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2003 Saab Owners Convention Chairman's Update



1/03

January Chairman's Update

Since our last update, it has been a month filled with both good news and bad news. Like so many others, I was particularly saddened to learn of the passing of Ralph Millet on December 20th. I feel fortunate to have met him at The SAAB Owner's Gathering in New Hampshire in 2001. We certainly will feel the loss created by his passing. With the help of Chris Mills with NESA and Garry Grimes, we are attempting to recreate some of Ralph's marvelous materials he presented back in 2001. We will include a tribute to Ralph in the Event Program, and also during one of the evening programs at SOC2003. If you have some fond remembrances of Ralph to share, as well as any materials or photographs that we can use in creating a tribute, please contact me. All materials furnished will certainly be returned promptly, and your help will be greatly appreciated.

We are pleased to announce that the registration forms and instructions are ready to be downloaded from the SOC website, and were posted on December 18th, 13 days ahead of schedule. So much for the good news. The bad news is that we have discovered a problem with the program coding to allow only those folks using Internet Explorer to view the current 2003 content. If you are using a Mac, Netscape or an older version of Explorer, you are only able to view the historical content for right now. Chris Moberg is working to resolve the matter quickly, and I hope to report his success in time for the February update. Until then, if you would like to receive a registration form, please send me an e-mail at neuswede@comcast.net and I'll gladly send one out to you. We are nearing completion of our on-line registration pages, and should have them finalized in the next few days. With on-line registration, you will also be able to pre-order SOC2003 garments such as polo shirts, hats and extra event T-shirts. If you have been unable to view the convention website, you may not know that we will have a portable dynamometer at the event. Also, the first 10 entries received will each get a set of 3 free pulls on the dyno, compliments of the SOC2003 Committee. If you want to be one of the first 10 to register, contact me for the form, and I'll get it to you immediately.

Several sponsor kits have been sent out to those potential sponsors expressing early interest. More kits will be going out over the course of the next few weeks. If you would like to be certain of receiving one, please contact me. Since our last update, both SAAB Savior and Jerry Danner at Mile High Auto Body have expressed interest in providing sponsorship, joining our other fine sponsors including: Brewer's SAAB, Sports Car Service and Hunt Valley SAAB, Kevin Booth at Lititiz Auto Service, Dan and Ruth Fatzinger, Eisenhauer SAAB Lehman SAAB and Scott Paterson(The SAAB Network).

Several other committee positions have been filled over the past month. Tom Nelson, from the Rocky Mountain SAAB Club, has graciously agreed to serve as the Chairman for the Club Participation Award (was it my sales ability or the headlock, Tom?) and Alan Snelson, Central Penn SAAB Club, and SAABtobefest 2002 organizer will serve as Chairman of the Covered Bridge Driving Tour, which will provide some photographic opportunities and a picturesque country setting in nearby Lancaster County, PA. Tal McBride of the WASSAAB Club will serve as Chairman of the Photo and Art Show, and provide some other professional help as well. Tal, along with Pete Duvall of the WASSAAB club are both very talented professional photographers, and will be helping coordinate the digital imaging for the awards banquet, and well as material for a slide show of attendee cars that will be shown prior to dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings. Tal will also be coordinating our efforts at producing a convention video, with the help of Chris Moberg.

We have several of our speakers lined up for the technical sessions, with more planning to be done. Thus far, Chuck Christ will be demonstrating how to keep the children from falling asleep with his 93F vintage racer; James Uhl will be conducting a Sensonic transmission session; Richard Levy will be conducting a Trionic upgrade session; and Jerry Danner will conduct a vintage restoration session. More sessions are being planned, and we will announce more as we have them firmed up. We have a bio and other materials from our featured speaker, and should have a topic firmed up by next month, at which time I will make the formal announcement. Interestingly, I saw his name mentioned on one of the bulletin boards as a ÒWouldn't it be great if (he) could make it?Ó posting, so I think everyone will be delighted with our selection.

Over the past month, the ideas and suggestions have continued to pour in. Thanks to everyone who continue to provide guidance and support, and please keep the ideas coming. And if your are considering attending the convention, please register early this year. Early registration helps our budgeting process, and makes things so much smoother for everyone involved, so your support will be greatly appreciated.

Until next timeÉ..

Marc Fails, Chairman
2003 SAAB Owners' Convention


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