Non-members at Gillette

[rkasal]

$35 entrance fee is low considering having the chance to win expensive door prizes & maybe a bike! If you stay for 3 days, you really get your moneys worth.

We met a young couple at West Bend just about to get into riding BMW's. They were local & intended on visiting the site for one day (Friday). They thought the $35 entry fee was a little high until they hung around awhile, picked their new bikes from the demo display (F800's) & tried on gear for hours. They decided to hang around to see what happened after dark & they would be back all day Saturday to check their tickets & see what the closing ceremony was like, have a couple beers & check out the bands. They said they were having too much fun to leave. They also said they would not be able to make Gillette because they are taking 08 to get their camping gear, practice short trips & get the gadgets they need for the future. They would definately be at the 2009 Rally.

I vote for no day passes.

I don't have enough information to opine as to whether they should or should not have day passes but they should tell people what they might miss on each day. This may entice people to purchase an admission.

[tommcgee]

I don't have enough information to opine as to whether they should or should not have day passes but they should tell people what they might miss on each day. This may entice people to purchase an admission.

Do they sell memberships at the gate? They ought to.

[rkasal]

Do they sell memberships at the gate? They ought to.

Good question. They should at the gate, shouldn't they?

[Friedle]

The day pass question comes up every year, but usually not this early.

The short form of the answer is: "We have day passes. They are $35 each.
They are good for one, two, three or four days. You can decide how many days you would like to use them for."

There are quite a few compelling reasons for this policy. No I am not going into them now, later or again for the umpteenth year in a row. It might change someday, but I'm not holding my breath.

Friedle

[wanderer]

Since I've read about day passes before, and for some reason I doubt the subject will stop here, I'll voice my opinion sooner rather than later.

I went to the board meeting and tour of the Camplex in Gillette. One of the things I observed that I hadn't given much thought to were the discussions about security. By that, I mean a fully fenced perimiter with controlled access points. I'm sure there's other security as well but I'm not discussing that.

In going to past rallies I never really had any sense of "Security." I now believe it is a major concern but is kept very low key. At rallies we stroll through literally millions of dollars worth of motorcycles, GPS's, radar detectors, bikes with the keys in the ignition, helmets, tents, sleeping bags, Kermit chairs and lots of other high value, very portable, easily sold stuff.

I think there is a reason to not have $5 or $10 day passes. It allows us, the members, to keep our quasi open society with a realitive high degree of probability that our stuff will be there when we get back to the tent at night. I know when I motorcycle tour around the country I would never go for a day ride and leave my stuff laying around any KOA or State or National camp site the way I do at a BMW rally. Maybe I'm nuts or paranoid but that's my opinion.

In short, to some extent, I believe $35 keeps out the undesireables. Might it also exclude some people we would love to let in, yes probably so, but I'll take the trade off. Would $35 stop a determined professional thief? Of course not. Might $35 stop some casual punks who may be walking around a "biker rally" from picking up a momento? Yea, it just might keep them out.

[PAULBACH]

I have some angst when we assume all BMW riders are leave my tent open and leave my key in the ignition honest while riders of other Marquees can not demonstrate that same high standard.

But even if other riders want to attend, $35 will not gain them admission unless they are MOA members or guests of MOA members.

[wanderer]

I was/am unaware of anyone having been turned away due to lack of a BMWMOA member endorsement. I am aware it is the official policy but I was unaware of anyone wanting to participate being denied entry. It is my belief, and I MAY BE WRONG ON THIS POINT, that people may be admitted as a guest of the club, or an individual worker, at the registration tent. I could see how that clause could be invoked to denie entry if the MOA registration folks felt a situation required it. Most business' have a sign on the door these days saying "we may deny service to anyone", I don't see this as any different.

I certainly am not suggesting anything about the honesty of any motorcyclists as to a brand of motorcycle, in fact I would find that absurd. Any referrence about brand of bike didn't come from me. I think I'm the same person I was when I rode Harleys, possibly a bit wiser.

If anyone posting here is personally aware of someone being turned away at the gate due to lack of a "sponsor" I'd certainly like to read about it.

I'm not nearly as concerned with the printed policies of the MOA as I am regarding how they/we go about our business. I have never felt anything but a totally friendly atmosphere at any rally I have attended and well... yea I have seen a lot of tent flaps open and keys hanging in bikes. That statement has nothing to do with other people or get togethers nor did I intend to infer that. It is a first hand observation of what I have personally witnessed at BMWMOA events.

[redclfco]

If I worked at registration, and somebody was standing there about to be turned back for not being a member, I would first of all give him some free drink coupons, shake his hand, thank him for coming, then SELL HIM A DAMN MEMBERSHIP DUH! Cut a deal, give him 20% off on the entry fee if he pays full price on a 2 year membership! While your at it, sell him the /7 behind the tent, so now he has a Beemer! If you can't sell, you shouldn't be in the reception tent!

Now if I was in line behind this guy and he was refused because he had no sponser, Would I most likely make an immediate offer of sponsorship UNLESS the guy/gal was drunk or otherwise being an obnoxious jerk? That would be the moral line for me. From what I saw at the rally was a camaraderie I have never seen anywhere else, and wouldn't want to dilute that in any way.

BUT


This is a great club; BMWs have this great fraternity, not snobbish and not discriminatory; But the club rally may have to dilute in terms of types of people in order to survive in this changing world; and that I believe is a fact.

Many of us found our way here, and have friends we wish to introduce to the BMW MOA Rally. I am doing my best, have a friend groomed, and shopping for his first beemer, but it's not the only way to bring in new members..

However in reality I got to stick with Mark Twain. Mr. Clemens is known for the line I have to paraphrase here: I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member....

[Rapid_Roy]

However in reality I got to stick with Mark Twain. Mr. Clemens is known for the line I have to paraphrase here: I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member....

Wow, all these years I thought Groucho Marx came up with that line.

[Mongo]

I rolled in on my HD by myself, paid the entrance fee for the day pass ($35.00). I Immediately volunteered and started signing up others. I don't recall anyone asking me about a sponsor. I was asked if I had a membership and was solicited to get one when I didn't. I never met any resistance to being there. I felt very welcome.

Go to any concert for someone of any notoriety and you will pay at least $35.00 for two hours entertainment.

[redclfco]

Wow, all these years I thought Groucho Marx came up with that line.

Er, who the hell remembers this stuff but it was grouchos line? thats why I had to paraphrase the phrase, I guess i better paraphrase the author!

Let me restate..."somebody great with a mustache once said........"

[kenk]

However in reality I got to stick with Mark Twain. Mr. Clemens is known for the line I have to paraphrase here: I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member....

I'm glad you said that...

[redclfco]

It takes all types! Welcome back to the forum Kenk!

[The_Veg]

Go to any concert for someone of any notoriety and you will pay at least $35.00 for two hours entertainment.

I'd sure love to find some good concerts for ONLY $35. The 'at least' part is the difficult bit.

[sachiwilson]

I don't have a BMW (see the bright yellow Honda 599 in my avatar) but I've found that BMW riders have a lot in common with me and the way I ride, so I decided to sign up. (As for the bikes, I am very impressed with the F800s even though I have no need for one at the moment!) I also was interested in joining the crew at the rallies, so it was an easy choice.