President's Page

February 2012

Spring is fast approaching and I have heard from a few of our northern friends that they are anxious to get the Model A out and on the road. That is good because there are many events being planned throughout the world of MAFCA.

In January, the Board of Directors reviewed MAFCA’s driving programs. These programs are designed to promote the Model A on the road and reward those who stack up miles behind the steering wheel of a Model A. There are three separate driving awards programs, the 5,000 and 10,000 awards in which a Model A must be driven either 5,000 or 10,000 miles in a year. The Touring Award is an ongoing program, and when a driver accumulates 25,000 miles, he may qualify for this prestigious award. Drivers are further rewarded in 25,000-mile increments up to the 100,000+ Award.

New this year is the Chapter Touring Award, where MAFCA members may receive an award through their cumulative driving with their chapter. For detailed information on these, be sure to check out our website. I hope you are taking advantage of these great opportunities and are planning to earn one or more of them. Nothing promotes our great hobby as well as the cars being seen.

On the Model A Museum front, I heard from MAFFI that they thanked us for our continuing support of this important project. Brick purchases and donations continue to come in, so I hope you have made your contribution. While the groundbreaking is scheduled for April 17, financial support needs continue. The final construction money is still a little short and the endowment fund is being established. It’s not too late to buy your brick or make a donation.

The planning for the 2012 Convention in Marquette is coming along nicely and I'm hoping you are planning on attending. This is a great opportunity for all Model A people to take part of a great convention and then visit the world famous Ford Museum, tour the Rouge Plant, visit Greenfield Village, all located in Michigan. While there, the Gilmore Car Museum is only about 90 minutes away, so don’t miss it.

Unfortunately there are FALSE REPORTS that the Marquette hotels are sold out, I want to assure you that there are plenty of rooms available. Because of the layout of city, most activities will be conducted at the University of Northern Michigan, not at a host hotel, so it is not critical one stay at a particular hotel. If you have any questions, contact either superioraclub@hotmail.com or frontdesk@marquettecounty.org or Steve or Diane Pellinen at 906/485-1552.

See you down the road,

Garth Shearing
2012 MAFCA President

 

January 2012

The year began with an exceptional Awards Banquet hosted by the Sonoma A’s. Cindy Omoth and her crew did an outstanding job making those of us attending feel welcome and having a great time. Congratulations to the entire crew--you did yourselves proud!

The excitement continues with groundbreaking for the Model A Museum scheduled for April 17 at the Gilmore Car Museum. (Keep checking at www.maffi.org for updated information.) I know MAFFI would love to have a great turnout of support for this all important time of celebration. Why not plan on attending? If you or your chapter haven’t made your commitment of support to the museum, the time is now. Donations and walkway bricks can be purchased by visiting www.maffi.org. Let’s all show our Model A support.

As this column is posted, the National Awards Banquet in Santa Rosa is underway. Award winners will be announced and the new Board officers for 2012 will be selected. As 2011 draws to a close, I am pleased to say it has been a very successful year for MAFCA.

I hope you’re making plans to take part in the 2012 National Convention being hosted by the Superior A’s. I had an opportunity to visit the U.P. (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan and what a beautiful vacation land it is! This year’s convention provides us with the opportunity to visit four outstanding historic Ford places and events on one vacation. First up is MAFCA’s convention where you get to experience the Model A Club at its finest and spend time with old and new friends. Second, the U.P. is rich in Ford history and amazing scenery. At one time, Henry Ford owned over 80% of the U.P. and it was his chosen place to vacation. Third, you can stop at The Henry Ford museum, home to the Ford Museum, Greenfield Village and the Rouge Plant where you can see first-hand how Ford vehicles are assembled. Finally, only about 90 minutes west of The Henry Ford is the Gilmore Car Museum, home of the Model A Museum. This unique museum is ranked among the top four auto museums in the world. Construction of the Model A Museum should be underway. Start making plans now. For more information, visit the Superior A’s website.

Did you know that MAFCA budgets over $41,000 for insurance? Included in this is your chapter’s liability insurance and directors and officers insurance. As our costs skyrocket, we regularly look at ways to keep our membership dues low. This year we are requesting chapters to voluntarily donate $50 to offset the high cost of insurance. If a chapter were to purchase both of these types of insurance, the cost could be upwards of $1000. In order to maintain your chapter’s insurance coverage, your chapter must renew their annual MAFCA membership by completing and returning their chapter registration form. Chapter membership is free but, frankly, we often find it difficult to get some chapters to respond. Starting this year, any chapter NOT sending in the registration form by February 28 will have to pay a late registration fee of $10.

