April 2015 Newsletter - Greater Cincinnati BMW Club

April 1, 2015
In this Issue:
 Upcoming Club Breakfast & Ride
 Info on April 11 Club Meeting at Francois’s House.
 Minutes of the Last Meeting written by Club Secretary Ken Francois
 Rally News
 So sad….this used to be one hip Newsletter.
George
Plans for the April Breakfast & Ride are up in the air at press time. Because the first
Sunday falls on Easter Sunday this year, we may try to get a plan together for Saturday
morning April 4 or Sunday morning April 12.
Watch your Yahoo email for the latest information.
President Neil Jones called the meeting to order a 7:30 PM. at the home of George Nyktas and Mary Tholking.
Guests attending were Howard and Lucy Phillips from Dry Ridge, Ky. New members acknowledged were Tom
Cross and Ted and Connie Lewis.
The minutes from the February meeting were approved by vote with one nay.
Cheryl Ritter read the Treasurers report with a starting balance of $3937.16 and an ending balance as a result
of dues and split the pot at $4065.16. The report was approved by unanimous vote.
Old Business
Neil said negotiations are under way with an unnamed person for the position of Club News Letter
Edditor.
Linda Deluca won the free breakfast for finding the misspelled word in the March Newsletter. Linda was not
at the breakfast so Neil is off the hook.
John Sires reported on the Charity Giving program. He distributed a list of possible programs the Club could
address. He also listed persons interested in participating in Charity Giving Committee. They are Tom Collins,
Dave Gerding, Tom Raybuck, and Neil Jones.
Joe Deluca reminded the members about the Burr Oak Fall gathering on September 25 th and 26th.
New Business
Howard and Lucy Phillips from Dry Ridge, Ky. have attended two Club events and have paid their dues. They
expressed an interest in joining the Club and were unanimously approved.
Ted Lewis stated that he is attending a BMWMOA event called the Hopewell Road Rally in Hocking Hills, Oh.
May 1 thru May 3. Cabins are available and the registration for the Rally is $60.00. It was pointed out that
this was the same weekend as other events attended by some of the Members.
Tom Raybuck reported that there was an informal Sunday ride and lunch for anyone
interested.
The next meeting will be held at the home of Ken & Becky Francois in West Chester, Oh. Future meetings are
May in Kettering and June at Craigs Creek in Warsaw Ky.
Appreciation was given to George and Mary for the Pi Party.
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn. Meeting was adjourned at 8:47.
Marilyn Sires won the split the pot for $41.00.
Ken Francois, Secretary GCBMWC
9380 Hadley Drive
West Chester, OH 45069
513-739-7884 (Ken’s cell)

Ken Francois
Gather with the GCBMWC Saturday April 11th
for food and a meeting.
 Please bring an appetizer, dessert, your favorite
beverage or cookies to share.
 This is the first time for a meeting at the Francois
house, please behave yourself.
In unrelated moves that surprised many, both George Nyktas
and Tom Raybuck have recently sold their almost-new BMW
GS’s.
George said the water-cooled GS just didn’t have enough storage space. George and Mary will move back into their sidecar
rig for long trips and are looking for a more practical bike for
local riding.
Raybuck sold his almost-new 1200 GS back to BMW of Grand
Rapids. Tom said he never liked the new GS, had trouble ordering crash bars and wants to get a simpler bike, ”like a Kawasaki
or something.”
Eric Ratterman bought the used GS from George and Mary for
an undisclosed sum, “….substantially below the market,” Mary
said. Eric plans to convert the bike into a mod café racer.
“Earl Grey”
Not much is left from
what was originally a
1983 R80 GS. Customized by Urban Motors
of Berlin, pipes are
wrapped with thermal
cloth. Novel headlight
placement is between
the front forks.
“Thrills in the Hills” National RA rally Oct 1-4, 2015
Fairgrounds in Harrison, Arkansas.
Pre-register now for the 2015 Rally.
Entertainment is set up for Friday and Saturday nights.
Nightly campfires with free wood.
Chuck wagon meals available on the premises.
Harrison is 1/2 hour from Branson and the area is known to have some of the best
roads in the United States. The RA will have a book with 21 interesting roads on the
rally page, showing the miles for each loop and things you can find along each
route.
The rally page also has a list of participating hotels that are in the area and will offer
special reduced rates. Camping is on two baseball fields plus a more primitive area
for those wanting to rough it a bit. The Vendor building is the largest space we’ve
had yet.
The Riders Association Board of Directors is recommending some needed changes
to the club’s Bylaws. Please log into the website and cast your ballot or mail in a
paper ballot found in the Jan/Feb OTL. The mail in address is listed on the website at http://bmwra.org/content/2015-proposed-changes-club-bylaws.
Celebrate the 42nd Original Mini Rally at the Green Valley Campground in Sturgis, Michigan.
Rally dates are Friday May 1 to Sunday May 3.
Rally fee is $25, which includes: non-stop coffee/tea/hot chocolate and donuts,
Friday night Hot Dog Supper and Sunday morning Pancake & Sausage Breakfast.
There will be field events on Saturday Afternoon and Awards on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. Door prize drawings will occur throughout the day on Friday
and Saturday.
