A Message From the President
On behalf of myself and the Board of Directors, welcome to 2026! I am incredibly excited for the year ahead. Our Board has been working tirelessly to blend the best of our club’s traditions with innovative new ideas, ensuring there are activities for every member to enjoy all year round.
Board Updates & Governance
The full Board met in person on January 31 to discuss our roadmap for 2026. A primary focus of our meeting was improving how we communicate with you. To streamline our efforts, we have formed several key subcommittees:
- Communication & Transparency: We are addressing how to best share Board happenings while managing risk and utilizing best practices. While the old bylaws required the posting of minutes and allowing all members to attend board meetings, this led us to a different question: How do we communicate with the full membership to ensure full transparency as to what is happening at the board level? Moving forward, you will receive more frequent newsletters featuring Board updates alongside club human-interest stories.
- Website Refresh: A dedicated team is working on a total website overhaul to provide better activity overviews and participation guides. We expect a full release by Summer 2026.
- Policies, Procedures & Bylaws: We have established committees to “Fix and Clarify” our bylaws and document checks and balances. This includes defining attendance policies for board meetings to ensure we remain effective while maintaining full transparency.
Upcoming Events & Activities
While the winter weather keeps us indoors for now, the Board is actively scouting new locations and fresh ideas. Keep an eye out for a membership survey coming soon to help us tailor our programming to your interests.
Driving & Track Events
- Autocross (AX): The 2025 end-of-year event has been rescheduled for March 22 at Billiard’s Café. Registration for the 2026 season opens on Motorsportreg on March 1.
- Driver Education (DE): Registration is open now!
- Ground School: March 7 at HMS – perfect for those new to the track.
- HPDE Primer: May 22 at Thompson – a low-cost, half-day opportunity to try DE for the first time.
- The Ramble: Our Lake George event sold out in record time (under 3 hours!), promising a fantastic turnout.
Rallies & Tours
We are delivering on your requests for more driving tours:
- Spring Rally: Sunday April 19 with a starting point at Billiards Café in Ayer MA. Registration is up on Motorsportreg.
- Summer Rally: Currently in the planning stages.
- Dow Fall Rally: Our annual tradition continues.
We are intentionally spreading these events across the region to ensure every member has a rally or tour nearby.
Social Events
The Social Committee is expanding our “Cars & Coffee” locations and adding more tech sessions.
- First Membership Social: Sunday March 15th at The Archive in Framingham MA.
- New Concepts: We are working on a mix of seasonal events and reviving popular activities from years past.
Get Involved
NER is fueled by the passion of our volunteers. If you have an interest in helping out, whether in a small way or by joining a committee, please reach out to us at [email protected].
I look forward to seeing you all on the road and at our events very soon!
Kristin Larson
2026 NER President
