45 degrees and cloudy. A fresh breeze from the northwest was bringing in a new front. 14 members, spouses, guests & prospecctive members met at Seans on Hwy 5 S in Mtn Home AR. 2010, yes, 2010. Remember Y2K. Ten years ago, when the world was going to end on Y2K, I remember that in 1999 I asked my ex-brother-in-law Tom what he thought about Y2K. He said he never used it. Whew! If he was any dumber, he would have to be watered twice a week. Well, it's been 10 years. 2010!

The first meeting of the year and we had four guests. Ed Soper & Donna Jamison from the Calico Rock area and Tom White & Claude Dunn from the Cherokee Village area. Very nice to meet our guests and we, Corvettes of the Ozarks members, were glad they attended our meeting.

Dues are due! $25.00 for 2010. Bring to the next meeting: Third Thursday, February 18, 2010 @ Seans Restaurant on Hwy 5 S in Mountain Home, AR

Only three months 'til Corvettes of the Ozarks Car Show. #1 The flyers have been printed and they are nice. #2 At the meeting, we plan to stuff envelopes and mail them to previous car show participants and a few nearby clubs and their presidents. #3 The banner was discussed again and the underlying sentiment I seemed to glean from the discussion was that we would try the same banner as we used last year one more time. That was the conclusion I sensed. You know a conclusion is simply the place where you get tired of thinking. #4 Food will be served again. We had cookies and cupcakes last year for snacks. We will try to prepare the same and offer them again this year. But this year, we will have hotdogs only with all the trimmings at lunch and soft drinks all day. We also had some early morning finger food and may try that again. #5 If anyone knows of anyone or any business that would donate some door prizes for the show, please ask that person or that business to do so. If it has advertising on a t-shirt or hat, that is no problem. We enjoy giving the door prizes and most people enjoy receiving them. #6 We maya be on to some new tables, display and cooking and sign-up type folding tables. Gary saw some at Lowe's at a good price and we voted that we would purchase them in the price range he quoted. $50 each for 6-foot tables. Jeri and Bill are checking it out. So, please come to the next meeting with ideas about door prizes and help stuff a few envelopes. The fun just never stops.

I am in a quandary about this next reported item. nick Trail was not at this meeting. That is unusual because he seldom misses a meeting. Then, we were told that he had hurt himself in an accident in a local parking lot. Not while in his auto. Walking. He was walking in a parking lot, stepped in a hole and tripped, and fell, and hurt himself. Now don't get ahead of me. If the paramedics responded and saw a man with purple hair lying on the ground in a parking lot, do they #1 check his head, #2 check his breath, #3 stand back and poke him with a stick and call for backup? Just wondering. I was just wondering. Get well quick, Nick!!

ttfn, Carl Terry Barnett

60 degrees and clear skies. 18 members and spouses present. Two new members, Chas. & Terri Itzig were present at the meeting.

We voted to donate $350 to Christmas Wish. Good for us. In the past, we have had club members, Sandra W. & Jeri L., volunteer to work with that group. Good for us. And good for Christmas Wish. My personal wish is...please, let me prove that winning the lottery won't spoil me.

The Christmas Party is scheduled for December 5, 2009 at the Lakehouse Restaurant in Gamaliel on Highway 101. Happy hour starts a 5ish and dinner begins at 6ish p.m. Please bring a gift valued at no more than $15.00 to exchange. Hope to see everyone there.

At the November 19 meeting we (COTO) elected the same officers for 2010 that we had in 2009. Gary Frankowski, Vernis Miller, JHeri Larsen, Terry Barnett, and Bob Wozniak will return to the offices that they held in 2009.

Judy Neumann was elected president of MAACC. Dave Wilson was elected vice president of MAACC (I think). When asked about the election, Dave and Judy pointed at each other and extolled the virtues of their opposite point. Ray abstained. The MAACC trophy for highest points acquired at MAACC judged shows this year was won by Dave Wilson. Andy Whitfield won the award for most attended MAACC judged shows this year.

