NAAM E-NEWS – February 2022, Volume 23, Issue 1
In This Issue
- President’s Message
- Mission, Vision, & Value Statements
- 2022 Annual Conference
- 2022 Host Hotel Information
- Conference Scholarship
- 2021 Annual Conference
- 2021 NAAMY Awards
- Collections – Member Spotlight
- Creative Idea – Member Spotlight
- Reciprocal Admission Program
- Member Museum News
President’s Message
By: Patrick Slebonick
Greetings NAAM Members:
It is my pleasure to greet you all for the first time as President of NAAM.
In November 2021 NAAM returned for an in-person conference for the first time since February of 2019. The Next Gen Conference hosted by the National Corvette Museum was a tremendous success. It was wonderful to see so many new faces and old friends. Attendees were able to explore best practices and new ideas in a wide variety of disciplines, which are sure to make each member institution better. I must thank Derek Moore, Sharon Brawner, and the whole NCM team for this exceptional experience.
Immediately preceding the Conference, the NAAM Board of Directors met for a two-day retreat. Our goal was simple: develop a strategic plan which will build on the historic success of NAAM and position the organization to serve and grow our membership into the future.
Out of that session the Board will be focused on three areas this year:
Communications: Develop a plan to more effectively communicate with our membership. This includes providing you with high impact content and a functional, reliable website.
Value & Sustainability: Define the benefits and services that provide the most impact and value to our membership as the organization moves forward.
Leadership Development: Ensure that our Board is comprised of a diverse leadership representative of our membership with the skills to move the organization forward.
An important part of this process is to hear more voices from across the membership. We are still seeking volunteers for two new committees in particular. Our Communications Committee seeks volunteers who would like to contribute to content development for the organization – experience with web development is a particular need. The Conference Planning Committee is responsible for all aspects of planning our signature conference and needs individuals with fresh ideas for content. Please email or call me if you think you can help!
Finally, the 2020 joint conference with the WFMM was postponed due to Covid but we are pleased that our friends with World Forum and Revs are prepared to move forward with “The Future of the Past is Collaboration” Conference from November 9-12, 2022. There will be much more information to follow, but please consider making your hotel reservations now, space is limited in the hotel block.
For more information on the hotel block, conference schedule, and travel information please visit the conference webpage here.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, or to get more involved in NAAM.
Patrick Slebonick
President, National Association of Automobile Museums
MISSION, VISION, & VALUE STATEMENTS –
A Letter from President-Elect, Brandon Anderson
Dear NAAM Members:
During the Annual Meeting held at the National Corvette Museum this past November, the Board held a retreat and strategic planning session to chart a path forward to create optimal value for the membership and to secure the organization’s future as an inclusive, relevant, engaging, and successful membership entity.
To that end, a new mission, vision, and value statements were created to guide our path towards excellence. On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to share with you the results of our work together.
Mission:
The National Association of Automobile Museums is a center of excellence for automobile museums and affiliated organizations that supports, educates, and encourages members to operate according to professional standards of the museum industry and recognizes their achievements.
Vision:
Advancing professional excellence within the automotive museum community.
Values:
NAAM is an organization that advances automotive museums of all sizes through collaboration by:
- Sharing physical, intellectual, and virtual assets;
- Promoting excellence and professional standards in collecting, preserving, and interpreting;
- Recognizing unique needs and challenges in our area of scholarship;
- Fostering interdisciplinary cooperation.
Utilizing the new mission, vision, and value statements, the Board has established new committees to ensure that our work aligns with our strategic plan and results in a stronger NAAM that further benefits our membership.
We look forward to sharing with you some new initiatives, membership benefits, ways to collaborate and support one another, and educational opportunities that will ultimately make NAAM an even better organization that supports you, our members!
Thank you for being a member of NAAM and supporting our future together.
