2025 President Messages
JERSEY LATE GREATS, INC
PO BOX 1294 Highstown N.J.08520
Chevrolets 1958 to 1972 Chevrolets
January 2025
President Massage
This is my first President’s Message in quite a while so I would like to begin by thanking the outgoing Board for their service to the club.
The Christmas Party was a lot of fun this year Dawn Dennery and Maureen Humphreys once again did an out – standing job coordinating the food and decorations. Lydia organized the “Left to Right” gift game and she could participate this year thanks to Amanda Tinnes being the narrator. That’s always a fun time. In addition, we celebrated Bob Kiefer’s 90th birthday.
Looking forward to the new year, the January meeting will be focused on planning the coming year activities. Some ideas are a Drive-In Cruise, perhaps to the Delsea Drive In, a Diner cruise, visiting an auto museum, perhaps some historical sites, the Fall Foliage run, the club Picnic in May and participating in
a couple car shows. I would like to ask for a volunteer to be the “Cruise Director” to facilitate these activities. The club will be providing pizza and soft drinks
and there will be a slide show of previous club activities. I have been scanning
the old club photos so we no longer need to keep the prints and negatives. I will bring some boxes of these photos so that members can take home with them if they like.
I’m looking forward to another year of good times with the club. See you at the January 5th, 2025 meeting. Please note that our meetings will now be held on the first Sunday of the month due the new facilities schedule. The time remains 3 PM.
Mike
February 2025
President Massage
The January meeting was productive with the new Board in place. Our Vice President, Tom Freund was right up to speed for his first meeting as. Tom has recently acquired both of Verne Frantz’ ’62 409 Impalas so it looks like he’s off to a good start and nice to
see those cars will be staying in the club. The black convertible was the reason our chapter was started in the first place so it’s good to see these cars will be staying with the club.
Our By Laws need to be updated to reflect some changes that have been made over the
years. We will discuss the various items and vote on the changes. Just a reminder, voting
on By-Law changes are by one person per family membership.
Article II
Change 1958- 1964 to 1958 – 1972
Article III
Change the affiliation with Late Great Chevys to The National Impala Association
Article IV
Change 1958-1964 to 1958-1972 Change the dues from $18.00 to $25.00 plus
an extra $15.00 for members who require hard copy newsletters mailed.
Additional Positions:
Newsletter editor to be appointed by the President. Webmaster to be appointed by the President. Sunshine/Hospitality committee volunteers. We will need to add a section to the By-Laws describing the Guidelines for the club to disperse funds should the club disband.
As a reminder, meetings are now the first Sunday of the Month at 3PM.
I would like to see a good turnout for Sunday, February 2nd so we can discuss these proposed changes.
Take it easy,
Mike
March 2025
President Massage
At the February meeting we discussed making necessary changes to the club By- Laws and had preliminary votes on the proposed changes. The proposed changes are else ware in this newsletter along with the latest version of the By Laws. (2008). During the March meeting we will have a final vote on these changes. This is nothing earth shattering, just bringing the document up to date. As a reminder, only one family member is allowed to vote on changes to the By-Laws. Most other club business, all members in good standing are eligible to vote.
Leigh Humphreys has been busy working on a new club website. The club has decided to remove any reference to Ecklers Chevrolet in our recruiting brochure as Ecklers no longer has a Chevy club. We are affiliated with the National Impala Association.
We are making plans for the coming year so submit your ideas for events. Seminars for the cold weather months are always welcome so if you have something to share, let us know about it.
Mike
April 2025
President Massage
There was a substantial rain storm recently which washed away all the salt and the brine from our roads here in New Jersey. That clears the way so we can get our old Chevrolets out of winter storage. Mine just needed a good washing and an oil change. Speaking of changing oil, I thought I would do
one on my 1996 Buick Roadmaster and discovered my old spin on filter wrench wouldn’t work. So, I go to the auto parts store and discovered that now there are a whole bunch of different size (MM) cup sort of wrenches. I think I’ll stay in 1960 for repair and maintenance projects. Speaking of which I have installed original 4-way flashers in both my cars. These are units I have collected in junkyards over the last 30 or so years. Remember when there were junkyards? Many thanks to Don Bock for his assistance.
