Welcome to the new HMMS club website!

This new website is quite an upgrade from our previous site! While the old website served its purpose well at the outset of the club, it was showing its age and not at all dynamic. Thanks to an ”open source” blogging program called Wordpress, it was easy to create this attractive and comprehensive website for the club. 

From this website the Officers will post announcements of meetings and events, post pictures from past events, list membership benefits, and with a member’s approval, post a picture of them with their car! Hopefully this new website help us attract new members and retain existing members.

Other features of the new website:

• Visitors can leave comments to a post
• Pictures, pictures, pictures
• An event calendar showing upcoming events and meetings
• Links to other MINI related websites
• A listing of auto-related vendors who give discounts to HMMS members

And, we are working on adding a HMMS forum page!

So, how do you start using this site? Start by clicking on the various headings a the top of the web page and get familiar with the content. On the home page you can browse through the various posts; they are listed chronologically as they were added to the website. To see the full post, click on the post’s heading. If you want to leave a comment on a post, then you need to first register with the site. There is no approval required to become a registered user. We only do this to help prevent spam posts. If you like, you can use the same “handle” as you have been using on Metroplex, although the two site are not connected.

Once you are registered, and log on, you will be brought to your Dashboard. The Dashboard shows the functions available to you on the website. From the Dashboard, you can upload an avatar, update your password, and enter your contact information (although not required).

All registered users are established as Subscribers. Basically all you will be able to do is view the website and leave comments to posts. If you want to contribute posts on events and other club information, you can upgraded from a Subscriber to a Contributor. Please let a club officer know if you want to do this.

So, enjoy this new website. It was developed for your benefit. If you have any questions or concern, please contact me at j.conley@comcast.net, or one of the officers.

Jeff Conley (aka Scooper), HMMS VP & website administrator

MINI5280, the MINI club in Denver, Colorado, is hosting this popular multi-day event in Colorado.

See this website for more details.

Several HMMS and Metroplex MINI club members are making the trip. Should be a hoot!

This event is hosted by MCOW (MINI Club of the Woodlands), which is not affiliated with HMMS.

MINI Club of The Woodlands (MCOW) is hosting a fun drive on Saturday, June 27. The details: Meet in the Kroger parking lot, at the intersection of FM 1488 and FM 2978/Honea Egypt Road. This is west of MoTW–from Houston, take the FM 1488 exit, cross over the bridge and head west about 6 1/2 miles. You can also go to Tomball, take a right at FM 2920, and a left at FM 2978.

We’ll meet at 1:30 and depart promptly at 2:00, after a short drivers meeting. Dinner’s at the midpoint, at about 3:30 or so, and there will be a pit stop before that.

As usual, MCOW sponsors the Montgomery County Food Bank, and we’re asking for non-perishable food donations. This is voluntary, but we hope you’ll participate. Food can be brought to the drive and I’ll drop it off, or you can put it in the Red Barrel at Kroger stores in the area.

See you there!

Deb

Hey MINIacs!

For July we will be returning to Mama Ninfa’s in Bellaire.

Saturday, July 11th
10:30 am til noonish
Mama Ninfa’s Restaurant
5423 Bellaire Blvd, 77401 (near intersection of Chimney Rock)
Phone: 713-432-0003

Come hear what the officers have been up to in the last month!

• New website
• Club Constitution and Bylaws update proposal
• New dues schedule (have we already announced this?)
• Past and upcoming events
• Your ideas for activities

Ninfa’s will open their doors for us at 10:30am (honestly, they will… I’ll remind them a few days in advance this time ). Please come a little early (or stay a little late, were flexible) so we can get a picture of you with your car! The new website will have a membership page with photos of members with their cars. If you like, we can post it on the new website. (This is really just a memory aid for myself. I’m really terrible with new names and faces!)

See ya there!

Jeff (aka Scooper)
HMMS VeeP

This is a copy of the original post by Doug and Iris Beatty on the Metroplex MINI fourm. Go to this link for the thread and poll: Fourth of July Parade – Bellaire

A grand parade will kick off the festivities on July 4th in Bellaire. We have requested an entry into the parade for HMMS – up to 5 vehicles can participate. The theme this year will be stars & stripes. So plan to decorate your MINI with stars and stripes. After the parade, we invite all to our home for a hot dogs, lemonade (adult version available), and watermelon plus games and music galore (not to mention air conditioning!).

The parade starts at 9:30 AM. We will get a starting position assigned to us and we will “get in line” and decorate between 8:15 and 9:15 AM. Read the rest of this entry »

This event is hosted by the Houston BMWCCA, which is not affiliated with HMMS.

Click on the following link to register for the June BMWCCA Autocross.

Houston MINI Motoring Society

June 6, 2009 at 10:30 AM

Mama Ninfa’s Restaurant, 5423 Bellaire Blvd, 77401

Call to Order and Club Stuff

16 MINIs were at the meeting, and well as 21 members and guests.

President Deb (daffodildeb) called the meeting to order at approximately 11:02 AM. Retired officers were pointed out and visitors and new members, Bob and Sarah, and Dustin, were welcomed and invited to introduce themselves.

Treasurer Juha (sikamini) gave the Treasurer’s report – current balance $1296.87, and handed out membership applications with new contact information. Laminated membership cards were available for recent members.

Vice President Jeff (Scooper) offered spotter cards, invited members to check out the proposed new website, and noted availability of club t-shirts. President Deb indicated they would be on sale, 20% off ($12) to “make room” for possible new club polo shirts.

President Deb noted that the board has been working on the bylaws to bring them in line with the way the club operates. One change is that annual dues, which will remain at $25, can be paid by new and lapsed members from 1 September on to cover the balance of the current year and the entire coming year. The proposed revised bylaws will be posted on the website for members’ comments.

Under Show and Tell, Dustin mentioned his self-installation of a new 15% pulley for his MINI. Scott (mtbscott) mentioned that he had done his own oil change (’09 R56) and bought the necessary tools to make it easier. He will be happy to guide members through this service, if he is available. Read the rest of this entry »