The Diablo A's Model A Ford Club

Concord, California

We have been a chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America (MAFCA) since 1968. We are dedicated to the restoration, preservation and enjoyment of the Model A Ford automobile. We serve as a medium of exchange for ideas, information and parts for admirers of the Model A Ford car, and we aid them in their efforts to restore and preserve the car in its original likeness. We also provide a means for owners and enthusiasts to become better acquainted and we encourage the spirit of good-fellowship, social activities, and the use of the Model A Ford in numerous family events and outings.

We publish a monthly newsletter, The Moto-Meter, which is delivered to member's homes. It contains news items, classified ads, hints and tips about the Model A, and a schedule of upcoming events. The Diablo A's Website provides additional information about the club. It is at http://www.diabloas.com.

We usually schedule a club tour each month so we can drive our Model A's to some destination, usually within 50 miles of Concord. There are a number of special tours each year. In January we usually have the Brunch Tour where we travel to a nice restaurant for an elegant brunch. The Anniversary Tour is held in August and commemorates the first tour the Diablo A's held in August, 1968. Our Mystery Tour is an overnight tour held in October and the final destination is known only by the tour organizers. We also have a Holiday Awards Banquet each December where various members are recognized for their contributions to the club.

In addition to monthly tours, the club holds two meetings each month. The General Membership meeting is generally held on the third Friday of the month (except December) at the First Lutheran Church LCMS, 4000 Concord Blvd, in Concord, CA. Meetings typically last about 30 to 45 minutes and there are refreshments afterwards. There are special meetings every so often such as a pot luck, ice cream social, and pie social.

The Board Meeting, generally scheduled on the first Monday of each month, is held in the homes of various board members on an alphabetically rotating basis. This meeting is open to the general membership but is attended by members of the board (president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, editor, tour coordinator and past-president). The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and resolve administrative topics.

In addition, a Technical Seminar is scheduled for most months. This seminar is a training session and is led by members who have special expertise in the various areas of Model maintenance, repair, and restoration.

Elected Officers:

The President does presidential things. He or she runs the meetings and acts as the contact and representative for the club in various situations.

The Vice President stands in for the President when he or she is absent.

The Secretary takes notes from the general membership meeting and the board meeting.

The Treasurer collects dues, pays bills and keeps track of the savings and checking account.

The Editor is responsible for putting together our monthly club newsletter, the MotoMeter, as well as providing the club roster to the membership.

The Tour Coordinator is responsible for organizing a tour schedule and assisting tour leaders with the details like destination, sign-up sheets, rules, and communications.

The Past President is more affectionately known as "Keeper of the Stuff" -- patches, license plate frames, shirts, videos, and various awards won by the club over the years.

Appointed Officers:

The Sunshine Person is the health and welfare contact in the club. He or she keeps us aware of how everybody is doing.

The Historian is in charge of the photo albums that document our participation in the various events throughout the year. He or she is always on the lookout for extra pictures that will refresh our great memories of bygone events.

The Refreshment Coordinator is responsible for organizing a refreshment schedule: people volunteer to provide goodies at the general meeting. The club reimburses the volunteers. During the year we also have two pot lucks, a pie social and an ice cream social.

The Vest Person is the contact for obtaining a Diablo A's vest with the patch on the back. He or she is responsible for sewing the vests for new members. The club provides the material and the member pays for the cost of the club patch.

The NCRG Representative is responsible for attending the various NCRG meetings and communicating NCRG's activities and events to the club.

The ACCC Representative is responsible for attending the annual meeting held in Sacramento in April and communicating the various points of interest to the general membership.

A Glossary of Acronyms:

MAFCA stands for Model A Ford Club of America and is the national body of Model A enthusiasts. National conventions are held every two years, while national banquets are held annually. MAFCA publishes a glossy magazine, The Restorer, six times a year.

NCRG stands for Northern California Regional Group, a loosely knit collection of 33 or so MAFCA clubs in Northern California. They hold three meetings each year: at the annual swap-meet in Turlock in January, at the NCRG Memorial Day meet in June and at the Labor Day Meet in September. There are also other regional groups: CCRG (Central California) and SCRG (Southern California).

MARC stands for Model A Restorers Club and is another national body of Model A enthusiasts. They also hold national conventions every two years and national banquets each year. They also publish a glossy magazine, The Model A News, six times a year.

ACCC stands for Antique Car Clubs of California It is a statewide body responsible for lobbying the legislature in Sacramento and being the watchdog for the antique car hobby.

Diablo A's Awards and Stuff:

The Hard Luck Trophy is a medallion that may be worn. It is often awarded to a club member who has had particularly bad luck during a tour or other club event; flat tires, blown head gasket, broken axle and other problems traceable to various gremlins are just the ticket to earn the award.

The Outstanding Club Member is a perpetual plaque awarded annually to a club member or members who have provided extraordinary service to the club and exemplify the spirit of the Diablo A's.

John Kergel Weather is a phrase used in honor of a long-time member, John Kergel, who could always manage, in spite of terrible weather during the week, to prevail upon good fortune to provide sunny, beautiful weather for the tour or club event scheduled for that day.