JanK

Like the others, most of my DF time has been taken up with Rick's problems. I need my daily fix to get on with the day! It may even be a letdown when the darned car finally arrives. (Sorry, Rick, but that's the truth.)<P>We may see more postings as more of us take our collector cars out of storage. I always look forward to that day when our cars come home for the summer, but that's also when we have to face the issues we left unfinished when we stored them away the previous year!<P>The weather here in Wisconsin has been incredible -- mostly upper 60's and 70's for the past few weeks -- and I'm itching for a ride in my Rambler convertible. With my luck, I just know that it'll plummet back into the 40's once it's back in our home garage. <P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region<P>P.S. I'm getting used to the new bulletin board, and I like it. I'm still trying to figure out how to use some of the new toys. When I do, I'll be even more dangerous.<p>[ 04-27-2001: Message edited by: JanK ]

Like many others, I've been following this thread as eagerly as I used to follow the soap operas (in my lost youth). <P>If you wrote this up as fiction, no one would find it believable. Ditto for non-fiction. But truth is stranger than fiction sometimes, isn't it?<P>I hope you get the happy ending you deserve after all this grief. <P>And if you learn that your car has ended up in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area somehow (why, I don't know, but given your luck to date...), we'd be happy to check it out as well. <P>Jan K.<BR>Wisconsin Region

The Mom and Pop's I'm referring to are in Wisconsin. I found out that some are locally owned and operated after my husband got a bad tank of gas in his "modern iron." <P>The owner was very concerned that his customers would take their business elsewhere after hearing about or being involved in the bad gas episode. He was very concerned that he would lose his business over it. He was very gracious, handling all the repair claims for the affected customers, and following up with us to make sure we were satisfied with the results. Luckily, all our bills were settled, and his attitude made a big deal of difference. Since his prices are habitually 2-3 cents less on regular, and 8-10 cents less on the premium, we often go a mile out of our way to buy gas at his station. <P>But after that little incident, we now pay for all our gas with check or credit card instead of cash, so we have a receipt of purchase. That made all the difference in settling with the gas distributor's insurance company! <P>Jan K.

First, let me say that making a profit in and of itself is NOT a bad thing, IMHO. If I owned my own business, my intent would be to make a profit. For the sake of my current job, I want the company I work for to be profitable. This is America, right?<P>Supply and demand is a separate issue altogether. EVERYONE knows we use more gasoline in the summer, and that we require more heating oil in the winter. Why, then, do the producers not anticipate the need and plan accordingly? Because short supply increases demand and raises the price.<P>Hurting the local Mom and Pop gas stations is not going to effect those producers and distributors that are causing the problem. They don't care about the other stuff the stations sell; they just provide the gas. With people buying less gas, they rely more and more on the sale of the other items to keep their businesses going. By holding back on those sales, the only ones who are hurt are the other "little guys" who are also caught up in this mess. <P>Yes, we're buying less gas. Yes, we're consolidating trips to save gas. And, yes, we may limit the car trips we take this year. It helps our pocketbook, but will it have any impact on the price charged? I don't think so. We control what we can control, and that's about all we can do.<P>Jan K.

I love this DF. I learn something new every day. <P>And I apologize to everyone for the misinformation I inadvertently provided in a previous post. You'll notice I didn't edit that message to hide that fact. When I'm wrong, I admit it! <P>Jan K.

Shows that invite both original and modified cars need to practice parity. For example, we've stopped going to a few very popular local shows because all of the rods were put out front and center, and those of us with original cars were stuffed in the back, almost as an afterthought. (At one show, we were asked to move to another spot, because we were blocking the view of a newly built rod.) <P>If the rod clubs are the show sponsor, they have the right to set up the cars as they see fit, and I would understand (and probably not attend). But, in these cases, the shows were sponsored by dealerships. What's even more amusing is to hear these same dealers complain that fewer and fewer of the older, original cars attend their events any more. Of course, they don't believe us when we tell them the truth.<P>Jan K.

Almost forgot, Model A Hal. Congrats on your election to Secretary. At least you know enough to ask the questions!

