PRESIDENT’S LETTER – WINTER 2008

MANY THANKS TO OUR OUT-GOING PRESIDENT, BRUCE CACACE FOR A GREAT YEAR IN 2007. DURING 2007 WE ESTABLISHED NEW GOALS FOR THE CLUB ESPECIALLY RENEWED EFFORTS TO INCREASE OUR MEMBERSHIP. WE ALSO TOOK ONBOARD OUR FIRST WEB SPONSOR, COUNTRY MAZDA OF HUNTINGTON. IN ADDITION, WE WERE ABLE TO MODERNIZE OUR WEBSITE WITH THE HELP OF A NEW MEMBER, BOB NOVAK WHO COORDINATED THE CHANGE WITH OUR LONG-TIME WEB MASTER, KENT HOWELL.

NOW THAT THE HOLIDAYS HAVE PASSED, IT IS TIME FOR EACH OF US TO GIVE OURSELVES THE GIFT OF RENEWED PARTICIPATION IN OUR CLUB'S ACTIVITIES. WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING MANY RIDES AND ACTIVITIES THAT SHOULD PROVIDE EVERYONE A CHANCE TO ORGANIZE AND RUN A RIDE. A GOOD WAY TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF IS TO VOLUNTEER TO LEAD A RIDE. IF SOME OF THE SUGGESTED RIDES ARE NOT TO YOUR LIKING, PLEASE OFFER YOUR IDEAS. WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO NEW ADVENTURES. AS OF NOW THERE ARE ABOUT SIX WEEKEND RIDES ON THE TENTATIVE 2008 CALENDAR. WE HAVE SOME DAY RIDES LISTED AS WELL, BUT CAN USE SOME NEW IDEAS TO FILL OUT THE YEAR'S EVENTS. SOME OF OUR YEARLY SPECIAL EVENTS ARE THE VALENTINE'S BRUNCH, THE DUSTOFF, THE POKER RUN, TECH DAY, AND THE END OF YEAR CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY PARTY. THIS YEAR WE WOULD LIKE TO DO A CHARITY EVENT TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION. IDEAS FOR THIS EVENT ARE WELCOMED.

TO HELP YOU OUT WITH THE PLANNING AND LEADING OF A RIDE, CHUCK NAUSS IS DEVELOPING RIDE LEADER GUIDELINES. THESE WILL OFFER MANY HINTS REGARDING REST STOPS, RESTAURANT REST STOPS, RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS, CB RADIO USAGES, ETC. LEADING A RIDE CAN BE BOTH CHALLENGING AND A LOT OF FUN. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TRY THIS. I AM GOING TO PRESENT A PLAN TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHEREBY WE CAN MAKE LEADING A RIDE MONETARILY WORTHWHILE.

WITH THIS LETTER, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO LAUNCH A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE. IN THIS REGARD, I AM ASKING EVERYONE TO HELP OUR NEWSLETTER EDITOR, BILL DOHERTY, WITH THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ARTICLES. THESE MAY BE ORIGINAL OR EVEN SOMETHING OF INTEREST THAT YOU FOUND IN A PUBLICATION. PLEASE GIVE CREDIT TO ANY PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED ITEMS TO THE AUTHOR. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, A COPY OF THE NEWSLETTER CAN BE MAILED. JUST LET US KNOW.

LARRY AND JEN ZARCENSKY HAVE DEVELOPED A CLUB ADVERTISING FLYER THAT WE PLAN TO DISPLAY IN MANY MAZDA DEALERS ON THE ISLAND. PAM NAUSS FOUND AND PURCHASED DISPLAY STANDS THAT WILL HOLD THESE FLYERS. ADDITIONALLY, THE FLYERS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CLUB MEMBERS TO HAND OUT TO MIATA OWNERS THAT YOU FEEL ARE POTENTIAL CLUB MEMBERS. THE FLYER DESCRIBES THE CLUB AND DISPLAYS PHOTOS OF PAST CLUB RIDES AND EVENTS. THE REVERSE SIDE HAS A MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION.

THIS YEAR WE HAVE HAD A MAJOR INCREASE IN NEW MEMBERS. I WISH THEM WELL AND HOPE TO SEE THEM PARTICIPATE IN MANY OF THE CLUB'S ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE ALSO HAD A TREMENDOUS BOOST IN THE NUMBER OF NC OR GEN 3 CARS (3RD GENERATION) IN THE CLUB. MAZDA APPARENTLY HAS COME OUT WITH A WINNER.

HAPPY AND SAFE DRIVING FUN,

PAUL CASE