White Mountain Chapter BMW CCA
Social Events Committee Meeting
Tuesday, June 24, 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, and David Harrison.
The meeting venue was Basil’s Restaurant at the Highlander Hotel located at Manchester Airport.
SEC business: A number of topics were discussed.
Member event participation:
There has been interest in finding a way to encourage more participation in chapter events by the members. Dana found a program that’s used by the Tejas chapter in their Tejas Trax newsletter. They award points to members for their participation in events, publish the results in the newsletter, and at the end of the annual period, award prizes to the highest scoring members.
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. A number of people have already registered. Michael Morin is the registrar for the event.
Lunch will be catered by Famous Dave’s Barbeque and there is a BBQ only option available for a very modest fee.
More details are on the chapter website (start with the calendar).
Seacoast Rally:
Tom Blinn reported that he has provided updated materials to John Sullivan who is supposed to drive the route and thereby review both the route instructions and the photo set. Tom has identified three places where we should be able to make minor changes in the route and add some unique photos (or not) and thereby have a variant of the rally that we could deliver, probably in early October, with the date chosen to avoid conflicts with other White Mountain or Boston events.
We do not yet know what date Boston will deliver this rally, or even for certain if they will do this route during this season, although it Is clearly in their plans based on their latest newsletter.
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 the combined cost for a picnic and the guided tour of the observatory will probably be in the $60 a person range. Those present felt that it would be a reasonable value at that price and that we should move ahead to work out the details.
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 are 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.
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.
Annual Chapter Reunion:
Based on the feedback that some members didn’t like the “holiday party” name, we have decided that since the annual get together is really a reunion for the members, we should start calling it the Annual Chapter Reunion or something very much along those lines.
This month’s meeting was at the Highlander Hotel at the Manchester airport to provide the SEC a chance to meet the catering team and sample the food. It was the consensus of those present that the service and food were very good and that with the recent updates to the conference center facilities that having the annual reunion event at the Highlander should be acceptable. An advantage of the facility is that anyone who would prefer to stay overnight will have very easy access to the hotel. The hotel has also offered to provide discounted rates for chapter members who do decide to stay over after the party.
The details for service will need to be worked out, but we may choose to have a buffet style of service this year, instead of plated service, so that people can go up to get food when they are ready.
We are also leaning toward a less formal form of entertainment, to allow more of the conversation and conviviality that people have said they value. To further that approach, we are thinking that a small jazz group (a quartet or quintet) who are comfortable providing background music might work very well. We do not have any identified groups at this point. We might also have a roaming magician who would go from table to table doing tricks, or perhaps a caricaturist. We are not thinking of doing a comedian or the like this year.
Of course, suggestions from the membership at large are always welcome.
Since no further business was identified, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30.