Volume 15, Issue 2 OUR 25th ANNIVERSARY YEAR!! POLAR BEAR 2015 February 14th TIME TO RENEW!! The annual Polar Bear Run will be on Saturday, February 14th. We will be meeting at the Shell Service Station at Chenal Parkway and Hwy 10 in West Little Rock. We will meet at the station at 9:00am with participants ready for departure at 9:30am. ARKANSAS MIATA CLUB DUES $24.00 Just a reminder to all members whom haven't paid yet, that club dues for 2015 are due!! 4 State Tour to Bardstown, Kentucky Please renew your membership by sending a check for $24 payable to Arkansas Miata Club to: June 5 (Thursday) through June 8 (Sunday) Please bring your scarves, wool caps, heavy jackets and mufflers for a jolly romp through Geri Wilde the Event Pulaski Hosts: and Saline J.R. Mills County and countryside. Debbie Wisdom... Contact info: 1 Juego miata2003@sbcglobal.net Way or by cell Hot Springs Village, AR 71909 phone at (501) 416-3850 for Debbie or (501) 416-7787 for JR. Calls may be returned after We will end up at one of Benton's fine dining establishments, work hours. La Hacienda, for brunch. You can also renew by going to the club s website (www.arkansasmiata.com) and using PayPal. 17401 I-30 is the address of La Hacienda for those that would like to meet us and can't make the drive. Inside this issue: PRESIDENT'S CORNER 2 Special dates of interest! February 12th / Board Meeting 2015 TECH SESSION 3 MIATA MOUNTAIN VACATION EXTRAVAGANZA CHRISTMAS PARTY 2014 7 BOARD MEMBERS 8 3 February 14th / Valentine's Day Polar Bear Run March 12th / Board Meeting March 21st / Mac's Fish House - Brandimore's April 9th / Board Meeting April 24th - 26th / Miata Mountain Extravaganza
Page 2 President's Corner Our 2015 season is already hopping, with a Tech Session that was held January 17th at the Jacksonville location of Sherwood Tire Pros, and with our Annual Polar Bear Run (tops down, damn the weather!!) on February 14th (yes, it's Valentine's Day but what a great way to start it and you'll probably need to huddle under a blanket by the time the run is over before noon). Our next board meeting is Thursday, February 11th and will be held at Cheers in Maumelle (1901 Club Manor behind the WalMart Neighborhood Market) at 6:30pm, and I encourage everyone to come by and join the board as it plans events of interest and discusses club business. Many clubs, homeowners' associations, public interest groups, are finding the Internet and social media to be a powerful way to communicate with members, spread the word on current issues, sign up new members, and much more. It's increasingly common, as we do, to distribute newsletters by electronic mail and to post on web sites. While each of these uses offer great benefits, they all also involve privacy concerns that need to be considered. We are responsible to safeguard the privacy of our members, and their personal information. At the January Board meeting, one of our items of discussion was member privacy, and if we should make our membership directory available to all, and published on the website. After much discussion, the decision was unanimous that we sould no longer provide directories, or availability to the directory on the website or Facebook page. We as a non-profit have a responsibility to protect the information that we collect and keep from members. As the year progresses, you will see changes in personal email addresses or phone numbers in the newsletter or Event notifications; the reason being that searches on the internet can very easily retrieve the names of individuals posted on the most obscure club newsletter. Images in our newsletter won't include the names of individuals for obvious reasons. As we go through the year, I'm going to work with the Board to formulate a club Privacy Policy, and you all will be a part of that process. Thanks again for allowing me to serve, and look forward to seeing you all at the coming events. Earl 2015 Tech Session / Jan 17th
