How To Join/Renew
Interested in joining South Sound HOG? We always welcome new members and we are a very active chapter! Local membership dues are $20.00 per year for a Full Membership and $15.00 per year for an Associate Membership. You must be a National HOG Member to become a local member, either Full or Associate. For information on National HOG Membership, please visit www.hog.com.
Want to renew your South Sound HOG membership? Please complete the Local Chapter Membership Form and submit with your membership dues to SSHOG, PO Box 2085, Olympia, WA 98507. You can also drop the completed Membership Form at the front desk at NWHD. There is a 30-day grace period on renewals, and your National HOG Membership must be current to renew your local HOG membership.
If you are a Life Member of National HOG, Life Memberships are available for your Local Membership. Local Life membership dues are: $280.00 for Full Members with less than five years in SSHOG; $180.00 for Full Members after five consecutive years in SSHOG; $210 for Associate Members with less than five years in SSHOG; and $135.00 for Associate Members after five consecutive years in SSHOG. Contact the Membership Officer for further details.
Any questions? Please contact our Membership Officer, Lois Walterscheidt, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 360-701-0928.
All About South Sound H.O.G.
If you are new to South Sound HOG, you may be wondering just what we do, why do we do it, what to expect, etc . I have been asked those questions, so here is “EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SOUTH SOUND HOG BUT MIGHT BE AFRAID TO ASK!”
First, South Sound HOG is a local Chapter of the National Harley Owners Group (HOG), and we operate under their bylaws. That is why we have rules that you may wonder – “why don’t we do that?" … or "why do we do that?” One major rule is that we do not drink while riding. National HOG does not allow it. So you will not find us stopping for alcohol on our rides until the last stop when the HOG ride is officially over. This makes for safer riding for all of us.
We are a group that ride Harleys and our primary reason for existence is to RIDE! Any member can create and lead a ride, and we encourage you to do so. Contact the Road Captains for assistance if you’ve never created and planned a ride. We have a Board of Officers; some are elected, some appointed. All are volunteers and nobody is getting paid. Northwest Harley-Davidson (NWHD) is our Chapter sponsor. Our Chapter was organized in the early 90’s.
The Chapter has a group of Road Captains (RCs). The RCs make sure our rides go smoothly and are safe. RCs will either lead the rides or be there up front with the leader of the ride. RCs will also be ‘stationed’ throughout the group on a ride and at least one will be at the end of the group and is called the ‘sweep’. They keep each other informed of anything going on. If someone breaks down or goes down on a ride, the RCs will take care of the situation, whatever it may be. We do not stop a whole ride for one incident. We do not have everyone pull over to the side and wait because it is not safe. If you are on a ride and there is any type of ‘incident’, you will want to listen to your RCs and do as they direct you to do. If you are a new rider, or new to group riding, let an RC know. RCs will give a pre-ride talk before each ride, so please listen to those. If you have an interest in becoming a Road Captain, go to one of their meetings and find out more about it. And yes, YOU LADIES can be Road Captains too!
The Chapter also has a group of “Ladies of Harley” – LOH. LOH is for ALL ladies that are HOG members or Associate HOG members. It doesn’t matter what seat of the bike you sit on – you are welcome and encouraged to attend LOH meetings. LOH is responsible for a few of our special Chapter rides and activities and is there to assist on all rides and activities.
SSHOG has several ‘traditional’ rides and fundraiser runs. Add to that the many rides both officers and members come up with through the year and we have LOTS of rides. We try to have rides every weekend through the ‘riding season’ and many out o f season. During the really wet winter months we try to have some rides and maybe a couple of other activities – bowling for one. We like to get together socially even if we aren’t riding. All rides and activities are advertised via website, email, and monthly newsletter. The website is updated pretty much daily and emails go out pretty much weekly. If you see a ride you want to do – just show up. No notice required—unless it’s an overnighter and you’ll need to make hotel reservations.
Northwest Harley-Davison sponsors "HOG Nite". This is from 6:00 to 8:00 pm the third Wednesday of every month and the Harley shop has something planned for us. If it is nice out, it will most likely be a ride somewhere for appetizers or dinner. If the weather is not good they will have something going on at the shop, pretty much always involving food and some fort of fun. This is a benefit of SSHOG membership, and is a good way to meet other HOG members and the people that work at NWHD.
Hopefully this information answers some of your questions about our local HOG Chapter. The best and easiest way to have fun with SSHOG is to participate! Don't be shy, become a member and just show up at any ride or event, and stick your face in someone else's and say "Hi! My name is..." After all, isn't that why you bought a Harley?
New H.O.G.® Benefits for 2010
For H.O.G. members, it can now be a little cheaper to stay connected with friends, fellow riders, and loved ones – and a little easier to find a great, affordable place to stay on the road. Harley Owners Group® is pleased to introduce three valuable new benefits for 2010: discounts on select wireless service from AT&T, the new Best Western Ride RewardsSM program and reduced admission and other special perks at the Harley-Davidson Museum®.
With the new AT&T benefit, U.S. full and full life H.O.G. members can receive a 17% discount on their monthly service charge of qualified plans – just for being a part of the H.O.G. family. Both new and existing AT&T customers are eligible – and watch for Harley Owners Group-specific program and equipment promotions throughout the year. Terms and conditions apply, so log on to members.hog.com to get the details and to sign up for this money-saving new benefit.
And thanks to the new Best Western hotel benefit, you’ll be eligible to receive VIP treatment at participating hotels in North America and Hawaii. Once you sign up for Best Western Ride Rewards, the exclusive rewards program for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts,, you’ll be eligible for: a minimum 10% discount off best available rate; 15% bonus points on every stay; complimentary room upgrades; early check-in and check-out (when available); and much more. You can even use your Ride Rewards points to renew your H.O.G. membership.
In addition, when you stay at one of more than 1,400 U.S. and 85 Canadian Best Western “rider-friendly” hotels, you’ll enjoy additional rider benefits such as a wipe-down towel at check-in and access to a cleaning station for your Harley®. For details and to enroll, visit www.bestwestern.com/hog or call 888-BW2BIKE (888-292-2453).
Finally, members who show their active H.O.G. card at the Harley-Davidson Museum® in Milwaukee can enjoy reduced admission ($12) and other special perks, including the exclusive opportunity to become a Harley-Davidson Museum Member for a Day. For just $25, members will receive a single-use Museum admission; a one-day 10% discount at Motor® Bar & Restaurant and the Museum store (The Shop); Museum e-mail news; and a special pewter pin featuring the Museum and H.O.G. logos, with a new design each year.
“We’re thrilled to offer these new benefits,” says Benny Suggs, General Manager, H.O.G./Rider Services for Harley-Davidson. “They help make being a H.O.G. member one of the very best values on the road today. And we’ll continue to look for new ways to make H.O.G. even better!”
For details on these and any of your other H.O.G. benefits, log on to members.hog.com.