AMCA Hires New Executive Director

[JJCerilli]

New AMCA chapters in the Southwest, possible National Meet there in the future...

Hi John,
I hope things work out for you and eventually meeting you and I wish you the best.
One thing I would like to mention is that the southern and Mid-Northern Midwest states (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah to name a few have none what-so-ever a National meet(The upper North-East has to many IMO).
I for one would like very much to see a National meet in our territory. You mention membership and to do that I think is to expand some National meets thru out the Nation to those of us that cannot make those. I've been a member for decades and I for one have never been able to go to a East coast or West coast National meet.
I would very much like to speak with you on this subject as in Colorado we have 2 chapters representing the surrounding Southern & Northern states. In my opinion I would think it would benefit the AMCA for more membership and attendance.
Len. AMCA #765.

Len -

Thanks for your kind words and comments and I look forward to meeting and possibly riding with you someday in the near future!

Ironically, one of the items I mentioned to the BOD during my interview was the formation of new chapters in the USA, and especially in the Southwest states like Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and/or Nevada.

For example, in the 2013 AMCA Membership Rooster, I counted about 84 members! That certainly makes the case for a "Valley of the Sun" Arizona AMCA Chapter! There is a huge vintage motorcycle scene in Arizona and I have been a part of this for years. So if there are any Arizona AMCA members reading this, please contact me and let's get a AZ chapter started!

I also mentioned the creation of regional events (one day and possible a National event) in that area to attract new members as well. It appears we are on the same page.

Officially, I start my duties on January 1st, but in the interim, I am more than happy to discuss this subject further with you.
You call call me on my mobile at (510) 377-5575 and let's connect.

Best regards,

JJ Cerilli

[JJCerilli]

John, welcome. I think it would be beneficial if you share your thoughts on the forum, rather than emails. we're all interested in your ideas and sharing ours.

dan

Dan - Thanks for your comments and I agree. I requested to write a regular column in The Antique Motorcycle magazine, which as you know, will now be published 6 times per year. I will share my ideas there, and here in the forum as required. I officially start January 1, 2014.

Best regards,

JJ Cerilli

P.S. By the way, I was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and went to High School at Red Hook Central. I did my undergraduate degree at Marist College. My father (now 92) was a Master Watchmaker and jeweler and had a store on Main Street in Rhinebeck, N.Y. for many years. As a 17-year old teenager, I worked weekends for several years at Foster's Coach House as a bar-back and dishwasher to pay for a new 1971 Yamaha RT1-B (360cc Enduro).

[JJCerilli]

Dear John, I'm also interested in hearing the ideas you presented to the BOD as I'm sure we all have some too. Plus I recently bought a one-owner 1979 Moto Guzzi 1000 and it's good to be ahead of the curve occasionally. Welcome.

Steve -

Thanks for you comments. I too, would like to get another vintage Moto Guzzi someday. Maybe a '79 or earlier V1000 G5. IMG_0009.jpgI have owned four in my time, a '78 850 Le Mans, a '02 V11 Le Mans, a '93 SP1000-III and a restored '83 850 Le Mans-III. I miss the last one a lot, but is has a good owner and home in the San Diego area now.

You probably don't remember me, but we met and spoke at length at the AMCA European meet in Germany back in 2005 and you introduced me to Bruce Linsday also. I was living and working in Aachen, Germany at the time. I have some great photographs from that event.

Best regards,

JJ Cerilli

[JJCerilli]

I love your Triumph by the way.

Thanks Eric! The T100C is light and nimble and a lot of fun to ride! A similar 500cc model that The Fonz, James Dean, and Bob Dylan rode (and crashed!) back in Woodstock, NY back in the day! (lol)


JJC

[JJCerilli]

I couldn't agree more with Dan and Eric, John please share with the forum, we are indeed interested!

gharper - Thanks for your comments / feedback and yes, I would work on doing just that in the upcoming weeks. See some of my other comments posted.

JJ Cerilli

[JJCerilli]

Thanks for jumping on the forum John. I think this is a good place to get ideas across because it allows you the luxury of picking your words. Our AMCA forum does not get the traffic it deserves and in this age of social networking, and computer communication we should be getting a lot more posts here. Regardless, this forum, and the club magazine are the most accessible methods of reaching the members and even though it can get a bit contentious at times, we all love this hobby, and we want what is best for the club. So, welcome John, and throw stuff into the forum and see what happens.

Eric -

Thanks again for your feedback and thoughts and kind words. I will do my best in the future to use this forum to express my thoughts and ideas as required. I asked the BOD if I can write a regular column in The Antique Motorcycle, which I will do ASAP. It will be published 6x per year now instead of 4x. It is a fine publication!

