Treasurer's Report 2016

Below is a report by Tom Hart, SoCal AMCA's Treasurer.  This usually appears in the fall newsletter, but since it's timely (announcement of restarting of the monthly Sunday brunch), we're getting it online sooner than later! 

Treasurer's Report 2016

Well folks another club year has come and gone. But enough about me. We had our annual meeting on Sunday, September 18th which was attended byJohnny Eagles, Steve Sorensen, Larry Ramos, Vanhan Bandoian, Tom Lovejoy, Hokan Martensson, Grace McKean, Gary Stark,  myself and the new guy Ken Netteberg from Huntington Beach. Welcome aboard Ken. Frank Colver and Walter Frey were suspiciously absent as were a few others.

“The new location for the monthly Sunday brunch will be Ruby’s Diner at the old town Orange train station. The meeting will be the first Sunday of every month (same location) at about 10AM. October the 2nd will be the first one.”

We agreed that there is a need to return to our yesteryear activity of a monthly Sunday brunch, meeting which was very popular and held at the Revere House in Tustin for many years. The new location for the monthly Sunday brunch will be Ruby's Diner at the old town Orange train station since the Revere House went belly up some time ago.

The restaurant/train station is conveniently located three and one half blocks west of Old Town Orange's traffic circle on Chapman Ave. AKA 186 N Atchison St, Orange, CA 92866, like in Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe. If you have trouble finding it, just sit on the tracks for awhile, otherwise exit the 55 freeway at Chapman and head west for about a mile and a half.

These meetings will hopefully include wives and girlfriends (not on the same day), offspring's and just about anyone else you care to bring, so arriving on four wheels is acceptable. But if you are so inclined, ride in and join us for an off-the-cuff ride after the meeting. Do like I used to do and let the misses bring the car and ride your old (or new) stuff.

Once again, the meeting will be the first Sunday of every month (same location) at about 10AM. October the 2nd will be the first one. We will not meet at Ruby's if we have another scheduled club ride on that day, so check the calendar. Not that it's important, but this place has a full bar and great Bloody Mary's.

Other things and stuff were discussed like spending some club money and going back to snail mail for members who cannot or will not use the internet. It would be helpful if you internet savvy guys would print out and hand deliver a copy of the calendar and/or newsletter to any member you are in regular or semi-regular contact with that may be challenged in this regard. I can say this because I am "challenged" in many aspects of everyday life including the internet.

There aren't many folks out there who need this kind of assistance to stay in touch, so it's not that big of a deal. I've already personally "adopted" one club member myself for this activity. So if he misses out on something, I only have myself to blame. I won't mention any names but his initials are Johnny Eagles (pictured below). To be fair, Johnny is one of our founding fathers, a past chapter president, National Board member, hit man for the CIA, life time member, go to guy for magnetos and many other repairs, former pilot and a really nice guy if you don't piss him off. I just hope that when I'm 200 someone thinks kindly of me too. Just joking Johnny, I'm referring to your combined years of personal knowledge on many matters, not your age and because you know where I live I need to be careful. I should probably stop taking now. All I know is that if Johnny or anyone like him says "I don't need no stinking internet," that's good enough for me.

At the 2016 Annual Meeting, Grace McKean, Johnny Eagles, and Tom and Jill Hart.

A quick note here about Grace McKean (pictured above). She, The Grace, rode to the meeting from Running Springs on her whatabe Indian, by herself. That's about a 200 mile round trip ride to attend the meeting. Then she rode with a couple of us (Johnny, Gary and myself) to Laguna Beach for lunch before heading home. At the meeting Ms Lovejoy complained about the cold fog in the morning which hindered him from riding his bike the 30 miles to my house. I offered him my grandmother's shawl and white cotton gloves to keep him warn during the meeting, but he decided to tuff it out.

And finally for my report I'll just touch upon the local elections. VP Larry Ramos and former VP Tom Lovejoy waged a fierce campaign for the office of VP  this year. Heated words were exchanged, accusations of fraud, theft, lying and cheating, bad breath, bribery and carousing flew like hot poker chips on a loose roulette table. Then I realized they were talking about me and not each other's campaign promises, or office improprieties. Personally I was shocked that someone finally realized what I was doing with the club funds. Yet I remain in office. Why?

CHAPTER LEADERS (2016-2017)

President: Tim Graber

Vice President: Tom Lovejoy

Secretary: Steve Sorensen

Treasurer: Tom Hart

Steve Sorenson retained his position as secretary (of state) just like Hilary. If that doesn't scare you into getting out to vote next year on club elections, nothing will. When the dust settled, Tom Lovejoy was named the new VP  in what can only be described as a landslide victory. Larry graciously exited the office flipping Tom off as he left. I think he was congratulating him by saying, "Hey Tom...you're number one". Tim Graber's position as President was not contested. He was re-installed as the Prez for another term. Tim was otherwise engaged elsewhere and not able to attend so he offered his services (for a small fee) via proxy. I voted for a COLA increase for board members, but the board declined the measure. This will likely lead to yet another violation of Penal Code section 503 for me.

Almost forgot, the club will be sponsoring the Great Harley verses Indian Race in Utah next year. If you have not entered this event before, you are missing out on a really great scenic ride. Gary Stark does an excellent job putting this together. Tom Lovejoy and I entered the last race, before he became a girl, and had an absolute blast. Be sure to look for this ride's update and others in the newsletter.

Tom Hart

P.S. The following members are the only ones up to date on dues as of  2016. Cortesy (Steve you are paid through 2017), Ambrogio, Bandoian, Boyd, Coffin, Colver, Dillman, Ferguson, Frey, Golonka, Hatfield, Kingsbury, Leiss, Lovejoy, Martensson, McClennen, McKean, Mori, Musgrove, Jim Stanley, Stark and Watson. Everyone else is behind in dues. That means not paid through 2016. Some for many years. Please bring your dues up to date (click here for renewal form), not just for me and the kids, but for other reasons too...it's only $20.00 a year.  I'm only concerned about receiving 2016 dues and 2017 dues in January, just like a new start in life. You’ll feel good about it, I promise.

I thank you and my creditors thank you.