A CLUB NEWS APRIL 2018 WWW.WCMAC.NET [email protected]

Greetings once again, Presidents Linda and I are still here in the deep South where it's getting real hot and humid, and the pollen Ron Loconto levels are becoming very high. It's time to move further North but not sure if the weather is Paul O Keefe behaving up there yet? Someone said Keith ran over the groundhog? :-/ Kudos to Keith & Ellen Costello for putting on a great "Pot Luck" Luncheon this year, I heard Vice President the food was excellent and a great turnout. Thank you all for supporting this event. Paul Mitchell Hope you all had a happy Easter and were not part of any April fools activities :-). We have one new member to add to our roster this month (no fooling), and he has a familiar face. Welcome Don Peterson of Holden, formerly of Leicester. Don is a friend of Jerry and Karen Secretary Hyson. I am sure you have seen him at some of our events of the past. Welcome Don and your 1930 Fordor. Ed Sullivan We have some great activities coming up this month so hope you have your car all tuned up and reached for that Dust Buster already. It is a good time to adjust those brakes and check Treasurer the front end components, along with the normal change/check of oil and things, but above all, make sure there is enough water in your radiator! David Libbey Note that this April 17th is not only the April club meeting, but it is also our Club Annual Auction. This is being held at Angie and Frank Miller's home in Auburn. Please support our Membership club by bringing as many items to the auction as possible; new or used household items, model A car parts especially, bakery or cooked items, those old bottles of wine you have been Diane Shemeth aging for so long, even homemade jam. I am looking for 1930 Model A coupe door parts, complete wiring harness, windows, (and willing to trade a rebuilt oval odometer for a round one or bid on one at the auction). I am sure there will be enough baked items and coffee to feed Newsletter an army :-), if anything is left over, maybe we can auction that too? :-) LOL's Please join us for that evening. Website Jim Hines Jr. Note that the Dust Buster Tour will be held on Saturday April 28th, but there is a change in the meeting location. We will be meeting at the Paxton Legion Post, not the W. Boylston Wal- Mart parking lot. We will be meeting at 9:00am and leaving at 9:30am sharp. Our gracious tour leaders are Dennis & Katherine, please come join us. President's Tour: Have you book your hotel arrangements yet? Now is a good time to do so. See details in this month's newsletter. Paul & Amy always put on a nice tour, so this one is not to be missed. Stepping back from the Pres tour, don't forget the June 9th event at Old Sturbridge Village (OSV). You have to pre-register so to do so, contact Jim O'Brien (508) 347-0328 or email [email protected]. You can also email Jean Contino [email protected] for information. Everyone is welcome and no one will be left out. Something New: There is also a antique car show in Princeton June 16th put on by I believe the Princeton historical society. The contact person is Bud Brooks, you can email him at princetonmahistory.org. The fee has been dropped and they are only asking for a donation. Book early as there may be limitations on classes of cars. Last but not least, please remember in your thoughts and prayers, Bruce Reynolds who has passed away. Bruce was a member of the New Hampshire Lakes Regions Model A Club. Some of you may not have known Bruce, but some of our WCMAC members did know him. Please join me in expressing our condolences to Joanne Reynolds and her family.

Ahhooooga! Ron

~ 1 ~ When: April 17th 2018 Where: Frank Millers Time: 6:00PM Annual Club Auction Treasury Report Balance, Start of Dec Meeting $1724.93

Income: Raffle $18.00 Coffee Can $27.00 ANSWER PAGE 8 Dues $40.00 Treasure s Report Intrest Income Balance February 28 $1443.89 $00.07 Income Raffle $44.00 Total Income: Coffee $16.00 $85.07 Dues $100.00 Total Income: $160.00 Expenses: April 17th Envelops/Stamp Expenses Club Auction / Meeting Total Expenses $0.00 Frank & Angie$65.00 Miller s Auburn Web Hosting Fee Net Income: $160.00 April 22nd $95.88 Early Ford V8 Club of New 48th Annual NewsletterSwap Meet & Copying Car Show $31.17 Fitchburg AirportCheck Printing Balance March 31 $1603.89 Fitchburg MA $29.70 Total Expenses: $221.75

Net Income: ($136.68) ~ 2 ~

No cards sent this month If you know of anyone we should send a card to, e for any reason, please let me know hin ns Diane Shemeth Su ws Sunshine Ne

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Donald Peterson of Holden MA Owner of 1930 Town Sedan

It s nice to see our Club is growing Diane Shemeth Membership Secretary

Tech Tip From Jim Cannon MAFCA Technical Director

~ 3 ~ Worcester County Model A Club President s Tour

Late June of this this year will be the Presidents Tour to Connecticut, for 3 nights and 4 days.

When : Tuesday 6/26/18, 6/27/18 and 6/28/18 - checking out and returning Friday 6/29/18 Where: Griswold , Ct. Cost: $89/night plus tax and fees (rooms are under "Worcester County Model A Club") Lodging: Americinn Lodge, 375 Voluntown Rd, Griswold, CT 06351 Phone : 860-376-3200

We have a block of 15 rooms reserved under "Worcester County Model A Club" with a room rate of $89.00 each night (Plus fees and tax) for the 3 nights. Available room choices are double Queen Bed rooms and single King Bed rooms (along with a few upgradeable suites). Be certain to ask for non smoking if that's your preference. The top floor(4th) is the smoking floor. A free, hot continental breakfast is included with the room along with use of their heated indoor pool and hot tub, and free WiFi. Presently they have plenty of rooms available to accommodate our need of 15 rooms. We have been promised by the manager (A car buff) to have designated parking for our As. We encourage you to call early and make your reservation. Be certain to tell them the reservation is with "Worcester County Model A Club".

