President’s Message – July 2022

Well, one half of 2022 is in the books.  Summer is in full swing, and our thoughts turn to warm (hot!) days, visitors (lots of them), trips to the beaches, and the other beckoning attractions in our area. But don’t forget to be prepared for our unscheduled visitors; hurricanes.  Make sure to have those preparation kits and evacuation plans in place and ready in case they are needed.

We have great news to report regarding an upcoming event.  Rick and Judy Judson are hosting what promises to be an outstanding Miata outing for September.  Please see the related article contained in this month’s Ragtop Tales for details.  We also encourage other members to consider sponsoring a CFMC activity for the remaining months of 2022.  Despite the slow recovery from the Covid pandemic, our CFMC membership has sustained itself for 2022.  We currently have 40 cars in our club.  Let’s justify our Club’s reputation for fun, friendship, and fellowship by continuing to plan and conduct interesting events for the remaining months of 2022.  Please contact our Activities Chairs, John and Peggy Harris, at mx5miata16@yahoo.com with ideas for fun and exciting events for our members.

On Monday July 4, Independence Day, we celebrate the 246^th birthday of the United States of America.  In addition to celebrating July 4^th as the birth of our nation, Independence Day also reminds us of the most important documents in our Nation: the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Together, these three documents identified and made legally enforceable, the fundamental and inherent liberties of the American people.  The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. The Constitution of the United States was signed on September 17, 1787 and took effect in June 1788 when ratified by the ninth state (New Hampshire).  The original ratified Constitution did not include the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.  The Bill of Rights were introduced in Congress on June 8, 1789, but were not ratified by the States until 1791. Some other interesting facts about our Nation’s Declaration of Independence document include:

1. The actual vote for Independence was taken on July 2, 1776.
2. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, by only two delegates. Most of the 56 signers signed the Declaration of Independence document on August 2, 1776.
3. Because they had technically committed treason, the names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were not immediately made public.
4. The Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, crafted by Thomas Jefferson, is the most famous portion of the document in that it represents the philosophy and ideals we aspire to in our American form of government; that “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” American’s unalienable rights are those endowed by their Creator and are those rights that cannot be taken away, denied, or transferred to another person.

July 4^th is the perfect opportunity for all of us to read and study these most important of documents of the United States of America.  Please consider sharing these documents with others in the hope that they will understand how and why our American form of government was created by our founding fathers and passed on to all future generations.  Remember that the freedoms we enjoy have been and will continue to be purchased with the service and sacrifice of those who have served and will serve to protect and defend our freedoms in the future.  As Americans, it is also our responsibility to do our part in maintaining, protecting, and defending the freedoms we enjoy.

So, enjoy your celebration of July 4^th but take a few minutes to understand and appreciate the holiday’s true meaning and significance. I hope everyone has a wonderful July and enjoy the beautiful top-down days that it will bring.  Hope to see you all soon.  Zoom-Zoom!

Ron Carmichael