May Rally Highlights!

Transcription

1 RED RIVER ROVERS 2009 CHAPTER OFFICERS President Darrell Gilliland st Vice President Kathy Mabry nd Vice President Carol Hall rd Vice President Mike Bennett Secretary Shirley Nelson Treasurer L. E. Clark National Director Frank Newby Alternate National Director Jim McCollum Past President Snoopy Campbell Inside This Issue Area Rally Planning 3 Business Meeting Minutes 6 Craft & Tech Sessions 3 DA Award 4 DA Honorable Mention 5 Eureka Springs Memories 4 May Rally Highlights 1 Mobile RV Lube 3 RRR Celebrates 8th Ann. 2 Presidents Message 6 Volume 8, Issue 62 May Rally Highlights! June, 2009 The trip to Arkansas for the RRR rally in Eureka Springs was a lot of fun. Twenty-two couples had registered to go but two couples had to cancel. The hosts had made plans for enjoying togetherness in the club house for breakfasts and evening meals but left other times for going to different areas in town for shopping and eating noon meals at various really good restaurants. Many went outside the town over crooked roads to take in the beauty of the land or visit areas of Beaver Lake, the Thorncrown glass chapel, the Oynx Cave, the Big Cat Refuge and many other places that were shown in the pieces of literature that were in goodie bags made up from the local Visitor s Bureau. Many couples took advantage of the showmanship at the Pine Mountain Theater and the Great Passion Play two different evenings. The entertainment at both was wonderful! The 20 members who came were Bass/Lewis, Blackshears, Campbells, Cates, Clarks, Craters, Daughertys, Gillilands, Hamels, Hiltons, Holloways, Mabrys, McCollums, McGuires, Nelsons, Newbys, Schraders, Schultzs, and Wells. Gary and Linda Copeland, who visited our chapter in Tyler last year, also called to ask if they could come again. They live in Kansas and wish they were closer to join us and take advantage of all our rallies. We wish they were closer too because we do enjoy their company. Ron and Carol Hall had intended to help host this rally (and had done part of the preliminary work for it) but were unable to make the trip due to family duties they needed to take care of. Both of Carol s parents had to be given special care in a nursing home and we all know that is a dramatic time in ones life for both the parents and the children who have to take the role making decisions. Jim Bob and Pam Walker were also unable to come to the rally. The hosting team included Blackshears, Hamels, Mabrys, and Gillilands but a highlight one morning was the joining of Clarks and Hiltons cooking bacon and eggs out on the grill and serving a Bloody Mary to all who wanted one. We saw several others helping with the cooking. Judy Lewis had an emergency call and she and Grady had to leave early. Her aunt had to be care-flighted to the hospital after being hit by a car and many ribs were broken and she suffered other internal injuries. An from Judy after we returned home indicated her aunt is going to survive. Snoopy included her in a prayer in conjunction with his lesson given on Sunday morning. Personal prayers of our members went out for her as well. There was a short business meeting during the rally when a Nomination Committee was elected and include Barbara Blackshear, Dee Holloway and Gary Mabry. The election of 2010 officers will be this coming September. Also at the meeting the membership approved a supplemental budget Continued on pg 3 Make your plans to attend the Area Rally in September. Register Online Today! Visit-

