March/April 2011 News

by John & CJ Sayre

Wow, what can we say? This is the season for giving, and the Sandhills Chapter of the AACA is just like the Energizer bunny. Instead of drums, we have shiny automobiles. We had three really big events in December. First was the Annual Southern Pines Christmas parade, which every year gets bigger and better than ever. This year, our club joined in with thirteen beautifully decorated cars. Second, our Top Hats and Tails event, where the chapter members donate their time to transport sheltered animals for adoption. And to end 2010 was our Annual Christmas Dinner with over 40 chapter members attending. Yum.

Continuing the season for giving, the Chapter members approved charitable donations of $500 each for the Cameron’s Boys Camp, the new Camp Duncan (a girls wilderness camp), our annual Sandhills Community College Automotive Department donation, and a new donation to the Pinehurst First Department for the restoration of their 1937 Seagrave fire truck. Congressman Jamie Boles, a Chapter member, persuaded the private owner to send it back “home to roost” to the land where it was born. But, it doesn’t stop there. The Automotive Department of Sandhills Community College and our Chapter members have volunteered their time and talents in the restoration process. Now that is bringing it home boys! Updates on the restoration to follow.

To steer in 2011, the Chapter started out with their January meeting and planned a fun-filled and eventful year. No rest for members or cars. To start with, we will get the warm fuzzies from a lunch and tour of the Crystal Pines Alpaca Farm, and that is nothing to spit about. We have a St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Stoneybrook Steeple Chase tailgate party, the Bryant House, Siler City tour, several parades and “drive-ins” for good eats at local Sonic and The Snack Shack. We are even planning, weather permitting (since we tried three times last year) a golf tournament to partake of Pinehurst’s claim to fame.

Congratulations are in order for our new director, Carolyn Giltzow and a hearty “Thank You and Farewell” to retiring director, John Deuster. Also, we would like to congratulate Audrey Bronk and the Sayres for receiving the North Carolina Editor’s Awards. Audrey writes and edits our fantastic Sandhills Chapter newsletter. On a last note, we would like to congratulate Chapter members Sam and Raidh Jordan who were married December 23rd.

Go out and make all our chapters in North Carolina filled with fun, friends, and random acts of kindness in your communities.

Donation for Pinehurst First Department for the restoration of their 1937 Seagrave fire truck.