ALPINE COACH ASSOCIATION A View from the Summit 3 rd Quarter 2017 Welcome to Fall 2017 Chapel at Callaway Gardens.come to Perry 2018 pre-rally to see! (photo by Ken Walker)
Table of Contents Alpine Coach Association ACA Information Board Members...2 Alpine Clubs...2 Board Member Articles President...3 1 st Vice President... 4-5 Treasurer...6 Secretary.....7 Membership... No report National FMCA Director...8 Rally Calendar...9 Rally Registration Forms and more... 10-18 A Little of This and That...19 1 1
ACA Information Alpine Coach Association President Tom Cook 231-920-2606 rtcook@acegroup.cc 1 st Vice President Tom Polk 530-515-8661 tomgorving@gmail.com Secretary Wilma Egg 201-370-8041 vwe734@gmail.com Treasurer Debbie Bragg 817-994-3998 dbragg@swbell.net Membership Steve Maurmann 210-563-5431 smaurman@hotmail.com National FMCA Director Tris Swan 714-357-0505 swansnest2@verizon.net Alternate FMCA Director Frank Halasz 505-263-1930 fhalasz@swcp.com Alpine Clubs ACE East Coast Peggy Bacome 731-935-2303 pjbacome@aol.com NorCal Northern California Northern Nevada Jerry Fichera 209-742-4332 jfichera@live.com Fulltimers Maureen Dahl 425-466-1445 wandern.two@verizon.net NoWACA Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana Terry McGuire 509-952-7880 terry_4444@hotmail.com SoCal Southern California Southern Nevada David Hobden 719-231-7609 davidhobden@mac.com Newsletter Editor Marla Walker 864-376-4115 Marla.walker1993@gmail.com 2 2
Alpine Coach Association President Tom Cook Presidents Message September 2017 As we move from Summer to Fall here in Michigan the weather has stayed warm. Our recent travels have taken us to Mackinaw City, Munising (Pictured Rocks) and Sault Ste Marie where we sit on the river bank and watch 1,000 foot freighters pass by as they approach the locks. We leave next for Amana, IA and Hamilton, MO on our way to the ACE Rally in Gulf Port, MS. Then on to Lajitas, Texas, October 25-29, 2017 for the ACA Pre-Rally. This will be followed by the ACA Heritage Rally, New Braunfels, TX, November 1-7, 2017. Dean and Jan Sandmire indicate we have over 50 coaches registered. We look forward to sharing our travels with everyone when we get together. See you in Texas. Tom Cook 3
Alpine Coach Association 1 st Vice-President Tom Polk Greeting from Northern California, Our NorCal/SoCal Alpine Coach Mystery Rally & Poker Run came off with-out a hitch thanks to our co-host Kelly & Judy Combs. Everyone arrived at a church parking lot in Corvallis, Oregon between noon & 4 PM on Monday July 10 th. At the catered Mystery Dinner that night everyone was given a Menu with 20 items on it. The meal was served in 4 courses with 5 items in each course. The guest could choose which items they wanted in each course. The trick was that each of the 20 items had fictitious names so they had to guess what the items were. Tuesday (7/11) Bill & Patti Figge handed out the 1 st Poker Run Envelope to each coach. The Envelope contained 1 playing card & driving instructions to the next Poker stop. The 2 nd Poker Run Envelope was given out by Paul & Katie Lisec (at my fairgrounds) Polk County Fairgrounds. The 3 rd Envelope was given out by Greg & Marcy Vaughan at a church in McMinnville, OR. The 4 th Envelope was given out by Duane & Pat Shamblin in Seaside, OR. The 5 th Envelope was given out by the Combs & Polk at Anderson RV Park in Long Beach, WA, our final destination. After a day of travel, we had a local Italian Restaurant cater a dinner at the RV Park & over $300 in cash & prizes was given away for the best Poker Hands. We announced that a surprise breakfast would be delivered to each coach in the morning. Early the following morning Wednesday (7/12) Kelly & I picked up hot & fresh Texas Donuts from a local bakery. They were so big only two donuts would fit in a donut box. We delivered a box to the door step of each coach. This was a free day to recoup or do sightseeing on your own. Thursday (7/13) started off with breakfast goodies in the hall. Then we all departed for Fort Clatsop (home of Lewis & Clark during the winter of 1805-1806) where we had a guided tour by a National Park Ranger. We served lunch to our group at the Fort before we drove over to the U.S. Coast Guard Air Base for a private tour. Back at the RV park the Devious Duo Team catered a BBQ Hamburger & Hot Dogs dinner. Friday (7/14) was breakfast goodies in the hall again. At 1 PM we all boarded a tour bus with our 1 st stop being the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, OR. Back on the bus for a short hop to the Astor Street Opry Company, a volunteer community theatre. At the theatre, we had a 4
