Director’s Thoughts- DECEMBER, 2014

DECEMBER; a time of year for giving, celebrating & reflecting. Whether you are of Christian faith & celebrate Christmas, or Jewish faith & celebrate Chanukah, or any other faith, we all have our special memories of this season. When I think back to when I was a kid, I think of my mom & dad. I don’t think there is anyone who enjoyed the holidays as much as my dad did. The minute Thanksgiving was over, the holiday preparations began. The Christmas tree went up along with the outside decorations. My mother began cooking & freezing foods for the holiday guests, & there were always plenty of them. A few days before Christmas, my dad & I made our annual trek to the Allentown Farmers Market to pick up what he referred to as “must haves”! You know the stuff: ring bologna, tripe, souse, all those absolute Pennsylvania Dutch goodies! We would turn the radio up & sing carols the whole ride. What fun we had, just me & my dad. Then came our Christmas Eve open house. People began arriving around 6 pm, & I’m really not sure what time the last person left, because, of course, I was just a kid & had to go to bed early or Santa wouldn’t come. The food my mom made was enough to feed a small army! If anyone went home hungry, it sure wasn’t my mom’s fault. She was famous for her appetizers. She used to call it “picky” foods. She had tray after tray of them. Maybe she just didn’t want to wash all that silverware! I think back fondly on those days, & when I grew up, my dad had no greater pleasure than playing Santa for my children & making Christmas memorable for them. So, in this very special season, however you celebrate, make it special for you & your families. Happy Holidays! See you all next year!
Your Director, Don

“Free Spirit” Meeting Minutes, November 4, 2014

Director Don, called the meeting to order @ 7:20pm. There were 21 members & 1 guest present. Motion to accept October meeting minutes as printed in the November newsletter made by Isabel Lenny, seconded by Dolores Kennedy, so carried. Motion to accept treasurer’s report of October dismissed.

Christopher McIntosh, a Donor Resource Representative from Miller-Keystone Blood Center spoke to us about the importance of being a blood donor. He reminded us that every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. will be in need of blood. He said this is a great way to give back to our community. You can give blood by either just walking in to a center, or making an appointment on line. Christopher certainly did give everyone something to think about.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Historian – Pictures of Kempton are on the web site.
B. Kempton – What a great day it was! Except for a little bit of wind, we could not have asked for a better day. The turnout was overwhelming. Clarence reported that 336 cars came out. Christopher McIntosh reported that 11 people offered to give blood, & 8 of them were eligible donors. It was suggested to Christopher that if they were to join us again @ the show, they might want to extend their hours until about 2pm, to accommodate people after the noon registration deadline.
C. Membership –several “Free Spirit” membership forms, along w/ National BCA forms were handed out during the Kempton show.
D. Newsletter –Trivia question corrections will be in Decembers’ newsletter.
E. Programs – 2015 guest speaker scheduling is under way. If anyone has an idea, please let Sally know. 3 months have already been booked.
F. Publicity – Is there a volunteer to fill this position?
G. Ways and Means – No report

I. OLD BUSINESS
Calendar of Events: December 2 = “Free Spirit” Annual “Holiday Gathering”
December 13 = America on Wheels Holiday Venue Tour

II. NEW BUSINESS
Election of Officers & Board of Directors, 2015: Nominations from October meeting were voted by the chapter membership in attendance during the November meeting:
Treasurer=Clarence Getz
Secretary=Stacy Sterner
BOD=John Moore, Thomas Sylvester

50th Anniversary Celebration (July 27-30, 2016) – Sally & Clarence attended the October 13th meeting in Allentown, PA. The following information was reported: NO JUDGING during this event. Only 1000 cars will be allowed to register. 2000 persons can register for banquet. A very specially designed bronze medallion will be given to each car registered. Registration cost=$35.00 per car, & $25.00 per vendor space. The old drive-in movie screen is being preserved & will be used to show car films during the show. Past BCA Directors will be invited to attend along w/ other undisclosed VIP’s. Sally has volunteered our group to man the hospitality area. Also, our chapter will have a Ways-n-Means table. This will be a grand opportunity for our chapter to promote ourselves to other area Buick enthusiasts! WATCH your June/July 2015 BCA Bugle’s to register for this 2016 event!!

