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W
e e k l y F
e a t u r e P a g e
Links to archived past pages on lower left
The contents of the “Weekly Feature” page are provided
to you for your entertainment, amusement, and perhaps information.
Here you may find articles of interest, pictures, historical information
on the Club, or whatever shuffles to the top of the pile on our
desk. The only defined characteristic of this space is that we
will make every effort to change/replace it around the middle of
each week. Thank you for visiting, and please stop by again. Click
on any photo to see it larger in a separate window. |
Tractor Club?
Well, sure, that's what it says on the letterhead,
but as our Fearless Leader is fond of saying, "It's not just a tractor club, it's
a people club”. This weeks Feature space is dedicated to the
more social aspect of our 34 year organization. This is the "good
stuff”.
Our club has accomplished a great deal throughout our colorful
history, we've acquired land, put up buildings, entertained a lot
of people,
and had a considerable impact on our community, but those achievements
are pretty much in the material realm. Today we look at the human
side of the story.
On behalf of the MMOGTA, we are pleased to announce
the upcoming union of two of our long time members, Keith Gross and
Glenda Birchmeier,
which will take place on April 12th, 2008.
By way of introduction
to those who might not know them, Keith had roots in the Chesaning
farming community, and currently resides in
Hemlock. He is a union electrician by trade, and has served us by
countless hours of running wire and bending pipe as we electrified
the various
buildings on the showgrounds, even though he may have fallen in with
some questionable characters in the process. He has definitely "paid
his dues” you might say, as a productive part of our team.
Many know Keith as a quiet, unassuming, friendly guy, with a ready
smile,
who is always willing to help. His fellow tractor pullers see him
as a friend as well, but they mostly just see the backside of that
Farmall
H, as he runs away from the pack in a very competitive environment.
In a world where talk is cheap, horsepower rules, and traction talks,
his fellow pullers can hear this "quiet, unassuming guy" just
fine.
Glenda is a second generation member, having practically grown
up on our showgrounds with her parents, Roger and Eva, who have been
members
for decades. Along with her sisters and brother, they have all been
familiar faces at our events since they were children. Like all of
our lads, they began to gravitate toward whatever events interested
them, Glenda was always at or near the announcer's stand to watch
and take photos as her Dad, brother and sisters participated in the
tractor
pulls. Somehow, we managed to drag her into our work area, stuck
a pen in her hand, and the rest is history. She continues to be the
most
reliable, hardworking, least complaining person on the staff. For
what must be nearly 20 years, it has been our privilege to be her
co-worker
and friend. However, for many years, despite knowing the whole business
inside and out, when one of us announcers were forced to leave our
post, she would continue to keep flawless records, but steadfastly
refused to pick up that microphone. There could have been a funnel
cloud approaching the track, and there would not have been a word
of warning from Glenda. Finally, I guess we just found the limit
of her
patience, with our unexplained walk-offs, food gathering trips, and
old guy pit stops. That was the day that Glenda found her voice.
With her knowledge of the sport, her accounting office skills, and
exhausted
patience, Glenda had something to say. And she started to say it.
She continues to say it. Turns out she has opinions, too. She will
share
them when the occasion warrants. And we are all the better for it.
We all hope Keith is grateful for whatever small part we may have
played in helping Glenda find her "voice".
This brief bio
finds it's way to our Feature page this week as our own small tribute
to a couple of good friends, who have become each
other's best friends, and step forth in their own journey down life’s
path on April 12th 2008. We wish them an endless supply of happy
years together with each other and with the rest of our group. There's
even
an added bonus, by this one simple ceremony, you have cut the cost
of your annual MMOGTA dues by 50%!! 50%!! I don't care who you are,
that’s good economics for these troubled times.
From all of
us at MMOGT… the best of luck to Keith and Glenda
!
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