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BMW ACA/CCA Issue
Board Unanimously Recommends Merger With BMW CCA
After many months of carefully considering the issue, the undersigned Board of Directors and Special Committee members unanimously recommend that BMW ACA, Puget Sound Region become a chapter of BMW CCA. Here are the reasons we make this recommendation:
Why not the Status Quo?
We believe most members are satisfied with their Club membership and want the status quo. However, this is not a viable option. We will either have a competing CCA chapter or we will join CCA ourselves. The best way to maintain, even improve, services and activities for members is through joining CCA. This may seem counterintuitive. Rather than look at the immediate implications, we have tried to take a long-term view. To remain a vital and growing organization, we must affiliate with CCA.
BMW's Position
BMW AG and BMW NA desire one umbrella organization in each country. In the U.S., BMW CCA is that organization. At this point, AG and NA look upon ACA as an unauthorized organization. They would like us to join CCA. At some point they are likely to put more pressure on us.
CCA National
Past ACA Boards have looked at the CCA national organization and felt uncomfortable recommending that we join CCA. There were questionable ethical issues and entrenched politics. During 1999 there were widespread, sweeping changes made at the CCA national level. The political climate is now much improved and there is far better accountability to the general membership. The current national CCA board is made up of responsible individuals who are good fiduciaries for the members. Overhead is minimal and the national office is oriented towards good member service. The CCA still isn't perfect, but it is an organization that the undersigned feel comfortable joining.
National Advantages
As a part of BMW CCA, each of our members would have access to services not currently available. The most obvious is the Roundel magazine, an excellent, 140 plus page monthly. CCA members also receive discounts on new and certified used car purchases. Our members would have access to BMW Club activities hosted by other chapters nationwide. These include the annual Oktoberfest and hospitality suites at races.
Two Clubs
The long-standing agreement not to organize a CCA chapter in Western Washington is no longer being recognized by CCA National. With the growth of CCA members in Western Washington, there has been a call for a local CCA chapter in our area. There are simply too many CCA members in Western Washington to be ignored. We are convinced that two competing BMW marque clubs in the Puget Sound area is the worst possible scenario, leading to confusion among members, prospective members and business supporters.
Size Matters
As a CCA chapter we would have to operate on $13.50 per member per year. As an ACA independent club we have $25 per member per year. In the past, joining CCA would not have meant much growth in membership to us, however, over the years, both ACA and CCA have experienced tremendous membership growth in Western Washington. The result is that the combined membership is large enough for the Club to take advantage of economies of scale, especially in printing the Zundfolge. Reaching "critical mass" should allow us to operate on $13.50 per member per year with little or no decrease in the quality of Zundfolge or Club activities.
If we remain independent, however, it is likely a local CCA chapter will be formed. In this event there exists the strong possibility many current dual ACA-CCA members may let their ACA membership lapse, thereby, significantly reducing ACA membership rolls.
Furthermore, local businesses may shift their support to the nationally recognized organization. Reduced ACA membership and advertiser support will ultimately lead to diminished membership services such as quality and frequency of the Zundfolge magazine and other popular club activities. We fear this situation will, over time, result in deterioration of the Club.
Why Now?
One might question why we are now recommending ACA become a CCA chapter. Why not remain an independent BMW Club for now and possibly entertain joining CCA at some future date? We came to the conclusion that a number of factors outlined above have come together at this time. A year ago the political situation at CCA national was unsettled. A year or two from now we will probably have a competing CCA chapter in our area. At that point the option to merge will have been lost.
Emotions
At an emotional level each and every one of us would like to see the ACA remain an independent BMW marque club. To one extent or another, all of us are somewhat reluctant to make this recommendation. Reason and logic, however, tell us that our recommendation must be that the ACA become a CCA chapter.
Conclusion
Is becoming a CCA Chapter a perfect solution? No. Some members will be unhappy no matter what course we take. We, after much anguish and heated debate, have come to the conclusion that joining CCA is the best course of action for the ACA membership and are recommending that you cast your vote accordingly.
The ACA has been a dynamic organization for almost 30 years. The Board will support whichever choice the membership makes. If the membership votes to accept our recommendation to join the CCA, we intend to make the Puget Sound Chapter the best chapter in the BMW CCA.
| Roger Wales, President | Lance Richert, Vice President |
| Bill Spornitz, Treasurer | Evie Mercer, Secretary |
| Steve Niver, Past President | Jacqueline Kahn, Driving Events |
| David Lightfoot, Zundfolge Editor | Lucetta Lightfoot, Zundfolge Editor |
| Greg Mierz, Roster Manager | Karl Seeger, Tour Coordinator |
| Rick Brown, Banquet Chairperson | Dale Beuning, Webmaster |
| Chris Linder, Concours d'Elegance | Tom Cox, Special Committee Member |
| Jim Millet, Special Committee Member |
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