Happy New Year DCMMers !

As one of the members of the DCMM Board of Directors, I think it a good idea to let you know what's happening to the organization.

Many of you noted last month's note from Katie Williams telling that, for personal reasons, she found that she needed to withdraw from DCMM management. Katie -- we are all sad to see you go, but we know that you and Paul will be around for our future events.

DCMM is run by a 7-member Board, elected by you, the members at out March annual meeting (4 one year, 3 in alternate years). The Bylaws then direct the Board to select the organization's officers. Last March, the 7 BoD members were:

• Michael Babischkin , President (now moved to California)
• Katie Williams, Vice President and then President after the Babs left in September (now resigned)
• Marina Martin, Treasurer
• Janelle Wolf, Secretary
• Jen Oakes (just back from Mexico !)
• John DaCrema
• Tom Clark

As you can see, we are now lacking a Chief Honcho and two Board members. The BoD is meeting next Sunday (Jan.15) morning (before the Dragon committee meeting) to select interim (until March) officers and Board members (and to take care of some other administrivia issues like the Dragon, insurance, finances, upcoming events, etc).

As we read the Bylaws, the Board is required to select the Offiers and the (new) President can fill Board vacancies (confused? So are we.)

The purpose of this note is to ask for (at least two) volunteers who would be willing to fill the two vacant Board positions for the next two months, until the official Annual Meeting. And, if any of you would be willing to take on an administrative position, please speak up. Feel free to send me Email at mailto:w3iwi@toad.net, or send a PM here on NAM, or send a note to any of the other Board members if you are willing to help.

Remember -- DCMM is a WE club -- there is no "them" or "youse guys". We do the events that WE plan. So this is your opportunity to give something back to the club.

When you have Ham & Eggs for breakfast, the Chicken was involved, but the Pig was committed.

 

I would consider - what's involved?

 

We need folks on the Board who can commit several hours per week (and sometimes more) to handling club affairs. Duties vary and we try to spread the load. Board members also need to commit to attending bi monthly (sometimes monthly) meetings of the Board. If you have some specific questions, feel free to PM me.

 

So far, the response to my note has been resounding silence (except for SamIAm's note).
Does anybody care if DCMM has a health future?

 

I have consulted my significant other and we are in agreement. I would be happy to volunteer for any position on the board for the remainder of the current term. In fact, for the sake of consistency - I would be happy to continue volunteering for whatever assistance I might give right through MOTD '06.

Sam

 

I don't think the 'Open Letter' title of the thread attracts the attention you'd likely like to achieve.

 

Sam -- send me PM to mailto:w3iwi@toad.net and I'll get some specifics. Including inviting you to Sunday AM's meeting! Same applies to anyone else that's interested.

Will -- I agonized over what to call the infogram. So far, it's gotten 110+ reads even if the title was bad.

Tom

 

Even though I am in California, I feel a strong bond with the DC Metro MINIs.

I have visited many of the original officers on my annual roadtrips and have always felt that DCMM is one of the nicest MINI clubs in North America.

If I lived in the general area, I'd JUMP at the opportunity to get involved with the club. Best wishes to you all. You have a fine club and I know it will continue to be one of the best!

 

Thanks, Clover -- look forward to seeing you again in May.

 

We really need new people as the Club is getting bigger and bigger. We reached the 200 paid members line which is a big step. A lot of things need to be taken care of in order to make DCMM stronger and fun.
Remember FUN is the key and even if you volunteer a few hours, short or long term it can make a big difference...

The chance to serve in an interim position is a fantastic opportunity: You get to try it and if you like it you can run for office at the March elections, but if you don't like, at the end, the club still recognizes your help.

MD STREGA2

 

I'm in a spot here myself. I want to help, I want to be involved... but I am afraid to make any sort of solid commitment because of the sometimes unpredictable nature of my schedule, especially with work. I don't want to sign up for something and then fail to measure up, and I'm quite afraid that could happen.

Perhaps if I became more familiar with the inner workings of DCMM and the board, I might be less concerned about my ability to keep up with it. How can members like me learn and experience more, without committing or disappointing anyone?

 

I thought you weren't ever supposed to admit to being afraid of commitment!

