especially all the members. You guys are what make this chapter.
Bobby ConwayErik Grandowski
Assistant Director, Atlanta Chapter
Attendance Jackpot
Congratulations to Sandy McGee who won the March Attendance Jackpot, $50 cash. We will start over at the April Chapter meeting, $50. Remember you must be at the meeting and a member in "Good Standing," a current member of national H.O.G. and Atlanta Chapter. If the member whose name is drawn is not at the meeting, we will add $10 and try again next meeting.
Please have your national H.O.G. card with you at the meeting. Hope to see everyone there.
Please ride safe and responsible,
Rene' Durham
Secretary/Treasurer, Atlanta Chapter
Ride Safe and have fun,
Diana Bodden
Head Road Captain, Atlanta Chapter
Ride with a Great Attitude
Riding with a great attitude is one of the best ways to enjoy riding more and to effect a change in the general public’s sometime dim view of motorcycling. A bad attitude will be reflected in your riding, and a preoccupation with whatever made you grumpy will only distract you from the job at hand: safely riding your motorcycle.
When riding anywhere but on the wide-open country roads, you have a choice while riding: riding with the flow of traffic, or fighting it. There are often times when traffic is not moving at a speed you would choose. When this happens, poor riders zigzag through the slower traffic, tailgating, cutting people off, and generally irritating everyone on the road, reinforcing the perception that all motorcyclists are daredevil speed demons with no respect for anyone on the road.
Motorcyclists should always try to be courteous riders, demonstrating what responsible people they are. Nothing harms the image of motorcycling more than a rider aggressively weaving through traffic on a motorcycle.
When you ride, you are an ambassador of motorcycling to the general public, and it is your responsibility to ride accordingly.
Jim Byrd
Safety Officer, Atlanta Chapter
Melissa Fuller
Activity Officer, Atlanta Chapter
Chuck Fuller
Vounteer Coordinator, 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: Sandy McGee
Road Name: Ice - This name came from a night of partying and playing cards with friends. Sandy was enjoying a frozen adult beverage and the ice on the glass got stuck to her pants. You know how friends are…the next thing ya know everyone was calling her "Ice."
What Do You Ride & Why? Ice rides a 2008 105th Anniversary Edition Heritage Softail. She chose this bike after looking at and sitting on lots of different bikes. The Heritage was the one that felt right for her. She loves the way the bike rides. She's been riding since she was 10 years old starting with small bikes and working her way up to bigger bikes along the way.
Most Memorable Ride? At the age of 11 or 12 Sandy's dad let her ride a Yamaha 250 Exciter by herself and it was exciting for her to be able to ride wild and free.
Name: Rick Parker
Road Name: Alert! Alert! We have a new road name...FLASH! This one came about from all the photos that Rick has taken of his HOG friends and the videos he's captured of some of our HOG events.
What Do You Ride & Why? Flash rides a 2009 Super Glide. This is his 5th Harley and his 7th bike. He's been riding for 30 years. Another note - if you play trivia with Rick you can count on the team name being '09 Super Glide.
Most Memorable Ride? Two rides come to mind as very memorable. The first is the 2009 ride to Helen, GA for the GA state HOG rally because of the torrential rain throughout the entire ride. The second ride is the 2009 Million Mile Monday ride to the Dragon's Tail with the Atlanta HOG chapter. That was a fun ride and great weather.
Valerie Daniel, Holly Martin, LOH Officers
Well, the riding season is fully upon us now and there have already been a number of great rides. I'm starting to get more photos turned in and I will be giving out two more patches at the next meeting. Keep 'em coming!
Those of you who went on the Athens/Five Bridges ride can find all the photos on Photobucket at this address: http://photobucket.com/HOG_Five_Bridges
Also, be sure to check out the videos on the Atlanta HOG YouTube page. More will be added throughout the year. You can find them all
here: https://www.youtube.com/user/HOGATLANTA
See you on the next ride,
Rick Parker
Head Photographer, Atlanta Chapter
I have uploaded the first years of the Atlanta Chapter's newsletters. You can find them in the link, HOGWASH as Printed for Mail on our web page (www.atlantahog.com). You will notice a considerable difference in the quality of the newsletter we have now in comparison to them back then, when we said "cut and paste" I mean laterally "cut and paste" with scissors and paste. I hope you take time to check out these historic newsletters. I will continue to upload our history as I have time, so check back often. Since this is our 25th Anniversary Year, I wanted to get the first newsletters loaded. You can check out the rides we had, and they are not too different to the rides we have today. Georgia has not added too many new roads and the terrain is the same. There are more restaurants and we still live up to the motto, “Live to Ride and Ride to Eat.”
