THE BIRDSHEET Volume 42, Number 10 October 2011 IN THIS ISSUE OF THE BIRDSHEET PRESIDENT S MESSAGE MEETING MINUTES PHOTO ALBUM CAR ATTENDANCE 2011 EVENT SCHEDULE NON-CLUB EVENTS
Hola All: Guess the cruise has taken effect and I am well relaxed and ready for the holiday season. Boy, have we got some stories for you all. Every thing from delayed departures, Ports being canceled, and a Pet in our room, no I did not bring it. I can talk about rings and blings and all sort of things, but that can wait. How are you all and most important, how are all our little birds? Can not wait to see you all at Jamie and Keith's. Please remember to send your checks to me for an R.S.V.P to the Christmas party. Think hard on who you would like for your 2012 officers. I know it will be so hard to replace me, but what can I say. Well that is about it, I know our crew has been doing a splendid job in my absence and once again, Gracias, DeNada, and See you soon. Shown above is Frank Sinatra in a Raven Black 1955 Thunderbird. Do you know the story behind this photo? The car was owned by Capitol Records of Miami Beach, Florida and purchased specifically for Frank Sinatra. Frank made a request of Capitol Records to purchase the T-Bird. The T-Bird was used by recording artists and movie stars while visiting the studio in Florida. The car remained with Capitol Records until 1963. Other famous people to use this T-Bird were Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnez, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelley, Bobby Darin and Eddie Fisher. Shown below is the 55 Thunderbird that was used by these famous people as it looks today. The car still remains in Florida. Pat Arieta, President BIRTHDAYS IN NOVEMBER None on Record ANNIVERSARIES IN NOVEMBER Jim and Pat Arieta - 17th Lou and Carol Greene THUNDERBIRDS OF SONOMA WEBSITE www.thunderbirdsofsonoma.org
The November meeting will be hosted by Keith and Jamie on Saturday, November 12th at 11:30 AM. There will be a Wine Tasting tour prior to a midday dinner. Each member will bring a dish to share. Please call Keith or Jamie to RSVP and to discuss what to bring. See meeting announcement in this newsletter. Hello Everyone, The October meeting was held at China Delight Restaurant in Rohnert Park. A lovely 7 course Chinese meal was served to 15 members in attendance. Those who attended were Herb Burbank with his nephew Duwayne, Dee Dee & Dennis Byrne, Wes Crandall & Louise Johnson, Tim & Dianne Roden, Herman Schultz, Jan & Dave Kibler, Rod & Susan Ferreira, Catherine Grace, & Jutta Einstoss. It was a semi-cloudy day but not cold. Great day for Chinese food. The lunch was delicious and everyone enjoyed themselves. However, we did miss our friends Ann and Harry Costa. We wish Ann the best in her recovery and our good wishes to Harry also. In the absence of President Pat Arieta, (and her hubby, Jim) Tim Roden led the meeting and addressed a few items that Pat outlined for him to mention. Pat put together 3 lovely baskets for the Birds on the Wharf event, and crocheted wreaths in themes of San Francisco Giants and the American Flag. All raffle items were greatly appreciated by the folks down there! Dee Dee made a motion to reimburse Pat in the amount of $40 for the supplies for the beautiful wreaths and it was seconded by Dianne. An announcement was made to send your $10 check for the Christmas Party to President Pat. This is your reservation. The club is picking up the other $8 balance to cover the per person charge of $18. Our party will be at Giorgio's in Healdsburg on December 10th. Pat wished us well through Tim's reporting... she said she would have run the meeting going through the Panama Canal if she could. We miss you, Pat & Jim, however, we know you are having a blast cruising on the water. We had the raffle and I did not write down the winners this time... but the club made $25. Respectfully submitted by: Dee Dee Byrne (for Secretary Keith Zimmerman) Keith and Jamie are having fun traveling. Keith will return next month as he and Jamie are hosting the Thanksgiving Dinner meeting. See the meeting flyer in this newsletter. You don t want to miss this meeting. Surprise Herb brought the historic Thunderbirds of Sonoma s photo albums to the October meeting. The members in attendance voted to allow Jutta and Tim to scan these photo albums and get them stored electronically. As of this writing we are more than half way of getting them scanned. Thank you Herb for bringing the photo albums to the meeting and Thank you to Jutta for offering to help with the scanning. CD s will be made available to those who want a copy. Also a copy will reside in the President s Box. Jan Kibler gave the treasurer's report. The club is doing well.
October Photos Dave and Jan were the only members to drive their T-Bird today with the top down regardless of the threat of rain. Here is Herman with his arm around someone. Is that Joan or the Invisible Woman? Catherine and Jutta are all smiles. Jutta has volunteered to help scan the photos from the historic club photo albums. A big THANK YOU to Dee Dee and Dennis for hosting today s meeting. Also, thank you to Dee Dee for taking the meeting minutes. Dianne and Louise relax and enjoy a glass of wine and good conversation. A THANK YOU goes to Duwayne for bringing Herb today. Duwayne is Herb s nephew.
