February 1998

Location: Pizzeria Uno, Newton Center, MA
Date: Thursday, February 19, 1998
Present: Bruce Augenstein, Fred Beck, David Christman, Tom Farnsworth, Will Farnsworth, Mike Francis, Espen Frank, Denis Friedman, Noam Levine, Joe Marko, Dan Mull, Sue Rathbone, Neil Schneider, Luka Serdar Jr., Ron Sisco, John Sullivan Jr., Barry Tarr, Michael Webb, Ann Marie Weber, Peter Weber.

1. Call to Order (Mike Webb):

• Mike called the meeting to order and handed out a copy of the agenda.

2. Secretary's Report (Espen Frank):

• The minutes from the last meeting (11/12/97) were printed in the January 98 BIMMER. The minutes were accepted by the Board.
• Board member/ staff directory was distributed for verification. Updated version will be handed out at the next meeting.

3. Vice President's Report (Neil Schneider):

• We have had some technical problems with the chapter hotline which has been down periodically. This has been corrected with the phone company. The hotline is critical for announcing events.
• As of this meeting no ice time trials have been held due to the mild weather. Always check the hotline or the chapter web site for the latest news on dates for the ice time trials.
• The First Quarter General Meeting will be held on Wednesday February 25 at Foreign Motors West. The speaker will be from the National Motorist Association. A mailing has already been sent out to announce the meeting.
• Other upcoming events this spring include the Dent Wizard Tech Session on Saturday February 28, a women only tech session at Foreign Motors West, a wine tasting at Bob and Darice Wareham, and last but not least the chapter club race/driving school. All dates are posted in the BIMMER, but check the web site or hotline for any last minute changes.
• In addition we have several planned tech sessions and the autocross and driving school season is just around the corner.

4. Treasurer's Report (Bruce Augenstein):

• A present the chapter has about $7500 in cash in the checking account. However, we owe $5000 to Fidelity Press and about $2000 for track rentals.
• We have not made any progress yet on the move to 2nd class postage for the BIMMER. We will look further into this, however, as it may allow us to save about $400 to $500 per month on mailing costs.
• We will get some extra money as a "bonus" from the National Office. This is for the Chapter Incentive Award program where chapters that have a certain level of activity can get up to $1 per member as a one time bonus.
• The board unanimously voted to allocate $1000 from the money collected at the Holiday Party silent auction as a charitable contribution to Lahey Clinic. The rest of the money collected will be used to cover expenses.

5. Membership Report (Barry Tarr):

• The current chapter membership is at 1985 full members and 142 associate members.
• We will ask the membership to provide an e-mail address. This will make it easier to communicate with the membership. We can send e-mail to announce the general meetings, and will then save on postage.

6. Dealer Drive Program (John Sullivan):

• We typically get 3 to 4 participants in the dealer drive program at each driving school. The feedback from the participants has been very positive. A letter will be sent out again this year inviting the area dealers to participate in the program.
• It has been a problem for the Driving School organizers that the dealer drive participants sign up at the very last minute.

7. BIMMER/Web Site Update (Mike Webb for Greg Scott):

• We will contract with the same person who does the layout for the Roundel to also do the layout for the BIMMER.
• We need a policy on publishing letters to the editor on the web site and in the BIMMER. We need to determine what, if any, restrictions should apply on what is published . We will postpone this discussion until later when Greg is present.

8. BIMMER Advertising (Will Farnsworth):

• Our accounts receivable for BIMMER advertising for 97 is about $7500. We need to revisit/firm up the payment terms to ensure we get paid in a timely manner and that only advertisers that are entitled to an early pay discount really get this discount.
• We have signed up a few new advertisers for 98. All new advertisers will pre pay.
• The BIMMER advertisers contributed generously with door prizes for the Holiday Party. That was much appreciated. The February BIMMER contained a list of all the gift donors.

