Please note:
This page was borrowed from the former - and similar page - we used during
Karmann's 100th birthday back in 1998.
Not everything has been re-written to reflect the 50th Anniversary yet, but, we're working on it!
Please forgive any broken links, etc.
To celebrate the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia's 100th birthday, to share in the fun and express some of the joy that Karmann Ghias have brought us over the years; to help Karmann bring focus to and showcase their innovative ideas for the future of their industrial customers; to do this with all of the other like-minded people, passionate about the Karmann Ghia, inclusive of all; and to let the Karmann family know how much we appreciate them and what they have done for us, even if their German heritage doesn't help them easily understand our reaction. How we achieve this vision is of lesser importance - that we achieve this vision is vital.
We have contacted over 195 Karmann-Related clubs to solicit their support, so you're in good company. Welcome to the group and thank you for your participation.
The entire enterprise is organized as committees, each with specific areas of responsibility. The primary governing body is made up of representatives from the various clubs that have an interest. This body, for lack of a more descriptive name, is the Anniversary Committee. The Anniversary Committee shall provide organizational leadership, establish the specifics of our plans, establish sub-committees to handle specific duties, monitor progress, and is ultimately responsible for the success of the enterprise. Sub-Committee chairs, and their seconds (co-chairs), report to the AC for direction and support.
The AC shall cause the creation of sub-committees based upon need. Each such committee shall have a chair-person and a co-chair, capable of taking over for the chair at a moments notice, and any further such persons as are deemed helpful or necessary.
Sub-Committees
This committee is responsible for advertising, in all its myriad forms.
This committee is responsible for coordination of efforts to be sure everything happens how and when it is supposed to happen and so forth. Examples include managing rentals, and vendors.
T-shirts, hats, etc This committee is responsible for finding and negotiating with vendors, checking quality and ensuring that deliveries are made in a timely fashion. This group will likely be asked to secure awards for events.
While everyone is responsible for helping secure volunteers, this group is charged with making sure nothing falls through the cracks. They help write "job descriptions" and help find people to fill them. And, importantly, this group keeps track of who is doing what job, and shall keep records. We ask each club to assign a member to be on this committee.
This activity includes finding and securing sponsors.
This activity primarily includes a webmaster, an e-mail list administrator, and phone list keeper. "Internet Relay Chat" forum might work in lieu of teleconferences if we can get it to work.
This group manages whatever funds the group has available. This committee shall consist of three persons. In order to keep funds secure, we shall require two signatures - any pair of the members of this committee, or one such member and the Executive Committee chair. This group is also responsible for all book-keeping.
We shall utilize this set of web-pages, an email list, and occasional teleconferences in order to remain in contact. We shall establish regular teleconferences at an interval of not less than once a month, fluctuating over time based upon need.Our web pages shall contain a "job listing" of open volunteer positions, updated plans, contact information and so on. It will be a primary resource. Similarly crucial, email will be a key communications mechanism.
There are some things that we will need to do, no matter what, just because of the nature of what we're up to. Other things can be thought of as optional - we can do them if we get the man-power and resources, and skip them if we so choose. Below, I haven't separated these two classifications out very clearly, but the following list is to be thought of primarily as a pick-list - we shall pick from this list (and any further items that come to mind) those things we will do as we match up resources with specific activities. We may also wish to have multiple instances of some types of event, to accommodate everyone. I will be presenting at Karlsruhe a more complete list than follows below - if you have further ideas, please forward them on! (Do note, though, that I've intentionally left out some of the more minor sub-events that often happen at car shows.)
I have complied a list of specific logistic concerns. A number of these issues are related to specific events, while others are overall concerns. The following is a synopsis of these concerns. I expect I have overlooked a few, and ask you to please bring these to our attention.
The following is an example calendar, just to give a feel for things. This is ONLY an example! There's a possibility of scheduling other events on the preceding, or following, weekend.
