Club Officer Elections 2014

[Vance]

Our club will elect its new officers for the year 2014 at our annual planning meeting in Montevallo next January. I have decided to announce my candidacy for President based on the platform posted below. This platform was introduced at our meeting in Nauvoo last weekend to those in attendance. I felt it would be advantageous to write down such a platform so the membership could see the basis upon which I want to again seek this office. My posting here is not intended for any other purpose than to inform the membership that was not present at the Nauvoo meeting. As in any group, I have my ideas and opinions on what is and would be good for the club. I also know and realize that others might not feel the same way. When there two or more candidates...and they have different ideas or “platforms” then the membership will choose its course through an election. That is good for the group…and I can’t remember when we have had an “election” for officers within this club. I believe that may have in fact been part of what has helped to lead us to where we are today.

My posting of this platform is not intended to solicit comments for or against it nor would it be proper for me or anyone else to comment positively or negatively about any other person, platform or candidate on this forum…so please, I ask for your cooperation in this regard. Again, my intent is to make sure that the membership knows where I think we need to be headed and where I will lead our group as President. In my opinion we have a great club with a great history that is desperately in need of redefinition of scope and purpose.
Feel free to contact me offline with any questions you may have. I will appreciate your support.

Let’s Ride …. In A New Direction!
Vance Harrelson

I am proud of the BMWMOAL and proud to be a member. The hard work of many has created a great legacy and reputation all across the country. I am deeply grateful for all the members over the years that have worked so hard to build a great club….but I strongly believe it’s time for a new direction. In order for the club to survive we MUST expand our outreach and be a club that attracts and openly accepts new members…and even riders of other brands. Further I believe we must offer our members multiple activities and opportunities not only to ride but associate with like-minded riders. We have to be more than a monthly get together…and I believe we need to be a positive face in our communities by actively supporting rider safety, education and training programs.

Consider These Facts
 The BMW MOAL is one of the most respected BMW motorcycle enthusiast clubs nationwide with our 40+ year history!
 The Chicken Rally Is One Of The Highest Regarded Club Rallies In The Nation
 Members And Potential Members Have Multiple Demands On Their Free Time As Well As Many And Varied Opportunities To Ride And Recreate On Any Given Weekend.
 The BMWMOAL Has Seen A 50% Reduction In Membership Over The Last Four Years!

I am seeking the position of President of the BMWMOAL based upon the following platform. I strongly believe that if we do not change the club model and change it drastically, we will not have a club in the future…and it won’t take much longer based on where we are today.

So… what should we do different? Here Are Some Of The Things That I Believe We Should Do…

Open Our Membership – This is the single most important thing we MUST do to insure the future of our club. Yes we are a BMW club and we can still be a BMW club with club members who ride other brands. Keeping a closed attitude is not viable for our club’s survival. We must not only allow new members riding other brands but encourage riders of other brands to join! This is how we will introduce the BMW culture and lifestyle and attract new members.

Build A Closer Relationship With Our Chartering Clubs - I will work closer with the BMW MOA & BMW RA to utilize the strengths available from those clubs. They need us… and we need them…. for event support, advertising and many other parts of our common club life. My goal is to see our club membership have 100% membership in the clubs with which we are chartered.

Do Something For The Greater Good – Our club was founded in part to promote motorcycle safety and to improve the public image of motorcycling. I propose we designate five dollars ($5.00) of our annual $25.00 membership dues to support safety, education and training. I will look for ways to raise awareness of our club by finding opportunities to use our motorcycles and the club to make a positive contribution to our communities by participating in community, charity and other civic activities. We need to get involved in activities outside of our group. I strongly support the missions of the AL Traffic Safety Center and the MOA Foundation that provides rider education and training to improve motorcycle safety. Let’s support things that support our sport.

Make Use Of Our Social Media –Social media becomes more and more important each day and every day. With the assistance of our dedicated IT staff already on board, I will work to fully use all of our electronic tools including our fantastic website that is greatly underused at this point to our advantage. I will fully investigate the feasibility of continuing the newsletter as we know it or as an alternative, determine how best to use our available media resources to communicate meeting info and other items of interest to our membership.

