Our History
Founder, Jim Judd, started The Villages Convertible Club in February 2009. A dozen convertible club owners showed up at the first meeting at the Laurel Manor Recreation Center. Residents in attendance expressed an interest in driving their convertibles to restaurants around The Villages plus possible day tours to attractions around Central Florida.
The first club trip was advertised in April 2009 as "A Gulf Coast Adventure to include a remote beach, an archeological site, riverside lunch and a nature boat ride". Reservations were made & guaranteed for 24 seats on the boat. After 14 people signed up, a notice was put in the Daily Sun about the trip. Within 10 days, the sign up increased to over 72 members. Since there was only one boat available, the boat captain agreed to do three separate runs that day.
Later in 2009 the club incorporated as a Florida non-profit corporation and also obtained Federal IRS tax exemption as a 501(C)7 club.
We owe a huge thank you to President Emeritus, Jim Judd and our former First Lady, Dee Judd for the many hours of work and dedication in starting The Villages Convertible Club! The club is still fortunate to have Jim and Dee as very active members and volunteers.
In 2013 the club reached close to 600 members. At least two day trips and a dining out event were scheduled each month. The club took its first 3-day road trip led by Jim and Dee Judd to southern Georgia. The annual party filled the largest room in Laurel Manor with over 200 attending.
On February 11, 2013 the club lost one of its most active
volunteers: our beloved dining out host, Joe Yurfest. The
great memories of dining out with Joe will keep us all
smiling.
Thank you to current President Ron Kempf and First Lady,
Dot Kempf for taking the club forward. In 2014 the club
created this website and began to streamline administrative
work through online registrations for trips.
The Villages Convertible Club continued to expand in size and had over 900 members in 2016. More volunteers stepped up to help and the number of trips and events expanded. The use of online technology expanded and a Communications Committee was formed to handle online postings, news, and emails. Meetings were moved to the Eisenhower Recreation Center.
Officers and Chairs
The First Officers and Committee Chairs:
Jim Judd - President and Treasurer
Bonni Kuner-Roth - Secretary
Diana Ravas - Trip Planning
Joe Yurfest - Dining Out
Arch Simonson - Special Events
Officers and Chairs 2011:
Jim Judd - President
Don McGinnis - Membership and Treasurer
Remi Wrona - Marketing
Bev Garlipp - Communications
Joe Yurfest - Dining Out
Arch Simonson - Special Events
Joe Apichella - 50/50 Raffle
Officers and Chairs 2012:
Ron Kempf - President
Barb Claussen - Membership and Treasurer
Carl Back - Trip Planning
Jim Judd - Secretary
Bev Garlipp - Communications
Jim Silvey - Trip Planning Assistant
Joe Yurfest - Dining Out
Arch Simonson - Special Events
Joe Apichella - 50/50 Raffle
Officers and Chairs 2013:
Ron Kempf - President
Barb Claussen - Membership and Treasurer
Carl Back - Trip Planning
Judy Berge - Secretary
Bev Garlipp - Communications
Jim Silvey - Trip Planning Assistant
Pete Beinetti - Trip Coordinator
Arch Simonson - Special Events
Joe Apichella - 50/50 Raffle
Officers and Chairs 2014:
Ron Kempf - President
Jan Brown - Secretary and Membership
Bruce Yochim - Treasurer
Pete Beinetti - Trip Planning
Bev Garlipp - Communications
Arch Simonson - Special Events
Joe Apichella - 50/50 Raffle
Officers and Chairs 2015:
Ron Kempf - President
Jan Brown - Secretary and Membership
Bruce Yochim - Treasurer
Jane-Ellen Greenwood - Trip Planning
Bev Garlipp - Communications
Arch Simpson - Special Events
Joe Apichella - 50/50 Raffle
At-Large Board Members 2015
Michael Mathews
Bill Whisenant
Tom Soder
Ken Hixon
Officers and Chairs 2016:
Ron Kempf - President
Jan Brown - Secretary and Membership
Bruce Yochim - Treasurer
Jane-Ellen Greenwood - Trip Planning
Bev Garlipp - Communications
Michael Mathews - Communications Assistant
Barbra Reynolds - Registration Assistant
George Otiz - Special Events
Joe Apichella - 50/50 Raffle
Tom Reynolds - 50/50 Raffle Assistant
Tom Soder - Dining Out
Roger and Jan Hall - Meeting Refreshments
Officers and Chairs 2017:
Bev Garlipp- President
Jan Brown - Secretary and Membership
Jim Hartman - Treasurer
Jane-Ellen Greenwood - Trip Planning
Len Stein- Communications
Michael Mathews - Webmaster
Barbra Reynolds - Registration Assistant
George Otiz - Special Events
Joe Apichella - 50/50 Raffle
Tom Reynolds - 50/50 Raffle Assistant
Tom Soder - Dining Out
Roger and Jan Hall - Meeting Refreshments
Sandy Bagby & Jane Mong- Solos Group
Steve Brown - Trip Planning Assistant
Jeff Hirsch - Points Keeper
Colleen Warren - Historian
Officers and Chairs 2018:
Bev Garlipp- President
Jan Brown - Secretary and Membership
Jim Hartman - Treasurer
Carl Chew - Trip Planning
Kathy Dolence- Communications
Janet Weese - Communications Assistant
Michael Mathews - Webmaster
Judy Gorman - Registration Assistant
George Otiz - Special Events
Joe Apichella - 50/50 Raffle
Tom Reynolds - 50/50 Raffle Assistant
Tom Soder & Anita Gallo - Dining Out
Len Stein - Lunch Host
Cheri and Ray Kent- Meeting Refreshments
Steve Brown - Trip Planning Assistant
Tom Soeder - Historian