BMW Car Club of America

Puget Sound Region Board Meeting

Agenda

                        Mercer Island Fire Station #91– Thursday Nov. 3, 2005

 

The meeting was called to order by President Rick Gulstrom at 6:45pm at the Mercer Island Fire Station 91.

Those in attendance were:

 

Rick Gulstrom, President

Lance Richert, Concours Chair
Martin Hovenkotter, Treasurer

David Lightfoot, Vice President
Lynne Eskil, Membership Chair
Alan James, Tour Coordinator
Mike Ellis, SIG Coordinator
Don Robesch, Member
Jim Millet, Zündfolge Advertising
de Anna Martin, Banquet Chair

Dane Martin, member
Tom Olsson, Driving Events Chair
Bill Spornitz, Member and Proxy for Tom Olsson, Driving Events Chair

Evie Falkin, member

Zena Bartusch, member

Walt Conley, Chief Driving Instructor

Jeff Butler, Tech Event Chair

Rich Milham, Risk Management

 

            Opening Comments

Introductions - Rick’s Yellow E36 in the Griots Magazine

 

            President’s Report

Last Month’s Board Minutes – any changes or additions?

 

National News:

 Lynne received some forms from National. She passed them out to the appropriate chairs to fill out and send back into National.

 

Once again National reported that they had a reduction in membership.

 

Crisis Communications Workbook Forms – Rich will review this document. If anything important he will send an email out to everyone and provide a report at the next board meeting. National recommends we run through some of the work book practice exercises. (Not going to do this tonight)

 

BMW CCA Membership Drive: Notable mention for the money raised on behalf of the Hurricane Katrina Victims.

 

            Treasurer Report

Financial status

Bank Balance: Bank of America and Washington mutual have positive balances.

 

Income statement: We have a couple of events left in the year that are not posted on the book yet but overall everything is looking really well. Track events are break even for the year. Concours income exceeded expenses. Club logo merchandise is positive.  We received $400.00 to give to a charity and received 6th place from an organization named zf. Lance filled out the form that prompted the club to receive this award.

 

General Meeting and Non-Track Event Calendar

 

2006 Board member nominations – status (all position are filled) – David Lightfoot has the roster for next year and will bring that to the next board meeting.

 

 

Membership Incentive Programs (BMW Dealer Presentations) NW BMW and relationships with other dealers and with Puget Sound chapter) Bremerton -  Lynn

Lance, David and Rich had a meeting with Manfred (BMW Northwest) and asked them to sponsor the annual banquet in January 2006. They said yes and signed the contract.  They are going to bring a car to the banquet.

 

Would the club benefit from a New Member Orientation 3 times per year? – Marty

No News.

 

Tour Governance policy/waiver/modifications - Rich

From a liability stand point tours put the club at risk more than track events because the cars are on the open road. We have to take an affirmative stance that we are going to abide by the laws during tours.  Recommend that we have everyone on the tour, that is driving, sign a waiver so that the club is not liable. Must be 18 yrs old, have insurance and a valid drivers license. Rich is proposing having the tour participants sign the release form as this is no different than having the track event participants sign release forms.  This document will protect the club, board members and the tour leader from potential litigation.  The document needs approval and will be placed on the website in the tours and rally’s section.  The document must be signed at each event to be valid. Motion made by: Jim Millet , seconded by Rich. Motion passed by a majority.

 

Upcoming Events:

Jingle Bells Fun Run – de-Anna – December, 11th, 2005

There are 15 people signed up and she needs 35 to qualify for t-shirts.  The club goal is to raise $3,500. You do not have to participate in the event, you can contribute and receive a t-shirt. Deadline for custom shirts is November 14th, 2005. 

 

New member event south end of Puget Sound – Mike

Table this until after first of year.

