HELPING HANDS
When an MOA member goes above and beyond to help another member, we want to recognize their efforts and present them with our Helping Hands Award.
A standing committee of the elected BMW MOA Board of Directors screens nominations for this award. They then present their recommendations to the Board of Directors for consideration. Recipients are announced annually at the National Rally Awards ceremony.
2025
David Sine, for assisting in a medical crisis.
Frank and Melissa Higganbotham, for providing relief after a rider submerged their bike in mud while riding the Southeast Backcountry Discovery Route, then inviting the whole group in for Easter dinner.
Steve Johnson, for rescuing a stranded rider with a flat tire – twice! (Not the same rider.) Once in 2022 and again in 2025.
2024
Lester Appel and George Cule, for responding to a desperate call for electrical help from an Anonymous Book user after the Redmond (OR) Rally.
2023
Garth Twitchell, for stepping up to help out tremendously with the Guelph Getaway.
Paul Rice, for assistance after a dropped bike stalled the ride home following the Richmond (VA) Rally.
Lester and Dani Grebski, for assisting MOA icon Muriel Farrington following a medical crisis after the Richmond (VA) Rally.
Paul Nolte, for helping that rapscallion Jack Riepe get his rickety truck back to a functional state following the Richmond (VA) Rally.
Don Lambe, for replacing a blown tire on the side of the road.
2022
Paul Koontz, for assistance following a crash and its subsequent medical crisis near Omaha, Nebraska.
Darryl Carmichael, for mighty effort in leveraging his employer, a BMW Motorrad dealership, and getting the parts necessary for an epic on-the-road repair.
Larry Stern, for providing assistance for physical therapy and in navigating the maze of medical insurance paperwork following an unexpected mid-journey hospital visit.
2021
Marc Neville, for weathering an unexpected COVID test and cross-Canadian-border requirements to return an injured member’s motorcycle to its home.
Jennifer Ott, for helping get the above motorcycle across the Canadian border and back to its home!
Mike Stewart, for his near-heroic assistance in cleaning up after the Wailin’ Wayne Weekend, when it seemed nobody else was around to help.
Bob Bryant, for assistance following a punctured tire incident in the middle of nowhere, Arizona.
Douglas Linkugel, for using his ATV to discover, then his pickup and trailer to rescue a stranded member with a disabled bike.
2020
Steve Reifsnider, for assisting a member’s fly-and-ride.