EIM is always on the lookout for fun gatherings that also support a worthy charitable cause — and now here’s your chance to enjoy your MINI and help out a great local service at the same time.

Cruisin’ for Camp Courageous is one of Iowa’s largest and well known charity car shows. The event is being held on Sunday, May 20th and is accompanied by a wide variety of food, music, crafts, antiques, silent and live auctions, and many other neat activities — something for everyone in the family.

Camp Courageous is a not-for-profit, year-round respite care and recreational facility for individuals of all ages with disabilities. The Camp serves nearly 6,000 individuals with disabilities in a year-round program. They’re located just southeast of Monticello, IA which means getting there is an easy Sunday drive for most of us.

Everything you need to know, including registration instructions, is available on the event website which you can access with the following link:

Cruisin’ for Camp Courageous Info and Registration

If you decide to register, please click on the **Read More** button below for EIM notification instructions. Our gracious organizer Ron S. is working to get all of our MINIs located together at the show and would love to know you’re coming. Thanks much!

For the fourth consecutive year, MINI enthusiasts from Eastern Iowa MINIs will be participating in the annual High Plains Motoring Society (HPMS) event, a mid-country alternative to MINIs on the Dragon held during the month of May for MINIs from the Mountain and Midwestern states. As the name of this year’s event implies, “MINIs Occupy Branson” is being held in and around Branson, MO from 10-13 May. A large and excited group of EIMers is looking forward to taking in the sights and sounds of Branson, enjoying each others’ company, reconnecting with friends made at past HPMS gatherings, and (of course) lots of great motoring on the twisty and scenic roads in the area.

Check back here on this site in mid-May for a full report and pictures of all the fun!

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Registration is now open for MINI Takes the States 2012. Whether you’re planning on going coast-to-coast or just the Chicago to Des Moines segment, you want to register to get in on all of the perks!

Here’s a link to the MTTS 2012 registration page:

MINI Takes the States 2012 Registration

The 3rd EIM Border Skirmish Drive is a exhilarating soiree into the scenic bluff country of NE Iowa and SE Minnesota, starting and finishing in Decorah.

Meet up time is 9:30 am at the Decorah Trout Hatchery, which is located in Siewers Spring State Park south of town. Our lunch stop is Covey’s Little Miami in Freeburg, MN. We should arrive for lunch around 11:30 am. We’ll be back in Decorah ~2:45 pm with a final stop at Cooper’s Pub for some dessert and refreshments.

GMRS/FRS radios will be useful so please bring yours if you have one.

Please click on the **Read More** button below for detailed route information and sign-up instructions…and get ready to motor!

The 5th Annual EIM “Spring has Sprung” Meet-n-Eat will take place on Saturday, March 24th at its traditional location in Cedar Rapids — the Granite City Food and Brewery located right across 1st Ave from the Lindale Mall.

Rendezvous time is 10:30 am. We will plan to park where we always do, lined up on the northwest/east edge of the lot adjacent to 1st Ave SE and the Marion Bypass. We’ll have some photo ops and socializing prior to lunch, which will start at 11:00 am.

We have a commitment from the folks at MINI of Des Moines – Willis Auto Campus to join us. As available, they’re planning on bringing along one of their new MINI Roadster or MINI Coupe models to show off for our benefit.

We need a count for the restaurant, so please let us know you’re coming by clicking on the **Read More** button below and following the sign-up instructions. There is additional information, including the restaurant contact info, after the jump.

See you there!

Posted on the MINI USA Facebook Page at 4:00 pm CST
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Okay, it’s official — MINI Takes the States (MTTS) 2012 is coming through Iowa! Keep your schedules open for group participation in portions (or all) of the Chicago stop on July 8th, the drive to Des Moines, and any Des Moines area events on July 9th. Those so inspired may choose to do more of course!

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