NEWS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE - OCTOBER 2010

Well, here it is, the final newsletter of the year. Of course it closely follows the final rally of the year. This year the last rally was at the Cedar Oaks RV Park in Grove, Oklahoma and did we have fun. If you were not there you will have to read the following.
I have to mention two sad occasions. First, the passing of Barbara Ballard and second the passing of Phil Weaver. Barbara had been in declining health for some time but it is still sad to lose a friend. Phil was struck with a fatal heart attack which means we experienced an unexpected loss. Both of them were very active members and we will miss them.
Thursday: When we had our Thursday reception there were 15 of us. I know, that is not divisible by 2. Well, there were seven coaches and TJ Ballard who joined us while staying in one of the park’s cabins. TJ has sold his coach but is on the lookout for a replacement. In addition to TJ we had the Couchs, Severes, Cooks, Sidebottoms, Lynchs, Genrichs and guests Dick and Anne Marie Carlile from Hollister, MO. The Cooks, Couchs, Severes and Sidebottoms arrived from the south having spent the previous week at the Six State Rally in Shreveport, LA.
Friday we woke to another great day. Even though Wayne was whimpering, we delayed breakfast until about 10 AM and headed toward town. We stopped at Sandra’s for a healthy brunch. It is a typical local eatery where you can get either breakfast or lunch. The food is good, the portions are generous and the price is right. After that we had our business meeting, the results of which you can read about in the Minutes. After that everyone headed out to do their own thing. That evening we had a mystery dinner wherein you had to blindly make your selection from clues. If you could not solve the clues you might get soup but no spoon or crackers with no salad, or worst of all, dessert with no fork. I believe everyone had a good time and I know that no one went away hungry.

Saturday started with most of the members checking out the local flea market and garage sales. Of course, there were some things that just had to be purchased. For lunch, we had a blind drawing to match each couple with another couple with one of them responsible for choosing an eating establishment. During the afternoon, while some continued the ever-present card game, the rest of us solved the world’s problems. For the evening meal John Severe prepared the bonfire and we cooked hot dogs and smoked sausage in addition to some leftovers from earlier. For the finale Gary and Elaine Sidebottom served smores.

Sunday was our monthly get-away breakfast. TJ whipped up his famous biscuits and gravy and Lucille distributed some door prizes. That is it for 2010. Get ready for a better 2011 and our 42nd year.

New members. During the rally the Carliles decided to join us on a permanent basis. We are glad to welcome them to our chapter. As a side note, after trying full timing for several years they have decided to repurchase a home. As a result they want to downsize their RV and currently have a 35-ft, 2007 Winnebago Adventurer for sale. Interested?

2011. We are planning an active 2011. Check the rally locations and dates for next year. Included is an FMCA National Rally at Madison, WI, just a short jump north and a Six State Rally at Hutchinson, KS where we will probably be one of the host chapters. Our July rally in Topeka, Kansas is in need of a host/hosts. Ginny and Phil Weaver were originally going to host this rally. Now is the time for someone to step up and voluteer. We have 20 member coaches and only three of them are hosting a rally in 2011. I would think that one or two of the remaining 17 coaches could handle this rally. There is a lot of available help at any rally.

Dues. This is early but I wanted to remind you that dues are due as of the first of January. Most of those at the rally beat the rush by paying during the rally. Please pay on time because I do not want to have to send Guido to your house as I did on one occasion this year.