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Some BIG changes are happening with our CarClub. Want to hear about them first-hand? Then come to our August meeting at Saturn/Southeast on August 9^th.

Last month’s meeting brought some NEW members and I want to thank them and I hope they enjoyed the meeting. Our suggestion box was in place and we really appreciate the suggestions. The suggestion that we received will be discussed at our Board meeting. Hopefully, ALL of them will be used.

Also by the August meeting, most if not all of you should have your NEW CarClub member card. How will you be able to tell if you have it? On the front it will have either MEMBER or ACTIVE MEMBER on it. If your CarClub card does not have this information (by August’s meeting), let us know immediately. The costs to run the CarClub are increasing and we need to control all of the expenses. If you take your car in for service and do not have your CarClub member card, you will probably NOT receive the CarClub benefit.

Also please join us for our first 2001 CarClub road rally. Details elsewhere, but there will be some VERY neat gifts as prizes plus the neat meal which will be prepared by a world famous chef. At least that is what he told me, but at the moment, I can’t remember his name! If this road rally has a huge participation, we will have at least one more this year.

Saturn CarClub National has asked us if we would like to be part of a Pilot program aimed at increasing members. After discussing it with our Board members and our Business Partner, it appears that we will be part of this program. Final details are being worked out and we should have ALL the information by our August meeting.

Recently we received a request from a CarClub chapter in Florida. They had a situation and asked for input from us. We passed on several ideas and just last week they told us that the problem has been solved. This is an example of our involvement with other CarClub chapters.

Finally, don’t forget to make a NAME suggestion for our own "Corner Boy/Girl". The winner of the name selected will receive a very nice gift.

Remember, you are not just IN the Club, you ARE the Club!

Al Clapsaddle

Hello again everyone. Another month has passed and my long-awaited vacation is a memory. I missed both the trip to the Air Force Museum and the July meeting due to the vacation, so I am a bit in the dark this month. We had wonderful weather getting down to 48 degrees one night. Oh yes, the Saturn got 38 MPG on the flats and 34 MPG in the mountains. I guess I can’t complain about that. Maybe I should skip the 60,000 mile check up?

But down to business. There are about 30 people that I haven’t heard from on the June renewals. Some probably renewed through the National club, but didn’t renew with the local club. If that is the case they won’t be seeing this newsletter! There are 7 people whose memberships expired at the end of July that may also be in this same situation. Remember, to renew at the local club level if you renewed through National CarClub, just send your $5.00 to me or to the CarClub mailing address and we will get you your new membership card. YOU NEED THE CORRECT CARD for any applicable discounts from our business partners. You can ONLY get this card through the local club. EXPIRED JULY people, ‘this is your last newsletter’, and the August billing will go out this week.

This is the second month in the new year as far as earning attendance points for the year. As soon as you qualify for the perks of active membership, we will get you your new membership card and you can start taking advantage of the many benefits. (That benefit will save me about $50 on that 60,000 mile checkup). If you are already an active member, the points go on account for the July 2002 to June 2003 year. The board decided that with this new year we would require 6 points for active membership, an increase of 2 points or 50%. Since everyone started over in July, this shouldn’t be a problem. We have already had the opportunity to earn 3 points in July! Our next meeting is August 9^th with the August Adopt-A-Highway event on the 11^th and Bingo on the 16^th. That would mean you could have done the required points in just 2 months. Pretty easy really...Oh yes the Poker Car Rally on the 26^th. I almost forgot about that one.

Remember that all events count as ONE point WITH THE EXCEPTION of the APRIL Adopt-A-Highway which counts as 2 points due to the long time between the events and the extra work that is required after the long winter. Meetings count as 1 point each.

Saturn Corporation takes a vacation in July, so membership cards may be a bit delayed due to that. Everyone that renewed (except for those who paid in June) should have their cards by now I would hope. If not let me know so I can check on it for you. My phone hasn’t been ringing off the hook so I have to assume that most things are going well.

I did learn that membership cards will only be issued in ONE name, so if it doesn’t look like it used to, it’s due to Saturn’s policy. Since everything goes by membership number anyway, as long as the number is correct, we probably won’t have any problems with the policy.

As always, if you have any problems or concerns, talk to me either by phone email or mail. I’ll try to help resolve them. If I can’t resolve it maybe we need the Boss involved if we can get him out of the retired vacation mode...

I guess that is it for this newsletter. I will see you at the August meeting at Southeast, and probably some of the events.

Drive safely!

Phil

My THANKS to all the PARTICIPANTS for a job WELL DONE:

I also want to thank Saturn of Columbus for providing financial support in feeding us lunch. It tastes much better than the road kills.

Pete

p.s. Our next clean-up date is AUGUST 11^th

Eleven CarClub members traveled to the Air Force Museum on July 7^th. Everyone had a great time. Even the thunderstorm that hit the museum for over an hour did not dampen our spirits! Everyone stayed dry and got to see actual hardware from Air Force history, from the Wright brothers to the present day F-22 and the space program.

This kid has attended meetings, the bingo events, and thanks to Jeanne Maple went to Spring Hill. He also wears a Saturn Car Club shirt and hat.