Speaking of renewing, if you haven’t already done so, it’s time to renew your personal membership. MAFCA has sent renewal forms to the membership, so don’t miss out. Make sure you renew yours today, either by sending in the form, or right here in the MAFCA Store.

See you down the road,

Garth Shearing
2012 MAFCA President

 

December 2011

As this column is posted, the National Awards Banquet in Santa Rosa is underway. Award winners will be announced and the new Board officers for 2012 will be selected. As 2011 draws to a close, I am pleased to say it has been a very successful year for MAFCA.

A few of the highlights for the year:

There were many other accomplishments as well, thanks to the wonderful volunteers across the country who give their time and talent to the Model A Hobby.

2012 promises to be a great year, but one filled with challenges. The National Convention in Marquette, Michigan should be a spectacular event as registrations are pouring in. Please get your registration in soon so you can join the fun. The National Banquet for 2012 will be Charleston, South Carolina at truly beautiful location. Watch for the registration form.

Our membership remains strong, but the economic downturn has impacted MAFCA as well as the nation. Costs for printing, insurance, shipping, and operations continue to climb and interest rates are minimal. We are still financially healthy but need to watch all our expenditures going forward and seek more effective and efficient methods. Please send in your annual renewal if you have not already done so.

As the year draws to a close, I want to thank all the great people who helped make it a success. The current Board of Directors has been exceptional to work with and has made my job easy. Also, a big thank you to the volunteers, those who joined us in La Habra to celebrate the Beautification Award, who counted ballots, who hosted meetings, who lead the National Tour, who volunteered for future events, and those who did special work to support MAFCA.

Ruth and I drove our Model A to numerous events this year and met hundreds of fantastic people along the way. We wish all the membership happy holidays and a safe and prosperous New Year.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

 

November 2011

The year is rapidly drawing to an end, and in many parts of the country folks have put their Model A’s away for the year. In a few areas, there is about a month of touring left.

The election for the Board of Directors is over and congratulations to Jerry Wilhelm and Jill Sullins on being elected to the Board and to Chuck Christensen on his re-election. I was fortunate to be re-elected as well and look forward to serving the membership for another two years – I am honored to have earned your trust.

Dave Jones led the ballot counting process and I want to thank him and his team: • Bob and Martha Trousil • Dick Wyckoff • Olive Moore • Jim and Kathy Brierly • Marlin and Elaine Perry • Nancy Stancil • Dick and Carmen Smith • John and Diane Frazee • Susan Jones

These dedicated volunteers ensured a fair and impartial election. Of course our Office Manager, Sandra Gomez played a key role along with her team in support.

We had a wonderful time at Hershey, meeting with members and people interested in the Model A Ford. Our seminars were well attended and received a lot of positive feedback so we plan to do them again next year. This was a particularly nice Hershey with spectacular weather – sunshine and blue skies.

The National Awards Banquet in Santa Rosa starts November 30 and promises to be great fun for all attending. I have had a peek at the winners of the literary, newsletter, and website awards. What a talented group of people contribute to our hobby. All the articles, newsletters, and websites are wonderful, and selecting winners is a difficult task.

The new Car Games Booklet is now available on the website for downloading. Previously we printed the booklet, but we want to encourage driving our cars and enjoying them. Most of the purchases of the booklet were by chapters, so now we are offering it free to all. We have eliminated games that violate our insurance, but users are still cautioned to be careful. Speaking of insurance, we are requesting chapters to make a voluntary contribution towards insurance this year. MAFCA provides insurance to our chapters for general liability and for Directors & Officers. The cost of this insurance is over $26,000 annually and it keeps going up. If chapters had to purchase similar coverage individually it would be over $1,000 each.

As our society become more litigious, the costs escalate so we are asking chapters that are able to make a voluntary contribution. The last issue of The Restorer contained the registration form for the National Convention in Marquette, Michigan. Send yours in soon, as the response has been excellent. The tours and hotels are filling, but there are still lots of opportunities left, but don’t delay too long. Our holiday flyer is out with some great new items. The Shop Drawings are already going into a second printing and our new Afghan and mugs make super gifts.