9. Autocross Report (Fred Beck):

• Dates for 6 of the 8 autocross events for 1998 have been confirmed. Dates are chosen so as not conflict with the SCCA autocross schedule, and have also been coordinated with the Miata Club.
• All 1998 autocrosses will be held on Sundays at Rockingham Park, NH. A detailed autocross report will appear inthe March BIMMER.
• A new sponsorship package has been worked out for the1998 season.
• The board approved a proposal that we let Miata Club members run at member rates if they let us run at their member rates. The Miata Club autocross schedule will be posted in the BIMMER.

10. Driving School Report (Luka Serdar, Jr. and Joe Marko):

• The first event for the 98 season will be held Sunday/Monday April 26/27. Sunday will feature a club race, Monday the traditional Driving School. A safety school for novices will also be held on Sunday.
• The club race will be the first in the Northeast this year, and we expect a good turnout. The race is limited to 34 cars, but we have mailed out invitations to about 200 racers and hope to fill the field.
• On Sunday we will have the track from 11 a.m. and will start the club race at 3:30, after practice and qualifying.
• Noam Levine and Sue Rathbone will help organize/run the club race. Only first place in each class will be given trophies. Sponsors will be Bavarian Autosport and Schneller.
• The dates for Mt. Tremblant this year are Friday July 31 through Sunday August 2. Friday will be a "lapping day" for approved advanced students, racers and instructors. Saturday and Sunday will be a Driving School and Club Race. Further details are in the March BIMMER.

11. Concours Report (Dan Mull):

• This year's concours will be held at the Museum of Transportation on Saturday September 12. The charge will be $5 per car.
• We are looking into an organizational membership at the Museum, were each club member get a discount on admission by displaying the CCA membership card.

12. Regalia (Mike Webb for Phil Paulhus):

• We have an ad with the chapter regalia on the chapter web site. We are looking into putting a similar ad in the BIMMER.

13. Chapter Library (David Christman):

• We finally have some books in the library, generously donated by Robert Bentley Publishing.
• We need a policy for lending out the books. We will require some kind of deposit when borrowing the books, either cash or a credit card.
• At present the books can be picked up and dropped with David, but we need additional volunteers to make this more convenient.
• We will put an ad in the BIMMER with the titles and further details on where to pick up the books.

14. New Business (Mike Webb):

• We have a new membership contest going to recruit new members, see ad in the March BIMMER for further details.
• Mike Francis from the White Mountain (New Hampshire) chapter visited the meeting as a guest to "get the latest" from the Boston Chapter. He oriented us about recent developments in the NH chapter where they just have elected a new board after most of the previous board resigned last October.
• We have had a very close cooperation with our friends in the White Mountain chapter on the Driving Schools in 1997. This close cooperation will continue also in 1998.

April 1998 BIMMER

Behind the Wheel: Join - Attend - Enjoy! by Mike Webb

Under the Hood: Content, Content, Content by Greg Scott

The Road Ahead: Driving Events Coming Up by Neil Schneider

Crushing The Cones: Season Starts May 3rd! by Fred Beck and John Mansfield

April 1998 New Members by Barry Tarr

Dent Wizard: These Guys Are Amazing by Dana Russian

Dent Wizard Tech Session by Will Farnsworth

First Quarter General Meeting by Neil Schneider

1998 Ice Time Trials: Another Stunted Season, But We Had Fun by Sarah Wynne Jackson and Stan Jackson Jr.

1998 Ice Time Trials Photo Gallery by Dave O'Mara

Bimmers Across The Border II by Joe Marko

Bimmers Across The Border Photo Gallery by Doug Ingram

What Does "BMW" Mean To You? by Betty Lou McClanahan

Boston Chapter Board Meeting Minutes: February 1998 by Espen Frank

Boston Chapter Mailing List by Mike Webb

More Boston Bimmer articles by Espen Frank

Dent Wizard Tech Session: Let the Wizard Help September 1999 BIMMER

Boston Chapter Board Meeting Minutes: November 1998 November/December 1998 BIMMER

Boston Chapter Board Meeting Minutes: August 1998 October 1998 BIMMER

1997 Holiday Party February 1998 BIMMER

Boston Chapter Board Meeting Minutes: November 1997 January 1998 BIMMER

There are 3 more Boston Bimmer articles by Espen Frank