Well its not about anything but money. I dont know the exact numbers but for example Jd gets 5% rolayty for using thier name and Cat wants 25% I beleave that is numbers I was told . Thats why you see JD taking up whole sections in Walmart and Tractor Supply stores and not 1 Cat to be found. That's why JD stuff is the 3rd Mans XMas gift in the U.S. and its 600% more popular then any other tractor Co. in the farm and tractor theme products. Cat does compete in the clothes dept. LOL
The part I dont understand is that every time we show a Caterpillar that 50, 75 or 100 yrs old we are give testiment that they are well built long lasting machines and is old well established company, not to mention the great advertisment for them. But you see no suport what so ever from Cat Corp. For an example in Brooks 2 yrs ago Cat was featured tractor and we had nothing from Cat this yr. was JD and JD Corp sent out a nice trailer with tractor and display from Moline. 2008 will be our show like no other ever, when it comes to Holt,Best&Caterpillar, 40 miles from where Dan Best started,50 miles from Holt and 70 miles from C.L.Best the latter 2 being orig Cat Corp factory's, with Machines that are 100 yrs old. And guess what Cat Corp was asked months ago if they wanted to particapate in our program in any level with no supirise to me they havnt even returned any kind of response what so ever.
I have a letter here from ACMOC telling us we cant reproduce anything from Cat with out Cat Corp. permission ,and told at a meeting by ACMOC sec. that Cat Corp. wants ACMOC BoD to enforce this amoung it's members. But its strange the so called boggis illegal repo stuff to advertised in the newsletter like Jensales,Zimmerman and others who repo parts with Cat logos. Its kinda tuff to get the sheetmetal guy or seat guy they have no logo or number like the manifolds, parts books and cast parts.
So what is allowed, who is watching, and I guess when they took us under thier wing and were promised the rights of the pre 1960 stuff and move to Peoria to become part of thier museum and education dept. was all a bunch of BS

Here are some postive developments:

The City of East Peoria and Caterpillar are moving forward with plans for a museum on the site of the original Caterpillar factory. This is the #1 project on the City of East Peoria's capital plan. The thought is to ask our members to loan restored equipment to the museum on a rotataing basis so that the displays do not get stale. We will also be able to sell memberships and merchandise at the museum, thereby increasing our exposure to the general public.

Our new Executive Director, Tricia Potts is doing a great job. By mid-January, we will consolidate our offices in one location instead of having products and business files in several homes. Our mail will be delivered daily instead of being picked up once per week or so.

My sense is ACMOC's relationship with Caterpillar is better than it was even just a few years ago. ACMOC's ability to produce and sell models and merchandise depicting equipment more than 40 years old is exclusive and therefore very valuable to the club. We are working hard not to screw that up.

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

Well Christmas is now here, so I guess I'll have to plan a wish for next year's. HOW ABOUT SOME D2 TINWORK? I never have seen anyone make replacements for sale. I hope to be corrected.

Matt, put me down for a couple of the water pump covers. I believe the lower rad pipe for a 10/7C is being made by Jim Zimmerman. Have a good one and Merry Christmas.

Matt, I have only seen one on a tractor before and the lady wouldnt sell it to me. So I would be interested in two. Will they have a part number on it?

Chapter 3, thank you for posting what is actually going on and not some old man's complaints.

Karl

Jim; Im glad you are up to speed on the museum project but this is what the fundraising comettee stated Dec.7 2007 Just a couple weeks ago.

"The Museum Board says $24,000,000 is still needed for the project to proceed."
"To date, there is a $24,900,000 shortfall of funds raised/pledged. The Cat Visitors Center and Cat parking is $42,200,000 pledged by, I believe, the Caterpillar Foundation."
"Cat plans to invest at least $50,000,000 on Museum Square if the rest of the funding for the Riverfront Museum can be secured. This is a very generous offer even though many in the community feel that Cat should go ahead with their Visitors Center and the Riverfront Museum added when there are more pledges from both the private and public sector. That time could come when some of the current large capital projects are completed and are at least coming close to breaking even, the recession clouds lifted and property taxes stabilized."
"I have been told that if the Museum Square does not proceed, the city will need to reimburse Caterpillar for demolition costs and buy back the land from the parties involved???" Now that dosnt sound like a done deal to me.

