2013 In Review-Minus Category Or Negatives

We would like to take a moment to share a few of the "Minus Category" items that the museum faced in 2013: We received no requests for any of our buses to be used for special photo, movie or commercial productions (a good revenue source). Please spread the word about the vintage and unique buses in our collection. Any interested production companies can contact the museum office and we would be happy to consider your request. Expenses continue to exceed income. Donation were down a bit in 2013. Any donations from individuals or business members are always welcome. The docent pool to work on the museum floor continues to dwindle. Many days in 2013 saw no museum members working the floor to answer visitor's questions about our buses or the museum. Even if you can only give a few hours a month or a year (as many menbers do not reside near Hershey), please contact the museum office if you can help us out. Also, more volunteers are needed for our work sessions, which will resume in March (weather permitting). We will post 2014 work session information here and on our Facebook page shortly. We are always happy to welcome new members. Although we gained some new members in 2013, the number was offset by the loss of smoe members for various reasons (lost contact, did not renew or unfortunetly have passed on). Individual or business memberships are available, as are life memberships for individuals. Please contact the museum office for information. The phone number is 717-566-7100 extension 119. The office is usually staffed on Tuesdays, however the phone messages are checked at least once or twice a day. If you get the voicemail when you call please leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as possible. Thank You for your continued support of the museum.

2013 In Review-The Positives

Welcome to 2014. We hope you all have a happy and healthy new year. Taking a moment to look back on 2013, there were several positives, among them: Between our 2 storage facilities and the display floor at the museum, all of our fleet is now stored under cover. The United Motorcoach Association granted us free annual membership as well as excellent press releases and coverage of our various projects and events in their Bus and Motorcoach News publication. The UMA also provided us with free display space at their 2013 Marketplace event in Orlando. ABC Bus, through board member Clancy Cornell supplied a display bus for our space at the Marketplace. We also received coverage in National Bus Trader and Bus and Coach News. The AACA Museum continues to include us in their advertising. The 2013 Spring Fling was successful, nearly the same overall as 2012's event. Membership renewals remain on par with 2012. We had several new business members join in 2013. We can always use more new members (individual and business). We acquired a part time paid mechanic, Jim Tay (who also works for Conestoga Tours part time) to help maintain our fleet. Also E & B Transportation and Wolf's Bus Lines continue to assist us with mechanical work on flood damaged buses. We acquired a 40 foot 1970 Flxible, a 1986 T8H-5307A (the last GM New Look ever built) and a 1993 Orion I in 2013. We sold the 1954 Flxible Visicoach (limited flood damage) and 5 buses for salvage (flood damage deemed beyond repair) which brought in $15,000 to the museum. The next post will look at some of the "Minus Category" items from 2013 and how we can hopefully create more positives in 2014.

Annual Meeting Update

By now all members in good standing should have received the mailing for this year's annual meeting which will be taking place on Saturday October 26th at the museum in Hershey. The mailing contains the agenda for the day's events with a form to mail back with your payment (or donation if you cannot attend) and the ballot for this year's election of board members. If you did not receive the mailing and you are a current member in good standing (membership paid/up to date) please contact the museum at 717-566-7100 X 119. We look forward to seeing you on October 26th.

Annual Meeting Saturday October 26th

The Museum of Bus Transportation's Annual Meeting will be taking place on Saturday October 26th at the museum. The day will begin at 9:00 AM when the museum and gift shop open for the day. Members can check in, view the buses on the display floor and visit the gift shop where you will receive a 10% discount on bus related items purchased on October 26th. At 10:00 AM the meeting portion of the day begins with our guest speaker. We are pleased to announce that this year's guest speaker will be Frank Martz Henry, Chairman of the Board of the Martz Froup, Wilkes Barre PA. Frank Martz Coach Company was founded in 1908 and is Pennsylvania's oldest bus operating company. Mr. Henry will discuss the history and growth of the company. Following Mr. Henry's presentation, the annual business meeting will take place. After the meeting concludes a delicious lunch will be served, followed by a mini flea market. The day's activities will conclude with a mid-afternoon bus trip around the Hershey area, including scheduled stops at the George Sage Memorial Annex and our new Hershey storage facility. We expect to return to the museum between 5:00 & 6:00 PM. Cost for members to attend the annual meeting is $35, which includes lunch. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on October 26th.

Gerald Squier Has Passed

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Gerald Squier, a well known bus historian and author who was also a long time member of the Motor Bus Society and more recently served as secretary on the MBS board. He was co-author (with John McKane) of the book Welcome Aboard the GM New Look Bus , a detailed history of the New Look, or Fishbowl bus. We sold many copies of this book in the gift shop when it was first released. Gerald's knowledge and efforts to record and preserve the history of bus transportation will be remembered and appreciated by many. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Gerald's family.

Less Than 3 Weeks Till Spring Fling

Spring Fling is less than 3 weeks away from today. We are looking forward to a great day, and we hope you'll plan to join us on Saturday June 1st. We will have vintage buses from both the museum's fleet and visiting buses on display in the museum parking lot. We will also have modern buses on display as well. MCI is scheduled to display a demo coach, ABC Companies is expected to bring one as well, and maybe a surprise or two. The bus memorabillia flea market will take place inside on the museum floor. We will also have food and refreshments for sale at our kitchen on the museum floor. We will also offer hourly shuttle bus service between the museum and George Sage Memorial Annex for those who wish to view the buses on display there. We'll keep you posted with updates as we get closer.

Dot Anderson Has Passed

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Dorothea Elder "Dot" Anderson at age 96. Dot, along with her late husband Orville DeWayne Anderson operated Anderson Coach and Travel based in Greenville PA. Anderson Coach and Travel started out with one school bus in 1937 and today still operates school buses, but also operates motor coach tours and charters throughout the United States and Canada. All of us at the museum extend our deepest sympathies to the Anderson family.