KCME-CIMC Joint Drive – May 18th

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First of all, you can RSVP on the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/247309765472772/

UPDATE: We’ll meet in the parking lot of Flowers Bank, just down the road to the East of Toot-Toot and on the North side of the street. The address is 3601 Miller St, Bethany MO and here is a Google Maps link: http://goo.gl/maps/JQCNp

At the bank parking lot we can hand out maps and do introductions and wait until 11:15 for any stragglers, then break for lunch. Most of us will go to Toot-Toot if it isn’t too crowded, there is also a Sonic nearby that many have dined at in the past. I suggest you dine lightly and leave room for dessert in Lamoni. Some of these roads are quite hilly and we’ve had some motion sickness casualties in the past!

We’ll plot on leaving the restaurant around noon unless either the KCME or CIMC convoy is late, and we’ll line up in the Wal-Mart parking lot as per usual. Here’s another link to that location: http://goo.gl/maps/LqqCz

Everybody should bring a FRS radio AKA walkie-talkie if they have one. We’ll use them to communicate hazards on the route and such. Channel to be given out in Bethany.

Also, the rough road that we’ve driven on the past few years has received some attention from MODOT finally. It’s still dirty in places due to agricultural use so you’ve got to be careful, but there are far fewer large patches of gravel and potholes.

I look forward to seeing you all there!

April Driving Event – Photo Scavenger Hunt

Jeremy has offered to host our first driving event of the year, a photo scavenger hunt. Pam and I took part in this last year and had a lot of fun. – Ric

Where:  Meet at MINI of Des Moines
When:   Saturday April 19th – Meet by 12:45
Why:  To have fun and socialize with your fellow club members
What you need: Your MINI, a digital camera, and your thinking cap. (Sense of humor optional but helpful)
Instructions will be given and the drive will start at 1. There will be a 2 hour time limit. First to return with all the correct photos will go home with a prize.
RSVP to me or on our Face Book event.
Thanks,
Jeremy

March 1st – Detail Day at MODM

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Have you been driving your MINI/Mini this winter? Ready to get you MINI/Mini back on the road for this summer? Well, MINI of Des Moines has a special event for you and you and you.

Below are the details from MINI of Des Moines:

We’re holding the 1st ‘Detail Day’ at MINI of Des Moines, where CIMC/EIMC and other MINI owners can come in and use our facilities to get rid of all the winter grime from your MINIs!

All you need to bring is your MINI and your appetite—we’ll be providing detailing supplies, music, food, and fun! We need not worry about the weather, either, because we’ll be taking over the MINI service area indoors!

The detail event will run from 9am-1pm, and we can even do a photo shoot/car show after we’re exhausted and fed.

RSVP on the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1436751109895196/

March 23rd Meeting – Rob Melick Presentation

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When: March 23, 2014 – 4-6 pm

Where: In Grinnell at The Grinnell Steakhouse (map)

What: MINIUSA Regional Rep Rob Melick will be here to give us a presentation on some secret things going on with MINI. Ok, maybe not so much secret as cool. In Rob’s words: “I will have a lot of information on the new F56 (HT) and will also have more information on MINI Takes the States 2014.”

Please, please attend this one, it will be fun. The Eastern Iowa MINIs will be joining us. Rob said to “let everyone know that I will have a special offer at the end of my presentation for both clubs.” That sounds interesting. What could it be?

RSVP on the Facebook event page

2014 CIMC Board Of Directors Announced

The Board of Directors members for 2014 were elected at the January membership meeting. A meeting of the board was held prior to the garage tour on February 8  and the following placements were made:

President – Jeremy Moyle
Vice President – Kelly Alliss
Treasurer – Janis Fox
Secretary – Laura Rettig
Website & Social Media – Ric Johnson
At Large – Graham Smith

The 2014 Board Members are excited to begin planning the CIMC 2014 calendar. Please let us know if you have any ideas for fun group events or if you have any questions about the Central Iowa MINI Club overall.

Feb 9th – “Garage Tour” at Lyle’s house

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When: February 9th 2014 @ 5 pm

Where: Lyle’s home at 7320 NW 54th Court in Johnston, IA

After enjoying the “food and fellowship” we will go on a “garage tour” where we will see 5 Mini Coopers…including a 1968 Innocenti Mini (assembled and sold in Italy), a 1965 Mini Cooper S, former SCCA race car…now street legal, a 1964 Austin Mini Countryman “Woody Wagon”…a survivor of a garage fire at Lyle’s house, a 1965 Mini Cooper S, plus, one of the first “new” MINI Cooper S’s in Iowa in 2002, with about 6,000 miles on it already!! Also, they will see a 1958 (the first year) Austin Healy “Bugeye” Sprite, a 1960 Austin Healy “Bugeye” Sprite race car, a 1953 MG TD…and even a 1990 “summertime only” Miata!!