2 Page 2 RRR Celebrates 8th Anniversary Where did we come from How did we get started. Who chose the name? If as a member you ve always had fun at our rallies you ve probably not had time to ask those questions or even care. None-the-less, this is the month to reminisce. I served three terms as FMCA National Vice President, South Central Area, from In those years we had about 35 chapters in the six-state area. We were trying to increase the number of chapters in our geographical locations where there were many FMCA members who were not affiliated with a chapter. While in office, Grace and I had little time, as we seemed to spend most of our time in Cincinnati, or traveling across country to conventions or rallies, and organizing the annual Area Rally. In those days we often spent as much as 30 days or more at a rally site prior to the date of the annual area event. This is only important in that after leaving office, Jim Ammenheuser, who followed me, kept asking if Grace and I would start a chapter in North Texas. We couldn t turn him down so with the help and resources of the National Office we mailed hundreds of letters to non-chapter members in zip codes that we thought might be interested, including many across the border in Oklahoma. That was our target North Texas and Southern Oklahoma. We made arrangements with Destiny RV Resort in Corinth to have the first meeting with no way of knowing how many couples would be coming for sure. During that first meeting, most time was spent getting acquainted with each other. Many were still working and arrived after 6 pm. For the Friday evening meal Grace had prepared a large roaster of soup. When the soup looked as though more Pictured are the first elected officers of the Red River Rovers was to be needed, a little water was added that was done two or three times when more arrived. We were down to the last bowl when the last couple walked in. I gave them that bowl and two spoons! The required number of names on a petition for a new chapter is twenty (20). We had only nineteen (19) families that came Friday evening that were interested. Someone met a single FMCA member living full time in the park, a minister who conducted services in the Club House on Sunday. He was invited to join us for dinner that evening. I guess we promoted the chapter well because he joined the chapter to become our twentieth member. We also watched on Sunday as he baptized a person in the park swimming pool! This first meeting turned out to be a fun time. To give more members the opportunity to become a charter member the enrollment for membership was extended through July and August. Twenty-Seven members can boast of being Charter Members. Before that rally was over, we selected a name from a list of five or six that had been proposed, approved Bylaws and some basic Standing Rules, and elected Officers. All of this occurred in June, 2001 on a Friday evening through Sunday morning. Due to prior engagements, Grace and I were unable to meet again with the new Chapter until the Six-State Rally in September. The club did returned to Destiny RV Resort for a second rally in July and then to Sherman in September at the Lazy L. RV Park. From there, most of them made their way to Sedalia, Missouri for the Six- State Area Rally. By the end of that year, thirty-eight couples had become RRR members. As of this June, 2009, ten of those Charter Members who helped start this chapter are still active. They are Grady and Judy (Lewis) Bass, Bill and Beth Elam, Claud and Carole George, Darrell and Grace Gilliland, Ray and Norma Hamel, Duane and Delores Holloway, Billy and Jeannette Idell, Gary and Kathy Mabry, Jim and Pat McCollum and Bryant and Bonnie Rowland. Our hats are off to all of you for the many hours given to help make this chapter what it is today. We look back and recall that a few of the original members never returned or re-joined. Sadly, there are many past active members who are no longer with us due to health problems, relocations, no longer own a motor home, and even death of a few. For all those who are no longer a part of our chapter, they will never be forgotten! Darrell Left to Right: Jeannette Idell - Treasurer, Billy Idell - 1st Vice President, Claud George, - Alt. National Director, Carole George - Secretary, Ginny and Ed Hillendahl - 3rd Vice President, Paul Van Steeter - President, Darrell Gilliland - National Director, and Charles Johnson - 2nd Vice President.

