Last post before New Year (maybe)

Thought I’d put the CCMVG to rest until after the holidays but we seem to be 99% ready. The blog seems to be working easier for me to put posts together so here’s another. I’ll try and give some instructions as to how you can subscribe and get automatic notices when it’s updated.  

Mike P

Cal's Comments:

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my fellow members of the Central Coast Military Vehicle Group: If you didn't make it to our Christmas party and December business meeting at the home of Paul and Linda Gargis here in Florence earlier in the month, you missed a great turnout and a fun meeting.  First of all, I'd like to thank Paul and Linda for their hospitality and allowing us to invade their beautiful home.  It was a perfect setting and made for a very merry moment.  Thanks also to the Group members for the plaque recognizing my five years of service as President.  That token of appreciation was sincerely appreciated!

 We had a lot of fun at the party - 29 folks in attendance including new members, Dennis & Judy Lee of Florence and Gary & Annette Swindler of Elmira.  Several folks won prizes (I think Sam Spayd is still secretly enjoying the Navy DVD's) with the grand prize of the 50/50 drawing going to Linda Gargis!  And there was way more great food than any of us could polish off, but that doesn't mean we didn't try!  But we still had to conduct a little business!

 Elections were held and yours truly (thanks, again, Darryl) was elected another term as President; we expanded our VP positions and now have a Florence VP - Paul Gargis, Valley VP - Don Gleason and a South Coast VP - Ron Johnson; Mike Powter was unanimously elected to continue as Treasurer and Editor of our Newsletter; Melba Reinke was conned once again into serving as Recording Secretary; and Joyce Middleton re-elected to Quartermaster to run the PX.  Thanks to all of you for being willing to serve your club.
 A discussion was continued that actually started at the November meeting in Springfield regarding the possibility of a name change to more appropriately reflect the make up of our club, and possibly one that doesn't reflect any geographic designation.  In Oregon we have the MVCC of Oregon that is based out of Portland and has been around for 25-30 years; we have the Southern Oregon MVCC based out of Central Point, and our Club.  MVPA - Central Oregon Group which we started in Central Oregon in 2004 has evidently disbanded.  Some of the names suggested at our December meeting included:  MVPA - Western Oregon Group; MVPA - Mid Oregon Group; and MVPA - Green Iron Group (huh - did you mean Gray Iron Group?).  We'd ask that you give this some thought and consideration and let us know if you have any other name suggestions or a preference for one of these. We will probably keep our existing logo.
 Another discussion we held was our meeting location and schedule.  At times throughout the year when parades and shows are in abundance, it is sometimes difficult to also schedule and hold a regular membership or business meeting. The general sentiment seemed to be to continue to hold as many regular meetings as possible but at the discretion of the Executive Board.  Also, since the changes in policy for public use at the Florence Airport, we'll attempt to spread the meetings around the membership region which will provide an opportunity for more members to be in attendance.
Yet another discussion stemmed from concerns of Military Vehicle Preservation Assn. regarding declining membership, and the continuance of the hobby.  As with a lot of organizations in our society today such as fraternal organizations, lodges, service clubs, etc., there has been a struggle in recent years to maintain membership levels and bring new and particularly younger members into the hobby.  MVPA is challenging its members to recruit one new MVPA member each in 2012 which would obviously double our ranks.  In an effort to meet that challenge, as well as spread the word throughout our membership area about our own club and interface with our neighbors, a plan was put in to place to purchase MVPA memberships for the school district and/or library in various communities where we live.  Thanks to all of you who volunteered to do so in your community.  I think it's a great way to both potentially recruit new members and share the passion of our hobby with others, but it also provides us a mechanism to use our military vehicles to portray 'History in Motion' and keep 'em rollin! And to any Club members who are not currently also MVPA members, please seriously consider it.  They do provide a great service as an umbrella organization to the hobby in addition to their great publications.

Whew - a lot going on as we approach this New Year!  Now, back to the M38 rebuild.  I only have three more bolts to go and I can remove the tub.  Boy, I hope Santa can get that new tub down the chimney!" Cal Applebee

I have been getting some good responses and the number of views is increasing:
This video to me from our member Colin Rush:

Attached is a video I posted this summer.  It shows my friend Jeff Norgren in Clatskanie driving an M-5H-6.  We parted out some M5s over the last year near his place, and this one is the one he will restore.  I helped him get it started for the first time in probably forty years.  He and his son were giddy.  His son Cole is the one driving.

Memories:

This great video is what Steve put together for our June 2011 Camp Gleason and every time I look at it I look forward to Camp Gleason 2012.

I hope you all enjoy these.