DIDSBURY – The Didsbury Car Club used its AGM on Nov. 10 as an opportunity to look back at its accomplishments as well as look forward into the future. The club is heading into its 25th year and is looking bigger and better than ever.
At the AGM, the club also elected its executive for the coming year. Re-elected as president was Gil Enns, while Dana Munn was re-elected vice-president. Also re-elected was Crystal Thorsteinson as secretary, while Lorena Akins steps into the treasurer position for the club. Returning as directors are Rick Way, Gord Lesson, Ken Campbell and Kelly Campbell. New on the board as a director this year is Wayne Maitland.
“We had a great turnout,” said Enns. “We had a lot of members come out and sign up. We went through the financials for the past year. Everything's looking really good. We're in better shape then we were last year.”
One of the biggest highlights each year for the car club is the annual Show 'N Shine, which goes in May in downtown Didsbury. This past year saw more than 800 vehicles from throughout the province and beyond.
Other highlights include the weekly Get Fueled nights, which go every Tuesday at the Reimer Plaza during the spring and summer.
“It's just a fun get-together,” he said. “People get together and show off their stuff. If the weather is poor we'll have six to eight cars. If the weather is nice we'll get 30 to 40 cars.”
The club is also well known in the community for its fundraising efforts. In June it took over from the Lions as host of the annual Soap Box Derby. In July it hosted the 2nd annual Suicide Awareness Cruze, and in September, the club hosted its third drive-in movie night on National Suicide Awareness Day, Sept. 10.
The club chose suicide awareness and prevention as its number 1 cause.
“There was a young gentleman who was in the fire department and took his life,” he said. “That hit close to home with some of the members. We decided there's not much around for that, so let's focus on that. There's a bad stigma around suicide. People don't want to talk about it.”
The club also hosted a veterans' food drive at the start of the month along with Ride For Dad and Lost Soldiers MC. The drive raised 3,600 pounds of groceries and $2,200 in cash for the veterans.
"Everything's looking really good. We're in better shape then we were last year."Gil EnnsDidsbury Car Club president
