December 2008, Volume 11, Issue 12


General Meeting - December 6, 2008

The Annual Meeting and Christmas Party of the Trans Am Club of America, Golden State Chapter, was held at the Buggy Whip Restaurant in Sacramento on December 6th, 2008 at 7:00 PM as designated in the October 2008 minutes.

The meeting was completely social as a grand total of 13 TACA GCA Club members and Trevor Vollstedt gathered around our table. We came prepared with gifts for our usual “Steal” Exchange Game and we were especially pleased to have Jim Prinzivalli, who traveled all the way from Antioch, CA, with us.

Our first disappointment was the room was not set up as we had expected, probably because we didn’t have the 20 people that we had hoped for. We had arranged for a semi-private room, at the front of the restaurant that had an almost private door, and was to be decorated. Our table was set up at the back of the room with a slightly larger party in the area we had been promised, three small additional 4 chair tables crowded in, no tree or decorations plus traffic of the serving staff. The management denies that there was a room charge but it is included in the banquet menu. The staff did what they could for us but the manager didn’t even bother to introduce himself.

Our second disappointment was realized when our meals were served. The soup and salad were average quality but the majority of the “sirloin” steaks were sent back to the kitchen, some twice, because they were undercooked. I say “sirloin” because they did not resemble any sirloin that I have previously been served. I finally drowned mine in steak sauce to cover the rare appearance. Robert and Fay ordered Prime Rib and got what they expected. The baked potato and bread was good but no vegetable was provided. Since no dessert was included, we were all provided dessert “on the Club”. You can’t screw up vanilla or spumoni ice cream and cake too bad.

A third disappointment was the price. Already as expensive as it was, we were aware that the price we were quoted on the Banquet menu included entree, soup, salad, tax, gratuity and room rent but later learned that the Buggy Whip was offering a 2 for $32.00 special on the sirloin and 2 for $40.00 special on the New York steak.

We finished up our evening with our “Steal” gift exchange. Even though the space was limited, we persevered and had a pretty good time after all. Wal-mart was well represented by the presents exchanged.

Respectfully Submitted: J.O. Raff, Treasurer.

TACA, GSC Meeting Place and Time.

Club Meetings will be held at Denny's Restaurant, 3520 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, CA at 7:00 PM on the first Wednesday of each month. Anyone with an interest in the Pontiac Firebird, Trans Am, Formula or Firehawk is welcome to attend.

Birthdays.

Irene Raff, Dec. 31th
Dennis Trimble, Jan. 4th
Paula Gershon , Jan. 19th
Debbie Lamaison, Jan. 26th
Robert Holland, Feb. 9th
Lourdes Apilado, Feb. 11th

Upcoming Events: 2009.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING - 1/7/09
Meet at 7:00 - 9:00 PM, Denny's Restaurant, 3520 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento, CA.

SUPER BOWL PARTY - 2/1/09
Sunday, February 1st, 2:00 PM, The Station, 1100 Orlando Avenue, (Highway 80 at the Auburn Blvd/Riverside Ave. exit, Auburn Blvd side), Roseville, CA.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING - 2/4/09
Meet at 7:00 - 9:00 PM, Denny's Restaurant, 3520 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento, CA.

VALENTINE'S DAY BRUNCH - 2/14/09
Saturday, February 14th, Meet at 11:30 AM, Thunder Valley Casino Feast Buffet.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING - 3/4/09
Meet at 7:00 - 9:00 PM, Denny's Restaurant, 3520 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento, CA.

AST PATRICK'S DAY BRUNCH - 3/15/09
Sunday, March 15th, Meet at Kmart Parking Lot, Rancho Cordova, (tentatively) 9:30 AM, depart 10:00 AM for Jackson Rancheria Casino, Jackson, CA.