JanK

I'm going to try this soon and let you know what I find out! Thanks for the tips!<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

Thanks for the heads up on the next issue. I'll plan to save room for some of those articles starting with my July issue. (June will already have gone to press by that time.)<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

I agree with Ron that a breakdown of winners vs. entries might give the Golden Quill more validity. The list in the issue that announces the winners seems to go on and on. And I have yet to find out any specifics about how the GQ is awarded.<P>We aren't even certain about how you get entered into the contest. We never sent anything in last year, yet we received notice that we had won. We figured someone in our club must have entered our newsletter. We still don't know the answer to that one! <P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

We bought "good" gas in Johnson Creek, WI for $1.479. Locally, the 10% ethanol gas was available for $1.439. (87 octane)<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region<p>[ 05-08-2002: Message edited by: JanK ]

Thanks for the feedback on the Golden Quill. Based on our personal experiences, I've always regarded this as somewhat of a "participation" award. I've never liked those for car shows, since they really were meaningless if everyone got one, and I couldn't see endorsing a newsletter equivalent. However, when I'm wrong, I say I'm wrong -- so consider me corrected. <P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

I hate to rain on anyone's parade, but I have yet to hear of anyone who entered that contest who didn't "win" a Golden Quill. In all honesty, I think it's a marketing tool to get their name out.<P>Please don't take that to mean I don't think you do a great job on your newsletter!<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

For some background on the Mille Miglia 2002, check out the new, improved AACA Library website at: <A HREF="http://www.aaca.org/library" TARGET=_blank>http://www.aaca.org/library</A> <P>Click on Book Reviews for a review of the Smithsonian article and links to a couple of websites about the Mille Miglia.<P>Jan K.

I'm going to bring up this team game to our Board. I'm certain there's a way we could make it work in our area. The only problem is, we'll have to use "big kids" since we have so few of the other kind....<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

As of 4/24 we see current prices in the Milwaukee area running about $1.41-$1.46/gallon for regular. It usually goes up another $0.10 for mid-grade and another $0.10 for premium. The Milwaukee area prices tend to be the highest in Wisconsin because we have "specialty" gas with 10% ethanol. Not only do we get less gas in our gas, but we get the privilege of paying more for it!<P>Anyone attending the Founders Tour will be able to buy "good gas" throughout most of the tour area, however.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region<p>[ 04-24-2002: Message edited by: JanK ]

I'm hoping it is going to be that easy. My concern was actually more for the DPI of the photos. The resolution in the photos converted for use on the websites is usually too low for use in my printed newsletters. Has anyone tried to use these photos yet?<P>And for those of you who are too shy to ask the dumb questions, just watch the DF. I'm the queen of "dumb" questions. Sooner or later I'll ask the one question you've been reluctant to post! <P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

My husband had a '39 Buick Special when I met him and it was a very reliable car. Later, he upgraded to a '37 Buick Century with side mounts (so I married him). <P>The only problem with the Century is its tendency to overheat in parades. This never happens if we're just driving on the road, even in 80+ degree weather. <P>He bought both cars in drivable, restored condition. They weren't trailer queens, but they were in presentable form. We've had the '37 on the road for 16+ years, driving both back roads and freeways. The former owner/mechanic swears the car can do 100, but my husband is the more cautious sort. He's only taken it to 65. We've had to make a few minor repairs, but nothing costly, in all that time. After all that use, it still takes lesser Junior awards at AACA national meets. <P>My husband's one concession to comfort was to put radials on the car. They still look correct, but he's not as tired at the end of a long day of driving.<P>The bottom line: Buy what you like and DRIVE it. That's where the enjoyment is for us.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

Dumb question...<P>I liked seeing the photographs that were included in the most recent Rummage Box. Can those be easily cut and pasted for use in my publication?<P>Jan K.

We should inform Sharan Lee of this latest development. It sounds like she thought she should be getting issues, because she requested back copies of our newsletter when I contacted her late last month. No need to clog up her mailbox unnecessarily! <P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

I'll make mention of this in our newsletter. Will it be mentioned in the national magazine?<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

Okay, now I'm getting confused. Are we now to send a copy to Sharon Lee instead of Joe Gagliano? If so, was someone going to inform the editors of this? Not everyone is on the DF.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

It was great to have a chance to meet you at the National Meeting. <P>We've heard good things about you, and you've definitely scored points by checking in on the DF! Don't hesitate to keep us in the loop.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region<P>P.S. I take it you found a laptop?

