JanK

I added a "Virtual Library Tour" to the AACA Library website today and some people are reporting that they can't see the pictures. If you have a moment, please check it out and let me know whether or not you can see them. Thanks! Jan K. Library Web Editor

Sorry for the confusion. As I add new excerpts I sometimes have to delete the oldest excerpt. Otherwise the Beam Excerpts page loads too slowly. If you would like to see the article, I'd be happy to fax a copy to you. Or, if we still have an extra copy of that issue, I can arrange to have it mailed to you. Let me know what you would prefer. Jan K. Wis Region

In a chapter with two official "Junior" members and several other kids that show up sporadically, it's sometimes hard to judge how much is too much and when it's just enough. My philosophy is that we should have structure in place so the kids see something for them when they look in. Others think we should get the kids in the fold first before wasting a lot of time and effort on them. Since I'm the one editing the website and newsletter for our region, we now have a Kid's Page on both. (When and if someone else takes these over, they can make their own call.) We try to make sure there is a clearly stated children's price for all events at which children are welcome. We've found that people will often forego an event if they think their children can't come along. When children are present, we try to involve them in some way. For example, our social chair's daughter takes photos (good ones) at events, and we give her full credit when we use them in the newsletter or on the website. If prizes are being awarded, we invite the kids to pull the winners and/or hand out the prizes. And we ALWAYS try to get pictures of the kids for the Kid's Pages. They love seeing themselves in the newsletter and on the website, especially if the picture is good enough to make the cover/home page. If the kids feel welcome, then their parents (those "up to early 40's" people) may also feel more welcome. At the very least they have found a place where their kids are more than just tolerated, especially if they are well-behaved. Our members are great with the kids, and from my personal experience, they do NOT subscribe to the "seen and not heard" philosophy. Out of deference to families with tight budgets, we try to make at least half of our annual events low cost to no cost. We also try to move our events around, so they may fall on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays (and on occasion, during the week). Hopefully, some of the events fall between appointments on those over-crowded calendars, and they can fit us in. There are possibilities galore out there, and these are but a few we've tried. We're not alone in this problem; many other organizations are experiencing the same dearth of younger members, and no one seems to have the magic answer yet. Jan K. Wis Region

Maybe this is too obvious, but who says you have to accept material "on the fly"? You're the editor, so it should be up to you to set up the submission guidelines (within reason). If you hear complaints when you inform the membership about these guidelines, simply inform them you're instituting them so that you won't risk losing any more vital information. After all, weren't they the ones complaining, thus inviting you to find a solution?? Personally, I dislike having something handed to me at a social event, because I'm not always prepared to accept it there. There have been occasions when I've refused to accept them, and requested that they mail/fax/deliver the info instead. As editor, I encourage people (verbally and in print) to use the following means of submission, listed in my order of preference: 1) e-mail me 2) give it to my husband at a Board meeting 3) fax it to me 4) mail it to me 5) hand deliver it to my house 6) give it to me at an event (if they have confirmed with me first) Of course, if an item is short and doesn't involve pictures, they also have the option of calling me. Everything I receive goes into one folder that I review before pulling together each newsletter issue. Some items stay in the folder for future months, if they are not time-sensitive. Nothing is more depressing than an empty folder, days before deadline! This system works for me. Now it's up to you to figure out what will work for you. Best of luck! Jan K. Wis Region

3000? Crushed?? How could that happen??? I can't believe there wasn't an outcry at the time, but even now I still think it's a cryin' shame. Jan K. Wis Region

This just in.....KK and MacDonald's form a Japanese partnership? http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2002/10/14/daily16.html?f=et68 Jan K. Wis Region

I've considered using .PDF files for posting the newsletter on our website -- somewhere down the road. However, the software would be an additional cost that our region may not want to fork over, and I don't have the resources right now to donate the software. But who knows, I might have reason to buy it for my business in future, and then the region can benefit from my purchase. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. Along that line, has anyone ever posted a "wish list" of items that their region would like to buy if/when money permits? I just wondered if such an appeal to members brought in any donations? Jan K. Wis Region

I applaud your efforts. However, given the median age of our region, it will be a long time before I can consider e-mailing our newsletter. Besides that, a portion of our members actually save all the issues, and they would be disappointed with an electronic copy, especially if it meant fewer graphics. On the other hand, I think it's a great idea to gather e-mail addresses from club members. It is a great way to communicate quickly and easily with the membership. One e-mail is easier than numerous phone calls. Event chairs could send out event reminders, and the sunshine committee could keep us up-to-date on our ailing members, for example. We have included a line on our membership form for e-mail addresses, and we include the addresses in our roster each year. And each year there are more e-mail addresses! Jan K. Wis Region

LOTS of good stuff and very timely. I came into the office today to work on the September issue and had at least two pages with no pre-determined content. Thank goodness for the Rummage Box (on-line and print)! Jan K. Wis Region

