You learned everything you need to know in kindergarten

[Clem]

This is not true.

First, I would like to commend Kit Fox for the nice article in the September issue of Tucker Topics covering the California convention. Now for the real story of the items discussed.

The following is a review of the topics discussed among members concerned about the direction the club is going that were not included in the Topics article.

1. The lack of freedom of speech -- entries are deleted from discussions on the website because someone does not want the truth known about what is going on behind closed doors.
2. The website is shut down for days for no apparent reason.
3. A large donation of Tucker memorabilia was donated and there was no mention or thank you acknowledged in Tucker Topics at the time the items were donated. Secondly, where are all these donated items? At present, the display at the Gilmore consists of a room with many empty boxes with tags attached and an old desk. One of the persons that requested to be a candidate has a very outstanding display with his Tucker. With the size of the treasury, why have all the donated items not been cataloged and made available on the internet for members and other interested person to enjoy?
4. The scholarship fund has never been addressed. What institutions have received scholarship money? Who manages the funds? Is it a foundation? If a foundation, who manages the foundation? Does the club receive acknowledgement from the recipients of the funds? Who receives these funds? How much total money has been collected for scholarships and how much has been distributed?
5. Candidates for office: There were two very qualified persons who requested to be candidates for the Board. At that point current officers on the Board made phone calls persuading another very fine person to be a candidate. One of the original persons requesting to be a candidate spent several hundred dollars mailing out letters asking for votes. The other original candidate placed a very nice article on the Tucker site and after that posting, the site was shut down for days. A large number of members received personal letters from the president requesting that the members vote for the two candidates of HIS choice. Did the club pay for the postage? A long time member was told not to vote for a certain candidate because if that candidate was elected, only car owners could be members of the club. Who started a story like that?
6. Counting the votes: Very easy -- bring all the envelopes to the convention, open them and have several people independently count the ballots. No, a CPA firm had to be hired to count the ballots. What did that firm charge for this unnecessary exercise?
7. The club is a non-profit organization and MUST meet certain requirements; who is filing the necessary IRS forms? Why is there never a detailed accounting of club funds and business? I really do not want IRS knocking on my door asking what business was being conducted in this club.
8. It was revealed that a dedicated member contributed a considerable amount of money. I have no personal knowledge, but have been told this. Upon my return home, I received an email from the treasurer unhappy because I had learned of this donation. Richard Jones said he had also received a similar email from the treasurer.

Now you know what I learned at the convention. What did you learn?

Keith Carpenter

P.S. Now, let's see if we have freedom of speech and how much of this report on the convention will be deleted and how many days will the website be shut down?

[ebres63081]

Keith

All of the items you report I have also heard. Since becoming a car owner I can't believe how much negative sentiment follows this club. It's no wonder so many owners won't take club member calls or requests. It's really a shame because all the people I met at the convention were incredibly nice people. I really don't understand why the officers of the club are fighting so hard against new members. I have heard some awful rumors about myself!
One that came back I guess from the main guy said I was a spoiled trust fund baby! Anyone can google me and see that I was the founder and president of the largest private performance brake company in the US. Working since I was 16. No trust fund there!!!

Again the real shame is most of us only care about one thing. Preservation.... Preserve the story. Preserve the artifacts that are 60 plus years old and fading. Keep the legacy alive. Sadly I don't see that from the club management.

E

[Tucker Fan 48]

I'd have to agree with both Keith and Eric. It was great to meet so many wonderful members. There are a great many people that truly love the cars. The Tucker Family was very nice to share so much of their private history with those that attended.

I have heard many of the same stories that have been posted here. I'm shocked by most of them. I don't understand why a few current members of the Board are working so hard to spread stories about myself and others that simply aren't true. I have no desire to push anyone out of the Club. I was asked and encouraged by the President to run for a seat on the Board. ( I even have his e-mail) I was more than surprised afterward that he then wrote letters and made many phone calls to members telling them to not vote for me. I'm not upset about not winning. Larry is going to do a great job for the Club and I consider him a friend. I just think it was absurd, unethical, and classless for the President of the Club to act this way.

What probably was the most disappointing thing about the Convention was that most of the Officers and Board Members did not show up. Keep in mind that it was the Club President that picked the dates and crappy location we stayed at. Yet he didn't take the time to show up. Other Officers live within a short drive but didn't come either. It would have been nice to get some answers from them. The bylaws also require a Board Meeting at the Annual Convention. There were not enough Board members and Officers to have a quorum. This could have been solved if those not coming had simply appointed a proxy to act in their place. If the Officers and Board members don't have time to show up then please resign. There are people that will show up.

The Tucker Club is your Club. It does not belong to the Board or Officers. There is nothing in the bylaws that gives any more rights to older members than newer members. There is nothing that says a car owner has any more rights than a non car owner. This is our Club. It is not the Club of a few spoiled people that want things their own way. It is not the Club of a few people that have hi-jacked so many positions on the Board that they feel they don't have to answer to anyone.

This summer I toured the Country and saw over 30 Tuckers. I did this all on my own time. Richard Jones, Eric Breslow, and Tony Decinque all tossed a few dollars my way to help out with the cost without ever being asked. These are the kind of people that are in our Club. They go out of their way because they want to preserve the history.

I can't even being to tell you how many owners told me they are fed up with the Tucker Club and how they have been treated. None of them were asking for anything special. All they wanted was a little courtesy when it came to their interaction with the Club. With the value of the cars continuing to go up it will become harder and harder to get owners to share their cars with us for a convention. Eric Breslow, J.R. Roberts, and John Schuler all opened up their cars to the Club. If the Club continues to push these people out there soon won't be much of a Tucker Club left.

It is time for a full accounting of all the Club's money and memorabilia. It is time we knew the students names that received scholarship funds. It is time for the Club to become a Club again and not just a plaything for a chosen few. It is time to act like adults and not shut down this website yet again.

[ebres63081]

Guys. I think the we need to hear the other side of the story. I too will try and rearrange my travel plans to attend next weeks mini meet and board meeting

E

[Tucker Fan 48]

I am on the road next weekend doing more Tucker research. I will see if I can't re-route my trip in that direction. I'll let you know.