BMW CC National Directors Meeting July 24-25, 2005 in Toronto

Day one with Chief Instructors and CRAC Representative, Sunday, July 24, 2005.

Pictured from left: Bill Brown, Saskatchewan; Kip Keylock, Southern Alberta; Laura Arthurs, Bluenose; hotel staff; Emre Kayaalp, Quebec; John Herbst, Southern Alberta; Roger Harmston, Vancouver Island; Chris Pawlowicz, Ottawa; Gerry Low, Trillium; Louis Payant, CRAC; Ron MacAuliffe, Ottawa; George Garner, Bluenose; Rolf Lange, Trillium; Rolf Drommer, Mainland BC; Melanie Paterson, Mainland BC. Not pictured: Phil Abrami, Quebec; Gerry Hayward, Bluenose.

Meeting Goals:

Find ways to strengthen collaboration and communication by sharing resources and cohosting events and activities;

Build stronger links with BMW Group Canada; and

Increase membership dramatically.

Elections for remainder of 2005 and 2006 (by acclamation):

Phil Abrami, President

Bill Brown, Vice-President

Rolf Drommer, Secretary/Treasurer

Chapter reports:

There are extensive activities at the chapter level including: driving and safety schools, winter driving schools, tech sessions, social, drives, show & shines, autox, karting, websites, newsletters and e-zines, charity events, and project cars.

All of the chapters suffer from lack of volunteers and would benefit from increased memberships. Total membership is now somewhat under 2000.

International Council Meeting 2008

Directors approved the draft application of the Mainland BC Chapter to host the 2008 IC Meeting.

Websites

Bill Brown and Rolf Drommer will work together with chapter webmasters to increase the links and compatibility between the national website and each chapter. Bill and Rolf will also assist chapters develop easy to use and trouble free sites. 

The Directors voted to suspend payments to chapters for hosting websites except in the case of financial need.

National Brochures & Posters/Displays

The national brochure designed by Chris Pawlowicz was approved. It will be available for downloading and use at local expense by chapters on the national website.

We will consider making national posters and/or displays for use at dealerships, independent service centres, and performance shops.  We need a graphic artist to develop prototypes. Emre volunteered to explore the possibilities with Lee Vuong.

Grill Badges

            Directors approved the purchase of at least 100 badges.

Order will be placed after chapter cheques are received.

Individual orders will be taken via national website ad.

Insurance

Gerry Low and Rolf Drommer will look into D & O, Liability, and event insurance from ASN rather than Jones-Brown. We will go with whichever package costs less so long as coverage is equivalent.

National Sponsors

            Roger Harmston will explore getting national sponsors for BMW CC.

National Events

Directors approved in principal the establishment of bi-annual national events, maybe as follows:

Est-Fest 2006 (Quebec, Trillium, Ottawa, & Bluenose at Mont Tremblant)

West-Fest 2007 (Mainland BC, Vancouver Island, Southern Alberta, Northern Alberta, Saskatchewan)

These events would be larger than those hosted by single chapters and would include the participation of BMW Group Canada. Each chapter would host at least one activity or event, so responsibilities are clear.

Possibilities may include (but should be limited to available interest and volunteers): driving school, instructor training, club race, safety & skidpad, autox, show & shine, new car & accessories displays, scenic drives, wine-tasting and social event, charitable activities, etc.

Driver Training Materials

After considerable discussion, a Working Group accepted the responsibility to prepare three manuals for April, 2006 based on the existing, extensive chapter and national resource material:

Student Manual (with basic and advanced/optional sections used and modified for local needs)          

Instructor Manual

Instructor Training Manual

The Working Group will be: Melanie Paterson, Laura Arthurs, John Herbst, and Gerry Low & Patrick Pardoe

The process and deadlines will be as follows:

Detailed outlines/Tables of Contents (October 1)

Feedback from Chapter Chief Instructors (November 1)

Full drafts of manuals (February 1)

Feedback from Chapter Chief Instructors (March 1)

Final English versions in WORD (April 1)

French translations to follow

In the future, the Chapters and National may wish to collaborate on:

Operations and Procedures Manual (safety standards, tech forms, student & instructor evaluations, insurance and waiver forms, etc.)

Multimedia promotional and instructional materials

Other:

Southern Alberta Driver Logbook to be available on the national website.

Bluenose Driver Training promo to be loaded onto the national website.

BMW CC National Directors Meeting Day 2 with BMW Group Canada, Monday, July 25, 2005

Pictured from left: Kevin Marcotte, BMW Group Canada; Kip Keylock, Southern Alberta; Laura Arthurs, Bluenose; John Herbst, Southern Alberta; Roger Harmston, Vancouver Island; Gerry Low, Trillium; Chris Pawlowicz, Ottawa; Bill Brown, Saskatchewan; Lindsay Duffield, BMW Group Canada; John Capella, BMW Group Canada; Ahmed Bulbulia, BMW Group Canada; Emre Kayaalp, Quebec; George Garner, Bluenose; Gerry Hayward, Bluenose; Rolf Drommer, Mainland BC.  Not pictured: Phil Abrami, Quebec.

Attendance of Lindsay Duffield, CEO of BMW Group Canada, as guest of BMW CC at the 2006 meeting of the International Council of BMW Clubs in Leipzig.

Support of BMW Group Canada for the hosting of the 2008 International Council meeting in Vancouver.

Creation of a BMW CC link via the Fascination section of the new BMW Group Canada website.

Insertion of a BMW CC membership brochure in the BMW owner’s welcome package.

Display space in BMW dealerships for a BMW CC poster or alternative.

Joint participation in charity events (e.g., Juvenile Diabetes, Street Survival training for teens).

Combining new car launches and heritage events (e.g., show & shines, drives, etc.).

Meeting with regional sales representatives; possible use of DAG funds.

Collaborating on driver training programmes including exploring smaller market support.

Joining together for Est-Fest (2006) and West-Fest (2007) biannual BMW driving festivals.

Resolving issues surrounding Mini club enthusiasts and Motorrad clubs in Canada.