"The Old Guard"
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The Old Guard Riders operates through a three tier organizational structure, with each tier having its own distinctive duties and responsibilities. The three tiers are: National, State and Chapter. National The National level of the Old Guard Riders is the policy and oversight level. It is the level where the Board of Directors and other individuals concerned with the overall success of the Old Guard Riders work largely behind the scenes to establish organizational policy, insure overall corporate compliance with our 501C3 tax status and work to overcome problems and challenges which face Old Guard Riders as a national organization. It is the level where all of the reports received from State and Chapter officers concerning more localized efforts and accomplishments are compiled into a larger perspective of the size, scope and direction of the Old Guard Riders operation. It is also the level where state and chapter officers turn for instruction and clarification on all aspects of Federal, State and Old Guard Riders policy. State At the state level, State Coordinators work as the intermediary between National OGR officers/staff and Chapter officers of the Old Guard Riders. State Coordinators are responsible for oversight of Chapter formation and operation within their respective state. State Coordinators are the first individuals that Chapter Officers turn to for guidance and clarification on Federal, State and Old Guard Rider policy regarding their state. They do not dictate individual Chapter structure or activity. They simply monitor Chapters for compliance with applicable Federal, State and Old Guard Riders policy, particularly as it applies to Old Guard Riders 501C3 tax status. State Coordinators have the responsibility to know and understand the rules, regulations and requirements of the state concerning the establishment and operation of a 501C3 charity in their state, as it relates to the Old Guard Rider Mission Statement, and then to ensure Chapter compliance. Chapters The Chapter is the fundamental unit of Old Guard Riders Inc. It is within each chapter that officers and members determine the needs of aging, homeless, disabled and disadvantaged veterans within the chapter's community, and work within the chapter to create practical solutions to assist those veterans. Each chapter is completely autonomous; however, cooperation between OGR chapters is advised and encouraged. Chapters are also encouraged to partnership with other 501C3 organizations, as well as veteran's organizations and groups, to assess and meet the needs of the local veterans requiring assistance. It should be noted that a large number of Old Guard Riders members, including officers at all levels, are veterans and belong to a host of veterans organizations and motorcycle clubs, groups and associations. Such networking within organizations and clubs has proven to be extremely productive. Member-At-Large "Member-At-Large" refers to any member of the Old Guard Riders who does not belong to an OGR chapter. Members may chose not to associate with a chapter or may live in an area where no chapter currently exists. Being a member-at -large does not prevent an OGR member from being as actively involved in veterans assistance projects as an organized chapter. Instead of working within a chapter to plan, organize and conduct veterans assistance projects, the member-at-large -plans, organizes and conducts projects through his/her own initiative, often by involving community members outside the OGR ranks. For more information regarding how to operate as a member-at-large, contact your state coordinator or any member of the Old Guard Rider Executive Committee. How are chapters formed? Most frequently, chapters are created when an existing group of friends or group members from another organization discover the Old Guard Riders and join as an pre-existing group. Frequently, individuals join the Old Guard Riders and spread the word about the OGR to friends and acquaintances until a group is formed that becomes a chapter. How ever a chapter comes into being, it is by the application of members to begin a chapter. The process of initiating a chapter is free and quite simple. At the bottom of this page, you will find a link to the Chapter Application. Fill out the application. Upon submission, it will be reviewed for accuracy and completeness by our National Organization Director. Upon review and acceptance of the chapter application, the individual designated within the chapter application as either President or Secretary of the new chapter will receive a Chapter Agreement, which is the legal instrument between National OGR and the chapter which legally initiates the chapter and defines the relationship between the parties. While the members of the new chapter are waiting for the completion of formal chapter status, the chapter will be given a "Provisional OGR Chapter" status, which means that the new chapter may initiate all of the functions