A meal of brats, burgers, baked beans, chips, and soda will be provided. We will also provide the plates, knives, forks, spoons and napkins. Members are welcomed to bring their favorite side dish or a dessert item to share but are also welcome to just bring yourselves.

Please RSVP to me by responding to the club email no later than 5:00 p.m. Thursday, Feburary 6th so we can have enough food available.

RSVP’s can also be done on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/395913443887434

December Meeting

Sunday, December 1st, 2013. @ 5 pm

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Place: Wig and Pen Restaurant, 2005 South Ankeny Boulevard – it’s across US 69 from the main entrance to DMACC

Cost: Dinner will be billed on individual tickets

Agenda:
-Socialize
-Order dinner from their menu
-Introductions
-Board of Directors nominations
-Club web site
-Club events for 2014
-More Socializing

Please RSVP no later than 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 26th so we can let the Wig and Pen know how many they will need to seat in the meeting room.

RSVP’s can also be done on the club Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/248500168638265/

As an incentive, the club has been given a limited number of Motortober Sales event t-shirts from MINI of DM. These will be available on a first come first serve basis for $2. Proceeds will be put into the club’s account.

As a club we would like to start supporting some local charities. This year we are going to start with 2.

  1. Marine Corp Toys For Tot’s Campaign We will collect toy’s at our December meeting and then deliver them to a drop-off location. Toys for Tots accept only new, unwrapped toys. For more information check out their website: http://des-moines-ia.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/Default.aspx
  2. Make-A-Wish foundation’s Jolly Holiday Light’s This year Kelly Alliss is going to organize a drive through the light display as a group. After driving through the light display and stopping at Santa’s Wish Shop, will be a stop at a local coffee shop for anyone that wants to. As for next year, we could volunteer as a group to help where needed. We are currently looking for someone that would want to head this up next year. Any takers?

2013 Iowa Fall Colors Drive – October 12th

Who’s ready for some twists and turns and beautiful sights? Look out for the buffalo, Dutch letters, Warhawks, and Pioneers!

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Saturday, October 12th

CIMC caravan from MODM to Pella:

Our friends at Eastern Iowa MINIs will have their own caravan to Pella.

Joint Meet:

  • RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/160054457535947/
  • Arrive Pella town square late morning, visit, have lunch on your own.
  • Meet on North side of square in Pella after lunch for the pre-drive meeting before noon
  • Group departs Pella at 12 noon
  • Arrive Grinnell 5:00pm
  • Supper in Grinnell
  • Depart for home after supper

MINI’s to Macon, MO – Friday, October 4th

The official CIMC event for October will be the Fall Colors Drive, but if you’re looking for something else fun to do, see below from Hilary Morrissey:

Dear MINI Cooper Owners/Enthusiasts,

There are approximately 40 days until the 2nd MINI’s to Macon, MO Car Rally!

Most of the details are in place for a fun-filled day! There have been several commitments and a number of inquires for the event. We are still over 5 weeks from our rally date and I want to encourage anyone that plans on attending to send me an email and follow up with their registration form. I will need to try to obtain accurate information regarding participation as we are serving lunch and ordering rally materials. Please pass this information on to other MINI Cooper owners, as I am hopeful we can get as many coopers as we did in 2011 (16 MINI Coopers)

PS. I have attached a registration form and a flyer for the event (MTMFlyer2013)

Hope to see you in Macon, Missouri on Friday, October 4th, 2013!

Suggestions and help needed for Fall Colors Drive

As many of you know, the Iowa MINI community (primarily Eastern Iowa MINIs and Central Iowa MINI owners) has had a fall colors drive each October since 2003. This year will be the eleventh such event. Over the years, the location has varied, and route planning/event responsibility has alternated each year between EIM and CIMC. In all previous years, the work has been handled by Daryl Hanneman (of EIM) and Greg Beachy (of CIMC).

This year it’s the responsibility of the Central Iowa owners to come up with a date and route for the event. Unfortunately, Greg has been relocated to the Kansas City area by his employer, and is unable to do much work for the event this year. I’ll have some time to coordinate route planning, but I’m going to be out of town from time to time in September and I’ll be out of town for most of October, so other members of the club will need to help on this.

Please send me any and all ideas you have for a scenic Iowa countryside drive, and I’ll try to assemble a good route from those ideas. In addition, someone will need to take charge of things the day of the event itself since I won’t be here. Without help from other members of the club, this longest-running and most enjoyable Iowa MINI event may end, and that would be sad.

At this point the tentative date is Saturday, October 12 (which is the traditional Columbus Day holiday) with an alternate date of Saturday, October 19. Any and all comments, ideas, suggestions, and volunteers can contact me at rogersitterly (at symbol) yahoo dot (.) com or using the contact form below.

Thanks, Roger