News

Prez Sez - September 2025

Hello BMW Club of Minnesota, I hope you get a chance to explore our region's beautiful fall colorsin September and October. Here are some club updates. Time to renew our memberships Need Hiawatha Rally cochair Club meeting 10/9 - Trip to New Zealand Cycle Gear open house 10/14 Making sure you get club emails My philosophy as president Time to Renew It's time to renew your club membership. It only takes a few minutes and the cost is once again only $30. Log on to our club website and you should receive a prompt asking you to renew. You can pay via credit card. Joining helps us (and you) promote the motorcycle community and culture in a way that supports our values. Also, it gives you access to information and events only available to members. Hiawatha Rally Cochair At the club picnic in August, we voted overwhelmingly to hold the Hiawatha Rally in 2026. We still need a co-chair to assist Owen Applequist, our main rally chair, in planning and running the rally. Our rally won't be successful without someone stepping up to help. This person will then be the primary chair for our 50th anniversary rally in 2027. If you are interested, or want to discuss possible candidates, please email me. Club Meeting 10/9 Come to our monthly meeting Thursday October 9 and hear Dan Makitell us about his adventures riding through New Zealand last winter. The meeting will be at Rosetown American Legion, and you can come at 6 to visit or buy supper. The meeting starts at 7. Here is a scenic picture from Dan's trip. Cycle Gear Event 10/14 Please join us as our club hosts a table at the Cycle Gear Open House in Maple Grove Tuesday October 14. Cat Ely, a club member who works there, invited us to come and promote our club. Email me at if you can volunteer at our table. Club Emails A club member called me to discuss the membership renewal and said he rarely sees emails from our club. I told him to check to see if our messages are somehow landing in his spam folder. You can tell your email provider to mark our emails as "not spam." Also, when you click on links to open our club website, make sure to log in. You will not be able to view much of our content if you don't log in. My Club Philosophy Another member was discussing membership renewal with me, and he asked what my philosophy for the club is. I sent him this email: My vision for the club: I’d like to promote camaraderie and doing things as a group of riders. The club facilitates development of friendships with people who have a common interest. (probably nothing new there). Everyone has an area of interest and expertise and I’d like them to bring that to the club and add to the depth and scope of communal activities and experience. For example; the airhead guys sharing knowledge and parts, members leading group rides, physical fitness for motorcycling, travel experiences, rider first aid, etc. Even community service such as organizing volunteers for Second Harvest Heartland and donations to a worthy cause. My particular interest is in skill development and training. I’m an MSF RiderCoach and have organized training and practice sessions. Though we have been brought together as BMW owners, all motorcyclists who share our values are welcome to join. People who love riding. Riding responsibly and safely who are looking for such a community. Participation and volunteers are the key to a successful club. I hope you rejoin and participate and add your particular motorcycling passion to our club. Enjoy your autumn rides! Jeff Ricker BMW Minnesota Club President