Hope to see you at Santa Rosa or at least on the road soon.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

 

October 2011

The leaves are starting to turn color and our “driving” season will soon come to an end. It is time to plan those winter projects for our beloved cars.

Your Board of Directors held a successful meeting at The Gilmore Car Museum Complex in Hickory Corners, Michigan. The meeting was in conjunction with the first annual “Model ‘A’ Gathering at the Gilmore” where the National Model A Museum will be constructed. Over 130 Model A’s from the area turned out for this event, parking on the beautiful grounds and adding to the fun.

The Model A Ford Foundation (MAFFI) held a meeting on the future building site. They are getting close to having enough funds to start construction and hope to break ground on April 1, 2012.

The Gilmore complex is a spectacular setting. It was my first visit and this is by far the finest automobile museum in the country. Take a look at their website www.gilmorecarmuseum.org. The Model A Museum will be a destination for the entire family presenting Model A history, scientific development of automobile technology, history of the Model A era, and fashions of the time. The plans are truly inspired, I urge you to support this important endeavor.

The 2012 National Convention is moving along nicely. Over 85 registrations have been received from the Early Bird newsletter and the registration form will not appear until the next issue of The Restorer! It is posted on the Superior A’s website www.superioraclub.com.

The 2011 Annual Awards Banquet is also filling up so if you are planning to go, get your registration in soon. Registration forms can be found at www.sonomamodela.com.

The 2012 National Banquet will be hosted by the Palmetto A’s and held in Charleston, SC, December 9 through 12, 2012. Charleston is filled with history and charm so this will be a great Banquet for next year. The 2013 National Tour will be hosted by the Dallas Model A Ford Club from May 5 through 10th in Charlottesville, NC. The tour along the Blue Ridge Parkway will be fun and historic.

The released Shop Drawings are going out the door fast, proving to be extremely popular among our membership. Order yours soon as we will need to reprint soon. Speaking of membership, the ballots for the election of Directors are coming in at a good pace as are renewals. Don’t forget to renew you membership if you have not already done so.

We are starting a project to replace all MAFCA forms on the website with those that you can fill them out on-line, print them, and send them in. Once complete this effort should save you time and improve accuracy of our administration.

We post a summary of each Board meeting on the Communications Page for the membership. If you would like a complete copy of the minutes, please let the office know and they will be happy to send you one (usually more than 20 pages in length, just so you know). Enjoy the fall colors and cooler weather and keep those great Model A’s on the road.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

September 2011

The days are getting shorter and the Labor Day weekend is almost here, but there is still a lot of great summer weather left. I hope you are driving your Model A’s and having fun tours.

Ruth and I were at the Northwest Regional Meet in Wilsonville, Oregon last month and had a wonderful time. Thanks to the Beaver Chapter and the NWRG for a great event. We of course drove our little 1930 Coupe and it ran flawlessly all 1,600 miles. Please send in your membership renewal if you have not already done so and don’t forget to vote for Directors. The ballots are coming into the office and we are receiving a good response, but everyone’s vote is important. Don’t forget to order a copy of the MAFCA Roster along with your renewal; it is the most important tool you can carry in your car. Our club is filled with wonderful and gracious people who are willing to help you on the road and the Roster helps you find them. We only print the Roster in even numbered years, so this is your chance for 2012.

Planning for the 2012 National Convention continues to progress. The registration form will be in the next issue of The Restorer so watch for it. This meet will feature some great tours to places filled with Ford History such as the Ford Alberta Village and Ford Bungalow. The Superior A’s have some spectacular seminars arranged for this event. Topics include installing the Model A interior, pouring babbitt, Ford Factories then and now, and speedometer restoration, to name a few.

The Model A Shop Drawings are now available – these are exploded drawings of car parts including steering, transmission, starter, distributor, and others. The surface is laminated so they can be used in your garage and wiped clean with a rag. A valuable tool for assembly and disassembly of various components, these visual aids make restoration much easier. The National Awards Banquet in Santa Rosa, California is coming up fast, so get your registration in soon. This time in the wine country and along the Northern California Coast will be fun for all.

