On Aug 14, 2023, at 12:03 PM, Kirk Ratzel <eur90s@...> wrote:

Dear Mac

Sorry to be one of the tardy ones. I’m so appreciative for all you’ve done over so many years to keep this group alive. So you have my vote by proxy to do what you think is best.

In truth, I miss the old “yahoo group” days when this forum was at its liveliest. Perhaps a change will nurture more engagement again? At least I hope so.

Meanwhile, several interesting National groups have appeared with equal enthusiasm. In Spain, France, the Benelux… very cool to follow along too.

The first group I became involved with was the original R90s Sport Owners Club co-founded by Ken Claus (then from Ohio) whom I had a chance to meet in Paris many years ago when he revived the club he formed in the 1970’s. Back then we made quarterly newsletters back and distributed them by e-mail. Also made several group purchases of various parts and ré fabrications. Bill Stevens from Bellingham WA took over this group for years, until as I recall its membership mostly morphed into what is now the Worldnet. Of course there’s also Frank Cachia (Australia) who founded the original R90s world registry. I’ve met dozens of other passionate R90s enthusiasts over the years, too many to mention here. But nobody more than yourself who has given so much of their precious time to R90s enthusiasts over so many years.?

Since the 40th anniversary in PA now 10 years(?!) ago: life, family, health and work have seriously cut into my R90s enjoyment time. So for now I’m lurking, but have not disappeared. Hopefully full retirement next year will allow me to focus more on the fun stuff. Thanks again.

Best regards, Kirk Ratzel

On 11 Aug 2023, at 00:05, Mac Kirkpatrick <drbeemer73@...> wrote:

?

All R90sWorldnet members:

As the owner of the R90sWorldnet (I started it maybe 20-25 years ago, truly amazing and gratifying you guys have hung in there for so long), I was contacted recently by the host of our group, io, who told me it would cost $20 per month to continue to support our group IF we wanted io to continue to store all our emails, pictures, etc., as our volume has risen beyond the free threshold, and from now on more data than this threshold will mean data will be automatically deleted.

I posted to the R90sWorldnet asking for feedback about this from the R90sWorldnet members but only received one response, from James Marciano. We spoke yesterday and he offered to pay the $240/year for one year to keep things going as they are, thank you James, that is very gracious of you!

I don't feel it is right for James to do that and I am unwilling to pay myself, for several reasons:

No one else sent me any thoughts about this which?infers there?is little/no interest in saving member data, or you don't know what to suggest to do about it.

and

There is a better alternative which is as follows:?

The Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners, see

(Upfront: I have worked with and for this group for many years and am currently the president,?the Grand Pu-bah ?.) Ha...

If you go to the VBMWMO site above, and cruise around you will find an immense amount of information; we host Bob (Snowbum) Fleischer's site for instance, as well as John's Beemer Garage and more), there is a buy/sell area (members only, to keep spammers out), all the club magazines are digitized, readable and searchable for all 50 years, you can see tons of information such as the owner's manuals (some in both English & German), repair manuals, electrical diagrams, engine oil routing, videos, model information such as VIN range and...

The Forums, where model ranges are presented so members can ask questions from the experts. *Including* the area called "The Incomparable R90S" which I added as the R90S model is pivotal and crucial in BMW's history. And like you, I really love the R90S.

Why am I telling you this? Because I feel this is a better alternative since the VBMWMO has unlimited storage capability available, so *it will store everything*, from all emails, to all pictures, just everything us R90S members will post.?

AND it is all searchable!

We think we can move all the data from the R90sWorldnet to the VBMWMO site under Forums, the Incomparable R90S :-) so that is good.

You can join the VBMWMO?as a paying member (preferred, we do have mounting costs) and you will receive our quarterly magazine (digital if you prefer).

Or

You can join for free, in which case you won't receive the magazine or have access to the Buy/Sell area (again, to keep out spammers, they won't pay to join.)

If we do this the?R90sWorldnet?will go away because we will then have a better alternative and there is no sense in having duplicate?venues.

Please send me your thoughts,?ideas, suggestions, anything at all.?

Thanks,

and

Thanks again to James Marciano for taking the initiative to look into this and contact me about it.

I'm looking forward?to hearing from you,

Best,

Mac Kirkpatrick

Glenmoore, PA

"After all, what is adventure, but inconvenience, properly regarded?"
C. Donahue