February 2007

Doug Robertson, 7 Pacini Ave., Pittsburg, CA 94565

(925) 473-0946  Para4T5@comcast.net

www.escarabajobuggyclub.com

 

 

 

Presidents Corner:    Tod Smith President

Hello All,

I talked all last year about our need to increase activity and memberships and some progress was made.
This year is starting of with a bang. At last weeks meeting a new membership was announced and two new applications were handed in.


Also scheduled for this year, is the return of our fund raiser at it's new location for 2007, Frank Raines OHV.
There's a sense of renewed excitement in the air. We will need as much help as possible to make this event as successful as VC was. The next Board meeting will be at Guadalajara Grill, 5400 Ygnacio Valley Rd # B6, Concord CA on Feb 21st. Board meeting at 7pm, come early for no-host dinner. Please bring all your great ideas and lets have fun with this.
Until next month,

Tod


February  Meeting Notes :  Doug Robertson

The meeting opened on a rather sad note with Tod announcing the passing of long time member Ellie Howell on January 9th. There was a large turnout by club members at her services. Tod asked for a donation from the club to the Kaiser Hospice which had rendered assistance to Ellie. There was a motion made and passed to make the donation.

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A Tribute to Ellie by Diana Mead:

On January 9th, our friend Ella Beth Howell died.

Ellie joined Escarabajo in the early 70’s with her own rail. This is long before she married Paul. Club lore says that Paul saw Ellie and her two little girls at a club activity and informed Lori Noble that he would marry her. So he did. Many club members attended the wedding at the Pioneer Inn in Clayton and the reception following at Paul and Ellie’s home in Concord.
The last year was a difficult time for Ellie. She lost much of her independence. But, still she was Ellie. She proudly defended her ground, making the decision to continue living in her home, telling us each time we saw her that she was getting better. She wasn’t.

Ellie was the master of the positive attitude. She always knew the perfect expletive to describe the moment and delivered it with precise timing. She found humor everywhere, especially in herself. She would regularly remind us not to worry as it would probably shorten our life and not to think too much as it might weaken the team.

She leaves behind her daughters, Marcia and Tami, their families, JD, aka James Dean who has gone to reside in Fallon, Nevada with his cousin Hershey Bar Spires, and her extended family, most of whom live in Wichita, Kansas, where Ellie was born a few years back.

“Buenos Knockers” Ellie, we will miss you very much. 

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   Roll call and intro of new members Wayne and Denise Buckner. Also present were guests Tom & Michelle Gnutzman and Bruce Meiers who have applied for membership in the club. Steve Molder introduced his new fiancée Patti to the members. Congrats to Patti and Steve.

    Minutes were read and approved. Discussion on whether to renew the BLM permit for Nevada was discussed and it was voted to not renew at this time.

    Diana read proposed changes to the By-Laws and there was discussion on them. The proposed change is as follows:

 

Escarabajo By Law Change   Article III, Section 2:

(a) Dues for the Club will be $60 per membership year, commencing on November 1 of each year, payable in advance. Any member whose dues are two months in arrears (not paid by February 1 of the following year) shall be dropped from the rolls of the Club. Nothing herein contained, shall prevent reinstatement of a delinquent Member upon payment in full of the unpaid dues within one year, provided the Member is not otherwise disqualified for misconduct or reasons other than non-payment of dues.

 

(b) On or about January 1st, the current Treasurer shall calculate the amount of dues collected from…..

 

 

 

    Diana also found a source for large reflective decals with the club logo on them. Ken Swenson suggested having the buggy club web site on them also. Prices should be around $46 for the large size and $21 for the smaller size. They will also be available in non-reflective material for $30 & $13 each.

More to follow on this.

   Pat Morgan reported that the club with his help was able to raise $387 from the Danville Dinner walk last December. The next one will be June 5th so mark your calendars.

   Erin sent in a deposit for the Hall at Frank Raines for the Memorial weekend so we are on the way for our first event at F.R.

   The Brinks are proud new parents to twins, Katherine (Katie) Louise and Kristi Anne on January 31st. Although arriving early both girls are doing fine and should be going home soon. Congratulations from the club to the proud parents and Grandparents Bob and Helga Lininger.

 

Now for the big discussion: At the January board meeting it was agreed to form a committee to explore the option of putting on an event at Frank Raines on Memorial weekend. After preliminary findings it was decided to hold an event on Memorial weekend. It is to be a fun event involving driving events and other things to combine towards a final score time. We will also host a BBQ dinner Saturday night at the hall for a nominal cost. There will be 4 classes; A- buggy’s   B-  4X4’s and glass bodied cars  C-motorcycles  D-quads. We also hope to involve the Sheriffs dept in ATV safety workshops.

Committee members are Tim Warbington, Doug Robertson, Wayne Buckner, Rick Mead and Roy Haley.

There will be several people going to Frank Raines to begin scouting out areas and possible trail routes. I’m sure that it will take several more trips to the park to plan this out so contact one of the committee members if you’d like to give a hand laying out the course. This is going to be a club event so we would gladly accept any help you can give.

 

After a raffle by Roy and snacks by Bobbie the meeting was adjourned.

There is currently $6,710.70 in the club treasury.

 

2007 REDBOOKS were distributed to those present. Please note that the meeting time is incorrect in the book and should read 7:30pm on the first Wednesday of the month.

 

RALLY MASTER REPORT    Nothing to report since last meeting.

 

Up Coming Events: February  Board meeting on February 21, Guadalajara Grill, 5400 Ygnacio Valley Rd # B6, Concord CA, back room will be reserved for club. Meeting at 7 pm, come early for dinner (no host), as early as 5:45 is OK.

 

2007 Schedule of Runs

Feb 17-20  Stonyford or Dumont Dunes or Sand Mt.

Mar 30-Apr 1  Corva convention and Fun day @ California City

Spring Break  Dumont Dunes. dates vary by school district so check with your fellow members to make plans for those with school age children.

May 25-27 Escarabajo Off Road Rally @ Frank Raines Park. 

June TBA Club Picnic Campout @ Tower Park            

   

 

C.O.R.V.A. Report  Family Fun Day and Convention at California City on March 30- April 1, 2007. For more info go to

www.corva.org

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY  Marcia Savage 03/01,  Turk Ozcan 03/03,  Lee Sawin 03/04,  Gary Mertle 03/16,  Pat Malato 03/17,  Chris Jiannalone 03/23,  Dawn Warbington 03/23, Steve Molder 03/28.

 

ANNIVERSARIES   Dan & Johanna Ackerman 03/15,  Mark & Robin Crean 03/17,  Wayne & Linda Myers 03/17

 

Items for Sale

 NOTE :  If you want your ad renewed next month please email me or I will remove it next month!

2003 Southwind 32' motorhome, nicely equipped, low miles, Workhorse chassis, asking $74,500. Call Rick or Diana Mead 925-689-3696

Motorhome for sale - 1988 Bounder, 34 ft. Basement model, 454 Chevy. New fridge, roof A/C, radiator & 90 gal. gas tank. It has 2 roof A/C's, cab A/C,

6.5kw Onan generator, 20 ft. A&E awning, 20" flat tv, towing brake, 75k miles. Serviced and waxed, one owner quality. $9,950  Bill Hamby

925-938-7573

 

1985 CJ-7 Jeep Rock Crawler with a 1996 EFI 4.0L engine – view web page for more info. Ken Swenson 925-285-7609

 

5th Wheel tailgate for 88-00 Chevy/GMC $75.00 offer.   Doug Robertson 925-473-0946

 

 


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