WIMA International President Annual Report
As another motorcycling year draws to a close for many of us in the northern hemisphere, it has been a year of change and new experiences.
We started 2025 with plans for a big 75th WIMA Anniversary Rally in USA and, at long last, a WIMA Germany Rally that had originally been planned for 2020 but was postponed due to Covid.
The annual National President meeting was planned to be held in USA with an informal meet in Germany.
Then in January 2025, Donald Trump was inaugurated as US President and everything changed overnight; over 50% of the European WIMA members who had planned to attend the 75th celebration cancelled. In order to stave off a stonking loss, the US rally was opened up to WRWR members and launch party plus women riders from other US groups.
Whilst this was going on, the International Constitution committee proposed radical changes in the constitution both in the style of voting and by moving from face-to-face meetings to on-line by Zoom; all of which was approved, almost unanimously, by national presidents meeting at the WIMA Germany Rally.
The WIMA USA Rally was very good and was a great opportunity to meet new members and other women riders and although many WIMA favourites were included, it was not a traditional WIMA International Rally. I suspect that some of the new activities may find their way into future WIMA only rallies.
The WIMA Germany Rally was excellent, despite the weather, thank you Susi and your rally organising committee.
My time as International President comes to an end at the National President on-line meeting in October. When I started out, I changed the rules so that IPs would serve a maximum of 5 years, which is what most did anyway and that we would introduce succession planning so that the changeover would flow smoothly rather than appointing a new IP at the last minute. The plan was to keep a steady stream of fresh new ideas and to support younger members. I am delighted therefore that we have a candidate for the role and a woman who is supported by members and National Presidents. Of course the final decision lies in the hands of National Presidents but her candidacy is no secret and she has had 5 years as a your very capable International Vice President and my loyal supporter, thank you Mihaela and my very best future wishes to you.
When I started out as Vice President I wanted to visit and support as many divisions as possible on my motorbike and can confirm that I made my last visit just last week when I travelled to Ukraine to talk with WIMA Ukraine members in their own country, to demonstrate WIMA International dedication to all our members and to learn of local issues, their plans for the future and what support WIMA International Officers can provide to achieve that. Although not by bike, this year I also managed to visit WIMAs Iceland and America and travelled through Canada by car, meeting WIMA Canada members at the US rally.
I apologise to WIMAs Liechtenstein and Norway as I have just run out of time and money to visit you before I stand down as IP. I also apologise to WIMA Australia as I really could not afford to attend both the Australia and the USA rallies; it is not the cost of the rallies that is prohibitive but the cost of international travel and of transport in the destination country. That said, I am very grateful for the support that WIMA GB have provided over the past 4 years by paying my rally fees.
Some divisions have substantially grown their memberships and the number of national divisions has gone from 37 to 40, so thank you National Presidents and Committees for all of your hard work and dedication to your members and to the future of WIMA International.
My time as International President, although not planned, has been one of the best and most rewarding experiences of my life and one the ended literally with a big bang – but that is a story for another day.
Thank you, WIMA Members, International Officers and National Presidents, for your support, encouragement and friendship. I am looking forward to the Estonia Rally next year which is where it all started for me eight years ago when a friend persuaded me to put myself forward for the newly vacant Vice President role.
Zara Strange
International President
2020-2025