Having been reading their writings since either I joined the 'CCA some 27 years ago, or since they started their columns, I will miss the regular monthly contributions of Bill Howard, Jenny Morgan, Mike Self, Mark Jon Calabrese, Mark Biunno, & Sam Smith (to whom I offer congratulations on his new gig, and will continue following there, having subscribed to R&T even longer than my time as a 'CCA member). Of course, I welcome our new contributors, and anticipate enjoying their monthly prognostications much as I have the Roundel's others, prior. My only sadness is not seeing, before their evident departure from the pages of the Roundel, an Auf Wiedersehen, pro tempore column from those whose monthly columns have been familiar to so many of us for so long. All is not lost, naturally - Facebook updates continue, as will the crossing of paths at various club events, & I expect to continue rubbing elbows with Mike Self at local events, considering he lives round-abouts 50 miles or so north of me!
I always welcome new contributors. I had to push Satch for years to consider adding Sam Smith and even then it didn't happen until a Board member suggested it! But what we're obviously left with after the latest changes is the evolution of the first step in hiring an executive director of the Club whose daily driver was a Lincoln and now fancies himself as publisher of Roundel. We went through this with Mark Luckman and made it abundantly clear that the Club publishes the magazine. Now I don't have any idea who John Budinich is beyond his LinkedIn page which shows him as an IT specialist in Greenville, SC, home of our Club offices, and a dedicated officer of that local chapter, and I don't blame him for the error in his article, but you'd think someone somewhere within the production staff of Roundel would know the difference between a 320i and a 2002. That's really sad! Petty, of course, but a significant bellwether nonetheless.
I found this latest issue very, very difficult to read. Hard to determine where articles stop and advertisements begin. I may find it hard to renew my membership this time; that $48 is not returning much to me these days.
Roundel certainly has a new look, but is it better? I agree that it’s harder to read and I skipped right past some articles that looked like ads. Too much color and flash? Maybe it is good to rotate some columnists, but who will they be? We’ll have to wait and see. Maybe this is like a new BMW model. First, a period of beta testing, then maybe by the Life Cycle Impulse facelift, the new Roundel will have the bugs worked out. I hope so.
Personally and speaking as a 15 year member, I find the content much easier to read. I no longer need a magnifying glass to read the Club Services page. I like having some teasers on the cover. I'd like to see more. Sorry, but I didn't even realize Bill Howard was gone. I tend to skip right past the columnists. Sorry guys. There are sections I like and some I don't. I was never one of the people who read it form cover to cover. Before the January 2013 edition I thought Heard on the Strasse was one long article. I had no idea until now that it's actually snippets. Talk about not knowing when something begins and where it ends. Roundel ends up in a mix of other magazines at dealers and offices. When I decide what magazine to pick up I look to see what content is written on the cover. Change is never easy.
Well said Moody, well said. There is also an old French proverb "The more things change, the more things stay the same"
I too miss Bill Howard's column. I appreciated his focus on interiors, cockpit ergonomics and technology. Where do I turn to now for cup holder rants? : ) As for the new layout, I do find it rather busy. But, I'll certainly give myself time to adjust before I determine if Roundel still carries the same value for me as it has over the years.
Funny, I used to read it to see what was inside, not check the outside to see if I wanted to read it. Things certainly have changed! BMW owners don't care about performance and BMW CCA members apparently don't care enough to read their magazine. What's the world coming to? Steven, has the Club's austerity mission caused the demise of mailing Roundel to dealerships? I don't remember seeing one around our BMW Center for months. I remember when I first proposed sending Roundel to all BMW dealers, probably twenty-five years ago . . .
When I say it's in a mix of others, when I'm in a waiting room at the doctor's office I look at the covers of the various magazines to choose from. Same could probably be said at a dealership. All dealers should be getting a copy. NA does not supply a list of dealerships. Many chapters add their dealerships to our complimentary Roundel list. If we know about someone not on the list, we'll add them. I don't see your dealership on the comp list. I'll add it beginning February. Should I send it attention anyone in particular?
Well, if you send it to my attention I can make sure it is made available to everyone. I only leave my old copies around right now. Thanks. If I didn't love the Club I wouldn't bother to complain about what I think is wrong with it currently. And I'd probably cancel my life membership. That'll happen soon enough as I'm officially a senior-citizen next week.
