Director’s Thoughts, January 2016

“WELCOME” to 2016 EVERYONE!! I trust everyone enjoyed a most healthy, joyous & peaceful holiday season 2015. Now is the time to look forward to what 2016 has in store for everyone, besides everyone going to turn another year older, HA HA!

As I look into what January has to offer, holiday wise, besides New Year’s Day, I see Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 18th. As I was browsing, I came across this:

10 Things You May Not Know About Martin Luther King Jr

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) was a Baptist minister and social activist who played a key role in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. Explore 10 surprising facts about the civil rights leader and 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

1. King’s birth name was Michael, not Martin.
   The civil rights leader was born Michael King Jr. on January 15, 1929. In 1934, however, his father, a pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, traveled to Germany and became inspired by the Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther. As a result, King Sr. changed his own name as well as that of his 5-year-old son.
2. King entered college at the age of 15.
   King was such a gifted student that he skipped grades nine and 12 before enrolling in 1944 at Morehouse College, the alma mater of his father and maternal grandfather. Although he was the son, grandson and great-grandson of Baptist ministers, King did not intend to follow the family vocation until Morehouse president Benjamin E. Mays, a noted theologian, convinced him otherwise. King was ordained before graduating college with a degree in sociology.
3. King received his doctorate in systematic theology.
   After earning a divinity degree from Pennsylvania’s Crozer Theological Seminary, King attended graduate school at Boston University, where he received his Ph.D. degree in 1955. The title of his dissertation was “A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman.”
4. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was not his first at the Lincoln Memorial.
   Six years before his iconic oration at the March on Washington, King was among the civil rights leaders who spoke in the shadow of the Great Emancipator during the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom on May 17, 1957. Before a crowd estimated at between 15,000 and 30,000, King delivered his first national address on the topic of voting rights. His speech, in which he urged America to “give us the ballot,” drew strong reviews and positioned him at the forefront of the civil rights leadership.
5. King was jailed 29 times.
   According to the King Center, the civil rights leader went to jail nearly 30 times. He was arrested for acts of civil disobedience and on trumped-up charges, such as when he was jailed in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1956 for driving 30 miles per hour in a 25-mile-per-hour zone.
6. King narrowly escaped an assassination attempt a decade before his death.
   On September 20, 1958, King was in Harlem signing copies of his new book, “Stride Toward Freedom,” in Blumstein’s department store when he was approached by Izola Ware Curry. The woman asked if he was Martin Luther King Jr. After he said yes, Curry said, “I’ve been looking for you for five years,” and she plunged a seven-inch letter opener into his chest. The tip of the blade came to rest alongside his aorta, and King underwent hours of delicate emergency surgery. Surgeons later told King that just one sneeze could have punctured the aorta and killed him. From his hospital bed where he convalesced for weeks, King issued a statement affirming his nonviolent principles and saying he felt no ill will toward his mentally ill attacker.
7. King’s last public speech foretold his death.
   King had come to Memphis in April 1968 to support the strike of the city’s black garbage workers, and in a speech on the night before his assassination, he told an audience at Mason Temple Church: “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now … I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”
8. Members of King’s family did not believe James Earl Ray acted alone.
   Ray, a career criminal, pled guilty to King’s assassination but later recanted. King’s son Dexter met publicly with Ray in 1997 and argued for the case to be reopened. King’s widow, Coretta, believed the Mafia and local, state and federal government agencies were deeply involved in the murder. She praised the result of a 1999 civil trial in which a Memphis jury decided the assassination was the result of a conspiracy and that Ray was set up to take the blame. A U.S. Department of Justice investigation released in 2000 reported no evidence of a conspiracy.
9. King’s mother was also slain by a bullet.
   On June 30, 1974, as 69-year-old Alberta Williams King played the organ at a Sunday service inside Ebenezer Baptist Church, Marcus Wayne Chenault Jr. rose from the front pew, drew two pistols and began to fire shots. One of the bullets struck and killed King, who died steps from where her son had preached nonviolence. The deranged gunman said that Christians were his enemy and that although he had received divine instructions to kill King’s father, who was in the congregation, he killed King’s mother instead because she was closer. The shooting also left a church deacon dead. Chenault received a death penalty sentence that was later changed to life imprisonment, in part due to the King family’s opposition to capital punishment.
10. George Washington is the only other American to have had his birthday observed as a national holiday.
    In 1983 President Ronald Reagan signed a bill that created a federal holiday to honor King. The holiday, first commemorated in 1986, is celebrated on the third Monday in January, close to the civil rights leader’s January 15 birthday.

Hope you enjoyed the above reading. Your Director, Sally Getz

“Free Spirit” Chapter Meeting Minutes, December, 2015

No meeting held, only “FUN” during the “Holiday Gathering.”

“2015 Holiday Gathering”

As 2015 was coming to a close, the chapter’s annual “Holiday Gathering” was held on Tuesday, December 8th @ the Starlite Diner & Lounge. 33 “Free Spiriters” were in attendance. As everyone thoroughly enjoyed their entrée selection(s), the dessert options were out of this world!

The induction/swearing-in of the 2016 officers/BOD’s was completed.

After dinner, everyone got to exercise their voices! I never knew how wonderful everyone sounded. Rounds of “Jingle Bells” & “Deck the Halls” were performed.

“Crazy Bingo” was the main entertainment of the evening. For a moment there, I thought no one would be interested in trading. Then it happened. Ed Lenny had opened a small collection of pocket knives, only to lose them to someone else, then for that person to lose them to Isabel, then for her to lose them to someone else! OH MYYYYY! Other items (Merlof, gold coins, $ an RC vehicle) were also traded throughout the night.

