Group Structure

Group structure and membership

VOG is an owner's group that is administered globally by an EXCO and locally by a Steering Committee - not operating under a conventional MCC club structure.

As an owner of a Vee-engined motorcycle, individuals are invited to apply for membership, with the member's listing not being limited to residence within the borders of South Africa.

Area Cells

Known in other groups as a CHAPTER - an Area Cell will be created where there are at least 5 paid up principal members residing in that location. When an Area Cell has a headcount of 25 paid up principle members, another Area Cell may be created in that region, as the management and control of the larger group may become too impersonal, cumbersome, the rides too big in number and the ability for SCM’s to nurture and train - a difficult undertaking.

Area cells are not autonomous and all members nationally and internationally belong to the VOG Head Office (HQ).

VOG Wards

Any new memberships originating in an area where an active Area Cell has not been established, will automatically fall under HQ. This will apply to all members residing within the borders of South Africa, or for international memberships.

Such a location shall be known as a WARD and if nominated by EXCO as a responsible candidate, the member then pioneering the locality would thus become a Warden of the area and be given as much assistance as possible to upgrade the Ward to an Area Cell. It follows that such person, the Warden, would need to implant the full VOG culture in new members and will need to pass the VOG Formation Officer training programme in order to initiate regular runs whilst numbers are being added to the ward.

EXCO

The current executive committee consists of members who had invested in the ownership and administration of VOG, after the founding couple Dave & Kia Davy had announced their retirement from active involvement in the club on the 3rd August 2014. With Dave & Kia having served VOG for a full 10 years and 5 months as sole owners, the new EXCO was entrusted with the continued stimulation of growth and cultural development of VOG.

Portfolios appointed by EXCO

The administration appoints corporate officers which carry national authority within the confines of the portfolio, including the following on a national scale:

Administrator - also known as the National President - a title understood by other club structures. The president is aided by a capable senior member - also known as the Vice-president.
National Captain of Biking - also known as the "Cobber" - oversees all certification of FMO's, run activities and group discipline as far as biking is concerned.
Group secretary - overseeing social media and correspondence within the group.

Also on a national level, the EXCO takes responsibility for:

Finances
Merchandising
Charities
Medics
Public relations
National events coordination

Regionally, administration is taken care of by the following officers:

Steering Committee (SCM's)
Regional events coordinators
Formation Management Officers (FMO's) - including road captains, sweep and marshalls
Medics - as approved by the national medics administrator

Members

In full membership an identification number will be allocated to the incoming party, known as the principal member, who shall be able to purchase colours for himself/ herself, household partner and family members if such party intends to participate with him/her in the V-Owners Group activity and thus enter the VOG social structure. The allocated VO number will only be applicable to individuals living at the same address and any family members that qualify for membership, but reside elsewhere, should apply for their own member number.

Member status enjoys access to the website and Facebook forum and the ability to join in all group functions, rides etc. Principal members have a vote at meetings and will receive any free mass mail newsletters and bulk SMS alerts distributed, as well as enjoying any VOG privilege such as branded items being made available for sale to the membership.

All members belong to VOG Headquarters, falling under the central EXCO administration where memberships are approved and numbers issued and do not belong to an area cell. It follows that suspensions, resignations or terminations are also the sole function of head office and not the Area Cells.

Member comments/ complaints should be carried to the local SCM and then immediately shared with the Administrator, who is also represented in every Area Cell. Any communication is contained and settled in that Area Cell and is NEVER carried to third parties within or without VOG. That is the reason the Administrator is so encompassed within the Area Steering Committee.

Members no longer owning a Vee motorcycle

It is the responsibility of the member to notify their SCM if they no longer own a vee-engined motorcycle, so that their membership can be terminated or put on hold, in which case fees for the following year would be waived as the Administrator and EXCO saw fit. VOG has a policy of "number for life", so that if the membership is continued later, the VO number becomes reinstated.

In the case of a vee-engined motorcycle being replaced by a non-vee, the member may apply to have his membership transferred to "Friend of VOG" status and his/ her number will be converted to VF instead of VO, should the individual choose to remain in association with VOG.

