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)
Harry Barlow, Fred Bernquist, John Braaken,
John Eubanks, Lil Gilbert, Tom Kenneally, Fred Kruger, Cheryl Kruger, Joe LeCair, Bruce Marshall, Carlos McBeth, John McKnight,
Dianna Maddux, Deborah Owens, Rick Robbins, Don Schmitz, Denise St Denis, Fred Taylor, Ralph Trowbridge, and Randy Wilkey.
It
is noted by Rick Robbins that Randy Wilkey is now deceased. Fred Kruger said that Glenn Green is also now deceased. Fred Lee
died in a Motorcycle accident. At the March 11, 2010 Board of Directors meeting the following members were chosen by
vote to be Charter Members as well: Kimberly Corbin, Terry Corbin, &Russ Linstrom.
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