 

Bison creek combined event with both the BMW and Alfa club. Saturday January 28th, details to follow in January Zündfolge     

 

Past Events:

Oktoberfest Oct. 6-9 Puyallup – Lance

This was the first annual Oktoberfest event for this group. It was produced by the same company that puts on the Bite of Seattle. They had 120 tables in the Bier Garden and Lance kept placing Zündfolge magazines on each table. They distributed about 1,000 Zündfolge magazines. No final attendance total as yet. They went through the 60 kegs by Friday night and had to buy kegs from every resturant they could find. They went through approximately 140 kegs. They would be very happy to have us attend next year. People loved seeing the BMW race cars.

 

Hill climb Oct. 8th & 9th

Jim and Martin had a very enjoyable tour. They left Issaquah with 24 cars and met up with some other cars along the way. They happened onto a Porsche club breakfast with approx. 40 boxsters. The Porsche club was on their way to Cannon Beach.  Pictures of the event are on the BMW website (not the Porsches) Best brew: New Old Lompoc Brewing Co.  Portland, OR C-Note.  This big Pale Ale is an excellent balance of malt character while celebrating the flavor and aroma's of the "C" hops.  The hill climb has been repaved and Martin would like to rent the site next year.

Benchmark AudioTech session – Rick

About 33 people showed up.  Spoke about what sound systems they use to deliver a great sound. Talked about after market items like wheels and suspensions.  The president of Escort Radar gave a presentation on their devices.

 

New Event Ideas?

BMW Collectibles – Event in Dec 10 – David

Bellevue regional library, every December,  in the odd yrs. this is the 3rd time.  About 20 people show up at this event.

David is going to put a notice on the bulletin board about the event and the yahoo board.

 

Foster Wheel and Tire – Jeff/Lucetta

Lucetta said they are looking at hosting a session sometime in March 2006. The location is yet to be decided.

 

Dinan Tech Session with BMW Seattle – Jeff

Can not get BMW Seattle to commit to sponsoring an event. However BMW Northwest is interested in putting something together with the club in the spring. 

 

- We could do a presentation on safety gear at a Karting event.

- Auburn Foreign Car would be a good location for a tech session next year.

- Speedware would like to sponsor a tech session in the spring of 2006.

 

Jon Shirley Museum Event, February 11, 2006 – David

Jon Shirley Museum, Greg Whitman and Craig Watchen collections. It’s going to be the best car show we have ever seen. There are a number of cars between 5 and 10 million. Such as a Formula one race car and an F40, F50, Enzo and some American Iron type cars.

 

2006 BMW Northwest Tech event – Jeff

No News

 

E30 Picnic June 11th 2006 – Lance requested it be placed on the calendar.

 

Car Tender Tech event – Jeff

Nothing yet.

 

            Track Committee

General Business / financial status – Tom/Bill/Walt

Tom said that our tentative 2006 track dates are 2/18 and 3/18 and a Wednesday in June. The Porsche club was given some Saturdays.  Does it make sense to have an instructor course and novice driver’s course?  Good news is that the Novice drivers training course in Bremerton on November 19th. 2005 is just about full.  Two groups one for novice and one for advanced students. 

 

2006 Chapter Track Event calendar-

Need to create one.

 

PRRCA –Report on last meeting and $200 dues paid - Marty/Bill

We have not paid the dues yet. Martin has the check for the track.  Bill encouraged us to change focus and have an advocacy group, pool resources, not for profit group to educate the public about road courses. For $200 we should be a member of the club and have someone attend the monthly meeting.

 

Off Season Instructor Meeting – Walt

Found a really nice location but they want $20 - $25 per person. If we have 75 potential attendees, that could be over $1,000. . He is going to talk to Red Hook Brewery.

 

Off season article to be written as a general update on Pacific Raceway – Bill

 

Report on Oct. 26th meeting @ DDES on PRR – Lynn

No report

 

Upcoming Events

Bremerton novice school – Nov. 19 – Tom/Walt

This event is almost full and we have two groups this year, one for novice students and one for advanced students. Walt talked about the differences in cost for car inspections from the various car repair facilities. Talked about maybe posting a listing on the website.

