The job of Historian presented two task to me when I was assigned the challenge of summarizing the Chapter history.  The first was to acquire all the Crystal River HOG Newsletters from the year 2001 to 2010. The second was to write and document the story of the Crystal River HOG Chapter from its inception on February 28, 2001 to present.                                                                                                                                                       

The following people are owed a debt of gratitude, for without their help, the story of the Crystal River HOG Chapter would not be possible:

Joey Bennett  Cheryl Jorgensen  Skip Coolbaugh  Fred Kruger  Linda Curtis  Valerie Ledterman  John Griffin  Warren Hill  Rick Robbins  Ralph Trowbridge 

They provided me with the documentation that allowed me to write an accurate history of the Crystal River HOG Chapter.

The History Of The Crystal River HOG Chapter

A group of motorcycle enthusiasts in Crystal River met to organize a HOG chapter. The decision was made to look for a sponsor. When the group went to the Harley-Davidson Shop of Crystal River and met with Warren Hill, they found that Warren was quite receptive to the idea of sponsoring a HOG chapter. As a result of that meeting, the Chapter was chartered under the Harley-Davidson of Ocala located at 1803 Southeast US 19, Crystal River, FL 34429, as Crystal River HOG Chapter #8213 on February 28, 2001. The first HOG meeting was held at Pecks Old Port Cove Restaurant on April 19, 2001.  The first newsletter was printed in April, 2001.

Derek Kelly started the Harley-Davidson Shop of Crystal River with Warren Hill as the General Manager on September 26, 2000. The shop was located at 1803 Southeast U.S.19, Crystal River, Florida 34429. A Harley-Davidson Shop is considered to be a secondary retail location that sells motorcycles allocated to them by the primary retail location. In this case, the primary retail location was Harley-Davidson of Ocala. The Harley-Davidson Shop of Crystal River, under Warren Hill's management, was so successful in selling motorcycles that when they moved to the new building, they became a franchise dealership.

On August 8, 2004 the Harley-Davidson Shop of Crystal River became The Harley-Davidson Dealership of Crystal River. They moved to their new location at 1785 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa, FL. When the HOG Chapter was sent the Chapter Charter Applications for 2005, the Chapter number was changed to #1796. The paperwork was signed and turned in to the National HOG Headquarters in Milwaukee on December 16, 2004. This number change only had to do with the status of the dealership. The shop became a full dealership, hence the number change.   

In April 2002, Tom and Carol Cappuccio joined the Chapter as members.  The Director position was vacant at the time, and Tom was asked to fill the position. Tom, Carol, Cheryl and James Jorgensen, and Glenn Green were active in the Chapter leadership roles for the next several years. Each HOG Chapter was required to file a three- page yearly report with the National Headquarters in Milwaukee. One page is the yearly Charter, which includes the listing of Chapter offices and the name of person holding each office. The National Headquarters sends back ID rockers for the officers and a year sticker to apply on the Chapter Charter at the dealership. This report was filed with the National Headquarters for each year from 2001 through 2010. Correspondence with Valerie Ledterman, Region 6 Manager of National HOG, revealed National Headquarters does not have Chapter membership lists, and their National Charters go back only seven years. Valerie checked the National HOG registration showing Kim and Terry Corbin's National HOG Membership pre-date May 31, 2001.                                    

Note from Valerie Ledterman: Feb 19, 2010, at 9:03 PM:

Hi James!

Thanks for the message! Since your chapter's inception in 2001, there have only been one chapter # changes which have coincided with the dealership # changes.  These numeric changes only had to do with the status of the dealership in our system. It became a full-line dealership which changed the #, but the chapter has remained a viable club from day 1.  Cool.......

Membership Information

The HOG Chapters renewal membership dues for the year 2002 were due by April 30, 2002. When Tom Cappuccio became Director, this policy was changed so the renewal date for members was on the date they joined the Chapter. For example, Fred Kruger joined the Chapter on 04/2001. His membership renewal would be on 04/2003. This meant that the treasurer needed to keep arduous membership records.

In 2007, Membership Director Deb Driskill changed this old policy. All memberships expired on December 31. All renewals had to be paid by January 31 to keep the membership active. The dates that members joined were still kept. If a member joined in November or December, Active Membership rolled over to include the following year. This is the policy today                                                                                                         

The "Ladies of Harley" group has been a very involved segment of the Crystal River Chapter since its inception in 2001.  Our L.O.H. members regularly attend "L.O.H. Members Only" functions, and assist the Chapter in any way requested. When Liz Hickey became the Chapter's L.O.H. Officer in 2007, the group started the Progressive Dinner Ride. The ride provided for four stop to include appetizers, salad, main course, and desert.  This ride became one of the most popular of the Chapter rides. At the November, 2009 HOG meeting, the L.O.H. presented a 2010 calendar to the members for purchase at a cost of $10.00. Each month had the image of one of the L.O.H. members sitting on their bikes. Each member at the December Christmas Party was given a calendar as a gift.                                                                                                                        

Beginning in January 2008, Russ Linstrom, as Head Road Captain, began the process of creating a Road Captain Training Manual along with Terry Corbin. This project, along with a Group Riding Manual, was completed by January, 2009.  Both manuals were approved by the BOD, and were placed on the HOG web site.

 Since 2003, the Crystal River HOG Chapter has celebrated the end of the year with a Christmas Party.  During the 2006 Christmas Party, Ralph began the tradition of having an end of the year slide show or power point presentation of select images taken by the Chapter photographers throughout the year. The following were locations of this party beginning in 2003:     

1. 2003 located at Dan's Crab shack in Homosassa

2. 2004 located at Andre's Steak house in Citrus Hills         

3. 2005 located at Oases Hotel is Homosassa Springs          

4. 2006 located at Bentleys in Dunnellon

5. 2007, 2008 and 2009 located at Seven Rivers Golf and Country Club in Crystal River (due to Web Master Joey Bennett's membership in the Club)

At the beginning of 2009, Head Road Captain, Terry Corbin, set up the idea of having a Chapter Mileage Program. Members were to submit their bike type and mileage to Terry, or have him take a reading and record the mileage and bike type of those members who wished to participate. By the January, 2010 meeting, those members involved were to submit their mileage to Terry Corbin for evaluation. Awards were to be given out on two categories, Male Winner and Female Winner. The results of the 2009 Mileage Program were presented to the HOG Chapter at its February 19 monthly meeting, and the results are as follows:                                                                                           

1. Russ Linstrom                    32,274 Miles.              Male Winner

2. Skip Coolbaugh                  27,973 Miles.                                                                         

3. Hank Richards                   17,221 Miles.                                                                         

4. Steve Fischer                    15,148 Miles   .                                                                      

5. Terry Corbin                      14,638 Miles.                                                                         

6. John Hickey                      12,523 Miles.                                                                         

7. Johnny O'Connor               10,699 Miles.                                                                         

8. Roger Noll Sr.                     9,523 Miles.                                                                          

9. Rainer Jacob                      7,414 Miles.                                                                          

10 Kimberly Corbin                 6,875 Miles.               Female Winner                                   

These 10 riders combined rode for 154,288 miles in 2009.  It is of note that only 29 members submitted their individual mileage to the Senior Road Captain.                                

The Chapter currently sponsors over 100 organized rides and/or events yearly.  The charities sponsored by our Annual Poker Runs include Sertoma Mentoring Village, CUB Toy Run, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Citrus County, the American Cancer Society, Special Olympics, and K9-832.

Charter Members

(These are members who joined the local Chapter and National HOG before May 31, 2001)

The Officers in 2003:

 Director:             Tom Cappuccio             Safety Officer:            James Jorgensen        

 Asst Director:    Glenn Green                 Head Rd Capt.:           Micheal Ring 

Treasurer:           Carol Cappuccio           Activities Officer:       Terry Moorebeck       

Secretary:           Carol Cappuccio           LOH Officer:               Cheryl Jorgensen

 The Officers in 2004:

Director:              Tom Cappuccio             Safety Officer:            James Jorgensen         

Asst Director:     Glenn Green                   Head Rd Capt.:          Michael Ring              

Treasurer:           Carol Cappuccio         Activities Officer:          Terry Moorebeck

Secretary:           Carol Cappuccio           LOH Officer:                Cheryl Jorgensen        

Editor:                  Nancy Green                   Web Master:              Richard Cicero           

The Officers in 2005:

Director:              Glenn Green                    Safety Officer:            Vacant                        

Asst Director:     Cheryl Jorgensen          Head Rd Capt.:           James Jorgensen         

Treasurer:           Tom Cappuccio                LOH:                          Deborah Taylor          

Secretary:           Carol Cappuccio          Activities Officer:          Vacant                        

Editor:                 Nancy Green                    Historian:                    Vicki Canada             

In October 2005 Glenn Resigned as head director & was replaced by Cheryl Jorgensen and Ralph Trowbridge became Assistant director. Glenn died in 2008.        

