REport

by John Lieberman

Well, here we are - at the end of another year and the end (finally!) of my ten-year term as your Regional Executive. Looking back, I must say that it’s been fun. I enjoy a challenge and this position has certainly posed some challenges for me. But, working together as a team, we’ve been able to overcome every single challenge that’s reared its ugly head over the past ten years and I think our club is better and stronger for it.

I’d like to take just a minute to thank all of the officers who have served this Region over the past ten years. I’d list them all here, but it would take an entire page. There have been that many. I’ve saved every copy of the “Drivers View” since I joined the club in October of 1985. I sat down and flipped through many of them before I left on my Thanksgiving vacation and I was astounded by the names that jumped off those pages - names of people who are still active in the club - names of people who have long since moved or gone on to pursue other pastimes.

From the original slate of officers who served with me during my first year in 1993 (Terry Talley, Dianne Patrick, Shannon Talley, Marvin McHorse, Robert Bakowski, and Jim Beene) to the current slate of officers who’ve served with me in 2002 (Rick Bagnard, Connie Booker, Gary Linde, and Kurt Kelley) and everybody who’s served in between, my hat’s off to you. And let’s not forget James Cox who, because of our bylaws, has been a board member since the day I became RE because he’s the immediate past RE. Now I’ll continue on as a board member and James gets a breather because now I’M the immediate past RE. James has also served us well for many years as one of our TLAC representatives along with BooBoo Fogleman. And then there’s Thumper (Rick Kise) who’s been a board member-at-large (no pun intended because he’s not large anymore!) during much of that ten-year period.

And I mustn’t forget those who have served in appointed positions as our Solo, Club Racing, and Rally Chairmen. The list of Solo Chairmen has been lengthy, but the two most recent to serve in that post were Barry Booker and Kassie Kelley. Among the Club Racing Chairmen, Bruce Nock and Jim Beene come to mind right away. And then there’s poor ol’ Lester Ewing who’s been our Rally Chairman (and Weather Chairman!) for more years than I care to remember. We almost got the Rally program off the ground again last year and I still have hopes that we can get it flying again in the years to come.

As I leave my post as RE, I leave you with this one thought. This club doesn’t belong to the RE or any of your other elected officers. It’s YOUR club and you need to stay involved in what’s happening. Don’t just show up to autox and then go home. Help with setup and teardown at our events. If something needs doing, pitch in and do it. Don’t wait for somebody to ASK you for help - volunteer. Over all of my years of being involved in clubs like this one, civic endeavors, professional organizations, and even my radio news job, I’ve learned one very important lesson - you only get out of life what you’re willing to put into it. The more you put in, the more you’ll get back. Treat others like you would want to be treated yourself. And always look for the positives - the negatives are easy to find - the positives take a little more work.

Until next time, go fast - have fun - but be SAFE

John

My View

by Gary Linde

Here it is December and my last function as your editor. Like the title of this article indicates, this column is all about the way I see things. I want to close out my term as your editor, by telling you all exactly what I think about you and this club. When I joined this club 10 years ago we had 88 members, we now have 64. But what we have is more members that are willing to pitch in and make this club work. Numbers and growth of any organization is important, but I am prouder of our club as it is now than what it was when I first joined. Even then our members were always good sports and would always help a fellow racer, but now they are more willing to help in the day-to-day function of this club. That is not to say I don’t miss some of those we never see anymore, specially my old nemesis, Danny Reynolds. Danny, if you’re out there, come back and autocross, I need someone else in C Stock!

Here’s my view on this past year. We started the year with excellent Driver’s school. I hope we continue this and make it a tradition. Even an old dog like me can learn something new. I know I did at that school. The club has raised the money to greatly increase and improve our timing equipment. John, Bob and Boo Boo have worked tirelessly to expand our autocross sites. The guys from Team Konfuzion have asked to learn to do jobs such as registration, timing & scoring and have even set up an Internet forum for us accessible through our web site.

And what can I say about Connie and Barry, without them I don’t think we could function at all, what ever is needed, they are there, before anyone else. As I see it when I first got here, John Lieberman had to do almost everything himself, but for the last few years he has gotten the needed help for much of it

And finally my view of our out-going RE. John (workaholic) Lieberman has shoes so large no one person is going to fill them. It will take many of us to carry that load, although John will still be here and even though he will not hold an office, knowing him, he will stay almost as involved as he has been. But I urge the club membership to give him a rest and rely on him in an advisory manner only. John has almost single handedly kept this club alive through some very bad years and I think he deserves a huge show of appreciation by us and the SCCA in general.

Well, that’s how I see it. I also want to thank ya’ll for allowing me to be you’re newsletter editor for all these years, and remember “Drive fast, no cones, and have FUN !!!”

Gary

Treasurer’s Report

By Connie Booker

Balance Forward October 23, 2002 $2983.74

INCOME: EXPENSES:

Event 11/10 $455.00 Ins/Sanction 10/7 $100.00

Membership Dues 36.00 Portajohn 50.00

______ SCCA Brochures/hats 87.49

$491.00 Sowdiv assessment 32.00

Event supplies 30.58

Metrocall 7.29

______

$307.36

Balance as of November 22, 2002 $3166.37

Equipment Fund - 1552.37

_______

Active account balance $1614.01

Thunder Road Autocross

Red River Raceway

Nov. 10, 2002

Host: Rick Bagnard