3 Volume 8, Issue 62 Page 3 Rally Highlights Cont. for the June Anniversary rally at Cowtown. For those of you wondering why Gary Mabry was driving so slow as you passed him on the highway going home, he could not get his coach to have enough speed to get up a hill. The Hamels and Gillilands followed him all the way to Durant where he purchased new fuel filters. He replaced the old ones in the Choctaw Casino parking lot just south of Durant. It was clear sailing for him the rest of the way to Wichita Falls. We hope everyone else made it safely to their destination. Tech Session This month s Tech Seminar will be a Question and Answer session about Computers and various computer software programs. Ron will give those interested an opportunity to submit questions beforehand. This will be a good opportunity to broaden your knowledge base in areas that may be useful to you. Craft Session Craft chairwoman Cynthia Turner sends word that instead of our usual craft session, we will have a guest speaker on Saturday, June 13 at 2:00 pm. Her name is Becky Phillips and she will be discussing the art of "decluttering". Becky is the owner of Organization Unlimited LLC. Her motto is "From chaos to calm, one space at a time". If you have any areas in your home or coach that are aggravating you due to disorganization, share them with her. This should be a fun, information gathering session for everyone. Area Rally Planning This report is written by Gary Mabry and presented to give an update to the Volunteer Host duties the chapter will undertake at the 2009 Area Rally scheduled for Shawnee in late September. Jim and June Guess, Kathy and Gary Mabry, and Frank and Jan Newby met in Shawnee for the Six- State Job Fair. Our chapter has 32 positions to fill, the most of any host chapter this year. The committee chose to take a few volunteer positions slightly beyond our quota, adding an hour or two to each individual s given work time. Our chapter will have volunteers in four areas: Security (22), Golf Carts (6), Merchandise Booth (5), and passing out the morning Newsletter (2). Golf Carts and Radios will require couples and the Merchandise Booth volunteers must include one man who can help with set-up of the booth. Golf Cart and Radio Volunteers will arrive on Saturday September 19 th and all other volunteers arrive Monday September 21. We have made arrangements for some of our members to have their coaches serviced by Mobile RV Lube when at Cowtown RV Park. A Full Service oil change includes oil and filter, lube chassis and driveline, replace fuel filters on diesel, and correct tire pressure. The cost is $ for a diesel and $110.00, plus fuel filter, for a gas coach. Two of our members have been using this service for the past two years and both will vouch for the outstanding and thorough work. Coming to your parking site to service your coach is very convenient. If you are interested in being added to this list contact Darrell Gilliland at RALLY SCHEDULE MARCH 12-15, 2009 Red Willow RV Park Chico, TX MARCH 16 19, 2009 FMCA International Convention Perry, GA APRIL 2-5, 2009 Red Willow RV Park Chico, TX MAY 12-17, 2009 Wanderlust RV Park Eureka Springs, AR JUNE 11-14, 2009 Cowtown RV Park Fort Worth, TX JULY 20-23, 2009 FMCA International Convention Bowling Green, OH SEPTEMBER 10-13, 2009 Red River Ranch RV Resort Thackerville, OK SEPTEMBER 23-26, 2009 Six-State Area Rally Shawnee, OK OCTOBER 8-11, 2009 Whispering Pines RV Resort Tyler, TX NOVEMBER 12-15, 2009 Staway Ranch RV Park Murchinson, TX DECEMBER 5, 2009 Christmas Luncheon Location To Be Announced REGISTER TODAY FOR THE SIX-STATE RALLY Mobile RV Lube It is still more than 100 days until our chapter will be host at the Area Rally in Shawnee. As of Friday May 24th there were already more than 170 registered for the event. (Only 2 Red River Rovers.) Remember, volunteers working the rally get sites with electricity, water and sewer. Members not on the Host Team will be guaranteed electric and water only if they are among the first 500 to register. To register on line go to:

4 Page 4 Eureka Springs Memories Buddy Hilton made a big mistake on the way to the rally that cost him dearly. Buddy, and those traveling with him, stopped overnight at a campground near the town of Eufaula, Oklahoma. When leaving the next morning he forgot to turn the tow vehicle engine key to the accessory position to unlock the steering wheel. The story goes that he arrived at the campground and drove back to town to have his truck washed to remove all the black stuff that smelled like rubber. It was not until the next day that either he, or his neighbor, discovered the bald spots showing through his tires. Yes, he had dragged them to the bare steel. traveling the curves of Arkansas certainly did not help. The following morning he was up early to go to Wal Mart to purchase two replacements. He thought that by leaving early no one would notice. Buddy, the rest of us did not notice but your neighbor certainly did and nominated you for the DA Award. Congratulations! Rally Meeting Room Hosts Parking A Place to Gather to Tell Stories and Wave to Everyone Who Arrived in the Park

