Our February Meet-n-Eat will be back in the Quad Cities area on Saturday, February 18th. EIM enthusiasts extraordinaire Denny and Sandy B. have graciously offered to host us in their home in Davenport. Plan on arriving at their residence sometime between 10:30 am – 11:00 am. The neighbor’s driveway immediately to the east is open and available for MINI parking. You may also part on the street. We’ll be ordering out for pizza for lunch. There will be plenty of other yummy things to eat and an intriguing selection of libations. Games will be in order, and I understand one involves operation of some sort of “virtual” MINI. That should get your curiosity percolating…

Please let our hosts know you’re coming by clicking on the **Read More** button below and following the sign-up instructions. You’ll also find the address and a link to an online map to the location.

See you on the 18th!

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Please let us know you’ll be joining us on the 18th by doing one or more of the following:

(1) click on the attendance link in the NAM Event Calendar Entry;
(2) leave a post in the associated NAM Discussion Thread; or
(3) leave a comment on this website posting using the form below.

Thanks!

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2710 West 46th St
Davenport, IA 41806

Map: http://g.co/maps/knydj

It was fantastic seeing the blue skies and the amazing turnout at the Eastern Iowa MINIs January Meet-n-Eat on Saturday at The Wig and Pen Pub in Iowa City. Congratulations to all of the winners of the MINI Cooper Color Bingo Game (especially to Rebecca D. for the blackout grand prize, and to Gary S. for earning his “mini” Cabrio!).

Sincere EIM gratitude to Bill and Alyce S. for hosting us at their house afterward for a great spread of treats and for organizing the alternative lodging plans for the May HPMS event near Branson. Thanks to their generosity with their timeshare points, we’ll have our own special fun location at a fraction of the cost.

It was also a special pleasure to welcome new EIM enthusiasts Jay T., Ryo, Alex and Gen, and Craig and Rose. Glad you were able to join us!

Pictures from this event are in our Photo Gallery, and are directly accessible using the following link:

Photos from the EIM Meet-n-Eat at the Wig and Pen Pub, Iowa City, 1-28-12

Hope to see many of you in Davenport next month!

Following lunch, Bill and Alyce S. have invited everyone over to their place for cookies and to discuss alternative lodging plans for the HPMS “MINIs Occupy Branson” event in May. Directions to be provided at the meet.

All interested MINI enthusiasts are welcome to join us! In order to give the restaurant a proper count, we’d appreciate your RSVP. Instructions are available by clicking on the **Read More** button below.

Think you’re familiar with the variety of paint colors marketed by MINI since 2002? That knowledge could prove fruitful on the 28th.

Hope to see you there!

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Please let us know you’ll be joining us on the 28th by doing one or more of the following:

(1) click on the attendance link in the NAM Event Calendar Entry;
(2) leave a post in the associated NAM Discussion Thread; or
(3) leave a comment on this website posting using the form below.

We’ll likely be splitting a single check among the group so plan on bringing cash to help facilitate that process. Thanks!

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Wig and Pen Pub
1220 Hwy 6 West
Iowa City, IA 52246
319-354-2767

(Note: This is the Wig and Pen located next to the Vine on the Coralville Strip, NOT the one across from Regina HS)

Eastern Iowa MINIs gathered this past Saturday at The Country Junction in Dyersville for a rousing round of food, fun, and MINI fellowship. Thanks to all who came out and joined us.  As we do every November, we presented our annual EIM Recognition Awards as a great way to reflect back on all of the fun times together over the past year and to appropriately recognize the folks who facilitate that fun. We enjoyed a lot of “LOL” moments!

We also enjoyed meeting Ron and Loretta S. from Iowa City, the newest members of our EIM family!

Pictures from this event are in our Photo Gallery, and are directly accessible using the following link:

Photos from the EIM Meet-n-Eat at the Country Junction, Dyersville, 11-19-11

A complete list of the 2011 EIM Recognition Awards and their recipients may be viewed by clicking on the Read More button below.

See you at Wig and Pen in January!

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2011 EIM Annual Recognition Award Winners

First EIM Event Participation Award — Ron and Loretta S.
Biggest Chili Red MINI Fan Award — Larry H.
Least Intimidated by the Weather Award — Paul and Nora J.
Best MINI Artistic Talent Award — Gary S.***
Most Dedicated MINI Motorist Award — Tom and Linda R.