Respectfully,
Brandon J. Anderson
President-Elect, National Association of Automobile Museums
Executive Director & CEO, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
2022 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Future of the Past is Collaboration
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Join the Revs Institute, WFFMM, and NAAM from November 9-12, 2022 for an exciting joint conference and learning experience where attendees will hear from leaders in the field about a variety of topics. Some of the key discussions will revolve around strategic overviews for museums, museums from the media perspective, and museum collaboration both nationally and internationally. Revs Institute will offer behind-the-scenes tours of the Workshop, Parts, Digitization Room, and Library. There will also be entertaining interludes with opportunities to network and collaborate. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the Naples area, with an excursion to the Edison Ford Winter Estates and a sunset cruise on the Naples Princess.
Registration is OPEN: https://revs-wffmm-naam-2022.org/registration/
Student / Speaker Registration: $325
Early Bird Registration: $350 – Through August 18, 2022
Regular Registration: $450 – August 19 – September 22, 2022
Late Registration: $500 – September 23 – November 2, 2022
Single Day Registration: $150 – Through November 2, 2022
Note: Naples Princess Cruise and Edison and Ford Winter Estates Tour and Luncheon not included with Late or Single Day registrations.
2022 HOST HOTEL INFORMATION – ACT FAST!
Host Hotel: Hyatt House Naples
Address: 1345 5th Avenue South, Naples, Florida, United States, 34102
Phone: 1+(239) 775-1000
Group Code (for booking by phone): G-WCRE
Online Booking Link (group rate included): Hyatt House Online Booking
Rate: $150, single king or double queen rooms, increases to $220 after initial 80 rooms booked.
The host hotel is the beautiful, water-front, Hyatt House Naples. While there is a limited room block, please make your reservations as soon as possible. Naples is a very seasonal city, and hotel rooms become almost impossible to find for the post-hurricane season in November. Securing your reservation now will guarantee you a room.
Booking online is now available at the Hyatt House. The discounted rate, group code, and Tuesday-Sunday reservations (5 nights) are already included when you book. The beautiful water-front Hyatt House has 80 rooms at an amazing rate of only $150 for single king and double queen rooms (taxes not included). Rooms will increase to $220 per night after the initial block is full, and after October 9. The Hyatt House is a perfect location in easy walking distance of lots of exciting and fun restaurants.
If you book by phone (800-233-1234) be sure to use the Group Code “G-WCRE”. Please let your hotel know if you or your party will require ADA accommodations.
Please be sure to make your reservation directly through the Hyatt House, not a third-party reservation system (such as Expedia, Trivago, etc.), as you will not get the discount code and rooms may not be available.
2022 CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP
NAAM is dedicated to helping its members grow professionally through informative annual conferences and networking opportunities. To fulfill this goal, NAAM offers up to 3 conference scholarships each year. The scholarship program is designed for museums with limited financial resources to pay for their staff to attend (annual budgets under $500,000). Awards included $1,000 for travel expenses, plus complimentary conference registration.
Apply Now: The application process is easy, completed online, and if you have any questions feel free to contact Christine Bobco at [email protected]. The deadline is August 1, 2022.
How: Please visit the NAAM website for scholarship criteria, guidelines and the online application.
These valuable scholarships are made possible thanks to our generous sponsorships. Opportunities are available for 2022.
Thank you to Catalogit for being one of the 2022 sponsors!
CatalogIt makes documenting automobiles easy, comprehensive, and fun. CatalogIt is a powerful, cloud-based, and cost-effective platform that enables museums, organizations, and private collectors to capture and bring to life the story of their things.
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- A comprehensive vehicle classification uniquely tailored for motor vehicles.
- Rich functionality for capturing your collection’s most important information including engine and transmission details, components, odometer readings, VIN numbers, and registration information.
- Track location, condition, acquisition information, valuation, appraisal, ingoing and outgoing loans, and more.
- Manage your collection from your phone, tablet, or desktop at anytime from anywhere.
- An easy-to-use and visual platform that makes managing your collection satisfying and fun.
Visit our website to learn more about CatalogIt today!
