Editorial Comment
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AL March-April1993 Issue Number 143 EDITORIAL COMMENT The last thing you want to hear about, I'm sure, is another attack on your wallet. l reserve for myself the first words in each Journal, so let me use them to tell you what is most im portant for - th e continued well-being of our Society: dues are going to have to go up. Your directors met on April third, in Mequon, Wisconsin, and wrestl ed with the issues confronting our organi zati on, chi ef among them o ur financial well-being. Many of you had written in response to my last editorial, and your counsel was valu able to the board in reachin g th eir decision. Your letters contai ned a commo n thread: we sho ul d not mortgage the future of the Society by deficit spend DUES TO RISE FOR '94 ing. And since we have not worked out any sure-fire fund-raising "FLAT" STRUCTURE TO REMAIN scheme to erase the projected ncar-$6,000 deficit, even after cut ting expenses to the bone, it was unanimously agreed that dues The Society's directors, at their April third meeting, voted to would be raised to $25.00, beginning in the 1994 membership year. increase the annual membership dues to $25.00, e ffective with the This is our first such increase in over ten years, and the 1994 membership year. This is the first increase in over ten years, directors felt it should be as modest as possible, giv en the realities and was adopted in order to keep pace with necessary expenses, the of in come and outgo. At our present level of membership, it will majority of which result from the Society's publications. As before, deal with about half the annual deficit, and it is reasonable to dues are charged to a ll active members; honorary, li fe, and founder ex pect that the silent auction may make up the other half. The members are not required to pay annual dues. board will re-evalu ate the situation at next year's spring meetin g. The directors gave consideration to a postal surcharge, to While twe nty five per cent is a larger increase than desirable, it is partially offset the additional costs of mailing publi cati o ns and very much needed and it is hoped that the whole membership will other materi als to members li ving outside the U nited States, but continue to feel they get the ir money's worth from SAH. dcciced not to adopt such a measure at this tim e. Dues for a ll active Feelings were less united on the matter o f a poss ible postal members will be $25 .00, and will be reflected in th e 1994 renewal surcharge for non-US members. Some directors fe lt that the notices, to be mailed in ovember of this year. Society should charge each member in relation to what it cost to serv e him or her; others were convinced that o ur " flat" dues structure contributed to our being very much a worldwide organi zati on, and that we sho uld do a ll we could to perpetuate and exte nd SO CAL PLANS ELEVENTH LITF AIRE that attribute. The latter view prevai led in the voting, but the issue will lik ely be debated again. The feelings of a recent European The Society's Southern Califo rni a Chapter has a nn o un ced member pretty well sum up the directors' vote: " I don't mind to its eleventh Literature Fa ire and Exchange, an automotive litera pay a little more for membership, being a non-American membe r. ture and a uto mobili a swap meet, in Pasadena on Sunday,June27, The policy to open up SAH for no n-Ame ri cans by maintai ning 1993. equal dues worldwide, however, i a gall ant one, to be prai cd ..... For The Faire, being held at Pasadena City Coll ege parking lots, some of us it is already a punishment to be intcrc ted in parts of US on Hill Avenue at the corner of Colorado Bo ul evard, will host a automotiv e hi story and li ve outside the USA, making all work even great number of vendors; many of last year's sell ers have already more o f a chore ." The member refers to the fact that in most cases reserved their spaces, and chairman Jeff Minard expects th e 20 x 20 there are substa ntial currency exchange commissions to be paid by foot spaces may sell out by the first of June, as they did las t year. non-US members so that the Society can ba nk all dues as US Merchandise is restricted to automotive literature, memora do ll ars. T hese can, in some cases, rival thecostofducs themselves. bilia, and small coll ectibles. o non-automotive items or auto T here may be a better way. We arc in vestigating whether parts will be allowed. This selection of wares, however, wi