Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: joefrazer on December 29, 2013, 09:54:50 AM
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I'm starting a new thread for a monthly president's message. Your comments are always welcome!
For January 2014:
With 2014 just around the corner, my focus as president will be to deliver more for your membership dollar. One enhancement I know you've seen is our website's new look. In addition, we're planning to add more content for club members, as well as more information for those who are not. I know you'll like what's coming!
I am also looking at how we deliver information to our members. The monthly news bulletin will continue in its paper and electronic formats, but I'd like to see more input from our members. Our editor cannot do the job alone!
When I assumed the office of president, one of my visions was to bring the KFOCI forward into the 21st century, while still serving its members. That's why I'm asking for your help to ensure the continued success of the club. Drive your car to shows, keep a copy of the bulletin in your car, and tell folks about the club when they inquire about the cars that were "Built to Better the Best". If you do that, I'll work hard on my end to let folks know we're here!
Have a safe and happy new year from the officers of the KFOCI!
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Jim a positive move has to benefit all of us I don't envy you and the task you have assumed it is like herding cats (good thing to try to do but almost impossible) good luck
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My February message is about new ideas. Our secretary is considering a new page to be included in the bulletin that will feature a club member. It will include a short bio about the person and if they own a KF product, it as well. The page will also include new and returning member information, as well as some trivia about the club and its members. If you think this is a good idea, please email our club secretary and bulletin editor and encourage both to run the page.
The bulletin was meant to talk about not only the cars but the folks who own them. What better way...aside from attending a meet...to get to know someone than to read about them in the bulletin!
Jim
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Well, it's almost March and there's still snow on the ground here in northern Ohio. In fact, there doesn't seem to be an end to winter in the short term so it will be a while yet until my Kaisers see the light of day. But that doesn't mean those in warmer climates can't get their cars on the road. My president's message in the March news bulletin talks about being ambassadors for the club...and a great way to do that is to drive your K-F automobile and talk about the club and all it has to offer. My goal as president is to see a year over year increase in membership numbers and so far, we are up in numbers. I hope to see that trend continue!
Also, every year, just ahead of the national convention, the president publishes a list of proposed changes to the club's constitution and by-laws. In the April and May bulletins, I will be doing just that. And, speaking of change, I have several in the works that I will detail in the coming months. But, for now, I'll keep them close to the vest.
For those in warmer climates...think warm thoughts and send them this way...we need to melt some of this snow!
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I'm a bit tardy getting to my April message...sort of like spring arriving here in Ohio! I caught up with our national meet host last week and things are progressing nicely for this year's convention. He'd like to see a few more registrations roll in so here's my plug, if you haven't yet registered do it today! If you've never attended a KF national meet, they're always alot of fun. The meet hosts go out of their way to plan interesting activities and our accommodations are always first rate. And, there are always lots of Kaisers to look at as well as parts for sale. So, plan now to attend.
As I write this, I'm getting ready to take a long weekend to visit with several KF members in the Indiana and Michigan area. I need the break from the office so it'll be nice to get away for a few days to kick a few tires.
Until next month...happy Kaisering!
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Sent my entry yesterday. See everyone there it will be fun, they always are.
Signed up for everything.
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We have marked off a special spot in the parking lot for your Darrins!!
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Thanks Jim
I hope people like to see them not sure how many Kaiser people like to see Darrin's modified, they do like them at all the other shows. I try to do them justice.
Not sure how many Darrin's I am bringing may be I will try to bring all three, If I can figure a way to get three in my trailer, that might be pushing it but I have been known to push things.
Carol & I do like the conventions, it will be nice to get up to that part of the country again, We were at the Salem convention, didn't have a car ready then.
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I saw you red modified Darrin at the Texas meet several years ago--loved it! Keep them coming.
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Do you have a special spot in the parking lot for the 51s?
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We have special spots for all the Classes!
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I was just kidding about the special spots , Jim. I am sure it will be nice and I am looking forward to being there.
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For May 2014
As spring finally arrives (I hope!) I'm starting work on my 50K Traveler. It's been stored at a friend's place for over a year but started right up and runs great. I plan to go through the brakes...stopping on the way home was an adventure...and I'll change the oil as well. Time to get our cars ready for the road!
I know I've mentioned it many times, but if you have any thoughts of attending the national convention and have yet to register, please do it now. Our hosts need firm numbers for things like the tours, meals, and rooms so do them a big favor and get your registration in today's mail.
Speaking of meets, in between my daughters college graduation this month I plan to attend the Midwest Willys Reunion here in Ohio. Every year, the group meets in the eastern half of the midwestern states in the spring, and in the fall they like to gather in Jefferson City, Missouri. This year, the spring show is just a few minutes from my house which will give me the chance to sneak away in between graduation functions. While the show is all about Willys and Kaiser built Jeeps, they do see a few AMC and Chrysler built units attend as well. It's a great show because the focus is on the 1946-62 stuff and it includes a large flea market where I always find a KF part or two. Last year, about 120 Jeeps attended at least one day of the three day event. I'm looking forward to a few hours at the show as my primer for the convention a few weeks beyond that.
And, as Memorial Day approaches, please take a few minutes to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Jim
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My June message is all about club meets. In a few days, I'll be leaving for the national convention in Puyallup and I am looking forward to having a great time. Our meet hosts have put together a full schedule of activities that I'm sure will please everyone.
If you cannnot attend, check out the Grand Schedule in the monthly news bulletin as there's bound to be a club meet somewhere near you. If you've never attended a KF club meet, you don't know what you're missing! I'm a member of a few other car clubs and none compare to the KFOCI.
I've also heard thru the grapevine that the Seaway meet, previously hosted by the late Ken and Blanche Mericle, will be held this October. One thing about the KFOCI, some traditions live on and this is one of them.
Speaking of traditions, at every national meet come Friday morning, Blanche Mericle always held a farewell champagne toast outside by the judges platform. In her memory, we will be holding a final farewell toast.
For those attending the national meet, we'll see you soon!
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Here's the last time I was able to toast with Blanche - Sweetwater 2012. Bill Tilden (also will be missed this year), Steve Carey, Randy Rutherford, Mike Knittel, Charlotte Dayton and Blanche.
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Blanch was there long before I became a member and her toasts at the end of the Nationals will be remembered for many more years. I'm leaving Friday and I'll look forward to seeing many of you at the meet. It will be great!!
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July President's Message
I'm a bit tardy with this month's message, but maybe that's a good thing as I have some updates to events occurring at the national meet.
First, as many of you know, the KFOCI will be opening our own museum within the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum in Ypsilanti, MI. Work has begun to move displays and cars around in the building. A large donation of literature, paperwork, and other items pertaining to Kaiser-Frazer from the late Blanche Mericle will be used to aid in the display, along with other items already on site. A non-profit foundation is being stood up that will be charged with running the museum, obtaining tax-deductible donations, as well as handling publicity. We plan to hold either the 2016 national, or a division meet at the site to officially open the complex to club members. By the way, let me know your thoughts on either.
Also, we plan to expand this website to better serve our members. Today's membership section of the site uses old code so we're looking at software that will make joining and renewing a membership much easier. In addition, members will be able to self-serve things like renewals, create their own membership roster, and update their own membership information. We're also looking at adding a members-only section where additional technical information and other things would be housed. Our current site is hands-down one of the best in the car collector circle - what's coming will make it even better!
I see great things for the KFOCI and those who attended the national meet and approved moving forward with these initiatives do as well. I thank each and every one of you who were there!
Speaking of meets, support your division and region and attend a meet this year. The club is all about it's members and it cannot exist without your support!
Jim
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I am in favor of the museum and did vote for it. I have some concerns about the funding. I am in chicago for a couple of months and I plan to visit the museum to see for myself what it will look like. I am for having the convention there so everyone can enjoy it.
As for the web site we need a way to post our own pictures of cars, shows & meets I think people would enjoy them. There are no pictures on the curent site. I would be happy to post the pictures I take. I do not know how much capacity we have on the site.
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Jim apparently forgot that there was NO funding approved for this project. The board requested costs for set up of the 501c3 (legalzoom can do it for under $900.00 plus $400.00 filing fee to the IRS and a $20.00 fee to State of Michigan, while Jim wanted thousands of dollars for a friend who is an attorney) and the actual rental agreement (how much per sq foot, how much space will we actually have if there is additional cost for a share of utilities, security, etc, etc and the cost of insurance for things at the museum. Once Jim has that, a special meeting of the Board of Directors will be called to decide if $10,000.00 from a club that keeps pleading poverty will be allocated in the belief that the 501c3 corporation at the center of this will be in a position to pay the $10,000.00 back
Also, Her Honor, Judge Judy Hartsfield, the probate judge who has Blanche's estate on her docket has requested a full inventory of all estate assets (including her bequest to either the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum or the KFOCI; Jim had no paperwork to document his claim it goes to the club) be turned in to her office no later than August 6 2014 so the financial status of the estate can be determined (assets vs. liabilities, creditor claims, etc). This part can be verified by looking up Wayne County MI Probate Court's website and typing in Blanche's name for a status of estate.
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Allow me to set the record straight. The club approved a $10000 loan to start the museum. The attorney is not a friend of mine, instead she is someone I am aware of thanks to my work in the nonprofit space. Her fees are on par with the online "legal" sites. The benefit of a real person is the ability to make decisions. Think of it this way, would you trust your health to an online medical site? I wouldn't.
All donations from the Mericle estate went to the YAHM and not the club. Your statement is inaccurate.
A full accounting of the museum project will appear in a future bulletin. Until then, this trial by public opinion is closed.
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I agree with Jim. Jack, while you may make some good points, I have learned that emails and forums are poor places to conduct sensitive business or make profound statements. In a small club like KFOCI, it is imperative to treat each other with decorum and as family. I don't always get along with my sisters, but I don't air that on Facebook or anything.
It's a start. Now, we as members and interested parties need to fund this project with donations and sweat equity.
I do like the idea of a future National meet there, and Blanche's heritage will be presented in the place it is meant to be, it will sort itself out.
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I stand corrected, and apologize. After discussion with others who attended the Board and/or Business meetings I realize I had confused approved funding for this project with the provisional approval for upgrading the club website. It is for that project that the Executive Board has been charged with researching other programs/options and must report back to the rest of the Board with 3 recommendations before final approval and allocation of funds (if any needed) is granted.