2021 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
We would like to sincerely thank the National Corvette Museum for hosting an amazing conference, “Next Gen,” for NAAM in Bowling Green, KY. The conference schedule was packed with informative sessions and tours of remarkable museums. There were 81 attendees, representing 37 organizations, 12 Sessions, 4 tours, and behind-the-scenes tours at the National Corvette Museum.
 Preservation Facility at National Corvette Museum |
 Muhammad Ali Center |
 Fraizer History Museum |
 Swopes Cars of Yesteryear Museum |
 Bourbon Room at Fraizer History Museum |
 Swopes Cars of Yesteryear Museum |
– Photos courtesy of National Corvette Museum
Special Thank You to Our 2021 Supporters
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors. Our conference was an enormous success with the generous support we received from our sponsors.
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- Hagerty – Official insurance provider of the National Association of Automobile Museums
- Reliable Carriers, Inc.
- Motor Car Memories Inc.
- Western Reserve Historical Society
2021 NAAMY AWARDS
Congratulations to the museums that won NAAMY Awards at the 2021 Annual Conference for their 2019 and 2020 programs, events and activities. This is a prestigious honor and their award represents a commitment to excellence and sets a standard within our field. Great job!
The annual NAAMY awards competition honors the work of nonprofit automotive transportation museums. The awards recognize industry leaders for achievement, professionalism and creativity. They are designed to further promote professionalism in automotive museum managerial, curatorial, educational and promotional work.
DIVISION I (institutions with an annual budget less than $300,000)
Published Research, Books & Exhibit Catalogs
1st Place: BMW Car Club of America Foundation, Passion
2nd Place: BMW Car Club of America Foundation, Genesis
3rd Place: Virtual Steam Car Museum, From Elgin Watches to Johnny Walker: When is a Locomobile Not a Locomobile? Generic Representations of America’s First Mass Advertised Automobile
Events & Public Promotions
1st Place: Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, Longest Tesla Parade
2nd Place: BMW Car Club of America Foundation, ICON Closing Celebration
3rd Place: BMW Car Club of America Foundation, Foundation Fest
Interpretive Exhibits
1st Place: BMW Car Club of America Foundation, Passion and Genesis
Newsletters & Magazines
1st Place: Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, Email Sequence
2nd Place: Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, AMG Newsletter
3rd Place: BMW Car Club of America Foundation, Foundation Forum
Virtual Programming
1st Place: BMW Car Club of America Foundation, Genesis Social Media
2nd Place: Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, AMG Social Media
3rd Place: BMW Car Club of America Foundation, Passion Social Media
DIVISION II (institutions with an annual budget greater than $300,000)
Educational Programs
1st Place: National Corvette Museum, Vettecademy
Events & Public Promotions
1st Place: National Corvette Museum, 2020 Virtual Michelin NCM Bash
Films & Videos
1st Place: Owls Head Transportation Museum, Shifting History Web Series: One Millennial’s Journey with America’s Most Influential Car
2nd Place: National Corvette Museum, Fully Vetted
3rd Place: National Corvette Museum, Vettecademy
Interpretive Exhibits
1st Place: National Corvette Museum, Performance Gallery
2nd Place: National Corvette Museum, Car-Toon Creatures: Kustom Kars and Corvettes
3rd Place: Studebaker National Museum, Streamlined
Newsletters & Magazines
1st Place: National Corvette Museum, “America’s Sports Car Magazine”
2nd Place: Owls Head Transportation Museum, “Strut & Axle Magazine”
ENTRIES
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- 37 total entries
- 7 categories were entered
- Interpretive Exhibits, Films & Videos, and Newsletters & Magazines were the most entered categories
PARTICIPANTS
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- 9 participating institutions
- 5 from Division I
- 4 from Division II
- 9 participating institutions
JUDGING
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- 7 judges selected from organizations nationwide
- Books, Exhibits, Educational Programs
- Mary Seelhorst- Exhibit Developer and Writer
- Myron Vernis- Ret. Director of Glenmoor Country Club
& Glenmoor Gathering
- Collateral, Events, Newsletters
- Jim Allen- Ret. Col., Pentagon Public Relations
- David Conwill – Associate Editor, Hemmings Motor News
- Larry Edsall – Editorial Director, ClassicCars.com
- Video, Online
- Jeremy Berger- Editor, Filmmaker, Emmy Award Winner
- Courtney Collins- Editor, Producer, Emmy Award Winner
COLLECTIONS – MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
The World’s First Passenger-Built Duesenberg
Displayed at the Nation’s Capital
From The Accelerator, Volume 48, No. 2, 2021
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
This past September, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum was invited to display one of the rarest Duesenbergs in its collection in Washington, D.C. at the National Mall. Visitors to the nation’s capital were able to view the first ever passenger-built Duesenberg, a 1921 Model A, from September 17th until September 23rd during Cars at the Capital. Cars at the Capital is a month-long celebration of car culture in Washington, D.C. and held each year on the National Mall. The annual free exhibit features the latest vehicles placed on the National Historic Vehicle Register.