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 for Mailed. I had to move the HOGWASH Web Pages 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
GEORGIA STATE RALLY NEWS
Registration will be on the website on Monday, April 12 (www.gastatehogrally.com). Preregistration is very important to be able to provide YOU with the best Rally EVER! When a HOG member preregisters for the rally, the money collected is used for games, entertainment and prizes. The more HOGs that preregister means that there will be more choices for you and your family to enjoy.
Another incentive to preregister by May 22 is the chance to win one of two vacation packages donated by Cyndi’s Fantasy Travel. As last year, the vouchers are for a 3 day/2 night stay at any hotel on the approved list with travel on your own. Wouldn’t a nice and FREE hotel stay be great after a long ride on the Harley!
Additionally, like last year, all merchandise sales (t-shirts, patches and pins) are sold during preregistration. If you don’t preregister, your chances of getting a t-shirt or pin are pretty slim.
Enjoy a Casino Cruise on Friday, September 10 from 11am to 4pm for only $8.00 per person when preregistered and $10.00 per person on the day of the cruise. The price includes $5.00 worth of chips and a light refreshment. It’s a real deal! The Emerald Princess II Cruise Ship has the highest quality gaming action in the Southeast featuring Roulette, Blackjack, Poker, Craps and Slots. Join other HOG members for lunch and gambling while cruising the Atlantic Ocean. You must at least 18 years of age and present a government issued Photo ID to board the ship.
Bike and Non-Bike games will be taking place during the weekend as well as a Ride In Bike Show. The Tifton Hog Chapter and Tifton Harley-Davidson will be hosting the 2nd Annual Piney Wood Rooters Ride. Please post your ideas or rides on the Georgia HOG State Rally Facebook page.
The Low Country Boil will take place on Saturday, September. 11. It will be a great time of eating and party-ing with your HOG friends. Please keep checking the rally website and Facebook page for updated details.
Pass the word along to all of your HOG friends to preregister for the Rally. Bring the family and friends and join us for the best time ever in Jekyll Island!
Pig Ride LegendIron Butt Ride – Baton Rouge, LA – May 15, 2010
Want to experience the ultimate in lunch rides? Luc Vermeer and Melissa Folds are co-captaining an Iron Butt ride from the dealership to Baton Rouge, LA and back in less than 24 hours. The Iron Butt Association (www.ironbutt.com) is a worldwide organization of long distance riders. One of the types of rides that they recognize (yeah, you get cool stuff if you finish one of their rides) is 1000 miles in 24 hours. And since we all "Love to Ride and Ride to Eat" what's better than riding for authentic Cajun Food! The ride will be happening on Saturday, May 15th. Tentative plan is to leave the dealership at about 2:00 a.m., arrive in Baton Rouge at around noon, and be home by 9:00 p.m.. Please note: This ride is a timed, interstate the whole way, an endurance event. It is not a lazy sightseeing ride. Please do not sign up for this event if you do not feel you can handle the distance or the stress of riding almost constantly for 18-20 hours. There will be a mandatory pre-ride meeting in March. If you are even considering going on this ride, you should really really come to the meeting. Please email Luc (ljvermeer@yahoo.com) if you are interested in going or have any questions.
Luc Vermeer, Melissa Folds, Road Captains
Georgia Police and Fire Olympics
The Atlanta Chapter has been asked once again to help out in support of the Georgia Police and Fire Olympics by supplying volunteers to act as judges and support personnel at the Motorcycle competition. The event date is Saturday, June 19. I will lead a ride to Carrollton from the dealership for anyone that wants to volunteer. We had several volunteers last year and it went very smoothly for all the participants. So anyone who is interested can email me at tomn2hd@bellsouth.net and I will put them on the list. Exact times will be published later. In addition, anyone who just wants to come out and see some professional motorcycle riding competition on full size bikes (mostly Harleys) can come out and be a spectator.
Tom Arnold, Road Captain
3rd Annual Bikers on Main in La Grange, GA
Poker Run, Bike Show, Exotic Car Show, Live Bands, 50/50, Food, Lighting, Biker Gear, Michael Swann Graphics, and tons of other vendors, Kid's Events, and much, much more.
Meet at the Pavilion on Saturday, June 5 at 9 A.M.. KSU at 9:30 A.M.. 2-pigs.
