2024 April Meeting Notes

St Johns Austin-Healey Club
Jacksonville, Florida

a chapter of the

Austin-Healey Club of America

St. Johns Austin Healey Club Member Meeting Minutes for April 1, 2024

The SJAHC monthly meeting was called to order by club leader Bill Young at 7:25 p.m. The venue was the home of Rick and Marilynn Stevenson in Mandarin, with the Stevensons and Bill Young’s wife Judy attending. Also attending were Paul and Judy Sandefer, Erling and Sandy Onsager, Bill and Char Maroney, Mike and Joan Foster, Bob Pippin, Ben Proctor, Tony Martini, and Ron Keysor.

The minutes of the March 4 meeting were approved with one correction, the location of the evening’s meeting at the Stevenson residence.

Treasurer Sandefer reported the club bank balance at $$$$$$, or just $5 less than the previous month. The lone expense was $25 for SJAHC’s continuing membership in the North Florida Car Council. In a brief report, membership chair Bill Maroney said membership stands at 33 paid, with two of those local members not also belonging to our parent organization, the Austin Healey Club of America. Our delegate member to the national organization, Rick Stevenson, said there was notable to report from that quarter.

Bill Young told all that the editor of Healey Marque Magazine, AHCA’s publication, has again declined his resignation as the contributing editor for the magazine’s Technical Service Bulletin featured in each issue. Bill has held that unpaid position for five years, contributing 50 articles in that period. This prompted a discussion on the possibility of including those articles in the club web site, SJAHC.com, managed by Webmaster Erling Onsager. Though that discussion wasn’t conclusive, Erling took the opportunity to encourage members to email him photos taken during club activities. We all carry cell phones that take photos, he reminded, and it help if he received more material for the Web site. Additionally, members are encouraged to send in photos of their Healeys, including the model and year. The owners of cars presently on the site are not identified there.

Of immediate interest is the upcoming tech session being hosted by Bill Young at his home garage beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 4. Ben Proctor and Bob Pippin will have their Healey’s on the lift as members hunt for the source of a leak in Ben’s car and a couple of things on Bob’s, a brake issue and the examination of a generator rebuild. Members are welcome to bring their cars with or without issues. The club provides lunch for members who will likely gather alongside the Young’s swimming pool for the break. All member are welcome. It’s suggested you drop Bill an email if you plan on attending, though that’s not mandatory.

Another special event is planned in June, when SJAHC will again welcome other British car owners to a picnic at the very nice near-St. Johns riverside park and pool in Green Cove Springs for the BCCNF Rendesvous II. The debut event last year brought out 30 British cars, Healeys (of course), MGs, TRs, McClarens, etc. Those attending bring their own picnic lunches and can relax and tell car tales under the covered dining places at the park. SJAHC is paying $150 for the “rental” of dining and parking space, plus an additional $50 for the after-event cleanup. A couple of clubs made unasked donations to help cover last year’s picnic, but the event is free to all attending.

Plans are unsettled on whether the club will hold a May member meeting*, but one is definitely planned for Monday, June 3. Remember, SJAHC policy is to let the entire membership know of any upcoming events prior to the happening, and generally, say always, via email. The April meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. as members broke off to share the bounty of snacks and drinks available in the Stevenson kitchen.

Keysor, Sec.

*Web Master's Note: Since these notes were written a club meeting is planned for May 6th. The location is not yet decided.