SUN COUNTRY ROAD RUNNERS NEWSLETTER APRIL 2012 Officers: President Len Jackson 1 st Vice President Linda Rose 2 nd Vice President Hank Ulveling Secretary Marilyn Samuels Treasurer Larey Vasquez National Director Marvin Pitts Alternate National Director Tony Rose Recent Club Events Twentynine Palms Resort April 16 th to April 19 th We had a great time and we toured the 29 Palms Marine Corp Base, and had a wonderful lunch in the Mess Hall which was dedicated to the memory of a young marine who was killed. We also had a personal tour of the Keys Ranch on the Joshua Tree National Park. Lots of history there. Attending were Tony and Linda Rose, April and Skip Gibson, Dee and Dennis Foster, Joyce and Larey Vasquez, De and Marv Pitts, Jeanne and Clarence Kinsley, Joe and Jo Ann Cork, and Ralph and Dottie Brenner. Marilyn and Bill Samuels, and Al and Shirley Papera. Here is a write up of the rally written by De Pitts:
Sun Country Road Runners hit the desert at 29 Palms 10 coaches attended the 29 Palms Rally in California April 16-19, 2012 Hosts: Skip & April Gibson and Tony and Linda Rose Linda Rose. Tony & Others in attendance were: Ralph & Dottie Brenner Clarence & Jeanne Kinsley Marv & De Pitts Larey & Joyce Vasquez Joe & Jo Ann Cork Al & Shirley Papera Bill & Marilyn Samuels Guests: Dennis & Dee Foster, sister of Skip Gibson became new members
Our first evening we had a salad potluck with lots of good choices to eat. Dessert consisted of yummy carrot cupcakes made by April s friend and bourbon brownies made by Skip. Friday the group caravanned to Joshua Tree National Park after our pancake breakfast. We made a stop to see the Jumbo Rocks which looks like our Granite Dells but on steroids! We viewed the largest of the Joshua trees in the park. Ranger David
met us and gave us a tour of the Desert Queen Ranch, which is now a part of the Park. It houses many old relics of the early 1900 s. The former owner, Mr. Keys, saved everything from nearby ranches as they were abandoned because his ranch was so far out of town he felt he just might have a need for those items sometime. There was lots of stuff around like washing machines, stoves, trucks, chicken coops, etc. The ranch residents had to be very self sufficient because the nearest stores and services were 3 days away by wagon, horseback or vintage motor vehicles on trails or rutted roads.
Back at the RV Park, our hosts grilled chicken for us for dinner complete with rice and salad. After dinner we played Chase the Ace and Jeanne Kinsley won the cup of nickels. On Saturday morning we left early after a quick continental breakfast to go on a 5 hour tour of the Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center. We boarded the bus where we were met by guides Diane and Mike. They filled us with information about all the operations on the Base (which is a little city in itself.) Marines get much of their training using simulators which are more cost efficient and effective than going to the field all the time.
They have created villages like Marines might find in Afghanistan for practice of various tactics. We had lunch at the mess hall for $4.55 per person. Instead of what you might envision as the military mess halls of old, this was more like a huge Golden Corral. Nice salad bar, stations with hamburgers, pizza, Mexican food, Italian, and an American Grill where they were serving meatloaf and grilled chicken. There were lots of choices of beverages and desserts too. A former commanding general at the Base had two desert tortoises as pets. When he was transferred, he left the tortoises behind, which are now in their own desert enclosure. So, after lunch, we visited Thelma and Louise.
We ended the tour by visiting the recycling plant where they recycle everything! They melt down all the aluminum, and crush or shred all the brass and other metals. Their recycle plant is very neat and tidy. That evening the group drove to Echadas Mexican Restaurant, a former bank building, where we were seated in the vault.
If you weren t there, you missed a great Rally! Thanks Skip, April, Tony & Linda for a good time. Thank you De!
