December 2024 Newsletter

DIRECTOR’S THOUGHTS, DECEMBER 2024

Well, the Holidays are coming upon us rather quickly! It seems that every year they come faster and faster. Plus, they come whether we are ready for them or not! I have been seeing advertisements on Facebook for car show events during the month of November. I do not remember seeing shows in November before. I guess since we had the warmer weather, groups held planned car events. As most of us have, our Buicks are settled all snug in their garages/stalls for the long winter months. If, for some reason, your Buick needs some tender loving repairs or parts, please contact me and I may be able to help you out in what you may be looking for or may need. If I cannot help, please contact Mr. David Rapp from Rapp Parts, Starlight, PA. Mr. Rapp does not have means to a computer, so you need to call him, 570-798-0390. He, so graciously, is one of our advertisers.

With talking about advertising, please help support all of our advertisers as you see in the e-newsletter/newsletters on a monthly basis. Furthermore, if you know of someone who may benefit from the advertisers, please do not be afraid to tell them about the advertisers. Have you heard of the following saying: “If you scratch my back, I will scratch your back?” We need to remember our advertisers. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OUR ADVERTISERS!!

As the holidays bring the year 2024 to a close, we can only hope and pray that the year of 2025 brings hope, love, and peace into the world to make it a better place to live. Remember the good times you had during 2024 and look to the future of positive events to happen in 2025! “HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL,” Sally Getz

P. S. Here is a bit of nostalgia for you to think about. How many of you remember the “good ole days” of when you were a young child growing up during the holidays? Remember car rides with your family driving in their BUICKS? Remember your grandparents coming to visit during the holidays? Remember your family going to visit your grandparents and friends? The following should help you remember those good family holiday times.

“Free Spirit” Meeting Minutes – November 5, 2024

Meeting called to order @ 7:10 pm. 15 members are present. Sally “Welcomed” everyone and asked for any sharing of what members did during last month. Some members attended the chapters’ Old Car show on Saturday, October 26^th. Sally attended a milk bottle/old bottle show as a vendor at the Macungie Park in the old stone building. She also attended a train show at the Diamond Fire Co., Walnutport, Pa as a vendor on Sunday, November 3^rd.

Motion to accept October’s meeting minutes as printed in November’s newsletter, Todd Kriner, seconded by Shirley Schaffer, so carried.

Treasurer’s report: Report given for October 2024, motion to accept, Shirley Schaffer seconded by Kathleen Duckett, so carried.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Historian: pictures of car show taken by Eric Hunsberger were placed on the chapters’ web site.

Lehighton: There was a lengthy discussion about next year’s show.

How to reduce the time waiting in line: Many shows no longer use classes, park where you want. This would reduce wait time as well as the need to have people to park cars. You would hand out a package, which would contain a plaque and registration form. The driver would fill out the information and return it to registration. We would have collected the money, so if the driver doesn’t care to return the form, .that is okay. Should we even have preregistration?

Awards: If there are no classes, we could do awards of top ten best of show or any combination of. Such as best non-restored..etc. This could be by popular vote using QR codes. Kathleen Duckett has the lead on investigating these codes.

Need to further rain dates: If we have no preregistration, how do we notify car owners that the show is cancelled. Need to have the information on web site. Add this information to the flyers. When to have the rain date? Collect email from the registration forms to send an email blast in the future if needed.

Motion made to contribute $2.00 of both pre-registered and day of show car registrations to “Dream Come True” by Steve Chappelear, seconded by Shirley Schaffer, so carried.

Membership: $1.00 collected for member “NOT” badge wearing during meeting. “CONGRATS” to the following members for being awarded the following during the Hershey Region AACA meet in October: Todd Kriner, Historic Preservation,1982 Riviera; Michael Nestor, Repeat historic Preservation, 1978 Electra; Bruce Swayze, Senior, 1955 Roadmaster.

Thomas Duckett and Dan Reiniger will be celebrating their Birthdays this month. The group sang “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” To them!!

E-Newsletter/Newsletter: Sally apologized for the last page of th paper newsletters that some members receive monthly. Publicity: no report Technical: no report Ways-n-Means: no report

OLD BUSINESS: Sally greeted the following at her spaces during Hershey: John Moore, Mike Allen, William Hallman, Brent/Linda Sensency, John Malone, and Bob Miles. Bob ha a car in the car corral while John Moore/Mike Allen vended.

NEW BUSINESS: Motion made by Edward Lenny to contribute $500.00 to Dream Come True for this chapters’ annual charitable contribution for 2024, seconded by Kathleen Duckett, so carried.

Nominations for the following were taken during Septembers’ meeting, and all agreed: Assistant Director (2 year): none; Secretary (1 year): Linda Sensency Treasurer (1 year): John Moore Activities Director (1 year): Shirley Schaffer; Membership chairperson (1 year): William Hallman 2 BOD’s: Steve Chappelear, Kathleen Duckett. Induction will take place during the “Holiday Gathering” in Dec.

“Holiday Gathering” will be held at the Trivet Restaurant on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 staring at 5 pm.

As of September 2024, the following is from the National BCA BOD meeting;

National Chief Judge’s Report: new class formulated for newer cars (5 to 11 years old) will be labeled “Contemporary Class”. This was designed to appeal to a broader base and improve membership. This would include Cascada, Regal, Tour X and others. Will be Class W.

Chapter and Region Co-Ordinator Report; Arizona chapter has 6 or 7 members and is no longer active.

Bugle Advisory Committee: there will be NO January publication of the “Bugle”. Resumes February 2025.

Motion to adjourn: Steve Chappelear, seconded by Isabel Lenny, so carried, time 8:26 pm.

Respectfully submitted, Kathleen Duckett

December 2024 “Holiday Gathering”

This chapters’ annual “Holiday Gathering” will be held at the Trivet Restaurant, Tilghman Street, Allentown, PA located just off Rt. 309. Social time with ordering of dinner starts at 5:00 pm. “Crazy Bingo” will take place after dinner. EACH person attending must bring a ($15.00) wrapped gift to play “Crazy Bingo”, only to go home with an unwrapped gift. This is always a fun time for everyone. Cost per each person reservation = $5.00. Please submit your reservation(s) to Sally Getz, 1060 Main Road, Lehighton, PA 18235 by November 26, 2024. Hope you can attend this wonderful chapter event! (IF YOU WORK, PLEASE COME WHEN YOU CAN!)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

DECEMBER 2024 HAPPY HOLIDAY!

3 – “HOLIDAY GATHERING”, Trivet Rest., Tilghman St., Allentown, social @ 5 pm, dinner @ 5:30 pm.

JANUARY 2025 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

7 – Chapter dinner (6 pm) business meeting (7:30 pm), Trivet Rest., Tilghman St., Allentown, PA (WEATHER PERMITTING)
17 – 19 – Automania, Ag Hall, Allentown, Pa

FEBRUARY 2024 HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!