DIRECTOR’S THOUGHTS, May 2023 

As I am sitting typing my Director’s Thoughts, I can hear my grass growing!  It seems I have to mow my grass earlier every year!  Do you know what happens once you mow the grass, it grows and grow and grows! Despite the winds, the warmer weather is a sight for sore eyes.  It is also a huge help on those who use home heating oil to heat their home(s).  

As I browse through Facebook, there are very many car events one can participate in.  It seems as though one could attend an event every Saturday and Sunday!  Well, it is now 4 years away from the initial Covid outbreak, so I guess it’s time to get out to enjoy our BUICKS!

On April 16^th, 8 “Free Spiriters” and 1 guest attended the chapter day tour to the Louis Mascaro Auto Museum, Birdsboro, Pa.  It is a private collection of Mr. Mascaro.  Despite NO Buicks on display, the group thoroughly enjoyed their visit!  From the museum, lunch was then enjoyed near an Italian Restaurant.  After lunch, everyone got home safely.  It was a good tour day for those who attended!

On May 6^th, Sally is planning a chapter day tour to the Old Spokes Museum, Kutztown, PA.  We will meet at the Starlite Diner & Lounge by 10:00 am, to promptly leave @ 10:15.  Please reserve your attendance by May 2, 2023, monthly chapter meeting.  Hope you can attend this event.  

                                                                                                                            Your Chapter Director, Sally Getz   

 “Free Spirit” Meeting Minutes – MARCH 4, 2023

Meeting called to order @ 7:30 pm.  19 members present.  Sally “Welcomed” everyone to tonight’s meeting.

Anyone do anything exciting during the past month you’d like to share? 

Motion to accept March meeting minutes, Dolores Kennedy, seconded by Isabel Lenny, so carried.

Treasurer’s report:  Treasurers report given for March 2023.  Motion to accept Thomas Duckett, seconded by Steven Bubbenmoyer, so carried.  

COMMITTEE REPORTS:       

Historian: no report

Lehighton – Show flyers are available or members to take to hand out at events members attend.

Membership – 2 new members joined the “Free Spirit” Buick family:

Mr. Bernard J. “Buz” & Dr. Karen Boback, 1955 Buick Riviera 4 dr hardtop

Dr. Bernard Boback & Dr. Caroline Girgius, 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1

Newsletter – E-newsletter is improving with changes being made.  It is still in the stages of development.  Please be patient! 

Publicity – no report

Technical – no report

Ways-n-Means – Sally will be selling club sales during the upcoming Buick event @ Morgantown, PA.

OLD BUSINESS:    Members should have made their room reservations by now.  All rooms are booked for Friday evening.  Our membership will be maintaining the hospitality area.  Asking for homemade individually wrapped items from the women. (Volunteers so far:  Isabella Lenny, Kathleen Duckett, Sandy Reiniger, Lisa Chappelear, William Hallman).   Men can help w/ parking cars, etc. (Volunteers so far:  Ed Lenny, Sandy/Dan Reiniger, Steve Chappelear, Chuck Mason, and Michael Nester). The chapter will get a kickback from any profits made from the show. 

NEW BUSINESS:  

Sally is looking into planning an organizing a day tour on May 6, 2023 to the “Old Spokes Car Museum,” Kutztown, PA.   Located just off I-78 at 10399 Old 22 in New Smithville, PA, Old Spokes Car Museum is the personal car collection of Dr. Robert Blake of Garden City, NY.  Known as the “Home of the Hudson,” Old Spokes Car Museum is the world’s largest collection of Hudson automobiles and consists of over 60 antique vehicles from the 1900’s – 1960’s like Maxwell, Plymouth, Chrysler, and of course, Hudson, Essex, and Terraplane. 

In addition to the impressive car collection, Old Spokes Car Museum also showcases an extensive collection of car memorabilia displayed throughout a fully-restored 1830’s farm property, a 1930’s Ford dealership, and 1930’s Maxwell car warehouse with original café.   “The Ford Building” was a well-known O.J. Fritz Ford Dealership decade prior. When purchased, it was in severe disrepair and needed a lot of love and hard work put into it to restore it back to everyday working condition. It has since been fully restored and is now proudly used to display part of the Hudson collection.  “The Maxwell Building” started as a Maxwell car dealership. It required extensive structural and cosmetic restoration before it became the “Home of the Hudson.” The Maxwell building houses some of the Old Spokes’ Hudson collection, as well as “Bob’s Auto Orphanage” office for all official car and auto sales.

When they are not busy buying, selling, restoring, and working on antique vehicles, they also offer private, guided tours of the museum, by appointment only. 

