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!! Spring 2008 Newsletter Online !!

President's Message, New Year 2008

Hello all IMPERIALISTS of the SCIOI and beyond, it is that time again when we all feel the joy of the Holiday season. I am wishing you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.

The planned events of the New Year, so far are:

The "Kick-off" BBQ, February 2nd, held at my home in Palm Springs. (This year, due to the constant and ever wonderful auctions in Arizona, that dominate most of the month of January, we decided on the first weekend in February.) Mark your calendars for Saturday the 2nd. The flyer has already been mailed out along with your renewal form. As you will note, the price has remained $10 dollars and this price includes all the food you can eat, with an incredible car show to boot. As in pass years, we are inviting Great Autos of Yesteryear and if we can make contact with the local Packard Club, we will be inviting them as well. We'll make this a great event to remember. Thanks to all those planning to attend.

As most of you know, we are hosting the Statewide Meet this year in Bakersfield. The DATES will be, April 24, 25, 26 with saying our good-bye's on the 27th. Nannette, Ken and I made another fact-finding trip to the oil rich city last month, to finalize all the details that will make this a Statewide Meet with something for everyone to enjoy. I know driving your Imperials through this town will bring lots of attention from the locals. Thursday we will be having lunch at a Basque restaurant and then on to the Natural History Museum. The Museum presents a very interesting story of how the oil came to be in Bakersfield. After, we can window shop in some of the great antique stores on the avenue. Thursday evening, we saddle up and head out to the Buck Owens Crystal Palace Museum and Restaurant. You must see the 70's Pontiac Convertible built into the wall behind the bar, won in a poker game by Buck from Elvis Presley. We are doing a wonderful Friday tour, caravanning from the hotel to The California Living Museum, then on to the Kern County Museum. The management has given us permission to park our Imperials on the beautiful Museum grounds. There will be some time for photo ops with our wonderful Imperials in front of the 1940's, 76 gas station. We will serve box lunches. A must see will be the 18 minute movie explaining the discovery and recovery of the oil in this area. Then the SCIOI will be hosting a fabulous Hospitality Friday Night at the Host Hotel (the Four Points Sheraton Hotel). So again partners, saddle up your Imperials, pack the cowboy boots, spurs, hat, and get yourselves to the Statewide Meet in the oil rich cowboy town of Bakersfield, April 24 through the 27th. See ye all there.

The SCIOI annual Picnic in Laguna Niguel will be held September 20th. The park is just the right place to hold this event, central to all and plenty of parking in front of the picnic area to view and show off our wonderful Imperials. As usual, I will be barbequing the hamburgers, chicken and hot dogs, crispy and not so crispy. Linn Davis, our illustrious Vice-President, will be bringing his famous potato salad. Last September we had a real nice turn out, so I know 2008 will be even greater. Mark the date on your calendars now, and plan to attend. There's lot's of tire kicking and chatting about the joys of owning our wonderful Imperials. If you have technical issues, I have found every year someone who is familiar with the problem or has info on how to fix it. I do hope to see all of your shining smiles at this event on September 20th.

In closing, I want to say how happy it makes me to be the SCIOI President. At this time, I would like to thank all the board members, Linn Davis, Nannette Clark, June Reinhardt, and Darryl Green (the News Letter aficionado), for taking their time to make this club what it is today and my time as President less stressful and so much fun. I also would like to thank the members of both the IOANC and SCIOI that come to and volunteer there time for duties, when either clubs puts on Statewide Meets. It makes the whole effort a wonderful experience and such a pleasure to know members like these exits. Thank you so very much. Thanks ALSO, to all the members for your participation in these events that both clubs present for your driving pleasure…

Humbly your's, Marc D. Hampton President of the SCIOI.