Some changes have been made to the Heartland Owners Club. This page will serve to explain those changes. A Heartland Owners Forum link has been provided below for member use to discuss these changes.
WHAT
On November 5th, 2017, the Heartland Owners Club moved to a “no-cost” model.
This means that anyone who joins the Club from November 5th forward, will pay nothing to “join” the Heartland Owners Club.
This also means that any existing Club memberships will not need to be renewed.
WHY
Our goal was to simplify several processes within the Heartland Owners Club in a couple of ways:
- Streamline the membership application process
- Remove the structure used to take payments and by extension, remove the attendant administrative processes and costs associated with operating and maintaining a payment taking system
- Eliminate the renewal process and by extension, the attendant administrative processes at Club headquarters and the hassle of renewal process for members
- Ease the administrative burden of Club Leadership
Below is an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) we’ve put together, based on discussions we’ve have with Club Leadership as we’ve developed the new processes. If interested, take some time to read through the FAQ. Should you have a question that is not addressed in the FAQ, kindly visit this link to the Heartland Owners Forum thread created for Members to discuss the Club changes.
FAQ
NEW OR PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS
Q: Who is eligible to join the Heartland Owners Club?
A: Anyone who owns a Heartland RV brand product, i.e. a brand listed on the Heartland RVs website: www.heartlandrvs.com/brands
Q. DRV, CRV and Bison are RV brands owned by Thor and run by Heartland RVs. The manufacturer listed on the side of these RVs even state Heartland RVs. Will these brands be allowed to join the Heartland Owners Club?
A. Sorry, no. Some of these brands also have their own clubs. The spirit of the Heartland Owners Club is that brands built by Heartland in Elkhart is what qualifies. It makes little sense to have a second club for the same brands.
Q. So how do I get to the Club Application?
A. Follow this link https://heartlandowners.club/join-the-club/
Q: I hear people talking about a “username and password”, but I don’t have either of those.
A: You define your username and password when you register for the Heartland Owners Forum: https://heartlandowners.org. In the upper right corner of the Forum page, click on “Register”. You will be prompted to provide a “username” and a “password”. We recommend that you DO NOT use your full name, i.e. first AND last, as part of your username. There will be a couple of other questions for you to answer. The questions are the first step in spam control. After you have registered, you will receive a “Registration Confirmation” email that you must respond to in order for your registration to become final. This is the second step in spam control. If you do not receive the confirmation email, check your spam because some Internet providers are more restrictive than others and will send our email to your spam file or hold the email until it decides it’s ok. When your registration is final, you can log on in the upper right corner with your “username” and your “password”. Then you will be able to post to or create Forum threads.
Q. Will club members who join after 11/4/2017 receive the same benefits as they have in the past, eg. parts discounts from Heartland Customer Service, eligibility for National and Region Rallies etc.?
A. Other than the elimination of the club member kit, all other benefits remain as-is.
Q. I understand that new members will no longer receive name badges, but name badges are very helpful when meeting new people at club rallies. Can I order official Heartland Owners Club badges?
A. Yes. You may order name badges for yourself and anyone who will attend rallies with you. Other Heartland Owners Club branded items are also available. These items are supplied by vendors selected by the Club and are fulfilled directly from those vendors to you. Some items, such as badges and plaques will require your 4 digit Heartland Owners Club membership number. Learn more about what items are available by following this link.
EXISTING MEMBERS/RENEWALS
Q. I want to renew my membership, but it says I have renewed for an infinite number of years. What does that mean?
A: Effective November 5, 2017, all fees were removed from the Heartland Owners Club. In order to remain a member of the club you need do nothing.
Q: My membership expired before November 5, 2017 and I would like to renew. How do I do that?
A: If you already have badges and would like to retain your old Heartland Owners Club member number, contact the Club Manager at 336-446-9462.
Q: What about retroactive membership renewal for expired members?
A. We rarely know why members elect to not renew so we will not automatically re-enroll expired members.
Q: I have sold my Heartland RV and/or no longer wish to be a Heartland Owners Club member. How do I get off your list?