It is now time to give this kid a proper name. At the June meeting, we started collecting various names and will continue to collect names into the September meeting. During the September meeting all members present will vote on all the names and get the names down to a final three or four. A final vote by YOU will select the name. The rules are quite simple. You can submit as many names as you want however, they cannot be names or closely resemble a name of any members. Upon submitting your entry give your own name at the bottom. If your entry is the winner you will then receive a prize.

Once the kid has a name how about a membership card?

Pete

That’s Right! We finally have all our plans in place and are ready to offer our first Road Rally of this Century. Mark your calendars and call our Hotline! You don’t want to miss this one!

Date: August 26^th 2001

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Locations: Greater Columbus

Starting Place: Northland Mall

Ending Place: Jim and Becky’s Mansion

Cost: $5.00 (to cover mandatory insurance)

Prizes: First, Second and last place. PLUS some neat "also ran" gifts.

Detailed rules will be available at our August meeting and can be obtained after the meeting by calling our Hotline (if you can’t make the meeting). We will also have information at the start of the race.

Basically, you will travel to 5 locations and obtain a poker card. At each location you will show your card to the Race Official. The race official will make note of the card you selected. A mark that the official will place on the rally-card, will determine authenticity. After you have visited all five locations you must then make sure you reach the Mansion by 4:30 p.m.

Anyone arriving later than 4:30 p.m. will be fined one of his or her rally-cards. The card selected will be by a random draw. If you arrive after 5:00 p.m. you will forfeit all chance for a prize.

Any entrant that "swaps" a rally-card, will be disqualified. Our Events Team Committee will be the final word on any item concerning the rally. The rally-card hand will be determined by the rules of Hoyle. Copies will be available at the race.

To make it interesting, you will be allowed to purchase a 6^th card, at the Mansion (at the end of the race). This extra card will cost an additional $5.00. Only 5 cards will be used to determine the winners.

If your name is not on the list of the Rally official location checkers, you will not be able to draw a card. So make sure that you inform us as soon as possible, if you want to be part of the race. Also, for insurance reasons we must have the names of all the people participating and that includes passengers in your car as well as other rally entrants in your car.

The more entrants the better but we must limit to the first 52 people.

Hope you like this event and see you at the rally!

Becky Harrass and the Events Team

Don’t forget Bingo, August 16^th at 7:00 p.m., at St Angela Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, located at 5700 Karl Road.

(South of Rt. 161 on the East side of Karl Rd)

Bingo on July 19^th was conducted by the following members: John & Peggy Williams, Pete Peterson, Libby Bryan, John Herbst, Virginia Russell, Luanna & Robert Leadbetter, Debbie Rusnak, Chi-Chi Digman, Barb Nissley, Dwight Shumway, and Al Clapsaddle.

It’s a lot of fun for the CarClub members and the residents of St Angela really look forward to it! Come and join us!

Once a quarter the CarClub has Saturday meetings, because of requests from YOU, our members. You have said that our normal Thursday evening meetings were inconvenient because of work, school, or home conflicts.

Hope to see more of you at our next Saturday meeting, 10:00 a.m. September 22^nd at Saturn/Southeast

Hello from the safety desk. I saw a brochure when I was at Saturn/North for service on my SL. I thought that it is something that should be passed on.

AIRBAG SAFETY - Important information about Saturn’s Reduced Force Airbags.

We’ve all read reports about the airbag controversy. And now, Saturn is able to offer less aggressive airbags that improve driver and passenger safety in our cars.

Airbags are designed to work with safety belts. Reduced force or not, you still need to buckle up!

You will find Reduced Force Airbags in all of our 1998 and newer Saturns. As the name implies, these airbags are deployed at a reduced force. But, even so, there are a few important points you need to remember.

1. ALWAYS check to make sure everyone in your car is using his or her safety belt properly. Read your owner’s handbook and follow the instructions for safety belt adjustment.

2. ALWAYS sit as far back as you can from driver and passenger airbags. Drivers should position themselves to comfortably maintain control of the car.

3. ALWAYS restrain an infant in the back seat in a properly secured rear-facing infant restraint. Also remember crash statistics show that children age 12 and under are safer when properly restrained in the back seat.

Q: Saturn’s been using airbags since 1992. Why the change now?

A: Modifications to the federal requirements have enabled us to reduce the deployment force of our airbags.

Q: What are the benefits of Reduced Force Airbags?

A: Reduced Force Airbags help reduce the potential for injury sometimes associated with inflation. However, reduced force airbags provide less protection to occupants who are not wearing safety belts. Remember, airbags are designed to work with safety belt

Q: Do Reduced Force Airbags eliminate the risks of injuries from a deploying airbag?

A: No. For example, Reduced Force Airbags will not eliminate the risk to children in rear-facing infant seats. Never place a rear-facing seat infant seat in the front seat of a car equipped with an active passenger-side airbag. Reduced Force Airbags will reduce the risk to older children who are properly buckled, but do not eliminate the risks. If possible, children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the backseat.

Q: May older Saturns be retrofitted with Reduced Force Airbags?

A: No, the new federal regulation does not apply retroactively.

Remember, while there are no tests to study for, knowledge can always help save your life!

Lowell

The date of the Kids 'n Kamp Murder Mystery for this year is Saturday, October 20^th at 5:30 p.m. The remaining details have not yet been determined. Mark your calendars now and plan to participate in this fun event!