However, there does seem to be some discrepancy about parts of Jim's presentation; specifically, who is the recipient of the Mericle collection. I, as well as some others, recall Jim stating that Blanche willed it to the club but now he says it was left to the YAHM. This makes more sense, as the YAHM is a 501c3 corporation and the club is not. This is important to the estate for tax purposes. When asked how the foundation could sustain itself financially after the initial club investment, Jim said that one option could be the sale of duplicate items in the Mericle collection. How is this possible if the club does not own the material? I hope there is more transparency, accountability and regular updates to the membership as this project moves forward.
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There was some confusion prior to the national convention around the Mericle donation. It's now been made clear that the literature, dealer items (banners and the like), and furniture have all been donated to the YAHM.
Several members have stepped forward and offered donations to help seed the museum's coffers. Anyone wishing to place a cash or other charitable donation have been asked to wait until the foundation's 501c3 status is in place. That work has started but as with anything involving government entities, it takes time.
As I mentioned earlier, we will be documenting progress in the monthly news bulletin for all to see.
This is an exciting time for the KFOCI. Now, let's channel those positive energies into the museum effort and make it the best it can be!
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Can we send money to a holding account to be designated for the museum and assoc. costs? Would that be sent to the same address as for memberships? Maybe get a bank account or set-aside going for this purpose rather then wait.
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Can we send money to a holding account to be designated for the museum and assoc. costs? Would that be sent to the same address as for memberships? Maybe get a bank account or set-aside going for this purpose rather then wait.
I think Jim answered this question in his previous response.
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Jim stated anyone wishing to donate "has been asked to wait." I am thinking - strike while the iron is hot. Create a place to put donations NOW (within the club accounting architecture) and then transfer them in the future to the museum project.
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As to the museum: The Hudson Es*** (note how the censors eliminate the "s e x" from the word) Terraplane Historical Society (HETHS) now has a museum at the Miller Hudson dealership in Ypsi. See attached announcement in the most recent (July/August 2014) White Triangle News, their monthly magazine.
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Jim is correct on not accepting money for the time being & not setting up a holding account. I would suggest that anyone wanting to make a donation send Jim a Letter of Intent, advising that you want to contribute X dollars (or whatever) once the 501c3 is established & make good on the offer once the 501c3 is officially recognized by the IRS and donations can be accepted. You can put a stipulation in the Letter of Intent that the offer will be retracted if the501c3 is not up and running by a certain date.
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Anyone wishing to donate to the museum will be able to do so thru the Kaiser Frazer Historical Foundation (a working title) once the 501c3 paperwork clears the governmental hurdles. That work is underway. Until then, as mentioned a letter of intent will let us know of your desire to support the museum.
Getting all of the paperwork approved can take anywhere from 30 to 180 days. I realize that's quite a spread but that's what we were told when we inquired.
More information will be in the next monthly news bulletin where everyone will get the same update at the same time.
Until then, you're welcome to direct any questions to me.
Thanks!
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If you tell the government it will be a liberal organization you will get it fast if you tell them you are a conservative organization you may never get it.
Just saying
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Hopefully when the organization has no leanings one way or the other the paperwork will go through at a normal rate
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Because it is a new corporation with no affiliation with the KFOCI (it cannot be affiliated as a condition for 501c3 status) the matter has no relevance. It is up to the IRS to review the documentation, raise any issues they wish to raise & the IRS goes from there.
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For those of us who live in the northern part of the US, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of the boating season and the beginning of cooler days and driving your Kaiser without fear of vapor lock! It also means fall club meets. Looking at this month's bulletin, I see six meets and shows scheduled between now and Halloween. So, if you haven't been to a KF club meet yet this year, plan to attend one near you.
A museum update - the folks at the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum (YAHM) have been kind enough to allow us to reconfigure the museum's layout which puts K-F in the main room and at the main entrance to the complex. While most of the vehicles and displays belong to the YAHM, the Kaiser-Frazer Historical Foundation will be building some of their own. This, of course, will happen after all of the needed government red tape has been waded thru. But, things are progressing and you'll like what you see. I've attached a teaser picture...for more you'll have to visit the museum!
Look for more detail around the museum in next month's bulletin.
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Isn't the yellow Traveler in the pic the one owned by Blanche and Ken Mericle?
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Yes. Blanche's will left everything in a trust, in favor of the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Collection. The court has so far released everything but the Darrin (as of late August; the situation may have changed since then).
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It appears that the YHAM has started a fine KF museum without us as they have received all of the Mericle's collection and have much of it on display. At this point we really don't have anything to add to it. Has it been determined how much our KFOC yearly cost will be if we decide to join them?
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Recommend you speak to our club president. He seems plugged into what is happenning with the museum.
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I would suggest that rather than ask Jim, contact Mr. Ron Bluhm, President & CEO of the Museum. Ron is authorized to speak on behalf of the Museum, Jim Lape is not.
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Well, fall is here and for many of us that means it's time to start thinking about storing our collector cars for the winter. Make sure you do all of those things needed...check the tire pressure, top off fluids, make sure your anti-freeze is up to the task...and hope for an early spring!
I've been attending the fall AACA meet at Hershey for many years and this year is memorable in that we've not seen rain (yet). Rain seems synonymous with Hershey and something that's been a little easier to deal with now that all of the swap meet spaces are on paved ground. No more mud, but with that comes plenty of sore feet from hitting the miles of pavement! This year, I got lucky and found a real nice front bumper for my 54 HJ, as well as several other goodies to fit the car. We even have a few club members selling rare and valuable KF items in the Green field swap meet area.
The 2015 club calendar project is coming along. Larry Barker, our new editor, has the material he needs and promises something everyone will enjoy for the coming year. In addition, our 2014 national meet host, Jim Betts, has assembled a Quarterly magazine that we will be printing and mailing with the calendar. I'm not going to tip Jim's hand, but will say you'll like what you see.
The KF Museum and Kaiser-Frazer Historical Foundation (KFHF) work is proceeding. The paperwork is in the government workstream so as soon as that's approved and returned I'll have more to talk about. In the meantime, should you have questions about either the KF Museum of the KFHF, they can absolutely be sent my way. Questions about the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum (YAHM) and their operations should be directed to them. The museum does have a temporary exhibit in place that's a mix of KFOCI member and YAHM owned material that's well worth seeing. So, if you find yourself in the area, stop by!
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Greetings from Bordeaux, France! I'm on holiday and so far, I've yet to see a Kaiser, Frazer, or Willys built vehicle although I have seen many ancient Citroen, Renault, and Peugeot built cars. Most everything here uses a diesel engine and interestingly, diesel fuel here is about two thirds the price of 87 octane gasoline, just the opposite of what we see in the states.
To date, I've only seen a few truly American cars, a pickup truck (Nissan Frontier) and a Chrysler PT Cruiser.
I'll post a few pictures later.
Au Revoir!
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Bring me back a 1953 Hotchkiss-Gregoire or a Deutshe-Bonnet please.
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I've just returned from two weeks in France where I had the opportunity to see many 50s and 60s era French and German automobiles. Citroen 2CV and DS21 cars were plentiful, as well as quite a few older Mercedes Benz and Skoda built vehicles. I tried, but couldn't ferret out any KF built cars, however I did learn of a Henry J about an hour east of Paris. If you've never been to France or western Europe, it is well worth the trip. The French couldn't have been nicer and I'll go on the record to say that the story of the rude French waiter is just that, a story.
Back here in the states, we have alot happening. We're just a week or so away from mailing the 2015 KFOCI calendar and with it, full members will receive a special edition of the Quarterly magazine, expertly edited by our own Jim Betts. Expect them in your mailbox before Christmas...which is only 24 days away. Guess I better get my shopping started!
In addition, the museum project is moving along. The government paperwork has been submitted and much of it has been acknowledged by the appropriate entities, with some still to be approved. We expect to have our ducks in a row by mid January. Keep an eye on this space as well as the bulletin for more details.
I'll close by wishing everyone a healthy and happy holiday season. It's the time of year where we get together with family and friends and enjoy each others' company. And, if you're lucky enough to live where the weather cooperates, drive a KF built product!
Happy Holidays!
Jim
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Thanks for the update. My experience in France was similar: the people couldn't have been nicer and more helpful. I just renewed my membership a month ago, but have not received a bulletin. Did one go out this month?
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I'm sure the bulletin is on its way. With the holiday last week and increased USPS traffic, things have been delayed a bit.
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France sorta depends...
I used travel to France on business twice a year and my experiences were awful. Rude does not cover it. I'm 6-5 ,300 pounds and a touch on the ugly side. I had a dear friend who was a gorgeous actress on one of the daytime soaps. I relayed my experience to her before her first trip over. Se came back and said I was wrong, everybody was extra nice to her, even went out of their way to be helpful.
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I just renewed my membership a month ago, but have not received a bulletin. Did one go out this month?
There were 2 significant factors causing a delay in the mailing of the DEC issue ... first & foremost was the super storm that hit this area ~ over 6' of snow in 3 days! Driving bans were in effect for 4+ days, meaning the printer could not get to work to print the bulletin. Then last week was a short work week due to Thanksgiving. We received the printed Bulletin last night & will have them all stamped/labeled tonight & delivered to the Post Office tomorrow.
ps: email recipients already received the DEC issue ~ why not consider making the switch to paperless ... get it sooner & in color!
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I was made aware yesterday of an issue with memberships. After doing some research, I found that a database corruption issue occurred with our September mailing list. New, returning, and those who renewed in September and did so using certain payment methods encountered an issue where the payments did not properly post in the system. After several hours pouring thru the code I found the problem and corrected it.
This was what appears to be an isolated problem tied to our aging software and not an outside issue (hacker). All of those who paid in September have now been updated in our system and a check of October and November payments show that all posted successfully.
Again, this was an internal issue tied to software and not an issue with either the work of our secretary or bulletin editor. I say that because a few of those impacted contacted one or the other looking for their missing publications. If you believe you're missing any publication from September, October, or November, please contact the club secretary for a replacement.
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Got it--thanks! Looking forward to seeing the new calendar.
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I'm posting this month's message a few days early to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.
