Contacts for Alfa Potlatch 2005
| Convention Chair: | Gordy Hyde | 425-241-9307 | |
| Webmaster: | Kim Christiansen | 206-229-7725 |
2005 will mark the 40th anniversary of the incorporation of our local chapter. Our chapter membership has stabilized at 250 members who own over 500 Alfas among them. While we are not the largest AROC local chapter, we maintain a vigorous and vibrant membership base, demonstrating support in attendance at monthly meetings, nearly monthly track events, and numerous social and other community events.
Please visit the NWARC website to learn more about NWARC, or Alfa Romeo Owners Club for more information about the national club, including becoming a member.
The Alfa Romeo Owners Club has held an annual meeting since the club’s inception in 1958. In the early years the meeting was usually in Chicago in February or March, and included a speaker and a few race cars on display. In 1969 the meeting was held in April outside Chicago, and a track event, concours d’elegance, and rally were added. It was the first convention, as we now know it.
Since then, much has been learned about what appeals to convention-going Alfa owners, and how to fit it all into (usually) three and a half days. While year after year content and scheduling remain very consistent the rotating convention site assures that each organizing committee will be new to the task, and the convention atmosphere continues to be fresh and interesting.
Although the convention provides a great way for Alfa Romeo owners to get together and have fun, its official purpose is to provide a location for the yearly meeting of the board of directors and the annual meeting of members. However, a great majority of the convention schedule is dedicated to discussion of club issues and interests, social and educational activities, and of course competitive driving and non-driving events.
The typical AROC convention consists of a board meeting on Thursday, a track event on Friday, an autocross and rally (or tour) on Saturday, and a concours d’elegance on Sunday morning. The entire convention schedule is geared toward social activities, including festive dinners on Thursday and Friday night, elegant (yet relaxed) banquet with a featured celebrity speaker on Saturday night, and awards luncheon Sunday afternoon.
The convention also includes many events and activities that can be very appealing to the non-Alfa owning general public including a concours d’elegance, merchandise vendor booths, art and model exhibits, and various road and track events.
Potlatches are social occasions given by a host to establish or uphold status in society. They may mark a significant family event such as the birth of a child, or a marriage. Every event during a potlatch highlights the host's status by demonstrating wealth or expounding on inherited privileges. Potlatches include speeches, feasting, and gift-giving. Speeches are important because in them a host asserts privileges. Serving food allows the host to demonstrate generosity and wealth, as does distributing gifts.
It is likely the institution of the potlatch grew out of feasting. When a seasonal bounty of salmon or a successful whale hunt resulted in a surplus, individuals took this opportunity to feast their neighbours. On these occasions, an orator would expound to quests the extent and riches of the chief’s territory whose food they were currently enjoying.
In the early 1800s, trade with Europeans resulted in greater numbers of material goods to give away; feasting became only a part of the larger potlatch. Feasts continued to be held separately from potlatches, however, especially by families who could not afford to potlatch on appropriate occasions.
Foods served at potlatches vary seasonally, but usually include fish or seal meat, along with seal oil in which all food is dipped. While we will likely to serve salmon, in the interest of the environment (and the health of our guests), we will withhold seal meat, as well as the seal oil. The traditional good host is expected to provide more food than his guests can possibly eat. There are stories about guests becoming physically ill from over-eating. This too, we will try to avoid. Guests may be given food to take home and share with others, thus spreading the word of the host's generosity.
Available resources determine the kinds of gifts distributed and have changed over time. Before European contact, gifts might have included canoes, slaves, goat hair blankets, and food (perhaps stored in cedar boxes instead of the paper ones we presented last year). The variety and quantities of gifts increased with European trade. Photographs taken of potlatches in the late 1800’s show piles of trade blankets, sacks of flour, household goods, bracelets, and even sewing machines.
Potlatches continue to be important events in the cultural lives of native peoples on the Northwest Coast. While the food served today is as likely to be meat stew as fish, the patterns of gifting would be recognizable to coastal tribes from earlier periods. Parties, as they are now sometimes called, commemorate a significant event in an extended family's or clan's collective life. They are held today for baby showers, namings, weddings, anniversaries, special birthdays, graduations, and as memorials for the dead. Taking up to a year of planning and costing up to $10,000 for a family or clan to host a party, most of this money is spent on purchasing food and gifts for guests, who often number in the hundreds. About a quarter of this sum is usually given out in cash. Potlatches formerly lasted several days, but now occur over weekends to accommodate the work schedules of participants. Still, during a 12 to 24 hour period, hosts must provide several full meals as well as snacks and beverages. .
House wares, such as plastic laundry baskets, towels, cups and glasses, dishes, potholders, and handkerchiefs are commonly given as gifts at potlatches today. Honoured guests, such as elders or community leaders, are recognized by name and receive cash in addition to expensive gifts like baskets or other artwork, blankets, and comforters.
The significance and nature of gifting in Northwest Coast potlatches has varied through time and across cultures. Those held by commoners are mainly local, while elites often invite guests from many tribes. We, as the elite of European car-owning cultures, invite you of many and distant tribes (or chapters) to attend.
Commonly portrayed as extremely competitive, hosts may bankrupt themselves to outdo their rivals. NWARC does not intend to do this, as such competition would be considered inappropriate. We will reserve our competitiveness to time trials, rallies, auto crossing, and concours. However, rumour has it that Seattle – home of the proverbial “free Berlina” – will be raising the bar and potlatch an Alfa Romeo that some lucky convention attendee will have the opportunity to drive home.
The shapes found in the Alfa logo are very similar to the shapes used in the NW Indian artwork. By combining the two pieces of artwork Tony has supported the NW Indian culture and represented the Potlatch theme. On the right is the serpent with the man being swallowed. On the left is the cross of St George. Below the cross, the negative areas of the Alfa logo are made up of the symbols for salmon - an important symbol for the NW Indians.