Will meet @ Starlite Diner & Lounge on Saturday, May 6 by 10 am, leaving promptly by 10:15 am.  The tour will be approximately 1.5 – 2 hours long.  After the museum tour, the group will then head to enjoy a lunch, pay your own.  Please reserve your spot by submitting $7.00 to Sally Getz, no later than Tuesday, May 2, 2023, night of the monthly chapter meeting.   

Sally did a “Show-n-Tell – Verify” activity during the meeting.  6 items were brought & passed amongst the group to see if the items could be identified.  3 of the 6 items were, in fact, identified:    1934-36 Ford/Chevy Windshield Wiper Cover, 1970 Buick Electra Coolant Container, 1963 Cadillac fender turning light.

Sally reminded those to remember to fill out and to submit the ballots fund on the front jacket of this month’s Buick Bugle.  Need to be in by June 1, 2023.

A small Easter token of Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs were handed out by Steve/Lisa Chappelear.         

Motion made to adjourn: Steve Chappelear seconded by Kathleen Duckett, so carried.  Time 8:15 pm.
                                                                                                              Respectfully submitted: Lisa Chappelear

ANNUAL CHAPTER PICNIC

The annual “Free Spirit” chapter picnic will be held on Sunday, June 11, 2023 under the Weeping Willow Pavilion, Macungie Memorial Park, Macungie, PA.  Lunch will start to be served around 12:30-1:00 pm.  This event is held RAIN or SHINE for it is held under a pavilion by the rest rooms and is handicapped accessible.  

As in the past, the chapter will be providing the meats, utensils and drinks.  Each member is asked to bring a food selection to share w/ others.  A guideline is used every year to have a variety of food selections.  The following is the guideline:   Last name begins with letter:         A-G = dessert,  H-O=hot,  P-cold.   If you have a favorite dish you’d like to share but your first initial of your last name does not coincide with the guideline, that’s okay, you are welcomed to bring that dish.  

Bring your “Comfy” chair and your Buick stories to enjoy a day with your fellow Buick enthusiasts!  Dolores Kennedy will be receiving your chapter renewal dues.    

“FREE SPIRIT” Chapter 

(Charter Chapter Buick Club of America)

Membership RENEWAL Form

Please fill in the following information and include a check for $12.00, made payable to “FREE SPIRIT” Chapter.  Submit to:      Dolores Kennedy-Membership Chairman

                                                                      2620 Ambassador Drive

                                                                      Bethlehem, PA 18017-7717                                                                       

                                                                      610-867-8962

                                                                      ddken@rcn.com

NOTE:    Are you a member of the National Buick Club?  Are your 2023- 2024 National 

                 Dues paid??            ______ Yes     ______ No  

 Your BCA number _______                 Signature _____________________________

MEMBER NAME________________________________________

SPOUSE’S NAME __________________________________________

 STREET ADDRESS ________________________________________

 TOWN, STATE, ZIP CODE _________________________________

 TELEPHONE (____) _______________________________________

 CELL PHONE (OPTIONAL) ________________________________

 EMAIL ADDRESS (OPTIONAL) ____________________________

1. BUICK’S OWNED – Year/Model

______________________      __________________________      ______________________

______________________      __________________________      ______________________

PLEASE submit completed form to Dolores Kennedy by June 30, 2023!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY               HAPPY SPRING!

• 2 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, PA.  Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.  
• 6 – Day Tour to “Old Spokes” Car Museum, Kutztown, Pa
• 20 – Bicentennial Park West Show, Bethlehem, Pa
• 20 – Wheels On the Canal 2023, Northampton, PA
• 21 – Allentown Auto Show 2023, Executive Education Academy Charter School, Allentown, PA

JUNE                       HAPPY SUMMER!

• 3 – Pa Outdoor Veterans 5th Annual Wheels of Freedom Car Show, Egypt Memorial Park,Whitehall,Pa
• 4 – 44th Annual General Motors on Display, Macungie Park, Macungie, Pa
• 11 – Annual chapter picnic, Weeping Willow Pavilion, Macungie Memorial Park, Macungie, PA
• 24 – Tri-Regional Buick Meet, Classic Auto mall, Morgantown, PA.  
• 24 – The Mountanside Car Show, Eat Penn Sporting Club, Lehighton, Pa
• 25 – 27th Annual West End, West End Fairgrounds, Gilbert, PA

JULY                   HAPPY 4^TH of JULY

• 8 – Fearless Fire Co. 2nd Annual Car Show, Starlite Ballroom at Fearless Fire Co., Allentown, PA
• 29 – 8th Annual NASD Student Council Car Show, Bicentennial Park West, Bethlehem, Pa

       CARS/PARTS FOR SALE