Walter Wilde is a Wisconsin Region member, but he doesn't have a computer. I posted the info on this jeep for him. If you want more information, I suggest calling him directly. Jan K. Wis Region

My last reply ended up as "anonymous" but I did include my name/location at the end. I'm replying again to see if I'm back to being myself again. Jan K. Wis Region

Judy,<P>Our 1937 and 1964 are on the Member Showcase page of the Wisconsin Region website. If those are usable from there, you have our permission to use them. If those don't fit the bill, let me know and I'll find others for you.<P>Sorry for the delay in responding. We've had other things on our mind -- like a brand new grandbaby that just arrived last Monday. Life is sweet, and the Junior ranks will have another members soon!<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region<p>[ 08-22-2002: Message edited by: JanK ]

Very good original condition. Includes some equipment. $4950.00<P>For more information, contact Walter Wilde in Wauwatosa, WI at 414/476-0246 (home) or 414/774-5209 (business).<P>To see a picture of the vehicle, go to: <A HREF="http://www.aaca.org/wisconsin/classifieds.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.aaca.org/wisconsin/classifieds.htm</A> <P>Posted for a friend.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

Good condition. $2,500.00<BR>For more information, contact Walter Wilde in Wauwatosa, WI at 414/476-0246 (home) or 414/774-5209 (business).<P>To see a picture of the vehicle, go to: <A HREF="http://www.aaca.org/wisconsin/classifieds.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.aaca.org/wisconsin/classifieds.htm</A> <P>Posted for a friend.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

Actually, we already have one in West Allis, and I think there may be one more within driving distance (Milwaukee area). I thought I heard that the plan was for five in SE Wisconsin.<P>HVS, you must have driven in from the wrong direction. Had you come from the east, you would have been able to refresh yourself about an hour east of Middleton. <P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

And this one's directly on my route to work! I'm doomed....<BR> <A HREF="http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/aug02/63245.asp" TARGET=_blank>http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/aug02/63245.asp</A> <P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

I'm vintage 1957. I turned 45 just last month, and I'm still one of the youngest members on the local level. (We're always on the hunt for newer, younger members. The older ones are getting worn out running things!)<P>We've got a 1937 Buick Century (his) and a 1964 Rambler American (hers) in the garage.<P>Jan K.

Post something here in the DF, and we can "cut and paste" it into our newsletters. Include pictures, if at all possible.<P>Otherwise, post a regular update on the Museum portion of the AACA website and we can refer people to this page and/or reprint it locally.<P>I, for one, would like to see the progress, because I'm too far away to just take a drive by!<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region<BR>"Editor for life -- 'cause the job WILL kill me...."

Thanks for your input, Terry. As usual, you've come through for me! I'll share your thoughts with the Judging committee for our meet.<P>We haven't had any difficulty setting up and judging by AACA classifications. Yes, our region judges a little looser at the local level, so cars that would never win at a National meet often take home a trophy. We just weren't sure how to incorporate the HPOF or the Driver's Classification into our local meet. I think your suggestion that we simply acknowledge those who have been so recognized at the National level is an excellent one, provided they choose to register for that category. Otherwise, there's no reason they can't still be judged, if that's their preference. I'll leave it up to the Judging committee to figure out the charges for those classes!<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

Thanks for the heads up on the Judging section. I don't go to that section very often, because I'm not a judge and we don't usually have our vehicles judged. However, when two judging-related questions arose in our region, I posted the questions there. I got the answer for one of the questions, but none for the other. Next time I'll post those topics on the General Forum. Maybe I'll get a better response.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

I, for one, will be interested in seeing the pictures when they are available. It's hard to watch the progress from Wisconsin!<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

Thankfully, I was able to find the info I needed in that Rummage Box just after I posted my message. Like the rest of the posters, I hope we update the online membership form soon to reflect this new category. This could become a very popular membership option!<P>One more question: What are other regions and chapters doing about Student memberships? Do any of you have a comparable local Student membership?<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region<p>[ 06-17-2002: Message edited by: JanK ]

One of our members is asking about student membership costs. The current online membership form doesn't show the costs, and I can't find the information anywhere else on the site. Can anyone tell me where to get this info?<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

Our 1937 Buick has been shown at a few National meets and has never taken better than a 2nd or 3rd in the Junior class. (Since it's a driver, we never really expected to win anything!) We're not really interested in having the car judged again. If we choose to go to another National meet with this car, would it be eligible for the Driver Participation classification?<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

Our region will be hosting our annual President's Cup in August. We use AACA classifications when judging the entrants. Several members have asked us to include HPOF and Driver's Participation classifications this year. <P>How are other regions/chapters handling these classifications at the local level? <P>What, if anything, are the participants being given? <P>Do you charge the same entrance fees for these classifications as you would for a standard judged vehicle?<P>Any other lessons learned that we could benefit from?<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region