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Greetings for November!
Well, as I’m sitting here and writing my 24th, and last, President’s Letter for the monthly newsletter,
some thoughts are running through my head……what has CMCA meant to me in the past, what does it mean to me
now, and where do I think the club is heading in the future. CMCA has brought to me a great number of people that
I’m really glad, and proud, to call my friends. Classy, solid, good, honest, fun-loving people, the kind it’s not always
easy to find. For that, I thank you. I also thank you for being there for me, in the strained as well as the happier
times. This club has been, and is, very important to me. It is a friend base, a fun base, and a “feel good” base. As I
mentioned, it’s a very important part of my life and means an awful lot to me. My last two years as CMCA President
have been very fulfilling and a large part of my life. I believe the club is very healthy. We’ve kept most of the old
members and picked up some great new members as well. We’ve kept busy and attendance at events has been ex-
cellent. This summer has been a fabulous “Corvette Summer”! It’s been great thanks to you. I look forward to
many, many more.
It’s now time to turn the club over to Vice-President Ron Bulthuis, who will make a great CMCA President.
Ron certainly loves this club and is one of those fine people I mentioned earlier. The club will flourish with Ron. As
a side note, Lynn Steenblock has agreed to be nominated for Vice-President, Duane DeWenter for Treasurer and Cris
Drais as Secretary. Other nominations, self, or otherwise, are welcome and will be accepted prior to voting at the
meeting.
How can we help Ron during his first year? Well, it’s always important to keep trying to rotate people and
thoughts. What I mean by that is, fresh ideas are invigorating and sharing the load helps prevent “burnout”. Hosting
a dinner run, ice cream cruise, lunch run or just a general get-together and cruise, isn’t difficult and any number of
people will help new hosts learn the ropes….just ask, or raise your hand. Volunteer and people will come to
you…..we have great members. And, you get to have a bunch of these wonderful machines at your house! hosting
an event is a lot of fun and a real “rush”! I guarantee you will enjoy it.
Some of us hit the road last month for a run to Branson, Missouri and then headed over to Eureka Springs
for the big Corvette rally over there. There were over 1000 Corvettes in attendance from all over the country. It was
an awful lot of fun. Erik and Robin Monsos took third place, and won a plaque, in the C5 Economy Run. Our con-
gratulations! Obviously, Robin kept Erik from driving in his usual manner! And, Allegra and I won a plaque for one
of the best poker hands on the poker run, which was a beautiful cruise. It was a great time had by all!
Also, the weekend after, Allegra and I headed down to La Crosse for the Fall Color Run, along with my
brother. It was a great 120 mile cruise on Saturday, but the only colors we saw were varying shades of green. Little,
to no, Fall colors at all, but we still had a lot of fun. Of course, there were monsoons on the trip home on Sunday, as
at any autumn Corvette event I’ve ever attended anywhere. So be it, it was still a ball.
We had an Officer’s Meeting the other night and a couple of things came out of it, to pass on. The first thing
is that a decision was made to make emailing the monthly newsletter out the standard method of delivery, rather than
U.S. mail. If anyone needs a “hardcopy” of the newsletter because of a lack of email availability, please contact Mary
Bulthuis at 320-253-4623 and you will be mailed a copy. This will take effect beginning with the January, 2008,
monthly newsletter.
The second thing is that the club is going to order some very cool Corvette calendars. These calendars will
be available at the Winter Party this year. If you cannot attend, a calendar will be mailed to all 2008 members of re-
cord.
Thirdly, the club is ordering insulated coffee travel mugs, with a leather wrap that will have the CMCA logo
on it. Pending approval at the November meeting. These are very, very nice. Each 2008 paid membership, and spon-
sor, will receive one. Is there a hitch? Yep! Except for the sponsors, you must attend an event to pick up your mug.
We are not going to mail them out. They will be available at all official club events, and you must attend an event to
get yours. In 2009, the current plans are to repeat the mug offering, meaning each membership (car) will have re-
ceived two mugs. The mugs will first be available at the 2008 Winter Party.
Fourthly, there are several events already in the hopper for next year and sponsors are lining up. The 2008
Winter Party will be hosted by the Monsos’ senior, and junior, this year. Plans are being formulated for a club event
for “Vettes in the Rockies” next summer. The DeWenters and Bulthuis’ will be hosting that one. Also, Lynn Steen-
block and Carolyn Olson have volunteered to host the 2008 Fall Color Run. Information will be forthcoming on all
Volume 1, Issue 11
November 2007
Pres: Ed Reilly
VP: Ron Bulthuis
Sec: Cris Drais
Treas: Duane DeWenter
Newsletter: Mary Bulthuis
CENTRAL MINNESOTA CORVETTE ASSOCIATION