Summary of November 15, 2025 National Board Meeting

Early Ford V-8 Club of America

The Fourth Quarter 2025 Board of Directors Meeting was called to order by President Dave Gunnarson on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 1:07 pm EST.  The meeting was held remotely over Zoom.  A quorum of Directors was present at the meeting.  Minutes of the Third Quarter 2025 meeting were approved.

2026 Eastern National Meet

Jack Diana, chairman of the 2026 Eastern National Meet attended the meeting. He presented information on the event, scheduled for September 20–24, 2025, at the Chauncey Hotel, Princeton, NJ. Activities planned include tours, Welcome and Award Dinners, a movie night, and a driving tour. Room rates are $182.52/night, breakfast included.  Board members were glad Jack spreadhead the meet and support his efforts.

2026 "Peaks and Prairies National Driving Tour" through Montana and Wyoming

The Big Sky Regional Group #153 presented an application to conduct a driving tour. The application was accepted by the Board.  The Driving Tour will be held from August 2 - 7, 2026 and will begin and conclude in Billings Montana. The tour will cover 670 miles in total, averaging 160 miles each day.  It will pass through Laurel, Montana, Beartooth Pass and attractions in Cody Wyoming. A highlight of the tour will be a visit to the Little Big Horn Battlefield. Norman Clark is the Chairperson of the Tour.  More details will be published on the website and in the V-8 Times. 

Officer Elections: An election of Officers for 2026 was conducted among the Directors. As a result, David Gunnarson was reelected President; Dan Castellini as Vice President and Steven Kroeger elected as Secretary.  Election results were unanimously accepted.

Website & Advertising: Bruce Nelson, webmaster, reported that the club’s website has been upgraded and is in test mode. Directors were encouraged to review and provide feedback on the new proposed design.  Advertising rates and payment processes are under development for website ads, with a proposal for a Zoom meeting to finalize rates. Test advertisers are in place, and ad placement will be prioritized by payment amount. Membership promotion is emphasized, with a “Join Here” feature on the website.

 Financial Reports: Treasurer Michael Stichter presented financial reports detailing the club's cash holdings, CDs and savings accounts, which were accepted by the Board.  Michael reported on the process of removing our former treasurer's name from accounts and replacing him as the signer. Discussion focused on moving some funds into market investments for better returns.  All tax filings are complete, with net operating losses carried forward. No tax payments are anticipated for several years.

 Membership Survey: There was over 50% participation in the membership survey which was sent out to a number of members.  Key findings: Our organization has an aging membership and many of our members are not in regional groups due to the distance they would need to travel to attend meetings. There was a strong interest expressed in the in the V-8 Times Magazine, and a desire to increase youth involvement. Action items include further discussion at the next meeting and exploring new member engagement strategies.

National Director Election: Ballot logistics and timeline were discussed. Three candidates are running for the Southeast directorship; others are unopposed. A ballot will be included in the V-8 Times and mailed to all members who do not receive the V-8 Times by mail.  There is a Face-to-Face Board meeting planned for March 4-6 in San Diego, California with a bylaw extension approved extending the normal 60-day deadline from the first of the year to 90 days to hold a First Quarter Meeting.

Accessory Sales: Inventory levels for club books and accessories are healthy, but planning for reprints is advised. Back issues of the V-8 Times are in high demand. The new Membership Directory is now available for sale in the online store. Plans were to discontinue the dedicated accessory sales phone line and use a personal business number instead.  An appropriate number will be announced.

Other Business: Updates were given on ongoing projects, regional group activities, and upcoming events. Name badges for directors will be created post-election. The meeting concluded adjournment at 4:03 PM EST.  

Respectfully Submitted:

John Emmering, National Secretary   Early Ford V-8 Club of America 

CONGRATULATIONS “2025” R.G. CHARTER ANNIVERSARIES !!!

55 Years

• RG # 27, Redwood Empire (February 08, 2025)
• RG # 28, Hi-Country (February 08, 2025)
• RG # 29, Central San Joaquin (March 22, 2025)
• RG # 31, Diablo Valley (September 13, 2025)
• RG # 32, Mission Trail (November 22, 2025)
• RG # 35, Badger State (November 22, 2025)
• RG # 36, National Capital (November 22, 2025)

50 Years:

• RG # 72, Central Kentucky Thoroughbred (February 09, 2025)
• RG # 77, Cedar Valley (February 09, 2025)
• RG # 79, Tumbleweed (April 20, 2025)
• RG # 82, Umpqua Flatheads (April 20, 2025)
• RG # 85, Beaver State (December 14, 2025)

45 Years:

• RG # 109, Vancouver Island (September 05, 2025)
• RG # 110, Natural State V-8s (October 23, 2025)

40 Years:

• RG # 123, Heart of Texas (July 24, 2025)
• RG # 124, St. Louis (November 03, 2025)

30 Years:

• RG # 141, Ohio (January 13, 2025)
• RG # 143, New South Wales (October 21, 2025)
• RG # 144, East Texas Lazy 8 (October 21, 2025)

25 Years:

• RG # 157, Queensland (July 29, 2025)

20 Years:

• RG # 164, V-8 Club of Argentina  (January 21, 2025)