2014 has been a busy year for both myself and the club. I'm wrapping up my first calendar year as club president and am pleased to see our major initiatives, the museum and website updates, working their way to fruition. In addition, we've been able to publish a special edition of the Quarterly magazine, due to be mailed very shortly, along with the 2015 edition of our club calendar. I'd like to take a moment and congratulate all of those who worked tirelessly to make everything happen.
If you follow my monthly insert in the news bulletin, you'll know I've been encouraging everyone to attend a meet near them. To practice what I've been preaching, this year I was able to attend the national meet in the Seattle area, the Midwest meet in Tennessee, and the Seaway meet in Ohio, in addition to the AACA fall meet at Hershey as well as a dozen or so cruise nites near my home.
I mention this because for 2015, I'm encouraging everyone to become ambassadors for the club. Attend a meet KF near you, and if there isn't one nearby, take your KF to cruise nite and talk about it and the club with those you meet. I can't tell you how many folks at our local cruise nite tell me of the Kaiser, Frazer, or Willys vehicle their family once owned - and every one of them was happy to see it and know there's one on the road. Let's do our best in 2015 to make it more than one!
And, something important to note. 2015 marks 60 years since the last Kaiser and Willys passenger cars rolled off the line in Toledo. In that 60 years, our cars have gained an appreciation for being ahead of their time as leaders in styling and innovation. Every day, our cars become more desirable because they are so different so let's get them out there for everyone to see. Again, become that ambassador!
In closing, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to act as your club president. I will do my best as 2015 unfolds to make the Kaiser-Frazer Owners Club one folks talk about. We may not be the biggest club around, I have to believe we are the best!
Happy Holidays!
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I, too, believe we are the best. Thanks for all you do! Looking forward to see the new calendar.
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I have been encouraging our members to take their cars out and show them off. I do it every chance I get. If I had a nickel for everyone I have talked to about Kaisers at car shows or just driving my white Darrin around I could buy another Darrin.
When spring comes for you in the cold country dust off those cars and get them out there. Many of us live in warmer climates so we can keep taking them and I do. I have been to 3 shows in December and plan on many more in the months to come.
Merry Christmas and Happy new year to all.
See you down the road.
Lee
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Here we are in the middle of February and I'm finding myself getting caught up with my monthly message.
By now, everyone should have received your 2015 calendar and special edition Quarterly. If you have not, please contact our club secretary for a replacement. And, we do have extra copies of the calendar available from our club treasurer. They're $12 each postpaid and are a great way to get folks interested in the club.
I am in the middle of trying to restore a 1954 Henry J in time for the national meet this July. With the cold and snowy weather here in Ohio, that's been a tough job. Running the furnace in the shop would break the bank so I've decided instead to start gathering the parts I think I need. I'm sure I will forget something!
That brings me to my next thought...our club website and forum. This space has been very busy of late and I'm glad to see all the new folks who've joined the club and found the forum. As we all know, it's a great place to ask those questions about your car, how to tackle a repair, and the club in general. Me, I've been using it to field questions about my Henry J and the restoration work ahead. If you've benefited half as much from the advice received about your car as I have about mine, then you've gained of treasure trove of knowledge!
Finally, I'll put in a good word for all those hosting a KF meet in 2015. They work hard to bring you an event you'll enjoy and remember...if you attend. So, support the club, our meet hosts, and enjoy a show near you. And, if here isn't one nearby, consider hosting one later this year or in 2016. Ask anyone who has hosted a meet, it's work to put everything together but the rewards are great!
Think Spring!
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Glad the website is good, but we NEED to make the website calendar of upcoming events accurate. The calendar only shows 2014 listings (wish I could set the "way-back" machine). What's our future look like?
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Every month, our club secretary sends an email to the exec officers and division managers with a list of new and returning members. She also includes a few noteworthy comments from the membership. This month's is worth repeating here...
We had 5 new members this month - from all corners of the US and 1 from Canada. A few shared some interesting stories with their application.....
Mr. Damewood from Mechanicsburg OH shared this: "There was a old invitation to join the Kaiser-Frazer owners club in the glove box of the 1948 Frazer I just bought."
Mr. Nolly from West Des Moines, Iowa said he just purchased a '54 Kaiser in NJ and is anxiously waiting for it to be delivered this Spring - and can't wait to become involved in KFOCI......
And, Mr. Richard Plante purchased a "Gift Membership" for his son, Thomas Plante..... What a great way to keep KFOCI in the family!
It is so important to reach out to the new members in your area - as you can see, they all have a Kaiser Story to tell and are waiting to get involved in KFOCI - so let's make that easy for them! We have lots of great meets and events coming up in 2015 - and it's never too soon to start planning to attend.....
If you haven't visited our Facebook page, please do so! We recently had a granddaughter of a former member recall her fond memories of going to HOA events - and spending the weekends polishing chrome and taking road trips with her grandfather..... Good Stuff!
DON'T FORGET! 2015 Calendars for sale.... $12ea or 2/$20 - contact Steve Hermesch to place your order - treasurer@kfclub.com
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With March comes...hopefully...warmer weather and the promise of spring. After spending most of the last few weeks in sunny south Florida, I'm certainly ready for some nicer weather around here in northern Ohio!
My goal this spring is to get busy and complete the restoration of my newly acquired 1954 Henry J. I've been ferreting out bits and pieces for the car while the snow flew (who am I kidding...and still flies!) and at this point, I think I have just about everything I need to get the job done. I'm sure, however, I'll run across more than a few missing parts. Now all I need is some cooperative weather.
If you're a regular reader on this site, no doubt you've seen the number of good driver quality cars for sale around the country. I think Kaiser, Frazer, and Willys built vehicles are a great buy right now so if you're looking to buy, here's your chance. You don't have to get as involved in a restoration as I am with my J, instead you can put yourself behind the wheel of a car that runs and drives for a very reasonable price. And, you'll be the hit of the local cruise-in as well!
In other news, I will be publishing the proposed changes to our constitution and by-laws in next month's new bulletin. Your feedback is welcome. And, we're making progress with the Kaiser-Frazer Museum and foundation. I hope to have some concrete news at the national meet in July. Oh, and that reminds me, plan to attend the national meet this summer. If you've never been to the Gettysburg area, you will be impressed with its history. And, if you have, there's always something new to see.
Lastly, I won't tip his hand but our webmaster has been working away on updates to the site. Stay tuned!
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An addendum to my message above. Many years ago, the Seaway Region awarded the "Cracked KF" plaque. It was an award given the owner of a KF driven to the meet that was in the worst condition but with the best intention of restoration. Obviously tongue in cheek, it was actually a sought after award and guys would get upset when a car would show up that was uglier than theirs. Yours truly gladly accepted the award on more than one occasion. I mention it because I'd like to find the plaque and perhaps begin awarding it once again - maybe at the national level. There are alot of cars out there...and we talk about them every day on this forum...that will never see a restoration but deserve the bit of work needed to get them back on the road. Maybe a fun award like the Cracked KF plaque is all someone would need to get their heap out of the barn and roadworthy once again.
I do not have any pictures of the plaque but if you attended a Seaway meet in the past, then you're aware of the plaque. If you know where it is, please let me know.
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When I lived in SoCal ,15 years ago, there was a car we called the "Surfin Kaiser". It was often seen around Huntington beach, each body part a different color and a long surf board stuck out the back window. It did not look operable but it was and it showed up all over the area. Often wonder what happened to it.
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There is a local show in November that does this . You are right . People really go after the " Worst Of Show " award . I have gotten it with a 52 Stude , 52 Henry J . 53 Chevy panel truck and 48 Jeepster . I was proud to get them . The Chevy panel even made the front page of the local paper when I got the award . I seem to gravitate to the unrestored cars at the KF meets .
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When I lived in SoCal ,15 years ago, there was a car we called the "Surfin Kaiser". It was often seen around Huntington beach, each body part a different color and a long surf board stuck out the back window. It did not look operable but it was and it showed up all over the area. Often wonder what happened to it.
That was the "Surfboard Special," owned by Tom Lockley in Brea. He drove that car across the USA to the National in Nashville in 1994 (I'm looking for a picture of it to post). I believe he sold the car a few years after that, dunno where it is now. Tom is also the last owner on record of "Blastaway Tan," John Parker's '48 Kaiser Special. There was a thread here on the forum about that a few years back.
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Well, spring has arrived and it's finally warming up here in northern Ohio. I'm still planning to take my 54 HJ to the national meet but that won't happen unless I track down a few necessary items. I guess I'd better get an ad in the monthly news bulletin! Speaking of, if you're one of those who enjoy this site but are not a member of the KFOCI, why not join? You'll receive a monthly news bulletin, packed with information about meets and shows all around the country, as well as a classified ad section with just about everything KF available. In addition, the club issues a calendar at the new year as well as occasional other publications. Well worth the price of a membership!
The Kaiser-Frazer Historical Foundation (KFHF) has taken its next big step. We have filed tax information with the IRS and they have accepted the information. We are now waiting for the formal paperwork to be returned. At that time, the KFHF will be permitted to accept tax-deductible donations that will be used in a variety of philanthropic ways. For example, the KFHF plans to support the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum (YAHM) and their efforts to assemble a Kaiser-Frazer display. While they have a display in place today, the foundation would like to enhance the exhibit with a new look as well as with an expanded display, using material recently donated. If you've not been to the YAHM lately, you owe it to yourself to visit. KF is not the only marque in place, the story of Hudson, Tucker, and Corvair is also told.
Lastly, for those of you who are members of the club, I will be publishing the proposed constitution and by-laws changes in the May and June bulletins. Please read them carefully and if there are any questions or comments, you can direct them to me at president@kfclub.com.
Now, get out to the garage and shine that KF up. It's car show season!
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The club does not rent any space at the museum.
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The museum has offered rental of floor space for $5,000 per year to help cover upkeep. It also has enough material to run their own space for K-F of the same square footage offered the club. Barbara and I visit as often as we can even though it is around 5 hours by car either through Canada to Detroit or around through Cleveland and Toledo.
Jim is right, it is well worth the visit.
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For my May message, I am including the proposed changes to our club's constitution and by-laws. Every year at our national convention, members in good standing who attend are asked to vote on the proposed changes. The number of changes varies from year to year and this year, we have four changes that have been proposed.
