White Mountain Chapter BMW CCA
Social Events Committee Meeting
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The meeting was called to order @ 6:40 by the chairperson, Cassandra Vorisek-Creto. In attendance were Cassandra, Tom Blinn, Dana Sion, Michael Morin, Mike March, Melanie Brown, Phil Brown, and David Harrison.
The meeting venue was the Common Man in Concord, NH.
SEC business: A number of topics were discussed.
Seacoast Rally:
Tom Blinn reported that he received the materials for the 2007 rally from Martin Callahan (with help from Paul Michali for the transfer process via the chapter web site). He has updated the route, verifying the existing directions (a few things on the ground had changed) and rerouting the section from York Beach to Ogunquit to use the Shore Road through Cape Neddick which is now open to traffic. All of the photos have been updated and new ones added, and Tom will hand off a full set of materials to John Sullivan from the Boston chapter to double check all of the route instructions and help prune the photo deck to a more manageable set.
Once we have a final version available for Boston’s use (we have asked them to allow us to invite our chapter’s members to attend their running), we will update the materials further, either with some different photos or some route changes or both, and then be able to run much the same route but not exactly the same rally for our chapter (and perhaps invite Boston, Vermont, and Maine to take part).
Hot Laps Go-Karting:
The Karting event at Hot Laps in Weare NH will occur on Saturday, July 19th.
On line registration is open and working correctly. Several people have already registered. Michael Morin is the registrar for the event. More details are on the chapter website (start with the calendar).
We have learned that the venue has a new policy related to parental consent for minors (persons under 18) to participate. Such minors must have a parent or guardian sign the consent form at the venue on the day of the event (or prior to the event). This is not an unreasonable requirement but may be inconvenient for some parents. Since the “observer with lunch” option is available and cheap, it may help encourage a few more parents to attend and observe if their children are driving on the track
Lunch will be catered by Famous Dave’s Barbeque as noted last month.
Climb to the Clouds event:
The chapter will participate in the Mount Washington “Climb to the Clouds” event again this year. The event will be Saturday September 13 and Sunday the 14th. There are details on the chapter web site (start with the calendar).
Cassandra reports that she has done some further investigation with the venue management, and that the cost to have them provide a tent with tables and chairs to accommodate up to 60 people is modest (under $500). This would allow us to provide a catered picnic lunch and follow it with an (optional) ride to the top of the mountain in the venue provided vans to view the sunset (weather permitting) and tour the observatory (almost any weather). The ride would cost about $45 per person including the observatory tour. Those present agreed it would be a thing worth pursuing. Cassandra will follow up to learn more about food options and then seek board support for any needed funding (for the food and the tent, the ride would be funded by participants paying the fee charged).
Car show events:
All chapter members are encouraged to participate in these FREE events which are not sponsored by or run by the chapter, but are well worthy of a fun day out.
The Northeast Exotic Car Show run by the Dodge Viper Club to support the Make A Wish foundation is scheduled for Saturday, August 16th (rain date is Sunday, August 17th) at the Anheiser-Busch Brewery in Merrimack, NH. Free to attend, $20 entry fee to show your car, details on the chapter web site. Last year our chapter had the largest participation of any marque present. This year Tulley BMW says they will bring some new cars to show off, such as perhaps a V8 M3.
Since many attendees are NOT BMW CCA members or even BMW owners we think it might be a good place to give away a BMW CCA membership (for which we might get Tulley to be a sponsor), using this to capture contact info from the contest entrants, to be shared with the sponsor (if there is one).
The Bavarian Autosport Show and Shine is scheduled for Sunday, October 5th at their facility in Portsmouth, NH. Free food, discounts, tech demos, door prizes, and so on as in past years. Details on the chapter or BavAuto web sites.
Drive for the Cure:
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure driving event is planned for the two Mondays on either side of this year’s Oktoberfest (in Watkins Glen). The drive on Monday September 22nd will be at Tulley BMW in Nashua, and Monday September 29th the event will be at BMW of Stratham in (where else) Stratham NH. The chapter expects to provide the post event transport services to shuttle the fleet to the next dealer after each of the two events. Details on the chapter web site and at the BMW USA web site where you can register for specific drives you want to do (contingent on the cars being at the event instead of in the repair shop). This is always a good time and a good way to help raise money to support finding the cure for breast cancer.
Not the holiday party?
We are starting the planning for the chapter party that traditionally occurs in the first month of the new year, that is, next January 2009. We will need to find a new venue as by that time C. R. Sparks expects to have closed their present business location. Dana reported on his conversations with the Highlander at the Manchester NH airport. They have been upgrading their family owned facility and seem anxious to obtain our business. The cost may well be less than what we have been paying at CRSparks in recent years. They offered to host us for a food tasting and tour of the facility. Cassandra and Dana will investigate having the next scheduled SEC meeting at the Highlander so we can learn more about their offerings. We had the holiday party at their facility (prior to recent upgrades) for several years before moving to CRSparks. We also discussed the proposal to use a “silent auction” to raise money with the high value items that have been raffled off in the past. The general consensus was that using a support company with expertise in running silent auctions and access to a broader audience than just the WMC membership makes good sense, and encouraged Cassandra to make a proposal to the board that we spend the up front cost (about $400) to be able to use those vendor services.
Next meeting: Tentatively Tuesday, June 24, 2008, at the Highlander at the airport in Manchester, NH. Check the chapter web site (start on the social events tab) to confirm the meeting time and location.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.