Quack, quack, quack. Well, that is what it has seemed like lately with all of the rain. Of course, since there are areas still without rain we should probably be glad for what we do get, even though we could use a little bit less of it. I still have my ark ready to go.
Thursday, as usual, started off with a grand reception. It was, naturally, some of that low cal stuff. You know, cup cakes and ice cream. Throughout the afternoon and evening there were many conversations as everyone caught up on the doings of others. In attendance for this month’s rally at the Peculiar Park Place RV Park were the hosts, the Couchs and Stremmings, plus the Genrichs, Nashs, Sidebottoms, Severes, Cooks, Mathes’s, Carliles and Ginny Weaver. During the reception Dan Couch, our National Director, and member of the FMCA Finance Committee, caught us up on some information he gathered at a meeting he attended at FMCA headquarters in Cincinatti earlier this month.
Friday showed up with the promise of more rain as we gathered for Dan Couch’s world famous pancakes with a side dish of ham. After breakfast most of the members went to the Armacost auto museum. During the morning the promised rain appeared and left a considerable amount behind with a promise of more in the future. After lunch Lucille Severe got the ladies of the chapter together to decide on hosting of the 2012 chapter rallies. The 2012 rallies are all currently scheduled to be all host. Personally, I find it best to just get out of the way and record the results. For dinner the Couchs and Stremmings whipped up a Sloppy Joe and cheese potato meal that was delicious and topped it off with pie and ice cream. You have to love that low cal dessert. After dinner we played several games of bingo to see who would win the American-made gag gifts supplied by each coach. The evening concluded with the ever-present card game and conversations.
Thursday, as usual, started off with a grand reception. It was, naturally, some of that low cal stuff. You know, cup cakes and ice cream. Throughout the afternoon and evening there were many conversations as everyone caught up on the doings of others. In attendance for this month’s rally at the Peculiar Park Place RV Park were the hosts, the Couchs and Stremmings, plus the Genrichs, Nashs, Sidebottoms, Severes, Cooks, Mathes’s, Carliles and Ginny Weaver. During the reception Dan Couch, our National Director, and member of the FMCA Finance Committee, caught us up on some information he gathered at a meeting he attended at FMCA headquarters in Cincinatti earlier this month. 
Friday showed up with the promise of more rain as we gathered for Dan Couch’s world famous pancakes with a side dish of ham. After breakfast most of the members went to the Armacost auto museum. During the morning the promised rain appeared and left a considerable amount behind with a promise of more in the future. After lunch Lucille Severe got the ladies of the chapter together to decide on hosting of the 2012 chapter rallies. The 2012 rallies are all currently scheduled to be all host. Personally, I find it best to just get out of the way and record the results. For dinner the Couchs and Stremmings whipped up a Sloppy Joe and cheese potato meal that was delicious and topped it off with pie and ice cream. You have to love that low cal dessert. After dinner we played several games of bingo to see who would win the American-made gag gifts supplied by each coach. The evening concluded with the ever-present card game and conversations.Saturday the weather was significantly better. As we gathered for breakfast there was no sign of rain and it had warmed up. Also, TJ Ballard joined us for the day. Unfortunately, the breakfast was not world famous but it was still great. We dined on the Missouri favorite of biscuits and gravy. After this weekend I am going to skip the half marathon and go for the full marathon as a weight reduction plan. After breakfast no one wanted to leave and before we knew it lunch was on the horizon. Since we had plenty of leftovers from the day before no one had to raid their refrigerator for food. Meanwhile the morning card game morphed into the afternoon card game and quilt production started. In the past this chapter has participated with other South Central Area chapter in producing quilts for the Six State Rally. Those quilts are then given to local hospitals, nursing homes, etc. In addition, quite a number of them are sent to the U. S. Army burn center at Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio. For dinner we had a catered fried chicken dinner with trimmings to include cheese cake. I believe that my next meal will be in June. After dinner we played a word game, courtesy of the Stremmings, that tested your knowledge of candy.
Sunday morning dawned bright and clear as we gathered for our get-away breakfast. So concluded another successful fun rally. If you were not there you missed a good time. We sure had more fun than you did.
June Rally. I hope that you have contacted Ginny Weaver and told her that you are attending the June rally in Topeka. If not, do so. You can get the relevant information about the rally from the flyer.
July Rally. As with the June rally the RV park for the July rally would like for us to make reservations as soon as possible, preferably at least a month in advance. This is understandable as any park in the Branson area normally has a lot of business in July. Therefore, please call the America’s Best Campgroud RV Park (800-671-4399) as soon as you can. Remember to tell them that you are with Heart of America.
Armacost Auto Museum. The Armacost Museum is a unique auto museum located in Grandview, Mo. It is a private car collection celebrating the art and history of the automobile. Don Armacost Jr., CEO of Peterson Manufacturing Co. in Grandview, MO says he and his brother built an antique auto museum (including a number of rare Studebakers) and shop on the plant grounds to keep their father busy. Armacost followed in his father footsteps to lead the company. The Armacost brothers own Peterson Manufacturing which is probably best known for developing the LED brake lights that you now see on many truck trailers. They also make lights for Chrysler, Harley Davidson, Caterpillar and most of the car and trailer replacement lights that are available at auto parts stores. In addition to the cars, there is an extensive collection of antique pedal cars, motorcycles, bicycles, automotive related art and a large collection of gas powered toys. The gas powered toy cars date from the 30s to the late 60s. Gas powered toy airplanes as well as other toys are also included in the collection.
The museum encompasses two floors covering 44,000 square feet. This space houses a 12,000 square foot banquet room which incorporates a vintage Skelly Gas Station, 1950s drive-in-diner stage, and a European bistro sidewalk cafe/bar.
The Armacost family that had a Studebaker dealership from 1923 to 1956 and the museum is a replica of the old Studebaker dealership. The museum is not open to the general public and is available only on an appointment basis. The museum houses what is possibly the largest private collection of cars and motorcycles in Kansas City.
