Ladies of Harley (LOH) is a group of ladies who are Harley

 
Ladies of Harley was instituted in 1989 while I was a Regional HOG Director. The designation was created in order to smooth the introduction of women into what had traditionally been an all-male gathering -- the motorcycle club.
 

There were women in existing clubs, of course, and many were outstanding riders, members and leaders. But those groups were few. More typical were the hundreds of motorcycle clubs that restricted membership to white males, with women in subservient positions.
 

That was the mind-set that characterized the early organizational efforts of HOG. Something had to be done to bring women into the chapters; otherwise, HOG would degenerate to being just another all-male drinking and riding club. Hence, LOH.
 

In the 1980s and 1990s, women riders could not ride Long Island's roads alone without being harassed by motorists. It was rare to see a solo female rider on the highway. By the mid-1990s, all of the HOG directors in the country were men.
 

Long Island HOG had the first female director in HOG history -- Sharon Sherry. She was a superb rider and organizer. There was pushback from the sponsoring dealers. They believed that men would not follow the leadership of a woman. They were wrong. Women were fine, they believed, in roles like treasurer or secretary, but the idea of a female director was a radical idea. It was scary. But LIHOG led the way and was a model for other chapters around the country.

No one seriously believes that women can't be effective HOG members, officers and directors. Not long ago, the four local HOG chapters -- Long Island, Nassau County, Miracle Mile, and Lighthouse  -- all had women directors, simultaneously. They were responsible for, among other things, the most successful multi-chapter picnic ever seen on Long Island, at Eisenhower Park (7 chapters).
 

Women are completely integrated into the ranks of every HOG chapter in the world. Ladies of Harley served and eclipsed its national HOG purpose. LOH strengthened the infrastructure, fabric and foundation of all HOG chapters.  It will continue to be a valuable local resource and asset.