Message from the President Oct 2024
The big event this month for the Pushrods is our annual charity auction being held on February 18th (Sunday) at the Hoquiam Elks. The efforts of members getting sponsors and supporters for the auction is progressing. It takes time and effort to get this done to the level of our satisfaction. Fred has established several lists to keep track of where we are at. If all club members would get out and get one donation, just one, this would be pretty stress free.
On the morning of the 18th, show up at Gil’s shop at 9 am. We need lots of hands to help get all the items to the Elks, unload, set up, organize the tables, put out paper and pencils and whatever else needs to be taken care of. Fred will do the auction duties and I will give him a break if needed. The club will buy breakfast sandwiches and will have coffee on hand. Who is going to sell 50/50 tickets and raffle tickets for the scooter? Maybe have some T-shirt sales? Bob needs to go to the bank and get lots of $1 bills (3,500 are on order).
A very nice article in the Daily World this week about our Fred Scott’s retirement for his 25+ years of service to the city of Aberdeen. Well done.
New news: I was talking to Jackie Smith from the Test of Times car club and discovered that their charity car show was scheduled on May 18th. The same day as our Tractor Supply show. I talked to Tractor Supply, and we have moved our show date to May 11th. So, make notes on your calendars.
NOTE: The Pushrods mailing address has changed: Pushrods of Hoquiam, 210 6th Street, Hoquiam, WA 98550
The Pushrods car club is having a work party on Feb. 24th at Bob Shawgo’s garage to help him put together his 1941 Ford. If you have some time to help a fellow Pushrodder, show up at 9 am and we can help get this car on the road. Around 1 we can have a hot dog and pop and shoot the breeze. Address is 704 Reynvaan Dr. in Central Park.
I was going through some paperwork in my shop the other day and ran across something interesting. Nine years ago, I put out a questionnaire to members. Read closely and what do you see? Valid concerns and what do you see as solutions to those concerns? Today the Pushrods of Hoquiam are doing more, small car shows, dinner runs, garage visits, lunch runs and picnics. Sure, we can do even more with everyone pitching in.
On the bio/questionnaire request, we had around a 20% return.
On the “Why did you join” question, the response was the same.
I want to be around car people and enjoy friends that have the same interest.
The two most common complaints were: • Money, money, money. All about money. • Not enough club stuff to do.
The solution is simple:
- Accept that the club has an exceptional reputation for community involvement through our contributions made possible from our four events we put on for the public.
- Schedule more small-car runs, dinner runs, garage visits, lunch runs, picnics. These will offset all the work and planning that goes into our success of making money.
So in conclusion: You cannot please all the people all the time. There are no mandates for your time or commitment. If you want to join in or help, it is up to you. We are making this car club what it is and all have an opportunity to make it what it can be.
This is from 2014 May Newsletter.
A brief report from the Portland Swap Meet: Steve Reames and I went to Portland on Friday. Steve had ’32 Ford headlights on his shopping list. Steve’s wife has instilled in him to scrimp and save money all of his days so that someday he can buy things that he wants. We found a vendor that had the headlights. They were everything that he was looking for. As he looked them over, he asked “how much” they said $200.00. He whispered to me that that was a good price, but going back to his training, he tried to get a better price. The clerks all said that the price was firm and $200.00 was it. Steve knows how to play the game of negotiations and said he would think about and left the vendor. At the end of the day, Steve decided to go back and offer $180.00 so that he would follow is wife’s training and screw the vendor out of $20.00. As he is getting ready to make his final offer, the clerks told him that they had made a mistake earlier in the day and the price for the headlights was a firm $350.00. NO SALE. What I discovered is that Steve’s leg is not long enough to kick himself in the ass.
Paraprosdokians: First time I heard about paraprosdokians, I liked them. Paraprosdokians are figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected and is frequently humorous. (Winston Churchill loved them).
- Where there’s a will, I want to be in it.
- The last thing I want to do is hurt you … but it’s still on my list.
- Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
- If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.
- We never really grow up — we only learn how to act in public.
- War does not determine who is right, only who is left.
- Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
- To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
- I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
- In filling out an application, where it says, “In case of emergency, notify…” I answered “a doctor.”
- Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.
- You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
- I used to be indecisive, but now I’m not so sure.
- To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
- Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian, any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
- You’re never too old to learn something stupid.
- I’m supposed to respect my elders, but it’s getting harder and harder for me to find one now.
Sadly this is true!!! Spread the Laughter, Share the Cheer, Let’s be Happy, while we’re here!