For further clarification, the total number of members added to your region or chapter each year, together with a number of other weighted factors which I know virtually nothing about, is used to calculate the winner of the I.C. Kirkham award. This award is given to the membership chair (or other appropriate person) for the region or chapter that has the greatest percentage of growth. <P>A few years ago, this award caused us some confusion. In the hopes of being in the running for the award, our membership chair thought that he needed to take the credit for all the new members, and would put his own national number on the application forms. Once we clarified National's intent, he stopped the practice. From then on, credit was given to those who had actually introduced the new members to the club. <P>Jan K.

Very interesting. I wasn't aware of that. Our region received this award some years ago, but it went to the membership chair. I assumed that was how it was done. (I wasn't trying to open a can of worms...)<P>Jan K.

The Beam, too, has had paid ads for as long as I've been a member. Most of them are business card size ads. One half-page ad goes on our back cover, another full page of ads on the inside back cover, and another full page of ads is placed just before the cover, so they're all together.<P>Many of our ads come from local members who own their own businesses. They do this more as a help to the club, than for any possible financial gain. There are a few ads from people who provide services of interest to those in the hobby.<P>We are a monthly publication, so each ad is seen 12 times a year. If requested, the advertiser receives the publication in return, but never the club roster.<P>Our rates are as follows: <BR>$ 70/year - 1/8 page (business card size)<BR>$140/year - 1/4 page<BR>$280/year - 1/2 page<BR>$560/year - full page (which we never have)<P>We just raised the rates for this year. Previously, they started with $60/year and went up from there.<P>We've discussed putting ads on our website, but to date have kept it ad-free.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

Mike:<P>Compliment seen and duly noted! <P>Jan K.

Apparently the people who use the Auto Album aren't on the DF (or aren't talking). I guess we'll have to give up on the possibility of using it in our newsletter.<P>Jan K.

Here's what we face every time we take our '37 Buick Century to any car event that includes rod/custom cars: Various groups of people stand right in front of us, and discuss what a great car it would be if... and they proceed to talk about how they would chop it up. <P>It wouldn't bother me if they did it out of earshot, but to stand right in front of the owner, who delights in its "showroom" condition, is not polite. I do not stand in front of their cars and complain about the beauty of the car that they "destroyed."<P>And for the record, I have nothing against rods and customs. I just see these as two separate hobbies, with contrary agendas. Personally, I would prefer that they not use restorable, drivable cars to do their customizing on, but that's only my opinion. They're entitled to their own opinion. This is a free country.<P>Jan K.

In all honesty, this forum is a casual, not always politically correct place and I like it that way. Most of the ribbing is good-natured, and done to people we know pretty well. People new to the DF may not know of these relationships, and they could misunderstand some of the comments.<P>I've also noticed that most of the people who take the heat are not the regulars, but are more often of the seagull variety -- they fly over and drop their comments (some quite controversial), before winging their way elsewhere. I believe that those people are fair game for the rest of us!<P>Jan K.

Since I am a card-carrying member of the AACA and a registered member of the forum, I thought I was entitled to post on any portion of the DF. Silly me. Maybe I need to revisit the rules.<P>Jan K.<BR>(The woman who used the word "idiot" in a recent post)<p>[This message has been edited by JanK (edited 04-06-2001).]

I can testify to the fact that you don't have to be a regular National attendee to get a Master Editor Award. The first time we went to National was to PICK UP our award. Of course, once you've gone, you'll want to go again!<P>The newsletter seminar has always been a "must" for us. We've gotten so many ideas from the other editors, both from those presenting and those present. And imagine the sympathy you'll get from others in the same situation you find yourself in -- that's worth the price of admittance alone!<P>Terry Bond really knows what he's talking about, and is ALWAYS willing to provide that pep talk just when you need it. He is a true inspiration, as are many of the others on the publications committee. He is very persuasive, though, so you may find yourself volunteering for something if you spend too much time with him! <P>What I like best about National is putting the faces with the names. And this year, I got to meet some of the DFers, too.<P>Jan K.<P>

Are Junior memberships covered under the "I Got a Member" program? I want to make sure we don't mislead our membership in our drive to sign up Junior members.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

I find these "perception" comments fascinating. It seems like there is a mistaken impression about every club we have ever belonged to, included the AACA. <P>Maybe it's time to find out exactly what these misperceptions are and brainstorm some ways to change them?<P>And for the record, I am not an old geezer and never will be. (Based purely on my perception that only men can be geezers. Please correct me if I'm wrong.) <P>And I'm NOT looking for suggestions on what that would make me instead! <P>Jan K.

