Hello Everyone,

As you read this, we will either be very near or shortly after the AACA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. My term as your President will have come to an end. It has indeed been quite an honor to have served in this capacity. With the help of our outstanding Board of Directors and superb cooperation from the boards of both the AACA Library and AACA Museum, we have accomplished an awful lot this year.

We started the year continuing the work of the previous administration to successfully merge the AACA Library back to within AACA. If this sounds confusing, believe me it is. The lawyers are having a field day with it. However it is happening and as expected took a couple of years to bring to favorable conclusion. By the way, there are some nice perks for each and every member that come with this merger. You will now be entitled to some free research time by the library staff. The final details on this will be published during the year in your Antique Automobile magazine.

This year has also brought about a reality to a once vague idea of a joint membership program with the AACA Museum. AACA will make a significant financial contribution to the museum on an annual basis. This will allow the Museum to function without the everyday monetary pressures that this type of first class institution would have to endure in its early years of operation. Does this mean you should stop making those generous contributions? Of course not. Both the Museum and the Library will constantly rely on your support for their growth and continuation of sound operations. However, this financial support from AACA will ease the strain for them. In return, you the AACA member benefits from this joint merger. I really love this part! Each time you want to visit the AACA Museum, and believe me it can be addictive, all you do is show them your current AACA membership card and you DO NOT get a discount! You get in absolutely FREE. Yes, I said FREE, NO CHARGE, Nuffin… Folks, that’s an amazing benefit. I’m by no means an economic guru but I do know that free is a good price!

Through the years AACA has recognized the plight of its nearly 400 Regions and Chapters. The struggle to get new members was difficult. Here is kind of a scenario as to what often happened:

The region would be hosting an event. Lets say it was a Tour or a Show. Someone, usually fairly new to the hobby, would find a region member and ask about joining that group. The member would smile and welcome them and explain that the dues were say $10 a year. The prospective member would be delighted that membership was affordable. However, the member would then go on and advise the prospect that you also had to join this national group and that was another $35 per year. Regardless of how good a value that was (AACA is still by far the least expensive of all of the major multi-marque clubs and even most of the single marquee ones too.) its awful difficult to make a brand new prospective member understand that this sudden jump in dues from $10 to $45 was good value.

Looking at the scenario presented above, you can easily see how a prospective member could be put off from joining. However, we believed that if this prospective member could actually see the value of AACA membership in action over time, then they would realize that AACA was actually a very good deal. To accomplish this, AACA is giving away totally free to each and everyone of its almost 400 Regions and Chapters in good standing four free National AACA memberships.

Those free memberships can be used at the Region’s discretion but ONLY to first time new members. This action, while very expensive, also takes a major step to bring the relationship between AACA and the regions and chapters even closer together. AACA wants each region to know that AACA is always looking for ways to help our regions remain strong and viable. AACA also wants all of the members to see that their membership dollars are used prudently with the number one priority being to provide a great membership value to each and every one of you.

Folks, the year is over now. Karen and I hope that you had really great holidays. Further I can honestly tell you that throughout the year your super Board of Directors carried through our 2007 theme. “We Work for the Members”. No it doesn’t rhyme, but it does make a whole lot of sense.

Thank you for allowing me to be your President.
Best wishes for a great 2008

Dave Berg
AACA 2007 President

In 2010, AACA will be celebrating its 75th anniversary. It seems appropriate for us to celebrate; we have come a long way since our beginning. AACA was founded on November 4, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when fourteen men (and the wife of one) gathered in the auditorium of the Automobile Club of Philadelphia to start a club that now has membership near 60,000 and maintains the greatest activities, programs and benefits than any other antique automobile club in the hobby.

A dedicated committee of individuals has been planning for our celebration and we could use some help from our local chapters, regions and members. We have decided on a multi-day event June 30th – July 3rd 2010, in Louisville, Kentucky. The National organization is co-hosting the event with the Kyana Region. We selected the mid-west to try to include as many members as possible from all directions of the United States. We haven’t ignored our further away and international members; our headquarters hotel and show venue is adjacent to the Louisville International Airport for convenient travel.