A: At this time, call the Club Manager at 336-446-9462. In the future, you will be able to remove yourself by Unsubscribing.
Q. Will there be a reimbursement of fees paid by those members whose membership has not expired?
A. Initial membership dues were slightly less than item and fulfillment costs on the club kit. Renewal fees were used to fund about 20% of total chapter rally costs with Heartland RVs paying the balance. Accrued renewal fees will be applied to chapter rally costs until depleted. So that we can move to the free club model, Heartland RVs has agreed to fund chapter rallies at 100%.
RALLIES
Q: So how much does Heartland RVs pay for the rallies?
A: Chapter Rallies are funded at a flat amount per Heartland RV brand product attending the rally. Currently this flat amount is $20. Region Rallies and the North American Rally held in Goshen, IN are budgeted for and expensed.
Q: Do I have to be a member of the Heartland Owners Club to attend a Chapter rally?
A: No, you do not. In order for the Chapter Rally to be reimbursed by Heartland you must attend the rally in your Heartland RV brand product. Region Rallies and North American Rallies are for attendance in Heartland RV brand products only.
Q: Do I have to be a member of the Heartland Owners Club to attend a Region rally?
A: Maybe. Region Rallies planned for 2018 were planned under the old club format. In other words Heartland Owners Club membership is a requirement for attendance. This may be waived by the Region Director for a particular Region Rally. In any case, Region Rallies are for attendance in Heartland RV brand products only.
Q: Do I have to be a member of the Heartland Owners Club to attend the North American rally in Goshen?
A: No, you do not. You must attend the rally in your Heartland RV brand product. North American Rallies are for attendance in Heartland RV brand products only.
Q. I own a Heartland RV, am a Club member and I want to bring a non-Heartland RV to a Chapter rally – is this allowed?
A. Yes, however, you will be required to pay the “Some-Other-Brand” fee of $20. This must be paid to the Chapter Leader upon your arrival.
Q. I own a Heartland RV, am a Club member and I want to attend a Chapter Rally, but don’t want to bring my RV – is this okay?
A. Yes, as long as you a Club member and still own a Heartland RV brand, the Chapter will be reimbursed.
Q. I own a Heartland RV but I am NOT a Club member. I want to attend a Chapter Rally, but don’t want to bring my RV – is this okay?
A. Yes, however, because you are not bringing your Heartland RV to the rally, you will be required to pay the “Some-Other-Brand” fee of $20. This must be paid to the Chapter Leader upon your arrival. You can avoid paying the SOB/rally fee by joining the Heartland Owners Club prior to the rally and providing your HOC membership number to the Chapter Leader hosting the rally.
Q. I own “Some-Other-Brand”, can I attend a Heartland Rally?
A: Maybe. You cannot attend Region Rallies or the North American Rally held in Goshen. You may be able to attend a Chapter Rally. Check with the Chapter Leader host, prior to registering. If attendance is allowed, you will be required to pay the “Some-Other-Brand” fee, generally $20, to the Chapter Leader upon your arrival.
Q. I own a Heartland RV, am a Club member and I want to bring some friends or family in my Heartland RV to a rally – is this allowed?
A. Yes, however you may be required to pay a per person fee for more than 2 people in a rig. Check with the Rally host prior to registering. Any additional person fee must be paid to the Rally host upon your arrival.
Q. I own a Heartland RV, am a Club member and I want to bring some friends or family who will camp in their non-Heartland RV to a Chapter rally – is this allowed?
A: Maybe. Your friends or family cannot attend Region Rallies or the North American Rally held in Goshen. They may be able to attend a Chapter Rally. Check with the Chapter Leader host prior to registering. You/they will be required to pay the “Some-Other-Brand” fee of $20 and, if relevant, the per person fee over 2 people to the Chapter Leader upon arrival.
Q. The North American Rally and some Region Rallies have non-refundable fees that are paid at time of registration or some number of weeks/months prior to the rally. If I own a Heartland RV, am a Club member and show up at a National or Region rally with a non-Heartland RV – is this allowed?
A. No, it is not. Also bear in mind that non-refundable fees are just that. You will not receive a refund of any prepaid non-refundable fees.