Ride – I want to ride as much as I can and I hope you do too. I will work with our members and officers to create new and different rides, challenges and interesting trips whether to and from our meetings or on off meeting weekends. We will create more and different opportunities for our membership to ride and enjoy their bikes and this lifestyle. Different rides…both on road and off road… that include riders of all skill levels. Bottom line…we’ll work to provide more opportunities to ride than ever before!

So, Where Do We Ride From Here?

I believe the club is now on a course that will lead to its demise in a very short period of time unless we do something drastic… and do it now. If the club members we have today are ready to embrace the kind of change…big change…that I believe it will take to move us forward, I will pledge to serve you the membership as your President and lead that effort to the best of my ability.
I pledge to work along with the entire membership to build an open and inviting club to members and guests while remembering the history that is ours. I will work hard to promote the BMW brand but more importantly the lifestyle of the serious rider. Above all, my relationship with each of you personally is far more important to me than the brand of bike you ride. I want a club that has riding as its passion and displays it with pride. I want a club that supports awareness of motorcycles and provides support for the safety, training and education for all riders new and old with the quest for making our sport safer for all of us.

What do you want the BMWMOAL to be?

[Jake]

I would like to comment on Vance's candidacy and agenda. I strongly support Vance for President because I believe him to have the best interests of the club at heart, I think he has the attributes of a strong and active leader, and most importantly, I mostly agree with his stated objectives.

I have had discussions with club members in the past, and likely alienated more than one, regarding our policy of requiring ownership of a BMW motorcycle for membership. We, as BMW riders and devotees, have a reputation for snobbery and elitism. This requirement furthers that image and certainly does nothing to increase membership numbers. I think the type of sportbike and cruiser riders that we would not welcome into our club would not be interested in riding with us either. I prefer to be overly inclusive and deal with problems that arise from that policy as needed. I have personally recruited a former Harley-guy to our marque and can attest not only to his riding skill but his amiability as well.

I especially like the idea of an increased emphasis on riding. I would like to see the website include more short-notice rides and lunch meets at which we ride to the lunch and then have the option of continuing the ride after lunch. I have learned more good roads from the members of the club with whom I have ridden than I would ever have found on my own. My very favorite experience was the trip to the private cannon museum in Starkville (thanks to Paul and I hope you are feeling ok after your accident).

I would like to see increased participation at the Thursday night dinner with emphasis on discussing Friday and weekend rides.

I am somewhat lukewarm on collaboration with other clubs but I support that as a policy and then participation can be left to the individual. I am planning my first trip to Ribfest this year and am excited about an experience that is spoken of so highly by other club members; so good things do come from club alliances.

I certainly support safety campaigns and our participation as a group when appropriate.
I don't use social media but do check our club website and forum a couple of times a week. Whether as a forum discussion thread or an email "blast", there is no more efficient way to disseminate information and promote discussion.

I still work full time but hope to become a better and more active club member in the future and pledge to support Vance's efforts in any way possible for me.

Jake

[Wrong Way]

I'd like to say that I agree with Vance's platform. I'm one of those members that have left the club in the last 4 years. I rode a non BMW to one of your meetings and was criticized for my choice of a ride. At the time I had 3 BMW's home in the garage and the bike I rode was the only non BMW I owned. I did not appreciate the "Holy attitude" that was projected to me by a member at that time. I let my membership lapse and sold all my BMW's. Since then I have purchased another BMW but still ride a non BMW frequently.

I agree that allowing "some" non BMW bikes and members is key to the long term success of the club. I was active in the BMW Club of GA. for 17 years and was President 3 different times over that 17 year span. We changed our By Laws to allow up to 20% of the membership to own non BMW bikes. Our thinking was that anyone that didn't ride a BMW, and would take the time to join a BMW club, was on a fast track to owning one. And that is what happened. That club is very healthy and vibrate today, as far as I know.

When you get down to its all about riding MC's and our love of motorcycles.

I have applied to reestablish my membership, and look forward to helping the club into the future.

[mwarren]

Welcome back, Tim. Missed ya.

[Wrong Way]

Welcome back, Tim. Missed ya.

A voice from my past! Hope to see you at Montevallo

[Gator]

Glad to have you back Tim.

