Hello, I am the new president of SAH. I have recently returned from Hershey, having once again been in the SAH Hospitality tent and at the Annual SAH Awards Banquet. While at the tent, those of us who engage with potential members who stop by generally get two responses. The first is one of surprised interest: "Automotive History, hmm?" (Our friends to the north in Canada, and those of Scottish persuasion end there sentence with an "eh.") For some people, learning about SAH often results in their feeling as if a new dimension in life has been opened to them and the next response is to ask what advantages result for those who become members.

In answering this question, I have noticed that those of us in the tent often point out the three SAH publications that are on display: SAH Journal, Automotive History Review, and the Membership Directory. We also explain about the Awards Banquet and perhaps a few other benefits of membership. While providing this typical response I have often felt that I was giving a very superficial answer, although under the circumstances it may be reasonably satisfactory. The wind is often blowing at Hershey; sometimes it is raining and generally persons stopping out at our tent have a sort of time limit as they are vainly attempting to visit each field of vendors. We have a limited time to spark an interest.

A more acceptable and complete answer probably would be misinterpreted. How would a prospective member respond to one of us saying, "The benefits of membership are in belonging to a group of people who share a common interest. What you get out of being a member is really up to you." That in turn, if we had sufficient time, might lead to a nice conversation about SAH membership.

I am going to take this opportunity to mention some regularly scheduled SAH happenings that members may sometimes forget as being advantages of membership. If we forget what benefits SAH membership brings, we can't easily provide attractive information to a potential member.

For some time now, SAH membership has reached a sort of plateau. In effect we are replacing members each year, but no growth has taken place. Growth in membership is not intended to be an aim in itself but as a means of carrying out our organizational purposes. Someplace along the way I picked up this quotation: "It is the function of some people to continuously pass on information, or views of the past, across the generations." Through the formation of SAH, and our membership in it, we have taken on the task of passing on automotive history. To carry out our functions, we need to sustain our present membership, and add those who share our interest.

If you have a computer, or access to one, I suggest you take a look at the SAH website. It can be found at www.autohistory.org. In fact, I suggest you check the website on a periodic basis as announcements and a calendar of events are available.

At present you will find an appeal for papers to be presented at the automotive history conference sponsored jointly by the National Association of Automobile Museums (NAAM) and SAH in Nashville, Tennessee, in April 2008. More information about the conference can be found on page 8 of the November-December Journal. The conference provides two membership opportunities, the first being aware of and attending the conference. The second is the opportunity to share your ideas and research with everyone in the presentation of a paper. Informal discussion opportunities also exist between sessions, after hours, and during luncheons.

-- Darwyn Lumley, SAH President