The 1921 Duesenberg Straight Eight Model A (“Castle Duesenberg”), the 27th vehicle listed on the National Historic Vehicle Register, was on exhibit in the Hagerty Drivers Foundation lighted glass display case, located on the hardscape between the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the National Gallery of Art. The ceremonies included a lighting ceremony at dusk on Friday, September 17th; as well as the Hagerty Drivers Foundation “Cars at the Capital + Coffee” on Saturday, September 18.
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“We are honored to not only have the first Duesenberg passenger vehicle on the National Historic Vehicle Register,” states Brandon J. Anderson, Executive Director & CEO of the museum, “we are also ecstatic that it will be on display in our nation’s capital to be seen by all and appreciated for its history and all it represents to automotive heritage. The legacy of the Duesenbergs, the Castle family, and the museum will be highlighted during this celebration and exhibit.”
Donated by CyrAnn and James C. Castle, Jr. of California, the 1921 Duesenberg Model A Coupe features a body built by the Bender Body Company of Cleveland, Ohio and was produced to the order of the car’s original owner, Samuel Northrup Castle, including space for his seven-foot-tall stature. Mr. Castle was from a family of Hawaiian missionaries and was a founder of Castle & Cooke Co., a Hawaiian sugar cooperative, when he ordered the car and received it in 1921 due to delayed production. It was the first production Model A to be built after the prototypes were completed and tested and the first one to be sold to the public.
The Castle Duesenberg would remain in his possession until his death in 1959 when ownership was transferred to his nephew, James Christian Castle, and was transported to San Francisco and placed into storage. Upon his death in 1994, ownership then transferred to his son, James C. Castle, Jr. and his wife CyrAnn. The 1921 Duesenberg Model A Coupe has remained in the Castle family until the decision was made to entrust the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum with the care and preservation of the vehicle in 2019 after 99 years of ownership and to be its future steward.
For more information about the automobile, its 100-year long journey, or upcoming exhibits, please visit us online at www.automobilemuseum.org, or on Facebook at ACDAM1974.
CREATIVE IDEA – MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Education Station
From Braking News, Volume 19, Issue 1, Winter 2022
By Rex Bennett, Lane Motor Museum
I’ve learned over the years of working at Lane Motor Museum, that small ideas and out-loud thoughts can lead to BIG projects. This is the story of one of those “snowballs” that turned out to be really fun.
Many years ago, David Yando, the museum’s general manager, approached then-marketing director Vicki Garrison, whose husband was a musician. “Hey, what if we performed ‘Jingle Bells’, but with car horns?” They had a good laugh, and presumably went about their day, as nothing really came of it.
Flash forward to 2020, and in the midst of doing several videos to provide content during the pandemic, David approached me with the same idea. “Sounds great!” I said, not knowing the bite I was about to chew off.
So, David and I walked around the basement with a guitar tuner I brought, humming the holiday favorites loudly, and making educated guesses at pitches. This was not working well, I thought.
