BMW Foundation? [Archive]

gsjay

03-28-2005, 05:33 PM

Anyone heard anything about the BMW Foundation or the Ride Center that was talked about?

This organization seems to have fallen off the face of the motorcycle world.

gsjay

YB in IN

03-28-2005, 05:46 PM

I was wondering about that as well the other day when I saw the sticker on my saddlebag. I haven't heard anything abouit them either in the last few years.

kbasa

03-28-2005, 06:53 PM

They've got a web site here. (http://www.bmwmoafoundation.org/)

Voni

03-28-2005, 11:18 PM

We're here to serve you. Just tell us what you'd like.

We are your foundation.

Voni
sMiling

gsjay

03-29-2005, 07:54 AM

Voni,

Whats up with the idea of a Ride Center?

Promotional material lead one to believe that there was an active search underway for a location? Even asked for your suggestions if I remember correctly.

gsjay

gsjay

03-30-2005, 07:10 AM

Yep, Here it is June 2003 ON page 53.

"Name top three regions that you feel the RIDE Center should be located"

And they ask for donations to help support the Foundation & Ride Center.

Wonder how much they have collected?

gsjay

Voni

03-31-2005, 07:31 PM

gsjay

03-31-2005, 08:22 PM

It's one of many ideas for the foundation. A grand idea. A wonderful dream. And maybe one day . . .

Any foundation is a tool to help people who want to do specific things get those things accomplished. So far, the foundation has done small tasks, but hasn't caught the fire it takes to do larger tasks. I am an eternal optimist. I do think you will hear much more from the foundation in the future. Do you want to be part of that dream? Or do you have a different one?

Voni
Secretary, BMW MOA Foundation

Voni,
If your speaking to me directly I'd love to be a part of the dream! I'm a get it done kind of guy.....

I'd love to see a RIDE center built somewhere along the Blue Ridge! A reason to ride any weekend, a destination................

You mention a grand idea, a wonderful dream..........The article in the ON sounded more like a plan on the short list.

What's missing? Horses to do the work? Money? Something else?

Maybe if the Foundation came out and had more of a presence it would catch fire!

Until I started this discussion I'll bet the last time anyone heard from the foundation was the June 03 article I mentioned earlier. Even now I don't see this thread being a hot one.

Oh, I did forget the young persons campout during the nationals.

Not trying to be an rabble rouser, just thought the Ride Center was a great idea and thought it would catch on.

gsjay

kbasa

03-31-2005, 08:34 PM

I believe the charter of the foundation is to promote rider safety. To that end, I'd like to see a trailer full of GS250s and GN125s that could go to regional rallies and teach new riders how to ride. Make them available for shipping to events like the GMR, the Falling Leaf, the Finger Lakes, the 49er and some of the other large, regional rallies. It would take some committment, but all of those places are no more than two days away from Missouri.

I think that would do a lot more to address the mission than a ride center somewhere.

My 2 cents. And yeah, I'm a trustee.

MarkF

04-01-2005, 03:49 PM

I believe the charter of the foundation is to promote rider safety. To that end, I'd like to see a trailer full of GS250s and GN125s that could go to regional rallies and teach new riders how to ride.

I think that would do a lot more to address the mission than a ride center somewhere.

What a great idea Dave. Add to that some DR400 for gravel road and trail training, too!

BradfordBenn

04-01-2005, 07:22 PM

Don't forget the protective gear!

Voni

04-02-2005, 08:01 PM

gsjay wrote:
You mention a grand idea, a wonderful dream..........The article in the ON sounded more like a plan on the short list.

What's missing? Horses to do the work? Money? Something else?

Yes, we need horses. Yes we need money. Yes, something else. I think we have ideas. I know we have dreams. What we need is to concentrate the power of each of us. That's what a foundation allows us to do in a structured entity. The foundation can be anything MOA wants it to be.

The best analogy of what our foundation could be is the typical hospital foundation. The hospital itself can do certain things, but other things can be better done by a charitable or educational entity. So the hospital has a goal - a new wing, a new MRI, whatever. Frequently this goal is handed to the supportive foundation to pursue. In our case, MOA is the hospital and the foundation is the charitable/eductional entity. The immediate and long range goals of the foundation have to be a part of the short and long range goals of BMW MOA. Ultimately, to succeed, the foundation, as BMW MOA's educational and charitable arm, needs to have the emotional commitment of the Board of Directors.

Voni

Dave Celento

04-05-2005, 02:47 PM

I've not been on this forum and just learned of this thread. Sorry!

So, what is the BMW MOA Foundation doing? We've been putting on the ERC and Youth Camp (Camp GEARS) at the national rallies for the last few years. Yes, we've talked a good deal about the RIDE Center, and have been developing a mentoring program that we hope to implement.

Voni mentioned support from the BMW MOA as one of the critical ingredients. In what is currently an all-volunteer organization, this is especially important for us to move forward with any impact. With varying degrees of success, building bridges has been our focus for the past two years.

The BMW MOA Foundation is an entirely new concept that is loosely related to the BMW MOA. Individually most Board Members are enthusiastic. Colletively, we're still trying to translate this enthusiasm into an efficient and scenic two way road.

As always, we welcome any interested party to get involved in our programs or contact us to find out more about tax deductible donations. More to come after Lima, I'm sure, since that will be a critical meeting regarding the future direction of the BMW MOA Foundation.

Dave Celento
BMW MOA Foundation, President
412-242-9500 x101