Director’s Thoughts, September 2015

September! Yikes! Where did the summer go? It’s back to school time now all over the country! I began kindergarten when I was just 4 years old. Hey, I was a smart kid, what can I say….LOL! I always liked school. I don’t remember crying when my mom & dad dropped me off for my 1st day of kindergarten. I was happy to see all the other kids. It was always fun telling my mom & dad what happened @ school every day. All these memories of my childhood, bring back memories of my own kids growing up. I remember when they started kindergarten & we took them off for their 1st day. They were excited! All the other moms & dads were waving “good-bye” & crying. I thought to myself, don’t they know that they are coming back home in just 4 hours! LOL! I went home 7 I just enjoyed the peace & quiet. It was as new an experience for them, as it was for us. Now, 42 years later, our oldest granddaughter is heading off to college. There I was, strong & brave when my daughter went off to kindergarten, & now, I hate to admit it, but there I was w/ tears rolling down my cheek when I said good-bye to her as she went off to college. What a softly I turned out to be! You always worry about your children, even when they are grown & out on their own, but, grandchildren, now that is a whole different area. I worry about them all the time. What will their life become in todays’ world! It sure is something to think about! On a brighter note, fall is approaching, the dog days of summer are almost behind us. Let’s all get our cars out & enjoy this beautiful fall foliage before the season ends & it is time to put them back in storage for the winter.
Your Director, Don Sterner

“Free Spirit” Chapter Meeting Minutes, August 2015

No meeting held during August.

“WELCOME” New Member

Please welcome Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Mason of 125 Oaklyn Avenue, Eagleville, Pa 19403. 610-539-1056 (H), 610-5004211 (cell). They are the proud owners of a 1972 Buick Electra, 4-door. Welcome to the “FREE SPIRIT” family!

Das Awkscht Fescht, August, 2015

For those members who attended this past DAF, you can all attest to a most delightful day! The weather was just absolutely gorgeous!! There were 58 BUICKS registered for Sunday, club day. During the 3-day weekend event, I saw approximately 22 “FREE SPIRIT” chapter members!

As this local Buick chapter has done for the past umpteen years, 3 awards are handed out on Sunday during the show to 3 Buick owners as designated by our chapter Director, Don Sterner. This year, the following were the recipients of these 3 awards:

Buick Club of America Award, Pre-War:
Gary Hiller, Schwenksville, Pa, 1938 Buick Special 4p 2-dr Conv, 46C

J C Taylor Award, Post-War:
Ralph Reichenbach, Bedminster, Pa, 1964 Buick Riviera

In Memory of Deceased Members, Best-Unrestored:
Troy & Debra Dreisbach, Bath, Pa, 1961 Buick Electra 225 Convertible

BCA 50th Anniversary Celebration, July 27-30, 2016, Allentown, PA

National Buick Club of America will be celebrating its’ 50th Anniversary on July 27-30, 2016 on the grounds of Mr. Nikola Bulgari, Fenwick & Ellsworth Streets, Allentown, PA. Close to 1000 BUICKS are anticipated to be on display. Although this is an “Anniversary Celebration” w/ NO judging, do not let that discourage you from participating. To register, please go to www.buickclub.org. Here you can navigate & get to where you need to be. If you ARE NOT a National BCA member, please consider on joining ASAP so you can register & participate, otherwise you may only attend as a SPECTATOR. Questions, Sally Getz, csgetz@ptd.net, 610-377-6130

HAPPY 38th BIRTHDAY, “FREE SPIRIT” Chapter

This month marks the 38th Birthday of the “Free Spirit” Chapter, a charter chapter of the National Buick Club of America. This chapter certainly has come a long way since September of 1977! Please sit back & enjoy the following!

The “Free Spirit” Chapter was conceived in August of 1977 at Das Awkscht Fescht (August Festival) in Macungie, Pennsylvania. DAF, a three-day show, is one of the largest annual car shows in the country. To my amazement on the last day (Sunday) of the show when the field is laid out and divided for different car clubs, there were no Buicks represented! Two friends (Jim Rossetti and Jack Stitler) and I kicked around the idea of forming a local Buick car club.

Constant communication followed amongst the three of us leading to a meeting on September 6, 1977. This Chapter’s first meeting was held on that sixth day of September at the Americus Hotel in center city Allentown. The cost of the meeting room was twenty-five dollars.
Twelve people attended the first meeting:
•1. Dave Brady
•2. Jack Stitler, deceased
•3. James Rossetti, deceased
•4. Jan Rossetti
•5. Hank Norris, deceased
•6. Ken Hartman, deceased
•7. Charlie Arnold
•8. Bill Keller, deceased
•9. John Ball, deceased
•10. Carter Taylor
•11. Jim Gordon, deceased
•12. Bob William, deceased

The officers chosen at the first meeting were:
•David Brady, Director
•Jack Stitler, Assistant Director
•Jim Rossetti, Treasurer
•Jan Rossetti, Secretary

Hank Norris came up with the Chapter’s name and Jim Rossetti added the quotes before and after the name, “Free Spirit”. A newsletter was conceived and designed by Dave Brady who was also named its first editor. It was also decided that the Chapter’s meeting would be held on the first Tuesday of every month.
The “Free Spirit” Chapter of Pa was born.
However, as the word spread about our newly formed Buick Chapter it soon became apparent that the Chapter was formed without filing all of the appropriate paperwork with the Buick Club of America. We did get our hands slapped for that lapse of proper protocol. However, in spite of this oversight, we were forgiven and our Chapter’s Charter was approved. We were “born-again” and now an officially sanctioned Chapter of the BCA known as the “Free Spirit” Chapter of Pa, a chartered chapter of the Buick Club of America.

And, here we are thirty-eight years later. We have come a long way achieving even what some older chapters have yet to do: Regional shows every other year, national BCA shows, Spring and Fall Tours, summer picnics, and annual Christmas parties. We have been very fortunate to have had the members we did; for without them we would have stagnated. No one member deserves the credit for this Chapter’s success and accomplishments. All contributed in their own way to the common good of the “Free Spirit” Chapter. Of course as in any similar non-profit organization some may contribute more than others; but, all have given of themselves in varying degrees at different times. And we are blessed for their participation.

Now you know our past as well as our present. Ponder what you read and see here to give some thought to become part of this proud Chapter’s future?

On behalf of the Founding Fathers and the current members, the “Free Spirit” Chapter welcomes you to our website, our club, our many activities, and hopefully our membership.

Dave Brady

Would YOU like to share something?

Would you like to share something of interest w/ the rest of the membership? Have you attended a show, was a recipient of an award, saw something AMAZING, or just plain want to share a tid bit or two? E-mail to me, Sally Getz @ csgetz@ptd.net & I will share w/ you as much space as you need in the future newsletters! If you do not have computer access, drop me a line via the US mail.
It’s that simple. Be sure your information arrives to me by the 15th of the month. I am more than willing to hear from you all!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 2015
1 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 100/78. Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm. Guest speaker, Clarence Getz
6 – 27th Annual Show, Slatington Airport, Slatington, Pa. 484-764-8899
6 – Hanover Twp. Show, Bethlehem, Pa
19 – Carbon County Shrine Show, Jim Thorpe, Pa. 484-629-3805
19 – Richland Twsp. Community Car Show, Quakertown, Pa. 215-529-7263
19 – Mahoning Drive-In Theater Show, Lehighton, Pa.
20 – 19th Annual Moore Twp. Show. 610-837-6721
20 – Star BOP Show, Rt. 33, Easton, Pa
26 – Fire Police 6th Annual Show, Catasauqua, Pa. 585-347-0435
30- October 4 – Fall Carlisle Meet, Carlisle, Pa

OCTOBER 2015
1-4 – Fall Carlisle Meet, Carlisle, Pa
5 – Monthly chapter meeting, (NOTE: Change of date this month due to Hershey Meet!) Stalite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 78/100, Allentown, Pa. Supper @ 6:00 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm. Guest speaker is Mr. Rod Kraft from Mequiars Products. Please join us tonight to learn the Do’s n Don’ts on car products. (NOTE: CHANGE OF DATE THIS MONTH ONLY!)
7-10 – Fall Hershey Meet, Hershey, Pa
24 – Fall Swap Meet & Market, Maple Grove Raceway
25 – 39th Annual Old Car Show, Kempton, PA. Member participation greatly appreciated! See you there!

NOVEMBER 2015
1 – Riegelsville Car Show
3 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 100 & 78. Dinner @ 6:00 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm. ELECTION DAY, vote before you attend the meeting!

CARS/PARTS “FOR SALE”

1939 Buick Special (41) 4-DR Trunk back Sedan, unrestored original car, Straight 8, manual transmission. Runs Well! Rebuilt engine & components, brake system, drive train, transmission. Upgraded carb, electronic ignition, oil filter, NEW exhaust system. WW tires. Pics available. $16,500/negotiable. Ken Davis, 610-489-1649, kwmcdavis@verizon.net
1962 Buick Skylark Conv. – Overall Good condition. Various NOS chrome installed. Runs/drives nice! Transmission, rear; top, & rear window good. Dave’s Interior Restorations, 525 Chestnut St, Emmaus, Pa 18049
1981 Buick Regal – 4 dr dark green. Garage kept. 75,000 mi. 717-576-7588
1987 Buick Grand National, T-Top – black w/ grey/black int., orig parts, EXCELLENT condition, 3254 ORIGINAL miles, stored in heat controlled garage, $28,500 (or reasonable offer). gbrentano@verizon.net
1989 Buick Riviera 122,000 miles. Good condition, Garage kept. $3,500 OBO. 2000 miles on tires. New battery. Tom Kenn at 610-633-5285

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