[HollyRN76]

For those of you who haven't heard, some of us are working at getting an Official Organization off the ground. It will be geared at the new MINI, as to not step on FLAME's toes. David (minimotorin)and Abe (Electrc 109/Sgt. Pepper) have posted some relevant info on floridamini.net, but I thought I'd post it here, too, since so many people are having trouble with floridamini.net.

Anyways, we are trying to find representatives from the various areas of FL to agree to meet to just discuss what we want out of the organization. I gues you could call this an "Organization Organizing Get Together."

Anyone interested?? Cathy??? Aimee????

[minimotorin]

If your interested and have the time please read all the posts on this subject over at Florida Mini Page and if you can't post there, come back to this thread and post your replys. The few of us that are trying to organize things will just keep up with both sites.

Thanks for your time and effort, let's make the Florida MINI Club the best in the States!

[Paul]

Sounds like exciting times over there!

Make sure to make plans for welcoming visting other MINI fans and owners from colder parts of the country/globe!

[minimotorin]

Always open to MINIs from anywhere Paul. At the last meet in Orlando we had a vistor in her MINI from Cananda and the meeting before that in Orlando we had two very nice gentlemen from Britian turn up.

[minicoopersgirl]

You know Holly, I will do (almost) whatever it takes to be a part of MINI events.
I am willing to give you my input and any ideas I have, but I don't think I am cut out to be an intricate part of an official group. After (helping) organizing MM3, I realized how much time and energy these things take that I really don't have to spare. I work full-time and go to school part-time.
The bunch of MINI people we have that get together as often as we do is FANTASTIC! I just hope we can have a group that is laid back like FLAME. I wouldn't want to see politics, money and opinions get in the way of the group or friendships.
Just my opinion but I think this "organizing an official group" shouldn't be rushed!
I'm here for all of you, just let me know how I can help.
Aimee

[minicoopersgirl]

I just got finished reading the floridamini.net board...
I think those who are going to Spring Thing should get together for a little while (anywhere), when there isn't anything going on. I know everyone won't be there, but enough of us will so we can share some ideas.

Just wondering...why are we starting a new club when FLAME is already out there? Yea so, they originiated on the classic Mini, that doesn't mean they don't want new MINI's. Just curious, since they already have insurance and so forth in place....(please don't "flame" me, I just don't understand)

Aimee

[Keith]

I second that. FLAME seems more than willing to include MINIs. Is it that MINI owners don't want to be in the minority? If so, form a sub-group. The benefit of having lots of members in an established group will be significant. After all, its all about MINIs/Minis!

[HollyRN76]

I have heard from several people (members) that FLAME is just really not that active (or as active as we are.) That was one of my reasons for suggesting that we be seperate from them. Maybe if they saw how excited we new owners are with our MINIs, they might become more active with us. Just an idea.
We're just coming up with ideas so far...but I feel that we do need to figure out what we want to do. I'm hoping that whatever kind of group we form, be it with FLAME or seperately, that we just have fun!

[minimotorin]

I spoke with a couple of FLAME members just last weekend and both said the the Spring Fling is the only activity FLAME does each year and both members said they liked the idea of having a club that was more active and did more meets and other activites each year.

As far as insurance goes, don't let that worry you. Insurance for 'static' events is only like $150 a year and all we would have to do is form a non-profit group and take a policy out. Once we have a nonprofit group it will require officers, budgets, dues, etc. So some folks will be spending time on it. As with most clubs or groups there will be a core group of members that do most of the work and organization and right now that's what we are looking for, that 'core' group. If you would like to be a part of that, then speak up.

I think the Spring Fling might be a good meeting place. I know some members (Holly, Bruce, and a few others) will be attending. I will be on a cruise that week but I can forward all my ideas and other stuff to Holly so she has it available. Lets us know what you think MINI Florida folks.

Once last thing, don't get turned off by the idea of an 'official' MINI club. I was a member for several years of a Miata 'official' club and we had great fun and events. The club will reflect what the members put into it, keep that in mind.

[Electrc109]

Quote:

Why not? Its been long enough to come up with Ideas, and we have a lot of them! I figure we can start and each narrow it down to 2-4 favorites. From everyone's 2-4 favorites, I will comprise a list small enough to vote on, yet big enough to include everyone's preferences. I will then start a new poll to narrow it down to one! I'm not going to start a poll cos there are too many mentioned so far. AFTER ONE WEEK I WILL CUT THE LIST DOWN AND START A POLL!

1. MCCCFL or MCCCFLA - Mini Cooper Car Club of Florida
2. SSMCC - Sunshine State Mini Cooper Club
3. FLMCO or FLMCC - Florida Mini Cooper Owners/Club
4. MOOF or MOOFL or MOFLA - Mini Owners of Florida
5. MINI society of Florida
6. UFO - United Florida Owners
7. MiSFITS - MINI S Fun in the Sun
8. FlaMINIgo - Florida-MINI-Go!
9. FUM - Florida United MINI
10. M.O.O.F. - MINI Owners of Florida
11. N.M.F. - New MINIs of Florida
12. S.S.M.F. - Sun and Surf MINIs of Florida
13. S.S.M. - Sunshine State MINIs
14. MILF - MINI Individuals Love Florida
15. MINI Madness (NEW)

Please vote with numbers so things don't get so confusing!