Pete and Letha have been working on flyers for 2010. Pete brought in an example of the new flyer. The examples were passed around and were very nice. It was easy to see a lot of combined talent and work in the examples.

Our next meeting will not be until Januray 21, 2010. Sean's on Hwy 5 South in Mountain Home, AR  7 p.m.

At the beginning of the November 19, 2009 meeting, Gary brought us some news of a former member of our club, Jim Cunningham, being severely hurt in a racing accident in Rogersville, MO. Jimi was a member of our club for seven to eight years. He and his wife lived in Gassville, Arkansas. Jim did not recover from his injuries.

May 2010 be our best year ever. And God bless us everyone.

Sincerely,
Carl Terry Barnett

October 15, 2009; 49 degrees and cloudy; 22 mePresident Gary was absent and Treasurer Jeri conducted the meeting. Meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. Jeri officially opened the season for nominations of officers for 2010. She asked that all in attendance and other members not in attendance be notified and exhorted to consider seeking office or nominating a member for office. Our clu has the offices of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Sgt at Arms. All of these positions will be discussed at the November meeting. And those of you who have asked in the past, "Why don't we have a secret handshake?" or "Why don't we have a secret hand gesture to signal to other members in a crowd?" now is the time to seek office and bring those much needed tools to fruition.

From the "I must hurry to catch up with the others, for I am their leader files," Letha has already composed a letter page with Corvettes as a watermark for our flyers. We are pursuing this endeavor becacuse several of our members remarked that we had a wider selection of Corvettes at our show than they have observed elsewhere. We're a small club and need to puff out our chests occasionally.

The MAACC report revealed that Dave W. and Judy N. will be the leaders of that group next year. The last show of the year was the MAACC Theodosia MO show scheduled for October 17, 2009.

After x-rays, MRI, and angioplasty, the doctor told me that my operation would cost approximately $75,000. I said I can't afford that. He said, "No problem. For $500, we can touch up your x-rays."

Please don't forget the club Christmas Party and dinner at the Lakehouse Restaurant in Gamaliel Arkansas. It is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at the bar and dinner to follow at 6:00 or 6:30 p.m., December 5, 2009. We will have the gift exchange again. Each member or spouse please bring a gift to exchange valued at more than $15.00.

October 18, 2009 we had a fall cruise. Ten Corvettes and one Cadillac. 22 participants. We took Hwy 62W to Hwy 7S to Jasper, Arkansas. Just south of Jasper is the Scenic Overlook of the Grand Canyon of the Ozarks and jhust south of that location is the Cliff House Restaurant. Good food and good conversation. We continued south on Highway 7 after eating and turned east on Hwy 123. Very steep and crooked and scenic. We passed thorugh Mt. Judea and found Highway 65 at Western nGrover. From there we went home. Highway 123 and the overlook and the camaraderie made a great combination for a beautiful fall day.

Car Show News: Andy W won first place at Cabool, MO and Mountain Home, and won third plae at Flippin. Dave won Best of Show at Bakersfield and Cabool, Missouri, and won first place at Mountain Home.

New meeting site! Remember SEANS on Highway 5 South, just south of the Bypass. Third Thursday of November. 7 p.m. This month: November 19. Christmas Party, December 5th and nominRemember to observe Veterans Day on November 11th and have a nice Thanksgiving.

It's Halloween. My ex-brother-in-law, Tom, has just walked out into the dark night from a pharmacy. He's walking to his car and hears a BUMP, BUMP, BUMP behind him. He turns and sees an upright casket pursuing him. Terrified, he runs, but it still is right behind him. He reaches into his shopping bag for the only thing he has to through at this casket, a bottle of cough syrup he had just purchased at the pharmacy. He throws the cough syrup at the casket...are you ready?...and the coffin stops :)
TTFN
Carl Terry Barnett

For Club Members Only: I have added a new page to the site to help with selling or buying a Vette. Just let me know your information, send me photos and I'll put them on for you.  Letha

We were surprised! The economy has claimed Fox's Pizza Parlor. They are closed and out of business. Thank you to Fox's for a nice meeting place for the past three years. Our thoughts and prayers for future success of the employees and owners are given to them. We talked among ourselves and Sean's Restaurant on Highway 5 South just south of the Bypass was picked for this meeting. Gary spoke with the managers at Sean's and we will be meeting there in the future. So, remember, 3rd Thursday, October 15, 2009, Sean's Restaurant on Highway 5 South.

