Looks like COVID is finally on the run –hope it stays that way so we can enjoy all of the things we’ve been missing
– eating out, going to movies, concerts and sporting events – but most importantly, car shows and cruise nights!!!
Let us know if you’ve been to any shows or cruise nights and especially if you’ve taken home any trophies. We’d
love to share your news and pics with the Chapter.
This year’s POCI Convention at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut is right around the corner — Sunday,
July 11, through Thursday, July 15, 2021!!! John and I will be there, as well as several other Chapter officers,
directors and members. Hopefully, we can all catch up with each other while we are there.
As you know, this year’s Chapter car show is officially scheduled for Sunday, October 3, 2021, with a rain date of
Sunday, October 10, 2021 at the Masonic Lodge on Van Houten Avenue in Clifton. We’ll be sending flyers and
sponsor letters via email and snail mail soon.
Next meeting dates are July 22 and August 19 at the Tick Tock Diner in Clifton. . PLEASE NOTE THAT JULY’S
MEETING IS ONE WEEK LATER – the regular date falls during the POCI Convention.
Dianne Lennox
President

March winds and April showers bring May flowers and Car Shows and Cruise Nights – Yay!!
Looks like we’re finally turning the corner on the whole COVID mess – let’s hope it keeps up so we can get back
to enjoying our rides!!
I’ve been seeing a number of notices for upcoming shows and cruise nights. If anyone hears of anything, please let
us know so we can share it with our members.
This year’s Chapter car show is officially scheduled for Sunday, October 3, 2021, with a rain date of Sunday,
October 10, 2021 at the Masonic Lodge on Van Houten Avenue in Clifton.
We are happy to report that this year’s POCI Convention at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut which
runs from Sunday, July 11, through Thursday, July 15, 2021 is a GO!!! Hope to see many of our members there!!
Next meeting dates are May 20 and June 17 at the Tick Tock Diner in Clifton. Since it doesn’t appear the Maple
Valley Diner will be re-opening for evening hours any time soon, we welcome suggestions for a new meeting
location.
Dianne Lennox
President

Well, we made it through 2020!! We’ve got nowhere to go but up now.
Looking forward to Car Season (aka Spring!!), especially after missing out all last year. We’d love to hear from you
with any information you get on car shows, cruise nights, or other events. Please forward it to our newsletter
editor, Bill Wolf, by mail or email it to our website mailbox. I’ve been very excited to see several local shows
already circulating dates for 2021!!
Dues are OVERDUE!!! Thanks to all who have sent in their dues for 2020; reminders are on the way to the
procrastinators.
As you know, we were unable to hold our annual “After the Holidays” this past January. We’re hoping to do
something over the summer – maybe a Chapter picnic? – to get everyone together.
This year’s Chapter car show is officially scheduled for Sunday, October 3, 2021, with a rain date of Sunday,
October 10, 2021 at the Masonic Lodge on Van Houten Avenue in Clifton. Let’s see if we can match last year’s
attendance of 90+ cars!!
Also mark your calendars for this year’s POCI Convention at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut which
runs from Sunday, July 11, through Thursday, July 15, 2021. I’m definitely keeping my fingers crossed that the
COVID pandemic lets up enough so we can pull this off.
Last but not least – all Chapter members who are also national POCI members should cast their ballots for the
2021 POCI Director Elections. Ballots were included in your February 2021 Smoke Signals. Not to overly
influence anyone, but be sure to vote for our own member, John Cappelmann, for another term as Director of the
Northeast Division.
Next meeting dates are March 18 and April 15 at the Tick Tock Diner in Clifton.
Dianne Lennox
President

Season’s Greetings, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year 2021! Hoping that 2021 sees an end to the COVID-19
pandemic and we can all get back to life as we knew it. Of course, things will never really be the same, especially
for those directly or indirectly affected by the pandemic. Hopefully, we will all come to appreciate what we have
and those around us that much more.
Unfortunately, the Chapter’s “After the Holidays” party will not take place this January. Instead, we are planning a
“Good Riddance to COVID” gathering when conditions permit. We are also looking into some outdoor socially
distant get-togethers in the Spring, again depending on the restrictions in place.
As always, the New Year reminds us that Chapter dues are due in January. Reminder – annual Chapter dues are
now $15.
Also, a quick reminder that the Chapter is on Facebook – Like our page at Garden State Pontiac Club. Feel free to
send us info to post on the page, especially pictures of your Pontiac or events you are aware of (once we can do
those again!).
Our next regular Chapter meetings are January 21 and February 18, 2021. Depending on conditions, we will try to
meet in person at the Tick Tock Diner on Route 3 in Clifton (due to the pandemic the Maple Valley Diner now
closes at 4 pm during the week). We will keep everyone posted via email and our Facebook page.
On behalf of our Chapter, we wish all our members best wishes for a very Happy and Healthy New Year. I also
want to extend the Chapter’s, and my personal, thanks to Brittany Ionescu-Wolf, for all her outstanding graphic
design work assisting our editor, Bill Wolf, with the Chapter newsletter. Brittany will be taking a break from her
duties, and yours truly will be attempting to fill in for her.
Dianne Lennox
Presiden

If you host it, they will come!!! I cannot begin to say how excited and grateful we were at the tremendous suc- cess of our 2020 Chapter car show. Mother Nature decided to cut us a big break this year, and we had almost

100 cars show up!! We are all so happy to have been able to provide a pleasant diversion from all the uncertain-
ties swirling around us.

Many, many thanks to all who participated, especially for their consideration of all the extra COVID-19 protocols
we had to follow, and congratulations to all of our show winners, especially Chapter member Stephen Sanguino
who took Best of Show this year with his 1953 Chieftain. Many, many thanks also to all club members who helped
in setting up and running the show, and, as always, special thanks to all our sponsors!!
Hoping our “roving reporter,” Mike Weiss will be able to provide one of his wonderful write-ups for our next
newsletter. Mike’s reporting services are quite in demand!!
Well, so much for the 2020 car season, or what there was of it here. As I write this, the pandemic appears to be
hurling its second wave at us here in New Jersey and the tri-state area. Normally, we would start discussing our
Chapter’s annual “post-holiday” dinner. Unfortunately, it looks like we may have to play that by ear until after the
holidays.
Our Chapter’s next regular meetings are scheduled for will be November 19 and December 17. Unfortunately,
the Maple Valley Diner has instituted new winter hours, closing at 4 pm during the week, so we will be on the
search for an alternate location. Otherwise, we may have to resort back to using Zoom again. We will keep
everyone posted.

Dianne Lennox
President