 

I can speak to anyone who is concerned about being able to balance DCMM with other things. I work in the hotel business. I have no control over my schedule. I work 50 hours per week minimum, and 55-65 hours per week is typical. Depending on the project I am working on, my days off vary and the times that I go to and from work vary. And, as most of you know, I just came back from being sent to Mexico for 10 weeks for a project.

Yet somehow, I have managed to find the time since June 2003 to volunteer for DCMM, plan and organize events for an entire calendar year and now I handle new member relations and sit on the Board.

Here is my suggestion for anyone who is concerned about not meeting expectations -- take a baby step. Right now we are looking for people to fill positions until the annual meeting in March. That's two months. If you feel the committment is too much, don't run for a permanent seat in March.

Others can take baby steps in different ways. We do not need to depend on Paul to organize all our events. Got an idea? Wonderful. Plan one event. Plan an event that you know you can handle the time committment for. Doesn't have to be an all day drive. Heck, we can get together to drive one really great stretch of road for 20 minutes and then go for drinks. Or breakfast. Or lunch, dinner, bowling, the movies, roller skating, ice skating, group car washing, going to the auto show together etc. etc.

 

This is something I tried hard to promote during my term as president. In order for DCMM to survive and thrive the club is dependent on it's members. Obviously not everyone can have a position on the board, just like not very many people have the luxury of gobs of spare time that they can lavish on the club and it's activities.

Along those same lines, those who have stepped up, especially those who have taken on the role of Event Coordinator (First Jen and then Paul) just can't do it all, especially since we are a very social club. The original intention when the board created the Event Coordinator position was for that person to assist members with planning, organizing and scheduling events. Instead the position ended up being pretty much the Event Coordinator handling the event from start to finish. They've both done done fantastic jobs, but there's only one person in the job... And that's where the members come in...

While you may not have the time to hold a board position, maybe you know of some great roads in Loudon County or over in Anne Arundel County... Step up and work with the Event Planner to organize a drive.
Maybe there's a really good restaraunt nearby... DCMM used to do monthly dinners throughout the area, but we ran out of restaurant suggestions... These are all things that don't take a lot of time on their own. Plus remember DCMM covers a pretty large area, the club has members in Virginia, Maryland and DC. (We'll ignore the two families in CA and one in Kentucky for right now ) Jen and Paul may be pretty familiar with DC, Arlington and Alexandria since that's where they live and work. But if you leave in Frederick MD or Culpepper VA, you know that area better than they do.... But don't think you're doing it alone, the Event Coordinator is there to assist you.

So don't be afraid... Step up... Your club needs you!

 

Bah - better to admit concerns about it up front than "commit" and then disappoint later.

I am interested in learning more. Based upon my confidence level, I may step up to the plate and I may not. I can be a pretty bad (read: GOD AWFUL) procrastinator at times, most especially if it's with stuff that I really don't want to do. For the most part, that only hurts myself... but I'd hate to impact the whole club with that.

I will say this, to follow on to a few other posts above... Alan (Scavenger) and I have already actively been working on designing another run. We'll pull Paul in to take a look, give feedback, etc. after we feel we are almost ready. He'll be our "quality control"... and quite possibly be our 3rd guide if the group gets big enough (one leading, one bringing up the rear, and one handling the middle in case we get separated).

So don't get me wrong, I want to participate and contribute... it's just a question of how much - we'll see!

 

Welcome to the human race.

I was born a procrastinator - I had to be pulled out kicking and screaming

Mantra: Procrastination is destructive behavior - I will not engage in destructive behavior.

Give what you can out of: responsibility - no- guilt -no- responsibility -no- ...
*LOVE*

But hey - no pressure from me

 

Edge,

you owe the Club big time... thanks to DCMM you found a nice girl with a MINI who gives you beautiful Christmas presents, the minimum you can do is paying back the DCMM by volunteering a few hours . Seems fair isn't?

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED TO VOLUNTEER? a few hours, even just once only can make a difference. Read below:

A little help goes long way... If you rember I asked help with quasi members follow up... thanks to KRUT and his help we added three new members to the DCMM. I don't think KRUT spent more than a couple of hours in preparing the follow up letter, did so from his home and at his own schedule. Thanks KRUT !!!

MD STREGA2