The Prez Box

by Ron Bone

 

Year 2004 struggles off-stage under a mountain of burdens - some solved, some not.  Year 2005 steps into the spotlight, as yet untested but optimistic.   It’s an interesting time to look back at the tracks our club has left in the sands of time during the last year. 

 

We’re a little smaller.  Sixteen members left the stage, while ten arrived to make their marks: Roger Brown, Wayne & Beth Campbell, Bruce & Patti Crapo, Jim Griffith, Dennis & Connie Horvath, Dennis Leavitt, Robert & Melissa Moyer, Steve Pierson & Kay Saxton, Steve & Laura Waddle, and Phil & Peggy Williams.  That leaves us with 66 present memberships. 

 

An active discussion arose regarding whether or not to continue with an annual show.  Although there were many dissenting

opinions, the majority voted to continue the show.  Accordingly, Bruce & Connie Barton and Bill & Dana Madsen choreographed what was, by any account, a very successful Wild West Vette Fest 2004.  The event was well attended by several clubs but, regrettably, not by most of our own members. 

 

We paid tribute to our local National Guardsmen, facing deployment to Iraq, with ten Corvettes in a parade through Blackfoot.  Later we donated $2,500 to the Call to Duty Fund to help those soldiers with travel expenses to visit home before deployment.  They’re over there now, facing some deadly serious stuff.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. 

 

Our club was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Idaho Falls Police Department for supporting the D.A.R.E. program. 

 

We donated $2,500 to charities in the Idaho Falls and Rexburg areas from our allotment of the Corvette license plate proceeds.  The donations were in equal amounts to the Food Bank, the Harbor House, the D.A.R.E. program, the Family Crisis Center of Rexburg, and the Aspen Foundation for Hospice Care. 

 

We also donated $2,500 to Christmas for seven families, one in each of the areas where our sponsors are located.  Some truly deserving needs were targeted with the money.  Judy and Jim Hobbs did a superb job of organizing and carrying out this program. 

 

Finally, our annual Christmas Party provided a captive audience for some homegrown Corvette trivia questions that I thought were particularly entertaining.  Fortunately for the party-goers, Peggy pulled most of those questions from circulation without my knowledge.  If ignorance is bliss, then I was supremely blessed.  Hopefully those who came had a good time anyway. 

 

Rotating our collective heads now and looking ahead, it’s time to elect a new slate of officers for the club.  Every one of the positions will be open and, as yet, no one has consented to be a candidate for anything.  Which means that we’ll have to fashion a solution at the meeting.  We’ll meet at the Teton Grille on January 13, 2004 at 7:00 P.M.; see the Calendar of Events for directions.  Hope to see you there. 

 

 

 

2004 Coming Events Calendar

by Ron Bone

 

January 13:  Monthly meeting at the Teton Grille, 7:00 P.M.  Annual elections for club officers will take place at the meeting.  The Teton Grille is located on US-20, between Ucon and Rigby, at exit 318 (County Line Road). 

 

March 17-19, 2005: 13th Annual Gambler’s Classic, hosted by Corvettes of Bakersfield.  Held at Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino, Primm, Nevada.  Registration is $120 until 2/1/05, $150 after.  Rooms are $45 a night; reserve at 1-800-FUN-STOP, mentioning the host club and group code # SCC0318.  More information: Jerry Berger (661) 589-6085 or jlbljb@aol.com.  Alternate: Tom Gibson (661) 366-0925 or tgibson@bak.rr.com.  Registration form: see Ron Bone. 

 

May, 2005:  Big Sky Meet - Cruise to the Sky 2005, in Bozeman, MT.  Meet will be hosted by the Hyalite Corvette Club, who has been so faithful to attend our shows.  They even put on the autocross event last year, which was such a success.  Event details will be posted as they become available.  You won’t want to miss this one!

 

Christmas Gift Recipient Thanks CSEI

 

The following Thank You card was received from Denise Klingler.  Denise lives in St. Anthony and was one of the recipients of our Christmas for Families gifts. 

 

“Corvettes of S.E. Idaho,”

 

“I’m so grateful to receive such gifts of love from your organization.  It’s been a difficult thing to go thru when I’m such a go and go person.  It has humbled me in so many ways.  I have a defilibrator in my heart and am recovering well.  In a year they will do surgery to fix my mitrol prolapse valve.  Then I will finally feel new inside.  I can not express the kindness you guys have shared with me and my family.  Thank you!”

 

“Love Always,”

 

“Denise Klingler”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JANUARY

 

Sam Miller                              2

Karen Hansen                        2

Bill Martin                              3

Mary Zollinger                        3

Debbie Morris                        5

Bob Krah                                5

Richard Moore                       10

Wayne Valentine                     12

Claudia Sanchez                      16

Russell Michaelson                28