We would like this to be both a touring and show event, so tours are planned for part of the week, and on the last day, there will be a grand car show that is both judged and non-judged. We are encouraging our members to get those cars out and get them to Louisville! Concerned about the weather? The car show will be indoors in a beautiful climate controlled facility. We are also planning a special commemorative item for those that participate.

The event will close with a special Anniversary Awards banquet Saturday evening. Plus, there are many other things to do and places to see in the area like Six Flags amusement park, Churchill Downs and the beautiful Lexington, Kentucky area and Horse Park. The Louisville community is excited to have us visit.

Okay, so, how can you help?

First of all, save the date. Don’t schedule any local chapter or region activities that conflict with the 75th Anniversary event. Second, plan a club activity that gets your chapter and region members there, be it a car tour, bus trip or other activity.

Next get out that car you haven’t driven or shown lately and get it ready. We want a grand show event; we’d like a vehicle for every year of car production, vehicles in every AACA class, unique milestone cars, special interest autos and especially your car there!

There are some other 75th items planned as well. We will soon be launching a Diamond Jubilee web site dedicated to the past 75 years of AACA history and will provide more details concerning the celebration. Look for our announcement early in 2008.

Thanks,
Joe Gagliano
Chairman - 75th Anniversary Sub-Committee
P.O. Box 634
Zoar, Ohio 44697
Gagliaj@aol.com

From it’s origins way back in 1935, AACA has grown to a worldwide entity and the largest club of it’s kind in America. Our Regional and National shows and judging system are second to none as are our member resources available through the AACA Library and Research Center and the AACA Museum.

Considering all we have going for us, we should be brimming with new and vibrant members eager to ride the current wave of interest in vintage automobiles. Sadly, our numbers during this time of great interest in cars have been largely stagnant. We have merely held our own. Consequently, if AACA is to survive as the world class organization we know, each of us has a duty to make sure AACA does not remain the hobby’s best kept secret.

I suppose the old business adage “Early to bed early to rise, work like hell and advertise” may apply with the exception of the early rising. While it may seem strange to us, there are still huge numbers of hobbyists who know nothing of us; or think we only accept brass or pre-war vehicles. They don’t know we have a large tent that covers all non modified vehicles 25 years and older. This is particularly important when recruiting younger members.

Take the time to think of all the activities within your region or chapter as well as National Tours and shows. You likely take all of it for granted. It is high time you tried to spread the news around. There are countless opportunities for us to pass the gospel of AACA. In passing the word, you are going to sign up new members and save the future of AACA , for there must be a new generation of caretakers for our cars.

Many may not realize it but all radio and television stations licensed by the FCC are required to “act in the public interest” as part of their licensure. Many of these stations fulfill that requirement by doing PSAs or public service announcements for community based organizations like your club. The best part of it is that it’s FREE. If you are having a show or special event, contact your local TV and radio stations and ask how they can help publicize your event with a PSA or local calendar announcement. Generally all stations have a news director or general manager, and that is the person to start with.

Printed media really offers a lot of opportunity as well. Newspapers in many localities will offer a small complimentary ad to non profit organizations once a year. Most papers have free events calendars as well. In addition, they may have local interest columnists who are always looking for new subjects to cover. Give them a call and ask if they would cover your club. Even a small pay for ad in the cars for sale classifieds will bring out cars and people to your event. Don’t overlook other small printed trading papers and free local magazines. They need material too, and even if it’s not free the costs are usually minimal.

Last but not least, some of the old stand-by methods still work well too. Flyers outlining your events and the benefits of your club can be handed out at car events and cruise-ins. Don’t wait to advertise a show on your flyer. Make one up highlighting everything your local and National club has to offer and include an application as well as contact information for your club. Business cards with your club logo and a place for members to place their contact information work great when left on great looking cars you see or handed to the owner. While they don’t get the large numbers of newspaper or the airwaves these methods are proven effective since you are passing information directly to someone who already loves old cars.

These are only a few ideas to place in your AACA recruiting arsenal. Remember to take every opportunity to pass the word. There are many unconventional ways to advertise and recruit new members. Another old adage applies in this case, “ nothing ventured nothing gained “…and don’t forget to offer someone a ride in your car. They may be the next President of your region or chapter.