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PRESIDENTS COLUMN Giving Thanks by Wes Fitzer
GIVING THANKS
By Wes Fitzer # 170126
SINCE I’VE BEEN PRESIDENT, EVERY NOVEMBER I’VE WRITTEN SOME-
thing about being thankful. This year will be no different, except I’ve found it a bit more challenging.
I’m thankful to our BMW MOA members. Not only for your continuing membership and support, but also for your understanding of our ever-changing landscape and how COVID-19 has negatively impacted the club’s ability to host events.
When all this began and we started postponing, rescheduling and cancelling events, I thought our membership might react negatively. By and large the membership supported the difficult decisions that had to be made. Thank you!
I’m thankful to our chartered clubs. Our chartered clubs have experienced the same difficulties as the MOA, and many have reached out to the MOA staff for support during these difficult times. Many of them have had to cancel their events due to the virus. I would encourage all MOA members to join and participate in a chartered club. These clubs put on great events and are an excellent way to meet local enthusiasts.
I’m thankful for our hardworking, dedicated staff! I often remind members of how impressive our staff is. Nine people are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a membership organization with 25,000 +/- members, $2.6 million in gross revenues, managing 15 +/- Getaways and our annual rally. They do this without complaint, working together to accomplish the mission. This year has been difficult on them, too, and they’ve had to find new ways to get the job done.
I’m thankful for our cadre of volunteers! As noted earlier, how can we operate such a large organization with a staff of nine? Well, it’s our dedicated volunteers who seemingly come from nowhere when we need them. These volunteers often work in the shadows, making sure the work that needs to be done gets done. If you’ve haven’t volunteered to help in some way, I can’t overstate how rewarding it is. You’ll get back ten-fold what you put in, and it’s a great way to meet people and feel good about helping out at the same time.
I’m thankful for our Board of Directors. Due to COVID-19, we’ve been unable to hold in-person board meetings this year. Our Board members have accepted the challenge of changing the way we operate to meet the needs of the members, staff and volunteers. Like everyone else, it hasn’t always been easy, but I applaud them for their dedication and willingness to accept change.
Lastly, I’m thankful for our new Executive Director, Ted Moyer. Ted took over operations of the MOA on January 1, 2020 and I’m quite sure he had a laundry list of great ideas for new events, gatherings and who knows what else. No one saw COVID-19 looming on the horizon at that point and how it would affect the MOA. Ted has not only weathered what is arguably the most difficult year in the club’s history, but also, without a doubt, the oddest year ever. Ted has provided strong and steady leadership for the staff and has done an outstanding job leading the club though this ever-changing landscape.
My hope this year is that as each of us sits around the Thanksgiving table we can find something to be thankful for. I also hope that next year I can sit at the Thanksgiving table and give thanks to setting a personal best for miles ridden in a year.
Thanks to each and every one of you!
Wes Fitzer
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