2010 Installation Banquet
By Ken Bounds
We held our Installation Dinner on January 9 at the Wellington in Arlington
Heights. This annual event is
intended to install the new officers of the club as well as to honor
accomplishments of the prior year.
Fifty-three V-8 members, family, and friends came out on a cold (but not
as cold as usual) January night and enjoyed great food and fellowship.
Unfortunately our entertainment for the night did not materialize when
the capacity crowd left no room for Ron Vaughan’s equipment.
The evening began with cocktails and an endless supply of delicious hors
devours. Many arriving guests
generously supplied the door prize table, supplementing the donations we had
received from a number of vendors.
With a brief announcement from our returning President, Dan Pudelek, dinner was
served. The attentive servers
quickly supplied everyone with their salads, their selected entrée, followed by
a tasty dessert. After a very nice
dinner, Dan began the program.
Dan welcomed the new officers and board members for 2010 and asked each of them
to stand up. He then presented
service plaques to each 2009 officer and board member and thanked them for their
service to the club. Additional
plaques were presented to others who made significant contributions to the club
in the past year.
Receiving service awards were: Dan
Pudelek: President, Installation Dinner prizes, Volo Show; Frank Madrigali:
Vice-President, 2009 Installation Dinner; Joe Serritella: Treasurer, Tech Talk
on starters; Ken & Carolyn Bounds: Road Chatter Editors, Membership Chairman,
Roundheads Roundup, Eastern National Meet, Central National Meet, Lake Geneva
Poker Run, Veteran’s Day Luncheon, Various Video Presentations; Ron Blum: Board
of Directors, Tour Chairman, Day at the Races; Alan Wall: Board of Directors,
Service Awards; Joey Novak: Board of Directors, Club Apparel, Ladies Night Out,
Door County Tour; Stan Stack: Board of Directors, Health & Welfare Chairman,
Christmas Brunch; Tom O'Donnell: Board of Directors, Beller Museum Tour; Frank
Koeder: Tech talk on Appraisals, Richard Munz Driving Tour, Club Picnic; Len
Vinyard: Picnic Auctioneer; Earl Heintz: Veteran’s Day Luncheon; Don & Elaine
Braun: Garage Tour; and Ed Fontana, Tech Talk on a trunk brace.
Not present to receive their awards were Don Drews: Secretary; Bob
Paladino: Pizza Meeting; and Tom Buscaglia: Eggs-n-8’s.
Neil McManus surprised Dan with a special award for his many years of service to
the club as he began his fourth-consecutive year as group President.
Due to the generosity of members and the vendors we mention below, there were
plenty of door prizes – no one went home empty-handed.
Dan and a group of runners presented door prizes to all
participants, including Dick & Dotty Alfini, Dave Arnswald, Ben Ashley and
friend Roger, Ron & Arelene Blum, Ken & Carolyn Bounds, Elaine Braun with friend
Joanne Hallan, George & Betty Cech, Joe & Marie Dispensa, Lloyd & Gladys Duzell,
Ed & Roni Fontana, Stan Gaynor, Earl & Gene Heintz, John Judge, Frank & Margaret
Koeder, Paul & Joanne Linzer, Neil & Julie McManus, Frank & Phyllis Madrigali
with Frank’s mom Johanna Madrigali, Jack & Jean Nikolich, Joe Novak, Larry &
Jerry Webb, Tom & Madeleine O’Donnell, Dan & Diane Pudelek, Art Russell, Joe &
Delice Serritella, Stan & JoAnne Stack, Ron & Edie Vaughan, Len & Irene Vinyard,
and Alan & Lois Wall.
After the program there was plenty of time for camaraderie and sharing stories
with V-8 friends. Our thanks go out
to Frank Madrigali for hosting the event, to our President Dan Pudelek for
providing the program, to the dedicated staff of the Wellington for providing
great service, and to the many generous members who provided door prizes.
The Northern Illinois Regional Group wishes to acknowledge the generosity of the
companies listed below for donating door prizes that contributed to the success
of our installation dinner. These companies provide valuable services in keeping
our cars on the road and we ask that you patronize them when possible.
Meguiar’s – 60 containers of Quick Detailer
Mac’s Antique Auto Parts – T-shirt and 2 caps
Joblot Automotive – $25 gift certificate and catalog
Old Cars Weekly – Book, The Legendary Model T Ford
Tyree Harris Wiring – four $25 gift certificates
Hemmings Motor News – 3-piece kit, truck, trailer, and car
Antique Auto Battery - $50 gift certificate
Surf City Garage – 50 packets of “Nano Shine and “Tire Pro”