I also plan on attending many of the events in 2014 and meeting people face-to-face as well, and hopefully also RIDING with many of you!

Best regards,

JJ Cerilli

[Captk]

Hi From Australia John,
There are a lot of us non Americans interested in the American old bike scene, and we are members. Keep us in mind, we struggle to attend, but we are here anyway.
All the best,
Kelvin

[rickgeo]

Welcome Aboard John (or do you like to be called Jack?) Any way,does your appointment mean the annual dues will be going up ?

Rick Stambaugh
#2472

[JJCerilli]

Hi From Australia John,
There are a lot of us non Americans interested in the American old bike scene, and we are members. Keep us in mind, we struggle to attend, but we are here anyway.
All the best,
Kelvin

Kelvin -

Thanks for your comments and your continued support of the AMCA!

I have never been to Australia, but it is on my Bucket-List to visit (and RIDE there!) someday. I have visited Singapore many times, but that is as close as I have come to OZ! When I had my Moto Guzzi, I chatted often with Guzzisti from Australia and New Zealand on www.wildguzzi.com. There are a lot of vintage enthusiasts down there. Thanks to the Internet and social media, the world is not so big anymore.

Best regards,

JJ Cerilli

[JJCerilli]

Welcome Aboard John (or do you like to be called Jack?) Any way,does your appointment mean the annual dues will be going up ?

Rick Stambaugh
#2472

Rick -

Thanks for your welcome! John is my Christian birth name, but my close friends call me "JJ" (Jude is my middle name and I will tell you how I received that middle name someday - lol). I have never been called Jack, and no, I don't believe annual dues will be going up at this time.

JJ Cerilli

[BoschZEV]

For example, in the 2013 AMCA Membership Rooster, I counted about 84 members! That certainly makes the case for a "Valley of the Sun" Arizona AMCA Chapter! There is a huge vintage motorcycle scene in Arizona and I have been a part of this for years. So if there are any Arizona AMCA members reading this, please contact me and let's get a AZ chapter started!

It's a great sentiment, but population density definitely is an issue. Ohio, for example, has nearly twice the population as Arizona to draw on, and they live in only ~1/3 the area. The ~5x lower population density doesn't make it impossible to organize a successful Arizona chapter, of course, but it does make it ~5x more difficult...

[frichie68]

It's a great sentiment, but population density definitely is an issue. Ohio, for example, has nearly twice the population as Arizona to draw on, and they live in only ~1/3 the area. The ~5x lower population density doesn't make it impossible to organize a successful Arizona chapter, of course, but it does make it ~5x more difficult...

Same in Texas, huge state, many Cherokee members, but only a select few live close enough to meet on any kind of regular basis. I live in central Texas but due to mileage (and age), seldom see any other members more than a couple times a year. Disappointingly different than the Rocky Mtn Chapter where monthly meetings are usually attended by 20-30, or more members.
Rich

[JJCerilli]

It's a great sentiment, but population density definitely is an issue. Ohio, for example, has nearly twice the population as Arizona to draw on, and they live in only ~1/3 the area. The ~5x lower population density doesn't make it impossible to organize a successful Arizona chapter, of course, but it does make it ~5x more difficult...

BoschZEV -

Thanks for your feedback and comments, and you may be right. I was just making a point that there is a big vintage motorcycle following and between Phoenix and Tucson. Those two cities are 2.5 hours apart, by the way. According to 2012 demographics:

Ohio = 282.5 persons per square mile
Arizona = 57.05 persons per square mile
Nevada = 24.80 persons per square mile
Utah = 34.30 persons per square mile
California = 244.2 persons per square mile

Having lived in NORCAL, (The East Bay area), from 2006-2011, I never realized that Ohio is more densely populated than California! By the way, my wife is from Dayton, Ohio!

Best regards,

JJ Cerilli

[exeric]

Having lived in NORCAL, (The East Bay area), from 2006-2011, I never realized that Ohio is more densely populated than California! By the way, my wife is from Dayton, Ohio!

Best regards,

JJ Cerilli

Ohio isn't more densly populated right now; half of Ohio is here in Florida for the winter.

[BigLakeBob]

Ohio isn't more densly populated right now; half of Ohio is here in Florida for the winter.

You got that right Eric, everyone from the west side of OH seems to go to the west side of FL. I guess if they veer off 75 they will get lost. We don't have to wait in the resturant line like you sandpiters do this time of year! Boy, I always hated that from Thanksgiving to Easter. But, today we are driving through several inches of the wet stuff unlike you. Bob