Restorer32 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 I am hoping that once the excitement dies down and those who see the museum as an ego building monument to their immortality move on to greater things it may be possible for the museum and the AACA to cooperate again. I would like to see figures on how many cars have actually been donated to the museum, and how many are on long term loan, and who actually owns what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 I don't know if it will do any good but I think that an idea from the NC Region Annual Meeting is a good one. The NC Region suggests its members to write letters to all of the Museum Board Members. I agree that putting them on notice that their recent actions have consequences is a good idea. I have letters going out in today's mail to the Museum's Executive Director and each of the Museum Board Members. Here is my message to them: "Due to the recent actions of the Board of Directors of the AACA Museum, Inc., I wish to be removed from any and all mailing lists, email distribution lists, or other contact information lists that you may have. Over the years, I have been personally responsible for some cash contributions as well as non-cash contributions to the AACA Museum, Inc. I have also previously encouraged the Cape Fear Chapter AACA, NC Region AACA, as well as my fellow members of both of those AACA clubs to make donations to the AACA Museum, Inc. I am unhappy with the actions of the board of directors of the AACA Museum, Inc. The museum board’s actions clearly display a lack of appreciation of the financial and other contributions of the Club, its Regions, its Chapters, as well as those of the individual members of those groups over the lifetime of the museum. Until a change of leadership or a change in the leadership’s direction back towards a cooperative working relationship with AACA occurs, I will no longer be a financial supporter of the AACA Museum, Inc. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, Matthew C. Hinson" In case anybody else is interested in their mailing addresses here you go... Jeffrey Bliemeister 161 Museum Drive Hershey, PA 17033 Alan Brechbill 479 English Ivy Court Hummelstown, PA 17036 William D. Cammack PO Box 74 Fort Valley, VA 22652 Richie Clyne 950 Rancho Circle Las Vegas, NV 89107-4620 J. Thomas Collins 800 Avondale Road, Apt 4K Wallingford, PA 19086 William H. Edmunds 678 Stoverdale Road Hummelstown, PA 17036 Hank Hallowell 688 Heiden Drive Hummelstown, PA 17036 Edward Lacey 160 Lamb Tavern Lane Glenmoore, PA 19343 Albert Porter 1 Kellocks Run Road Hummelstown, PA 17036 William Rothermel 548 Wallingford Road Lancaster, PA 17601-3526 Ms. Toni Rothman 4 Kerlin Court Garnet Valley, PA 19060-1339 Donald E. Schell 1700 Olmsted Way West Camp Hill, PA 17011 Richard P. Sills PO Box 6446 Lancaster, PA 17607-6446 William H. Smith 2083 Schoolhouse Road Middletown, PA 17057-3633 Dale J. Yingst 1341 East Main Street Palmyra, PA 17078 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynaflash8 Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Our Region voted last night to have nothing more to do with the Museum, including our yearly $500 donation to support upkeep of a car. We also supported our President sending a letter asking for our $500 this year to be returned. The vote was Unanimous. Also, I never got the letter, but a past president of another region sent it to me by email. I agree with the comments by Jim Jones above, and I still feel the club should cut it losses, separate and move on with a necessary facility elsewhere in the Hershey area. The club owns the current headquarters and library building, and some of the cost of the new facility could be repaid when the current facility is sold. I think any legal action would be debilitating to the treasury, as well as their of course. Avoid legal costs anywhere possible unless it is a quick slam dunk deal.....and legal action never is. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 17 hours ago, Restorer32 said: ... I would like to see figures on how many cars have actually been donated to the museum, and how many are on long term loan, and who actually owns what. Good idea. That would be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 In the end everyone, the deed is done. We have separated ourselves from the museum but wish them great success. Anything that will help preserve this hobby and introduce our wonderful cars to the public is of service to the automotive community. AACA will now concentrate even more on how to grow our club and provide the best service and benefits to our members as possible. AACA has tried to present the facts, not make this personal in any way and to handle our business ethically and responsibly. This is a big year for the club with the introduction of the Zenith Award competition and the first ever joint AACA and CCCA meet. New awards for the HPOF/DPC classes (5 cards gets you a mug). Moving forward is what we should be doing. Thanks for all the letters, calls and emails of support as it does mean a lot. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AC Fuhrman Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Oh why did I sign on here this morning?! I've decided to accept and move on, (and it was a particularly difficult decision for me to do so.) That being said I really would not encourage writing harsh letters to the Museum folks now after the fact. Let's let it be! The decision has been made and the two groups will go on with their separate plans. We don't need to play Hatfields and McCoys fussing and throwing stones at each other anymore. No one gets anything out of that. Let's PLEASE put all that effort into our Club and Library, meets and tours. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Novak Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 (edited) Steve I agree with what you 100%. We're still Posting a lot about the Museum, all negative understandably. The good thing is we see now that a merger is, and never was going to be possible due to lack of mutual support from those running the Museum. There's a lot of "stirring the pot" on this subject which is a distraction to us looking forward to the new direction the AACA Club is partaking in for the good of our Club. The best position I believe to take with the Museum is to just ignore them for now and hope time will change things for the better. Edited January 24, 2017 by Doug Novak (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hill Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 All of this is just another reason I stay out of most club activities. About 20 years ago when I was very active in our local region - including serving as Co-Chair of the 1996 Grand National, Ron Barnett approached me about considering getting involved at the national level and maybe one day running for the AACA