A message from Marvin Pitts, our National Director: Hello, Roadrunners! Warm weather is upon us and I know many of you are looking forward to those summer trips to visit friends, relatives and exciting places. September and the Ramble in Gillette seems a long way off. In reality, the Ramble will be upon us almost before we know it. Your RMMA Board is busy planning for all the details that must be accomplished to make the Ramble a success. The Board will make a trip to Gillette May 23-26th for a planning meeting. All chapter presidents are invited to come, see the facility and provide input. We are hoping many will join us. If chapter presidents are unable to attend, another chapter officer may be designated to take his or her place. At this point, the response we are receiving regarding attendance and volunteering for the Ramble is disappointing. So this is an appeal to ask for more of our folks to make the decision to attend and volunteer for the various needed jobs which are essential to make the Ramble a success. Some chapters have not responded to the request for volunteers at all, while others have indicated that their attendance will be minimal. I don't have to remind anyone that FMCA is a volunteer organization - without members stepping up, FMCA would not exist. I would appreciate it if you would give every consideration to signing up for the Ramble and volunteering. Gillette promises to be a great venue, lots of things to see and do, and we will have a great time! Have a wonderful summer! Marvin Future Events 2012 Rallies MAY Where: DATE: Hosts: Railway RV Park, 877 Rodeo Rd. Williams, Az. Arrive on Tues. afternoon May 15th. Depart Friday May 18th. Mary and Norm Scherer, co-hosts Shirley and Al Papera. We will continue to take reservations until May 5. Will need 10 Rigs for the 10% discount., otherwise $38 per night for 50 amp. Please contact hosts @445-4247 or co-hosts @636-9003.
The Railside RV Ranch is a nice park with level sites with crushed stone surfaces. They have a meeting room and a nice area with a fire pit if the weather is nice. It is by the railroad tracks that the Grand Canyon Railway uses so traffic is not a problem. Attractions include the Grand Canyon - take the train or drive there, Bearzona (they have 3 young bear cubs on display), scenery, and local restaurants. The park offers dog sitting if you will be gone all day. Note that the deadline to register has been extended until May 5, so please contact the hosts, Norm and Mary Scherer at 445-4247 or Al and Shirley Papera at 636-9003 to reserve a spot at this fun rally. See the full rally schedule on the next page. JUNE, JULY, AUGUST Normally we have no rallies during Summer Break SEPTEMBER 11 through 16 Rocky Mountain Ramble Area Rally at Gillete, WY We need a host to organize this trip if we have sufficient participation, or host a rally. OCTOBER Empty NOVEMBER 12, 13, and 14 Annual meeting in Cottonwood hosted by our Officers DECEMBER Empty We still have several months open. If you would like to host a rally or other SCRR event, please let Hank Ulveling know so he can include you in our schedule. Hank can be reached at 928-636-7413 or hmu38@commspeed.net. NOTE: This newsletter was created in Microsoft Word 2000 and then copied into the email. The original Word document is attached as it will usually provide better results for printing and even for viewing. If you have any announcements you would like in future newsletters or have any suggestions, please contact Dick Mason at 928-778-7992 or dick@masonclan.org. Thanks
SCRR MAY RALLY INFO Where: DATE: Hosts: Railway RV Park, 877 Rodeo Rd. Williams, Az. Arrive on Tues. afternoon May 15th. Depart Friday May 18th. Mary and Norm Scherer, co-hosts Shirley and Al Papera. We will continue to take reservations until May 5. Will need 10 Rigs for the 10% discount., otherwise $38 per night for 50 amp. Please contact hosts @445-4247 or co-hosts @636-9003. Rally Schedule May 15, Tues. 4:30 Social hour 5:30 Please bring heavy hors d'oeuvres' for dinner May 16, Wed. 7:30 coffee is on 8:30 POTLUCK breakfast 11:00 Trip to Bearizona Wildlife Park (lunch on your own) 4:00 Social Hour 5:30 Dinner by Hosts-Ice cream social following May 17, Thurs. 7:30 Coffee is on 8:00 Breakfast by Hosts Anyone going to the Canyon by train will leave around 9 am There will games, car races, etc. in camp for those not going. Dog sitting is offered at the park if you plan to be gone all day. 4:00 Social Hour 5:00-5:30 Dinner at a local Restuarant (TBD) May 18, Fri. 7:30 Coffee is on 8:00 Farewell Breakfast SAFE TRAVELS!!