View Full Version : Where to post our event calendars?
When early February comes, and that everyone will be on a "cold turkey" of track events (cold turkey being a term well known by track junkies), we will start posting our event calendar in as many places as possible. Speed shops, independent BMW repair shops, automobilia stores, you name them (until we get an official and recognized agreement between BMWCC and BMW Canada's dealers, posting in dealerships will be difficult). We will need the widest diffusion so that everyone in Montreal knows where to go if they want a responsible club to join for safe driving events. Perhaps we can start a list of places to put our posters, and who will be responsible for a few of those places. In Montreal, Quebec City, Joliette or even Ottawa...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Lee_Vuong/BMWClub_schedule.jpg
snowmanmtl
12-25-2005, 03:42 PM
I've always had a lot of success posting things on the inside door stalls of the ladies washroom at the track!!! Lee have you found me a race car Yet? It wasn't under the Tree like you promised.
Try sending your track events to Coco
www.trackschedule.com (http://www.trackschedule.com)
snowmanmtl
12-25-2005, 04:07 PM
as well, check with Vince to find out what other clubs are hosting close to the same dates. Especially from the states. People like to be able to come up for more than one event. Check Coco's for other clubs to contact ( Mazda. Corvette ( COMS) Chin etc. They may post a note on their sites.
"Speed shops, independent BMW repair shops, automobilia stores, you name them (until we get an official and recognized agreement between BMWCC and BMW Canada's dealers, posting in dealerships will be difficult)."
BMW Canada still has little or no say over what their dealers post in their showrooms or distribute to their owners.
It will remains as easy or difficult to gain the cooperation of area dealers as independent shops and performance stores.
We had good cooperation from some dealers in the past but it also meant regular visits to them to replenish our material.
Phil
I kinda remember that, according to a meeting from past summer between BMW Canada and BMWCC, it was approved that a BMWCC brochure would find its way in every new BMW's glovebox. This would have been the first step of official cooperation between BMW Canada and the chapters.
I guess we are going to spend our energies at another level.
blacksheep
12-25-2005, 08:22 PM
that would be a good idea, my GF's car had some literature for Quattro club bundled in with the owner's manual
that would be a good idea, my GF's car had some literature for Quattro club bundled in with the owner's manual
It seems natural that, while car manufacturers forbid any shop or club to use their logo/acronym, they respect the "official" clubs and officialize their worldwide affiliations with the different national clubs. It looks like the Audi club has succeeded where others have not. If the national BMW club organization cannot clearly tighten their relation with BMW Canada (even though BMW Canada is being forced to comply by BMW Germany) I doubt that chapters will have more acceptance by local dealers that do not even have to comply to BMW Canada. So, handing over the responsability to "make friend" with dealers is perhaps like shoveling the snow in your neighbor's entrance.
Anyway, if we get no support from official BMW dealers, then we will get it from independents. Which, I believe, is not in BMW Canada's best interests.
There are a number of things which BMW Canada agreed to explore with the Club as recently as our meeting this summer and I am still trying to get them to act. I remain guardedly opitimistic that we will see some movement fom their end after years of limited collaboration. I can't do this by insisting or threatening or complaining; that clearly does not work. What BMW Canada needs to understand for themselves is the value of their broader collaboration with us.
It helps that we have a visible presence within the International Council and that the International Council of BMW Clubs now is officially linked to the BMW AG website.
http://www.bmw.com/groupsites.html
snowmanmtl
12-26-2005, 04:49 AM
Wow, you mean that you guys can't get Charles Hammer to support you. What did you do to piss him off. He's almost as much of a track junky as I am. That guy would drive a shopping cart on the track, if you give him half a chance, and he is not behind you?
Wow, you mean that you guys can't get Charles Hammer to support you. What did you do to piss him off. He's almost as much of a track junky as I am. That guy would drive a shopping cart on the track, if you give him half a chance, and he is not behind you?
Charles was indeed in charge of BMW Canbec for a short period of time. An incident with his workforce forced him to resign from his position. He still manages the Volvo dealership. Charles was seen as a great asset as he is an avid supporter of performance driving.
The same way that dealers have to follow guidelines when it comes to setting up a dealership and even decorate it, they also follow guidelines when it comes to pinning posters on the wall, or placing a display. Nobody wants to risk its job, so nobody does much. So, until BMW Canada sends a clear signal and a notice to support it, dealers will not make a move. It is not the dealers who decides what goes in a new car's glovebox. If BMW Canada decides to put a Michelin tire pamphlet, dealers will put a Michelin pamphlet. Same with putting a club brochure. No manager wants to risk loosing its job over a pamphlet.
Audis are great cars, and they seem they understand much better than others the potential from enthusiast clubs.
So, until the situation at a "higher" level is cleared, posting stuff at dealerships is not possible. Unless, a dealership's chairman is a club member and wants to be proactive.
The same way that dealers have to follow guidelines when it comes to setting up a dealership and even decorate it, they also follow guidelines when it comes to pinning posters on the wall, or placing a display. Nobody wants to risk its job, so nobody does much. So, until BMW Canada sends a clear signal and a notice to support it, dealers will not make a move. It is not the dealers who decides what goes in a new car's glovebox. If BMW Canada decides to put a Michelin tire pamphlet, dealers will put a Michelin pamphlet. Same with putting a club brochure. No manager wants to risk loosing its job over a pamphlet.
So, until the situation at a "higher" level is cleared, posting stuff at dealerships is not possible. Unless, a dealership's chairman is a club member and wants to be proactive.
Hi Lee--
Your summary is not entirely correct. Dealers have much greater autonomy than what you describe. They certainly are free to display a poster from the offically recognized club and its chapters and, sadly, they are free not to display it even if BMW Canada officially requests that they do so. So it continues to be the case that posting stuff at the dealerships IS possible.
I do not understand all the reasons why automtive franchises operate in this fashion but I suspect it largely depends on issues of ownership and the funds invested. In other words, the dealer's monetary investment "talks".
In any case, we got agreement in principle this summer from BMW Canada on a number of issues. They are summarized on the national website as part of the Board minutes:
http://www.bmwclub.ca/about/index.html
I still hope we get action on them and so I keep trying.
HNY,
Phil
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.