WOW! Since the last newsletter our club has doubled its membership. We are now sitting at 65 members. Lots of thanks goes to Membership Officer Steve Zibresky who started calling past members. Great job Steve and welcome back all members, have we got a line up of events for you this year!

Annual Show: The Rocket Round Up in Olds is getting a bigger response than I’d hoped. We started receiving our first registration forms in January. It could be because we are the only Oldsmobile show on the prairies, or it could be the numbered mini art with the display stand or that we have doubled membership, or probably because we get to see each other again. Whatever the reason, lets make this the best show ever. If registration continues at the current pace, we will have the 50th car registered this month.

If you’re at some local car shows, hand out a poster and/or registration to other Oldsmobile owners you meet. Or just drop one in an open window. Note: The registration fee on the full-page poster in this issue is based on the non-member fee, it’s still $10 before Canada Day for members. Caravan details in the summer issue of Olds Faithful.

HELP: We will need some volunteers to help park cars at the show, will you help us out? By the time the show officially starts, you’re done. Please contact VPJim Barbour (403) 556-6930 barbour@telusplanet.net

Drive In Movie: If we were able to arrange to have a drive in movie set up in Olds after our show and banquet, would you stay to watch or would you go home? Yes, another crazy idea….but possible. Let me know at ken.pilidis@shaw.ca as soon as possible.

Town of Olds: Our VP Jim Barbour contacted the mayor and town council and presented a letter from the club. 12 years ago the town gave us a donation for our t-shirts and this time, like the Charles Dickens character “Oliver”- Jim went before them and asked for more - and got it! The town came through with a $1,500 donation so we can purchase golf shirts. Way to go Jim, thank you and a big thank you to Olds too!

Newsletter: In the last newsletter I said that we’d be mailing all newsletters from now on. After thinking about this I’ve come to the following conclusion. This is your club, so it’s whatever works for you. No one called to complain but after all, this is your club. If you want to change the way you received this issue, let me know, otherwise this is how you’ll receive your newsletter from now on.

The last newsletter that we sent to sponsors and other car clubs was 6.5 MB. That’s pretty big, but it’s emailable (Is that a word?) We’ll try to keep it in that range or smaller. However you’ll remember the October 2007 newsletter was 21 MB and had to be emailed in four parts. We want the newsletter sent in one email. Besides, emailing is easier, it keeps costs down and you can always print off a hard copy if you wish. Our original concern was the size of the email, but thanks to Kevin Brown, we seem to have fixed that. The other concern – does the member feel like he’s getting his moneys worth? The email version is in full colour and arrives instantly, which is nice for getting a jump at the classifieds and car shows close to the first of the month - hard copy is in B&W but can be read sitting in your favourite chair. I guess it balances itself out.

Beach Party at Ma-Me-O Beach: (Tentative). Is there any interest for a family Show / Picnic / and Swim at Pigeon Lake? If so, I’ll call the village and ask about parking our old cars on the main street, either angled or one after the other while we picnic and swim. This can be a B.Y.O.Food or a potluck. Let’s hear some feed back! No fees or dues. Just show up and have fun. Dates: August 16 or 23. This event will depend on your feedback. See the flyer inside. 12-15 cars would be nice. Let me know by June 30th.

Caravan to Radium will be on September 19. We will be caravaning to Radium Hot Springs for the Columbia Valley Classic Show & Shine on the 20th. Last year 700+ cars participated. We have 30 rooms booked at the Park Inn. Motel space is hard to come by and these rooms are booked until June 30. It’s possible that the BC Oldsmobile Club will be meeting and staying at the motel with us. The OCA Puget Sound Chapter from Seattle could also join us. If you plan on coming book your room. See the full-page flyer in this newsletter. This will be a fun trip. More info in the summer issue of Olds Faithful.

This could be a pretty active fun filled year. Let’s set a record in Olds. We’ll need 73 cars for that. Hope to see you there, in Radium and possibly Ma-Me-O Beach in your “Oldsmobile…”Where the action is”

Ken