Antique and Classic Boats get a lot of attention in the Midwest.
Maybe it is because they are a little more rare where the lakes and rivers are further apart. Anyway, it is amazing how the owners of unique boats have found each other and joined together in the Heartland Classics Chapter of ACBS.
Memberships in the Chapter are mainly from Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska and many from portions of surrounding states. 
Four traditional annual events are staged in diverse locations with a few more “pop-up rendezvous” type of events to help have some meeting point near various regions of the membership territory. Annual events include:
- a Workshop/Symposium held in northeastern Oklahoma in February – this year on Feb. 17th and reported on this news site.
- Hot Springs Classic – to open the boating season, held on Lake Hamilton in southwest Arkansas – April 20-22
- Just Cruisin’ n Eatin’ is always the fun theme for Classics Cruisin’ Table Rock Lake in southwest Missouri – this year June 7-10
- Mahogany & Chrome is the name of the annual judged boat show held on Grand Lake in Oklahoma -this year September 6-9
In 2017, the Heartland Classics Chapter also held the second 370 mile Arkansas River Cruise, displayed boats in Little Rock, Arkansas, Oklahoma City Winter Boat Show, Kansas City Winter Boat Show, Greers Ferry Lake Boat Show, and participated in a boat show on Lake Lotawana, Missouri.
Beyond having a great time when member
s and guests are together, the chapter members have a sense of belonging because of the great Chapter publication. Their magazine Mahogany & Chrome published quarterly, is edited by Forrest Bryant. ACBS has recognized this magazine with the Publication Award in 2012 and 2016.
Heartland Classics Chapter was nominated for the ACBS 2017 title of Chapter of the Year. They did receive that honor at the 2017 ACBS Annual Meeting and Boat Show in Racine, Wisconsin. It has been a tradition for a contingent of 12 to 20 Heartland Members to attend each year’s Annual ACBS event. The Annual ACBS event is just always listed as one of the events on the Chapter calendar.
Slow and steady growth seems to be the goal of this chapter. Emphasis is put on extending a welcome to new members and also serving existing members with communication and the chance to share information and experiences with vintage boats and boating.