Family & Friends
By Peter & Debbie Ribble, F299658
March 2011
Fun, friendship, and merriment were experienced by members of three FMCA chapters that assembled for a joint rally at the Mtn. View Holiday Trav-L-Park in Baker City, Oregon, September 16 through 19, 2010. The chapters involved were the Snake River Valley, the Panhandle Gems, and the Rim Rock Roamers. There were 38 motorhomes in attendance, along with two FMCA couples from Baker City who attended without their coaches, for a total of 79 attendees.
An 80th birthday was celebrated during the rally, as was the 35th anniversary of the Snake River Valley chapter. Andy Balogh, national vice president, Northwest Area, and his wife, Kathie, also participated in the activities.
The four-day rally allowed for many individual and group activities, which included riding the Sumpter Valley Railroad and being “robbed” by the Powder River Pistoleros; visiting the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center; touring the Baker Heritage Museum; and experiencing the annual Fall Festival in Baker City. There were dozens of other activities available for all to explore. The rally was blessed with beautiful fall weather and one evening thundershower.
Three breakfasts and dinners were provided to those in attendance. Each chapter was responsible for one breakfast, one dinner, and evening entertainment. A potluck dinner provided a wide variety of delectable culinary delights. A no-host breakfast brought the rally to an end, as six family members from the Rim Rock Roamers began a caravan trip to Branson, Missouri.
An auction was held, with Arvin Spofford, Northwest Motorhome Area Association senior vice president, serving as the auctioneer. Nearly $700 was raised as items provided by chapter members “” many of them handmade “” were sold to the highest bidders to raise money for their particular chapters.
Most of the true friendships between Family Motor Coach Association members are created at the chapter level. While many chapters work together at area rallies and international conventions, local rallies afford the opportunity to really get to know other motorhome owners in the area and share common interests. While it takes a bit more work and a facility large enough to accommodate more motorhomes, joint rallies can be an exciting opportunity. A schedule that is loose enough to accommodate change yet provides an outline of activities and events is helpful. Joint planning between the chapters can be accomplished with minimal meetings, thanks to e-mail, as long as chapters are equal partners in the event.
We encourage other chapters to consider holding a joint rally to build friendships and discover what is possible within the FMCA family. We had an absolutely fantastic time and are looking forward to possibly repeating a joint rally in 2011. At the minimum, we feel more comfortable attending a rally held by a neighboring chapter, as we now know many of the members. Those involved in this endeavor would be more than happy to share tips with chapter leaders who may be considering a joint event.
Rally On!
South Central Coaches For Christ Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
Family & Friends
By Richard Fryer, F311225
March 2011
September 28, 2010, marked the fifth anniversary of the South Central Coaches for Christ chapter, and on that date, several members of this FMCA chapter commemorated the occasion during the 37th Six-State Rally in Shreveport, Louisiana. Chapter members who attended the rally met on the afternoon of September 29, at which time Fred Kennedy, national vice president, South Central Area, presented chapter president-elect Richard Fryer and outgoing chapter president George Archer with a five-year certificate commemorating the chapter’s anniversary.
After the presentation, chapter members celebrated with cake and punch. Many of those attending were original chapter members, and they shared some memories from the first five years as a chapter. R.G. Wilson, past national president and a South Central Coaches for Christ member, shared how he and others for many years had looked for someone to start a Coaches for Christ chapter in the South Central Area. Their search ended in September 2005 at the Six-State Rally in Hutchinson, Kansas, when George Archer and Ron Wadley agreed to organize the new chapter. Since its inception, South Central Coaches for Christ has grown to 44 member families. The chapter provides the nondenominational morning devotional meetings and services at the Six-State rallies.
We welcome South Central members of all Christian denominations to join the chapter. Our yearly dues are $15. For more information, contact Bill Schipper at (405) 524-5749 or via e-mail at rvc4cwms@att.net.
Badger Chapter Helps Wisconsin Veterans
Family & Friends
By Leeann Leroy, F269999
March 2011
Members of the Badger chapter concluded the group’s 44th year as an FMCA chapter with a rally at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in Chippewa Falls, October 7 through 10, 2010.
For this rally we collected canned goods for the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) located at the Northern Wisconsin Center in Chippewa Falls. This center is currently filled with veterans who need assistance, and our contribution was much appreciated. On Saturday, October 9, chapter treasurer Sharri Loveless presented Rusty Volk, executive director of the fairgrounds, with the donated canned foods. He accepted them on behalf of the WDVA and graciously delivered them to the center.
The previous day, Mr. Volk gave us permission to have a bonfire using a pile of old lumber sitting out in an open space on the grounds. With our burn permit in hand, we lit the fire that evening. More than 60 Badger chapter members visited around the fire and sang songs under the leadership of Charlie Kiddy and Pat Williams, who are also members of the Frustrated Maestros Midwest Noteables chapter.
A tour of the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum in nearby Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on Saturday rounded out the weekend of activities. A catered dinner on Saturday evening with entertainment was followed by the presentation of plaques to our newest Badger members.
For more information about the Badger chapter, contact chapter secretary Sharri Loveless at wloveless@elknet.net.