The musicians, and their ”instruments”, are, from left to right:
Melinda Whitley, 1964 Amphicar 770;
Laura Ross, 1954 Simca Weekend;
Alec Blazek, 1943 Carter Town Shopper /trumpet;
Richard Graber, percussion;
Anna Lisa Hoepfinger, 1973 Renault R16
Upon telling our librarian, Robin Holab-Abelman, about the project, she reminded me of her husband’s Steve’s volunteer work with the Nashville Symphony. They got us in touch with real musicians from the Nashville Symphony. One of the musicians brought her violin in order to match the pitch of various car horns we tried out. Eventually, we settled on the cars we needed to play Jingle Bells, with one exception… we couldn’t get close to a D or F note, so Steve suggested we have a trumpeter stand in a small convertible to fill in. This was a brilliant idea, and I thought it would look hilarious.
While we scheduled to shoot this video for Christmas of 2020, COVID flared up, and we looked for a safer time to shoot indoors. It was decided Christmas 2021 would be best, with a filming target of May, 2021. My vision was for this to be a serious performance, so I asked the musicians to show up in black dresses and white tie and tails, the most formal of orchestral wear.
We are rather proud of the end result. A special thanks to the Musicians of the Nashville Symphony for their expertise and talent, and thanks to Robin and Steve, for linking us up with the musicians. It would have sounded way worse without them! Click here to listen to it for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0aiStzyxg4&t=4s
RECIPROCAL ADMISSION PROGRAM
Did you know NAAM has a Reciprocal Admission Program to promote professional development and networking opportunities among member museums? There are 105 museums that are members of NAAM and to date 47 have joined the program. Sign your museum up today! Just email [email protected] to sign up.
MEMBER MUSEUM NEWS
“Centennial” of the Lincoln Motor Company Will be Celebrated at the Lincoln Museum
The “centennial year” of one of the world’s great luxury marques will be observed in 2022. The Lincoln Motor Company was acquired by the Ford Motor Company in February 1922. (The company was founded in 1920 to build luxury passenger cars.)
The Lincoln Motor Car Foundation, which oversaw creation of the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum & Research Center, will hold the annual Homecoming on August 10-13, 2022 on the grounds of the museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan. Optional pre-Homecoming events will take place in Dearborn, Michigan on August 7-10.
Serving as host for the 2022 Homecoming will be the Lincoln and Continental Owners Club (LCOC). The Lincoln Motor Car Foundation (LMCF) board is comprised of individuals from the four major Lincoln clubs—the Lincoln Owners Club, the Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club, the Road Race Lincoln Register and the LCOC.
The celebration will begin in Dearborn, Michigan. The host hotel in Dearborn is the historic Dearborn Inn, built in 1929 by Henry and Edsel Ford as an airport hotel.
On Sunday evening, August 7, attendees may visit Fair Lane, the home of Henry and Clara Ford. There, they will be greeted by Edsel Ford II, son of Henry Ford II. The home, which is under renovation and closed to the public, will be available to tour. A light supper and beverages will be available.
On Monday and Tuesday, August 8 – 9, there will be tours of the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, featuring its all-new visitor reception building and restored grounds and gardens. Many of Edsel Ford’s personally-owned cars are on display. Note: participation is limited to 56 each day. Dinner will be on your own Monday evening.
On Tuesday evening a gala dinner will be held in the Henry Ford Museum. Attendees may tour the museum from 6 to 11 p.m. Guest speaker will be Joy Falotico, President, Lincoln. (It’s possible James Farley, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company will also attend.)
Other nearby attractions include the Henry Ford and Greenfield Village, the Ford Rouge factory tour, and the Ford Piquette plant. These tours will be “on your own.”
On Wednesday morning, all Lincolns in attendance will gather at Ford World Headquarters for a display that will last into early afternoon. Attendees may enjoy lunch at the Ford Motor Company cafeteria. Following lunch, attendees will depart for Hickory Corners, where a weekly cruise-in will be held at the Gilmore Car Museum, which all Lincoln Homecoming participants may attend. Food will be available. The host hotel is the Kalamazoo Sheraton Four Points.