As for our new Admin. director it is something we need bad along with consolidating all our records and inventory. But couple yrs ago the gave us Bernie, you might want to enlitighten us as to what he acomplished, how much he cost us and why is he not still our director LOL. Can you give us an update about what is being done to get our 200 D2 models back or at least the money from the toy seller who sold them. BTW when I stated on this BB past few yrs about stuff being scaterd all over the place and missing the BoD denied it but now you say its in several homes.

For the right to the pre 1960 models is something they gave us 10 yrs ago along with the right o reproduce parts for pre 1960 tractors, then played games with us til a deal was made with Cats junk toy maker Norscot. Maybe you can tell us how much profit we have made on the Bad Cat 22 model from Norscot, Norscott is going to eat up all the models making junk stuff that we dont make as much off that if we had it done by Specast or Ist gear selling first class limited amounts for good price so they are real collector items like the D2s&9s. Is anything being done about getting out of the Norscott contract that made without BoD approval?

Willie: Some of the questions you pose are before my time on the ACMOC Board. I would agree that the musuem is not a "done deal", but it is much closer to reality that it was just a few months ago. The State of Illinois has not come through with promised financial support, but the local effort is much better organized and thought out then before in my opinion.

I think previous members of the ACMOC board of directors did what they thought was right at the time. Recently, the board has made several decisions which have had broad support to make this a better club. In my opinion, the changes made over the past few years have been mostly positive. Our current board listens to the members and has the best interests of the club at heart.

Obviously, the 22 model program did not work out as well as hoped. As you point out, recent models have done much better financially because collectors appriciate the quality vs. the cost. We will probably make more mistakes in the future, but right now things are going pretty well in my opinion. The model committee continues to do great work.

Looking forward to the show at the Best Ranch next summer. I know that you are helping out with that effort and I am sure that it will be one of the greatest collections of old Best and Holt stuff ever assembled in one place.

Willie,like I have said in the past on this bb,that you can't please everyone all the time. You being one that can never be pleased. If you think that this club is going to make the building in Peoria happen or not you are in for a mild shock. I have found in the past that when big city goverment is involved no matter what you do it won't be enough, and that it takes forever to get done. And while we are on the subject of the things that were done in the past by the clubs bod let it alone. You sound like a old crankie women that won't leave the dead dog alone,you can't step over it without giving it one last kick. If you want to become one of the bod's then run for it, but don't seat out in the cheap seats and yell catcalls. I think that what the bod's have done in the past and are continueing with are all positive things for the club.

Jim I agree with you that the present BoD or i guess past now did a great job turning the club around from the hand that they were delt. What all these guys making smart ass remarks arn't getting is that the leaders that got us upside down with ($20,000 to 30,000 worth of missing inventory, contracts that cost us not make us money, buying a trailer for $7,000 without aproval and in deep trouble with the IRS) with this club should be held accountable, as some are still involved on day to day basis. I guess if you dont really care abot the club all that dosnt matter. Everybody knows where the toys that are missing went and some even sold them over the counter and never paid the club, they just jumped on the band wagon to accuse old Larry for having them but little did they know Larry kept a list of who took them and gave it to the BoD but they never bothered to make the toy guy pay for them they just put him on the toy comettee and let him have more. Th deal the toy guy has for selling club stuff should be put up for bid and take the best deal.
My only complaint about the present BoD is they just turned there back to all the wrong doings of past leaders, thier attitude is "its done forget it not our money it belongs to 3000 other fools", well mine is what a few did was criminal and should have to answer to the law.
As for kicking the dead horse, the horses arnt dead yet some are still in part running the club. Just think we would have to pay 1/2 the dues we do now,only if they made the thieves pay the club back. The elected members are elected tuff to do much til election time or thier term runs out but there are a few ex BoD guys that saw the easy pickin and hung around and still robbing the club. (dont let cayotes gaurd the flock).

Hey Willie,

As you know the directors on the board slowly rotate out as to bring new blood to the table. I haven't been around as long as you. As a new board member I will take the time to listen and will put my foot forward in the best direction I can. You know my cell #, but for any others it's 415-720-5936. Call me with your list.

I can tell you guys this...in the short time I have been in the loop, I have observed a group of people that care. Let's stay positive and have a good New Year.-Glen