February 2003, Volume 6, Issue 1

General Meeting - February 4th, 2003
The meeting was called to order by the President, Ted Bechtel at 7:05pm.

Les Griffin was with us for a second time. He has not joined the Club as of yet, but he seems very interested. He also attended our Super Bowl Party. There was someone present we haven't seen in some time and Ted asked him to introduce himself. Gordon Tackitt has been a member of our Club for about two years. He has a White '76 Trans Am. With Gordon was Greg Edmondson. He said he was Gordon's mechanic.

Ted asked Dean and Tammy Yeager to re-introduce themselves so everyone would know who they are. They have a 2000 burgundy Trans Am. They are Leo's activity committee.

Ted asked, in lieu of a Trans Script this past month, would Irene please read the minutes from the last meeting. Because I didn't have my glasses my husband, you all know as J.O., read the minutes for me. With no corrections to the minutes they were approved as read.

J.O. then gave the Treasurer's report.

Old Business:

Leo gave a report on the activities for January.

On January the 26th we had a Pizza Party. It just so happened that the Superbowl was played on that same day. It was a very lopsided game: Raiders 21 and the Buccaners 48. Allen Blanchfield won the first quarter pool. Rose a quest of C.C.'s, won the second. 3rnd quarter, Dean and Tammy Yeager and 4th quarter Dennis & Terry Trimble. Each quarter paid $25.

Most of the TA's caravanned from Levitz to the Pizza Parlor on Mather Field Road. We had eight Trans Ams, and according to Leo, we had 4 OTTA's. (Other Than Trans Ams). We had a good crowd and a whole table full of pizzas. Everyone chipped in $6 each for the pizzas and the Club bought the sodas. Leo said the recipient of the award had left already but he was going to make up one for the person who ate the most pizza. This of course was Paul Gershon, 5 year old son of Paula and Dave.

New Business:

AutoRama:
Auto Rama is February 7th, 8th, and 9th. We have thirteen cars entered. Cars need to be at Cal Expo on Thursday. February 6th by 4pm for set-up. Those who have entered the show will receive two parking permits and two free admissions to the show.

Valentine Brunch:
February 16th at the Radisson Hotel just off Highway 160. It is on the south side of the freeway at the exit that goes to the big post office. The price quoted at the last meeting was incorrect. Leo didn't realize that the tax and gratuity were not included in the quoted price. The amount will be $28 for adults and $15.95 for children. This is an `all you can eat' brunch. Champagne will also be served. This will not be a private room but an area will be marked off for our Club.

Meet at Levitz parking lot at 9am and leave at 9:30am so that we will arrive at the hotel by 10am. That is when they start serving brunch. Our cars will be parked around the fountain in the front of the hotel and room for a couple under the car port. This will give our Club some exposure and we may be able to hang our banner.

Planned Activities for this year


Angel's Camp and Moaning Caves- 3/8

St Patrick's Day Chili Cook Off - 3/16

San Francisco/ Teady Bear Factory - 4/12

Budweiser/ Jelly belly Faxctory/ Outlets - 4/27

Poker Run - 5/11

Hell's Gates in Grant Pass, Oregon - 5/24-25
This is an air boat run down the river and stop on the way back for a steak dinner.

Crawdad Festival - 6/14

Firebird Extravaganza - 6/28-29

Garlic Festival - July

Hot August Nights in Reno- August

River Cats - August

Fairfield Car Show - 9/20

There was a lengthy discussion on having Trans A Rama. Dante' wants to change it to June and change the name to Firebird Extravaganza. The Club members seemed to want to have our regular Trans A Rama again this year. We have had several inquiries from last years participants and all seem willing to work to make it happen. It has always been in July and we would like to keep it at the same time.

Ted received the dates for the Drag Nights. We will only have three this coming year. Dates are May 7th, June 11th, and July 23rd, the last is the Pontiac vs. Mopar night.