Alpine Coach Association private catered fish & chips dinner with dessert before the play Shanghaied in Astoria. During the play the audience cheers for the good guys & hisses at the bad guys, who also gets bombarded with tons of popcorn. At the end of the play we all boarded the bus once more for the trip back to the RV park. It was great being chauffeured back to our coaches while we relaxed. Saturday (7/15) started with breakfast goodies in the hall. Activities included a visit to the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, Ilwaco, WA for Clamshell Railroad Days, 33 rd annual sand-sculpting known as SandSations on the beach in Long Beach, WA Sunday (7/16) breakfast goodies were provided in the hall & the rest of the day was sightseeing on your own. That evening we had a potluck farewell dinner. Monday (7/17) was grab and go breakfast goodies & one last chance to say our good-byes. Nancy & I are co-hosting the ACA 2018 Desert Rat Rally with Steve & Gayle Picha. We hope you will join us January 17 to 23, 2018 in Quartzsite. We have a lot of activities planned for you. Travel safe & we will see you down the road. Tom & Nancy Polk, now better known as part of The Devious Duo Team 5
Alpine Coach Association Treasurer Debbie Bragg 6
Alpine Coach Association Secretary - Wilma Egg 7
Alpine Coach Association
October 9-13 October 25-29 November 1-7 January 17-23, 2018 March 10-14, 2018 March 15-18, 2018 ACE Gulf Coast Rally Gulf Haven RV Resort Heritage Pre-rally Lajitas, Texas ACA Heritage Rally New Braunfels, TX Desert Rat Quartzite, AZ FMCA Pre-Rally Perry, Georgia Caravan on the 14 th to Perry.approx. 2 hrs. FMCA Rally Perry, Georgia Robert & Jennie Landrum jrlandrum@comcast.net Dean & Jan Sandmire1 jhsdds@earthlink.net Dean & Jan Sandmire jhsdds@earthlink.net Steve & Gayle Picha Gpicha56@hotmail.com Marla and Ken Walker Marla.walker1993@gmail.com KWalker1993@gmail.com 9
ALPINE COACH ASSOCIATION TOM COOK President September 21, 2017 Dear ACA Member, It is that time of the year for the ACA Elections, and despite the fact that we only have one candidate for each office, and no candidates for Secretary. We are providing all members an opportunity to cast a ballot for all offices including a WRITE-IN for a candidate of your choice. We truly need an individual to step-up and fill the position of Secretary. Please remember if you mail your ballot to mark the outside of your envelope with your ACA Membership Number and mail it to the address on the ballot. You may also vote by email to 759cook@gmail.com. Please include your ACA Member number. The ballots will be counted prior to the Heritage Rally in Texas, November 1-7, 2017 in New Braunfels, TX and winners will be installed at the Heritage rally. Thanks, TOM COOK, President Alpine Coach Association 759cook@gmail.com 231-369-2516 (I have included a word document and a PDF document of the ballot. If you cannot read either, let me know and I will get you another version) 10
2017 ACA Ballot (Voting is one Ballot per coach) Make a selection for each position by placing an X in the blank or write in your choice in the designated location. PRESIDENT DEAN SANDMIRE (Write-in) 2nd VICE PRESIDENT STEVE MAURMANN (Write-in) SECRETARY (Write-in) (Write-in) FMCA ALTERNATE NATIONAL DIRECTOR GEORGE WEISS (Write-in) These officers will be elected for a two-year term ending in October 2019. 11
You have the right and are encouraged to submit a ballot. Mail to: ACA Election % Tom Cook 759 Gray Rd. SE Fife Lake, MI 49633 OR You may also vote by email to 759cook@gmail.com, Please put your ACA Member Number in the subject line Envelope must be postmarked or email dated no later than OCTOBER 13, 2017.. NOTE!!! For election security, your ACA Membership Number must be listed on the back of the return envelope. Otherwise, ballot will not be counted. Upon opening, the ballots will be immediately separated from the envelopes for the privacy of the voter. 12
Desert Rat 2018 January 17-23, 2018 Quartzsite, AZ Mark your calendar now and don t miss out on one of ACA s biggest rallies of the year! We ll have our usual big tent along with catered meals nearly every night, music and dancing, gear-head session with catered lunch, games of chance/skill [w/prizes], margarita night, campfires, opportunities to go jeeping and golfing, a trip to the Desert Bar, along with plenty of time to connect with old friends and make new ones. Plus, there is lots to do in the Quartzsite area while we re there: - The Quartzsite Sports, Vacation and RV Show with over 20 acres of vendors runs. - Quartzsite Market Place Street Fair. - Tyson Wells Market Center Swap Meet. - Desert Gardens - Gem & Mineral. - QIA Pow Wow - Gems, minerals & jewelry. - Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama, 23 acres of rocks, gems and flea markets - Plus, opportunities for RV window and topper replacement, Hydra Hot maintenance, tow bar renovation, engine analysis, etc.) - Registration material will be available shortly, but mark your calendar nowrally hosts, Steve & Gayle Picha and Tom and Nancy Polk are working the details - 13