Friday, August 17th - Convoys and Caravans of Karmanns begin departing for Osnabrück from places like Helsinki, Trondheim, Rome
Wednesday the 22nd - Caravans from the UK meet up with those in France while the Swiss and Italians join together in their drive to Osnabrück. Static Automotive Displays are setup.Thursday the 23rd - informal gatherings around Osnabrück. Volunteers welcome early guests, act as guides, etc.
Friday the 24thNoon - 100th Anniversary Committee Hospitality Suite (party) where early comers and prepaid registrants pick up their maps of the town and itineraries, goody bags, begin sales of T-shirts, regalia.Evening - Club Hospitality Suite Night - the various organizations host parties in various hotels...Saturday the 25th - Morning - Swap meetNoon - Toy and Literature showEvening - Enthusiasts are free to clean their cars, and socialize with each other in an unstructured evening
Sunday the 26th - Morning - Show and Shine in the center of townDay filled with activitiesEvening - Banquet, presentations to car show winners and to Karmann.
During that trip in '99, I met with representatives of Karmann to begin discussions of the celebration. During the spring of '00, I visited again, and it appeared at that time that the stage was set; Hundreds of Karmann Ghia enthusiasts were planning to attend a huge rally - car-show - in Karlsruhe, Germany, from July 21 to 23rd, 2000. It only seemed natural that since there'd be a congregation of leaders in one place, it should be used to really move the effort forward. So, I made arrangements to attend myself, and letters were sent out to over 195 Karmann-related clubs inviting their participation. Many groups have indicated their support, and we will be using the Karlsruhe event to further our planning.
Meanwhile, I've contacted Karmann once more, and have continued to make arrangements, contacting the city of Osnabrueck, and so forth. And that brings us to today, in early July... I hope to see you in Karlsruhe!
Anniversary Committee
The body of the mail must only contain one line, requesting to subscribe
you. It is of the form:
For example, if you were Bill Gates, you'd send:
Richard Troy
Chairman, Karmann's 100th Anniversary Committee
Founder and current President, Karmann Ghia Club of North America
Chief Scientist, Science Tools Corporation
4200 Park Boulevard #151
Oakland CA 94602
Richard has been an active Karmann enthusiast, and collector for about two decades. (His collection also includes a few non-Karmann automobiles.) Richard is presently Chief Scientist of Science Tools Corporation, which he founded in 1997 to commercialize the research he performed at the University of California, Berkeley. He is Co-Investigator of the OceanESIP Earth science project, managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
Richard performs as many tasks as he can in his restoration and maintenance efforts, so it's hard to find something he hasn't done to his cars himself. He is meticulous and slow, but his approach to perfection shows. As a case in point, Richard has spent 8 years restoring 1958 Karmann Ghia Coupe' 1991940, and completed it in the spring of '95. The vehicle was nice enough to be honored to represent Karmann at the Behring Auto Museum in Blackhawk, California in an exhibit on Carrozzeria Ghia, featuring the famed "Chrysler d'elegance" - which was designed and built by Carrozzeria Ghia at the same time as the Karmann Ghia prototype - the two machines are strikingly similar.
His other automotive interests include the Porsche 356, and the Rometsch, and he is very active in Vintage Racing engines. In particular, Richard loves to play with Okrasa, Denzel, and early Porsche high performance engines. Amazingly, he is presently making reproduction parts for all three types! ("Ya gotta do, what ya gotta do when it comes to making these things work!")
Larry Edson
Co-Chair, Karmann's 100th Anniversary Committee
Larry is one of the real work-horses of the organization, but never seems to be too busy to call up. Larry owns a gaggle of Karmann Ghias, including both type 1s and type 3s. He's brave about saving them, and is a real hero when it comes to the lengths to which he will go...
Larry is also a family man and has two daughters. Larry is a Computer Software Consultant, and has other outside interests. Mostly, he's into music and is a part of a local choir, but he also loves to deliver balloons and party favours for Valentines Day!
Ryan Holmboe
E-list Administrator
Diddler@BayArea.net