The Scoop
President’s New Year Report - 2023
Happy New Year to all of you in IH Chapter 7!
Seems to me, that each year rolls around faster and faster, as I get older. What do you think? My dad used to tell me that time flies when you get older, but I didn’t believe him when I was 40. I sure do now! So I try to run my body in 5th gear as much as I can, but seems I’m pulling the TA back more and more every year.
2022 was a great tractor year and IH Chapter #7 finished the year with a great meeting and Christmas gathering at the “The Grill” restaurant in McCordsville, on December 4th. We had one of the largest crowds ever for a 4th quarter meeting. “The Grill” did a great job of serving us and they have a great breaded tenderloin sandwich, my favorite.
Membership Chairman, Neil Rissler reported we have 206 active members on the list with a few more expected to renew. He also reported that many on the membership list have inaccurate or changed e-mail addresses and phone numbers. Neil will be asking for corrections and your preference for us to contact you.
I’m also a member of IH Chapter 33 in Northern Indiana and they have used a phone messaging system for a few years to notify members about upcoming meeting and events. I really like it. Neil did some investigation on a call messaging system that only costs $18 to leave a meeting notice message on the phone number you have listed vs. close to $100 to mail out a post card reminder. We got a positive response from the members at the meeting on the phone message system. Let us know what you think, but with the cost of postage continually going up, I can see the Chapter moving towards a phone notification system or maybe a text message notification in the near future. I want to express my appreciation to Neil for doing the research on this project. It will hopefully save us money and also increase communications with you.
March 4th is the day we have booked the MCL Cafeteria, 3630 South East Street Indianapolis, for our 1st quarter meeting at 1 P.M. Our Chapter has met there before and everyone seems to like the multiple food choices they offer. We encourage you to come at 12 P.M. and go through the line and get your food and dessert. Then you can visit with fellow members before the meeting begins at 1 P.M. I always like the food when we get together, but visiting and telling IH tales is my favorite part of our meetings. Watch our website and Facebook page the day before and the day of the meeting for any weather cancellations.
Unless someone else volunteers, Joyce and I would like to have you all to our farm and museum for the 2nd Quarter meeting in Edwardsport. We will be visiting with the board about potential dates in mid-April or in early June. We will send out the exact date, time and directions after our meeting on the 4th of March at the MCL Cafeteria.
Mark Dieckmann updated us on the State IH Show that will be at the Pioneer Engineers Club grounds near Rushville, on August 3rd - 6th. As many of you know, this is the 100th anniversary of the Farmall tractor. Mark hopes to have a big turnout of Farmall Regulars and have them lined up. He and his wife, Dawn, challenged us to exceed the number of green tractors they had last year which was 343. So if you have a RED Tractor of any kind or condition, let’s try to have a big turnout and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Farmall tractor. Our 3rd quarter meeting will be on Saturday the 5th during the Rushville show, at 1 P.M.
I hope some of you will be able to attend the Winter National IH Convention in Roanoke, Virginia on March 16 - 18. I especially want to invite you to this years Red Power Round Up in Grand Island, Nebraska, June 15,16 &17. I’ve been told that since it is IH’s 100th Anniversary, it will be an extra special show this year.
Once again, I wish you all a great 2023 and I hope our paths cross many times this year. Please call if you need anything.
Don Villwock
812-881-8034
In the Barn
Some of my favorite tractors
Some of my favorite tractors
Some of my favorite tractors
Much like one's kids,
Some of my favorite tractors
Some of my favorite tractors
"I love them all"
Some of my favorite tractors
"I love them all"