THE IGNITOR NEWSLETTER
VOL.13 No. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 2002

"Living the Past for Future Generations"

Leduc West Antique Society Executive:                www.leducwestantique.com

ANNUAL LWAS EXPOSITION

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

JULY 27th & 28th


FRIDAY, JULY 26th - - - Equipment check day !!!

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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - Walter Burak

Plans are well underway for our annual show in July. Hopefully, we will have better luck with the weather this year.

Christine Harrold has completely redesigned our web site with a new look.

Anyone with access to the Internet and a lot of free time can find many interesting articles through the LINK option.

Enclosed with this newsletter is the Business Plan survey summary. Although the executive members have seen the report it hasn't been discussed at a meeting. We are looking for feedback from the membership. The Business Plan Committee should be commended for the amount of work that has gone into analysing the data received. The report is well written. Thanks to all the members who submitted their surveys.

The problem of dust control on Range Road #260 has been addressed by the Leduc County. This should produce a greater variety of antique vehicles wanting to come to our show. Thanks to Councillor John Whaley for getting the support of the Council to have this done.

Since the park is now open on the weekends from 10:00 - 4:00, I hope to see many more visitors at the park throughout the year. Thanks to the members for taking turns to have this done.

Have an enjoyable summer !! We'll see you all at the show on July 27th and 28th !!!

MEMBERSHIP

We have 438 members to date. We would like to encourage more interested parties to join. In doing an analysis of the membership, we discovered that the majority of the members joined within the first 5 years. After that only limited amounts of members joined. Perhaps it's time for all of us to start campaigning again. Also there have been very few members that have changed from yearly to lifetime lately. There are still some of you that haven't signed up your spouse. I know some of you feel that because you don't have time to help at the park you can't join or because you can't help you drop your membership. Remember, our membership statement indicates you do as much or as little as you can. If you can't volunteer a lot of time don't worry about it. Your yearly donation of 10-15 dollars is a great help. If you haven't paid your membership in 2002, please send it in as soon as possible.

	Yearly		Lifetime
Single	$10	Single	$100
Family	$15	Family	$150

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PARK NEWS - Marg Burak

Several members & friends have been to the park already this year, either for work or to visit.

Our first event "Antiques in the Country" was very successful.

Expenses:			Revenue:
	Toilets	$200.00		Vendors	$480.00
	Advertising	$ 68.82		Auction	$766.00
	Concession	$ 270.38		Concession	$ 832.87
				Souvenirs	$ 13.00

Total Profit: $1,732.67

The part I enjoyed the best was the work bee on Tuesday, May 21st. I would like to thank all the members who showed up to help. Work seems to go faster & is a lot easier with more people.

Our picnic on June 2 was very enjoyable. We had the right amount of salads, casseroles, meat dishes, desserts, etc. Approximately 75 people attended. One of these years let's get over 100. The picnic is the first Sunday in June. So mark your calendar for next year so you don't forget!!!

Elmer has started on his building. It's situated just west of the Fraser building & should be up before the show. This will house Elmer's collection.

Howard's building will be going up soon. It will be located just south of the main concession area. The building will be used as a hall for the first few years. This will give us a chance to see if a hall is feasible for the society. If it is successful and when the time comes for Howard to want his building back to display his collection, then the society can put up their own hall. It could be located possibly on the west end just north of the parking lot, with easy access year round.

There are plans for another building for this fall. It will be part workshop and part display area. It will be located on the west end just south of the north gate.

If there are any members that may be interested in looking into the 3rd party policy & are considering putting up a building, contact Wally.

Norm has started on the restoration of the 2nd concession. Major repair work must be done before it can be used as a concession.

Flowers have been planted again at the entrance. Thanks to Joyce and her crew for doing this. I understand there was a new addition to the crew. She was a great asset!! These flowers should be watered every second day or so if we don't get rain. Anyone living near the site & would like the job please call Joyce at #387-4378.

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I still would like to see the siding put on the back of the bleachers, the railing put on the Modeller's building verandah, the railroad area cleaned up, etc. However, all these jobs and others require volunteers. Please contact Wally if you can assist.

