THE GOLDEN NUGGET THE NEWSLETTER OF THE GOLDEN WEST CALIFORNIA UNIT WBBCI, REGION 12, #008 http://goldenw est.w bcci.net E DIT O R: NAN CY H AR RINGTON VOLUME 42, ISSUE 5 OCTOBER 2013 Special Points of Interest: Nov 7-11, Wine Country RV Resort, Paso Robles, Installation Rally Happy Halloween Happy Thanksgiving LEAD STORY HEADLINE Nancy and I arrived at the Region 12 Rally in Lodi on Saturday morning just after breakfast. Nor Cal was the Host Unit for this years rally. The rally hall was decorated very nicely with a them of Silver among the Vines. The display of Gift Baskets to be raffled were very nice, (see pg. 4). Special thanks to Shari G. for creating the GW entry. Beautiful job. Robert H., Roger & Roberta P. and Jim & Karen W. of Golden West brought their rigs. Jack & Shirley W. also drove down for the day. Jack was looking very good and seems to be recovering steadily after suffering a heart attack in June. Region 12 Board of Trustees Meeting.: Announcements: WBCCI donated just under $50,000 to the Wonded Warrion Fund at the International Rally. Region 12 was 2nd among regions donating $9,600. Thank You all that participated in a great cause. 2014 will be the last year for the National Hobo Rally in Blythe. For 2015 Region 12 is looking at a site East of Paso Robles, 3rd week of March. Farmington New Mexico will be the site of 2015 International Rally. WBCCI is looking at a site in West Virginia for the 2016 International Rally. Region 12 Webmaster, Eric M. of Santa Clara Unit talked about updates to the region website including Google Calendar. Eric is doing a fantastic job. Check it out www.region12.wbcci.net Motions 1,2, concerning the Hobo Rally & 4 passed unanimously. The 3rd motion was with drawn after some discussion and a new Motion including donating $500 to the Wounded Warrior Fund passed unanimously. GW Business Mtg. We met at Jim & Karen W s trailer. It was decided not to continue the Unit sponsored dinners at 2014 Hobo Rally, International Rally or Region 12 Rally. A motion was made and passed for GW to continue the Rally Parking Subsidy for the 2014 year, (See 2014 Unit directory, Unit Policies, B, 2). Due to time constraints we decided to continue the meeting during the GW Lunch at Applebee's. Doug S. as well as Sal & Shirley L. meet us at the restaurant. Doug brought the ballots cast for the GW 2014 Slate of Officers. Congratulations to : Nancy H. Shari G. Richard k. Pres. Secretary Treasurer GW members thank you for volunteering once again. We would not be able to continue without your dedication and hard work.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS 14 JIM MCDOWELL 15 TOMMY DEHENNIS 19 ROBERTA PEEPLES 26 ELENA SALE 27 JUDY KLEIMAN OCTOBER ANNIVERSARIES 23 DAN & EMILY NEUMARKEL 25 JACK & SHIRLEY WHITCOMB JACK W. IS IMPROVING Jack W. suffered a major heart attack on June 19th, and had angioplasty and 4 stints put in. It took a while to get the right medication and a few trips back to the hospital for complications. He is improving all the time but feels very tired due to the medication. As he said it best, I feel like I ve been hit by a Mack truck. Jack will not be able to tow his trailer until he is cleared by his doctors and that probably won t be till the beginning of the next year. Jack and Shirley came to the region rally in Lodi for the day and he was looking real well. They wanted to visit with Airstream friends and I am sure he is probably getting stir crazy. If you would like to drop a line to Jack to wish him well his email address is: hpjack@comcast.net.
The picture above and the 2 pictures to the right are the wine baskets made by Shari G. for Golden West s contribution to the rally for a raffle which was held to raise money for a local charity. Great job Shari! Attending the rally were pictured sitting Jan Clark and standing Sandy & John Boutwell. Don Clark was also there, looking good. So nice to see old friends.
Attending Golden West s luncheon at Applesbees pictured above back row, left to right, Sal L., Shirley L., Richard K., Jim W., Karen W., Doug S., Dale H and Roger P. Front row L to R. Roberta P., Jack W., Shirley W., Roberta H. In the Picture left in the front row last Nancy H.