The same proposals have been published in this month's bulletin but for some reason our editor chose to omit the rationale behind the changes. That's why I'm posting them here.
If you're a member please review each proposal and let me know what you think via email or PM.
Constitution, Article 1, Name and Purpose, Section 2. Amend as follows:
The purposes for which the club are founded are for the development, publication, and interchange of technical, historical, and other information for and among the members and others who own or are interested in the vehicles built after 1946 by Kaiser-Frazer, Graham-Paige, Willys Motors, Kaiser Motors, Kaiser-Willys, Willys Overland, and Kaiser Jeep (including vehicles built by the above companies by their foreign divisions or under license), and to promote social discourse and fellowship among the members; and to maintain references upon and encourage the maintenance and preservation of all such vehicles as well as to promote and publish and research pertaining to their history.
There are three reasons for this proposed change:
1. There are Kaiser vehicles there are titled in 1970 and I have even seen one titled in 1971 and this change would make the owners of such vehicles feel more welcome to our club. This would be done in order to open us up for more new members.
2. Grammatical corrections of adding commas where required.
3. Change the word "cars" to "vehicles" . The word "vehicles" is previously used twice and then changes to "cars" . The verbiage needs to be consistent for one thing and then again the word "cars" is exclusionary of trucks and Jeeps.
By Laws, Article 4, Club Publications, Section 1. Remove the word "monthly".
Rationale: This puts the club in the position of being able to publish greater or fewer than 12 issues a year which then gives the club the latitude and funds to distribute other publications.
By Laws, Article 4, Club Publications, Section 2. Rephrase as follows: "A magazine shall be published and distributed at least once per year that may include reports of meetings, an Annual Membership Directory, and items of historical and general interest. The issue may be a calendar."
Rationale: Because the membership voted to suspend regular publication of the Quarterly, the current language violates our rules. Relaxing the number of publications gives the club the latitude to publish one magazine per year and still meet the constitutional rule.
By Laws, Article 4, Club Publications. Add Section 6.
"Elected members of the Board of Directors shall be provided the option of receiving both the electronic and paper versions of the Monthly News Bulletin."
Rationale: The two versions occasionally differ and in the event of a dispute requiring board level intervention, having immediate access to both will aid in timely resolution.
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Where are these vehicles that are 1970 or 1971 Kaisers? What type/series?
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PLEASE NOTE MY UPDATE ON MAILING INFORMATION
Jennifer Dimmick should have the current membership information at her fingertips (Associate, Regular & Life Member totals). When we got stamps for mailing the BULLETIN (it will go out, as normal around the end of April) It broke down to 825 domestic & 43 Canadian and overseas mailed (I previously gave an incorrect figure). We also e-mailed 139 copies to members wishing to receive the Bulletin electronically (adds information). Using Jim Lape's total figure of 1,102 this would mean we have 105 Associate Members (Associates do not get publications such as the Newsletter) as of the end of April.
I agree about increasing membership. In past issues of KFOCI MONTHLY BULLETIN I've passed on things that worked for me over the years to build membership but it takes participation by other members as well to make the numbers truly grow. Anyone interested in finding out more about things individual members can do to try and boost membership can email the Club Historian.
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As of today, there are 1102 members in the KFOCI. This includes regular, life, and associate members.
The subject of membership and attracting new folks has been hotly debated in many circles. The AACA, arguably one of the largest car clubs on the planet has seen a precipitous decline in membership over the last 10 years. All clubs have seen declines, due in part because people have many other things to keep them occupied. And, information is more readily available today than even just a few years ago. In the past, car clubs were a source of technical assistance, parts sources, and a side benefit was the social piece. Today, you can turn that list around. Folks can source tech help from many sources and parts can be found on places like ebay, but the social aspect of any organization cannot be fully enjoyed by sitting at your computer...regardless of what your teenage kids may tell you!
If clubs are to survive, they need to continue to offer technical support, sources for car related items, but more importantly, they need to be a destination. When we hold regional, division, and national meets, we have to make them a draw. Folks will want to attend because there's something in it for them. Be it an attraction (amusement park, baseball game, etc), or an event, our meets need to draw folks into attending. We do a great job today, but we could do better.
And, what about the other things we offer? Our website is undergoing some changes that will allow members to access more information than ever before. And, our publications are under scrutiny as well. I've asked many of our members for feedback around what we can do to make our published information more attractive and useful. Most tell me that the Quarterly magazine, especially the latest issue, is always well received. And, everyone loves our calendar.
But, I've forgotten the most important ingredient to a successful club...ITS PEOPLE. We are all ambassadors for the Kaiser-Frazer Owners Club and it's up to us to spread the word of the club. If you add up the years of experience of just half the membership, it would number into the thousands. It's that wealth of knowledge, the social atmosphere, and the cars that have made this club what it is.
So, as its been said, it takes a village to raise a child. In our case, it takes a membership to make a club. And, it takes everyone who is a member to make the club a success. All too often folks say "the next guy will do it". Well, guess what, you ARE that next guy! Its up to all of us to work together to keep the club the success its been for the last 56 years, and all of us together to make this club one folks talk about.
Thanks for your time.
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Several years ago, the total was closer to 1,500.
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In 1992, I was given a pile of KFOCI Quarterlies before I bought my first Kaiser. After reading this pile of old Qtrlys I was hooked, I started collecting Ads and everything else related to Kaiser Frazer. Currently, I have a 5 foot pile of Quarterlies ready to be given to unsuspecting folks we think we can addict to this crazy KFW World. If anyone needs some Quarterlies for possible addiction let me know.
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Jack (and the other people watching): I think I know where you are going with this. I have a 63 FC170 and the Data Plate says Kaiser Jeep. The title says Kaiser. I have a 68 Commando. The Data Plate says Kaiser Jeep and the title says Kaiser. AMC bought out Kaiser in 1969 so the vehicles for 1970 and later should have American Motors on the Data Plate and probably just Jeep on the title (I need to check my 1974 Commando to be definite as to how Texas labeled things) .
The states and the Federal government used to be rather loose in the identification of vehicles. As an example Honda 305 Super Hawk motorcycles ended production in 1967 and were replaced by the CB350 & CL350 for 1968. Yet there are claims of 1968 and even 1969 Super Hawks sold. The motorcycles were identified by frame numbers which did not necessarily correspond to model years; the 1968 Super Hawk could have been stored away at the distributors since 1966.
With US Federal safety and emissions laws it became very important to identify what day a vehicle was manufactured. As another for instance, cars sold in the US had to have head rests if they were manufactured (not sold) after Jan 1 1969. So if you bought a 1969 Camaro, if it was manufactured before the 1st of the year 1969 (practically speaking it was probably more like Dec 10 1968) it may not have head rests.
I think Jack is saying that these prior loose activities on identifying (on Data Plates) or naming on titles should have ended by 1969.
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There have been isolated cases of surviving vehicles (not just K-F or Jeep product) titled in a year other than the model year of the vehicle. I have never dug into the matter but there appears to have been laws on the books of a few states (one of them Washington State?) where a new, untitled vehicle (with the Certificate of Origin of a New Vehicle from the factory) was first titled the year the car was sold new. With the advent of the new VIN number system decades ago, that practice had to end and it did.
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Most American cars could be easily identified by changes made each year but European cars of the fifties and newer looked alike from year to year. It was a practice of at least Mercedes Benz in CA to sell leftover cars as a newer year model if they were unsold at year end.
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The AMA required some sort of change from model year to model year and some companies, KF included, limited their changes in some years to hood ornaments. Aside from the VIN tag on the Manhattans, the only change from 1954 to 1955 was the upper half of the hood ornament.
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I recall a claim that the AMA required 3 changes at a minimum. An updated VIN/Data Tag would be 1 of course. I don't think that was a "written in stone" rule though and unless I see better proof, I would label it as folklore.
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Back aways ago my friend had a 68(?) Fiat Spider( sports car anyway). While on a trip one wheel bearing went so he took it in to a dealer to have it fixed. He found out it was actually one build in the last of the previous year and it was re-dated as a 68.
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Some car makers at one point or another didn't care about the visual changes. For example the 1948 Fords were unchanged except for serial numbers from 47's according to a press release from Ford at the time the new Ford cars and trucks came out. Willys Overland only distinguished the 1947 from the 1946 model year vehicles by serial number cut points; there was no new prefixing to identify model year. K-F made no changes to 1950 model year cars from the 1949's'; in fact thousands of 1949's were retagged as 1950 model year cars, keeping their 1949 serial numbers on the door post but having a "K50" or "50" prefix.
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Lew Retzer knows of a 1955 Willys Custom that is titled as a 1956 because it was kept by the dealership until 1956 when it was finally sold to a private individual. There were no 1956 Customs built although this is one.
I agree that we should open the club up to all Kaiser and Willys vehicles built after the discontinuance of the 1955 automobiles. Many of us collect vehicles that were built later yet are related. Only AMC-built Jeep products that were identical to the Kaiser-built versions should be allowed - or do we draw a line here (1969 cut-off)?
There is also listed a starting date of 1946, so this will exclude all Willys-Overland built (and Ford-built and Bantam-built) military Jeeps of World War II and every Willys-Overland and Graham-Paige vehicle built before that time. There are clubs for those vehicles, and with the exception of the WWII Jeeps, I don't see an overlap or need to include them. I do think we should welcome them if any ever show at our meets, but they would not be judged.
This will also mean expansion of judging classes if this passes.
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BIG NEWS!
The Midwest Division of the KFOCI has agreed to hold a joint meet with the Midwest Willys Reunion group. I have been working with the Willys group for some time to put this together and I am excited about the prospect of holding a joint meet. The Willys group is alot like the KF crowd...we're passionate about our cars and we like getting together and talking about them.
We will be meeting on the 13th thru the 15th of May, 2016 at the Clarion Hotel on Route 8 which sits right next to Interstate 80, the Ohio Turnpike. The host hotel is eager to have the larger group and has the facilities to handle a convention sized crowd.
We've still to work out many of the finer details but we plan to have a Saturday evening dinner with a speaker, a hospitality room with lots of KF and Willys material to pour over, as well as a parking lot big enough to hold 50 to 75 vehicles in addition to parts vendors.
I know we're a year away from this show, but set aside the dates and attend. You will be glad you did!
