April 2013

It seems only a short time ago that our Armstrong Siddeley Car Club was enjoying the brilliance of Bendigo and the joys of Tasmania. Now autumn with its endearing crispness is with us.

Is it possible an aged battery may be found wanting by oncoming cooler weather? Just a thought, as these long standing servants do give out at the most inconvenient times!

Since the Rally, a further improvement has been added to our Club's Website - check the site update webpage for further information. We have now moved to a position-based email address system and all Club officers and contacts have been provided with their own Club-centered email address. Until now, there has been a combination of organisational and personal email addresses used to contact Club officials. Apart from being fairly untidy, that system also attracted unnecessary junk mail to officers' personal email addresses. The ASOC has also recently converted to a system of position-based email addresses.

Last month I mentioned that John Graham as part of his role as Director Pre-war had also taken on the role of Pre-war Contact. Ian Handley now has been appointed to the role of Director Post-war. Hugh Boulter as Vice-President also has the Director of Media role. These roles are not intended to detract from members already engaged in specific activities. The purpose is to focus the Board on important areas of club activity, giving each Board member an area of responsibility in our ongoing future planning.

Earlier in the year the Board Working Party on Privacy developed an initial policy which was adopted at our Bendigo Meeting. The Working Party consists of Hugh Boulter, John Graham and Ian Handley. The positional-based email system is an example of an action flowing from that policy. We also established a Working Party of Hugh Boulter, Sandy Cameron and Ian Handley to review our insurance requirements and they are progressively working through those matters.

As ever, I receive some good news and some not so good news. Geoff Tuckwell, who has been out of commission is back online. He is still enquiring about things he thinks he may have missed by not being at the Bendigo Rally. Joseph Dalgleish also missed Bendigo attending to family matters and our thoughts go to Joseph and Jonathon’s Mother on the loss of her brother Ray in USA. Someone commented at Bendigo that we received many emails from Geoff and Joseph over the Rally. They both felt they were missing something and it was a grand Rally.

My saddest news was hearing of the passing of our 2011 Club Person of the Year, Garth Pennington. I was privileged to make that award to Garth in Adelaide when the Board visited the city coinciding with the SA Branch Concours that year. Garth Pennington worked without fanfare on many projects for this Club, which are invaluable research instruments underpinning issues we deal with today. To Barbara and her family I extend the kind thoughts and sympathy of all members of the Club at this most difficult time.

Until next time, go carefully,

Tony Carter
ASCC President