Golden West Unit Members Attend the Balloon Fiesta Submitted by Judy Bechthold Ken and I left home (Woodland) on Saturday morning, 9/28, and met Tom and Hedda Smithson (GWU affiliate members) for breakfast in Lodi. We traveled with them to the Orange Grove in Bakersfield for the night and then to Barstow to meet up with the Central Coast Unit for a caravan to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. After Barstow we traveled to Williams where we stayed at the first class Grand Canyon Railroad RV Park for 3 nights. Bob and Cecelia Stansbury (also GWU affiliates) joined us there and we planned a train ride into the Canyon on October 1 st. Well, we all know what happened that morning the government shut down and our train trip was cancelled! We received full refunds but were so disappointed. However, like all resourceful Airstreamers, we decided to replace it with a day trip to Sedona which was very much enjoyed. Our caravan parked at Enchanted Trails RV Park in Albuquerque the night of 10/3. The next morning we were all lined up at a nearby Camping World for the caravan, during the ABQ rush hour, to the Fiesta site. When we were finally parked, without much delay, we were thrilled to find out that we were only three rows back from the best view in the world of the balloons. There were 200 Airstreams in this prime location. Every morning we could sit at our rigs with coffee in hand and watch this amazing event. The first morning Ken and I went down to the field along with thousands and thousands of other campers and locals viewing all the balloons first hand. We were within feet of watching how each team laid out the balloons, inflated them and got them up, up and away. There were hundreds of them at a time in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some of our favorites were Darth Vador, Wells Fargo Stage Coach, the bumble bees, a fire hydrant and so many others that there would be too many to list here. The following mornings we sat at our trailer and enjoyed the mass ascension. In the evenings the balloons would stay on the ground but inflate and glow in the dark. There was also evening entertainment and the Balloon Museum was nearby. There were hundreds of vendors with food, clothing and all sorts of memorabilia. Many Region 12 members were there. Our Region 12 2 nd VP Jim Polk and his wife Lynda were hosts and did a great job. We also camped near Ross and Linda Bauer from San Joaquin Unit. I would recommend the Balloon Fiesta to everyone because we had a great adventure, fantastic parking area and saw many good friends from all around.
Here are some pictures that Judy and Ken B. sent from the Hot Air Balloon rally in Albuquerque. What amazing colors! Makes you want to pack up and off we go. Thanks Ken & Judy for the pictures
DATE PLACE HOST UNIT COMMENTS Jan 9-13, 2014 Betabel RV Park San Juan Bautista.Ca LaVerne & Eric McHenry Santa Clara Feb 3-9, 2014 March 13-17, 2014 Colorado River Fair Ground Blyth, Ca Vineyard RV Park Vacaville, Ca April 10-14, 2014 Bodega Bay RV Park 2001 Highway One, Bodega Bay, Ca94923 Region 12 Ken & Judy Bechthold Shari & Jim Gong Nancy & Dale Harrington Region 12 National Rally Golden West Golden West Buddy/RV Maintenance Rally May 15-20, 2014 Far Horizon 49er RV Park, Plymouth, Ca Laverne & Eric McHenry Santa Clara June 13-16, 2014 Coyote Lake Gilroy, Ca Dry Camping Santa Clara June 26-July 4, 2014 Gillette Gillette, Wy International Rally WBCCI International Rally Aug 8-10, 2014 Rio Viento RV Park Rio Vista, Ca Santa Clara Santa Clara September 4-8, 2014 Reno Balloon Festival Reno, Nv Bob & Cecelia Stansbury Santa Clara Oct 12-14, 2014 Mini caravan to Pahrump, Nv. Eric & LaVerne McHenry Santa Clara Oct 14-19, 2014 Lakeside Casino & RV Park Pahrump, NV Golden West Judy Bechthold Chairperson Golden West Region Rally Nov 6-10, 2014 Laguna Seca Salinas, Ca Nancy Harrington Golden West Installation Rally
Editor: Nancy Harrington 148 Donegal Way Martinez, Ca 94553