Here's a link to the Midwest Willys Reunion site. http://www.midwestwillysreunion.org/index.htm
They hold a fall meet as well and this year it will be at the Truman Hotel in Jefferson City, MO. If you find yourself in the area, stop by!
Watch the bulletin and this page for more information.
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So, is the 2016 meet going to be at the same location as 2015? Clarion Hotel in Hudson, OH? Maybe i missed it but neither your message nor the Willy's website appeared to indicate where things will be in 2016... Hudson OH is less than 10 miles from the Corporate offices for my division at work. A nice area with ample shopping and places to just get away both in Cleveland and Akron. Should be a nice location for the joint meet.
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As of today, the meet site is slated to be the Clarion Hotel in Hudson, OH. This is at the intersection of Ohio route 8 and US Interstate 80, the Ohio Turnpike. There are a great many details to work thru, but we're excited at the prospect of a joint meet and the potential for new members.
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A Memorial Day message - It is especially fitting that we recognize the Memorial Day holiday given the impact that Henry J Kaiser and his companies had on the war effort. His Liberty and Victory ships in WWII and the Jeep and airplane contribution in the Korean conflict as well as in Viet Nam left a lasting legacy that we will always remember.
But, most of all, never forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
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A quick message to let everyone know that the new version of the KFOCI home page is nearing completion. I'm testing the beta version today and if all goes well, we'll have the new pages running very soon. Stay tuned for more updates!
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With just six weeks until our national convention, I'm working to get my 54 HJ together. I have the front section of the frame and suspension painted as well as the inner fenders and the radiator core support. A new radiator arrived the other day, along with a box of needed goodies from Rudy. The fuel tank has been recoated and I have a new sending unit to connect to a new wiring harness. I think this week I will begin the task of installing the dash section of the harness.
I mention all of this because, again, there's only six week's until we attend the 57th annual convention of the KFOCI. I caught up with our host and he tells me there are about 35 cars and 50 registrations, which works out to about 100 people. I'd like to see the car count double...and the people count too! So, if you're on the fence about attending, please make the decision to be a part of the fun in Gettysburg.
And, our website changes are in beta testing and all looks good. Soon, members will have the ability to update their own membership information, produce a roster for their own use that is current to the day, and those who need mailing lists will be able to produce them without having to work thru several steps to make it happen. In addition, we'll have a section the site devoted to members only, with more information about our cars that's not available elsewhere. All of this has been designed to help you, the member, stay more in touch with your club and all it has to offer. Your club secretary worked hard to research and find a software package that would produce results and we're close to rolling it out to the general membership.
All for now,
Jim Lape
President
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FOUND - the Cracked KF Plaque, awarded at the Michigan-Ohio meet (Seaway) for many years has been found. I plan to restore the plaque and would like to begin awarding it once again. It's a great way to have some fun at a meet!
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Great Idea ... the PNW will be doing it!!
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Well, here it is the first week of July with just three more to go until we meet in Gettysburg, PA for our annual convention. I checked with our meet hosts and we have 100 registrations in and about 50 cars to fill the lot. With late registrations continuing to roll in (pun intended) I'd like to see both numbers increase by at least 50 percent. So, if you're debating whether to go, this should help drive the decision! We'll have Dick Langworth, author of The Last Onslaught on Detroit, as our keynote speaker at the banquet. I've heard Dick speak at several functions and I can tell you his presentations are always interesting.
As for my 54 Henry J, work progresses. I have the firewall and door jambs cleaned and painted, as well as the underbody and frame. The car has new brakes and a fresh coat of paint on the engine and transmission. I'm in the middle now of getting the wheels cleaned and painted and then it will be time for the new tires to be installed. At that point, let the assembly begin!
Lastly, this is an election year and all of the executive positions are up for reelection. I am the nominating committee chairman and as yet, no one has formally stepped forward to vie for a position. Be an active part of the club, get involved!
See you in Gettysburg!
Jim Lape
President
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Here we are...national meet week! If you're planning to attend the meet, be sure to bring your sunscreen and some shade. I understand it's to be a bit warm this week. That's OK, as we'll be in the company of many KF friends. My HJ is complete enough to bring along and I plan to check out the other J's for all those things my car is either missing or installed incorrectly. I'm sure that will be a long list!
For those unable to attend, keep an eye on this column as I will be posting notes and pictures from time to time.
Off to Gettysburg!
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Over 200 members and guests and 52 cars so far. Here's a picture of some of the show field.
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I am exited to arrive! I will be there Thursday to see the cars being judged. Looking forward to it!
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Two Aeros! Wish I could witness in person.
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Here's a rare car...it's a Kaiser Carabela, produced in Argentina. This one was used as a factory engineering car.
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Not just one Darrin...but six so far!
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Did you know KF built Rototillers as well?
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Took a Darrin for a drive after the business meeting and elections. The slate of officers stays the same for the next two years.
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Did you know KF built Rototillers as well?
Yes , Plus many More Products at Willow Run.
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First, thank you to everyone who voted to entrust me with the position of president for two more years. The KFOCI is a great club and I will work hard to lead the club into the future.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the current set of officers will remain in place:
Gordie Chamberlin - Vice President
Jennifer Dimmick - Secretary
Steve Hermesch - Treasurer
Some news from the various meetings...
There were four proposed changes to our club constitution and by-laws. One was eventually passed and it is to change the language requiring a magazine to be published quarterly. We have relaxed the requirement to state that at least one must be published per year.
Another proposal to better define vehicles the club recognizes was tabled due to language. In the proposal it stated "vehicles built after 1946", however, there were KF vehicles manufactured in 1946 (as 1947 model year cars) so the proposal was tabled so the author could revise it. He plans to resubmit next year.
Our 2016 convention will be held in Springfield, IL and the dates are July 10 thru 15. The host hotel will be the Northfield Inn and Suites which is located about four miles from the Lincoln presidential library, one of the places on our list to visit.
Tentatively, the 2017 convention will be held at Disneyland. We were last there in 1972 so it's time to see what's changed. More information about the 2017 convention as we draw closer to it.
About the 2015 convention itself, it was a great success with a total of 57 cars and about 225 people registered. Our hosts did a wonderful job of lining up interesting activities and with the battlefields of Gettysburg literally a mile up the road from the hotel, there was always something to see and do. The weather cooperated, although the temps were in the upper 80s and low 90s so staying hydrated was important. The meet saw something like 210 folks attend the banquet where both Bill Miller of Carlisle productions (hosts of the spring and fall Carlisle as well as the Zephyrhills/Lakeland swap meets) and Richard Langworth, author of The Last Onslaught on Detroit, spoke. If you missed their talks, you missed an interesting half hour!
Lastly, there's still alot of summer left and looking at the meet schedule I see there are four scheduled. If you're near one, please plan to attend. Our hosts will be glad you did!
Jim Lape
President
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I re-read my entry and realized I failed to mention a few other important items. First, we had several new members and first-time attendees at the convention. Charlie Zuck brought his beautifully restored Frazer Rototiller and together with the display provided by Bob Antram, showed folks what KF offered besides cars. (By the way, they also made dishwashers and one was on display in the hospitality room). In addition, the Snipes brought their unusual HJ station wagon to the meet. And, we also had a family attend from Argentina.
It was a busy week indeed!
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I to want to add my congrats to the hosts for a great job.
I hope more of the members can attend future conventions they are all great. We had a lot of fun and in a very historical location. I personally learned way more then I was taught in school about the civil war. If those that attended did not have a good time there is no hope for them.
I will be posting pictures of the convention as soon as I can and I will post the link here and in the bulitin.
Lee Abrahams LM # 1076
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I just spoke to our club secretary about memberships and here's an indication of how successful the national meet was. She personally accepted a dozen new and returning member applications at the meet. In addition, she got a few more in this week's mail - all as a result of folks attending the national meet. Word is getting out that our cars are unique and desirable and that, coupled with a great club, brought folks out.
While we typically have about a half dozen new members every month, to have this many join in the space of two weeks is worth noting!
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Good News... Wonderful .
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Good news! And people should know that they don't have to have a car to be in the club. I am currently KF-less :-[, but I had a great time at the meet.
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I have always tried to remind Folks if You sell Your K.F. W. Product ? Sell them on the Club & All the Things We have to Offer them.
Example : New or Used Car Dealership should always sell Service Department as well. Sooner or later You will need service no mater What Brand.
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At the national meet's Board of Directors meeting, the topic of paid advertising was discussed. The executive committee has decided to explore the possibility of allowing third party vendors (companies like restoration shops, supply companies, etc) to advertise in our monthly bulletin as well as possibly on our calendar and in the Quarterly. Because advertising is not one of my specialties, I'm looking for assistance from anyone who's a club member with a background in the business to help us get this off the ground.
So, if you have a background in either sales or print advertising and would like to help, please let me know.
I will be reaching out to the larger club audience with the same request in the October bulletin.
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In our Quarterly? What Quarterly? Can we expect one in our mailbox again any time soon?
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Yes, there will be a Quarterly. Larry Barker will be editing both it and the 2016 calendar, with help from several folks around the country. Both will be mailed together closer to the end of the year.
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As I write this, it feels more like the middle of summer rather than early September. Since we're enjoying temperatures in the mid 80s today I decided to get everything on the road. The Traveler, 53K and 54HJ all got some exercise this afternoon. We have a small farmers market a short drive from us so I drove the 53 to pick up some fresh sweet corn and as usual, when I returned to the car there were a couple guys scratching their heads as to what sat before them. I told them of KF and one chimed in that he had a relative with a Graham Paige. Close enough!
My point - even though for most of us, summer is on the wane, if the weather permits drive your Kaiser, Frazer, or Willys vehicle. You'll make new friends that way!
Something else I wanted to mention. For those who are members, did you see the number of new and returning members listed in this month's bulletin? The number - 19...yes 19! I attribute that to the convention where our secretary signed up several herself, folks finding KFs as affordable, and that the club itself has a lot to offer. So, get your car out and drive it. Exposure is key to getting the word out about the cars and the club!
Lastly, on the 20th of this month I will be attending a local Jeep show that's hosted by one of the folks who host the Midwest Willys Reunion. At the meet, we will be discussing the spring KF/ Midwest Willys Reunion joint meet. It's tentatively slated for the second full weekend in May of 2016 with the exact location to be determined. I will have more information after the meet and will be publishing a full itinerary in a future bulletin once we work out all of the details.
