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I am running for Director at Large of CTCI and I wanted everyone here to know. I have sent this letter to the CTCI membership. If you can help it would be appreciated.
I acquired my first Thunderbird in 1965 and joined CTCI in 1966. My membership has enabled me to learn a lot about the cars and make lots of wonderful friends while owning a number of the classics. Spending 31 years in Engineering and Production with Ford Motor Company Assembly Division at the Lorain Assembly Plant, I bragged that I built seventythree Thunderbirds per hour. For a year I was at the Dearborn Assembly Plant building Mustangs.
• There have been many Thunderbirds over the years, and while nothing can replace the 1955-1957 “little birds” the ’55-’57 and ’02-’05 models are the only ones that were designed and built as two-seat roadsters. They share a common heritage and I believe they belong in the same club, if only for this.
• So strongly do I believe in including the ’02-‘05 Thunderbirds in CTCI; that at the International Convention in 2018 in Knoxville I made a motion that the By-laws be amended to recognize these cars. The motion passed overwhelmingly and in May 2019 the entire membership got to vote. While the results failed to reach the required 2/3 of those voting to amend the By-Laws, 61% indicated they also agreed.
• A lot of retro owners are interested in joining CTCI and are just waiting to be welcomed as new members to our club. This is a great source of new, younger members.
• I am amazed that our club spends so much money on a building in California and puts up with all the legal entanglements that come with doing business there. I support the sale of the building and the move of the corporation out of California.
• I recently visited the Gilmore Car Museum in Michigan and noticed how many major car clubs have found a way to house their memorabilia there. I believe that this might be an opportunity for CTCI and should be investigated.
• Our present board is moving forward by changing Regionals focusing on more sightseeing, socializing and driving, similar to the Mockingbird Run put on by the Knoxville club, which attracts participants from as far away as Iowa and Florida. I helped with one of these three day "Runs" and over 75 cars were involved. This is the way to grow a club: participation involving members doing fun things. I pledge to continue this trend if elected. International conventions should continue as is for now, but to increase membership and involvement, we must encourage local meets that involve sightseeing and driving.
I look forward to serving on the board of this great club and thank you for your vote.
Ron McCloud, CTCI #1056
I acquired my first Thunderbird in 1965 and joined CTCI in 1966. My membership has enabled me to learn a lot about the cars and make lots of wonderful friends while owning a number of the classics. Spending 31 years in Engineering and Production with Ford Motor Company Assembly Division at the Lorain Assembly Plant, I bragged that I built seventythree Thunderbirds per hour. For a year I was at the Dearborn Assembly Plant building Mustangs.
• There have been many Thunderbirds over the years, and while nothing can replace the 1955-1957 “little birds” the ’55-’57 and ’02-’05 models are the only ones that were designed and built as two-seat roadsters. They share a common heritage and I believe they belong in the same club, if only for this.
• So strongly do I believe in including the ’02-‘05 Thunderbirds in CTCI; that at the International Convention in 2018 in Knoxville I made a motion that the By-laws be amended to recognize these cars. The motion passed overwhelmingly and in May 2019 the entire membership got to vote. While the results failed to reach the required 2/3 of those voting to amend the By-Laws, 61% indicated they also agreed.
• A lot of retro owners are interested in joining CTCI and are just waiting to be welcomed as new members to our club. This is a great source of new, younger members.
• I am amazed that our club spends so much money on a building in California and puts up with all the legal entanglements that come with doing business there. I support the sale of the building and the move of the corporation out of California.
• I recently visited the Gilmore Car Museum in Michigan and noticed how many major car clubs have found a way to house their memorabilia there. I believe that this might be an opportunity for CTCI and should be investigated.
• Our present board is moving forward by changing Regionals focusing on more sightseeing, socializing and driving, similar to the Mockingbird Run put on by the Knoxville club, which attracts participants from as far away as Iowa and Florida. I helped with one of these three day "Runs" and over 75 cars were involved. This is the way to grow a club: participation involving members doing fun things. I pledge to continue this trend if elected. International conventions should continue as is for now, but to increase membership and involvement, we must encourage local meets that involve sightseeing and driving.
I look forward to serving on the board of this great club and thank you for your vote.
Ron McCloud, CTCI #1056
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