A club THANK YOU to Larry & Yvonne for the club party and party site.

MAACC Report: Judy N reported that MAACC is preparing for the election of officers for next year and is recruiting volunteers who wish to judge at car shows. If you want to judge at future car shows, Judy can direct you to someone to help you get ready for 2010.

Julie G reported on a club banner to display at our car shows. 3 or 4 feet by 20 feet with a changeable date feature and Corvettes on both sides. She said a $500.00 figure was quoted to her by the maker of the banner.

A fall cruise is planned. October 18 is the suggested date. Should be very colorful at that time. Travel route is from the old WalMart site in Mountain Home to Harrison, then on to Jasper to the Cliff House Cafe for lunch, then back by way of Mt. Judea, Arkansas.

Member activities: Rick caravaned with approximately 400 Corvettes from Van Buren, Arkansas to Bowling Green, KY to visit the Corvette Musuem for their 15th Anniversary Celebration during week prior to Labor Day. He reported a tour of the assembly plant. He said they build 115 cars per day and it takes two days to build each one. Andy got 3rd place at the show in Bakersfield, MO. Dave won his class in the Fuel Economy Competition at Rogers, AR. Dave also won best of show at Bakersfield, MO. A show of hands revealed several memebers will be in attendance at Eureka Springs, AR for Corvette Week, October 1-3, 2009.

D.H. Lawrence wrote, "I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself."  Winston Churchill once spoke before the students at his pre school and stated simply, "Never, never, never give up."  Then he sat down.

14 members were present at this meeting. A short discussion was held on the flyer for our next show. We motioned to consider the banner mentioned earlier in this letter. No official actions were taken other than the change of the meeting site.

I dream of a better tomorrow, a tomorrow where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

ttfn

Carl Terry Barnett

80 degrees and a cool front trying to push through. This has been a strange, but nice, summer. The old third Thursday gathering with 21 totally different gearheads at  Fox's Pizza. August 20, 2009.

We are still feeling good about ourselves. The car show went well and now we are pumped. So, many of the discussions at this meeting were about spending. So, not much to really report but time was consumed. We talked about:

• Redesign the banner to put out at the next car show. We even discussed a banner across the highway.
• Purchase coozies (little foam rubber sleeves that cold drinks in can are placed inside of to keep them cool) to give away as door prizes.

We are suffering from too much success. Personal note: I saw a big push for sign ups at the Chamber of Commerce. Wonder if we contacted them if we could get a few leads that would get us a few door prizes.

• Print the show flyers on water-marked paper with Corvettes in the background
• Declared all pride in ourselves gone and we will accept door prizes from anyone.  Pete C. mentioned a Corvette supplier in Ohio that could be a source of door prizes.  KEAN Auto Parts? Gary will attempt to contact Mid America Auto Suppliers.
• Then, we discussed a new show banner in the $150.00 to $200.00 price range. That may be a little low price because a cheap banner will look worse than an old banner. We don't mind being told we look old, but don't like to be told we look cheap.

Maybe the glass is neither half empty nor half full. Maybe the glass is too big.

25 or more members were present at the BBQ Cookout at Yvonne and Larry's home on August 22, 2009. Good food, thank you Bill L., good conversation, good time. What the bathing suits revealed wa interesting but what it covered was crucial. Due to EPA and OSHA regulations Andy, Bill, Phil and I were required to NOT put on bathing suits. Something about toxicity. Nick won the hair fashion award and then, then, he FLASHED us. Yeah, he did. He's outta control. With a camera. This is a family newsletter.