Gator

[Bikebum]

I'd like to say that I agree with Vance's platform. I'm one of those members that have left the club in the last 4 years. I rode a non BMW to one of your meetings and was criticized for my choice of a ride. At the time I had 3 BMW's home in the garage and the bike I rode was the only non BMW I owned. I did not appreciate the "Holy attitude" that was projected to me by a member at that time. .

It sounds to me that it was not the "club" that offended you, Tim, but a single member. I am not sure we can fix that with a change of officers or a change of rules.

[Gail]

Regarding recent posts concerning the club, Paul & I have a few comments to make. We have been club members for 14 years and from time to time we have disagreed with other members, but have NEVER felt unwelcome. We both have "other" brands of bikes, and on rare occasions rode them to club meetings. We have received a little ribbing on occasion, but SO WHAT? IT IS A BMW CLUB!! Get over it. Put your jammies on and I'll read you a bedtime story. We are NOT in favor of changing the long standing structure (by-laws) of the club just to implement a policy of political correctness. If you want to be a voting member, own a BMW mc. What is wrong with that? Gail & Paul

[Vance]

Gail..I respect your opinion, however the requirements for club membership in my opinion have many more implications than just the question of ownership of a BMW motorcycle. Again, I realize this is a matter of opinion...and we all have one. I hope I have made it clear that it is not my intention to add members just for the sake of adding members, as that is not at all what I propose. Rather I do support us being a club that welcomes new and prospective members openly that have a common interest in the BMW motorcycle lifestyle that our club embraces. As Tim mentioned, it is also my belief that someone who enjoys this lifestyle no matter what brand they happen to own when they join are much more likely to end up on a BMW once they hang out with us. Likewise it makes no sense to me that just because you are an owner of the brand..that somehow insures that you support the lifestyle of our club. In fact, we have had members in the past that were owners, joined the club and did not fit in with the group nor embrace the lifestyle. So making ownership a requirement for membership does not guarantee anything but a limited number of prospective members.

So why does a limited number of prospective members matter? It matters greatly when you consider what is required for the club to live on another 40 years. There has to be new members added in sufficient numbers to have the volunteers we need to run the club. We need officers to fill the positions that are progressive, thinking of new and different ways to inspire the membership to become involved, to keep the club active and challenging. That also will inspire the current membership to remain involved and stay members.

Further I believe the greater implication is how we relate to and treat people. People ride these motorcycles...BMW's...Honda...Yamaha...and even Harleys. For those who do not want to be open to new members of other brands...what are the concerns? Surely we don't think our membership will become inundated with scores of un-dersirables do we? If a person or persons (meaning couples) are like minded and enjoy the lifestyle we do as BMW owners and MOAL members, they have the potential to be the next President...or Secretary...or Rally Chair. If we do not openly accept these members as "equals" because they don't own a BMW then in my opinion we are making a BIG mistake. For this reason, I support one level of membership...if you join the club and pay your dues, you get to vote and you are an equal member...period. The person you are is the person you are and I don't believe the brand of motorcycle you own has a bearing on that at all. Again, my relationship with my motorcycle family is based on personal relationships and not a particular person's motorcycle.

Of course if we are not concerned about the future of the club going forward and if it exists for anyone other than us, we can always keep it just the way it is. If we choose to do that, my bet is that we will continue to lose membership at a rate that will reduce us to extinction in a short period of time. I don't want to see that happen.

[mwarren]

In light of this thread may I add over this past year Phillip and I attended 5 BMW rallies. Being Membership Director, I was naturally curious as to the membership of the clubs that sponsored these rallies and if they were strictly BMW owners/riders. After talking with various members and officers of these clubs, 3 of these 5 were totally BMW owners/riders clubs and their membership numbers ranged from 80 to 120 with approximately 80% of their members over the age of 60. Granted many members didn’t care about the numbers of their club but admitted it wasn’t growing using the same volunteers and very little revenue generated for various activities. The primary source for many club’s revenue is membership dues. When membership numbers decline so do the activities generated by these dues. If the club members feel welcome, comfortable and are involved in community service, they will remain part of a club for a long time. The below checklist is something to think about when new members join and even past renewal members.

New Member Checklist:
Use the following new member checklist to ensure you are welcoming your members:
• Have I made the new member feel welcome?
• Have I given them responsibility?
• Have I valued their input and respected their ideas?
• Have I made them feel like a member of the family?