See you in Louisville!
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I regret to inform you that Muriel Tinsley of Murray, KY, passed away suddenly overnight. I learned of this from Sandy Fox of the Midwest Division. I have not been made aware of any arrangements.
You may remember Muriel as one of the hosts of last year's Midwest Division meet in Jackson, TN. Many of us were treated to an event in the middle of a cotton field where he taught those attending the art of "cotton pickin'".
Muriel also attended this year's convention in Gettysburg. He and his wife drove their Frazer from their home in Murray, Kentucky.
Attached are a few photos from the meet. Muriel will be missed.
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I'm saddened to hear of Muriel's passing. When I needed to replace the engine in my 54 Kaiser a year or so ago, Muriel contacted me and offered a great doner block, complete, cleaned, gone thru and painted. Arrived in wonderful shape bolted to a special shipping pallet he built for it. He was excellent to deal with and without his assistance, I'm not sure where I would have turned or had such a fantastic outcome. He didn't know me but stepped up to help a club member in distress.
That was the kind of guy Muriel was. God speed friend.
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Beginning this month, your news bulletin will no longer be stamped with a renewal notice. Instead, our club secretary will be sending a renewal reminder via email to those with due dates at least a month out. For those who don't have an email address on file, our secretary created a very colorful postcard reminder.
To gauge the email's effectiveness, she sent one two days ago to everyone's whose membership expired prior to August of this year. In the matter of about 12 hours, 14 people renewed thru our website and several more wrote to say they've mailed payment. I'd call that effective.
Just one way we're working to build and maintain membership!
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That's something that should have been implemented 2 years ago. What took so long?
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This not only a reminder , but also shows We want & Welcome You to stay in Our Club.
Wonderful !!!
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Here's what the post card looks like.
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Where's that "like" button?
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Here we are at almost the middle of October and I'm just getting around to my monthly message...I've had a busy few weeks!
At the end of last month, Jennifer and I attended the Midwest Meet in Louisville and my hat is off to our hosts. They did a wonderful job and kept us busy with many things to see and do in the Louisville area. If you've never attended a KF meet...or it's been a while since you have...I strongly encourage you to do so. Aside from taking in some of the local flavor, you'll also get the chance to get acquainted with some of your fellow members.
With the fall weather fast approaching, I've been working to get the cars ready for storage which sounds simple until you realize that I have five KF products to deal with. It's time consuming but when spring rolls around, it's all worthwhile when I get the chance to drive them again.
If you're one of those folks who spends the winter away from home, please be sure to contact out club secretary with your new mailing address. We want to be sure your club publications arrive on time.
Happy Halloween!
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An Addendum to my monthly message - per our club constitution, any proposed changes to our constitution must be received by the president (that would be me) no later than January 1. So, if you have a proposal, please put it together and send it my way before the first of January so that it can be included in the 2016 convention's business meeting agenda.
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For November, I was going to mention the weather turning for the worse...but here in Ohio that has yet to happen. Today, we saw a high temperature of 64 degrees, definitely not common for this time of year. Thanks to the good weather, I've been able to get more work done around the yard and barn and with any luck, I'll have everything done by the time the snow does fly.
As we near the end of the year, we're getting ready to send the 2016 club calendar to everyone who is a current full member. In addition, a new edition of our club magazine, the Quarterly, will be mailed as well. The magazine includes a section devoted to a hard copy roster. Look for both in your mailbox some time in the month of December.
Speaking of memberships, our club secretary has been hard at work following up with those whose memberships have expired. Attached is a photo of the face of a post card she had produced that's being sent to those with expired memberships going back several months. Her other post card mailing, reminding folks of their pending renewal has met with great success. I'm sure her campaign to bring back some of those with expired memberships will garner positive results as well. If so, she's going to be a very busy person!
Lastly, for those in the US, our Thanksgiving holiday is just a few weeks away. I'd like to wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
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For some reason, my president's message was not included in the December issue of the monthly news bulletin. So, I'm inserting it here.
With the holidays fast approaching, I'd like to take a moment a wish everyone a healthy and happy holiday season. The entire executive office team wishes you a prosperous 2016.
To date, I've only received one proposed change to our club's constitution and by-laws. If you have a change you'd like included for discussion at the 2016 convention, please send it to me no later than January 1.
It was recently brought to my attention that persons not associated with the KFOCI have been reproducing and selling images of our logo and other club manufactured items. In this instance, it is the Kaiser-Frazer Owners Club aluminum license plate plaque that is now appearing as a metal wall sign. From what I've been told, the club has no trademark or copyright on file for anything we now, or have in the past produced. If this is true, should the club copyright items we produce for our members? Let me know what you think, your opinion is valued.
Again, best wishes for a happy holiday season and we'll see you at a meet in 2016!
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I hope this is not what is being sold as a wall plaque!
These were the 2014 Convention Trophies.
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Here's the plaque I am referring to. It's an aluminum casting that was done in the 1960s before the club's name was updated. The attached image is of the sign being reproduced.
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I think that we should send warning letters to people who pirate our club material whether we have a copyright or not. They do not know if it is copyrighted but they don't want problems either. Most of these people are small time opportunists who are just trying to make a buck from some one else's good ideas. Years ago someone was selling copies of our written KFOC Handbooks on eBay. We really don't want anyone using or publishing our material that is not doing a project for the club.
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KFOCI should DEFINATELY copyright our name and logo, that is, if Kaiser Industries doesn't have claim to it. The Divco Club of America has a copyright on anything Divco since the company is no longer in business. No one is allowed to duplicate the Divco truck logo without going through the DCoA. We should have a similar situation. I'm not sure if the Divco truck image is included in the copyright or if that's public domain.
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For some reason, my president's message was not included in the December issue of the monthly news bulletin. So, I'm inserting it here.
Jim ... it was not included because I never received it from you.
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For some reason, my president's message was not included in the December issue of the monthly news bulletin. So, I'm inserting it here.
Jim ... it was not included because I never received it from you.
UPDATE: Thanks to some detective work by Carl Hering, the issue of Jim's missing email has been solved: emails sent to bulletin@kfclub.com were not forwarded from the club website. Jim Lape & webmaster Chris Luecht were notified, the problem was found, and should now be resolved. Thanks, Carl, for your help & keeping me informed.
If anyone else sent an email to bulletin@kfclub.com in the last few weeks that was not acknowledged please resend.
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Some time ago, I mentioned a joint meet that the Midwest Division of the KFOCI was planning with the Midwest Willys Reunion group. Within the last week, discussions between myself and the Willys team have resumed and more details are coming to light. So, I'd like to pass them along and encourage anyone who'd like to see "how the other half lives" and join us, even if you aren't in the club's Midwest Division.
The meet is tentatively planned for the second weekend in May of 2016 and will be held at the Holiday Inn in Effingham, Illinois. It's located just off Interstate 70 at N.Keller Drive. Many within the Willys group will be arriving on Thursday because for them, this is their national meet. Last year in Ohio there were about 100 registered attendees and their guests and I counted nearly 75 Willys built products.
At this year's show, we hope to have as many K-F built vehicles attend as possible and even if you can't bring a Kaiser or Frazer, attend and enjoy the opportunity to meet folks who are just as passionate about their favorite vehicle as we are with ours.
Discussions are ongoing about events at the show - the Willys group always has seminars that include restorations tips, the history of a particular model (I attended one about the history of the CJ3 models, very informative) as well as other things to do and together, we will be holding a banquet with the possibility of a speaker who I'm sure will appeal to everyone.
The meet will be commemorated with t-shirts and other collectibles and we will have a hospitality room open for folks to display their memorabilia. At a show several years ago, there was a room full of vintage toy Jeeps. I thought I had quite the collection - mine was nothing compared to what I saw there!
So, watch your club bulletin for more information. This will be your opportunity to show your support for not only the KFOCI but for the Willys group as well. Plan to attend, you will be glad you did!
More information will be posted here as well -> http://www.midwestwillysreunion.org/
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It would be great if this event could line up or back up to the Springfield Convention, I would love to attend both on the same plane ticket.
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Or how about a joint meet with them. It would double the amount of people and cars there and cut the cost of the meet for us in half!
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It's worth a try for our President to call and see, I think it's a great idea
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Gordie and Phil, give my entry another read...we ARE meeting with the Willys group. We're testing the water with the Midwest Division - if things go well there's always the possibility of a national meet tie-in.
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We are thinking of joint National meets.
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WHY!
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Why not? Willys and Kaiser-Frazer are related so why not explore the possibilities. Think of all the new potential members, the vehicles and the related memorabilia.
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So much for me missing the first paragraph. I hope it works out, I believe all will benefit!!
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and how will our club support all these potential new members with Willys or Jeep products (prewar or postwar)?. At present I know of no way to provide the level of info we can offer K-F, Allstate and Darrin owners.
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I assume people like this who wanted to join KF would already belong to the Willys Club, and would be joining KF for reasons other than technical support which they can get from their other club. At any rate, we wouldn't want to discourage membership in KFOCI would we?
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I hav been a member about a year. The club, especially the CD provided with technical information has been very helpful. I have seen some concern that the club is waning. Shoot, I'm in my 60's and am just joining! But when I bought my 54 Manhattan it was (in part) to replace the 51 Willys wagon I sold to my son-in law. He's in his 40's. He also owns a Crosley which had been his grandfather's. Joint meets, especially among enthusiasts of "orphan" makes seems a great idea to me. I also have a Studebaker, and have owned Peugeots and Alfas. Hats off to Joe for being the club ombudsman that he is. He seems to be online constantly and always seems to encourage. I for one think joint meets with a less parochial spirit would be good for the club and the old car hobby overall. My car is not a pristine example, in fact I am fond of the patina of survival. So on a showfield mine would not point out well, but my grandkids pile in it and enjoy the ride, I pick up friends and cruise to out of town eateries down quaint 2 lane roads. Tours would be good stuff too. As to newsletters, I wonder the value of the printing and postage. Online communication about meets, items for sale and member updates would be just as effective. A quarterly color missive with technical info or showcasing either survivors or quality restorations would be of interest.
