Here we go into another year of camping. This is the 44th
year for the Heart of America Coachmen chapter of the Family Motor Coach
Association.
Unfortunately,
I have to start this newsletter with the mention of the passing of Dolores
Mathes. She will be missed. As her health deteriorated in the past several
years she was right there at every rally without a complaint.
Obviously some
of you have recently burrowed out of your snow caves but you can look at the
bright side and think of all of the water that brought. And, if you have one,
you know whether or not your snowblower works. Also, do not forget about
checking that lawn mower! Some members, including Carol and I have avoided the
colder weather by escaping to southwest Florida. I received an email from Dan
Couch in early February informing me of a south Texas meeting of HOA members at
a resort in Mission, Texas which included the Drennons, Mathes’, Couchs and
Penningtons. Dick and Phyllis Anderson Pennington were married on January 13,
2013. Nick and Joann Backer are also wintering in Texas. Wayne and Carol Cook
made a trip to Hawaii in February and I will bet that in late February Wayne
wished they were still in Hawaii. Lucille and John Severe spent most of
February in New Zealand and Australia. I hope they had a steak on a barby! It
was the middle of the summer down there.
Our
wagonmaster assures me that we have a great bunch of rally sites for this year.
We start the year at Coachlight RV in Carthage, MO and end the year Cedar Oaks
RV Park in Grove, OK. During the year we have made room for the FMCA Family
Reunion in Gillette, WY and the Six State Rally in Sedalia, MO. A number or our
members have already stated they are going to Gillette and I think we can all
make Sedalia. Marilee and her staff will do great things this year.
While I have
been doing this newsletter for a number of years there have been times when I
needed someone to pass along information from a rally I was unable to attend.
After reading the January issue of Family Motor Coaching I think that I can add
Dan Couch to my list of replacements as he did a great job in that issue
writing about the 2012 Six State Rally in Shawnee, OK.
Every year
when I receive the January issue of Family Motor Coaching I take a look at the
information concerning towable vehicles. I find it interesting this year that
if you want a 2013 vehicle with an automatic transmission that needs no modification
you are probably going to buy a Ford or GM product or one of the two Hondas. It
seems that over the past few years many models no longer are certified by the
manufacturer as being towable without some type of modification. I do not think
that the auto manufacturers put any emphasis on this capability because even
though thousands of motor coach owners tow 4 down the numbers barely register
on the millions of vehicle sold each year in this country.
If you have
not paid your 2013 dues they were due as of January First. Elaine Sidebottom
with gladly take your money. Remember, I always have Guido as a backup for those
of you who procrastinate.