Robert Sexton, Road Captain
Hair of the Hog
Join me for a "Hair of the Dog" ride to the Porter Beer Bar. The Porter Beer Bar is the hottest new entry in the Atlanta gastro-pub scene. Located in the heart of Little Five Points, this cozy restaurant with its hand-crafted wooden booths and exposed brick wall is the perfect place for a casual dinner of gourmet pub grub and a few glasses of one of the 300 beers on offer. The Porter has a "Hair of the Dog" brunch on weekends with a banana caramel pecan hot cakes, biscuits and sausage gravy, and a smoked salmon scramble.
Meet at the HDA Pavilion at 11:00 A.M. on Sunday, May 23 for the ride briefing at 11:15 A.M. and immediate departure. Obviously this is a one-way ride. 2-3 pigs (interstate).
Robert Sexton, Road Caption
Saddle & Paddle
The date is set: July 31 & August 1. It will be much like last year. I have negotiated with Fontana Village and we will again have lodge rooms there, the negotiated price is $69 and I'm sure there is tax on top of that. In addition, there was some discussion about the price of their breakfast buffet on Sunday morning and I've negotiated a $10 cost of that. To make your reservations call Fontana Village at 828-498-2211and mention that you're with Atlanta HOG. Once you've made your reservation please contact me either at 404-502-2380 or atlhogdirector@gmail.com. We also have reservations for the rafting. This will be $20 each for the folks that don't want a guide. I know there may be one raft that might want a guide. Just let me know and I'll confirm the extra cost for that. Also, I was a little dissatisfied by the food for lunch last year so, I'm open to suggestions for a food stop maybe in Murphy. Also, with this I am going to up the meet time for 8:00 A.M. at the same Brands mart location on Busbee Pkwy. and leave time at 8:30 AM. I'm still working up a plan on this but if you have any questions please contact me.
Bobby Conway, Road Captain
Athens 5 Bridges Ride Recap
Fourteen bikes set out in the early morning of Good Friday on the quest to stalk some more covered bridges. We lost one cell phone and made one wrong turn ( U-turn skill building exercise ~ that's my story and I am sticking to it) but we were able to visit two covered bridges on the way to Athens without major incident. Lunch at the Varsity was lively and later there were "Wild Turkeys" spotted at the pool. Luc led a few of us on a side trip to the Terrapin Brewery which was very cool, especially when he hijacked a little girl's hula hoop and started giving lessons. The day went downhill though when rumors began to circulate that Luc had been giving the "low left salute" to passing scooters.
Day two started with a quick stealth mission to the shrine of UGA football (led by our own personal inside guy, Ian Folds) to get our picture made at Sanford Stadium without alerting the campus police. Mission accomplished. Although, I think, we managed to scare a few prospective UGA students and their families when we rolled up ‘between the hedges' and started soliciting for a photographer. We met up with the day-trippers at Shane's for lunch led by Matt Langley. This brought us to a total of 28 bikes for the last leg of our stalking journey. We made it to the last three bridges without incident thanks to Jim Byrd, who rode middle and to Glenn Folds who rode sweep assisted by Matt Langley. Our official photographer, Rick "Flash" Parker, got some wonderful pictures and put together a fabulous video of our journey. Check it out! All in all we had a great weekend and I look forward to riding with you all in the future.
Melissa Folds, Road Captain
Concord Covered Bridge Ride Recap
As many of you already know, 2010 has become the year to revisit a tour from our past…Georgia Covered Bridges.
On Saturday, February 20, we made our second ride in the quest to visit these historic and scenic treasures of Georgia! It was a beautiful spring like day with temperatures in the 60's and the skies clear and sunny. With 30 bikes and 33 riders the stage was set for a great day of riding and hangin' out.
The Concord covered bridge is used for everyday traffic unlike most of the other bridges that are in rural areas, it's in Smyrna! Safety was our top priority! It was a short 10 mile ride from H-D of Atlanta; we staged everyone in the parking lot of the Silver Comet trail just up the road for each of us to file by and get a picture at the bridge…several made their pass through the rickety old thing. Jim Byrd, Safety Officer directed traffic for us and Rick Parker, Head Photographer was set up to get pictures.
After we had all visited the bridge, we finished the day with a fine meal at Howard's restaurant just up the road.
Thanks to all for the participation and to everyone who helped out, a good time was had by all and watch for future rides to join in on the fun.
Ride on!
Chuck Fuller, Covered Bridge Stalking Team
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 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
August 2010
September 2010
October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
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.