The March meeting was rather light on attendance, we only had 7 or 8 members present so I tabled the vote on changes to the By-Laws for now. I will be in Florida on Sunday April 6 so our Vice President Tom Freund will be the acting President. I know Tom will do a good job. Looking at the
calendar, we have the annual club picnic coming up on Saturday, May 24 ArmedForces Day). Once again, the Humphreys have secured Washington Lake Park located at: 626 Hurffville-Cross Keys Rd, Sewell, NJ 08080. Mark your calendars and bring your Chevrolet. Perhaps we will have a ’59 show up this year.
Looking at the calendar, we have Spring Carlisle on April 23 – 27, GM Carlisle on June 20-21, and the ever-popular Dennery Picnic on August 9 and then the National Impala Convention in Wisconsin on August 18 – 23. Please email me ( [email protected] ) if you have a favorite show or swap meet that the club would enjoy. It’s fun to see new places.
That’s all for now,
Mike
May 2025
President Message
First of all, I would like to thank our Vice President Tom Freund for stepping up as President for the April meeting. According to former President Tom Merring, he did a fine job. The weather is warming up and I can’t wait to get my old Chevies back on the road. Spring Carlisle will be the 23-27th this month and in May we have the club Picnic on the 24th. That is one of the best events of the year
so plan to be there with your Chevy. June will feature GM Carlisle on the 20 – 21st. The National Impala Association Convention will be held August 18 – 22 in Wisconsin this year. Check out Facebook for the details.
Rumor has it the Verne Frantz’s black ’62 convertible will be moving to its new home with VP Tom Freund. I look forward to seeing it back on the road again. After Verne died, several members have been helping Janet deal with Verne’s cars and things. On a couple occasions, Janet asked one of us to take that car out and give it some exercise. Well somehow, I was elected to do the honors twice. For those who may not know, Verne NEVER let anyone touch that car, let alone drive it. So, it was quite a thrill to fire up a real “Dual quad, 4 speed, Posi-traction 409 and run it through its paces.
We could use some “Watcha Workin On” articles for the newsletter so as we get our old iron out of storage, take a few photos and drop a few lines to John Lucas, newsletter editor extraordinaire.
Speaking of John, he suggested a club outing to the Auto Mall in Morgantown, PA. He tells me it is a very interesting place with several hundred cars for sale. There is also a huge buffet restaurant nearby so let’s plan on going there. I’m thinking Saturday June 7 looks good with Sunday the 8th as a rain date. Let me know if this works for you.
That’s all for now,
Mike
June 2025
President Massage
The annual picnic at Washington Lake Park in Sewell, NJ was a great success. We had about 24 members in attendance with 7 Late Greats. The weather was fine right up to the end when a storm threatened but only dropped a little rain during the ride home. Jim and Karen Thackeray provided the food while Big Al Bernotas handled the fire and cooking duties. The members supplied a nice selection of side dishes and desserts. Maureen Humphreys and Dawn Dennery coordinated the whole
event. 2025 is the 43d anniversary of the Jersey Late Greats. One of the founding members, Janet Frantz was there as well as one of the Charter Member, Tom Merring. Maureen baked a special cake with the number 43 on top and provided little gift boxes for everyone attending.
I had the honor of presenting a plaque to former president, Tom Merring recognizing his service during 2023 and 2024. Tom then presented the “Member of the Year” award to Emil and Cynthia Philibosian. Dawn Dennery has finalized the orders for club T*shirts so we should be seeing them at our events soon. John Lucas made a presentation about the next club outing, a trip to the
Morgantown, PA Auto Mall followed by a visit to the Shady Maple Buffet. More about that in this
newsletter. The Dennery Picnic, always a club favorite, will be held in August this year so mark
your calendars for Saturday August 9. The rain date is Sunday the 10th. That’s all for now,
Mike
July 2025
President Message will be added in July
August 2025
President Message will be added in August.
September 2025
President Message will be added in September.
October 2025
President Message will be added in October.
November 2025
President Message will be added in November.
December
President Message will be added in December.