For the first time ever, the SPAAMFAA National Convention & Muster was held away from Syracuse N.Y. The Great Lakes Chapter hosted the 1978 event at world-famous Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan July 20-23. The muster program included a parade of more than 100 rigs through the Village on Saturday and Sunday. Out on the West Coast, the California Chapter hosted its first “Pump-In”. Corresponding Secretary Helene (Lee) Soderbeck took on the daunting task of converting the Society’s mailing and apparatus lists to a computer format.

After 19 years, SPAAMFAA founder Richard A. Horstmann stepped down as chairman of the Society’s Publications Committee. Canadian member Walter M. P. McCall took over as Editor of Enjine!-Enjine! –a position he would hold for the next 25 years. Horstmann had written and edited every single one of the club’s newsletters since its inception in 1958 through 1977. The Northern Illinois Chapter received its charter this year.