PRESIDENTSCOLUMN
The Honor OUR MISSION
To foster communication and a sense of family among BMW motorcycle enthusiasts BMW MOA OFFICERS
Wes Fitzer, President 918-441-2114; jwfitzer@yahoo.com Jackie Hughes, Vice President 509-928-3261; jhughes@bmwmoa.org Reece Mullins, Secretary 334-470-7770; rangerreece@mac.com Jean Excell, Treasurer 719-650-6215; jeanexcell@bmwmoa.org BMW MOA DIRECTORS
Sam Garst 414-704-7767: guanocave@gmail.com Stan Herman 719-250-4358; hermanhaus1@msn.com Bill Hooykaas 705-329-2683; hooykaas@bmwmoa.org Lisa Malachowsky 925-759-4360; lisa.malachowsky@gmail.com Marc Souliere 613-297-7546; beemer1@sympatico.ca BMW MOA VOLUNTEER STAFF
Steve Brunner, Mileage Contest Coordinator 910-822-4368, steveb@bmwmoa.org Jim Heberling, High Mileage Coordinator 309-530-1951, jheberling@bmwmoa.org Deb Lower, Ambassador Liaison 719-510-9452, ldeborah@comcast.net Greg Feeler, Pat Carol and Brian Burdette 2017 BMW MOA Rally Chairs 2017rallychair@bmwmoa.org BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF AMERICA
640 640 S. Main Street, Ste. 201 Greenville, SC 29601
Robert C. Aldridge, Executive Director bob@bmwmoa.org Ted Moyer, Director of Membership & Marketing tedm@bmwmoa.org Ken Engelman, Director of Business Development ken@bmwmoa.org Bill Wiegand, BMW Owners News Managing Editor bill@bmwmoa.org Karin Halker, Art Director karin@bmwmoa.org Ray Tubbs, Digital Marketing Manager ray@bmwmoa.org Wes Fleming, Associate Editor Digital wfleming@bmwmoa.org Lesa Howard, Membership Services lesa@bmwmoa.org Amanda Faraj, Membership Services amanda@bmwmoa.org
By Wes Fitzer # 170126 DURING THE JULY MOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING HELD AT
Das Rally! in Hamburg, New York, I was given the extreme honor of being elected by my fellow board members to serve as your president. I say honored because only a few short years ago I was just another member, wondering what I could do to serve the BMW MOA. You see, the MOA and the eclectic group of riders making up our ranks have been somewhat of a life-saver for me. Perhaps because my work was within law enforcement, I had become somewhat jaded toward society, suspicious of individuals I didn’t know and thinking they were somehow bad. What I’ve quickly learned as an MOA member is just the opposite and that there are about 34,000 people across both North America and the world I now consider friends. These people, sharing the common bond of their love for BMW motorcycles, have proven time and time again that there are good people out there who can be counted on, not only in times of need but in times of celebration as well. This was proven to me time and time again at Das Rally! I was on my way to Hamburg and just outside of Omaha, Illinois, population 253, when the fuel pump on my 2014 K 1600 GTL died. With the help of BMW Roadside Assistance, the bike was towed to Grass Roots BMW in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and I was able to continue my trip to Hamburg in a car. It was what I learned after the breakdown that really opened my eyes about our membership, when nearly every MOA member I came into contact with offered some sort of assistance, from loaning me a bike to helping with logistics. During the repair, both BMW Roadside Assistance and Brian, the Service Manager at Grass Roots, kept me apprised of the status of my bike. It is exactly this type of overwhelming support our membership continually shows one another that made me run for board membership two years ago and why I’m so honored to serve as your president. So, where do we go from here? The BoD and its staff have always strived to make the MOA the best motorcycle enthusiast club in the world, regardless of brand, and we will continue those efforts. We have an outstanding group of employees, board members, key volunteers and countless other volunteers who pull together to keep this train on track. The BoD has been and will continue to work on more effective and efficient communications to the membership. Next month you’ll see an Annual Financial Report in ON which represents the first time this information has been produced in a formalized financial report and our first cumulative financial report since 2011. We will also continue to look for new and innovative ways to not only serve and invigorate our existing members, but new ways to recruit new members. Perhaps the best way to invigorate and recruit new members is by kicking tires in a parking lot or gas station. When you see fellow BMW riders, take a few minutes to introduce yourself and ask them if they are members. If not, have them visit bmwmoa.org/membership to learn what the BMW MOA has to offer, and encourage them to take advantage of our Three Free program. If you would like to serve the MOA in some way, I encourage you to run for the MOA Board of Directors, and we have changed our election process to now holding elections annually. Keep an eye on the Owners News for more information. If you do choose to run, I’ll make two promises: you’ll work hard and you’ll enjoy most every minute of it. Where else can you serve 34,000 people who enjoy doing the same things you do? Finally, I hope you enjoy what I believe to be the best part of the riding season with its cooler temperatures and the beautiful fall foliage it brings. Stay safe,
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
Wes Fitzer