Also, we have two regional names already, and getting a SFL and a WFL or Panhandle name would help move things along. I will try to come up with something creative for these regions, you do the same!

Mini Owners-Tampa Orlando Region = MOTOR!
MINI Owners of Jacksonville Organization

In case some of you still cannot post on floridamini.net (adjust security settings, pm me if you would like assistance..if you do this at work, i guess you're sol)

cast your votes here, and i will add them to the total. the first round ends on wenesday at 10am

[terrapin]

MILF, MILF, MILF!
Everyone loves MILF!

[Electrc109]

Quote:

Originally posted by terrapin
MILF, MILF, MILF!
Everyone loves MILF!

is that 3 votes for MILF?

[minicoopersgirl]

MOOSE - MINI Owners Of South East

[HollyRN76]

MOOSE... I love it!!!

[gleep]

i have an old apple computer t-shirt with Claris the dog/cow on it and he's saying MOOF! it's been one of my favorite words for years...

i'm all for using our energy to revitalize FLAME so the mini nation in FL can be of one body and soul!

[Electrc109]

I neglected to mention the fact that the ONE WEEK FROM NOW was well, a week ago. I started the voting last Wednesday. Right now the votes are at

4 x 2. SSMCC - Sunshine State Mini Cooper Club
2 x 4. MOOF or MOOFL or MOFLA - Mini Owners of Florida
4 x 8. FlaMINIgo - Florida-MINI-Go!
2 x 13. S.S.M. - Sunshine State MINIs

since any other mentioning didn't have the numbers, I will consider them just conversation, and not an official vote (will this become a problem because we're talking about a Florida club?)

MOOSE was a name that came up after I closed the initial voting. I am not going to be a stick in the mud, so if someone out there insists it be a part of the voting, PM me about it and it will be taken into consideration.

If anyone wishes to speak up for their opinion, PM me and I will see what I can do.

I will be starting the second round on FloridaMINI.net this time PM me also if you want to vote and cannot vote on FloridaMINI.net, and I will count yours as well.

www.floridamini.net

[minicoopersgirl]

MOOSE - was only to be a regional idea for the South East part of Florida - for Miami, Fort Lauderdale, etc.

[minicoopersgirl]

Once again, here I go stating my opinion, but I think we need to WAIT until Spring Thing, so that we can all sit down and discuss the issue at hand. I still think it is a good idea to just branch off of FLAME.....

[Electrc109]

Here's a conversation MINICooperSgirl and I had. Take a read and let me know what you think.

abe4109: hello its Electrc109 from MINI2.com
AAsher00: hello there
abe4109: I've been leading the way with the naming of the FL MINI organization...
AAsher00: right
abe4109: from discussion on floridamini.net, we've basically decided to get a name together to coorinate people toward the organization, and would discuss/structure the organization at Spring Thing.
abe4109: MOOSE can work for the Miami region name. I hadn't realized that was the intention
AAsher00: yea sorry
abe4109: is there anything you would like to express in relation to the organization? presently I have been the driving force of this whole thing. holly has provided some help, but hasn't said much in the last week or so...
AAsher00: Well, I think I have expressed that I think we should continue to be a part of FLAME, as they already are a statewide club. When MINICCA comes online, whenever that is, I feel we would be best served with local chapters of MINICCA. I feel like you don't want to be a part of FLAME, is that the case?
abe4109: its not that i dont want to be a part of FLAME, i just feel like if a bumch of new MINI owners join flame, we would change their identity so much as to almost snuff out the character it presently has
AAsher00: I understand, but why do we need a statewide club, why not get local/regional clubs going and work from there?
abe4109: That hasn't been mentioned. It would probably be fine, but considering the number of people that are willing to actually do the work it takes to get things started, NFL and WFL would benefit from having the motivation and numbers that SFL and CFL have currently.
AAsher00: Just my opinion, but I think we should start there (regional) and find out what works and what doesn't work. I don't want to be pres. or vice.pres, but would do secretary or something for the south fla region.
abe4109: I'll add this conversation to the posts relating to this whole ordeal and see what everyone else thinks, ok?
AAsher00: Great! Your efforts are appreciated!
abe4109: i'm just excited about having the opportunity to be a part of something that could become really great.
AAsher00: Yes it can!

[Electrc109]

I'm going to back down and watch people decide what they want to do with this organization thing. Some of us have expressed interest in making a new MINI club. This idea is different from FLAME. Several of us have been organizing get togethers and if there were FLAME people around, they didn't do very much to promote their club. Essentially there has been a group of us that see the potential for a new club. Whether or not this club gets started regionally then to a state level or vice versa does not matter to me. It is difficult to organize something without deciding on our intentions. I won't be able to make it to Spring Thing, which is why I wanted to start developments online. I thought decisions were made, then more people started expressing their ideas. I do not want to ignore people's input, so I won't make decisions for the whole. I am too busy to run the club, but I will push this forward personally to get things going.

and PLEASE if you wish to make a suggestion, please be sure that it hasn't been discussed before otherwise we will move forward and regress quite often (which is where this post came from)