Camping includes hot showers, indoor eating/meeting facility. Electric is available for an additional charge. There are motels close by for those not wishing to
camp.
Green Valley Campground is located 1.5 miles west of MI-66 on Fawn River Road,
which is 1.25 miles south of US-12 and 2 miles north of I-80/90.
For more information, contact Rally Chair MIKE HART at 269-317-9951 or
DONNA BENNETT at 269-349-1101, or the local contact, Mr. Tom Raybuck .
The 2015 Georgia Mountain Rally is May 1-4.
The Georgia Mountain Rally in Hiawassee is recognized and widely acclaimed as the Southeast’s premier
annual rally. It provides the ideal early-season opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones while
enjoying the area’s renowned mountain hospitality.
The rally’s range of lodging and dining options makes it an attractive and easy opportunity for riders of all
interests to sample the region's world class twisties, dual-sport options for all skill levels, and inspiring vistas - motorcycling heaven!
2015 will be the 25th time the BMW Motorcycle Club of Georgia has hosted the rally. A special Silver Celebration program will enhance the format which already attracts over 500 riders each year. Check the link
below for additional information and details on how to register (check back from time to time for program
updates).
Event: Georgia Mountain Rally - Silver Celebration
Timeframe: Friday May 1st 2015 to Sunday May 3rd 2015
Venue: Georgia Mountain Fairground, 1311 Music Hall Rd., Hiawassee, GA 30546 [GPS: N34 57.919 W83
46.346]
Details & Registration: http://www.bmwmcoga.org
April 11, 2015
7 PM
Home of Ken & Becky Francois
9830 Hadley Dr.
West Chester, OH 45069
513-739-7884 Ken’s Cell
January 10……... Brazenhead Irish Pub, Mason, OH
February 14…... Joni & Tom Raybuck, West Chester, OH
March 14 ………. George Nyktas & Mary Tholking, Clarksville, OH
May 9………….... Neil Jones & Marsha O’Connor, Kettering, OH
June 13………….. Larry Lovejoy & Gail Deatherage, Warsaw, KY
July 11…………….Brookville Lake Dam Overlook, Indiana
August 8………….Berry Brothers Smoke Off, Cincinnati, OH
September 19…..At Burr Oak Outing,
October 10………. Merrill & Di Glos, Blue Ash, OH
November 14…….Jim Osbun & Rosemary Haddad
December……..... Holiday Party
Alfaro, Frank & Rosa
Basham, Jack & Arlene
Beers, Mark & Brenda
Berry, Bill
Berry, Joe & Chris
Brenner, Mike & Ursula
Callahan, Keith
Collins, Tom & Margaret
Craves, Marta & Chuck
Cross, Tom & Donna
Crum, Mike & Barb
DeLuca, Joe & Linda
Disher, Alan & Jane
Eagle, Paul
Finks, Harry & Robyn
Fischer, John & Barbara
Francois, Ken & Becky
Franklin, Gary & Sue
Friedman, Scot & Lisa
Gerding, Dave & Caroline
Glos, Merrill & Di
Howson, Bill & Linda
Izzo, Gerry & Deana
Jones, Neil & Marsha O'Connor
Katzer, Chris
LaBar, Mike & Kim
Leach, Allen
Leaver, Todd
Lewis, Ted & Connie
Lovejoy, Larry & Gail Deatherage
McCurach, Ian & Pam
Monnig, Ron & Sam Altman
Norris, Ken
Nyktas, George & Mary Tholking
Osbun, Jim & Rosemary Haddad
Perry, Karl
Phillips, Howard & Lucy
Pillis, Marc
Ratermann, Eric & Jessie Baublitz
Raybuck, Tom & Joni
Ritter, Tom & Cheryl
Saul, Ed & Deb
Sires, John & Marilyn
Smith, Debbie & Allan
Smith, Jim & Deana
Thoerner, Steve & Karen
Ulrich, Bob & Gail
Williams, Glenn
Wright, Bill & Shelia
If you want your name added to the list, write a check to GCBMWC and bring it to the next
meeting. If you are new you will have to meet our HIGH STANDARDS for membership.
The HIGH STANDARDS include:
1. Attend 2 or more GCBMWC events
2. Write a check to GCBMWC for $18 ($15 single)
3. The check has to clear your bank.
These HIGH STANDARDS prove that we don’t accept just anybody into membership, as
other, unruly clubs do. We used to be pretty loose about who we let in.
But now we have HIGH STANDARDS.
Neil Jones
President
Tom Raybuck
VP/Ride Leader
GCBMWC is RA Chartered
Club #220
Cheryl Ritter
Honest Treasurer
Ken Francois
Club Secretary
GCBMWC is MOA Chartered
Club #18
Mike LaBar
Web Master
Litigation on behalf of injured plaintiffs.
Trust your legal matters to Tom Collins,
BMW rider and Former President of the GCBMWC
Office Location: 5294 Madison Pike, Suite 201
Independence, KY 41051
Phone: 859-341-8400 ext. 222
CollinsLaw@fuse.net
Mike & Ann Allen, Proprietors www.Motohio.com
5936 Scarborough Blvd. Columbus, OH
BMW Ducati Triumph Vespa Husqvarna Piaggio Genuine
*To place your ad, send a signed, blank check to the Edditor, like these guys did. LOL.