Other Club Memberships

Persons belonging to other MCC’s or Owner groups may enroll in and take up a leadership role in VOG, provided they do not serve as a committee member with the other organisation - unless otherwise approved by the administrator of VOG in writing. Approval from the existing organisation also needs to be obtained beforehand and confirmed in writing as agreed upon by that body. Conversely, VOG Members may take up ordinary membership in other established/ local biking clubs, but may not serve on any committee of such MCC should they hold a leadership role in VOG.

Should these rulings be contravened and not resolved amicably, EXCO reserves the right to make judgment and terminate VOG membership as it sees fit.

Memberships may be terminated at a disciplinary hearing attended by any three serving Joint Steering Committee Members or outright by the Administrator of VOG solely, without having to enter into reasons or justifications for so doing.

Lost Allegiance

Any member(s) forming a new MCC whilst in membership with VOG will not however enjoy continued membership and as any intellectual property pertaining to VOG management style or methodology is under restraint, may not be carried to and used by the new MCC.

Guests

Guests are often invited to participate on group outings with the idea of them being viewed as potentially new members. The inclusion of non-vee guests or even guests participating by car is not frowned upon on a group outing, but this should be to within reason with regard to the regularity of the same guest attending.

Identifying with VOG

Members should wear their VOG colours wherever and whenever they can, with pride and responsibility - remembering that the good reputation of VOG is dependant upon their own conduct when so doing.

When riding with VOG as a dual club member, the VOG colours and not those of another club are to be worn. This is not true for guests of other clubs riding with, who can decide to wear their own colours on the run or not. It is suggested that approved dual club members acquire a waistcoat that bears only VOG colours for such an occasion, if they do own other club colours as well.

Paid up members may use the Logo in their email signatures on condition that the logo is the official approved VOG logo and is hyperlinked to www.vog.co.za. The member can approach their local SCM for help with this.

The adornment of VOG "colours & badges" on riding wear is required in the spirit of VOG allegiance, whilst rally and own chosen decoration may be added as wished. However, any permanent form of designation of position (as in hierarchy - such as President, Sergeant at Arms, Road Captain, Sweep, Vice "this" or "that") is not permitted. Metal breast badges identifying SCM, Medic and FMO qualified persons are issued to identify these officers in the membership.

At no stage may VOG imagery be defaced, altered or added to by any means - copyright exists!

Orange coloured riding vests bearing the VOG logo are worn by FMO's alone for formation rides, while any other member is authorised to purchase and use the official VOG lime-coloured vest for reasons of safety should they wish to do so.

Upon termination of membership, VOG colours in the form of patches and any branded merchandising remains the property of the purchaser and may displayed publicly. The exception here is that the official back patch may not be worn on a jacket or waistcoat in a public place if that person is no longer a member of VOG.

All official merchandising items that display the VOG logo may only be purchased via head office through the correct channels, remembering that copyright on the logo exists as intellectual property. Any supplier that is contracted to provide branded items, will be authorised to do so in writing - with the official artwork being offered to them in electronic format. No individual may have VOG branded items made up without the knowledge and approval of HQ.

Indemnity

VOG is indemnified against the illegal actions and or reckless activities of members who conduct themselves improperly in any manner or form, whether riding a motorcycle or seen in public place in his/her VOG colours or not. VOG does not accede, approve or condone wayward behaviour or intolerance of any kind whatsoever. Persons so doing, do so of their own volition and if such action is reported to the administration of VOG the matter shall be carried to executive committee level and appropriate action taken against the party /parties concerned.

In conclusion

The foregoing facilities and objectives may change from time to time to suit conditions as we progress and grow, but the underlying vision is to build a vee-owners corporate initiative in the earnest endeavour to add value to V-Owner individual biking experience. We maintain there should be no such thing as a lonely big vee owner, that is, owning a bike but not having at his / her disposal the distinctive yet intangible ambiance to fully exploit the ownership experience.