Museum Corner -- Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum & Research Center, Inc.

I would like to mention four major items of interest that relate to the CLCMRC - (1) the exhibition of our Museum's cars at major antique car shows and other venues; (2) the availability of research services to make use of our archives and literature collection; (3) the matching grant program currently in effect, which effectively doubles contributions made to CLCMRC through the end of 2007; and (4) the recent Board of Directors election.

1. Exhibition of CLCMRC Automobiles

The CLCMRC has embarked on a program to display its automobiles at events, and in museums, where they can be appreciated by the greatest number of old-car aficionados. These displays help fulfill the CLCMRC's educational mission, while at the same time promoting public awareness of CLCMRC and its purpose. At each place where the cars are displayed, they will be accompanied by signage that identifies CLCMRC.

This effort began in June with the 2007 CCCA Grand Experience, an annual event held on the grounds of the Gilmore/CCCA Museum at Hickory Corners, Michigan. This year, the Experience featured Cadillacs and LaSalles from 1903 through 1970. Two exquisite cars from the CLCMRC collection were displayed at the Experience -- the 1931 Cadillac 355 Sedan, and the 1937 LaSalle Convertible Sedan. The Cadillac, finished in a beautiful and authentic two-tone combination of Chicle Drab and Autumn Drab, is a CLC Senior and CCCA Premier car. Its restoration was finished in 1995, when it won first place in class at the Meadow Brook Concours and second place in class at Pebble Beach. It was donated to CLCMRC by Paul and Bev Ayres of Farmington Hills, Michigan. The LaSalle is one of only 530 convertible sedans (Model 5049) produced for 1937, the first year this model was available. Finished in Peruvian Gray, this car was donated by David Kruidenier of Des Moines, Iowa, who was the publisher of the Des Moines Register. Mr. Kruidenier acquired the LaSalle because he had an identical car when they were new. His father, D. S. Kruidenier, was an early Cadillac dealer in Des Moines. Despite heavy rain on the show day, the Museum's great cars represented our organization proudly. Thanks to Paul Ayres (the donor of the 1931 Cadillac) for representing the Museum at this event.

Then, on Sunday June 17, the Museum exhibited its 1957 Eldorado Brougham at the Eyes on Design concours held at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford Mansion in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan. Our car was part of a "ring" of five Eldorado Broughams, all in different colors. This magnificent car, still on its original air suspension, was donated to the Museum by the estate of Dr. Alan Lease of Atlanta, Georgia, and it is the same car featured in the movie "Driving Miss Daisy". Thanks to Tim Pawl for doing the work needed to get the Brougham ready for the show, and for representing the Museum at this concours.

On Sunday August 5, the Museum's 1937 LaSalle convertible sedan will be displayed at the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance. Thanks to Tim Pawl for exhibiting the car on behalf of CLCMRC at this prestigious event. The LaSalle will also be featured at the pre-show press luncheon on Tuesday July 31.

Next, the Museum will display its 1931 Cadillac and 1937 LaSalle at the Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles at the Glenmoor Country Club in Canton, Ohio on September 16, 2007. They will be in the company of other outstanding motorcars displayed by major museums and private collectors.

After Glenmoor, these cars will be transported to the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in time to be viewed by the thousands of car enthusiasts from all over the world who visit Hershey during the week of the AACA Eastern Fall Meet. If you are in Hershey for this show, stop by the AACA Museum and take a look at these beautiful cars. They will remain on display at the AACA Museum until August 2008, when they will travel to Cherry Hill, New Jersey to be displayed at the CLC 2008 Grand National Meet, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Club.

As a result of these exhibits, we expect that CLCMRC will establish a higher "profile" and recognition level that should help future fund-raising efforts.

2. Availability of Research Services

The CLCMRC is pleased to offer a research service to our members and to other collectors, restorers and historians. In addition to its automotive treasures, CLCMRC has over 3,000 items of Cadillac and LaSalle literature and CLC publications in its archives, and is ready to answer requests for information from CLC members and the general public. On file are many parts books, owners manuals, shop manuals, and salesman's data books, as well as photographs, accessory catalogs, Cadillac Serviceman Bulletins and showroom literature from 1903 through the 1980's. There is a nearly complete collection of The Self-Starter with Annuals from Volume 1, Number 2 through 2006.

Please send requests for information to Paul Ayres, Curator, by e-mail at payres@flash.net, or by mail at 35105 W. 13 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48331. If requested material is available and copies are desired, the Museum will charge a nominal research fee of $5 per item requested, plus a reproduction fee of $1 per page.