Board. While I appreciated his confidence in me, my response was "I really have too much fun in the hobby to ruin it by being involved in club politics". The best way for me to get out of a national club is to see all the dirty laundry of club politics being aired and potentially tearing clubs apart. I know club politics happens but I like it better when it is kept behind the scenes. (I did go against my own rules and became a national board member in a single marque club and after seeing the politics, I left the board and the club and am no longer a member of either so I should have listened to my own advice LOL) Having said that - I guess I fail to see that what happens between AACA national and the museum affects me personally. I support the AACA by being a member, and to be honest, other than the one visit I took to the museum, it has no real benefit to me that I can see. I see no benefit to writing the museum board members and telling them my thoughts because I doubt they really care. We elect a AACA Board and I figure they are more "in the know" to make the right decision(s) than me as an average member. If I ever get tot he point where I truly disagree with what the board decides, I can always quit paying my dues and not worry about it any longer LOL 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Everyone has to do what they feel is best. Personally, I think that, as someone who has contributed to the museum in the past, I need to let the museum board know that I disagree with their recent actions. Hopefully, the museum board will quickly realize that a majority of their previous contributors wish them to return to their previous cooperative attitude towards the club. I think that the majority of their contributors are members of the club. Their recent change of direction towards an adversarial position with the club is going to cause them to lose donations. If they realize the feelings of their prior contributors, perhaps it will help them correct their recent actions quickly to return to a cooperative working relationship with the club sooner rather than later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, MCHinson said: return to a cooperative working relationship with the club sooner rather than later. Seems to me it was a one way street. Our funds, contributions, and labor all flowed to the museum and we got free admission in return............ Duh! As my mother used to say "We got the chicken, they got the cow."................Bob Edited January 24, 2017 by Bhigdog (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
46 woodie Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 In todays mail, I received a three page, double sided letter from the AACA Museum explaining their side of the issue. I'm sure all members will get one. Quite frankly at this point, I have know idea who to believe. Can't we get an arbitrator or something and kiss and makeup. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 33 minutes ago, 46 woodie said: In todays mail, I received a three page, double sided letter from the AACA Museum explaining their side of the issue. I'm sure all members will get one. Quite frankly at this point, I have know idea who to believe. Can't we get an arbitrator or something and kiss and makeup. Apparently your letter took a bit longer to arrive than most. If you will read all of the posts in this discussion you will find explanations refuting the incorrect information contained in that letter. The museum board was not interested in arbitration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2dameron Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 I joined the AACA in 2003 after I retired and had more time to attend auto shows. I have always thought the museum was run by the club and I never had any reason to believe otherwise. Then things hit the fan and I discover I was wrong. So now we have cut our ties and moved on. I'm OK with that. What I don't like is that the museum calls itself the AACA Museum. That is so wrong. I think they need to come up with a new name. Does the club have a copyright for the AACA name? If so, it should be a simple matter to require them to stop using our name. That way, new members coming on board the club will not be mislead as I was. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hill Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 I never received the Museum letter so guess they are not interested in appealing to me LOL - I'm okay with that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Wahlberg Posted January 29, 2017 Share Posted January 29, 2017 I too have not received the Museum letter, but many of my friends have. Over the years I have participated in their annual Museum Show, volunteered and assisted with preparation of some of the cars and exhibits prior to the Museum opening, bought tickets for the Corvette raffles and donated money. Living only 32 miles from there I visit it a few times each year. Perhaps I have not received the letter because they are sending them out in alphabetical order or know my loyalties are with the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted January 29, 2017 Share Posted January 29, 2017 Eric, I received my letter from the Museum on Friday, January 27, My last name begins with T and I live on the Left Coast--both of which means that I receive many mailings late. I noted that the letter was sent via non-profit organization postage (less than first class), i.e., non=profit junk mail--which will further delay delivery. Bob Hill, I have no idea why YOURS is so late! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hill Posted January 29, 2017 Share Posted January 29, 2017 Me either but not sure I missed anything lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted January 29, 2017 Share Posted January 29, 2017 Got mine over a week ago, is in the recycling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 22 minutes ago, padgett said: Got mine over a week ago, is in the recycling. Went through the shredder 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted sweet Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 seems most posters here seem want the museum to fail? that just wrong. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 (edited) My impression is most just don't like the idea of being used......................Bob Edited February 4, 2017 by Bhigdog (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Do not care about the museum since 900 miles away. Getting the library scanned and online so available to any member now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 I want the museum to succeed but if faced with a choice between the Museum and the Club I will side with the club. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Novak Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 (edited) I'm just going to ignore the Museum until our new Library and Headquarters is opened. Kinda feel like we've been through a family divorce between Club and Museum, but there's children affected by it.......the Old Cars, our kids. Edited February 5, 2017 by Doug Novak (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vermontboy Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 As long as they continue to use "AACA" as a part of their name I could care less whether they succeed or not. Legalities aside it is in extremely poor taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 I bought a raffle ticket on a car at a Buzzy meeting last summer from Marty that I believe was drawn at Hershey. Was that fund raiser for the museum or the club. If it was for the museum it will be my last dollar going there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 46 minutes ago, Joe in Canada said: I bought a raffle ticket on a car at a Buzzy meeting last summer from Marty that I believe was drawn at Hershey. Was that fund raiser for the museum or the club. If it was for the museum it will be my last dollar going there. It was a shared fund raiser! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Frazee Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 I don't understand the drama. Reasonable people arrived at a business decision. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 4 hours ago, Joe in Canada said: I bought a raffle ticket on a car at a Buzzy meeting last summer from Marty that I believe was drawn at Hershey. Was that fund raiser for the museum or the club. If it was for the museum it will be my last dollar going there. Joe, At that time we were still doing joint fund raising for the Library and the Museum. Also at at that time our negotiations were proceeding. It was always our wish for both organizations to succeed, and for both organizations to benefit our members. I still wish success to the Museum, but my loyalty at this time is to OUR AACA CLUB and OUR AACA LIBRARY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 5 hours ago, Marty Roth said: Joe, At that time we were still doing joint fund raising for the Library and the Museum. Also at at that time our negotiations were proceeding. It was always our wish for both organizations to succeed, and for both organizations to benefit our members. I still wish success to the Museum, but my loyalty at this time is to OUR AACA CLUB and OUR AACA LIBRARY. Glad to here that as it shows the club was cooperating with the museum to the end. Thanks Marty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted sweet Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 some opinions here make me wonder why im aaca member 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 When the separation between the club and its museum first took place, people were discussing whether the name "A.A.C.A." should be on the museum. Now--I see from letters dated April 21 being sent to regions-- the club is forcing the museum to delete "AACA" and "Antique Automobile Club of America" from its name and publicity. The AACA's lawyer has written to the museum for just such a purpose. Your regions' officers should be getting the letters if they haven't already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 And, for discussion, what does everyone think our (former) museum's new name should be? None of us may be part of the museum or its management, but our ideas will be as good as anyone's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 American Club of Antique Automobiles (ACAA) Museum. ............................Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 1 hour ago, John_S_in_Penna said: And, for discussion, what does everyone think our (former) museum's new name should be? None of us may be part of the museum or its management, but our ideas will be as good as anyone's. Have not heard that it is going to change, John. Did you hear something to the contrary or do you want "what if" ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 Well, the name will change if the museum complies with the AACA's legal letter. So the change will come one way or another, it appears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 Just for morbid curiosity, does anyone have a copy of the letter they can post, if that is allowed? I, like many others, am tired of the whole museum discussion, but just can't help but rubber-neck to try to see the rest of the story. Also, there are still many AACA sites (including the magazine) which still have descriptions of the club, and in the description stating the club operates the museum. Has someone been tasked with changing the wording of said comments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 David, any help you can give us in ferreting out the remaining references to the museum please let us know. I thought we had all the magazine ones fixed but realize there are still some here in our P & P manual which has not been revised yet and maybe others. News travels fast. We wanted to inform the region and chapter president's quickly. Yes, AACA values its 80+ year heritage of its name and it seems appropriate if there is no affiliation whatsoever with the museum that it is in our mutual interest to change. Our legal counsel and the club feel it important to not mislead anyone as to the true nature of our entities. David, there is nothing to hide but the letter came from our attorney to the museum and is not something at this time that should be posted in my opinion. There is nothing but a straightforward request for them to voluntarily give us back our name. We wish the museum nothing but the best but we are charting our own course for the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 No problem on not posting the letter, I understand completely, just thought I'd ask! The March/April 2017 Antique Automobile Magazine, page 99, "AACA An Introduction", fourth paragraph, has the line "The club, through its headquarters, publications, Library & Research Center, museum, and membership...." (this may have been changed by the next magazine??) I had seen some references not long ago on the website, but it looks like y'all fixed them, well done! I couldn't "ferret" out another reference! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Novak Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 Not suggesting that our asking the Museum to remove our name from their building, literature and correspondence is improper, but, I doubt that the Museum would appreciate what our suggestions for a new name for the Museum might be. Could fuel a new fight between us and them which is counter productive. However, they would be smart to identify them selves with "Hershey Entertainment" and name the Museum something like, "The Hershey Auto Museum". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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