5 Page 5 Photos Hosts Our Outdoor Cooks Thorncrown Glass Chapel DA Honorable Mention There was this gentleman who liked pets and farm animals. He had an old building on his property and spent agonizing hours dreaming and planning what to use this structure for. Over time he created a plan, redesigned this building, repaired and painted it to make it a model building..even adding canvas as a carpet to the floor. Then it was time to make the big purchase to acquire the products for which this beautiful building was designed. He bought 12 baby chickens and his wife added a pink and blue from leftover Easter chickens. One did not survive and was buried in a private service attended only by the two owners. With shotgun in hand, another was rescued from the mouth of a snake. What makes this nomination for the Dumb Ass Award motorhome related is the following: These are not just ordinary chickens, ones that a neighbor could just throw scraps over the fence to. These chickens require special care. For this trip, and to be with us here in Eureka Springs, they sought and hired a Chicken Sitter. Now you just can t find experienced Chicken Sitters in any neighborhood. He sought help from friends in their church and eventually found an experienced Chicken Sitter in a town some 25 miles away. at a cost of $15.00 a day. Now at a per-chicken cost of $1.65 a piece the total investment in this flock was $23.10 plus tax. It was heard that the Chicken Sitter cost would be over $ for this trip. Jerry Nelson, you are nominated for this month s DA Award. Pine Mountain Jamboree Snoopy gets into the Act at the Pine Mountain Jamboree.

6 Red River Rovers The Darrell or Grace Gilliland 456 Center Hill Rd Gainesville, TX Phone: Membership Chairmen Norma or Ray Hamel Phone: JUNE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Everyone is asking each other what are you going to do this summer? I ve been hearing this for more than two months now and since Grace and I don t have July and August travel plans, it makes me realize that if we don t go someplace we will be left out when it comes time for sharing stories as to where each has been. The cooler destinations in summertime that have been mentioned by our members are Northern California, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Colorado and, I think I also heard Montana. Each of these places bring back good memories of our travels in past years. Having grown up in Oregon, we made trips to the Northwest once or twice a year for as long as my parents were alive. Our last trip was in 2007 to attend an FMCA International Convention in Redmond, Oregon. Grace says she has made her last trip to Oregon, crossing those mountains on winding roads that she fears.but, she will keep the good times and beauty of the area in her memory. The RRR Chapter has had rallies in the past during July and August in New Mexico and Colorado. Santa Fe, Ruidoso and Fort Collins were the places where we had some cool, good times and enjoyed different country. I m wondering if enough of our group would like to plan another out-of-state rally during July or August in If you would be favorable to do so, advise me by and we ll look for some possibilities. For this year, I have heard different departure times for many of you. Some will already be on the road by our June Anniversary rally. To those of you who will be away from home this summer, Grace and I wish you all safe and happy travels. May General Business Meeting RED RIVER ROVERS Eureka Springs, AR. General Business Meeting -May 12, 2009 The Special meeting was called to order by chapter president Darrell Gilliland at 6:25 pm. Bill McGuire made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the March business meeting. Neal Schrader seconded the motion. Motion passed. Bill McGuire made a motion to dispense with the reading of the Treasurer's report. Ray Hamel seconded the motion. Motion passed. President Gilliland asked for nominations to elect a Nominating Committee who would present candidates for office for 2010 at our June Rally. Dee Holloway was nominated by Kathy Mabry. Gary Mabry was nominated by Ray Hamel. Barbara Blackshear was nominated by Jan Newby Bill McGuire made a motion to close nominations and elect those nominated by acclamation. Motion passed. A recommendation was made by the Executive Committee to supplement the June rally budget up to $ June is the chapter Anniversary month and the host committee has been asked to recognize that occasion. Bill McGuire made a motion to supplement the June 2009 rally committee s budget up to $ Neal Schrader seconded the motion. Motion passed. Snoopy Campbell made a motion to adjourn. Bill McGuire seconded the motion at 7:07 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Shirley Nelson Shirley Nelson, Secretary Darrell