of a chapter and begin operation, however, it may not begin soliciting donations or other actions reserved for 501C3 organizations. Once Provisional Chapter status has been granted, the appropriate State Coordinator will be sent a copy of the Chapter Application and will initiate contact with the new chapter to establish a working relationship. Once all of the necessary paperwork is completed and all required documents filed, full OGR chapter status is granted. Full or Provisional Chapter? Groups may choose between Full Chapter or Provisional Chapter status. A Full Chapter has completed all the steps necessary to satisfy Federal, State and Old Guard Riders regulations as it applies to operation as a 501C3 organization, and has established bank account and other legal instruments to legally solicit tax deductible donations for the general public. A Provisional Chapter is granted all the same rights and responsibilities as the Full Chapter EXCEPT the ability to operate as a 501C3 organization. Many chapters choose to engage in activities consistent with the Mission Statement of the OGR, but do not want the additional financial benefit or responsibility. Filing a Chapter Application as a Provisional Chapter does not diminish the status of a chapter, nor does it preclude the possibility of changing to a Full Chapter at a later time. Chapter Autonomy One of the most common questions asked by perspective chapter officers concerns the autonomy of the chapter. "If I initiate a new chapter, how much control over who joins the chapter, the structure of the chapter, and the activities of the chapter do I have? The answer may be summed up in one word, "absolute." As an OGR Chapter, you create your own bylaws, membership regulations, voting authority within the chapter and all other aspects of chapter operation within your organization. Old Guard Riders Inc.'s Articles of Incorporation, Mission Statement, Bylaws and National Policy supercede any conflicting chapter policy or regulation. All National OGR policies are written to protect our 501C3 status and promote our Mission Statement. As long as the Chapter remains within Federal, State and OGR guidelines, Chapters are completely autonomous to accomplish the mission of the Old Guard Riders as it sees most appropriate. LLCs or Corporations As Chapters No organization previously established as an LLC or corporation may iniatiate a chapter within Old Guard Riders Inc. A member of a pre-existing LLC or corporation may initiate a chapter, but the LLC or corporation as a legal entity may not. Nor may any member of a chapter of Old Guard Riders Inc. initiate action to create such legal entity as a chapter of the OGR. The initiation of any such action will immediately terminate the Chapter Agreement and the legal relationship between National OGR and the chapter is immediately severed. This OGR National Policy exists for the legal protection of Old Guard Riders Inc. Its specific purpose to to avoid legal conflict between organizations within Old Guard Riders Inc.. By allowing only individuals to establish OGR chapters, National Old Guard Riders Inc. can maintain absolute legal control of all aspects of its operation, including it's chapters. Chapter Application State Coordinator Old Guard Riders Inc. is rapidly expanding nationwide. This expansion requires the critical position of State Coordinator be filled in each new state that OGR enters. Anyone interested in tackling the position of State Coordinator for his/her respective state such contact National OGR by phone or email at membersip@oldguardriders.com and make his/her interest known. We appreciate the willingness of great people to step forward to help the OGR accomplish its mission nationwide. VetAssist.us In our efforts to assist aging, homeless, disabled and disadvantaged veterans, Old Guard Riders Inc. reaffirmed an old adage, "Perception is everything." Old Guard Riders Inc. is a 501C3 public benefit corporation. Put more simply, OGR is a charity organization dedicated to assisting aging, homeless, disabled and disadvantaged veterans. But our legal name, Old Guard Riders Inc., does not reflect our charity focus. People perceive the OGR to be a motorcycle group. In making the motorcycle association, the charity aspect of the OGR is totally lost. In order to overcome this misperception, Old Guard Riders Inc. has filed for and received a second business name or DBA. Old Guard Riders Inc. is now legally Old Guard Riders Inc. dba VetAssist.us As a motorcycle association focused on our veterans assistance mandate, we continue to use Old Guard Riders Inc. In circumstances where OGR creates an misperception of our charity focus, OGR uses the legal name VetAssist.us VetAssist.us maintains a separate reference only website at vetassist.us |
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| Announcements |
Structure and Operation |
| The Sisterhood |
Background music - "Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult
Copyright 2007 Old Guard Riders Inc. All rights reserved.