The fall Hershey Swap Meet takes place next month, and once again MAFCA will be there in Red Field, space RCH 8-12. Look for the MAFCA balloon to guide you. Please stop by and visit with us or attend our seminar on rebuilding Model A shock absorbers. Hershey is a big place and we always have chairs to rest in and a nice tent for shade. In summary – renew, vote, tour, register, and have fun.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

 

August 2011

The Board of Directors held its July meeting in Marquette, Michigan where we were hosted by the Superior A’s. We reviewed the venue for next year’s national convention and worked out the details of the Registration form which will be in the September / October Restorer. This is going to be a great National Convention. The bulk of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was owned by Henry Ford and it was the source of the iron, coal, limestone, and timber used in the Model A Ford. The area is forested, green, and delightful. The City of Marquette is charming and right on the shores of Lake Superior. Most of the events will be on the Northern Michigan University Campus with great facilities ideally suited to a National Convention. The people we met in the community were warm, outgoing, and delightful. Don’t miss this National Convention as it will be a spectacular event in Henry Ford’s backyard loaded with history along roads made for the Model A Ford.

The final accounting for the Natchez Trace National Tour has been completed and a profit of $1,400 was realized. Special thanks to David Black who organized, and led this great event and to Jill Sullins who served as registrar. These great volunteers made it a success for everyone who attended. The Board decided to donate the proceeds to the Model A Ford Foundation, Inc. (MAFFI) for the National Model A Museum.

If you are not a member of MAFFI you should consider becoming one. This is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the Model A Ford era and related memorabilia through research and education. Their current thrust is to establish a National Model A Museum where our vehicles can be displayed for the public and to house information critical to our cars.

The National Banquet in Santa Rosa, California this December has already receiving a number of registrations. In fact, they have now reserved additional rooms at the host hotel. We will drive our Model A’s among towering Redwoods, visit the of the rugged Pacific Ocean, eat fresh Dungeness crab, and sample fine California wines as well as tour this historic area. Get your forms in soon to participate in this event.

The election for MAFCA Directors will soon be underway. Ballots will be mailed along with the September / October issue of The Restorer please vote and return the ballot. Your vote does count!

Your Board wants to hear from you so please feel free to contact any of us with your ideas, questions, or concerns. We are your Board and this is your Club help us serve you by letting us know your needs. I hope to see you soon at a meet or on a tour.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

 

July 2011

Summer has arrived and it looks like it is warm all over the country. Great Model A driving weather. I hope you are enjoying touring with your vehicles.

MAFCA is an award winning organization and this summer is not exception. I am delighted to share the following: Our headquarters building has earned the City of La Habra Beautification Award! The office staff takes great pride in maintaining our faculties and our gardener does a fantastic job with our little rose garden. Office Manager Sandra Gomez deserves special recognition for this accomplishment. Like many businesses, we are occasionally a victim of graffiti. Sandra eliminates it the same day so MAFCA Headquarters always looks good. The City thinks so too.

Our great editor Jim Spawn won the Gold Medal at the 2010 International Automotive Media Awards (IAMA) for his article “Introduction of The New Ford” published in the July / August 2010 issue of The Restorer. Jim was selected by his peers for this prestigious award demonstrating his exceptional talent.

The Board will be meeting in Marquette Michigan at the end of the month. Besides regular actions, we will be working with the Superior A’s who are hosting the 2012 National Convention from June 18 – 22. Marquette is on the Michigan Upper Peninsula, which was one of Henry Ford’s favorite locations. It is not too soon to plan your attendance. The registration form for the National Banquet in Santa Rosa this December is in now on the web. Be one of the first 50 to register for a chance to win a free room! The Sonoma A’s continue to work on this event to make it spectacular with wonderful tours and fun activities.

I have visited with several clubs and a lot of members recently and enjoy the opportunity to hear from you. Let us know how best to serve you, after all, it is your club.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

JUNE 2011

The Northern California Regional Group’s 49th Annual Meet was held over Memorial Day weekend with Ruth and I in attendance. It was a great meet with about 170 Model As in attendance. The Vehicle Judging was particularly interesting with two very nice original cars and almost all vehicle types represented. It is amazing after 80+ years there are still original cars to study. The cars judged ranged from very detailed restorations to regular touring cars. All of the entrants had fun and learned about their vehicles.

Judging is for everyone, not just “purists”, so consider cleaning up your car and entering it the next time you attend a meet. The people who own Model A’s are a wonderful group, everyone was warm and friendly. Many stories were told, old friendships renewed, and new friends made. Whenever I attend a Model A function, I come away with some new friends.

