Yes, things have changed quite a bit in the last couple of months since I have passed along the Treasury torch.
As one of the four elected officials we had our regular staff meetings, and as an active member of the club we have our monthly club meeting, N&N, and some other more or less important events. And because I am now the Driving Events Coordinator and I have no plan to change my member activities either, all of these activities will stay about the same. But I said, change really happens, right? Well in addition to all the meetings, I just mentioned, Jim Evans and myself met every now and then to plan the action items to achieve the goals that we set out for the club. We would also discuss other staff positions and work on new ideas such as the on-line regalia and the donated parts sales program. Anyway, ever since we had visited the Stadium in Schaumburg to try it out as a Natter 'n' Noggin location, we liked the place for our little strategy sessions. Good pizza and cheap beer had a lot to do with it. Jim couldn't remember the name and always called it Stampede instead of Stadium. Don't ask me why. So our little Pow Wow's were called Stampedes and many a plan was born and kicked into life there. In the picture you can see us at our most relaxed Stampede because it was our final on December 9, 2009. And for 2010? Goodbye Stampedes!!!

Jim and Reinout having their final “Stampede Meeting

In the meantime, Ralph is up to speed and fully functioning. We sat together a couple of times to cover all the little things that you expect to go smoothly in our club. Ralph is a quick study, and the books and bank accounts are in safe hands. In the picture you see us sitting around with our computers to demonstrate Quicken, the bookkeeping program the club uses. And because the club treasury isn't all that difficult, the Minister of Finance didn't need the help of Sheik Raoul. Yes, you read that correctly. The treasurer in now called the Minister of Finance and has an assistant named Sheik Raoul. Things change, I tell you.
Please support Ralph and Sheik Raoul with their new position. Things may have changed indeed, but I am still just as

busy as your Driving Events Coordinator. Check out the new column Directions.

-- Reinout Vogt

This repair can be done with the dash remaining in the vehicle in a heated garage or in warm (not hot) weather. Here is what you need to get started: 220 grit sandpaper, an orbital sander (not a necessity, but it makes it easier), a small bottle of Elmer’s Ultimate Glue (Gorilla Glue is the same), a small tube of flexible body filler or spot putty (I used Green Magic by Swiss / Gojo but I can’t find it anymore), and one or two cans of gloss black upholstery paint (I used Rust-Oleum Specialty Vinyl Paint from Menards).
Now to get started; using the edge of the orbital sander with 220 grit paper, lightly knock down the curled up edges of the split and make it flush with the rest of the dash. Clean off the split area with air or a brush. IMPORTANT: wet the split with water. Dab a wet paper towel into the split. These types of poly glues won’t work well without a little moisture. Fill the split to about ¼ or ½ full with the glue. You may need to use some masking tape to keep the glue from running out of the split. Don’t overfill the split, the glue will expand. Now let it sit for 12-24 hours.
When it is dry, lightly sand with the edge of the orbital sander. Clean out and add more glue if necessary until the dash split is level with the rest of the dash. The poly glues dry by leaving thousands of little bubbles. Once this is sanded the bubbles are open and will require a little bit of body filler or spot putty. Let the filler dry, sand and if required repeat until smooth.
Now that the repair is complete it is time to paint the repair as well as the entire dash for color uniformity. You will notice that there is no grain pattern on the repair. I have not found one yet. However my brother said there are graining kits available, so I will be trying to track one down. If anyone does know of one, please let the club know where you got it and how it worked.
If you want to practice prior to doing your own dash, buy the used dash from the club’s classified section. This repair is NOT perfect, but it sure beats looking at the splits or gluing shag carpeting to the dash.

-- John Stasek

1. The dash is sanded and filled with poly glue