3. Matching Grant Program In Effect During 2007

The Cadillac & LaSalle Club has approved a matching grant program to jump-start the Museum's 2007 fund-raising campaign. The Club has given us a great opportunity to "jump start" our fund-raising efforts by agreeing to match, dollar for dollar, each cash contribution made to the CLC Museum through December 31, 2007, up to a limit of $25,000. Thanks to the Club's generosity, each contribution will effectively be doubled. Gifts will be counted from any source - CLC members or non-members, businesses, or CLC Regions or Chapters. Thanks to Glenn Brown and the CLC Board of Directors for approving this matching grant program.

If you have been considering making a contribution to CLCMRC but haven't gotten around to it, this is the time to act.

4. Board of Directors Election

We had a record turnout of ballots cast in the recent election for the Board of Directors of the CLC Museum & Research Center. Thanks to all those who took the time to vote.

We received 1,071 valid, timely-submitted ballots this year. This great response suggests we should continue the process of a separate mail-in ballot, even though it requires a modest additional cost.

In alphabetical order, these candidates were elected: Bill Anderson, Annapolis, Maryland; Paul Ayres, Farmington Hills, Michigan; Ted Barber, Seattle, Washington; Fred Bausch, San Carlos, California; John Bezik, Scottsdale, Arizona; Mike Book, Columbus, Ohio; Lee Herbermann, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Jack Hotz, Haddonfield, New Jersey; Mike Josephic, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Lars Kneller, LaPorte, Indiana; Larry Lesiger, Haddonfield, New Jersey; Dave Mikol, Southfield, Michigan; Jim Pittman, Des Moines, Iowa; Michael Spezia, Hickory Corners, Michigan; and Andy Zizolfo, Middle Island, New York. These directors will serve on the Board through the CLC Grand National Meet in 2009. I have included each candidate's hometown to show that we have a geographically representative group, as well as a fine collection of talent. I congratulate the candidates who were elected, and I thank those candidates who were not elected for their willingness to serve.

In addition, the CLCMRC Board will include the current President of the CLC, Glenn Brown, and these active Past Presidents of the CLC and/or the CLCMRC: Bill Edmunds, Alan Haas, Tim Pawl, Richard Sills, Carl Steig, Norm Uhlir, Ron Van Gelderen, Lester Wax, and Barry Wheeler.

I would like to thank Liz and Tim Coy for their efforts in counting the ballots and reporting the results promptly after the cut-off date. Because of the large increase in the number of ballots submitted, Liz and Tim had a much bigger task than we have encountered in past years. They worked diligently to assure an accurate count.

The CLCMRC Board will meet in Savannah during the week of the Grand National Meet. There, the newly-elected Board will elect officers to serve for a two-year term ending in 2009. I have had the honor of serving as President of the Museum for a total of six years, and I decided not to seek another term as President. I remain committed to the purposes of the organization, and intend to remain active and involved as a Board member. I am sure the Board will elect a capable successor, and besides, my garage is full of old Cadillacs that need to be exercised more regularly than I have had time to do in recent years.

In closing this message, I want to leave you with another reminder about the CLC matching grant program. The Club has given CLCMRC a great opportunity -- now it's up to us to take full advantage of it. After all, if we aren't committed to preserving Cadillac and LaSalle history, who will be?

Please do your part. Make your check payable to "CLCMRC" and send it to our Treasurer, Larry Lesiger, at 212 Rhoads Ave., Haddonfield, NJ 08033. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law, and will help the Museum to assure its future.

The Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum & Research Center,Inc. (CLCMRC) is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) educational entity dedicated to the gathering, preservation, and dissemination of information and artifacts pertaining to the research and restoration of Cadillac and LaSalle automobiles. The CLCMRC is a separate entity from the Cadillac & LaSalle Club and it is not in any way connected with the Cadillac Motorcar Division of General Motors. The CLCMRC is a member of NAAM, the National Association of Automobile Museums.

Although it is a function of the CLCMRC to make all data and information contained in its archives available for public use, it is not an information service bureau. All information is provided by the individual efforts of volunteers. The facilities are open for viewing and researching by appointment only.

Inquiries regarding the donation of manuals, brochures, advertising, parts, or automobiles should be directed to:

Paul Ayres
President
Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum & Research Center, Inc.
35105 W 13 Mile Rd
Farmington Hills, MI 48331
email: payres@flash.net

Inquiries regarding financial donations and gifts of securities or endowments should be directed to:

Larry Lesiger
Treasurer
Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum & Research Center, Inc.
212 Rhoads Ave.
Haddonfield, NJ 08033
email: treasurer@cadillaclasalleclub.org

Inquiries concerning receiving copies of automobile information, service manuals, owners manuals, data books, advertising, etc. or to schedule a visit should be directed to:

Tim Pawl
Curator
email: pawl@earthlink.net