MINIsOnTop

This year MINIsOnTop has a new organizational crew, so expect some exciting changes – the first, announced today, is that when registration opens soon, it will be “online”; no more printing and mailing of forms!
Don’t fret – MINIsOnTop is happening again this year! We’re just moving a bit slower than our predecessors Ian, Theo and Michael did.
Registration will be online this year and will open soon. As always, it will be first-come, first-served. We recommend signing up for the MOT announcements list so you’ll be notified when it opens.
After rave reviews last year, the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel will be our base hotel again this year. The Attitash is a luxury resort, centrally located in Bartlett, NH between the Kancamagus Highway and the Mount Washington Auto Road. Please call (800) 233-7699 to book your room and be sure to ask for the MINIsOnTop special rate! Please note: the special rate is not available for booking online.

Personally, I haven’t figured what to do with MINIsOnTop this year, as GPMINI will likely remain in Florida, and showing up in an “SUV” Q5 might be un-popular 😉

The first MINIsOnTop 2010(!) planning meeting today, with new “leaders” Sarah (left) and Richard, discussing what Theo, Michael and I have done in previous years … but the curious thing is the FOUR Macbooks out on the table (and, of course, an iPhone taking the picture!):

MINI owners own Macs too!

Today, MINIsOnTop volunteers gathered at Michael & Pam’s house, for a bunch of “well done / thanks”, and check presentation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine, and (via Pete) the Mount Washington Observatory. James from Make-A-Wish of Maine kindly  joined us to accept the check ($10,315.82) to- and to make a “thank you” presentation to us:

We also presented the Mount Washington Observatory check ($692.18); MWO could not attend, so Pete (who organizes the MWO tour during MOT each year) accepted the check on their behalf:

One further “presentation” this year was to Sarah & Richard – Sarah, with Brian, Sheena and Armen – pulled together MINIsOnTop donations this year, and Richard has acted as Loon liason and given the important Driver Speech every year during MINIsOnTop:

After running MINIsOnTop from 2006 to 2009, Theo, Michael and myself have chosen to step back a little and get some new ideas in to the event – and happily Richard & Sarah have chosen to team up and pull it all together for 2010 (and maybe after that too!) – so best wishes to them, and to MOT2010 (which will be June 25/26!)

Many thanks to everyone that supported MINIsOnTop 2009, especially all the un-named volunteers that make everything go so smoothly. Thanks also to Michael & Pam for once again hosting our after-MINIsOnTop mini-event, and thanks to James and Make-A-Wish of Maine for joining us, and for the lovely plaque!

Some other pictures from the day: