Director’s Thoughts, JUNE 2020

Well, who would have thought that this nationwide invader (virus) would still have a lot to do with disrupting our daily lives and monthly/yearly events!  This is something that you would see in the movies, right?  A co-worker of mine mentioned in conversation one day, that a past drama/thriller movie, “Contagion,” portrays this exact event, an airborne virus that kills.  How freaky is that?!  

Well, all I can say is that I truly hope everyone is and has been feeling well and abiding by the Governor recommendations.  We will get back to a new norm, but altogether helping one another and stating STRONGER than ever!

For the next few months, the following events have been cancelled:

• Annual Chapter Picnic
• AACA Meets  (Some of them, check your monthly magazine)
• Buick National Meet, Strongsville, Ohio.  There are conversations taking place about 2021 Buick Meet.  There may be a possibility of a very different venue you may want to consider!!  Watch your future Bugles for announcements for Meets in 2021! 
• Oldsmobile National Meet (re-scheduled August 2, 2021)
• Local car shows/cruises  (check your local news media for shows/cruises)

By the time you receive this newsletter, there MAY BE a possibility that more events have been cancelled/postponed/rescheduled, such as:

• Das Awkscht Fescht, Macungie, Pa
• AACA Gran National, Allentown, Pa
• Local car shows/cruises

So please check on the events you may want to attend before the date of the event to be sure the event is still happening.

Till we see one another again,  Stay Safe and Healthy …..

                                                                              Your Elected Director, Sally  

Annual “Free Spirit” Chapter Picnic, Sunday, June 7, 2020

This year’s annual picnic has been cancelled due to limits beyond our control. I believe this may be the first ever, but it is something which has to be done for the good and welfare of ALL members!  Stay strong!!

“FREE SPIRIT” Chapter – 6/1/2020-5/31/2021 RENEWAL DUES

Please fill in the following information and include a check for $12.00, made payable to “FREE SPIRIT” Chapter.  Submit to:   Dolores Kennedy, 2620 Ambassador Drive, Bethlehem, Pa 18017       610-867-8962                                                                                                                                                              

• MEMBER NAME________________________________________
•  SPOUSE’S NAME  __________________________________________
•  STREET ADDRESS  ________________________________________
•  TOWN, STATE, ZIP CODE  _________________________________
•  TELEPHONE  _(____)_______________________________________
•  CELL PHONE  (OPTIONAL)  ________________________________
•  EMAIL ADDRESS  (OPTIONAL)  ____________________________
• BUICK(S) OWNED____________________________________________________________      

Submit completed form with $$$$ to Dolores Kennedy by  JUNE 30, 2020

Das Awkscht Fescht, Sunday, August 2, 2020

Once again, I am looking for 2 volunteers (I have 2 volunteers already as of May 1, 2020) to help park BUICKS during DAF, Sunday August 2, 2020 @ Macungie Borough Park.  You need to be there by 7 am and stay till 12 noon when pre-registration closes.  I will be there but to set up and to sell chapter Ways-n-means.  Please let me know:  Sally Getz, csgetz@ptd.net, 610-377-6130/484-464-3418.  Thanks in advance!  Sally

Sally’s Take

 As most of you remember, back when Buick was the feature marque during DAF 2013 under the tent, the “Free Spirit” chapter acquired paper products (napkins, plates, cups), w/ the BUICK bird and logo from a Helen Hutchings, at that time, from California.  Helen Hutchings had worked for GM for quite some time as an excellent and highly recommended executive.  Besides her career w/ GM, she was, at one time, the National BCA President.  Since her term, she has served and worn multiple “Hats”, if you will w/ the BCA.  Now retired and now living in Kansas, Helen continues to be an avid asset w/ the National BCA as a member, but from the side lines!  Helen and I have kept in contact w/ one another via internet email over the years.  You may remember reading her article just recently printed in the Bugle!  From what I understand, too, there will be another in the June Bugle.  

 Anyway, in our recent emailing’s, she sent me a copy of an article she had printed in the “Reatta Road, volume 24, Issue 1, Spring 2020.”I would like to share it now w/ you all.  (This article she did is from back in the 1990’s.)      

Reatta Div and longtime friend/nearly a neighbor Rich Gibbs shared the Fall and Winter issues of Reatta Roads with me as he realized it highly was likely l’d somehow been involved in the story behind those “lnside Buick”, articles reprinted in those issues. Sure ’nuff and I even have photos to prove it. Thinking you might like to publish that illustrated back story, I have attached the word doc which contains captions for the three photos. John and Marcine Forrette know about all of this as well and send greetings to any in the division who might remember them.

Introducing the1990 Reatta Convertible:  There’s a Back Story to Reatta Road’s reprinting – The ‘lnside Buick’ articles – and here it is – with some pictures too.     By Helen V Hutchings, BCA #9972

1990 was my last year to serve as an elected member of BCA’s board. Yet I would remain actively involved and regularly attend BCA Board meetings for the following decade because by then I’d been contracted to be Buick’s Western Region public relations representative and liaison with BCA. Thus, when John Forrette initiated inquiry regarding a Reatta-focused

Organization in 1992, 1 quickly was aware. Who knew then that this was the start of a real friendship between John, his wife Marcine, and myself that has grown and, best yet, thrives to this day. So I can report to you that all is well with the Forrettes although (for those of you reading this who knew them) they are no longer in Minnesota but rather reside in neighboring South Dakota. And collectible cars are still part of their lives…just with a slightly different marque and model than Buick’s Reatta.

(Regarding those articles reproduced from the “Inside Buick” magazine in the Fall and Winter 2019 issues of Reatta Road) 

Primarily those of us who were part of the Buick PR department dealt with automotive writers at print publications along with those in radio, TV and the then growing (but still fledgling) internet outlets. One day I received a request from Corby Casler in Buick’s Flint public relations office, to co-ordinate providing a 1990 Reatta convertible from my press fleet to a life-styte writer at the Los Angeles Times newspaper. The name of this writer: Mike Arkush.  We arranged a time and place for me to turn over the car to him for a week. But this required a bit more because this writer wasn’t really knowledgeable about cars nor an automotive enthusiast. As it happened a car-journalist friend (Art Gould of The Car Show on KPFK-fm Pacifica Radio and himself now sadly gone) followed along (so I had a ride back to my office) when I delivered the car to Arkush. Art snapped  three car images of me showing/instructing Arkush on some of the functions and basics of that lovely convertible. And you read and saw the article that resulted.

                                                                                               Helen Hutchings

Major Announcement

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My hope is that you are all getting through this pandemic without harm to you and you families and friends.  I suppose we cannot complain when we consider the alternative, especially at my age.  But, these restrictions are now having an effect on many of us.  But, we must continue to plan for the future.

By this time, I trust many of you heard about the BCA plan for two National Meets next year, 2021.  These will be in Concord, NC June 30- July 3 and the following week, July 7 – 10 in Strongsville, OH.  There are many reasons to do this, and probably a number of reasons to not.  But the two teams, the NMC and the BOD have considered many options and the feel this is the best solution.  You can find more info on the BCA forum and vent your concerns there.  

I am a bit selfish in my thinking as I thought NE Ohio would try to have a “re-do” for 2024.  This now means we can proceed with a rebuilt plan for a meet in Gettysburg for 2024.  We have all spent time in developing this plan and I see no need to abandon the plan.  Just update the hotel and transport pricing and proposals, and perhaps more of you will have an opportunity to visit the site.  But, I would like each of you to check  your calendars and home life, to see if you can continue your commitment.  Please let me know, so I can begin to recruit replacements.  I have not yet reviewed possible dates with the hotel, but I hope to see what dates the have open for 2024.  My preference will continue for mid-June.  I will let you know.

                                            Stay safe, John Scheib, Region Coordinator

Car Dealerships Can Now Sell Vehicles Online, Following New State Guidance

Car dealerships in the state can now sell vehicles online, opening up the first avenue for making a vehicle sale since Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all nonessential businesses to stop physical operations in mid-March.  While some industries could adapt to the mandatory closures with online sales and contactless pickup, car dealerships did not have the same flexibility, in part because there needed to be a live notarization to complete the sale.  Mr. Wolf signed a bill allowing for, among other measures, remote notarization.  