In the survey some of you indicated you have never been called to help. Please call us and let us know who you are. It is very hard for us to call all 400 +++ members to get one or two workers. Therefore, we rely on the usual ones. Then other members complain that only a few people do the work. Remember, this is your club, you can get involved as much or as little as you want. However, if you don't contact us, how are we suppose to know you are interested in working. I will require many more volunteers for helping at the show. I know who the usual members are who help. Therefore, tomorrow, you all get on the phone, call me and tell me you are willing to help in some capacity at the show. Then you will feel better and you will have made my day. Here's hoping to hear from you within the next couple weeks.

We have had several groups use the park already this year. The Blacksmith group had a beautiful day for their picnic. The Rolls Royce Club came out for a tour. The Peace Lutheran church will be out on Sunday, June 16* for their picnic. The Neiman family reunion will be on June 29* & 30*. The Alberta Cattle Commission will be having their BBQ the week before the show. There are other smaller tours booked during the week. I'll need members to sign up for looking after tours on the weekends during August & September so we can keep the park open.

Come out to visit the park on the weekends. Bring your family and have a picnic !! Go on a tour!! Call if you would like to make arrangements to camp for a few days or a week !! We'll try our best to accommodate everyone. Remember, this is your park, use it!!!

RAFFLE TICKETS

Most of the raffle tickets have been turned in; however, there are a few members that wait for the phone call. I always enjoy talking to you; but, I would prefer if you could send the tickets in as soon as possible so that I don't have to phone. Maybe we can chat at the show instead. So please return the books if you haven't sold them or if you lost them just send in the money & perhaps the tickets will turn up before the show. PLEASE send the tickets back within the next day or so. Don't wait for the show !!! We'll sell them for you. Indicate on your book if you wish not to receive them anymore. The money from this raffle goes towards the mortgage on the station. We're almost there in having it paid off. You all did a super job in helping to raise this money !!!

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KOLLECTORS KORNER by Bill Smith

When collecting you have the old proverb, "one is nice, two is better and three is a collection". In some cases this holds true; but, not in collecting hammers. In the evolution of man it is debatable which came first, the hammer, the lever, or the wheel? Hammer collecting is becoming very popular in North America with command prices in the 3 or 4 digits. To really be a collector of hammers you should have at least one hundred. Unbelievable you say!! For the fun of it at a few shows I asked the general public how many different hammers did they think there were? The guesses were between 11 and 25. One really went out on the end of the limb and said maybe 40. I personally know two collectors with over 500 different hammers. One from Unity, Saskatchewan was featured two years ago on the TV show "On the Road Again".

Stone hammers were made and used by the Egyptians to chisel out rock to make the pyramids. Indians made stone hammers for fighting and killing animals. Almost every trade had special hammers for their jobs, thus, we have the term "Hammersmith" (one who works with metal with a hammer). From here we go into the various hammers for trades as a bricklayer hammer, upholster hammer, shoemakers hammer, mechanic and machinist ball peen hammers, rivetting hammer, claw hammer, tinkers hammer, and the list goes on right down to a coffin makers hammer.

These hammers came in all shapes and sizes and made from all materials known to man. Of course, brass hammers were used around explosives so they could not arc to cause the BIG BANG. Jewellers also used very small brass hammers and brass anvils for working on delicate watch parts. Iron and steel were the main ingredient for most hammers; yet, there were wooden mallets for the likes of exhibitions where you hit the lever, sent the ball up 20 feet to ring the little bell to win a prize. Glass hammers were usually made for novelty give away by companies. Small metal hammers were made for hammering saws (sawset) to 25 ton trip or hydraulic hammers run by motors or air in blacksmith shops or industry like ship building.

The big names in hammer making were Stanley, Plumb, Bell, Cheney, and Hercules to name a few. Some had funny shapes for various uses like a 7 inch wide hammer head with a fairly short handle to be used for putting heels on ladies high button boots. There were even two types of a double claw hammer - one had one set one above the other, the second type was two sets side by side, both to be used either with long or short nail pulling.