New Car Show, Stabler Arena, Bethlehem, PA (March 19-22, 2015) – Dennis Snell was approached by Tom Kwiatik who is in charge of the New Car auto Show that will be held @ Stabler Arena. He is asking that our chapter participate by putting our cars on display there on Saturday & Sunday from about 10:00am – 5:00pm. He understands that this is all contingent on the weather conditions. In turn, they will promote our chapter on their website & later on in the actual program. They will give any participant who brings a car, 10 free tickets to the new car display. Our cars will be displayed outside in front of Stabler Arena. There are ramps built into the curb for the cars to drive up the sidewalk. He would like to get as many of our cars as possible. Dennis told him that realistically, he could expect 7-10 cars. By raise of hands, our members agreed to participate in this show. Ed Lenny asked if other local clubs were extended the same invitation. Don will check w/ Dennis.
WELCOME: Sally introduced 2 of our newest members, Howard & Martha Kriebel. “Welcome to our chapter of fun-loving BUICK enthusiasts”!

Motion made to adjourn by Shirley Schaffer, seconded by Kathleen Duckett, so carried @ 9:03pm.
Respectfully submitted by: Stacy J. Sterner, Secretary

December 13, 2014
Please join me @ America On Wheels to see the model trains, autos & the Lego village on Saturday, December 13th. We will meet @ the Trivet Diner, Tilghman St. Allentown, for lunch (PAY your own) by 11:30am. Then, promptly @ 1pm we will leave the Trivet parking lot for America On Wheels. At America On Wheels, besides enjoying a guided tour, we will enjoy the sites 7 sounds of their Holiday Train & Lego Displays. After our tour we will relax in the Hubcap Café @ the museum & enjoy some ice cream. The Hubcap café is a restored 1950’s soda fountain. You can play the juke box there! There will be time after the tour to re-visit the displays, if you choose. I have found that our grandchildren love the displays, especially the LEGO’S. Please think about having them join us!
Member=$5.00 per person
Member child(ren) up to age 12=$3.50 each child
Non-member (guest)=$10.00 per person
Non-member child(ren) (guest)=$7.00 per child
Make checks payable to “Free Spirit” Chapter of PA.
Mail to Kathleen Duckett, 6023 Riverview Rd., Slatington, PA 18080
Questions? 610-760-2467 R.S.V.P. by December 1, 2014.

Correction & Addendum to Old Car Trivia
What US production car has the quickest 0-60mph time?
1962 Chevy Impala SS 409. Did it in 4.0 seconds. In today’s time, there are several cars which are even faster than that such as the Chevy Corvette & Cadillac CTSV & several others.
What do the letters, AC, stand for on AC Spark Plugs, Oil Filters, etc?
Albert Champion. He was a French builder of bicycles & motorcycles in the latter part of the 19th century who started the Champion Ignition Co. & made spark plugs. When he came to the U.S., he started making spark plugs, ran short of cash & was financed by the Stanahan brothers with whom he has a disagreement & he left them & went to Flint, MI where he was provided w/ an office & manufacturing space in Buick’s No. 1 building. He was blocked by the Stanahans’ from using the Champion brand on his spark plugs, so he used his initials, AC, instead. GM acquired his business in full after Albert Champion passed away around 1927.

KEMPTON SHOW, OCTOBER 26, 2014

The following are the award recipients during this year’s show:
Director’s Award = Dave/Kathy Goodhart, Birdsboro, ’61 Chevy Impala
Class A (1920-39) 1st = Brenda Reeser, Milford, 1910 Buick Runabout
2nd = Harold/Verna Keck, Lititz, ’38 Chevy Sedan
3rd = Kurt Lebo, Fleetwood, ’31 Ford Model A
Class B (1940-49) 1st = Tom/Barb McMichael, Denver, ’48 Packard
2nd = Bob Termmi, Whitehall, ’46 Ford Custom Cpe
3rd = Karen Wallace, Kempton, ’41 Plymouth Cpe
Class C (1950-59) 1st = Justin Greenzweig, Palmerton, ’57 Chevy Bel Air
2nd = David Myers, Fleetwood, ’58 Pontiac Station wagon
3rd = Dave Brady. Emmaus, ’50 Super Riviera
Class D (1960-69) 1st = Nick Zapotocky, West Hazleton, ’65 Chevy Chevelle
2nd = Melissa/Denny Aungst, Pine Grove, ’65 Ford Mustang
3rd = Dave/Kathy Goodhart, Birdsboro, ’61 Chevy Impala
Class E (1970-79) 1st = Harry Lewis, Andreas, ’70 Buick GSX
2nd = Mike Babinchak, Tamaqua, ’73 Plymouth Cuda
3rd = Lee Frary, Tobyhanna, ’70 Pontiac GTO
Class F (1980-90) 1st = Rick Phelps, Kinnelon, ’91 Chevy Corvette
2nd = Todd Mordaunt, Coopersburg, ’84 Mercury Conv.
3rd = Vincent Mainiero, Drums, ’92 Corvette Cpe
Class G (Streetrods) 1st = Russell Yallas, Tamaqua, ’50 Ford
2nd = Richard/Diane Leath, East Stroudsburg, ’40 Ford Cpe
3rd = Sam, Palmer, ’29 Ford Cpe
Class H (Trucks) 1st = Leroy/Chris Ditzler, Stevens, ’53 Chevy Truck
2nd = Terry Hartman, Mertztown, ’46 Studebaker
3rd = Wayne Troxell, Andreas, ’64 Corvair Rampside
Class I (Motorcycles) 1st = Wallace Metalwork, Kempton, ’69 Harley
2nd = Ed Hoffman, Hatboro, ’06 Harley Davidson
3rd = Larry Hoffman, Levittown, ’13 Yamaha Street
50/50 Raffle = Steve Zehr, Fogelsville, $157.00

