2007 National Directors Conference Call

Tuesday February 27, 2007

8:30 pm Eastern Time start time

Bill Brown will provide call in details.

The meeting was called to order by PA at about 8:32 as is was determined most were on line.

Directors and Officers for 2007:

PA reviewed the list of current officers and asked for input, volunteers or nominations. There being none, and the current officers still willing to stand, it was declared by acclamation that the officer positions be: Phil Abrami, president, Bill Brown, vice president, Rolf Drommer, secretary treasurer.

Chapter news and reports:

A quick east to west update of member was covered

BN 110, QC 170, OTCC 140, OTMC 50, TR 334, MB 20*, SK 37, NA 135, SA 205*, BC 465, VI 65* Total 1731 [previous counts from Oct 2006 at end of doc]

* MB, SA and VI counts were obtained from previous email reports by those clubs, as they were not present during the call.

Along with reporting membership, the chapter reps reported on various activities and items of interest at their chapter.

Some highlights included:

OTCC, will be hosting DS events at Calabogie

OTMC, busy working with other MC clubs to encourage them to join BMW CC. Active in several large MC rallys and events including large event at Mosport with BMW GC involvement.

TR, active with monthly meetings that are held at local dealers, Have first instructor clinic coming up Apr 14 at Mosport to start of DS season. Several changes in club leadership with some retirements, but club is doing well.

SK, club growth is slow but steady, working on more event activities for 2007 in cooperation with other enthusiast clubs.

NA, have new dealer in Edmonton and club now enjoys working with both dealers with tech sessions and various events.

BC, looks forward to a positive year with regular events, plus some new.

PA Presidents Recap

New chapters: Saskatoon & motorcycles

As DD noted there are potential new bike chapters, and we also got an enquiry from a group in Saskatoon that wants to become and active club.

Relationship with BMW GC

PA reported that our relationship with BMW Group Canada is still strong, despite that Kevin Marcotte has been promoted, and Rob Dexter takes his place. However our revised funding request for 2007 was turned down. We will still receive our previous funding. BMW GC is open to support requests for specific activities and events. They will also entertain a new submission mid year for the 2008 support.

A lively discussion ensued with various comments about the value of the clubs to BMW and what we might need to do to convince them of the value and the $’s involved. It was noted that with our approx 2000 members annual support of $40k is only $20 per body, which is not much considering what enthusiast do in promoting the marque.

PA requested and will follow up in a separate email ideas for support from BMW GC for local and regional events in 2007.

We will also submit a new funding request as BMW suggested and see what progress we can make.

For now we will have to work with our existing budget that does not leave us much flex room.

PA also noted that the promise to be linked to via the BMW GC web site is still a possibility, just rather delayed.

BMW GC also has new product launches and demos for 2007 such as the X3 and X5 that will again hopefully be opened to club enthusiast as the past X Drive was.

In short we have catching up and work to do in light of the changes at BMW GC.

Insurance Update

There was some activity by the insurance sub group since our last call, but all is not settled yet. DC of TR advises they have chosen to go with ASN Canada FIA for their 2007 school events.

DC will take over the TR side of the review of the insurance started by the sub committee. We will redistribute the notes so far and attempt to gather and present the facts needed.

Insurance info gathered so far will be distributed at latest with these minutes.

GST Update

GST becomes something clubs need to look at when they move more than $50k of revenue funds through their account [school fees and member dues etc] on an annual basis. Several member clubs are in a position to need to do this.

CP notes that the Ottawa car club applied for an now have GST registration. Others are still looking at and evaluating. TR has had GST for many years. The Alberta clubs are looking at the need based on school revenues, and are also looking at whether or not they should incorporate while doing this. BC mainland is near the GST threshold and will also be reviewing.

National should not be affected as we are under the $50k number.

Driving Manual(s) Update

The discussion list for this has been active, and much has been said, and many good comments have been brought up and shared. The project is however not yet done, and will need continuing work. Some of the info in the manual will be useful with regard to our insurance program, as insurance requires the submission of a copy of our rules and regulations.

Hagen Hohn of Ottawa volunteered to do some editing based on the original manuals and the info that was shared on the discussion list, and the target was to be approximately the end of February for something to share.

Check the list if you are on it, or ask if you want to be on it, and volunteer to help if you can.

Collection of National dues

PA reminded all that part of the club structure and agreement is that we fund the club with dues collected from the chapters. Since BMW Group turned down our request for additional funding; it might be time to consider not waving the dues levy as has been done since 2002 and considering colleting chapter dues as a way to raise funds for club activities. A brief discussion of the pros and cons of this ensued, including explanation of the dues, and it was decided to table this until the next meeting pending further discussion of needs and the possibility of a new funding request with BMW Group.

In short the dues issue is deferred until our next conference call. In addition we will send out either under separate email of with the minutes, the previous funding request to BMW, and budget info and history.

EstFest & WestFest activities

In response to a request for an update on a possible western clubs event, RD noted that although 2007 should have been a year to focus on some multi club event in the west. It may be better to look at another event in the east, since the IC meeting in 2008 presents a means of bringing clubs together.

An attempt will be made to work on bringing western clubs together.

However, for now, it may be best to look at another EstFest type event in 2007.

Discussion ensued on options, and since Ottawa is already planning a major weekend event at Calabogie that will involve others, it may be a starting point, with event dates of July 20-21-22, 2007.

DC reminded all that the initial EstFest idea also involved more that just a 2-3 day driving school type event, and that we should pursue those options more.

Brainstorming and ideas for an EstFest event should move forward, and will become an action item.

IC Meeting in Vancouver 2008

PA reported that work is progressing on planning for this event. A new hotel venue with rates more amicable to BMW MT has been sourced. Thomas Tischler of Mobile Tradition will likely visit in late 2007 to help review things.

PA reiterated the desire to be able to have some kind of driving event that might involve chief instructors from across the country. Of course this would depend on BMW  GC support in terms of vehicles and what can be done budget and facility wise. It was also noted that this event might be a good time to bring national directors together for a face-to-face meeting. While discussing things DD reminded us that we may need to inform Rob Dexter more of what IC is all about.

Discussion then turned to selection of an observer for the 2007 IC meeting to be held near Munich in Sept 2007. PA noted that as per his previous request, there were several submissions including the following choices:

John Herbst in view of his FOM award and not having been able to attend SA

Don Dobson in light of the value with the motorcycle end of things

Jim Westmacott due to his involvement on the 2008 team

Harry Stammis of Calgary as a self nomination

Discussion of the choices lead to the decision to take a private vote by email with responses based on the above names to be sent to the club secretary by Mar 3^rd.

Other discussion and notes

PA noted that the race series German Challenge will be happening in Canada, and that although it has been a mostly Porsche event, other can and may participate. To that end PA has asked Louis Payette to investigate and report back so that interested BMW CC club racers may be able to participate.

Action items

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned after approx 10:15 EST. Next meeting to be determined based on responses to action items and further needs.

Previous membership counts from Oct 2006 meeting: These are the numbers that were used for our 2006 annual report.

BN 135, QC 275, OTCC 148, OTMC 70, TR 396, MB 17, SK 37, NA 180, SA 215, BC 454, VI 65 Total 1992