Thanks to many

 Above, you're looking at the Mayberry Diner in Moneta, Virginia, with three contestants set in front. This was a very few minutes after a series of thunderstorms rolled through. There's a downhill slope here, as the diner roof shows, but I chose to show the vehicles level. The Mayberry Diner & Drive-in again proved a wonderful spot to hold a car show.

Thanks go out to many. Our show was weather struck--though the storms held off until we were about 80% done. Some strong willed entrants and a few good volunteers made possible an event that produced a decent profit, one that will improve Christmas for numerous children who might otherwise have gotten left off Santa's list.

In a couple of days, when I get everything calibrated, I'll list our sponsors, and by this time next month,we'll have figured out when we'll be holding the next show. At the moment, we're looking at April 30, 2011, with a May 7 rain date. We will be actively searching for sponsors once the date is set, so anyone who wishes to help can get in touch with me at any time. We're also going to search for more volunteers. The show is more fun for more people when a few don't have to work too hard.

For now, my thanks, and the Bedford Marine Corps League's thanks, to all those who helped or attended in any capacity.  Add to that my promise that we'll not make my mistakes over again, and will correct any other glitches that show up.

Sponsors needed!

Our July 17 car show to benefit Toys for Tots and the detachment is moving along. We've gotten several sponsors, but need more to help provide the kind of trophies that do much to ensure a show's success.

We've also gotten a raffle object, a power supply, that is currently one of two items being raffled at the show. The other item is an 11" x 14" photograph of the winner's car--the raffle winner, not the show winner! I'll do a short photo session and provide a top quality 11x14 print of one of the shots for the winner.

Sponsors, those who have a business that deals with automobiles or any peripheral part of the auto business, might consider emailing me about the $35 sponsorship.

Sponsorship brings an 8-1/2" x 11" white card stock version of the sponsor's business card (or logo, or other information that is available for scanning ($10 extra will see the information printed on photo stock for better looking data that is heavy on graphics). That is then placed on an easel at the beginning or end of the car class, where it is seen by all viewers.

 Sponsors might operate new car dealerships, independent garages, motorcycle dealers, used car dealerships, auto parts stores, insurance agencies, sporting goods stores, hardware stores, service stations, building contractors (put up any garages lately?), HVAC companies, convenience stores and similar businesses. Sponsors may also operate bakeries, DVD rental stores, really almost any kind of retail store and have a strong desire to help kids have a decent Christmas. Last year--2009--we were able to improve 1,256 Christmas packages in the Bedford area. For 2010, we want to do better.

The card above shows the result of using a full spread for my business card, which is solid black and pretty has to have photo paper stock to look good. The classification above can be changed to cover any of the listed classes in the show.

I know the economy isn't great, but for $35, the fiscal pain shouldn't be too intense. We can also use more items for raffles.With the sag in my magazine article markets, and a drop off in book sales, over the past three years, if I can offer an item for a raffle, most businesses can do the same.

Reach me at chazphotos@charlieselfonline.com. 

Trophies or Plaques?

The top shot is the Mayberry Diner, the site of our car show. The Open sign is on!

The last shot is of the field where the show is being held. It is spacious and easily organized. The photos were shot a couple of months ago, so things look better now. That is a full-sized movie screen in the shot's center. The barn to the left is on the opposite side of route 608. To get to the diner, you turn on 608 off of route 122. If you're northbound on 122, make a right; if you're southbound, a left turn is needed. The road, 608, is just before (or after if heading north) the new Mayberry Center, so is easily found. If you want a superb Italian meal in the area, try Casa d'Amici. It's wonderful.

Today, I start wandering around locally, after checking the Web, and making phone calls to see just what is available in the way of trophies for our July 17 Car Show.

There's a little discussion of what is best, a trophy or a plaque, with no decision yet. I'd really like to get some outside feedback.

If there's anyone out there reading this, particularly anyone who shows cars or attends car shows, I'd enjoy getting your feelings about which is preferable. Which would you like to get, a trophy or a plaque?

There seem to be a hundred thousand or more designs and sizes in each type, which makes the decision even more difficult.

Speedy Approach of July 17

This is the same material I posted on my Meandering Mind blog a short while ago.

There's not a whole lot for me to add to the above.

Currently availability is just on-line,which Blogger doesn't allow me to paste in here. Sigh. For Pete's sake! Email me and I'll send you the PDF.

Soon the forms will be available at participating merchants in Bedford County, City and environs. We don't want to pass them around so early they get covered by other material.

Looks for the posters, too, which will go up within three weeks.

We're really looking forward to this one. Our meeting last night has a team heading out to search out some really great awards for winners.

We're also just about ready to send out news releases to as many local publications, radio and TV stations as we can find. If anyone has any questions, we're ready to answer them.