At the same time, the administration updated guidance to allow notaries who offer services to a business that is authorized to maintain in-person operations to continue to offer in-person services at those locations.  That means certain licensed dealers are now authorized to conduct virtual vehicle sales, although the dealerships must still follow strict guidelines to limit in-person contact with customers.

The bill was part of a series of actions Mr. Wolf took to begin lifting some restrictions his administration had placed on businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Wolf also authorized the restart of construction projects on May 8 and curbside pickup of wine and spirits at select Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board locations.

The announcement came on the same day protesters gathered at the state Capitol in Harrisburg — and the City County building Downtown — to demand Pennsylvania fully reopen its economy.  The new steps are not a signal to resume operations as they were in February, Mr. Wolf said in a press release announcing Monday’s changes.  Officials will closely observe to see that these business changes do not result in a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases. In that case, the governor will resume restrictions to protect public health and safety, according to the press release.  The mandated closure meant that Pennsylvania residents — including essential workers who needed a way to get to and from their job and people who no longer felt comfortable taking public transportation — could not purchase a new car unless they traveled out of state, the car dealerships argued.  Dealers had been lobbying the Wolf administration and state legislators to change the guidelines for several weeks.

Under the new guidelines, vehicle sales are allowed, but most aspects of the transaction must be completed online. No in-person viewing of vehicles is allowed, and the dealer must schedule appointments with customers one at a time.  The vehicle handoff can occur at the dealership or the buyer’s location, but it must be limited to the least number of people required to complete the transaction and must take place in an area that has been cleaned according to guidelines from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The guidelines state:

• Dealers should direct customers to shop online and contact the dealership electronically.
• Dealers and customers should agree to all transaction terms electronically.
• If financing is required, electronic application for financing should be made by the customer directly to the financial institution or electronically through the dealer.
• Insurance verification and coverage must also be done electronically.
• The dealer must prepare all necessary transaction documents and send them to the customer electronically or by mail. The process would look like this:
• The dealer should email or mail a limited power of attorney to the customer and, either through remote notarization or working with a notary authorized to continue in-person operations, notarize the customer’s signature.
• The dealer would then use the limited power of attorney to execute documents on behalf of the customer as permitted.
• Remote notarization or a notary authorized to continue in-person operations should then be used to complete the assignment of the title.
• The dealer should overnight mail the MCO/Title to the customer, who should use remote notarization or utilize a notary authorized to continue physical operations when signing the odometer disclosure section. The document is then sent back to the dealer.

Calendar of Events

JUNE 2020                          “Happy Fathers’ Day!”  

• 7 – Lehigh Valley Region AACA Show, Meuser Park, PA
• 28 – Sieverling Pedal Car Museum Show w/ Open House 

JULY 2020                    “Happy 4^th of July”     

• 23-25 – AACA Gran National. Allentown, Pa
• 31- August 2 – Das Awskcht Fescht, Macungie, Pa

AUGUST 2020                “Dog Days of Summer”

• 1-2 – Das Awskcht Fescht, Macungie, Pa

CARS/PARTS “FOR SALE”

1967 Buick Skylark 4 Dr Sedan 340 2-barrel, ST 300 Switch Pitch, PS, manual brakes, cassette player, no air.  70,100 original miles.  Maroon color Exterior, cloth maroon interior.  $10,00.00.  610-377-6130.

1967 Buick Special Deluxe Sport Coupe 2 dr, 300 2-barrel.  Spruce Green exterior w/ vinyl top, black interior.  68,305 original miles.  Power steering, manual brakes.  RH mirror, AM/FM radio.   Spinner wire wheel covers.  UNRESTORED.  Garage kept! $8,000.  610-377-6130

Heater Core, NORS made in USA, fits 1982-87  Buick Regal/Olds Cutlass
Supreme $25.00
Heater Core NORS made in USA , fits large Buick 1978-1988 $25.00
Heater Core Good Used  Circular under seat fits 1954-57 Buick  Century $20.00.    Contact H. Kriebel..Sauenohr1@gmail.com