1998 Holiday Party
by Fred Beck1998 Holiday Party Photo Gallery
In Memoriam: Charlie Kutasz by Michel Potheau
Thanks for your contributions to Charlie's Fund by Fred Tierney
Meghan Lynch (right) was a great help with the little ones! (photos by Ron Sisco)
The Annual Boston Chapter Holiday Party was a great way for club members, their friends, and families to let go of the stresses of the previous year and get into the holiday mood.
The new location for this year, a well-known German club nestled in an evergreen forest on private grounds, turned out to be just the place for a grand celebration. It was easy to find, had plenty of parking, and a comfortable ambiance.
The evening started with an extended social hour, great conversation, and some excellent German beverages. Catering was provided by our traditional favorite, Dan's Buffet Way, and his German-style knockwurst, bratwurst, sauerkraut, beets, and potatoes were a real hit. All this, and followed by Apple Strudel and Black Forest cake, too!
To augment the great food and camaraderie, the evening featured door prize giveaways and a silent auction of some very nice BMW-related goodies. Items generously donated by local BMW dealers, parts suppliers, and services providers that were auctioned off to the highest bidder in a silent auction, with the proceeds going to charity. A number of great prizes, including a Dinan stress bar, Z3 bra, certificates for dyno runs, body work, and mechanical inspections, BMW books, caps, shirts, and a crystal BMW model, among others, were awarded to the happy recipients.
Our own Technical Advisor and all-around great guy, Jim Albright, celebrated his birthday by placing the winning bid on a miniature BMW Z3, which he proceeded to immediately test drive on the dance floor! Our special thanks goes out to BMW NA and the many generous automotive service and parts organizations for their donations of the door prizes and silent auction items.
Our special thanks were also extended to long-time Boston Chapter member Greg Scott, who has done an outstanding job as BIMMER Editor (starting November, 1997) and Chapter Webmaster (from July, 1997). In a very short time, Greg has put an enormous amount of work into both the BIMMER and the Chapter web site to bring them up to the exemplary standard you see before you. As a token of our gratitude, the members of the Boston Chapter awarded Greg Scott the Third Annual Outstanding Member Award in appreciation of his dedication and enthusiasm to our chapter, the BMW CCA, and to BMW automobiles. Good going, Greg!
While the silent auction was under way, results of the elections for 1999 Boston Chapter Board positions were announced. This was followed by a moving speech by BMW CCA club co-founder Michel Potheau in memoriam of Charlie Kutasz, a long-time club member and dear friend of Michel, the BMW CCA, and BMW owners. The Boston Chapter presented a check for $100 as a donation to the memorial fund that has been set up through Foreign Motors West for the Kutasz family. (Details of this fund were given in the January 1999 BIMMER.) We wish the Kutasz family the best in dealing with Charlie's passing.
It was great to meet Boston Chapter members Mark Engleberg and Christopher Huggins, who were very active in the Boston Chapter in the 70s and 80s. We were also happy to see Yale and Bette Rachlin, Margie and Mark Luckman, Michel Potheau and Michael Izor. Though we had fewer attendants than last year (about 100 adults and 20 children attended this year), and the microphone system did not work very well (I should have brought the autocross PA!), everyone had an excellent time.
We had a very good response on the traditional food drive, with all food collected being donated to Walpole food pantry to feed the needy. This is one small way the Boston Chapter BMW CCA gives back to the local community every year. The absence this year of a DJ was fine, as people stayed late, talking, telling stories, and reliving the events of the year until the hall closed. Even the kids were happy, as all children received special "loot bags" filled with goodies.
The Holiday Party was made a success through the help of many volunteers, whom I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks. Ed Stark provided access to the Boylston Schul-Verein, and Gustav Scheer showed gracious hospitality in preparing the facility for us.
Cindy and Espen Frank helped organize the party, tended the door, and put together the kids prizes and edible table decorations (with proper German flags in place). Will Farnsworth secured contributions from our sponsors for the silent auction and giveaway, John Sullivan (who did not need the PA) and Dan Mull helped immensely with the door prizes and silent auction, and Ron Sisco captured it all on film!
To these club members, and everyone else who helped make this event a great one, THANK YOU! I look forward to doing it all again for 1999!
Don't miss the 1998 Holiday Party Photo Gallery!
- February 1999 BIMMER
- Behind the Wheel: Are BMWs Safe In The Winter?
- Under the Hood: Is Winter Driving a Big Deal?
- February 1999 New Members
- Keys In Hand: Colder is Better!
- Driving School Preparation Tech Session
- Boston Chapter Wine Tasting
- 1998 Holiday Party
- 1998 Boston Chapter Holiday Party: Thanks
- 1998 Holiday Party Photo Gallery
- 1998 Boston Chapter Charitable Contributions: Lahey Clinic
- 1998 Boston Chapter Charitable Contributions: Charlie Kutasz
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