News, Past, Present and Future - July 2014

            Here we are in Branson for our July rally and the weather has turned to September. Not that anyone is complaining. A temperature of 75 degrees in July is welcome. We love the Polar Vortex. Keep it coming. When we got to the Stagecoach RV park on Tuesday we found that we had been preceded by almost everyone else. Already at the park were the Severes, Cooks, Backers, McVays, Nashs and McKinneys. Later in the day the Couchs and Sidebottoms arrived and then Tom Drennon with his new wife Marion and Jack Mathes. In April Tom had said that marriage was probably on the near horizon and that turned out to be a fact.

            Our Tuesday evening reception was in keeping with our Christmas theme in that everyone was asked to bring a Christmas-time appetizer. The conversations to catch up on the weeks prior continued into the evening. Guests of the McKinney's, Ron and Jan Carder, from Grove, Oklahoma, joined us.

            For Wednesday we skipped breakfast and went right to brunch. We motored to the College of the Ozarks Ketter Center restaurant. The College of the Ozark, nicknamed Hard Work U.  is very unique in that virtually all of the students attend tuition free. The college is the epitome of work study programs. The students perform almost all of the work to keep the college running. For example, in the restaurant all of the waiters and supervisors are students. A large amount of the foods for the restaurant come from the student-run gardens. After a great brunch most of us returned to the park while a few decided to sample the Branson shows.           There were others who restarted the card games in the club house. On Wednesday evening we had our 45th anniversary dinner and were joined by the FMCA National Vice President for the South Central Area, Jim McCabe and his wife Connie. For dinner we had sliced ham supplied by Carol Genrich and potato salad and cole slaw provided by the Couchs. In addition, the Couchs supplied wine and a set of wine glasses adorned with the FMCA and Heart of America logos. Each member was presented with one of these wine glasses. After dinner Jim McCabe complimented the chapter on

reaching the plateau of 45 years and presented our president, Lucille Severe, with a 45th anniversary certificate and a check for $300 from FMCA. In addition to his remarks concerning our chapter he gave us some Six State news. We all know that this year's Six State Rally will be held in Shreveport, Louisiana but he was asked about a possible return to North Little Rock, Arkansas. The Six State Association worked diligently with the North Little Rock officials but due to two very large construction projects, one of which involves a new bridge, the area that would be used to park coaches for a rally will be covered by a mass of construction equipment for the next 18 months. That makes it virtually impossible to have a rally in North Little Rock in 2015. Therefore, the 2015 rally will be held in Conroe, Texas, about 60 miles north of Houston. The plan for 2016 is to go to North Little Rock. Another item is that, at the Redmond rally, the FMCA Executive Board is going to recommend to the national directors that FMCA offer FMCAassist to the membership free of charge. After the presentation we dined on anniversary cake and ice cream. Dan and Marilee Couch arranged for a special cake while Jack Mathes contributed the ice cream.  

            For Thursday's breakfast we walked to Ruthie's Outpost Grill located at the park. You get your money's worth at the grill in quality and volume. After breakfast many of the members, again, took in some of the shows in Branson. Meanwhile there were others in the clubhouse playing cards. For the Friday evening meal Carol Genrich prepared a Christmas dinner of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and pecan cranberry salad. For dessert we had Death by Chocolate Trifle, white fruit cake, and pecan squares. Once again, Jim and Connie McCabe joined us.

            The Friday get-away breakfast featured huge cinnamon rolls from Ruthie's Outpost Grill. After that everyone headed home.

            August rally. We will be going back to Paradise RV Park inside the Roaring River State Park August 12-15. This is another Tuesday to Friday rally host by Carol and I. It greatly helps an RV park during the summer if we can avoid Saturday and Sunday. This especially true at Paradise RV Park because it is a membership park and many of their members come each weekend to fish at the state park. We will, once again, be hosted by the Severes at their lake house for one of our meals. Remember to help out and get those reservations into Carol Genrich as soon as possible. You do not have to call the park for reservations. Carol will take care of that.

            September rally. This rally is September 10 to 13 at the Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka, Kansas. This is a Wednesday through Saturday rally hosted by Gary and Elaine Sidebottom. They will have a great rally including a tour of the recently renovated Kansas state capitol. However, due to park requirements they need to know by August 1st. If you are attending let them know by August 1st by phone or email. If you are unsure let them have at least  a maybe. If you do not say anything they will assume you are not attending and if you are unsure and wait to notify the Sidebottoms there may not be any space available. This is a very popular RV park. The rally flyer will be available after the August rally.

            Food donations. Carol would like to thank everyone for their food donations for the Clever First Baptist Church. The photo illustrates the volume of food delivered.