It’s March, club election time! I’m always a bit shocked, as my year’s advance, of just how short a year seems. Last March I don’t recall Jay and I had even thought of a U.S. Four Corners Motorcycle Tour, and now that trip last June and July seems so long ago. The club campout in Buena Vista was one of the highlights of my year; I hope it was one of yours too. I took the train ride, several others took a long Colorado mountain road loop and still others took an extended dirt ride. We all got back and had a great time around the camp fire telling the tales long into a beautiful Colorado night.
We did our annual club ride up Pikes Peak, a ride up Mt. Evans, a ride to Bents Fort, the Taos lunch ride, we saw wild Mustangs on the road on that one, and several more group rides. We’ve eaten German, Mexican, Thai, Pizza, Mid-Eastern, and several others ride to eat evenings. It always strikes me everyone is smiling and laughing when we get together. I also notice there are a few more new faces at every event. This is a great club.
At Novemberfest, on behalf of The International Council of BMW Clubs, Deb presented Matt Parkhouse “The Friend of the Marque,” an International honor for a lifetime of dedicated contributions to the world of BMW. We celebrated Helene’s birthday at Bex and Lee’s home; no one could possibly be more gracious hosts. We had an excellent turn out in Castle Rock on a spectacular New Year’s Day and a lunch with the Denver club. And then there was Procrastinators….I never would have believed we could pull off any event with roughly 75% of the total membership in attendance and we managed to have a door prize drawn for each and every person present. The room was excellent, the Bronco’s on TV weren’t so excellent, and the conversation and friendship was lively. The organizers made it all appear effortless. I thank you one and all for making this an outstanding year for the club and an outstanding year for me personally.
We even managed to finally hammer out the new By-Laws and get compliant with BMW Motorrad by completing our new “Official” logo.
Now it’s time to keep moving forward. I’m starting a new business, and keeping the old one. I’ve recently been asked, and accepted, to serve a two and a half year term on the BMW MOA Board of Directors. I’m not running for any PPBMWRR club position this year, there simply isn’t time to properly commit. Kris Geller is likewise not running again and we all owe him thanks, and possibly a beer, for his service the past few years. Craig Kloppenberg is also not serving again due to other commitments. He has done an extraordinary job in serving on the events committee and as you can see above they have done an excellent job. As for the rest of the officers, including events, we are fortunate to have members willing to serve again. Dawn, Susanna, Deb, Steve, Jay, and Niel have volunteered for positions in the new club year and we have several people who have contacted the nominating committee offering to serve who did not hold official positions last year. Please come to the elections on March 11 at Maggie Maes. It’s important, it’s our club.
Some of our members won’t be at the March meeting as they will be in Daytona at bike week; several more members will leave the week after the meeting to spend a week camping in the Florida Keys. Ah spring …and it all begins again! This year both BMW national clubs are holding their national rallies within a day’s ride (OK, maybe a longish day) of Colorado Springs. In June the BMW RA will hold their national at Copper Mountain, Co. and in July the BMW MOA hosts their national in Sedalia, Mo. If you’ve never been to a national rally, or even if you have, it’s an event not to be missed. Plan it and do it.
Well….by now you all know what I think ….ride, RIDE, RIDE!!