Dave Gershon asked about the S.L.P. show. They do two or three of these each year in different parts of the country. The event for the west coast this year will be in April and held in Palmdale, California. Included in this event is their Customer Appreciation Day where lots of goodies are given away and a day at the track is included. You just need to go to their web site and register - no charge. They would like us to come down as a Club.

Ted asked the membership how many people have been on our Web Site and quite a few have. The problem is that we are not using the message board enough. If we do not use the message board the size will be reduced. Dave Gershon proposed that those who have access to the message board invite those members who do not, to come over to their home. Show them how to get on the message board and let them post something. The message board is a tool for anyone, not just club members, to view and see what our Club is doing. We have a general chat, a technical section, one for each generation of cars where people can post questions and have someone knowledgeable to answer them. Ted said that in these categories we have been getting questions not only from the United States but all over the world. We do not want to lose this item of information for our Club.

J.O. said that he had received 2003 dues from Mark Iriarte's folks wanting to keep Mark's membership going. J.O. and Ted discussed this and they would like to return Mark's dues back to Mr. & Mrs. Iriarte and establish a memorial membership for Mark. This would leave Mark on the Club roster and allow them to receive the Trans Script. J.O. said he would return the dues and let Mr. & Mrs. Iriarte know of the memorial membership and they are welcome to join us for any of our events they choose to participate in.

There was a discussion on the Club Credit card. This is a card that J.O. secured in his name and the Trans Am Club of America. It is to be used only when the Club is required to reserve services for dinners or activities. In the case of rooms, they are only held for a certain length of time and then they are taken off the reserved list and are open for other people. In the case of a Club dinner where they must have the count in advance the card may be used. However, anyone making a reservation must pay even if they do not attend.

Ted said the next order of business was something that would benefit him. It has to do with the Club Trans Script. Currently Ted is the only one that has the Publisher program that is used to run the paper. This was installed on Ted's computer and the person took his disk with him. Dave Gershon mentioned that the Club should purchase our own program to be completely legal, cost is $90. With tax, shipping and handling the total cost would be $102.16. It was put to the Club to purchase this program. It passed and we will purchase it.

Ted proposed that since the Club realizes benefits from participation in the Auto Rama, the Club might reimburse the registration fee of $35 for those members entering their cars in the show. The cost of thirteen cars would be $455. Some members paid the $50 dollars extra to be entered into the "To Be Judged" category. After discussion, with input from several members that planned to participate, it was decided that a precedent would be established that could include other car shows. The participants indicated that they would pay the entry fees to show their cars whether reimbursed or not. The Club voted not to refund any of the registration fees. The motion was made by Ted Klein, seconded by Dave Gershon to give $100 to Leo for supplies to set up the display. Motion carried.

The President asked Dean Yeager if he was still interested in the position of Competition Director. Dean said he was and he was appointed to fill that position.

Dave Gershon said we really need to do something about the news letter. We have been without the Trans Script for three months. Ted has been so busy with his job and trying to get his Trans Am back in running condition that he just hasn't had time to do it. It does take a lot of time and up to this point he has been doing an excellent job. We need someone who has the time and would like to do the news letter. Irene said she would like to do it if Ted would give her a lot of help in learning the process. We need to get the program loaded down in the Raff's computer. Ted said the program really isn't that hard to learn and he would help. He has the printer and it takes about ten hours to run the 60 copies of the letter. He said that if I could get the letter ready for print he would print it until we can make arrangements to have a printer in our home.

Gordon Tackitt mentioned that he knew of another club, it is the Bullet Mustang Club, that would like to get together with our Club and make a run to Hearst Castle. It could be a fun run. He said he wasn't saying we should do this with them However it is along way down there and has always been a three day trip.

Terry and Dennis Trimble picked up a bright red WS-6 convertible from Reliable. Terry had been drooling over it for a month and Dennis finally gave in. It is really a beauty.

With no further business J.J. made the motion we adjourn, seconded by C.C. Meeting was adjourned at 8:50pm

Respectfully submitted - Irene Raff, Secretary.