President’s Article March 2013

Most people join the BMW CCA “because of the cars and stay because of the people.” That is a common phrase heard at meetings and it is really true. But what most people don’t realize, there are many reasons to become a member of our club. There are a high percentage of members who don’t utilize all of the privileges of being a BMW CCA member. It is quite obvious that we have the best car magazine on the market, and the membership fee is well-worth receiving the Roundel in the mail every month.

But what are some other “member benefits” that are not quite so obvious? Most BMW dealers and many BMW independent shops offer discounts on parts and labor to club members. Members can apply to receive a rebate when purchasing a new or certified pre-owned BMW and we have an ombudsman who can help with disputes related to the manufacturer, dealer, repair shop, parts supplier and others. We have technical service advisors who can diagnose problems with your car when you cannot find an answer in other places.

Frank Patek, Executive Director of the BMW CCA has worked diligently to create agreements with many national companies to offer discounts for BMW CCA members. A partial list of these companies are; Sprint cellular, Worlds of Discovery attractions, Crowne Plaza hotels, Hertz and Avis rentals, Brooks Brothers clothing, Liberty Mutual insurance, Michelin tires, HPDE insurance and VISA rewards cards. Most recently Office Max has become a discount partner and is offering discount cards to be used on purchases at their stores. Attendees of this year’s Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet will be rewarded with one of these new cards. So next time when you are thinking, “is my annual membership fee worth the cost?” I would say that you cannot afford to be without it if you own a BMW.