Page 3 2015 Miata Mountain Vacation Extravaganza In addition to being the 25 th Anniversary of the Arkansas Miata Club, the 2015 Miata Mountain Vacation Extravaganza is the 20 th annual overnight Mountain Trip hosted by the Arkansas Miata Club, JR Mills and his lovely wife, Debbie. How many of you have attended all 20 events? How many of you can name them? There may be a special prize during the Official Kick-off Dinner, Friday Night at 7:00. April 24, 25 and 26, 2015 Hot Springs, Arkansas (Friday night dinner, Saturday, Sunday Brunch and drive) Two nights in the historic Arlington Hotel discounted rates $97 for single and $107 for Double Did you wake up this morning wondering what the venue for the Arkansas Mountain trip would be this year? Read on you will be discussing the trip over breakfast in the coming mornings, wondering whom all you will see and what all you will do this year! For the last 20 or so years, JR Mills and his wife Debbie have been hosting our 4 Mountain Trips, taking us all across Arkansas and a few states beyond. The trips have mostly centered around the driving experience, and when time permitted we ate, we visited (and sometimes we slept) and we had the occasional site to see. The 2015 Miata Mountain Vacation Extravaganza will provide that and more because, over the last 20 years we also have all become a Miata family. The Arkansas Miata Club cordially invites you to the 2015 Miata Mountain Vacation Extravaganza, an event of the season. Not to be missed, the Extravaganza will have something for everybody, and since there are only 2 of you in the car, well, there you are! Dinners, breakfast, brunch, sight-seeing, bath, massage, drives, walks, socials, dancing and more. Destination: Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Arlington Hotel. Arrive sometime Friday (hopefully early enough for some sightseeing, perhaps a bath, a massage, a trek up the mountain and through the park), a trip through the lobby bar on the way to registration something for everyone! The official kick-off of the 2015 Miata Mountain Vacation Extravaganza begins Friday night at 7:00pm with the world famous Arlington Seafood Buffet (for those not interested in seafood, they are also known for other fabulous dishes as well). After dinner, lots of sights, dancing, a night stroll, perhaps a ghost hunt? We will have Saturday for a drive or two, a bath, a massage, sight-seeing, a group lunch and a group dinner. Plans are being finalized and ideas are being tossed around. NOW is the time for you to voice your thoughts if you have something in particular you would like to see or do.
Page 4 2015 Miata Mountain Vacation Extravaganza For now, save the dates. Friday, April 24th.. Saturday, April 25th.. Sunday, April 26th, 2015. and make plans to attend. There will not be a trip charge; each venue will be self-pay that will allow more flexibility for all of us to see and do the things we would like to see and do. Make your hotel reservation as soon as you decide to go. As the time gets closer we will need RSVPs for the dinners, lunches, brunches and group activities so that proper seating may be arranged. We will also provide regular updates with proposed group events and timelines so that you will have the opportunity to make your reservations for bath and massages. Please email JR and Debbie if you are interested in going with us.. tourdirector@arkansasmiata.com Please include RSVP for dinners, lunches, brunches and excursions. Friday night dinner is by reservation. All others are just approximate head counts. So looking forward to seeing you all there. Brochures for Bath and Massage, Spa information and the Buffet Dinner and Sunday Brunch are attached elsewhere in the newsletter. For now, please save the dates, make plans to attend, make your hotel reservations (800-643- 1502) at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas and email JR at tourdirector@arkansasmiata.com. After reviewing the materials provided you will see that the bath and massages begin about 7:00am and go until 9:00pm Check it out. Hot Springs also offers bath house row with art exhibits and micro-breweries need to Google for that information. The point is that we should have time to do it all, and see it all, and attend at least one or two of the joint drives and excursions planned. We are kicking around an itinerary and once it has been properly bruised and battered by being kicked into shape we will circulate.