By now, many of you will have received the new Revision 3 to the Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards and are able to see for yourself the great work our Judging Standards Committee has been doing.

The registration form for the National Banquet in Santa Rosa this December is in the July / August Restorer and will be posted on the website at the same time. This will give everyone a chance to get their registration in early for a chance to win a free room for the event. The Sonoma A’s, who are hosting the event, have planned some great tours to Giant Redwoods, wineries, and historic areas.

Our Vice President Dan Foulk continues to line up National Tours, Awards Banquets, and Conventions. We have future tours on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Lighthouses of New England, and the Pacific Northwest lined up already. Your Board of Directors will be traveling to Marquette next month to review the facilities for the 2012 National Convention and to see how we can assist the Superior A’s in hosting a great meet. It has been a few years since we had a meet in this part of the country so we are expecting a good turn out. Mark you calendars.

I encourage you to email / write / phone me or the other Board members to let us know how best to serve you, after all it is your club.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

 

MAY 2011

I have just returned from a very successful Board meeting in La Habra where we established the budget for the next Fiscal Year. We are very fortunate to have an excellent group of dedicated Directors working hard for MAFCA and being careful with your dues to make sure we provide our members real value. The new Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards are shipping this month and I know you will be pleased with them if you ordered. If you have not already ordered a copy, we have plenty in stock, and you may order from our web site or by calling the office.

The Natchez Trace National Tour was a great success with over 200 cars having a wonderful tour. You can see pictures and a short video of the tour on the MAFCA website. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend and really missed out. Our national tours are becoming very popular with our members as we all like to drive our cars. We alternate national tours with national conventions so there is only one major MAFCA activity per year. The national conventions include a number of tours as well as the other activities so they are all driving events. Sometimes folks think the national conventions are only about vehicle and fashion judging, and if they are not interested in those areas, why attend? This is a false assumption, as our conventions are for everyone. The 2012 National Convention in Marquette for example includes a number of exceptional tours loaded with Ford history.

Your Board reviewed the planning for the National Banquet in Santa Rosa this December and approved all wonderful work by the Sonoma A’s. This will be a fabulous event with some wonderful tours as well as our annual awards presentations. Likewise the Board reviewed the outstanding effort of the Superior A’s in planning for Marquette, it too will be an event not to be missed.

Our publications continue to grow and we are reprinting many of our How to Restore Your Model A series as they continue to sell. They provide the restorer the knowledge necessary to do a first class job themselves. The Board hopes to provide an update booklet on car games this year along with a coloring book for children. We have had these publications in the past, but they needed to be updated and expanded. Finally, the “Model A Shop Drawings” some of you may remember will be republished. These outstanding exploded views of various Model A component aid in assembly and disassembly. These illustrations provide a massive amount of information on a single page. The group working on Judging Standards for Modified Vehicles provided the Board their work to date, and it looks very impressive. We should have these standards completed and available to the membership before the end of the year.

I must tell you that all your Directors are doing outstanding work both individually and as a team. We listen to each other and to the membership and then arrive at decisions with unanimous agreement. After every meeting, we are told by audience members who have been attending for years how well we work as a team.

One sad note, we lost a MAFCA member in a car accident. He was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle on impact. Please wear you seat belts and drive carefully. We value each and every member of the Model A Family.

I encourage you to email / write / phone me or the other Board members to let us know how best to serve you.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

 

April 2011

Spring is finally arriving and our Model As are back on the road. Don’t forget to do a good tune-up and check over your cars before hitting the road. The new Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards are at the printer! Depending on production time and shipping, they should be available close to April 30. It is possible they may be a week or two late.

The MAFCA 2017 National Tour in the Pacific Northwest is in the preliminary planning stage, and I received a description about it the other day. It is looks like another great touring opportunity. Each of our national tours is designed to get our cars out on the road and to see some amazing country. The Natchez Trace National Tour is underway early this month.

