Six State Rally. This newsletter starts, not with news about a chapter rally, but with information about the chapter’s experiences at this year’s Six State Rally at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas. We were given the opportunity to be a host chapter at this year’s rally and we chose to help with the seminars. They gave us a requirement of seven coaches to do the work and the following couples volunteered during the late winter; Cooks, Severes, Sidebottoms, Careys, Carliles, Genrichs and Nashes, with the Thorntons as alternates. In addition, the Couchs and McVays are Association officers and the Bennetts were there with their Texas chapter. Due to a family wedding getting scheduled the Careys got committed elsewhere and the Thorntons filled in. On Saturday before the rally Gary Sidebottom called and told me that while he was loading his coach he twisted his knee, was unable to walk and would be seeing a doctor on Monday. Ultimately, the doctor said he was down for the count. We rendezvoused on Sunday before the rally, entered the rally grounds as a group and were parked together with full hook-ups. Joining our merry volunteer group were the Lynchs and Mathes’ who were parked with us.
Sunday afternoon we had a business meeting which you can read about in the minutes with this newsletter. The main purpose of the meeting was election of officers and to pass out info about the rally. I want to thank Anne Marie Carlile and Elaine Sidebottom for volunteering as officers. Sunday evening everyone found a local place to eat.
Monday we had a second meeting to discuss specific information about our seminar responsibilities. That evening the rally association hosted an excellent dinner for the volunteers.
Tuesday was a free day which allowed people to sample the attractions of the city of Hutchinson such as the Cosmosphere and Space Center and the Underground Salt Museum. That evening we went to the Carriage Crossing Amish restaurant for a hearty meal.
The rally officially started on Wednesday with breakfast and the vendor booths opened at noon. Therefore, everyone had an opportunity to start spending money on those RV-related products that you just have to have. During the afternoon we had a chapter margarita party at the Severe coach. The evening entertainment also started on Wednesday and that night we were treated to ventriloquist Ken Karter and the “Funny Dummy Show”. After an hour and a half the audience was still rolling in the aisles.
On Thursday we started working the seminars. The work consisted of one person to help at each seminar room and one person at each building to help direct attendees to the seminars. We assisted with 20 seminars throughout the day and logged significant work hours. These work hours all lead to a rally total that determines how much of the rally profit (if any!!!) the chapter will receive. Thursday evening’s entertainment was the Quebe (Kway-bee) Sisters Band. This band consists of three fiddle playing sisters accompanied by a guitarist and a bass player. The sisters are outstanding fiddle players and after 90 minutes of music they received a rousing standing ovation.
Friday morning we were again hard at the seminar business. This day we assisted 24 seminars which kept everyone busy from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. In addition, several of our members attended the Red Hat luncheon. Friday evening always has a patriotic theme and the evening started with a patriotic speaker, LTC Russell Smith. The entertainment was the Diamond W Wranglers who perform classic western music of the silver-screen cowboy era. Six months of the year they perform at the Empire House Theater in Wichita. After 90 minutes of music they also received a standing ovation. Overall, the entertainment was outstanding.
Saturday we assisted with two more seminars, for a grand total of 46, and then attended the Six State Association annual meeting. Dan Couch has been the Six State Treasurer for several years and has given up that responsibility so his replacement was elected during the meeting. That afternoon we went to the Combine and Auto Demolition Derby. Go ahead and snicker. Just remember, everyone does not like the same entertainment. Saturday evening we attended a final dinner. Our entertainment for the evening was Sarah Getto, a very talented blind musician. Sarah composes her music and performs all of the string, percussion and voice that she uses to accompany her selections.
Sunday was a get-away day. We all packed up and drove an arduous 20 miles east to the Spring Lake RV Resort in Halstead for our October rally.
This latest Six State Rally appeared to be very successful. There were 478 coaches present and many would say that is a small number but rallies across the country have been dealing with
“below average” numbers for three years and numbers are not the only criteria. The weather was great, the entertainment was outstanding and everyone seemed to have a good time.
“below average” numbers for three years and numbers are not the only criteria. The weather was great, the entertainment was outstanding and everyone seemed to have a good time.
October Rally. After making that 20 mile trip to the Spring Lake RV Resort we got established among the trees very close to one of the family centers which has a full kitchen and plenty of room for our group. Along the way we lost Ken and Carol Lynch as he started having electrical problems and elected to head home to get that taken care of. To take their place Ken and Ruth Ann Stremming and Ginny Weaver joined us for a total of 21 members. While you might consider it strange for us to have a chapter rally immediately after a regional rally the main advantage is that as long as we are on the road a few more days is better than getting home and turning around next week and heading out again. That afternoon Lucille Severe had a game for everyone. You had to match each NFL football team with a descriptive phrase. The winner was Dan Couch. Since our rallies always have plenty of food we started Sunday evening not with snacks but with chicken casserole, mashed potatoes, salad, French bread and apple crisp, yumee! Then, guess what – the games began.
Monday morning started with a hearty biscuit and gravy breakfast courtesy of the Carliles. Since everyone put in quite a few hours at the Six State Rally with little down time almost everyone used Monday to just relax and enjoy some time off. During the afternoon Ruth Ann Stremming hosted a craft class with Christmas ornaments as the subject. Monday evening we motored to Halstead and had dinner at the Golden Harvest restaurant. Later, as expected, the games resumed.
Tuesday dawned a little warmer with our constant Kansas breeze and an omelet and sweet roll breakfast provided by Lucille Severe. Yep, more games while the rest of us spent the morning solving the world’s problems and trying to solve John Severe’s hot water issues. The evening meal was an excellent Italian meal catered by D’Angelos from Halstead.
Wednesday morning we had our traditional get-away breakfast provided by the Nashs. While goodbyes were made we all loaded up and headed home. I would like to thank Jack Mathes for taking care of the coffee and ice tea for the entire rally.
Recipes: Several of our cooks have asked for recipes for some of the dishes served at our rallies. To address that request, in the near future you will have access to an additional page on our web site that will be titled Recipes. Catchy name don’t you think? The link to that page will be on the left side of the page below the rally info with the rest of the links. Anyone wishing to share a recipe with others has only to email said info to me and I will put it on the page
An update on Gary Sidebottom: The latest report, via Elaine, on Gary's knee is that he does have a meniscus tear in his left knee (he had the same thing repaired in his right knee in February). After x-rays, an MRI and an ultrasound, they discovered he also has a blood clot behind his left knee. It is not a dangerous one because it is not in a deep artery where it could move into his heart, lungs, or brain and cause problems. He has to be on aspirin twice a day for 2 or 3 weeks to dissolve the clot and then be off of the aspirin for a week before they can even discuss whether to do surgery. It is going to be a long month of waiting!!
An update on Gary Sidebottom: The latest report, via Elaine, on Gary's knee is that he does have a meniscus tear in his left knee (he had the same thing repaired in his right knee in February). After x-rays, an MRI and an ultrasound, they discovered he also has a blood clot behind his left knee. It is not a dangerous one because it is not in a deep artery where it could move into his heart, lungs, or brain and cause problems. He has to be on aspirin twice a day for 2 or 3 weeks to dissolve the clot and then be off of the aspirin for a week before they can even discuss whether to do surgery. It is going to be a long month of waiting!!
Dues. Remember that dues are due January 1 and are delinquent April 1. So far I have not had to send Guido to anyone’s home. However, he does have a list.
Signing off. That is all that I have for this year. I hope that everyone has a good winter and will be ready for a great 2012. The next newsletter will appear during March 2012. See you in April.