October Photos Continued Herb brought the Photo Albums that contain historical pictures from past meetings starting in 1983. Here is Ken Schulze, son of Herman and Joan. Ken was in the area and stopped in to say Hello. This was Rod s first time at China Delight. I think Rod along with everyone else was not disappointed. The food was excellent. Not only is Susan able to eat with chop sticks, she did so with her left hand. Most of us would starve eating with chop sticks. Here is your Newsletter Editor holding one of the historic photo albums. We have been searching for these albums for over 10 years. Wes knows how much food is going to be served at our table. So much food in fact, that we were allowed to take home leftovers.
Thunderbirds in Attendance Rod and Susan Dennis and Dee Dee Tim and Dianne Dave and Jan 1955-1956 - 1957 2011 Club Event Schedule Month November 12th December 10th Host Thanksgiving Dinner - Jamie and Keith Christmas Party Pat and Jim The Christmas Party will be at 1:00pm at Giorgio s in Healdsburg. 2011 NON-CLUB EVENTS No automotive events are on my list. The season is coming to an end. Note: The www.garagecity.com website is so longer available. November is Election of Officers! Now is the time to start thinking of what office you would like to run for. After three years as your newsletter editor, I am ready to take a break. So please consider this office or another office. Your Newsletter Editor, Tim Roden
Congratulations to Leellen and Doug Trayler. Their gorgeous Raven Black 1956 Thunderbird took 1st place in their division at Santa Cruz, Birds on the Wharf. Why two pictures? They also won most popular car. Pat Arieta sent these pictures of the gifts baskets that the Thunderbirds of Sonoma donated to Birds on the Wharf. It looks like a lot of work went in to these baskets. They look fantastic. Pat really showed her artistic side with these beautifully designed baskets. I think I can speak for all of the members in the club, THANK YOU PAT for organizing these baskets and putting them together. And to anyone who helped. Pat is being very modest. She sent the pictures with no explanation. Okay members of TOS. Next year we need to get a group from our club and go to Birds on the Wharf.
Shown at right is Barrett Lewis with his Plumb 1955 Thunderbird. Barrett bought his T-Bird in 1957. The car was originally Torch Red. Barrett removed the spare tire from the trunk and kept his carpentry tools there instead. Barrett used his T-Bird as a daily driver until the 1980 s having put on more than 320,000 miles. This is Marge Chance and Barrett Lewis. They were long time Thunderbirds of Sonoma members. Marge held the office of Historian. At each meeting Marge would take pictures and put them in to a photo album. The club supported this office by paying for the film and developing. Barrett was very instrumental in helping Marge take pictures. Marge and Barrett were not married and new members always assumed they were. Marge passed away on July 8, 2003. Barrett passed away about three years later. Marge and Barrett were wonderful people. It was a great loss to our club with their passing. Our club cannot thank Marge and Barrett enough for these wonderful photo albums. Shown at left is Marge with her 1956 Fiesta Red Thunderbird. Marge purchased this T-Bird in the 1960 s from a used car lot in Santa Rosa. Marge drove the T-Bird until the late 1980 s when she decided to sell it. Marge also had a 1968 Mustang that she drove as a daily driver. Marge still had the Mustang when she passed away. Marge was a teacher during her working life and Barrett was an architect and builder. Their love of the Thunderbird brought them together through the club. During the last 15 years of their lives they traveled extensively. They went to China, Japan and England plus countless cruises. Barrett was President of the Thunderbirds of Sonoma in 1987 and 1988. Marge and Barrett captured a lot of great moments on film of our club s past. The photo albums are being digitized and put on CD to be preserved. Any member can request a CD.
Thunderbirds of Sonoma November Thanksgiving meeting Hosted by Jamie and Keith 4562 Suisun Valley Road, Fairfield Saturday, November 12th at 11:30am Meet at the Petaluma Fairgrounds at 10:15 Leave promptly at 10:30 The November Thanksgiving meeting will be hosted by Jamie Thigpen and Keith Zimmerman at their home in Suisun Valley. They will provide ham and turkey and dressing, and they request that other members bring a side dish to share. Please indicate the side dish when you RSVP for the dinner meeting. The event will start about 11:30 when some members will go wine tasting, and dinner is expected to be served about 1PM. Please RSVP to Jamie and Keith RSVP 707-864-2080 by Sunday, November 6th. Don t forget Raffle Prizes
THUNDERBIRDS OF SONOMA OFFICERS 2011 PRESIDENT...Pat Arieta.......415-892-2761 VICE-PRESIDENT Jamie Thigpen....... 707-864-2080 SECRETARY..Keith Zimmerman......707-864-2080 TREASURER..Jan Kibler....707-539-9414 NEWSLETTER...Tim Roden...707-838-8665 NEWSLETTER PRINTING and MAILING.. Dave and Jan Kibler CTCI REP....Keith Zimmerman...707-864-2080 ACTIVITIES....Jim Arieta.....415-892-2761 ACCC REP.Jim Arieta......415-892-2761 WEBMASTER....Herman Schulze.....707-576-7386 BBQ ER...Wes Crandall...707-546-4099 The THUNDERBIRDS OF SONOMA club, Chapter 33 of the Classic Thunderbird Club International, is a California non-profit corporation. The TOS club was founded in 1970 to foster the preservation, maintenance and enjoyment of 55-56-57 Thunderbirds. Membership is open to individuals interested in mutual enjoyment of these vehicles. Prospective members are encouraged to attend our monthly meetings and activities. For information, contact any member or club officer. THE BIRDSHEET Tim Roden, Editor Windsor, CA 95492