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Each year our demographics move to higher percentages of over 55; what is the club doing about trying to get younger members into the club? All I see is trying to get willys and jeep owners to join, with the owners disappointed that we do nowhere near the level or technical support for their vehicles compared to KF. It's not that we don't want to, the original factory materials have never been there the way Kaiser-Frazer paperwork (confidential bulletins, parts & accessories info, etc) is. That's why the Handbook is Willys short.
Having been in the club for over 40 years and looking at what seems to work to build membership, we need to do the following as a group;
those with running cars should make every effort to take their K-F products to local or area car shows of a general nature. Try to get as many owners as you can to attend & set up a meeting point so you get there as a group and make the effort to park as a group. Make sure someone is always with the cars so that there is someone for the general public to talk to. A lot of times, those possibly interested in ownership (especially younger people) get turned off because there are no cars. To them (and I have talked to a lot of these kind of people) no cars means nobody has any and there are no parts available. We know better and need to tell people, as well as show them pages from a PRINTED bulletin (mailed or pages printed off an email version) so they can see actual selling prices for cars and parts. They'll usually find prices are a lot less than they expected.
If you see a new owner at a general show, invite them to come and visit to find out more about the club if they don't already know about it.
What do you think the muscle car clubs, mustang and camero clubs are doing, among other groups?
Of course, mentioning this here does little good; the last numbers I have seen indicated there are less than 200 people signed up for the forum, and a fair number of them know about the club but won't join for whatever reason.
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I'd like to wish everyone here a very Merry Christmas! 2015 has been a great year and I know we're all looking forward to a happy holiday season and a prosperous 2016.
So, to everyone who visits this site - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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A hearty second to the Club President, one and all, Merry Christmas and a Happy and safe New Year. Looking forward to meeting more members at the Illinois gathering this year. I will have something Frazer there.
Scott K
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2016 to all the KFOCI folks.
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Happy holidays to all!
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Merry Christmas to Everyone in Our Wonderful Club.
Hope Everyone has a Safe Happy New Year... :)
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I hope everyone had a merry Christmas, filled with fond memories, and I wish Members and visitors alike a Happy New Year, I hope 2016 brings all you wish for, but most importantly good health and safe passage for you and your loved ones !!!!
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Got a great book for Christmas. Here is the website: http://www.visitelginpark.com/
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I have an idea for another good book, BUILT TO BETTER THE BEST, from MT Publishing off their website. It's the history of Kaiser-Frazer Corporation some of its related operations and so on.
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Yep, have that one, and Last Onslaught, of course.
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A quick update. As many of you know, the spring Midwest meet will be held in conjunction with the Midwest Willys Reunion in Effingham, IL. The dates have been established - May 19 thru 21, 2016 and the host hotel will be the Holiday Inn. I'm meeting with the Willys folks after the first of the year to work thru the registration process, as well as banquet, t-shirt, and other details. Look for more information here and in the bulletin.
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Update #2 - To gauge interest in the spring Midwest meet, an email was sent those in the Midwest Division with an email address on file. If you didn't get one from me, it's either because we don't have a valid email address on file or you aren't a member in the division. So, if you're one of those and you think you may be attending the meet in May, please email me at president@kfclub.com. This is not a commitment on your part to attend, it's just so I can give our partner organization, the Midwest Willys Reunion group, a rough idea as to the number of KF members attending. A formal announcement of the meet will be in the February news bulletin.
This will be a great opportunity to meet new friends, possibly gather some new members, and see some nicely restored Willys products. The Reunion folks are as passionate about their vehicles as we are with ours so this is your chance to meet some great people and enjoy a great weekend.
Happy 2016 to all!
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The President of course, is aware that, for various reasons many members of the Midwest Division do not utilize e-mail or chose not to provide their email address to the club. As a result, the mailing he speaks of was limited in terms of percentage of Midwest Division members.
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Just a reminder that the Sunshine Region meet is this coming weekend. If you've not registered, you're still welcome to visit with us at the Carlisle Events car show and swap meet in Lakeland. Check your bulletin for more information
See you there!
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Hope to see some of you on Friday.
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A quick report on the Sunshine Region meet...25 cars, 70 plus members and guests at the banquet and seven new members. A great meet!
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Love the two '51 Frazer convertibles next to each other!
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It was great to meet a few of the members there. Loved George's HJ wagon.
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A great meet! 109 at the final meal.Beautiful KF cars,Perfect weather. One to remember!
Does any one know the donor of the roof section of the Henry J station wagon? It looks like a 51 Chevy.
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The owner, George told me feels it is from an early 50's ford wagon.
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The rear upper hatch on the J came from a 53 Ford and the tail lights are Packard. I crawled under the car when it was at the national meet and under the rear HJ bumper is a 38 Ford unit. Not sure why the builder put one on top of the other, but there it is.
The build quality of the car is quite good. The existing HJ floor pan was used and they built the rear section up from it.
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A side note. Was just reading a few old Pres messages. What happened to the ides from Feb 2014 to start profiling members in the newsletter? Sound like a great idea to me.
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About member profiles, space issues in the monthly bulletin meant they would only be printed when room was available. So, once the new club website is in place and we have the members only section up and running, the plan is to house the stories online for our members to read.
So, the idea has not been forgotten!
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I have been informed that the latest edition of the Quarterly as well as the roster are being mailed. Look for them in your mailbox soon!
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Spring has sprung and the flowers are growing! That means its time to get your KF out of the garage and ready for car show season. I'm working to have my Darrin ready for the national meet - if it does make it to the show, it'll be there in barn-find condition. So far, I've rebuilt the fuel sending unit, water pump, fuel pump, had the gas tank relined, the radiator flushed and the brakes are in the middle of a rebuild. Oh, and I have new tires waiting for the freshly painted rims to dry. I'm also refreshing the generator and starter as well. Did I mention the needed bodywork after a meeting with a deer in 1974? Looks like I'm going to be busy!
I mention this because I'd like to see everyone, including all of you lurkers, attend a KF meet this summer. There's the spring Midwest meet where we'll gather with the Willys folks in Effingham, IL, and later in the summer our convention will be in Springfield, IL. In between there are meets in New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, and California so it looks like we have both coasts, as well as the center of the country covered!
The club is the sum of its members and it's only as successful as you want it to be. Attend a meet and support the club and your meet hosts. You will be glad you did.
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About member profiles, space issues in the monthly bulletin meant they would only be printed when room was available.
And only when submitted in the proper format (Word doc, not PDF).
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With just a month until our national convention, I thought I'd post a brief plug for the meet. I heard from one of the hosts and have been told there are about 150 members registered so far and about 50 cars promised. This is shaping up to be a great meet so plan now to attend - even if only for a day or two. You will be glad you did!
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I will be driving through on a road trip, unfortunately the week after it ends! I am very sad about this. I made the last one in Gettysburg and it was good.
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With just little over a week until we meet for the 58th annual convention of the Kaiser-Frazer Owner's Club, I would like to again encourage anyone interested to attend the meet - even if for only a day. Any KF meet is always a great event, but our national convention always bring cars out that are seldom seen, as well as vendors with those hard to find goodies. At least year's meet I found an NOS package shelf for my 54 Henry J - an item considered unobtainium. I know we'll have many vendors attending with rare items - and I'm even planning to bring a few boxes of goodies to sell.
So again, if you're still undecided I hope this helps sway your decision to attend!
See you in Springfield!
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I have already heard from several members who are on their way to the convention. Your club secretary and I will be leaving on Saturday morning, with a stop in South Bend, IN to check out the Cubs minor league team as they play the team from Bowling Green. We hope to arrive in Springfield on Sunday afternoon. I'm bringing a stack of NOS door panels to sell, most fit the early cars, but I think there's an NOS Aero panel or two in the mix as well. I also have other odds and ends that includes a supercharger. Hope to see you there!
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It's been a while since my last post so I thought I'd catch up. If you didn't attend the convention, you missed a great meet. Somewhere near 50 cars and quite a few parts vendors kept the car folks happy, while for those with other ideas, everything related to Abe Lincoln and Route 66 was just a few minutes away. Nearly 200 members and their guests enjoyed a busy week!
Once back from the convention, I got back into working on both the Darrin and Henry J. While the interior in the HJ was brand new, it didn't fit well - the door panel slots for the retainer clips were miscut so I had to recut each one and test fit as I went. I finally have the panels in place and next up is the headliner. We'll see how that goes!
I recently bought a three acre parcel near my current home and with the lot came two large buildings. I'm working now to get them ready for the influx of Kaisers and parts. I have my work cut out for me...
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I just noticed - 23,000 + views - this is pretty good for a so-called small club's President Message on a forum where many members don't visit.
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As club president, it's my privilege to be aware of things happening "behind the scenes" within the organization. One of those things that you may also be aware of are the updates that have been taking place on our main website, kfclub.com. A new look, along with new navigation means a fresh appearance for the club's web presence. What you don't see is all of the work that goes into making it happen. With nearly 2000 member records to move from our old system to the new, much of this has to be manually reconciled since most of the data is out of date. What was projected to be a few month's worth of part-time work has turned into nearly a year long endeavor. I'm glad to say that, aside from some minor updates, the work has been completed.
So, what does this mean for those who are club members? You now have access to your own membership information and can update it as needed. This information is directly tied to the data used to do things like send emails when your membership is due for renewal, as well as for use with mailings. So, it's important that you keep your information current...especially if you're one of those folks who likes to spend the winter months in a different location.
I would like to publicly thank our webmaster for doing the work to get the membership records into the new system. He not only volunteers his time with us, but also works full-time as well as spending as much time as possible with his family.
In addition, I would like to thank our club secretary for assisting where needed to get the job done. From supplying current member information via spreadsheets, to completing ad-hoc changes in the system, to providing change system enhancement requests, she's worked tirelessly to ensure what you as a member see, meets your needs.
So, please take a moment to review your member information. If access is an issue, please contact the club webmaster at webmaster @kfclub.com. Also, look around on the site, with daily updates you'll soon see much more information available at your fingertips!
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Joe, your the only guy on line....I haven't figured out this site yet but I joined because I,have a 51
Frazer that is complete, good body, and restorable. I would like to know its value and sell it to,a restorer. I need some help and I'm pretty sure one of your members would like to know about it.
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I definitely appreciate all the volunteer work that is done for the Club. Thank you all for taking the time away from your family and work.