Historically speaking, we have a city of Hammer-Fest in northern Norway, we have the hammerhead - a heron like bird native to Africa and Madagascar. We have the hammer and sickle on the Communist Russian flag symbolizing the peasant and the worker. There is a hammer cloth used in covering a coachman's box. We must not forget the hammer and hammerless guns from our weapons and the good old hammerlock we used to practice on each other as kids where you twist the opponents arm behind him and then lift up till he screams in pain. It is mentioned in the bible and Norse mythology in the name of THOR, the god of war, thunder, and strength who destroyed the enemies of the gods with his magical hammer for when he threw it, it always returned to him. I think we would have a much better world if plow shares had been fashioned into hammers instead of swords. I rest my case.

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SHOW UPDATE - Marg Burak

The sun is shining. The weather hot, hot, hot!! Howard's projected 40, 000 visitors in attendance !!! That's what were hoping for July 27th & 28th.

Our show planning is getting better & easier each year. The week before the show will be one continuous work bee. Many members will be out setting up signs, tents, displays, tables, roping off parking areas, doing last minute clean-up jobs, etc. If you can assist us, please call!!!

On Friday we will run through all the equipment to make sure everything is in working order. Kathy has the entertainment booked solid beginning with the "Old Tymeaires" band ready to kick off the celebrations on Friday evening. The beer gardens will be open and a good time will be had by all!!!!

Pancake breakfast starts at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday & Sunday. Enjoy pancakes, ham, & scrambled eggs, all for only $4.00. Shirley Kennedy will be chairing the breakfast.

Activities begin at 9:00 am. Elmer Shukalek will be chairing the whole section north of the swale which will include the sawmill, lathe mill, threshing, fanning mill, grain grinding, feature tractor display, other tractor displays, car displays, exhibitor entrance etc. however, each area will require someone to look after it. Although we have some members to operate certain areas, Elmer will require a lot of assistance. If you could offer your services he would greatly appreciate it. You can contact him at # 462-1415. There will be at least 5 car groups in attendance. This will require someone to see that all the cars are parked in a certain area. Boris Heshka will be arranging the parking of the tractors. I believe, Peter & Val Straub & Howard Lengert will set up the feature tractor display with a little arm twisting & perhaps Boris can take care of it. Unless someone else would be interested in helping in this area. Julie Bodnaruk will be chairperson for the north gate.

The concessions will be operated by Anna Heinrichs & Marilyn Saramaga. They will have other operators assisting them, as well as, many volunteers are needed. Since this service is our major money making at the show, please consider helping out so things will run smoothly and long lineups will be avoided. You can contact Anna at 986-0062 or Marilyn at 470-0006. Since the Buffalo Burgers were such a hit at the Swap Meet, they are considering having them on the menu for the annual show.

The supper on Saturday will be from KFC in Leduc & possibly Devon if there is an overflow. It will consist of 2 pieces of chicken, three salads, bun, coffee or juice. The cost will be $6.00 per person. You must pre-order by 3:00 pm. it will be served by the members of the Peace Lutheran Church. Ruth assured me there will be no miscounts this year so things should run smoothly.

The covered wagon donated by the Ross family will be on display & open for you to enter & take pictures inside. We will require steps made so the public can enter safely. Another job for someone !!!!

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The corral events, sponsored by Schneider's Building Supplies, are all booked including Elvin Kopp with the sheep dogs. There will be 2-3 demonstrations each day. The Klondike Driving Association will be out with their Morgan horses. The Llama Association will be bringing their llamas to do various demonstrations as well as a static display. I could use a chairperson for these events incase there are questions to be answered & also to insure that there is water for the animals.

The kid's tractor pulls will be done at the main tractor pull track before or during intermission of the big tractor pulls. All participants should pre-register at the information booth by noon each day. Bob Hill has made a tractor and will be operating this event. He will require assistance. Larry Gitzel is sponsoring the prizes for this event. He has really neat prizes for the various age groups.

We are also hoping to set up a special course for the very young (1-3 years old) with the little John Deere tractor. All details haven't been ironed out as yet. Hopefully someone will come forward to operate this event. Perhaps even a sponsor will call to purchase some special prizes. There will be a wide variety of horse farming demonstrations from plowing to cutting grain. Larry Gitzel will be chairperson for this event. He will have a separate corral for his horses. The blacksmith members will be shoeing a horse as one of their demonstrations.

The Petting Zoo will be available both days for the many children that attend. This event is sponsored by Lucas Oil Products with a generous discount by the Thistle Hill Farm Petting Zoo.