Despite the wind, many brave “Free Spiriters” tackled a very UNUSUAL day! From approximately 9am to 12 noon, the stream of cars to register did not stop! There were 336 registered cars. Despite a few – comments heard, there were double the amount of + comments heard. While there is no pleasing every participant when you deal w/ the public, we do strive to provide a caring, compassionate & thankful atmosphere/service during this show. While the Miller Keystone Bloodmobile had 11 appointments, 8 donations were actually taken. All in all, the show was a huge success! Many “Thanks” to Dave Brady, Tom/Kathleen Duckett, & Paul Schaffer for helping set up for the show. Many, many, many “THANKS” to those members who, again, braved the windy day to come together & to work as a team to make the day a huge success.
Clarence/Sally Getz

YOU ARE UNIQUE!!

Think what a remarkable, unduplicatable, & miraculous thing it is to be you!! Of all the people who have come & gone on the earth, since the beginning of time, not ONE of them is like YOU!
No one who has ever lived has had your combination of abilities, talents, appearance, friends, acquaintances, burdens, sorrows & opportunities.

No one’s hair grows exactly the way yours does. No one’s finger prints are like yours. No one has the same combination of secret inside jokes & family expressions that you know.
The few people who laugh @ all the same things you do, don’t sneeze the way you do. No one prays about exactly the same concerns as you do. No one is loved by the same combination of people that love you—NO ONE!!
No one before, no one to come. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE!

Enjoy that uniqueness. You do not have to pretend in order to seem more like someone else. You weren’t meant to be like someone else. You do not have to lie to conceal the parts of you that are not like what you see in anyone else.

You were meant to be different. Nowhere ever in all of history will the same things be going on in anyone’s mind, soul & spirit as are going on in yours right now.

If you did not exist, there would be a hole in creation, a gap in history, something missing from the plan for humankind. Treasure your uniqueness. It is a gift given only to you. Enjoy it & share it!

No one can reach out to others in the same way that you can. No one can bring your kind of understanding to another person.

No one can be cheerful & lighthearted & joyous in your way. No one can smile your smile. No one else can bring the whole unique impact of you to another human being.

Share your uniqueness. Let it be free to flow out among your family & friends & people you met in the rush & clutter of living wherever you are. That gift of yourself was given you to enjoy & share. Give yourself away!

See it! Receive it! Let it tickle you! Let it inform you & nudge you & inspire you! YOU……Are……UNIQUE!

Power of a Positive Attitude

A balanced diet, exercise, genetics, & even certain medications can work in concert to make a person healthy. But a person’s demeanor also can factor into personal health

The Mayo Clinic says that whether or not a person is an optimist or a pessimist can affect many areas of his/her health & well-being, & those who see the glass as ½ full may ultimately be healthier than those who see it as ½ empty.

+ thinking can make it easier to manage stress. The body responds differently based on an individual’s mood, & it may produce stress hormones if a person’s outlook is -. Such stress hormones can compromise the immune system, increase blood pressure & even reduce the body’s ability to burn fat effectively. Thinking negatively v& being on edge also can increase a person’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease & aging prematurely.
Conversely, maintaining a + attitude can be good for your health. Studies have shown that thinking positively can lower rates of depression & anxiety, increase life expectancy & provide greater resistance to certain illnesses, such as the common cold. A 2012 preliminary study from researchers @ Stanford University found that daughters of mothers suffering from depression were able to witness their own stress levels go down on a real-time brain scan as they switched from – thoughts to happy ones.

Researchers are unsure why + thinking has such profound effects. But in addition to limiting stress-releasing hormones, + thinking may inspire people to live healthier lifestyles that make them more likely to get routine physical activity & eat a healthy diet. Happy people also may be less likely to use tobacco products or alcohol as a coping mechanism when dealing w/ elevated stress levels & such people will not have to deal w/ the side effects that can come w/ these unhealthy behaviors

Becoming a more + thinker can take a little effort for those without a natural inclination for optimism. But because + thinking boasts such significant health benefits, men & women might want to try the following methods to embrace their optimistic side.

