As I write this, Barbara and I are just returned from a week-long visit with our daughter Carrie in Santa Barbara, California. The weather and the scenery could not have been better and it was a treat to spend Christmas in the warm sunshine. Now it is time to get back to work. This is the time of the year when I have traditionally written a sort of Year in Review. This annual report has helped me set my goals over the past three years. Hopefully it will serve as a guideline to our new officers in 2008.
Secretary Joe O’Connor did a great job throughout the year preparing our minutes and seeing that they got disseminated. He was often backed up by Hutch when Joe was on the road. Additionally, Joe worked on the Anniversary Committee and ran the raffles at each meeting. He also served as our Accounts Receivable Clerk, collecting our ad monies when they came due and made regular trips to our Post Office Box in Medfield. As a result of his efforts all of the above appear in good order.
Treasurer Steve Hahn has kept excellent books throughout the year and delivered to me each month a typed summary of our account and balance. Steve reports that our treasury has never been in better shape. He also delivered a most creative design for our t-shirts.
Hutch has handled Sunshine all year with tact and compassion. It has been a busy time, unfortunately, with many members and member’s spouses going on the DL. Thankfully, and ultimately, all the news was good and we end the year with everyone we started with. Hutch and Danny Kay also did a superb job promoting and selling our club merchandise giving us a nice profit at the end of the year.
Our Competition Chairman Andy Tenore wore two hats all year doubling as Social Chairman. He did this without complaining and with endless enthusiasm. As a result we had activities from both sides going on all year and attendance has never been better. Andy also chaired our first over-night trip to the Owl’s Head Transportation Museum in Maine which was a great success and I hope will be repeated. A number of members competed in the annual Auto Crosses and in a number of car shows in 2007 with great results. Congratulations to all.
Vice President and Cruise Control Bill Schroeder did a masterful job of coordinating our cruises throughout the season. We began and ended with coffee and donuts at Ashmont and in between we traveled and ate like Caesars. It doesn’t get any better than this. For a club our size, the number and success of our activities is truly remarkable. Besides the weekly cruises that netted record attendance, we also recreated our Fall Foliage Cruise to rave reviews (thanks, again, Hutch) and a number of spontaneous cruises and supper trips were equally well attended.
Chairman Tommy Flynn reports our membership is at a strong seventy-seven including honoraries and associates. Bob Feigen has done a terrific job all year long providing us with an outstanding website that is always up to date and has become a great communication tool. In addition, our EMCC Vette Gazette is renown among the other clubs for its continued excellence. We appreciate those members who have agreed to receive their Gazette electronically. This saved us a lot of money. Our sponsors and their ads have made this all possible and we certainly thank them for their support throughout the year.
Our Pasta Hop for the Shriners Children was again chaired by John Dwyer and netted $2400. It has become a popular event with our membership and area Corvette clubs. And it’s a lot of fun. One of the things I’m most proud of this year is the charitable donations we’ve made. Beginning in February we gave $100 to the Random Smiles Project. We supported member Joe Doyle and the Pan Mass Challenge with a $100 donation and we gave $100 to Corvettes Conquer Cancer. Later we gave $200 to member Phil Henault’s Children’s Fund. Another $300 for the Shriners came as a result of our support of the Lions at Walpole Field Day. Finally, we rounded off our Shriners contribution with another donation of $300. This does not take into account the time and effort members put in to make the Walpole Little League Parade a success or the work done by our members in support of the Friends of Franklin food distributions. Add to that the contributions individual members have made and it’s a respectable sum. All in all, I think it’s an accomplishment all can take pride in.
Our 40th Anniversary Committee is actively at work getting ready to make 2009 a special year for us all. A Constitution Committee has been formed to conduct a much needed review of our constitution and propose updates and changes where necessary. Our Corvette Caravan Committee is keeping us informed of all the activities and requirements of the upcoming Corvette Caravan to Bowling Green, KY. Thanks to Al Szafarczyk and his committee we will all have name badges in 2008.
We held three major socials, the Soup Party, the Anniversary Party and the Holiday Party in 2007. This would not have been possible without the work and hospitality of Rick and Jackie Wile, Jim and Kelsa Morrill, and Tommy and Nicole Flynn respectively. All were a great success proving again that we really like each other’s company. Another contingent of the club visited Long Island over Columbus Day Weekend on a multi-night cruise. Whether it’s over burgers and fries or on a trip to the Providence Waterfire or just standing around watching a dyno wind up we always have a good time together.
January is dues month and a time when we find out just how strong our membership numbers will be going forward in 2008. In three years as President I have learned to accept that all will not renew. Some members have become inactive; others have moved on to other activities; cars get sold (and sadly, burned). But one area we can improve on is getting our new members involved and active in the organization. All too frequently someone joins and then is rarely if ever seen again. I believe this is something we can work on in 2008. I have learned that every new member is not going to be an active member. Every active member is not going to volunteer to work for the club. Every volunteer is not willing to chair a project. And very few are willing to lead the club. It makes me appreciate those men and women all the more. I hope everyone renews and that there will be NO vacancies when the new Board is finalized in February.
We have a busy time ahead. Dues have to be collected and recorded. (Did I already mention that?) A slate of officers must be nominated and posted and voted on in February. There’s the 2008 Soup Party January 19th at the Wiles’ and our Anniversary Party in February. Don’t forget the Barrett Jackson Auction Gathering at Ed Fosberg’s in Walpole on January 18th. And World of Wheels at the Bay Side Expo is just around the corner.
All that’s left is to say thank you, one and all, for supporting me and the officers and chairmen throughout 2007. It was another great year for our club. We have nothing but great expectations for 2008.
Save the Wave,
Bob