Most Passionate MINI Motorist Award — Denny and Sandy B. // Bill and Alyce S.
Best MINI Videographer Award — Steve B.
Best Jury-Rigging of the MINI Award — Daryl H.
Greatest Loyalty to a MINI Color Award — Linda R.
Best Common Sense in the Club Award — Cindy and Larry D.

Best MINI Parade Support Award — Steve and Bobbi M.
Proud to be Afflicted with OCMD Award – Runner Up — Gary S.
Proud to be Afflicted with OCMD Award — Paul J.
The Girl Scout “Always Prepared” Award — Sandy B.
The Inaugural “Who Needs Gas?” Award — Bill and Alyce S.

The “Best in Show” Award — Steve and Juliann B.
Best Event Host/Hostess Award — Tom and Linda R. // Larry and Pam H.
The 2011 EIM Volunteer Spirit Award — Daryl H.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone!

***serendipitously confirmed by the fantastic artwork presented as a surprise to Gary M. during the awards!

This will be a great opportunity to reminisce about the fun times we’ve had together over the past year. We’ll present the now-traditional 2011 EIM Recognition Awards, a chance to recognize folks who deserve our sincere thanks (or a bit of friendly jesting).

After lunch, we’ve scheduled a visit to the National Farm Toy Museum for those interested in checking out some “mini” farm implements and the like. Admission for adults is $5.

We’re collecting an advance headcount for the restaurant, so please RSVP. Instructions for doing so are available by clicking on the Read More button below. There are also links to the restaurant and the museum after the jump.

Hope you can join us.

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To RSVP, let us know you plan on coming (and how many) by completing any one of the following steps using the links provided:

(1) Clicking on the RSVP link in our NAM Event Calendar Entry; and/or
(2) leave us a reply in our associated NAM Discussion Thread; or
(3) contact us using the “Leave a Reply” form below.

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Ad hoc departure rendezvous with other MINIs near your home for companion motoring to Dyersville is encouraged. There are lots of good roads in the area!

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Country Junction Restaurant
913 15th Avenue SE
Dyersville, IA 52040
(563) 875-7055
http://www.countryjunctionrestaurant.com/index.php

National Farm Toy Museum
1110 16th Ave Ct SE
Dyersville, Iowa 52040
(563) 875-2727
http://www.nationalfarmtoymuseum.com/

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A record number of Iowa MINIs — 26 in all — enjoyed a great day of motoring together at the 9th Annual MINICooperIowa Fall Tour held on October 29th. The various caravans converged in Pella for lunch followed by country roads, covered bridges, and photo opportunities and culminating in food, refreshment, and fun at the Willis Auto Campus MINI of Des Moines facility. A special treat was the two brand new MINI Coupes that came along for the ride! It was nice to have the opportunity to see and greet our fellow central Iowa MINI brethren.

Pictures from this event can be located in our Photo Gallery, directly accessible using the following link:

Photos from the 9th Annual MINICooperIowa Fall Tour, 10-29-11

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A contingent from EIM recently returned from Eureka Springs, Arkansas where they represented our group at MINIs in the Ozarks 2011. A total of 131 MINIs and 228 people from all over the U.S. participated in this event. The rugged Ozark mountains with their twisty, steep, and well-maintained roads, the cooperative weather, the palette of Autumn colors, the smorgasbord of MINIs in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and the memorable experiences with good friends were all fantastic!

A full album of pictures from this amazing event can be found in the EIM Photo Gallery and can be accessed directly using the following link:

Photos from MINIs in the Ozarks 2011, 20-23 October 2011

Edit: The group photo is now in the Gallery. See if you can find us!

Please let us know you’re coming by one of the listed options using the Read More button below. The CIMC folks need an accurate head count to pass on to the MINI dealership so they can plan for refreshments. More details on the day’s events are also available there. Hope you can join us!

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Please sign up for the Fall Tour by completing any one of the following steps using the links provided:

(1) Clicking on the RSVP link in our NAM Event Calendar Entry; and/or
(2) leave us a reply in our associated NAM Discussion Thread; or
(3) contact us using the “Leave a Reply” form below.

If you sign up using one of these three options, we’ll make sure your attendance is passed on to CIMC.

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HISTORY:
Beginning in 2003, MINI owners state-wide have been invited to join the annual Fall Colors Drive – this year will be the ninth consecutive year we’ve enjoyed motoring amidst the glories of an Iowa fall.