ACA DESERT RAT RALLY Quartzsite, Arizona January 17-23 2018 Return by January 10, 2018 No refunds for cancellations after January 10, 2018 ACA # FMCA # First rally? Y N Attendee(s): Last Name First Name Last Name First Name Street Address City State Zip Cell phone # Email address Cell phone # Email address # Golfers ********************************************************************************************* RALLY FEE: TOTAL $199.00 - ACA Members (1 or 2 people in coach) $249.00 - Non-ACA Members (1 or 2 people in coach) Payment for non-members must be paid by an ACA Member. $ PLEASE MAIL COMPLETED FORM, along with a check payable to ACA Rallies to: Gayle Picha 691 Bunkhouse Ct. Fernley, NV 89408 (You may email the registration to reserve a space, but money must be received within 10 days) If you have questions, you can reach us as follows: Steve Picha (barkley335@hotmail.com) Cell: 925-339-3933 Gayle Picha (gpicha56@hotmail.com) Cell: 925-447-7220 Tom Polk Cell: 530-515-8661 14
Pre-rally to Perry March 10-14, 2018 We will be finalizing the arrangements after our Gulf Shore Rally. The caravan from Pine Mountain to Perry is on the 14 th for a 1:30 arrival time. We will do a couple of house tours (Little White House and the estate of the founders of Callaway Gardens, Hills and Dales House. The highlight will be Biblical History Center which you can go to their web site or Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/biblicalhistorycenter. We will be staying at the Pine Mountain Resort and will send out the flyer in October. See Tom s note below about registering for Perry and making sure you sign up for the 30 amp service so we can be together. 15
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Heritage Pre-Rally 2017 Agenda (Re-posted just in case there is room for late registrants.) This is a laid-back, plan-as-we go rally. There are many optional activities (see attached), such as scenic drives, 4x4 trips, hiking, golfing, zip lining, exploring a ghost town, eating, drinking, etc. We will talk over options at our social hours and plan from there. We have one planned group dinner and one chili-cook-off/pot luck. Everything else is flexible. Wednesday, 25 October --- Arrival Day 5 pm Meet and Greet Social Hour Snacks provided. BYOB Thursday, 26 October --- Big Bend Day 8am Morning Social pastries and fruit Explore Big Bend National Park on your own Cross the border to Boquillas 4 pm Meet at Chisos Basin Lodge for early dinner Stay for cocktails on the patio to watch the sunset Friday, 27 October 8am-10am Morning Social pastries and fruit) Optional Activities (e.g., golf outing, scenic drive to Presidio, visit Ft Leaton historic site) 5 pm Evening Social; BYOB and snacks Saturday, 28 October --- Chili Cook-off Day 8am-10am Morning Social pastries and fruit Optional Activities (e.g., farmers market, explore Terlingua ghost town, shop the general store, have a beer on the Porch, see the beer-drinking goat) 5pm Evening Social; BYOB and snacks 5:30 Chili Cook-off/Potluck Dinner Sunday, 29 October 8am-10am Morning Social pastries and fruit Optional Activities (e.g., brunch at Starlight Theater, see more of Big Bend, explore Big Bend Ranch State Park by 4x4) 5pm Evening Social; BYOB and snacks Monday, 30 October --- Departure Day 8am-10am Pastries and Farewells 17
ALPINE COACH ASSOCIATION HERITAGE RALLY 2017 1-7 November 2017, New Braunfels, Texas Please return by 15 August 2017 (space available after that) NO REFUNDS FOR CANCELLATIONS AFTER 1 OCTOBER ACA # FMCA # Last Name First Cell Phone # Last Name First Cell Phone # Street Address City State Zip Email address Email Address Coach Model Coach Length # slides Arriving early? Y N arrival date: Staying late? Y N departure date: Golf? Y N # Golfers (Green fees will be collected at rally.) First rally? Y N Special needs? ********************************************************************************************* RALLY FEE*: $650 ACA Members (2 people in coach) $480 ACA Member (1 person in coach) $150 Each extra person in ACA Member Coach $700 Non-ACA Members (2 people in coach) $530 Non-ACA Member (1 person in coach) $200 Each extra person in Non-ACA Member Coach *Includes: 7 nights with full hookups, a welcome party, a catered lunch, an Akaushi steak dinner, a pro rodeo, 1 dinner w/live band, an evening of live entertainment, a breakfast, 2 nights of Wurstfest, and pastries and fruit every day. Please mail completed form along with a check made out to ACA Rallies to: Dean & Jan Sandmire 21410 Forest Waters Circle Garden Ridge, Texas 78266 If you have questions, you can reach us at: jhsdds@earthlink.net or At home at: 210-651-9333 Dean s cell: 210-410-8938 Jan s cell: 210-410-8212 18
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