A first this year will be a Kid's Talent Show. It will be held at the entertainment stage both days. We would like to encourage a variety of talent by individuals or groups - singing, dancing, instrumental, jokes, etc. are welcome. Kathy Abel will be chairing it. Saturday it will be from 11:00 am -12:00 pm. and Sunday from 3:00 - 4:00 pm. A sound system is available. Contact Kathy at #985-3898 if you require any special equipment. It isn't necessary to pre-register ahead of that day, except we have to work within a time frame and I would hate to see a child not being able to preform because we ran out of time. So if possible give Kathy a call to insure that you are on the list. However, all participants must let Kathy know between 10:00 -10:30 if you will be preforming for either day. Tell your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends children, etc. help us to make this event successful. This isn't a competition; however there will be some small token for each participant.

We will again have candle making, face painting, fish pond, and old fashioned races for the kids. Bud's Barrel train will be operational. We can always use extra drivers or spotters. So please call if you can work a couple hours.

Our one and only Bill Smith will be putting on a display of hammers that he wrote about in his article. He will also have a display of widgets and gadgets for you to turn, twist, pull, or poke. Whatever turns you on !!! This will be set up near Bill's "Junk Box".

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The ladies have a new exhibit this year in the way of a fashion show. This will be chaired by Danin Bodnar and Irene Hill. It will be held at the Gazebo from 11:00 - 12.30 both days. Participants will be from small dress shops around the Leduc area. There is a possibility we may have a few men's outfits. Irene tells me there will be a few surprise guests visiting from the 1930's. We hope this will be a successful event. A member of the Accordion Association will be providing the background music.

Our feature tractor this year is International Harvester. Our poster was sponsored by Parkland Farm Equipment and Thorsby Farm Centre. We hope to see many international tractors on display. I was reading the book about International tractors and discovered that this includes Titan, Farmall, etc. There's a real family of tractors involved. However, I probably can be safe to assume that Ron Morris will probably have the oldest International tractor on display with his 1907 International. However, you know how I like to be proven wrong. So if you know of someone with an older tractor have them bring it for the display. Remember all tractors are most welcome. The more the merrier. I would like to top the 186 tractors that were on display last fall. Dallas & I will be announcing the tractors for the parade.

We will not only have a collection of International tractors; but, a large collection of International trucks. I grew up on a farm & the only truck my father ever had was a 1949 International. It hasn't been restored; but, it still is in existence. Perhaps someday we will have it restored. We didn't quite make the 100 mark with cars or with trucks in the past. Perhaps this year we will go over with both. Rick McLeod will be chairperson for the trucks.

To all exhibitors, PLEASE, complete a registration form in advance. This will help you to avoid long line - up at the north entrance. Every vehicle going through the parade must pre-register. It is very important to give the history of the vehicle, such as, where you got it, who restored it, is it original or parts there of, has it been in your family for generations, etc. The spectators have requested for us to continue with this practice that we started last year. As one gentleman pointed out, "I know that the tractor is a 1939 John Deere; but, I know nothing else about it, please continue to get the additional information on all your vehicles". I am enclosing a registration form with this newsletter. If you do not use it pass it on to someone who needs it. A separate form must be completed for each vehicle. If you registered your vehicle last year, I have it on file.

We are hoping for a much greater turn out of displayed cars. This year is the 40th anniversary of the Edmonton Antique Car Club. There will be quite a number of their cars on display. As well, the Rolls Royce Club, the Show & Shine cars, the Oldsmobile Club, the Muscle cars, the Antique Motorcycles, have all expressed an interest in coming. Let's welcome these new interest groups, as we are trying to reach the next generation and encourage the generation of cars we can't afford; but, enjoy seeing. Don Bridges will be announcing the cars through the parade.

There are many more vendors that have expressed an interest in attending. This is a good money maker for us with someone else doing the work. However, we will be strictly enforcing that no modern vehicles are parked in the show area with the exception of the few motorhomes along the north wall of the Founder's Gallery.