ROUTE:
The starting point is Pella, where everyone will assemble for lunch. Following lunch, we’ll meander by way of several twisty and curvy back roads west to St. Charles to view the Imes Covered Bridge (with time for photos), then head over to Winterset to visit the John Wayne home (optional; alternative stop is the Cutler-Donohoe Covered Bridge instead), and finally end our drive at MINI of Des Moines (MODM) for refreshmants and some entertaining MINI-related challenges as part of MODM’s participation in the national MINI “Motor-tober” promotion. The total distance we’ll cover between Pella and MODM will be about 150 miles.

CARAVAN:
MINIs from eastern Iowa will have the opportunity to caravan from the Iowa City area to Pella on Saturday morning. Keep an eye out for instructions in our NAM Discussion Thread. *UPDATE* MINIs coming to Pella from the east plan to meet up at the rest stop along I-80 just west of Iowa City, west of Exit 237, at 9:45 am. Come join the caravan!

MINIs coming from from the Des Moines area are welcome to caravan together to Pella from the McDonalds at 1055 Sherrylynn Blvd in Pleasant Hill. The MINIs will depart from this spot at 10:00 am.

If you’d rather drive to Pella on your own, you’ll probably find most of our cars parked around the central square in Pella prior to 11:00 am. We plan to be on the road after lunch about 12:30 p.m.

CAN’T MAKE THE DRIVE? JOIN US AFTERWARD AT MINI OF DES MOINES:
Those of you who can’t make it to the drive are invited to join the rest of us at MINI of Des Moines for refreshments and socializing with MINI friends – we expect to arrive there around 4:30 p.m.

Everything you need to know regarding this event is available via the official MITO 2011 website: http://www.ozarkmini.com

You can follow along with EIM-specific coordination and planning in our NAM Discussion Thread, including our planned caravan route from Iowa to the Ozarks, through the following link:

MITO 2011 NAM Discussion Thread

Fun and beautiful mountain motoring ahead!

No RSVPs necessary…but feel free to let us know you’re coming so we can keep an eye out for you. Links to do so, as well as more information describing where and when to rendezvous on Saturday morning and other pertinent info is available by clicking on the — Read More — button below.

See you on the 24th!

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Link to the Gays Mills Apple Festival Website:
http://www.gaysmills.org/apple.html

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If you’d like to let us know you’re planning on coming along, you may do so using any one of the following three options:

(1) Clicking on the sign-up link in our NAM Event Calendar Entry; and/or
(2) leave us a reply in our associated NAM Discussion Thread for this drive; or
(3) give us a shout using the “Leave a Reply” form below.

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Rendezvous

The main rendezvous spot is over on the Wisconsin side for the benefit of the folks coming up from the Quad Cities area. We will all plan to meet up at the BP Station on the southeast corner of US-61/WI-133 (Elm St.) and W. Kansas St. in Boscobel, WI at 10:00 am. The address of the station is 605 Elm St.

For anyone coming up on the Iowa side, let’s plan on a preliminary rendezvous at 9:15 am at the Isle of Capri Casino parking lot along US-18/IA-76 on the south side of Marquette, IA. You can’t miss the spot — just look for the big pink elephant with the black top hat!
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Think these folks are serious about their fall colors? Check out this quote:

“Although it is commonly known as “America’s Dairyland,” Wisconsin could also be called “America’s Forestland” as nearly half of the state is forested, and it is now viewed as one of the nation’s top destinations for fall color viewing. With its unique topography of hills, valleys and bluffs, the driftless region of Southwestern Wisconsin is particularly attractive.

Sunlight converts sugars that have been trapped in certain leaves into anthrocyanins, reddish or bluish pigments. The more anthrocyanins a leaf has, the deeper its red and purple hues. These brilliant shades are outstanding in Wisconsin maples and sumacs. The crisp yellows of poplar, some beech and most birches, on the other hand, reveal a lack of tannins in the leaves, so the yellow pigments shine through. An abundance of these brownish tannin compounds will cast a yellow-brown color in certain species of oak and beech trees. With the exception of tamarack, Wisconsin’s abundant conifer trees remain green during the fall, providing a dramatic counterpoint to the deep reds and oranges and bright yellows so prevalent throughout the forest palette. Willows, alder, elder and some oaks also provide a counterpoint, as their neutral shades add a rich dimension of depth.”