There's a certain cache to exclusivity, I guess. And I like rural -- country roads and collector cars. What more could you ask for?<P>We're hoping to get 125-150 cars, but not many more than that, or we'll run into logistical problems. (Too few and it'll wreck our budget...)<P>I've been out on the DF, publicizing the 2002 Founders Tour; distributed flyers at National this year; plan to do the same during the 2001 Founders Tour in NY; sent flyers with our judges who attend various meets; and created a separate page on our website to feature the tour. The web page will probably grow to multiple pages as we lock in the various attractions for each day of the tour. <P>For me, the pre-publicity is almost as fun as the event itself. I guess that's why they made me the Publicity Chair! <P>If you can give me any other pointers, I'm all ears!<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region <A HREF="http://www.aaca.org/wisconsin" TARGET=_blank>http://www.aaca.org/wisconsin</A>

If there were legislative info to report, would it appear in the General Forum area?<P>Jan K. <BR>Wis Region

Clarification: My "idiot" comment was aimed at all those people who fail to investigate a forum before posting. If this person had done even a tiny bit of looking around on the AACA site, she would have realized this was the wrong place to post. Or she could have written it differently, to show she knew that it wasn't a "rod" site, but appealing to those crossover members who might be interested.<P>My apologies to any "rodders" I may have inadvertently offended in the process.<P>Jan K.

Some people are idiots. But it would be a waste of time trying to enlighten them. <P>Jan K.

Good job -- probably happened because of all that "hype." <P>I hope we're as fortunate in 2002. <P>Have a great time! Wish we were going...<P>Jan K.

I am also pleased to see some of the Directors checking into the DF from time to time. In a club this large, it's nice to know we can get the attention of the "powers that be" with a simple posting or email.<P>Thanks for the status update. Those of us who are pro-technology can hardly wait!<P>Jan K.<P>

We're mean. When we had a 12 member Board, we insisted that each member provide a story for one of the monthly issues. They could write it themselves or twist someone else's arm to get them to do it -- we didn't care! <P>Now that we have a 10 (soon to be 9) member Board, we'll have a few "unassigned" issues. That's where the newsletter exchange comes in handy. We've occasionally found some interesting articles worth reprinting (always with permission!) from them. We also reprint some of the articles from the Rummage Box. Since that's a quarterly, we have three issues in which to feature the relevant articles. And now that I've learned I can edit the articles to fit my space, I'll be able to use much more of the Rummage Box content.<P>Each year we get a few new members and I try to get them to tell the club a bit about themselves. If they have a car (not all do), I ask them to tell me why they bought the one they did, how they found it, what they did to it (restoration), and so forth. If they don't have a car, I ask them what brought them to the hobby, and what they hope to own someday.<P>The other thing our members seem to like is when we fill with old magazine ads. We've featured a number of beautiful ads for cars, and one on trunks (although one brain-dead member questioned what that had to do with the hobby), among others. One newsletter we receive from a Model A Ford club features clothing ads on their Ladies Page. (We don't have a Ladies Page -- our ladies didn't want one.)<P>We also try to turn our monthly events into cover-worthy write ups. Our most active times are May - October, so those issues are usually pretty full. Our November-April issues are typically the lean ones, so I try to save the articles that aren't seasonal for those issues.<P>Flattery is essential, and doesn't have to be faked. I often suggest to people that they just scribble their thoughts, and tell them I'll clean it up a bit for them before publication. Many of our members don't feel confident about their writing ability, so they don't want to volunteer. Those that meet me halfway have been pleased to see their column in print, and often end up asking for extra copies to share with family and friends. I offer to make extra copies available to those who contribute articles, particularly if they're featured on the cover. Besides, you never know if one of these extra recipients will become a member!<P>Enough for now. I'll let someone else have a turn. <P>Jan K.<P>