AL MEYER ELECTED NEW ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
The membership of the Ford LM DD Alumni Association has elected Al Meyer
to lead the Association in 2009. A Board Member since 2006 Meyer was
also Association President in 2000.
At a Board of Directors Meeting held on Sunday, October 19th at the
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa the Board nominated Al Meyer,
Al Meyer Ford, Inc., Lufkin, Texas to succeed Gus Palmar, Superior Ford LM,
Inc. Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Mike Collins, Sr., Fox Valley Ford, Inc.
North Aurora, Illinois was nominated for the position of Vice President
replacing Meyer. Irving Matthews, Matthews Auto Group, Inc. Daytona
Beach, Florida was nominated for the position of Vice President
succeeding Mickey Bowers whose term was expiring. Brad Webb,
Packey Webb Ford, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois was nominated for the position
of Secretary-Treasurer succeeding Collins.
Directors John Bearce, Gus Palmar and Art Silva whose terms on the Board
were expiring were nominated to serve for a new three year term. Leon Daggs,
Hub City Ford, Inc. Crestview, Florida and Malcolm Cunningham, Malcolm
Cumnningham Ford, Inc. Decatur, Georgia were nominated as Directors
replacing Bob Beine and Mickey Bowers who terms were expiring.
By a unanimous vote of all Board Members and Past Presidents present, the
Board unanimously elected the aforementioned slate of officers which was
subsequently ratified by the membership at the general membership meeting
on Tuesday morning, October 21st. Outgoing President Gus Palmar conducted
the "gavel passing ceremony" with Al at the cocktail reception on Tuesday evening.
Al thanked Gus for his hard work and diligence throughout the year and for making
the 35th Anniversary meeting special. He also thanked his fellow dealers and Board
members for their support and vote of confidence in electing him President of the
Association for a second term. Congratulations to all.
Association Celebrates 35th Anniversary in Scottsdale
In October the DD Alumni Association celebrated its 35th Anniversary at the Hyatt
Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. Ford Vice President
Sales & Marketing Ken Czubay delivered the Key Note address focused on
"One Ford". DD Director Jamy Hall, General Manager Randy Ortiz, Ford Financial
President John Noone and FCSD President Darryl Hazel also addressed the group.
Candid photos of the event will be on the website shortly.
DD Graduate Dealer LeMon Henderson Has Died
Retired DD Dealer LeMon Henderson of Edmond, Oklahoma died on
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 after a battle with cancer. A two time
graduate of the DD Program, LeMon was extremely successful in
Edmond and Little Rock, Arkansas. He was a strong believer and
supporter of the DD Alumni Association LeMon and his wife, Thelma
were regular attendees at the Annual Alumni Meetings each year. He
was loved and admired by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife,
Thelma and son, Monty Please keep the Henderson family in your prayers.
FROM THE DESK OF PRESIDENT AL MEYER
Greetings from Lufkin, Texas home of the Texas Forestry Museum
and Al Meyer Ford Mitsubishi, Inc....that's all you need to know.
First I want to thank all of you for electing me President of the DD
Alumni Association (the only association I belong to) for a second
term. You truly honor me with your vote of confidence to lead this
great organization again.
Like the rest of you I'm glad to see 2008 behind us although it was
great to see so many of you at the 35th Anniversary Meeting in
Scottsdale in October. Thank you Gus Palmar and Linda and John
Lynch for an informative interactive meeting and a grand celebration.
2009 certainly presents one of the greatest challenges to our industry,
our economy and our country that our generation or any previous
generation has ever faced. Hopefully the new Government Administration
in Washington can assist in getting us through this period. We have all
witnessed the recent congressional hearings with the US Auto executives
and realize how fragile the US Auto Industry is. Thankfully it appears
that Ford Motor Company with its current positve cash position, dramatically
improved vehicle quality and near future new product offerings is in the best
position of the three to not only sustain itself for the long haul, but prosper.
The Dealer Development Program gave each of us an opportunity to prosper.
The strength of this Association has been to help each other continue to prosper.
It is critical now more than ever that we continue to band together this year by
planning to attend the annual Association meeting this fall.
President & CEO Alan Mulally has been invited to be the "Key Note Speaker"
and he is eager to attend. We are currently working on reserving an appropriate
date on his calendar.
Plans are being formulated for the 2009 annual meeting, however the actual
location and dates have not yet been determined. Even if you missed last year's
meeting, please plan on joining us for this extremely important meeting in 2009.
I look forward to seeing you there.
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