Exercise – start an exercise regimen, as physical activity naturally reduces stress & can improve mood
Embrace Humor – surround yourself w/ others who bring a smile to your face. Look for ways to laugh as much as possible. Rather than go out to dinner or a bar w/ friends, head to a comedy club. Choose comedies @ the movie theater & find humor in everyday happenings.

Identify areas that need change. Think about moments in life that may bring you down or inspire – reactions. If work is problematic, figure out ways to make it better & work toward improving the situation.

Be supportive of yourself. Consider what you would say to others & then treat yourself the same way. Would you be overly – or derogatory toward a complete stranger? Probably not, & there is no reason to be harsh w/ yourself, either. Push – thoughts away.

Volunteer. One way to see the world n a more + light is to help others who may be less fortunate than you. Volunteering not only helps others, but it also can help put your own problems in perspective. Volunteering also helps you feel good about your efforts, which can translate into + thinking.

Think like a child. Take a cue from youngsters & find joy in the little things. Let children be the leaders in activities & mimic what they do. You just may find yourself laughing more & enjoying yourself. Being silly for a little while is one way to recapture the feelings of youth.

+ thinking is more than the subject matter if self-help books. It’s a viable way to improve personal health & live longer.

New Car

Snow was falling heavily the day I decided to visit a car dealership. I was confident I’d get a GREAT deal, figuring the salesman would be desperate for customers on such a lousy day. Sure enough, when I entered the showroom, I was the only client. My hopes for getting a good deal quickly faded, however, when I heard the approaching salesman’s very first words: “Boy.” He said, jovially, “You must really want a new car badly to come out on a day like this!”

Just Picked

While traveling through Florida’s panhandle country, a newsman stopped @ a small town for lunch. He found a likely-appearing drugstore, parked his small foreign sports car out front & went in. When he came out, a lanky farmer in overalls was circling the little car, peering curiously @ points that caught his interest. As the newsman approached, the farmer stepped back on the sidewalk. “Good morning,” said the owner. “Morning,” returned the farmer, & running a judicial eye over the sports car, added: “Picked that one before it was ripe, didn’t you, stranger?”

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

DECEMBER 2014
2 – Annual chapter “Holiday Gathering”, Starlite Diner & Lounge. Social hour=5:00pm, dinner @ 6:00pm. “Crazy Bingo” will be played. Watch for more details in future newsletters.
13 – “America on Wheels” tour w/ Kathleen/Thomas Duckett
JANUARY 2015 (WEATHER PERMITTING)
6 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 78/100, supper @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.
16-18 – Auto Mania, Ag Hall, Allentown, PA
FEBRUARY 2015 (WEATHER PERMITTING)
3 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 78/100, supper @ 6pm, business meeting @ 7:30pm. Guest speaker is a representative from the Camelot House of the Lehigh Valley.
22 – Hamburg Swap Meet, Hamburg, Pa. Ontelaunee Region AACA.

CARS/PARTS “FOR SALE”

1917 Buick Roadster All restored. $25,000.00, 860-982-3001.
1927 Buick Sport Roadster (54) 3p, very rare car. Jack Bennett, representative for Rose Nemeth, (Erno’s wife,) Ringoes, NJ 908-303-5391
1956 Buick Century Riviera Series 60 – 4 dr htp. Original 322 “Nail Head” V8 Road Master engine (255hp) w/ “Dyna Flow” A/T & factory dual exhaust. PS, PB, PW & S. Sonomatic push button radio, factory deluxe lighting pkg. 72,700 original mi. Frame/body solid. Garage kept. Pics available. $15,000.00/negotiable. 570-309-2367, Robert.stavish@gmail.com
1969 Skylark Convertible – kimberly.pavlick@scranton.edu
1981 Buick Regal – 4 dr dark green. Garage kept. 75,000 mi. 717-576-7588
2006 Buick Rainier CXL-110,000 highway miles, silver w/ grey leather int., 4.2 L V-6, AWD w/ tow pkg. Dealer serviced, immaculate condition, $8,400. April @ 610-417-8647
1937 MINT Buick Owner’s Manual, $35.00. kriebel12@verizon.net
1972-’87 pr. of NOS brake rotors for FS Buick, $45.00. 610-489-1253
1983-’86 Buick Regal NOS headlight frame LF in original GM box, $25.00. kriebel12@verizon.net, 610-489-1253
In Search Of
1951-52 Buick Roadmaster RH grille bar extension. C. Wenger @ 443-710-6624, crewzn@broadstripe.net
Late 1980’-early 1990’s Buick LeSabre/Electra – In good running condition for daily driver use in local town driving, reasonably priced. Does not have to be in perfect condition. Harold, 610-826-2639.
1967 Buick Electra Convertible, 610-730-4599, dwebster80@gmail.com