PRESIDENTSCOLUMN Ides of March
BMW MOA OFFICERS Wes Fitzer, President
918-441-2114; jwfi
tzer@yahoo.com
Jackie Hughes, Vice President 509-928-3261;
jhughes@bmwmoa.org Reece Mullins, Secretary
334-470-7770;
rangerreece@mac.com Jean Excell, Treasurer
719-650-6215;
jeanexcell@bmwmoa.org
BMW MOA DIRECTORS Sam Garst
414-704-7767:
guanocave@gmail.com Stan Herman
719-250-4358;
hermanhaus1@msn.com Lisa Malachowsky
925-759-4360;
lisa.malachowsky@
gmail.com Marc Souliere
613-828-1798;
beemer1@sympatico.ca Chad Warner
614-735-8558;
chad.warner@bmwmoa.org BMW MOA VOLUNTEER STAFF
Steve Brunner, Mileage Contest Coordinator 910-822-4369;
steveb@bmwmoa.org
Jim Heberling, High Mileage Coordinator 309-530-1951;
jheberling@bmwmoa.org
David Swider, Ambassador Liaison 415-479-8075;
teamkbasa@comcast.net
Lee Woodring, Consumer Liaison
770-331-2419;
lee.woodring@bmwmoa.org Joe Leung, Consumer Liaison
403-689-9939;
joe.leung@bmwmoa.org
Greg Feeler, Pat Carol and Brian Burdette 2017 BMW MOA Rally Chairs
2017rallychair@bmwmoa.org
BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF AMERICA 640 S. Main Street, Ste. 201 Greenville, SC 29601
640
Robert C. Aldridge, Executive Director
bob@bmwmoa.org
Ted Moyer, Director of Membership & Marketing
tedm@bmwmoa.org
Ken Engelman, Director of Business Development
ken@bmwmoa.org
Bill Wiegand, BMW Owners News Managing Editor
bill@bmwmoa.org
Karin Halker, Art Director
karin@bmwmoa.org
Ray Tubbs, Digital Marketing Manager
ray@bmwmoa.org
Wes Fleming, Associate Editor Digital wfl
eming@bmwmoa.org
Lesa Howard, Membership Services
lesa@bmwmoa.org
Noelle Boiano, Membership Services
noelle@bmwmoa.org
10 BMW OWNERS NEWS March 2017 By Wes Fitzer #170126
THE IDES OF MARCH IS A DATE ON THE ROMAN CALENDAR WHICH corresponds to March 15, most notably the date Julius Caesar was assas- sinated in 44 B.C. This was a turning point for the Romans, transitioning from a period known as the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire (more on this later). Fittingly the Roman new year began with March (Martius), the Ides,
which represented the first full moon occurring on the 15th of March. The Romans did not number days of a month sequentially from the first
through the last day. Instead, they counted back from three fixed points of the month: the Nones, the Ides, and the Kalends (1st of the following month). The Ides occurred near the midpoint, on the 13th for most months, but on the 15th for March, May, July, and October. Most of us who ride motorcycles look to the spring equinox as our “new year,” which
this year occurs five days after the Ides of March on the 20th. This is the time we’ve all waited for, suffering through the long winter solstice, our bikes quietly sitting, our gear collecting dust but our minds busily planning the year’s rides and thoughts of re-connect- ing with our motorcycling friends. Early March is the time I make my preparations, add farkles I’ve purchased through the winter, wash my gear and look through the ON and forum for any additions my wallet won’t let me live without or for routes I may wish to add. “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears” is probably the most attributable
comment relating to Julius Caesar. This line was written by William Shakespeare in 1599 and was spoken by Mark Antony as he stood over Caesar’s lifeless body in the Shakespear- ian play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. I’m going to take a few liberties with that line: Friends, BMW Riders, MOA members, lend me your ears…the MOA is at a great turn-
ing point in our republic, and I’m asking for your help in building the next great empire, the MOA of 2017-2018. The MOA’s employees, volunteers and Board of Directors work tirelessly looking for new ways to attract members to this great republic. We all know in our heart of hearts the best way to recruit new members lies at the feet of our present members. If each of us were to bring one new member into the fold, we would go from 33,000 members to 66,000 overnight. The key to recruiting new members on a one-on- one basis is to get out of our comfort zones, walk up to fellow BMW riders (most of us do that anyways) and at some point in the conversation simply ask if they’re members. Here’s the tricky part, as you’re talking to them about some of the great benefits of being a mem- ber watch for their reaction and concentrate on those finer points. If, as you’re talking to them about the Anonymous Book, they react in a positive way, concentrate on the AB benefits. Then, like any good salesman, you must close the deal by providing them with the information on the “3 For Free” trial membership and inviting them to attend the International Rally or one of our many Getaways. With your help, we can create the great- est BMW motorcycle empire in the universe! I hope my discussion of the assassination of Julius Caesar is not taken to mean anything
more than I intended; “What’s that, soothsayer? Beware the Ides of March?” On second thought I may not leave the house on March 15th. Enjoy the motorcycling New Year!!
Wes Fitzer
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