Thursday and Friday will be driving tour days. The committee has scheduled several tours. The W. K. Kellogg Manor House and Gardens tour will include lunch. The estate includes natural gardens around a lovely lakeside setting that include a carriage house with chauffeurs residence, greenhouse with potting shed, caretaker’s cottage, boathouse, an authentic Dutch windmill and lakeside pagoda. Note: Participation is limited to 60 each day.
There will be a driving tour to nearby historic Marshall, Michigan, which features unique architecture throughout the city as well as a unique downtown that includes a museum of magic. Lunch at the famous Win Schuler restaurant is part of the tour.
A special treat for attendees will be a visit to the private collection of Bill Parfet, the grandson of Donald Gilmore, for whom the Gilmore Car Museum is named. Mr. Parfet has a unique collection of antique and Classic automobiles from all eras. Attendance will be limited.
Optional “on your own” tours will also be available, including the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and Library, Meijer Gardens and the Kalamazoo Air Zoo.
On Thursday evening, there will be an informal, get-acquainted “come as you are” outdoor cookout adjacent to the Lincoln Motor Car Museum. Or, attendees may visit one of the many Greater Kalamazoo restaurants.
On Friday late afternoon, there’ll be a cocktail reception for all Homecoming attendees at the Lincoln Motor Car Museum followed by dinner and the traditional auction of Lincoln memorabilia and parts to benefit the LMCF Endowment Fund.
The big day will be Saturday—a display of all classic Lincolns adjacent to the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum. All four Lincoln clubs will have cars on display (and will do their own judging). That evening, a gala dinner will be held at which time awards will be presented. Scheduled to speak that evening is Michael Sprague, Director–Lincoln Motor Company NA.
Note: All dinners will be held on the grounds adjacent to the Lincoln Motor Car Museum under a large tent.
Attendees are welcome to spend Sunday visiting the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum as well as other automobile museums on the Gilmore Car Museum campus: the Ford Model A Museum, the Pierce-Arrow Museum, the Cadillac-LaSalle Museum, the Classic Car Club of America Museum, the H. H. Franklin Museum and the Tucker Archives.
“Because attendance is limited on several of the tours the 2022 Homecoming Committee highly recommends early sign-up for the 2022 Lincoln Homecoming,” said David Schultz LMCF Chairman.
Registration forms will be available on-line at the LMCF web site: www.LincolnCarMuseum.org
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The Lincoln Motor Company had its roots in a company bearing the same name—Lincoln Motor Company. That company had been created in 1917 by Henry Leland and his son, Wilfred, to build Liberty aircraft motors for the war effort.
At the conclusion of World War I, the Lelands were left with a well-equipped new plant and several thousand employees. Leland’s reputation as “Master of Precision,” earned during his years as head of General Motors’ Cadillac division, was enough to attract investors for a new automobile company.
The former Lincoln Motor Company of Michigan was absorbed into a new Lincoln Motor Company of Delaware in 1920. $6.5 million in stock was sold the first day and car orders were received well before production began. The first Lincoln was produced in September 1920.
In February 1922 the Ford Motor Company acquired the Lincoln Motor Company after the latter was forced into voluntary bankruptcy in November 1921.
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Additional, updated information on the 2022 Lincoln Centennial Homecoming will be posted on the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation website www.LincolnCarMuseum.org Details will also appear in the four Lincoln clubs’ publications.
Gilmore Car Museum Announces 2022 Car Show Season Schedule
Twenty-Four Events for Car, Truck, Boat, Cycle, Tractor, and Travel Trailer Enthusiasts
(Hickory Corners, Mich. / February 2, 2022) – The Gilmore Car Museum unveiled its 2022 car show and event season schedule, with twenty-four “summer season” shows scheduled to take place on the Gilmore’s historic 90-acre campus from May through October. Additional details and registration information for individual events will be posted at a later date on www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org.