Page 5 2015 Miata Mountain Vacation Extravaganza
Page 6 2015 Miata Mountain Vacation Extravaganza Loosely defined itinerary - no trip fee all meals, activities and sight-seeing excursions are self -pay (pick and choose what to do) Friday, April 24, 2015 - Please Note: We need reservations for dinner Dee (hotel contact) will do this for us, but we need names and how many will be attending the Friday night Buffet) Arrive at Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs - Reservation 1-(800) 643-1502 Check in browse through hotel lobby (bar) looking to see any familiar faces Depending upon arrival time on your own until dinner 6:00pm meet in hotel lobby bar for social time (weather permitting check the veranda) 7:00pm Seafood and more Buffet Venetian Room (by reservation) 9:00pm or after dinner: a stroll through the neighboring park? Several night clubs within walking distance, the lobby bar of Arlington has music Saturday April 25: (actual time and place will be announced) You have some time choose your own schedule Breakfast Morning drive - ending with lunch at Home Plate in Hot Springs Village Afternoon drive - beginning with lunch at Home Plate in Hot Springs Village Mid to late afternoon: Gangster Museum Stroll through park Downtown strolling / Window shopping / BathHouse Row Wax Museum Arlington Hotel Veranda people watching Saturday night Group dinner walking distance of hotel Sunday April 26: (actual time and place will be announced) You have some time. choose your own schedule Morning drive Bath - massage 10:30am Sunday Brunch Venetian Room Arlington Hotel When emailing JR and Debbie tourdirector@arkansasmiata.com to include you in the trip, trip bags, name tags, please also let us know if you plan to attend a group event so that we can have head counts. Also please provide your t-shirt size just incase we pull that off as well. Remember we must have an RSVP for Friday night Buffet dinner.
Page 7 CLUB LOGO ITEMS You can take your own items to Sutherlands, or you can order You can order merchandise through our vendor. Sutherlands can embroider items in a thread color of your choice including one that matches your Miata! clothing, backpacks, equipment bags, etc. from them for imprinting We still have lots of pins and stickers left. If you are a new member, hit Geri or Earl up at the next event you attend as they are free. If you're already a member, you can still get extras at $ 5 each. Offered for sale is a 40" x 48" utility trailer, that has had a complete LED light kit added and has been modified with tire carrier for four (4) tires, and a lockable storage box for tools. Included are a locking cable, locks, and four (4) tire covers with Velcro fasteners. Also available is a Curt Manufacturing trailer hitch (with removable receiver and two hitch balls) for a NA ('90 - '97) Mazda Miata. Complete package available for $ 400 or offer. Text Earl at (501) 804-3939 or email him at earl@earlwilde.com. 1991 Miata For Sale White, roll bar, supercharger, 3-spoke Antera wheels, luggage rack. Other add-ons too numerous to mention. 112,000 miles. One owner, all service and custom equipment receipts. JR is pretty familiar with the car - I have bought a new Miata. I have no idea what the vehicle is worth, and it's impossible to do a comp because of the condition and added equipment. If you are interested, come by and take a look at it, and make me an offer? I'm approximately 1 mile SouthWest of the Hwy 270 bypass and the intersection of Hwy 88 (Higdon Ferry) in Hot Springs. Telephone is (501) 463-9511. Address: 116 Apple Blossom Court (in Forest Lakes Garden Homes across from the sales office). email: bcd.dogbert@yahoo.com
Page 8 Arkansas Miata Club 1 Juego Way Hot Springs Village, AR 71909 PRESIDENT Earl Wilde president@arkansasmiata.com MEMBERSHIP Geri Wilde membership@arkansasmiata.com VICE PRESIDENT Lewis Leslie viceprez@arkansasmiata.com TECH / TOUR DIRECTOR J.R. Mills techdirector@arkansasmiata.com tourdirector@arkansasmiata.com SECRETARY Sherry Heiser secretary@arkansasmiata.com NEWSLETTER EDITOR Earl Wilde newsletter@arkansasmiata.com TREASURER Geri Wilde treasurer@arkansasmiata.com ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR activities@arkansasmiata.com Invite to the FEBRUARY 2015 Board Meeting: The next Arkansas Miata Club Board meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 11th at Cheers in Maumelle (1901 Club Manor behind the WalMart Neighborhood Market). If you would like to be a part of the planning, please join us. You may also email ideas or suggestions to president@arkansasmiata.com. Be sure to keep your contact information and particularly your email address up-to-date; you don t want to miss anything! Submit your email address, snail mail address, new car info and any other contact information changes to Membership at membership@arkansasmiata.com. Crain Team Mazda 11715 Colonel Glenn Road Little Rock, AR 72210 (877) 449-9425 / Sales (877) 554-0251 / Parts www.crainteammazda.com