Here's the text:

On July 17, 2010, the Bedford, Virginia detachment of the Marine Corps League is presenting its first ever Car Show. Starting at 9:30 a.m., the show will run until 3:30 p.m.
The MCL Car Show will greet the public from the Mayberry Drive-In theater grounds, directly in front of the Mayberry Diner, in Moneta, Virginia. This '50s style stainless steel diner/movie complex offers a superb site for a car show as well as a meal and a movie. Rows are already in place, with slightly elevated fronts to making movie viewing easy. The elevation does just as well for the cars, helping them show to their best effect.
There are eleven classes, overall, with a Best In Show People's Choice being the final judgment of the day.
Classes are: antique; classic; custom; hot rod; light truck; modified light truck; motorcycle; modified motorcycle; muscle car; modified muscle car; sports car; street rod.
Each class receives three awards, while People's Choice brings a single award.
Spectating is free, while early entries (on or before July 16) are $15.00. On site registration the day of the event is $20.00. Each entrant gets a free 5" x 7" photo of his or her car in front of the diner (by mail, a few days later). Larger sizes are available at nominal cost.
Food, drink and Tee shirts commemorating the event are available at the diner, or on the grounds.
The show is a benefit for the Bedford Area Toys for Tots and the Detachment.
Rain date: July 24, 2010, same times and place.
Contacts:
For the Marine Corps League: Charlie Self, 540-297-7535, charlies@charlieselfonline.com

For Toys for Tots: Robin Mills, rhmills14@gmail.co
or

Bob Craig, 540-296-1480, info@mayberrydrivein.com

Car Show Info Is Ready

Our Marines Corps League car show details are almost ready to launch.

WE STILL NEED SPONSORS, THOUGH!

We're looking for a few good people or businesses to help with the trophies, particularly.

There seems to be plenty of time between now and July 17, but that jump-off point is approaching rapidly now.

So far, Mayberry Diner & Driven-In (mayberrydrivein.com) has been an immense help in many ways, starting with providing an almost ideal site.

I'm going to include a photo file of the poster and flier we'll be using. It will soon appear in stores and restaurants and at other businesses in the Bedford County area, even lapping over a bit into Franklin County near Smith Mountain Lake.

Entry forms are available NOW, online. Fliers will soon go onto counters at participating merchants. If you see our poster, fliers will also be available at most points. Entry forms in PDF are available, or will be in a few days, at Mayberry Diner & Driven-In's web site, above, and at charlieselfonline.com

Why A Marine Corps League?

It occurred to me over the past week that while most Americans know the what and why of the U.S. Marine Corps, many people are far less familiar with our Marine Corps League, how it exists and why it exists. Like all such organizations, it's partly a social organization for retired, and discharged from active duty, Marines to get together. In the process, each detachment tries to do some good locally. There's probably no better way to describe the League than to use the words directly from the Marine Corps League official web site, with some minor editing on my part. As a one-time corporal, I'm not sticking my big toe too far into the hot water here.

"The Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of all Marines and Navy FMF Corpsmen, who proudly wear,or who have worn the eagle, globe and anchor of the Corps. It takes great pride in crediting its founding in 1923 to World War I hero, then Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune. It takes equal pride in its Federal Charter, approved by An Act of the Seventy-Fifth Congress of the United States of America and signed and approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. The League is the only Federally Chartered Marine Corps related veterans organization in the country. Since its earliest days, the Marine Corps League has enjoyed the support and encouragement of the active duty and Reserve establishments of the U. S. Marine Corps. Today, the League boasts a membership of more than 76,000 men and women, officer and enlisted, active duty, Reserve Marines, honorably discharged Marine Veterans and qualified Navy FMF Corpsmen and is one of the few Veterans Organizations that experiences increases in its membership each year."

For those inexperienced in Marine Corps lore, FMF stands for Fleet Marine Force.

The League is a non-profit organization that uses fund raising events of various kinds to support itself and a number of local charities. In our Bedford Detachment, we've emphasized Toys for Tots for the Bedford County area in recent years. T4T is an organization usually handled by Marine Corps Reserve units. Bedford County has no USMCR unit, so we take up the slack, each year providing thousands of toys for local children.

We are coming up on a new event for us, a car show, one that we hope will become an annual event helping to support two worthwhile local arms of extremely worthwhile organizations. Our Bedford Detachment is among the smallest in the country, but thanks to the generosity of local folks and businesses we've managed to do a credible job of supplying entertaining toys to a lot of children in the years of our existence.

As the photo shows, we'll be welcoming stock and modified motorcycles to the car show, as well as all kinds of cars.

Semper fi!

Bedford Marine Corps League joins the Internet age

While a number of our Detachment members have been using computers, and the Internet, for many years, our Bedford Marine Corps League Detachment has always been so small that we've not set up a web site.

While this is a blog and not a web site, it serves the purpose of presenting information about the Bedford, Virginia MCL group's activities, what we're doing, why we're doing it, and how readers can help or simply enjoy the activities we present in support of Toys for Tots and other programs. We're also open to new members at any time.

We've just finished what has been our prime money raiser for many years, a golf tournament held at Mariners' Landing. At one time, this was a twice annual event, but it's been on hiatus for a few years. It's now back, with the Combat Hole and other special Marine features!

The Combat Hole lets you play golf wearing a flak jacket and a helmet. Most entrants are glad that it's a single hole. There's also one hole played with a five iron and nothing else. One par three offers a $10,000 prize for a hole-in-one.

Keep your eyes open, because the Bedford Marines will again present a golf tournament in the fall of 2010. It's a worthy cause, and an interesting twist on an ancient game.

Advance notice is hereby given: as of now, the planning phase for a Marine Corps League Car Show is over. We'll hit the beach at the Mayberry Diner in Moneta, VA on July 17, starting at 9:30 a.m., ready to present awards to vehicles in a dozen or more categories.

Signs and entry blanks will start to pop up a few weeks before then. Check your local diner or restaurant or convenience store for more information and entry forms.

It's closer than you think, so crank up that antique or roll out your custom or shine up the headers on your hot rod and get ready to roll. Because the Mayberry Diner has a drive-in movie as part of its complex, the set up is ideal for car shows, with long rows already defined, along which cars can park. We'll assign rows to classes when show time arrives.

Keep an eye on this space!