The Officers in 2006:

Director:               Cheryl Jorgensen              Safety Officer:         James Jorgensen         

Asst Director:       Ralph Trowbridge         Head Rd Capt.:          Mike Ring                  

Treasurer:             Gail Noll                           Activity Officer:         Open                          

 Secretary:            Deb Driskill                      LOH Officer:            Deborah Taylor          

Editor:                   Joey Bennett                     Historian:                Guy Smith                  

Membership:        Ralph Trowbridge          Web Master:             Harley Lawrence

In July of 2006 Joey Bennett became Web Master & Deb Driskill became Web Mistress, positions they still hold as of today.

The Officers in 2007:

 Director:                 Cheryl Jorgensen         Safety Officer:          Terry Corbin   

Asst. Director:         Ralph Trowbridge    Head Rd Capt.:           Mike Ring                  

Treasurer:                Gail Noll                     Activities Officer:        Kimberly Corbin        

Sec./Membership:  Deb Driskill                 LOH Officer:              Kimberly Corbin

Webmaster/Editor: Joey Bennett

In March, 2007 Cheryl resigned her position as Director.  By October, 2007 the officers were finalized:  

Director:                   Ralph Trowbridge           Safety Officer:            Terry Corbin

Asst Director:          Skip Coolbaugh               Hear Rd Capt.:          Mike Ring

Treasurer:                Gail Noll                             Activity Officer:          Kimberly Corbin

Secretary:                Deb Driskill                        LOH Officer:             Vacant

Membership:           Gail Noll                             Historian:                  Cheryl Jorgensen

Webmaster/Editor: Joey Bennett

The Officers in 2008:

Director:                    Ralph Trowbridge            Safety Officer:           Terry Corbin

Asst Director:           Skip Coolbaugh               Head Rd Capt.:         Russ Linstrom

Treasurer:                 Gail Noll                             Activities Dir.:           Kimberly Corbin

Secretary:                 Toni Stanganelli                LOH Officer:             Kimberly Corbin

Membership:            Deb Driskill                        Historian:                 Guy Smith

Webmaster/Editor: Joey Bennett

The Officers in 2009:

Director:                    Skip Coolbaugh             Safety Officer:            Roger Noll

Asst Director:           Russ Linstrom                 Head Rd Capt.:         Terry Corbin

Treasurer:                 Gail Noll                         Activities Officer:         Kimberly Corbin

Secretary:                 Gail Wilson                       LOH Officer:              Liz Hickey

Membership:            Dexter Elsemore              Historian:                  John Griffin

Webmaster/Editor: Joey Bennett

The Officers in 2010:

Director:                  Skip Coolbaugh              Safety Officer:            Russ Linstrom

Asst Director:          Kimberly Corbin             Head Rd Capt.:          Terry Corbin

Treasurer:                Gail Noll                           Activities Officer:       Cindy Tompkins

Secretary:                Gail Wilson                      LOH Officer:              Deborah Dunne

Membership:           Dexter Elsemore             Historian:                  Jim Curtis

WebmasterEditor: Joey Bennett 

Note:  Each year the officers of a HOG chapter must file a yearly report with the National Headquarters in Milwaukee in order to keep their Active status.                                                                                  

The newsletters that I have include the first newsletter of April & June 1, 2001 and April 2002 & July 2002, and finally all of the newsletters from March, 2005 to February, 2010. The newsletters that I'm still missing are those from 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and January & February 2005. This section is still a work in progress.

The history of Crystal River HOG Chapter was written by documenting the facts in newsletters, Chapter Charter applications, letters and phone conversations, and e-mails.  All documentation can be viewed upon request, and will be held until passed to the next Historian.  Yet to be researched are the activities of the first four years of the Chapter.

Jim Curtis, Historian