I contributed my "worst case" story as an example of lessons learned. It could serve as a case study of what not to do.<P>On the other hand, I was so pleased to become a part of AACA, and the Wisconsin Region, because they were so different from my first car club experience. My region encouraged me to participate, and invited me to be a part of everything from the newsletter, the shows, the Board, etc. At no point was I made to feel second class or unimportant. <P>At the time I became involved, I was one of the few members under 40 in the region. (The median age was closer to 60.) They appreciated my talents and enthusiasm for the hobby, and encouraged me to share both. Are we a perfect region? Well, no. None of them are. But it's the best local car club I've ever had a chance to be part of, and the National structure is supportive of everything we do. Even without a life membership, we are life members.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

I didn't see anything in writing, but I vaguely remember someone saying that there were 70+ websites considered. They looked at all chapter/region sites that were available from the National site. Some were built directly on the AACA server; others pointed at sites built elsewhere, such as Hemmings. Nine Master Webmaster awards were given out that night.<P>It's early going for this award. I'm confident they'll get better at reporting this sort of information for future contests.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

A few years ago we were members of a non-AACA car club. This was a single marque club, which claimed to welcome all years and models. Unfortunately, that didn't play out in the events that were planned. Everything was designed around the 60's and 70's cars that the directors owned, and we were discouraged from bringing our older vehicle on more than one occasion. One "gentleman" actually suggested it would be better if we just drove our "modern iron" because otherwise we might slow them down. (Trust me, our car would never have slowed anyone down.) <P>They made an exception to that rule when they had their annual car show. Only then did they want us to bring our car, because they knew the older cars would attract the crowds.<P>On top of that, the club as a whole had a chauvinistic streak that even I couldn't tolerate (and I'm far from being a feminist). We eventually gave up our membership, and have never felt the loss.<P>It's a real shame that they didn't encourage the women to be more involved, because I've found that most men are happier if their wives are involved in the clubs. If a wife enjoys herself, and feels included, the husband is less likely to take heat over the membership, and the time he devotes to the hobby.<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

It's good to know that the Library benefits from this.<P>And I'm pleased that the reviewers are selected because of their general body of knowledge (Ron, for example). Their reviews are more likely to include comparative information (This book is similar to...; this book lacks the ____ that series X provides.) and helpful details beyond the reviewed book itself. Keep up the good work!<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

Just wondering...<P>If Jeanne has some books that she'd like to see reviewed, would she be willing to include a list here on the DF? Someone may already be familiar with a title and could write a review. Or someone might be intrigued enough to read one and then provide the review. It might even spark a discussion of other books that should be on the list. In any case, a list posted here might get her some help, if that's what she wants!<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

There are a number of incredibly talented and creative editors out there, some of them new to the job. As a result, none of the MEA winners should ever take his or her award for granted! We can hope, but there's no guarantees. Each year the bar just keeps getting set higher. As a result, we all get better, and ultimately, the AACA benefits. <P>Here's my contribution to the discussion: Print what your region wants to read; that's the best way to get and keep their support. The Editor's Manual will tell you the components that National and the Publications Committee expect you to include, such as meeting minutes, contact people, Rummage Box articles, calendar of events, etc. But it's the other material that will give your newsletter its own flavor, and those are the items that should reflect the interests of your region. Some editors include technical articles, others include anniversaries and birthdays, some include recipes, others offer jokes, and others focus primarily on the social aspects. There's really no "wrong" way to do it, if you're serving the interests of your region, and keeping them informed.<P>Be aware that the majority of your readers will enjoy the fruits of your labor, but most will never think to tell you. From personal experience, I can tell you you'll probably hear more feedback from the permanently discontented instead! If you enjoy the task, you'll derive personal satisfaction from a job well done. That's the mark of a good editor -- one who strives to put out a consistently good product for the benefit of his or her region. The awards are nice to receive, but that's not what it's really all about.<P>And we're always up for a newsletter exchange. Just say the word!<P>Jan Kamholtz<BR>Editor, The Beam<BR>Wis Region<P>P.S. For several years, I created our newsletter in Word. It wasn't until this year that I switched over to Microsoft Publisher. I didn't find Word that limiting, but then we didn't use a lot of the more advanced layout features.<p>[ 03-05-2002: Message edited by: JanK ]

I double-checked my records. I must have copied Dave's list before you modified it, Peter. I had changed the PO Box 417 to PO Box 30, but now I've put it back.<P>Is there a way to highlight changes, if such an edit were to be necessary in the future? Put them in a different color, to show that it's been modified, for example?<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

I must have been working off an older list, because I did notice a PO Box number change. <P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region

For those of us using MS FrontPage (at Peter's request), how do we make sure our HTML tags are correct? Or is this a non-issue?<P>Jan K.<BR>Wis Region