News
AACA Annual Convention Changes!
2022 AACA Annual Convention Moved to Gettysburg
AACA Annual Convention, February 10-12
Wyndham Gettysburg, 95 Presidential Circle, Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 339-0020 Dial 0 and ask for the AACA rate
The Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia Hotel has been a great partner during the past several decades in supporting our Annual Convention. The management and staff have worked with us well and we looked forward to being able to put on our traditional convention this February. However, multiple recent issues and mandates within the city of Philadelphia instituted on January 3rd have severely impacted the possibility of holding our event in that city. After several serious discussions by the AACA Board of Directors, it was decided that even at this late date, it was best to find an alternate location. If you made reservations at the Sheraton in Philadelphia, you will need to cancel them – the phone numbers for the Sheraton are 215-448-2000 or (800) 325-3535.
As such, we are moving the convention to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the same dates. We will be based at the Wyndham Hotel and Courtyard Marriott, where we have held several successful events in the past. Our plan is to host the very best convention possible despite the challenges of the move and using a smaller hotel. We will still have seminars, trade show vendors, First Lady’s breakfast, AACA merchandise, Region Presidents’ Dinner, membership meeting and, of course, our Saturday-night awards gala.
The hotels have given us a great rate of $118 plus tax and there is NO parking fee at either hotel. The Wyndham is where most of the activities will take place. BWI (Baltimore) airport is about 1½ hours away and MDT (Harrisburg) airport is about 1 hour. Philadelphia is 2½ hours from Gettysburg.
The phone number for the Wyndham is (717) 339-0020 Dial 0 and ask for the AACA rate. The hotel is located at 95 Presidential Circle, Gettysburg PA 17325. The phone number for the Courtyard is (717) 334-5600 and ask for AACA rate. The Courtyard is at 115 Presidential Circle and is located just a few steps next door to the Wyndham.
We have been and are still in the process of calling all those already registered with us and the hotel in Philadelphia. We are also calling all the national award winners. A revised registration form is now available to all NEW participants – click here to download it. For those already registered and now planning to attend in Gettysburg, we will simply move your registration to the new venue. (Reminder: you will need to make your own hotel reservations though.) For activities that we offered in Philadelphia but are not able to offer in Gettysburg, refunds will be made onsite at the convention.
We sincerely hope that this change does not cause undue hardships for members to attend. For those who wish to come for the day only, you can register now or on the day of onsite. However, we would prefer to know sooner than later for planning purposes.
Again, we deeply regret having to take this action, but we did it in the best interest of our membership. It is not easy on the club or its members but as we have proved in the past, we will make lemonade out of lemons.
REMINDER: You must be a paid 2022 AACA member in order to register for the Annual Convention. If you need to pay your dues, please call AACA National HQ at 717-534-1910 and we will renew you over the phone with a credit card.
Final Dues Notice!
FINAL NOTICE !!
If you’ve already paid your National & Regional dues for 2021, thank you and disregard this notice.
For the rest of you:
This will be the last reminder to renew your membership in AACA National and AACA Gettysburg Region. National dues should have already been paid, as they were due by December 31st You must renew with National to be a Regional member! Regional dues should be paid by January 31st.
National dues are: Regular $40, Student $12, and Junior $10
Make check payable to AACA and mail to:
AACA, 800 W. Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, PA 17033.
You can also renew online at www.aaca.org or call them at (717) 534-1910 and renew with a credit card.
Regional dues are: Regular $25, Regular w/1st class mail on newsletter $29, and Student $15
Make check payable to Gettysburg Region of AACA and mail to:
Ed Rogers, 200 Westview Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
MEMBERS DELINQUIENT WITH NATIONAL OR REGIONAL DUES AFTER THE 2ND OF MARCH WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE ROLES AND BE SUBJECT TO THE $10 “NEW MEMBER” INITIATION FEE!
TO AVOID THIS CHARGE, RENEW NOW!
If you have no desire to continue your membership, please notify Ed Rogers (717) 697-2009 or trotfan1@verizon.net or Jim Yemzow (717) 243-5810 or yemyak1@embarqmail.com
Also, if your address, phone number, or email address has changed this past year, use the above contact information to let us know so we can change our records.
Christmas Party & Sundaes on Sunday – Cancelled
Originally planned for December and January respectively, both of these events have been cancelled due to current restrictions on gatherings. Regrettably, we do not foresee these restrictions being lifted in the coming months. Thanks are due to Nancy Schaffer and Roxanne Vandermark Hess for doing their best to plan these events and keep up with guidelines this year.
President’s Message: Many Thanks!
I belong to several national clubs and numerous regions and chapters of those clubs. Most of the President’s messages that I read bemoan what could have been and wasn’t for 2020. Enough said!
Let’s talk about our successes for 2020! I write this on October 25th after spending a very enjoyable day touring with 30 cars and many region members on our Annual Fall Foliage Tour. It was a super tour. We needed this, so thank Martha and Bob Channel for making it happen.
Our Summer Tour, led by Pat Shaffer and Jim Yemzow was equally enjoyable. Thanks!
Our Summer Picnic at Codorus State Park, while hot, was enjoyed by those 30 folks who attended. No one went away hungry!
