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As the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, I do get in a reflective mode. I look back at this year and examine the many things that we have accomplished and the things that are still on the "list". I remember back to the elections and now know how important EVERY vote is. At our NEXT CarClub meeting, we will elect folks who will carry us through another year. It is hard to believe but we have just finished our 6^th year as a CarClub. The 7^th year is in your hands. Each vote counts and new faces equal new ideas.

I will not be able to attend the November meeting, as I will be in training in Spring Hill, TN. Saturn is big on training and being that I was a former trainer, I really appreciate it. I will try to sneak a few VUEs in my suitcase and bring them back with me.

I want to THANK SPS for attending our last meeting and explaining how our car’s suspension works and what can be done to improve and/or change it. It cleared some misconceptions up for me and I now understand the purpose of the "sway" bars and the purpose of the "strut tower brace". SPS made two of our meetings this year and they travel from Dayton, Ohio. Maybe if the demand is there, we will invite them back next year.

I do know that our life’s have all changed to some degree, because of 9/11/01. But, I was still a little disappointed to see that we could not get enough folks to do ANYTHING, in October. Our events team worked very hard to come up with a variety of fun things to do. BUT they cannot make the suggestions and do them in a vacuum. Our big fun thing in December, will be Christmas Caroling. Even if your voice is as bad as mine is, the folks that we visit don’t care. They LOVE to see us and we love to sing for them. We even provide the words to the songs. If you want to join us, call our hotline, e-mail us or better yet, attend this month’s meeting and get the details first hand.

Let’s show our business partner, Saturn of Columbus, just how big we are. Let’s fill the meeting room at Saturn/Southeast for our November meeting. If memory serves me, the room can hold about 125 people. Carla Clubb will make her first official meeting and I know she wants to meet ALL of you.

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

Al Clapsaddle

The November meeting is IMPORTANT in that the NEW OFFICERS of the club are elected. I would like to EMPHASIZE that we NEED members that have not served as officers before. We will again be taking nominations before the actual election and therefore giving YOU the chance to submit your name or some one else's name. So far we have one NEW person nominated for an office, let's not make him the ONLY one.

Your Vice-President soon to be president-elect

Pete

The CarClub members listed below were nominated for the positions indicated at the October CarClub meeting. Additional nominations can be submitted before the elections occur at the November meeting.

Vice-President: Jim Harrass

Treasurer: Bob Bond

Secretary: Becky Harrass

Events: Peggy and John Williams

Safety/Historian: Lowell Lutman

Membership: Phil Carter

Newsletter: Al Clapsaddle, Cheryl Lutman

Brief descriptions of our Elected Officer Positions are as follows:

This position is the key to our year to year stability. The person who is elected to this position serves two years. He/She becomes the President the second year. He/She assists the President and is a backup if something happens and the President can not continue or is not able to attend a meeting/function. Requirements are wanting to have fun and being a People person.

This person is the money keeper. They make sure that we know where ALL our money is and they must be able to account (in case of an audit) for all incoming and outgoing funds. To assist with this position, we have a computer program called Quicken, which is passed to the officer in this position.

This position keeps track of everything we do. This person makes sure that we record all meetings and events so that future Officers know what has worked and what has not worked. This position works BEST if the Secretary has MS word.

This position requires the most work but is the most fun. Creativity is a BIG plus. Have something that you think others will enjoy then this position is for you.

This position makes sure that we do not engage in an event or an action, which could harm us. They are also holder to the "Book" The book describes the many things we have been a part of since we first started in 1996.

This position is critical to our survival. It makes sure that all members information is up to date and makes sure that NEW members get their information, in a timely manner. This position works with the National CarClub to correct any member "membership" problems.

This position is our main avenue to our members, our Sponsoring Retailers, the National CarClub and other CarClub chapters. About 3 days a month, this position is VERY busy. If you always wanted to be Jimmy Olson or Lois Lane, then give this position a try. The Monthly Planet is published using MS Word 97.

When the activity for October was brought up at the last meeting, very few people were interested in doing anything. The small group that was interested ended up going to "Cookers" restaurant on Saturday evening, October 27^th. It was a very nice evening and a good time was had by all that attended. Many thanks to Diane Peterson for the Halloween "treats".

Since November is usually a very busy month for most people, the only activity planned is to participate in the Delaware Christmas Parade on November 18^th. We need to know how many will be participating, not later than the November meeting on the 8^th. See Pete’s article in the next column for more information.

We would like to ask everyone to bring a non-perishable item to the November meeting. With the winter months fast approaching and more people out of work, lets help the food pantry in Columbus feed those less fortunate than we are.

Our caroling this year will be held at St Angela’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. This is where we help with Bingo each month. The plan is to have a very short meeting, carol from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and then go to "Smokey Bones BBQ and Sports Bar" located very close to St Angela’s at 1755 East Dublin Granville Road.

See you at the next meeting!

Becky

Yes, I realize that it is only late October but we have an event coming up that has to do with that HO HO season. Years past the CarClub used to participate in either the Veteran's Parade in Columbus or the Christmas Parade in Delaware. I would like us to continue that annual event. Therefore, a few of the members will be going to Delaware on Sunday, the 18^th of November. Some of us will be driving our own cars and others will be walking to hand out candy to the kids. If you would like to join the fun, I need to know no later than the November meeting on the 8^th. Applications are due Friday the 9^th. So please come to the meeting or call the voice mail at 614-470-3517. We need to meet as a group so that we are all in the parade as a group. The parade participants meet at Mingo Park at 1:30 p.m. and the parade starts from there at 3:00 p.m.

Pete

Don’t forget Bingo, November 15^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)

On October 18^th the following CarClub members participated:

CarClub members have a lot of fun and the residents of St Angela really look forward to the Bingo games! Come and join us in this very rewarding service project!

The last clean up for the year was successful and now "our" highway can go into winter clean. I would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL MEMBERS that worked this year. You all did a SUPERB job. Again thanks to Saturn of Columbus for providing lunch. The following members came to the October 13^th event:

JACOB HERBST, ROBERT BOND,
JOSEPH FINN, BILL HALSEY and
PETE PETERSON.

One last note. The board at the last meeting studied the number of points that you accumulate at each of the adopt-a-highway events. Since Saturn is generous in providing lunch at a restaurant. It was decided to leave the point system as it stands; except that the first pick-up in April will count as two points and the other three will be one point each. I hope every-one understands why we did this and hopefully, we will have another good year in 2002.

Pete

The corner kid finally has a name and not only that but we also decided to make it a female. The winning name is CARLA CLUBB, which was submitted as a late entry from Peggy and John Williams. If you have not met her yet then you have not been to a meeting or bingo lately. So come to the November meeting she will be there standing in a corner.

Pete

This is the theme that Saturn is using. Until November 18^th, Saturn will have 0.0% financing on ALL of its 2002 models. As winter approaches, this is probably the BEST time to buy that new Saturn. Many changes have taken place of the last couple of years. Visit any of the three Saturn of Columbus retailers and check out the new Saturns for yourself.

If you do not currently have a Sales Consultant, give Al Clapsaddle a call. He can be reached at Saturn/West 771-9700. He can meet you at any of the facilities and will be glad to go over your options. He has vast Saturn experience both as an Owner (his family has purchased 21 Saturns since 1994) and as a founding officer of our CarClub.

Let’s make this November the best November in Saturn’s history.