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NEWS
Meet the MOA Regional Coordinators THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE
BMW Motorcycle Owners of Amer- ica reads, “To foster communication and a sense of family among BMW motorcycle enthusiasts.” While some of our members inter-
pret that as meaning tent camping at a rally, others consider it participation in an online forum. Maybe it’s the BMW Owners News, the Owners Anonymous book or possibly the connections made through social media or MOA Chartered Clubs. How we interact is as varied as the number of our organization’s members. If we are to survive and thrive as a
club, we must discover new ways of serving the greatest number of “BMW motorcycle enthusiasts,” regardless of how our members choose to partici- pate or the motorcycles they choose to ride. We are not unique in that we publish a magazine, maintain a web- site and forum or a Facebook page. What makes the MOA unique is our people, and our challenge is finding the best way to spread the word about what it means to be a member. In an effort to improve communi-
cation with MOA Chartered Clubs, BMW dealerships and unaffiliated BMW riders and to insure the life and growth of our organization, the Vol- unteer Committee of the MOA Board of Directors believed that a group of dedicated volunteers located geo- graphically throughout the United States was the best way to move for- ward. Hence, the BMW MOA Regional Coordinator program was created. The development of the program
began with a basic map of the United States indicating the location of each BMW Motorrad dealership, every BMW MOA Chartered Club and member concentrations based on zip
44 BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2016
codes. From there, twelve to fifteen regions were roughly defined, based on those con- centrations. At the same time, interested candidates filled out questionnaires asking, among other things, about their Chartered Club and MOA experience, other volunteer experience as well as their professional background and why they were interested in the position. Once that information was gathered, the
volunteer committee interviewed promis- ing candidates, narrowed the field and pre- sented their initial selections to the full MOA Board of Directors for approval. Then, along with MOA Executive Director Bob Aldridge and Director Stan Herman, the candidates spent a weekend together late last fall where they learned about the history of the BMW MOA, MOA chartered clubs, the MOA’s relationship with BMW Motorrad dealers, the BMW NA and the International Council of BMW Clubs as well as a host of other topics. The initial goals of each Regional Coor-
dinator include making monthly contact with each BMW Motorrad dealer in their region, contacting their regionally assigned MOA Chartered Club quarterly and host- ing a single day event at least once each year. Because the Regional Coordinator is a new concept for the MOA, these goals are expected to change over time, and each Coordinator has been given latitude in developing the program in a way that best serves his or her area. Regional Coordina- tors are also expected to expand their con- tact area as their volunteer time permits. Other MOA members stepping forward to volunteer their time to assist the Regional Coordinators will provide the fastest and surest pathway to program expansion. The Regional Coordinator program
returns to the grass roots principles that created the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America many years ago and strives to bring together like-minded, BMW-riding motorcyclists to share experiences, improve communication and allow more people to
get involved with this wonderful group of riders. Here are the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Regional Coordinators:
David Abrams #79642 Lees Summit, Missouri With a territory covering much of the Midwest, Abrams began riding motorcycles in 1982 and bought his first BMW, a
silver R 100S from Engle Motors in Kansas City, when he was 22. Thirty years later, Abrams still frequents the same dealer and over that
time has owned many BMW
models including Airheads, Oilheads, Chromeheads, K bikes, F bikes as well as several GSes and currently rides a 2007 R 1200 GS. Abrams calls himself an “avid safety
junkie” and manages a community college motorcycle safety and training program in Kansas City and along with his fiance’, trains dozens of new riders each year. He has also served as an MOA Rider Perfor- mance University instructor and has volun- teered for the Land of Oz rally. Abrams looks forward to meeting other MOA members out on the road and working to build our membership through the Regional Coordinator program.
Sam Booth #44259 Athens, Ohio I began riding in 1984 with my first motorcycle, a 1968 R50/2. Ever since, I have owned and ridden nearly every type of
model with over 14 owned at one time or another. In that time I have made a new family, best friends, and comrades in fel- lowship with an host of fellow MOA'ers. I didn't get into the volunteering aspect of the BMW MOA until the 2011 National
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