Notable events and changes for the 2022 schedule include:
- Winter Motoring Meet on Feb 5: for winter fun and vintage snowmobiles
- Pint With The Past on Feb 12: for a Roaring Twenties inspired craft beer tasting event
- Vintage Boat Show & Travel Trailer Rally on May 14: for a combined show featuring classic boats, travel trailers, and RVs
- Corks & Crafts Wine and Beer Festival on May 14: for beer and wine enthusiasts, held in tandem with the Vintage Boat Show & Travel Trailer Rally
- ALL-GM Super Show on May 21: for all General Motors makes and models
- Muscle Cars on Jun 25: for the best Detroit Muscle, from the 1960s to today
- Tractor Show on July 29-30: for vintage tractors, displays, and demonstrations
- Congress of Motorcars and Family Day on Oct 1: for pre-1942 gas, steam, & electric cars
- DeutscheMarques Oktoberfest on Oct 15: for German cars and fall colors
As usual, the Gilmore’s popular Wednesday Night Cruise-In events with live music, food, and beverage will run every Wednesday night from 5pm to 8pm ET, from May through end of September. Gilmore Car Museum members will receive early access and preferred parking.
Even more, the Gilmore Car Museum plans to announce its Summer Concert Series schedule of outdoor, open-air musical performances later this year.
“We’re excited about the upcoming season of car shows, new events, and concerts at the Gilmore,” said Josh Russell, Executive Director of the Gilmore Car Museum. “It’s a calendar full of things for our members, partners, guests, and first-time visitors to be able see, hear, and experience on our campus.”
As we anxiously await spring and the start of “car show season,” all are invited to visit the museum’s indoor exhibits throughout the winter months, as the museum remains open every day from 10am – 5pm ET.
For questions or more information, visit www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org, call (269) 671-5089 or email [email protected].
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About Gilmore Car Museum
The world-renowned Gilmore Car Museum – North America’s largest auto museum with more than 400 vehicles on display — is located midway between Chicago and Detroit, just 20 minutes north of Kalamazoo, or 45 minutes south of Grand Rapids. The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, whose mission is to tell the history of America through the automobile. Learn more at GilmoreCarMuseum.org
Announcing the Piston Foundation Partner Program
GREENWICH, CONN. — The Piston Foundation announced that it is kicking off its Partner Program. This new program offers a unique opportunity for automotive organizations that want to support both skilled trade education and the car enthusiast community, while earning a tax deduction in the process.
“We’re pleased to welcome Gregory Nussbaum as our Partner Program Manager,” said Robert P. Minnick, CEO and founder of the Piston Foundation. “He brings strong marketing and sales skills, formerly working with some of the most notable names in auto insurance. He has a solid vision for implementation of our unique program and I believe he will be very successful in aligning a company’s philanthropic giving with the grassroots needs of the car enthusiast community.”
The Piston Foundation was formed in 2021 as a national public charity to fund skilled-trade education for students and apprentices who want to pursue careers in automotive craft, restoration specialties, and service. This program has real-world impact. Each scholarship helps a student pay the cost of skilled trade auto education at a two- or four-year school for one period of one year. For those awarded automotive restoration apprenticeship grants, the Foundation augments the apprentices’ wages while they learn their craft. Qualifying students and apprentices can apply for funding each year.
Mr. Nussbaum explained, “I’ve loved cars my whole life and to have the chance to give back to my favorite pastime is an honor. I see many exciting possibilities as organizations in the automotive industry do their part to ensure we have enough restoration specialists. Corporate Social Responsibility can come alive when implemented in the way we’re planning to roll out this new program.”
Companies who participate in the new program will enjoy increased visibility of their brand as they are recognized as a Piston Foundation Sponsor on the Foundation’s soon-to-be-launched new website, across all forms of social media, and at key events.
More information about the Piston Foundation’s sponsorship program is available by calling Mr. Nussbaum at (917) 817-0043 or emailing [email protected].
