It's a new year, so it's time to pay your dues. It's $10 per member or $15 for a family membership. You don't have to pay to play; you can participate in all club activities and not pay dues and no one is going to say a word. However, those few dollars from lots of people lets the club buy stickers to give out, maybe fund a club picnic this year, etc. You can see me or Rick at any future meeting or club event (like the Texas National Picnic May 21), or you can mail it to me (see address down below), or PayPal it as a gift to me (
detbmw@gmail.com ) and we'll get it in the bank. We collected $100 in dues last night at the meeting.
No club rides are scheduled for January or February. There have been suggestions that we have a spring (April) camp out as well as repeating our September camp out, destination to be determined. It should be at least a three-day weekend event. Could be Arkansas, East or Southeast Texas, or maybe the Hill Country.
We are going to put together a club-sponsored Iron Butt Ride in April. We have an IBA member (Ron) who is willing to serve as begin & end witness and can explain the process for documentation and stops (a few club members have accomplished this). We will publish a route that will enable you to travel the required 1,000+ miles - doing it within 24 hours is on you. This is intended to be an individual ride, but if you want to ride with a buddy, you certainly can. Large groups are discouraged. More info will be posted as we firm this up. This ride is meant to be for those folks who want to obtain Iron Butt certification - this is not a casual Saturday ride. For those who want to go for a Bun Burner (1,500 in 36 hours), we can also assist.
Tom has suggested a Hare & Hound ride with a picnic at the end (try to follow an unknown route using clues). It should be a lot of fun. We need to do a good bit of planning for this and pick a date. We will share more info when we firm it up.
Finally on the subject of club rides, if you have an idea for a Saturday ride, please let me (
detbmw@gmail.com ) or Ron (
rotorblade@gmail.com ) know. If you don't want to lead the ride, but you have an idea for one or more routes, write up your ideas for rides and share it with us and we will try to make it happen. We have been starting in Jacksonville because it is fairly central to everyone, but we don't have to start there every time. Give it some thought.
The ETBMW+MC was chartered in Dec '87, so we are are going into our 29th year. The club has seen strong years, and very weak years - your participation makes the club work. We have really taken off with membership and activities in the last year. Hopefully the trend will continue.
My address for mailed dues:
Rich Barnhart
PO Box 630903
Nacogdoches, TX 75963
Thanks and I hope to see you at a meeting or a club event.