 

Past Events 

No News

             

            Tours/Rally – Jeff Schlimmer

 No New Events Planned

 

            SIG Groups / Events – Mike Ellis SIG Coordinator

            Past Events from Oct.?

None

 

Upcoming events for November?

November 8th  the e46 SIG is getting together.

5 series and 7 series are driving to Leavenworth for a tour.

E36 Event – Kim Burgess is a little interested in running this sig. No commitment yet.

         

2005/2006 Banquet  – de-Anna, David & Lance

Date: Jan 21, 2006

Speakers: Ken & Wes Hill

BanquetTheme: BMW in Paradise   

             

We received a call last week from the design center.  They are under going major renovations and it impacts the events early in the year. Landlord is replacing the tiles in the design center floor and they have decided to stop the practice of parking cars in doors. They suggested that we tent the cars outside.

 

They are trying to find us another location. de-Anna is not going to talk to bell harbor (pier 66) and several other sites until she talks to the manager about the financial implications.  They offered to return our $500 deposit.  Jim Millet recommended that we do not take the deposit back yet as this will release them from the contract. As long as they have the deposit they are under contract to find us a place.

 

November/December Zündfolge has the Design Center as the location.  Either we can work it out and find a new location or we change the venue and have the cars outside.  Deadline for the January Zündfolge is November 29th.  If no other solutions in the next two weeks we will stay at the design center and tent the cars.  The design center will pay the fee for the tent.  They will cover the cost of the tent. Ken and Wes are still on as our guest speakers.

 

Lance has a sign up sheet of all the companies that donated items to the banquet last year.  He passed around the list and asked people to review the list and sign up again this year. 

 

            Concours – Lance

Anything new for next year’s event?

Not yet.

We have a backup for a trophies sponsor if BMW Seattle isn’t interested this year.

 

Zündfolge Lucetta/ Jim Nov./Dec.

Received a payment for a company called M cars for a Zundgolge ad starting with the January issue. They want to start advertising on the website asap.  Anyone can post to the commercial page but it is monitored.

Deadline for January 2006 Zündfolge is Nov. 29th

 

Lucetta is working on a letter with the arthritis foundation to solicit donations for the banquet.

 

Report on Stoneguard – looks like they are out of business.  Any contact with owner on pass due account? – Jim

He sent an email to stoneguard, saying that we wanted to know their new address for the magazine.

 

Past Due Accounts (60 days or more) – Jim

Eurotech hasn’t paid their account in a year. Martin is going to talk to them and then pull their ad.

Pacific hasn’t been getting the invoices we have been sending as their address changed.

Bradleys hasn’t answered any of our calls.

             

            Roster/Membership – Lynne/ Louis

Need local numbers – Louis

 

            Web Site - Dale

            No news.

 

Next Board meeting – Thursday, December 1, 2005 Mercer Island Fire Station #91

Rick is going to call and find out if the reservation for the Mercer Island Fire Station #91 has been extended into 2006.

                       

Food Provider for next meeting: Lance will bring lasagna.

 

            Roundabout

 

Martin – Is going to order BMW Land’s End shirts made from denim.  This will be a nice addition to Lances t-shirts

He also has some 17x9 wheels for sale. They have never been used.

 

Mike – Plug for Seattle International Auto Show 2005 auto show November 2-6th 2005.

 

Alan – While visiting Saratoga New York recently he visited a local car show of 20 really nice Bugati’s.

 

Don – Brian of benchmark motors had his car detailed. He went through the BMW factory in North Carolina; they make the X5 and z4

 

David – Changed residence. He moved last week to a house in Redmond.

 

Walt – Stephanie  Richert will be coaching a deaf student at the Bremerton novice driver’s training school.

 

Tom – Broke ground last weekend on the race car. 1987 325is. They just disassembled the car last weekend.  Pulled the engine yesterday.

 

de-Anna and Dane - Just sold their house and bought a new one about 2 miles away.  

 

 

Adjourn