Our Meet Chairman , Steve Montgomery , is putting the final touches together so you ’ re sure to have an exciting time . The new judging format will be used ( refer to Avanti Magazine , Issue 121 , page 10 ). The Judging committee headed by Jim Pearce will be interested in your reactions .

I know of a few members who are driving cross- country . I lo ok forward to hearing your travel adventures at the meet and seeing them published in the Avanti Magazine . If you can ’ t make it to the National Meet in Sacramento , consider taking advantage of something closer to home . Is there a local chapter nearby ? If not , check your 2003 Roster . You may find someone who owns an Avanti who lives a few blocks away or on the other side of town . Have your own Mini Meet ! Before you know it , you ’ ll have enough members to start your own chapter .

By June , we will have a New Chapter and possibly TWO thanks to the initiative of several members , and the direction of Don Jones , our chapter coordinator . Official announcement will take place during the Board Meeting in Sacramento .

Your Chapter Presidents reviewed the Business Plan and they offered some great feedback . Hopefully , they have shared with you the vision of AOAI . We welcome your comments and participation to help shape the direction of the club . The final version will be presented to the members at the board meeting in Sacramento and then printed in the Avanti Magazine .

Enhanced Communications : The monthly conference calls have been extremely successful ! The BoD look forward to the calls even though we ’ ve had some three hour calls in the beginning . We have accomplished many things like appointing a new Membership Director and the new Chapter Coordinators along with Committees to focus on Finance , Judging , Marketing / Promotions and Recognition . These committees have established a Budget , Business Plan , Chapter Starter Kit , Membership

Questionnaire , New Welcoming Letter , Recognition Criteria and distributed a 40th Anniversary Promotional Package including “ The Avanti Story ,” to multiple publications and editors . 2000 + Walking Billboards : In about nine months , we will have more than 2000 walking billboards across the 50 states and around the world , after you all renew and start wearing your complimentary AOAI T-shirt , for only $ 10 each , you can get additional shirts for your family and friends . Shipping is paid by AOAI . See the AOAI membership form in the back of this issue for more details .

This past Saturday in May , I was proudly wearing the AOAI T- shirt when the guy from Autozone said , “ Hey , my Dad got an Avanti in the garage ” who ironically only lives five miles from me . I got his dad ' s name and number so I could invite him to an Indiana Chapter event and get him an AOAI application . The shirts are working ! Wear yours proudly and I hope you have the same experience . If so , please share them with Lew Schucart so he can publish them .

Membership Questionnaire : Thanks to those who responded . Jason Ford is compiling your responses for a presentation at the Board Meeting in Sacramento . Initial results are interesting . Get yours mailed in if you haven ’ t done so already . The final results will be published in the next issue .

40th Anniversary Promotional Campaign : Keith Phildius successfully put together the 40th Anniversary Promotion package with a copy of the “ The Avanti Story ” brochure to encourage multiple editors to provide to their readership with the unique Avanti automobile story .

The Avanti Story : Don Jones created a masterpiece ! Don compiled the Avanti history in a concise four-page brochure with the Avanti picture on the cover from the original April 1962 Studebaker press release . Those who attend the Sacramento meet will get a sample in their meet bag . All members will receive a copy with the Summer / Fall issue .

Are you a Webmaster ? If you are good with creating and maintaining a webpage , AOAI could use your help . Lew Schucart got the AOAI website set up but has had little time to maintain it , given the tremendous amount of time

See BAKER , Page 36

4 AVANTI Magazine Spring / Summer 2003 Issue 122