The following members/guest were recipients of other gifts:

• Hershey Kisses Tree = Diane Miles
• Reese’s PB Tree = Louise Stephens
• Kit Kat Jar = Wm “King” Schaedel
• Disney Tree = Kathleen Duckett
• Carousel Tree = Don Sterner
• Santa Hat Centerpieces = Martha Kriebel, Peggy Schaedel, Shirley Schaffer, Marion Straub (Sally’s mother), Thomas Duckett, Robert Miles.

By 9:30 pm, the fun-filled, adventurous evening came to a close. Until 2016………………..

Go Buick!!

Sally Getz

Subject: 1947 Buick Joe Mantegna

For those “Criminal Mind” series fans, did you know, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Supervisory Special Agent, David Rossi (Joseph Anthony “Joe” Mantegna, Jr.), of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is an Antique Buick owner! Indeed he is! See him and the car, a 1947 Buick, on Jan 20th, CBS, 9 PM on Criminal Minds. This episode is titled, “Drive”. Joe’s 1947 Buick was originally black & now is a beautiful butterscotch color. Besides owning a Buick, he also owns a white 1970 Opel GT!

Hope you get a chance to watch and enjoy the show.

BCA 50th Anniversary Celebration, July 27-30, 2016, Allentown, PA

Now it’s’ only 6 months away for this SPECIAL CELEBRATION to take place! If you haven’t registered yet, please do so for only 1000 cars will be allowed for display! It has been printed in the local newspaper that this event will definitely by-pass the 100th Buick Anniversary Celebration held in Flint, Michigan in 2003! Aren’t you curious to know whether or not this statement will be fact or fiction?

HEAR YE, HEAR YE! UPDATED NEWS!! The chairman of the Welcoming Committee for the 2016 BCA Celebration in Allentown is looking for volunteers and asked if I would solicit our membership. I can’t say exactly what our duties will be, but Dick Beckley, the chairman, would especially appreciate local help. If you are interested, contact Dick at: dbeckley@epix.net Ed Lenny

James Melton

James Melton was a popular singer, a Met lyric tenor, a recording artist for Victor and Columbia records and a producer and actor. He was raised in Citra, Florida, where he worked on a farm raising pigs and loading watermelons

He founded Autorama, an antique-automobile museum in Florida which largely featured his own collection of rare brass-era cars.

In addition to his accomplishments as a tenor singer, Melton was renowned as a collector of antique cars. His pride was a 1900 Rockwell Hanson Cab, said to be the first automotive taxi used in New York. At a charity event in the 1940’s, Melton raced his Rockwell against a horse and buggy…and lost.
He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6564 Hollywood Boulevard and for Radio at 6300 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Heard Along The Way…………..

Dave Brady has been informed by the AACA that his 1932 Buick Model 68C has been awarded the James Melton Memorial Cup Award. This award will be
presented to Dave & Debbie Brady during the 80th AACA National Meeting to be held @ Philadelphia, February 11-13, 2016. Dave’s car is currently an AACA Senior Winner, & they are planning to take the car to the AACA Grand National Show in Williamsport, Pa in June 2016 to compete for a Grand National Award. Congratulations, & Good Luck in June!

The James Melton Memorial Cup

This prestigious award goes to the Outstanding Senior Car entered in the Spring Meet in each Division. Established in 1963 by Dr. Samuel L. Scher in memory of James Melton (1903-1961), former AACA president and internationally known singer. The cup itself is the racing trophy won by the famous Winton Bullet in 1905 and was once prized possession of James Melton.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JANUARY 2016 (HAPPY NEW YEAR)
3 – Monthly Chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, PA. Supper @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.
28-31 – PA Auto Show, PA Farm Complex & Expo Center, Harrisburg, Pa
31-February 7 – Auto Show, Philadelphia, Pa

FEBRUARY 2016 (HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY)
2 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 78/100, Allentown, Pa. Supper @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm. Guest speaker is Brett Feldman, associated w/ the Lehigh Valley Health Network “Street Medicine”. Be sure to mark your calendars for you won’t want to miss this meeting!!
11-13 – 80th AACA Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pa

MARCH 2016 (WEATHER PERMITTING)
1 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts 100/78, Allentown, Pa. Supper @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.
6 – Hamburg Swap Meet, Hamburg, Pa

CARS/PARTS “FOR SALE”

1939 Buick Special (41) 4-DR Trunk back Sedan, unrestored original car, Straight 8, manual transmission. Runs well! Rebuilt engine & components, brake system, drive train, transmission. Upgraded carb, electronic ignition, oil filter, NEW exhaust system. WW tires. Pics available. $16,500/negotiable. Ken Davis, 610-489-1649. kwmcdavis@verizon.net

1951 Buick Super (51) 4 dr. Excellent condition. Everything works, drive anywhere. Original paint interior. All mechanical things have been replaced or improved. 59,000 original miles. $11,500. William@ 610-970-7183, 484-948-6213.

1962 Buick Skylark Conv. Overall GOOD condition. Various NOS chrome installed. Runs/drives nice! Transmission, rear, top & rear window good. Dave’s Int. restorations, 525 Chestnut St., Emmaus, Pa 18049

1981 Buick Regal 4 DR dark green, garage kept. 75K mi. 717-576-7588

1987 Buick GN, T-Top blk w/ grey/blk int., orig parts, EXCELLENT condition, 3200 ORIGINAL miles. Stored in heat controlled garage. $28,500 (OBO), gbrentano@verizon.net

1951-52 Buick Mustache Bar to be rechromed, very hard to find! $400.00. William, 610-970-7183, 484-948-6213.

In Search Of

1951-52 Buick Roadmaster RH grille bar extension. C. Wenger, 433-710-6624, crewzn@broadstripe.net
1967 Buick Electra Conv. 610-730-4599, dwebster80@gmail.com