Yes, the numbers were down, but the level of excitement and enjoyment was high.
On the National level, with the help of our Region and others, AACA was able to save the Grand National and the Eastern Fall National. A big thank you to those at National Headquarters and your National Board of Directors for making this happen, as well as the Gateway Center in Gettysburg for allowing us to hold these events on their property.
Speaking of National, by the time you read this we will have moved into our new National Library and Headquarters building. Our Region has supported this move financially and I hope, if you have not made a personal donation, you will consider it when you renew your National dues. Every dollar is important. This structure is the pinnacle of our hobby and I encourage you to visit it and see for yourselves.
On behalf of your Region Board of Directors, we thank you for your support, wish you the safest holiday season, and hope and pray for a better 2021 for the hobby and our nation and the world.
Happy Motoring!
~Don Barlup
Update from National AACA
AACA UPDATE: EVENT CANCELLATIONS & NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS SHUTDOWN
AACA and its affiliates will continue to monitor issues related to the coronavirus, as well as abiding by CDC and other governmental agency recommendations. Our members are our utmost concern, and we will work diligently to keep you informed of changes to scheduled events as they arise. As such, we have two new developments that we would like to notify you of…
The AACA Western Spring Nationals and Founders Tour in April have been canceled. The Phoenix Region will process refunds as soon as possible. AACA, this region, and their volunteers put a lot of effort into this dual event and are deeply disappointed in having to make this decision. As in all our affected events this year, if there is a possibility of finding a safe and suitable new date the club and regions will explore those in the future.
In addition, we are also sad to announce that the AACA Central Spring Nationals in Auburn in May has also been canceled and will not be rescheduled. AACA always enjoys putting on this great event for our members and, along with RM Auctions, deeply regret this turn of events. Registration checks will be returned as soon as possible, and judges’ reimbursement will take place shortly.
As you may or may not be aware, the National AACA staff is working under difficult circumstances at present. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has ordered a statewide shutdown of all non-life sustaining businesses in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, therefore our national headquarters and library are in fact closed. The majority of the staff are doing their best to work from home, so please be patient with our response times to your calls, emails and mailed requests.
We are hopeful that our normal schedule can return beginning in June, but all of that remains to be seen. As stated, your health and that of our nation is the most important factor in all our determinations. We wish you all the best in this very trying time for all of us.
AACA Library Update
A message from Library Director Chris Ritter:
As of 8:00 PM Thursday March 19th, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has ordered a statewide proclamation shutdown of all non-life sustaining businesses in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes the AACA Headquarters and the AACA Library & Research Center. SOME, but not all, staff will be working from home, answering emails and phone calls as best as possible but there may be a significant delay in responding. Our email address is critter@aaca.org
Thank you in advance for your patience during this time. The entire staff at AACA wish you and your families all the best during this difficult time and urge you to take necessary precautions to keep safe and healthy.
Quarantine Update
Hello!
I hope you all are well. I’m sure most of you are aware that the Gettysburg Region and National AACA are trying to put the health and safety of its members first in the months ahead. Many of our club events have been cancelled or rescheduled. Please make sure you read your newsletters and check the AACA’s website frequently.
So far, we have had to cancel our March Covered Dish Dinner. The Spring Tour is still on for the time being, but we will be sure to keep you updated with any changes.
I know that for some of us cabin fever is already setting in and we’re itching to get our cars out of the garage. Be patient. Stay healthy. Feel free to contact me if you have any quarantine projects going on. This could be a great opportunity to spend some time in the garage and tinker! If you want your story published in the newsletter, give me a call or shoot me an e-mail: amyost20@gmail.com or 240-651-9071.
Be well,
Angelica Yost
Webmaster and Newsletter editor
GRAACA Dues!
FINAL NOTICE !!
If you’ve already paid your National & Regional dues for 2019, thank you and disregard this notice. For the rest of you: This will be the last reminder to renew your membership in AACA National and AACA Gettysburg Region.
National dues should have been received by December 31st. You must renew with National to be a Regional member! Regional dues should be paid by January 31st.
National dues are: Regular $40, Student $12, and Junior $10 Make check payable to AACA and mail to: AACA, 501 W. Governor Road, Hershey PA 17033. You can also renew on line www.aaca.org or call them at (717) 534-1910 and renew with a credit card.
Regional dues are: Regular $25, Regular w/1st class mail on newsletter $29, Student $15 Make check payable to Gettysburg Region of AACA and mail to: Ed Rogers, 200 Westview Drive, Mechanicsburg PA 17055
MEMBERS DELINQUENT WITH NATIONAL OR REGIONAL DUES AFTER THE 2 ND OF MARCH WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE ROLES AND BE SUBJECT TO THE $10 “NEW MEMBER” INITIATION FEE!
Sundaes on Sunday- Date Change!
Due to snow, this event has been moved from January 20th to the 27th!!
Beginning at 1:00 pm at Dover Fire Hall, 30 East Canal Road, Dover, PA 17315
This event is always a hit. Come enjoy ice cream, club slideshows, and camaraderie.
Cost is just $5.00 per person. Deadline to sign-up is January 9th.
Please bring an item for the raffle, and be sure to wear your favorite car shirt.
Contact Roxanne Vandermark Hess: 717-792-0858