ll be of there's any way an organization of our size can participate in prim e interest to hi storians. California swap meets start early, and intern ational electronic banking, and, if so, what it would cost us as this one is no exception: selling begin s at6 AM . Parking is avail able a group. The answer to this question is not obvious, and we are and fr ee, a short walk away on Hill Avenue beyond the tennis investi gating several a ngles. The directors will consider the viable courts. opti ons at th eir October meetin g, and if there arc a ny bright new To reserve selling spaces, contact Jeff Minard at 2808 Oak intiativ cs o n the horizon we'll te ll you about them in the Novem Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, or call him at (31 0) 545- ber-December Journal. 1070. Spaces are a traditional bargain at$] 5.00 each, but reserve -Kit Foster yours early. SAH Jou rnal o. 143 March-April 1993 It is my pleasure to inform you that KarlS. Zahm of Rockford, Illinois, has accepted the chair of the silent auction for 1993, a nd will soon be contacting you for your help and to encourage your contribution of books, literature, and related materials for this year's sale. On Friday evening of the meeting weekend, the directors, SA H Journal (ISS 1 057-1973) is published six times a year their guests, and members of the Wisconsin Chapter visited the by the Society of Automotive Historians, Jnc. Brooks Stevens Automotive Museum, and we were greeted by Mr. Copyri ght 1993 Stevens and capable Alice Preston, museum curator. Their friend lin ess made us feel right at home as they personally excortcd us CHRISTOPHER G. FOSTER, E DITOR through this enviable collection of some 65 vehicles, including a 1102 Long Cove Road, Gales Ferry, CT 06335 USA rare Bugatti and, of course, the exciting Excaliburs created by our host. Richard B. Brigham, Editor Emeritus Saturday afternoon, after the meeting, we journeyed to Slinger, Wisconsin, and spent a rewarding two hours at the Historic Vener OFFICERS able Fire Company. Although the Company collection is only open to the public on first Sundays from May to October, Mary Franz PRESIDENT. ..................... .... ........ .... ... .Jack L. Martin welcomed us and provided an informative and entertaining tour of VICE PRESIDENT. .. .... ................. ......... Z. Taylor Vinson their excellent museum. More than 44 pieces of custom-built fire SECRETARY .. ....................... ..... ... ......... an E. Martin apparatus are on hand, including an 1876 Silsby Steamer and a TREASURE R ......... .. ..... ... ................ ... ... .. .Jamcs H. Cox marvelous operational exhibit of Gamewell alarm equipment. Don't miss this if you're in the area in season. BOARD OF DIRECTORS After completing our tour in Slinger, we continued to the Hartford Heritage Auto Museum, home of the Kissel automobile Through Oct. 1993 Through Oct. 1994 Through Oct. 1995 and located in a beautifully restored building on Rural Street, Christopher G. Fo ter Matth ew C. Sonfield KarlS. Za hm adjacent to Main Street in H artford, Wisconsin. D ale Anderson, St acey P. Hanley Helen J. Earley ichol as Fintze lberg executive director, and Val Y. Quandt MD, volunteer coordin ator, Patricia E. Chappe ll Paul . Lashbroo k Thomas M. Dcptulski launched our evening in a fine manner by describing some of the operational and administrative details necessary to maintain a Subscription to SA H Journal is by membership in the museum. Dale and Doc provided an insight into the Kissel automo Society o f Automotive Historia ns. Dues $20.00 US per year. bile and the brothers William and George Kissel who produced Membership inquiries, renewals, and changes o f address their fir st experimental model in 1906. During the next twenty-five sho uld be directed to the secretary at 6760 E. 800 years they produced some 35,000 cars and trucks before the great Brownsburg, I 46112 depression curtai led manufacturing and forced them into closing their doors in September of 1930. The company continued selling taxicabs a nd other remai ning cars into 1931. Reorgani zed in 1932 as the Kissel Industries to produce a number of products, chiefly PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE th e Water Witch outboard e ngines, the firm ex ists today as the US Marine Division ofBrunswick. Thank you, Dale and D oc, for a fine evening, a nd for introducing us to the Main Street Cafe, truly a Dear Members, diner's delight....and a " let's return he re soon" type of place.