No MAACC report. Judy and Ray and Dave were at the meeting of our club. I miss the big Tony. Saw him one time in town on his motorcycle. Impressive.

SCOREBOARD: Andy won 2nd at Mark Martin Ford in Batesville. Larry said he got skunked at Joplin but Rick Mahan won 1st in his class at the same show. They both stated "nice show." At Joplin, Steve Williamson from Russellville won 1st in his class with a car that Larry rebuilt.

BIg closing: Chump meeting but great time with everyone there talking back and forth and over all the noice. Next meeting September 17, 2009. Third Thursday each month, Fox's Pizza Highway 62 SW Mountain Home, AR  72653

If errors in grammar or content or spelling noted in this letter, please excuse. I had trouble keeping my focus.

ttfn

Carl Terry Barnett

82 degrees and severe thunderstorm warning. 18 members present.
President Gary called the meeting to order at 7 PM.

First: Since the last meeting, Gary has made contact with Kent Chevrolet and Barbara Graham confirmed April 10, 2010 for the next car show. So, what's the big deal? We need that date so that we can prepare the flyers and distribute them at the remaining car shows this year.

Second: We are beginning to run a little short on door prizes presented at the car show. If you, Mr. and Ms. Member, have an idea or contact with anyone who might be interested in donating items to be given as door prizes, please contact them and ask for that donation. Bring the ideas to the next meeting for discussion.

Third: We have had a picnic at the Big Spring Park in Cotter in September for the last two or three years. The discussion at the meeting July 16th revealed that September is full of car shows and other activities. So, do we want the picnic, do we want it on a Friday evening instead of Saturday, or do we want it in October? We will probably vote in August. That (the above information) was all Gary had to announce.

We have a Sunday Brunch at Big Cedar Lodge planned for August 2, 2009. Meet at Goody's in Mtn. Home at 9:00 AM. We will go to Harrison on Hwy 62, then to Big Cedar Lodge up Hwy 65. The plans are to reach Big Cedar at approximately 11:00 AM for brunch and then go to the 57 Museum in Branson, arriving there at around 1:00 PM. A new portion on Hwy 65 has been opened north of Harrison, AR

The Corvettes of the Ozarks members have also been invited to Larry and Yvonne Bakers home for dinner, swimming, and conversation on August 22, 2009. Please RSVP to Gary or Larry before that date. Larry's phone number is 870-425-2099. Larry also sent an email to all the members that he has an email address for. If you did not receive the email, you can email Larry with your own personal e-address at largebak@centurytel.net. Larry's email also included directions to the party site. So, phone him the RSVP and get directions or come to the next meeting August 20, 2009 @ Fox's Pizza on 62 SW in Mountain Home.

My ex brother-in-law Tom is back. I thought after I loaned him the $100 he would dodge me and I would nont see him again. He's back and he paid me. While on the trip, the group went to a very high brow restaurant to dine. Men had to wear a tie and TOm did not have one to wear. For real, he wrapped a battery cable around his neck and tried to get in the restaurant. The maitre d' looked at him, said, "OK, but don't try to start anything."

Lots of shows. Dave Wilson and Andy Whitfield were at shows in Licking, Salem, Thayer, and Green Forest. Both won either 1st or 2nd in their classes at the shows. Ray and Judy gave a MAACC report and invited everyone to a MAACC cruise on July 18 in West Plains. The T-Buckets are in Mountaiin Home. there was a car show @ Reliable Chevrolet in Springfield and there is to be a show at Arena Sports Bar (across from Fred's Discount Store behind Diamond Head) July 26, 2009.

WHile reading in the local paper, I noticed that a warning was given by the local policing authorities to please lock your vehicle and do not leave valuable visible. We have had an increase of petty thievery in 2009. Remember, nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool

ttfn
Carl Terry Barnett