Fun things are planned, more info to follow as the time gets close Email or call if you have questions Regards,

Amy and Paul O'Keefe [email protected] 508-829-6600 (Home) 774-454-0148 (Cell)

If you have any questions about the hotel, please call the hotel directly or ask when making a reservation.

AmericInn Lodge & Suites, Griswold 375 Voluntown Rd, Griswold, CT 06351 US Phone: (860) 376-3200 www.americinn.com

~ 4 ~ Godmother of :

It s a story that sounds as though it were ripped from the pages of fiction or the basis for a harrowing World War II drama directed by Steven Spielberg. Leaving behind her war-torn homeland, a young woman makes her way out of France just as the Nazi hordes begin their invasion. She finds herself in North Africa, doing a spell in Casablanca with her seven-year-old daughter in tow and unable to leave due her lack of a visa. Finally, miraculously, she ends up living the paragon of the American Dream as one of, if not the first female automotive designers, joining famed design staff in 1943 and then, in 1947, opening her own design studio and forming a successful partnership with . The remarkable story of Helene Rother is far from fictional, however, despite bordering on the fantastic. Born in , Germany in 1908, Helene Rother seemed a born artist. While accounts vary as to whether she studied at the famed Bauhaus or in , one thing is indisputable: she had an eye for stylish design. Working with everything from furniture to jewelry, fashion to stained glass, she made a name for herself after having moved to and embarking on a career within the city s high fashion market. Her timing, unfortunately, as hindsight shows, could not have been worse. By the end of the 1930s, it became clear that France was no longer what it once was. With the looming specter of Nazism casting a long shadow over the whole of Europe, Rother found herself fleeing with her daughter. By 1941, she had found her way to New York City. Here she put her artistic skills once more to good use, landing a job as an illustrator for Timely Publications (later, and certainly better known, as Marvel). Within a year, however, she found herself continuing west, landing in the automotive mecca of . She quickly took a job with General Motors, working for their interior styling staff where she was responsible for all manner of upholstery, fabric, lighting and hardware all more or less in her already-established wheelhouse. This being 1942 and Rother being a woman, however, her quick success did not sit well with many in the male - dominated industry/society. At the time, it was reported by that she was not only Detroit s first female automotive designer, but also collecting an unheard-of $600 per month (roughly $8,500 in today s money). Given the tenor of the times, GM was quick to downplay the report due to the progressive idea of having a woman not only working in a male-centric field, but also making more than the average man. After four years with the company, she had stockpiled enough capital and name recognition to open her own design studio. If her position with GM was seen as radical, one can only imagine how this follow-up move was perceived.

~ 5 ~ Godmother of Automotive Design: Helene Rother

Continued

Continuing her work as an interior stylist, Rother s first independent account was with Nash-. Here she continued to refine her work on interior colors, fabrics and assorted hardware (no doubt bringing to mind her pre-war period as an in-demand jeweler). Given her origins, she managed to bring a bit of European flair to the Nash brand, helping engender the automaker with an air of fresh, modern style. By 1953, she had helped Nash win the coveted Jackson Medal for outstanding design. Following the Nash-Hudson merger that resulted in the formation of American Motors, she continued working for a number of automotive-related companies including Goodyear, B.F. Goodrich and Miller-Meteor, the latter a company known for its ambulances and hearses.

In her time, she achieved a great deal of success and recognition and, like many a female pioneer, helped open the door to women in an industry from which they d been previously shut out. By time she died in 1999 at the age of 91, Rother had spent her later years designing stained glass windows for churches, providing color and style for a whole new type of interior.

https://www.historicvehicle.org/godmother-automotive-design-helene-rother/ Contributed by David Libbey

~ 6 ~ MAFFI Liaison Letter April 2018

What s New at the Museum?

There has been some recent redecorating in the Parts Department of the Museum. There had been a donation of 4 framed color drawings and John Marshall was inspired by those to recreate the New signs as seen in the photos. Once those were done, they were hung alongside the donated drawings, reframed and looking like the original pictures.

We are always striving to keep our museum fresh and new for those returning to the museum for another look and especially for those who are coming for the first time. If you have been thinking about a trip to the museum, why not make plans to join us for Model A Day, September 15, 2018. If you can t make it for Model A Day, the museum is open 7 days a week. Anytime you happen to be in the area, come by for a visit.

Thank you for your continued support of the Model A Ford Foundation by both item donation and monetary support.

Marsha Quesnel MAFFI Trustee

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Date/Time Name Location Contact Person Contact Info

April 17th 6pm Club Auction Miller s Auburn April 22nd 7:30am Early Ford V8 Swap Fitchburg Airport Frankie Miller [email protected] April 28th Dust Buster WB WalMart Dennis & [email protected] Katherine Gentile May 15th Club meeting Stevens Dean Stevens [email protected] Spencer May 28th Memorial Day June 9th Old Sturbridge Village Sturbridge, MA Jim O Brien [email protected] Jean Contino [email protected] June 16th Princeton Auto Rt 31 Princeton Bud Brooks [email protected] Museum http://www.princetonmahistory.org June 26-29th Local Presidents tour Eastern CT Paul & [email protected] Amy O Keefe July 4th 4th of July parade Rutland, MA Joe Becker [email protected] August 12-18th Nova Scotia Tour Nova Scotia Ron & [email protected] Linda Laconto [email protected] August 25th Holden Days Holden, MA Paul & [email protected] Amy O Keefe Sep 20-23rd New England Meet Lake George, NY http://www.adirondackas.org/ 2018-new-england-meet.html

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