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The rule of NO MODERN VEHICLES or DOGS within the main show area will be strictly enforced. We will also have more golf carts for transportation of the seniors & handicapped. If you wish to operate one of these taxi services, please contact me at #986-0054. You will only transport from point A to B. The cart will not be used for tearing around the show area. There are several individuals operating carts that will be giving tours upon request. I trust all members will insure that this rule is adhered to. If you see someone with a dog or a modern vehicle, please ask them in your most pleasant way to please park their vehicle or take their dog back to their vehicle. If we all act as police enforcers the public will soon get the message that we are proud of our park & we won't tolerate disobedience to our rules. This also goes to seeing anyone participating in vandalism or disposing of garbage in an unacceptable way.

Now for the BIG REQUEST !!! To all VOLUNTEERS: WE NEED YOU !!! WE APPRECIATE YOU !!! WE CAN'T OPERATE THE SHOW WITHOUT YOU !!!! Therefore, PLEASE take the time to phone #986-0054 or one of the other listed numbers to tell us where and when you can help. I could use some sponsorship. Every $100.00 helps. If you know of anyone who would like to sponsor, please call me. I need about another $1 000.00.

All volunteers, exhibitors, vendors, and entertainers will each receive a button for your admission into the gate. If your exhibit is brought ahead of time please make sure that your name is on the list or you have your button. If you are not accompanied by your exhibit and you enter the day of the show through the south gate and your name is not on the list or you do not have a button you will be required to pay. If your name is not on the list as a volunteer, you will be asked to pay. Your name must be on the list and preferably well in advance. Then, if you do volunteer you will be refunded your money by the chairperson of the place you are volunteering. Remember all volunteers, exhibitors, entertainers, vendors receive FREE admission. If their spouses are involved with the exhibit they also get free admission. However, their spouses and children over 12 not involved with the exhibit, must pay. I hope this won't create a problem. We are trying to catch those same few people that say they are going to help to avoid paying and never show up. (Meanwhile we are counting on them & all kinds of problems arise if they do not come.)

As for parking, all RV's must park their camping units in the RV Parking on the east side of the grounds. This includes all volunteers that work only their shift and all exhibitors. The exception is entertainers that have to carry instruments or change clothes, and workers that work both days all day like Perry, Elmer, Dallas, Norm, Kathy, Ray, Anna, etc..

Since our show grounds are expanding, all public parking is in the parking lot or north of the camping area, as well as, we will be using the Rodeo grounds. There will be no public parking along the west fence as this area is now required for the additional displays. Small engine exhibitors and other exhibitors that require their vehicle may park in the area west of their display, Handicapped parking is in the area north of the entertainment area. Unfortunately, all volunteer parking is in the area of other public parking unless you work both days, all day and you will park in the area by the utility building or outside the fence at the entrance with your motorhome. We apologize for this; but, we just do not have room any more.

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If you feel it is necessary for you to park nearer to the show grounds, please call me and I'll try to make other arrangements for you.

Both people movers will be operational so there shouldn't be any problem in getting to the main show area. However, we could use many more operators as well as a chairperson.

Now, I probably made you all upset; but we just have to start some place. In future years when our displays grow still bigger we may have to park farther in on the adjacent land. However, one bright side of it all, the railroad transportation should be operational for the show and you could get a train ride from the RV camping area to the station.

VOLUNTEERS !!!!
We really do need you !!!!
PLEASE call today!!!!
# 986-0054

Business Planning Committee Progress Report
Submitted by Bill Graham (Chair)

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of February 24, 2001, a Business Plan Committee (BPC) was authorized to study, evaluate, and compile a business plan to forward the objectives of the Leduc West Antique Society (LWAS).

A decision was made to canvass the sentiments of the membership by way of an opinion survey so as to be clear on the objects the members wish their Society to achieve. The business plan would then map out the means to achieve their objects.

To date, the survey conducted February and March, 2002 has been completed, the responses complied and the results reported in a Summary form which is part of this newsletter mailing. The next step is to conduct a survey of our customers at the July exposition, as well as inventory the products and services the Society now does or has undertaken to do. By the end of the summer, we will have all the data needed to formulate a business plan.

The job remaining will be to attach worker hours (volunteer and paid) to their tasks and estimate costs. We will be soliciting some professional help on this aspect of the plan; but, hope to obtain this on a volunteer basis.

The objective is to complete the plan by the end of November, 2002, at which time, it will be available to the Executive and the membership for scrutiny, debate, and action.

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