If your club or region is interested in hosting one of these events and showing off your part of the country, please contact our Vice President, Dan Foulk at vp@mafca.com. Our membership continues to come up with some great ideas on how to improve the hobby. The Board will be discussing your ideas and trying to implement them as time and money permit. We are looking for additional partners and discounts for our members and will keep you advised on the web. I encourage you to email / write / phone me or the other Board members and let us know how best to serve you.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

 

March 2011

Most of the country is still experiencing some rough weather, but it is moderating and the touring season will begin next month in many parts of the country. The Natchez Trace Trail National Tour has over 200 Model A’s ready to go in April! The National Banquet planning in Santa Rosa, California continues to progress nicely. This will an event you do not want to miss.

The National Convention planning for Marquette, Michigan in 2010 is also moving forward well and promises to be another great convention. The MAFCA Board is actively planning National Tours, Banquets, and Conventions through 2016 and starting to work beyond. If your club or region is interested in hosting one of these events, please contact Vice President Dan Foulk at vp@mafca.com.

The Model A Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards are on track for distribution at the end of April. Get your orders in soon to be one of the first to enjoy this great reference.

I had a little health issue last month but am on the mend. It reinforced for me the wonderful community we have in Model A owners. I received many cards, calls, and generally great support. Some folks asked if I need help on my cars – I have always done my own work so this was a surprise. I assured them I can still fix the car.

This family like support just goes with our hobby. Model A people really are special. I encourage you to email / write / phone me or the other Board members and let us know how best to serve you.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

February 2011

The Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards Revision is due to be released on April 30. It is a wonderful addition to our hobby with additional photographs and illustrations that really make it easy to understand how the Model A goes together.

The thanks for this go to the Judging Standards Committees of both MARC and MAFCA as they have been working on it for many years. The selling price of the revision will be $13.50 making it a real bargain. The last revision in 1997 was comparable in size and cost $15.00. In 1997, you could fill up your Model A with gas and have lunch for $15. Today $13.50 will get you a half tank.

We are offering clubs a “special” if your club orders 10 or more copies [ 2-10-2011: 5 copies!) mailed to a single address - the shipping will be “free”.

I know the weather is rough as we are in mid-winter, but start planning your touring now so you are ready when the good weather arrives. I encourage you to think about attending the National Awards Banquet in Santa Rosa, California. While the event starts on November 30, the weather is still nice in the Santa Rosa area. There will be some great seminars and some wonderful tours to the wine country and to the Northern California Coast. Of course there will be old friends and the chance to make new ones. Some members ask me, “Why should I go to the Banquet?” Isn't it just a fancy Board Meeting? The Board does meet during the event, but it really is an opportunity to see a part of the country you may not have visited, attend fun and educational seminars, and enjoy the company of fellow Model A hobbyists. I encourage you to think about attending.

The Natchez Trace National Tour is in April and the cut off for registration is March 1. So far there are 28 States represented and 2 countries. This promises to be a leisurely scenic tour along one of America's most historic routes. We want to do the best job possible for the membership and the hobby, so I encourage you to email / write / phone me or the other Board members and let us know how best to serve you.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

 

January 2011

The Pike's Peak Model A Club did an outstanding job hosting the 2010 National Awards Banquet. The weather was better there than in California when we left. I want to thank them for hosting a first class event where annual awards were presented and new officers installed. If you didn't have the chance to attend, you missed some wonderful seminars and tours.

The 2011 Board is a great group of people, and I am excited about working with them this year. I want to thank Garth Shreading who did an amazing job as our President in 2010 and to thank the outgoing Board members. Everyone gave 100% to the club. We are really fortunate to have so many great volunteers in MAFCA.

2011 is shaping up to be a memorable year. The second National Tour on the Natchez Trace already has 118 registrations. The timing of the tour is ideal for the wildflowers along the way, and it promises to be a wonderful exploration of American History as well. Jim Spawn, our great editor of The Restorer, is back from his illness, and the magazine looks better than ever. We still depend on our membership to provide articles, so if you have something you would like to share, please send it to Jim or our Publications Director Doug Linden.

We are negotiating details with the Model A Restorers Club for the publication of the latest revision to the Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards, and it is on track for a Spring release. I have seen some of the proofs, and it will be a great tool for the home and professional restorer. The photographs and illustrations are superb, and the expanded text really provides key information. There will be over 200 new photos & illustrations.

We want to do the best job possible for the membership and the hobby, so I encourage you to email / write / phone me or the other Board members and let us know how best to serve you.

Alex Janke
2011 MAFCA President

For earlier President Page messages, check the President Page Archives page.

Last Updated: 02/01/2012
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