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This month, a little more about our club's website.
Every few days I hear from folks who are unable to access our club's new website. Most say the same thing...I'm getting the email bulletin so why can't I access the website? This happens because the website's database for verifying your email address is using either an incorrect or out of date email address. And, the list our bulletin editor uses to email your bulletin is not shared so our website admin has no idea the addresses differ. So, if you're experiencing issues accessing the website itself, contact our club secretary by email and tell her that you would like your email address updated in the system. Once that's done, you'll then need to log in at kfclub.com using the "Forgot password" link so you can set up your own password. It takes just a few minutes and will give you access to the entire site.
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In 1964 my father had the opportunity to purchase a 1954 Manhattan. While it was a well-used car, it was a one owner vehicle...well, sort of. The seller was actually the local Buick garage who, until 1955 was a Kaiser-Frazer dealer. They never sold the Manhattan but instead, kept it as a parts runner for the dealership. By the time my father bought the car, it had amassed something like 200,000 miles and was well worn. He replaced the engine and transmission and had Earl Scheib paint the lower half of the body and we used it as a weekend car. In 1984 he gave me the car and three engines later, it now has well over 300,000 miles on it.
Today, I decided to drag it out of the barn and give it a bath. I say drag because the engine in the car has a badly cracked block and needs replaced. So, I now have a decision to make...do I go the route of yet another 226, or do I go modern and drop in a small block GM engine and automatic OD transmission. I've got a decision to make!
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Just one guys opinion - that is such a nice car and it has a known history, I would do all I could to make it stock. These cars are becoming rarer especially in that fine condition you would be doing your part to persevere the history of this fine automobile. If you think the car would be worth more money with a small block in it, last time I looked the market for "hot rod Kaisers" was down. This is only my opinion for what it's worth, I personally look at old "stock" cars differently than those with modern running gear.
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Joe, my thought is to modernize it with any engine you like, but how about a Jeep power-plant/ trany? None of my cars were bought/ built for resale value so do as you please, I am with my HenryJ's.
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It's that time of year again - time to start looking forward to the holiday season. Here in the states, we have the Thanksgiving holiday near the end of November that traditionally kicks off the whole holiday theme. Soon, many of us will be gathering with friends and family and enjoying their company. And, not long from then, we will celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah (or both like we did) and then look forward to the new year.
So, take some time to think about all that you've done over the past year and all there is to look forward to. It's not just the cars and the car shows, it's the new friends you made, the old friendships you rekindled, and the warmth of being with them and your family.
Please accept my best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season!
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As we approach the new year, it's time to start thinking about proposed changes to our club's constitution and by-laws. If you have a proposed change, please send it to me by January 31, the cut-off date for submissions. Please include the Article and Section number you are referring to in your submission. I will accept snail or email submissions.
All submissions will be printed in a future news bulletin prior to this summer's convention. At the convention, all submissions will then be reviewed and voted on by the general membership.
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I have been informed that the 2017 KF Club calendars have been mailed. Owing to the last minute Christmas rush, I'm sure the post office will get them delivered in due time.
Let us know when yours arrives!
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Mine arrived in CA yesterday, looks real nice.
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Ours arrived in Vermont Monday 12/19, good job!
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Got mine in South Carolina.
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Got mine today in Jefferson Colorado-------Not the end of the World, but you can see it from here!!! Excellent!!!!
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Arrived today in the space capital of the world. Great calendar.
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Calendar arrived last week here in Canada. Merry Christmas.
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looks like mine
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on second though, it looks like Lee's
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Received mine today, very nicely done.
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Got My calendar Today.
Wonder when We will get the Membership register?
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year...
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Showed up in Yakima. Envelope looked like it was used as a floor mat but the quarterly looks great!
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Mine showed up on Dec 24th and is very nice. A great job done by Jill Jordan and Larry Barker of the Desert Region. There are over fifty illustrations and if you would like to see your car appear in the Calendar next year bring it to the National meet in Prescott. They do not have to be restored as you can tell by the Allstate on the December page.
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Hope they get to Ohio soon. My son hasn't got his either. I only have 1 more day I can use 2016 Calendar.
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I'd like to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous new year. May 2017 bring you health and happiness!
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I would like to add my wishes for everyone to have a healthy and safe 2017.
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Calendar made it to Ohio today and I still haven't got to see it because now I am in Arizona. Maybe I will visit Larry Barker and see if he has any extras to sell. They are having a Desert meet here on January 22.
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Received mine a week ago, sorry I did not report. Can't Larry spell check before he prints? Several last names misspelled. And how long has he been in the KF club and he calls it a Willys Arrow? C'mon, Larry, I'm glad you do the calender but I dunno if I can forgive Willys Arrow!
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To those who may know Karen Barker, wife of Michael, our club's parts auctioneer at national conventions - she is recovering well after a kidney transplant. Karen had a transplant in the late 1970s and as anyone who's familiar with the process knows, the lifespan of a transplanted kidney is typically 20 years or less. So, to go almost 40 years is a miracle, and to find a match in her time of need is yet another blessing.
Karen will remain in the hospital for a day or two but expects to be back on the golf course as soon as the snow melts, or when the doctor says she can return to snowbirding in Florida, which ever comes first.
Just thought I'd pass along some good news!
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I am sad to report that on February 2, Norman Campbell, member #1218 passed away. For those who have been members for a number of years, you'll probably remember Norm as always having a camera by his side. In fact, many of the club's early meet photos were taken by him.
Norm was a good friend to many, including myself. He will be missed.
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It seems I've fallen a bit behind in posting a monthly message! So, to catch up, the Darrin is nearing completing and with any luck will be on the road by the end of May. The Henry J is road worthy and has seen a few trips around town to shake out the last few bugs. The rest of the fleet has had their spring tuneups and when time and weather permit, they'll see the road as well.
I'd also like to take the opportunity to encourage you to attend this year's club convention in Prescott, Arizona. Our meet hosts have gone to great lengths to line up interesting things to do in the area so you owe it to not only them, but yourself to attend. The news bulletin has more information. In addition, this is an election year and all of the executive offices are up for election/re-election. Your vote is important and you can only do so in person so please be there! Better yet, throw your name in the ring for an office, the club needs folks to step up to the plate and get involved! As of today, there are approximately 60 registrations and about 30 cars (doesn't sound like a lot, but that's normal for this date).
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Wow...it's the middle of June already! With the convention fast approaching, I would like to take a moment and thank all of you for supporting me over the last four years. I am not seeking re-election, but I will maintain a presence in the club as the immediate past president. The upside of my new title will be that I will now have a vote on the board of directors (our constitution says the president has no vote except to break a tie). I look forward to introducing some new thoughts and ideas to create some excitement within the club. Sure, kicking tires at meets has it's place, but increasingly, many members want to do something different. If you're one of those think about these possibilities:
- Joint meets with other clubs. We've done this at a Division level to much success. It might be time to consider it at a national level as well.
- Off season meets. The AACA holds a winter meet in Philadelphia every year that's well attended. Folks gather not to look at another old car, but to renew friendships and discuss club matters. I'm not saying we need to meet where coats and gloves are needed, but a meet where the membership comes first is an idea with merit.
- Or, better yet, how about a cruise to your favorite port of call with a number of your fellow KFOCI members? Other clubs do it so why can't we? Of course, all the guys think Cuba and old cars, but there are many places I'm sure quite a few members would like to see.
Anyway, just a few thoughts to get the creative juices flowing.
And, one more plug...if you haven't yet registered for the convention do it today. You'll be glad you did!
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Wishing everyone an enjoyable holiday today - please take a moment to reflect on what it means and the freedoms earned.
We'll see you in Prescott!
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With the national convention just a few days away, I thought I'd give everyone some insight as to what's discussed at our meetings - for those who can't attend.
Every year, we talk about the club's health, the budget, and any changes we'd like to make to it's governing charter - the Constitution and By-Laws. We also talk about future sites for the convention as well as the events to be held at the annual gathering.
This year, we're also holding elections. All four national offices are up for election/re-election and so far, a few folks have expressed an interest in holding an office. This brings to mind a few thoughts that I have - and I'd like your opinion.
1. Should we impose term limits for elected offices? What about for appointed positions?
2. Should we allow a person to hold more than one office and/or position within the club?
And, should the club consider creating a marketing manager position? This person's job would be to actively market the club using any available media source (social, print, etc). A few responsibilities for the position could include:
- Contacting TV stations and newspapers for coverage at national (and maybe Division) meets.
- Develop advertising for use on social media as well as in print.
- Develop a cross marketing campaign with other "orphan" car clubs for possible joint meets.
Give me your thoughts!
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I'm writing this as my tenure as your club president comes to an end. My new title within the club will be 'Immediate Past President' which gives me back my board and executive committee votes - something I look forward to exercising.
Four years as president taught me quite a bit. First, not everyone has ambitions which are for the club's good. Conversely, there are quite a few members who, quietly behind the scenes, did much more to further the name of the KFOCI than most folks will ever know. I can only hope those who don't act in the best interest of the club realize the err of their ways and move forward in a positive way.
As president, I've had the opportunity to meet many great people. I've made friends with car show and swap meet organizers, rubbed elbows with presidents from other clubs, and worked with countless members to help them with whatever I could. And, along the way, I've attended national, division, and regional meets across the country where again, I've met lots of great people and did a lot something I never get tired of, seeing lots of Kaiser, Frazer, and Willys products.
While the KFOCI isn't as mighty in number as it once was - a comment that can be applied to just about any organization like ours - I believe it is in a strong position. Our balance sheet is excellent, we have a manufacturing fund that offers many KF and W goodies, and we have a core group who really care about its future. A good place to be.
And, my hat is off to our club secretary for stepping up to the plate four years ago and taking on what is arguably the toughest job in the club. She learned as she went along, she was instrumental in getting the club website updated, and she also endured the trials and tribulations that goes with the job. I cannot thank her enough and if you get the chance, please pass along your thanks to her as well.
Lastly, please welcome our new president, vice president and secretary to their roles (our treasurer is staying on). They're inheriting a legacy that has a strong future but it can only remain as such with your help. Please do so.
I am going to lock this topic because I want my final entry to be seen - your comments are welcome, send me an email.
Regards,
Jim Lape
Immediate Past President