Big Bend Florida

Here are some pictures of various activities in Gillette

Sunset and storm the in the Bullpen the first night we were there


The flags were presented by Region and as a group. The entire ceremony took less then 40 minutes. Impressive and quick!

Stage, backdrop, and the WBCCI band.

The high light of the Vintage open house was the 1936 trailer which has been re-done by friends of ours from California. The 1936 trailer was found by them in a barn in Idaho, but used to be in our Unit! It was the Danahar’s trailer.

The final night’s entertainment was “Oley” and friends.

The July 4th fireworks were impressive and were shot off right next to the campground. We were close!

Big Bend Unit at International Rally in Gillette, WY

Members attending:

Wes and Allison Hurner
Winston and Carol Montague
Jay and Elna Thompson
John Thompson
Wally and Carol Welch
Jack and Sherry White
John and Judy White

Affiliate Members attending:

Charlie and Peggy Matthews
Dick and Judy Martiny
Frank and Julie Wagner
Lotus LaRocca
Dale and Janet Jensen

As you can see, we were well represented at the Gillette, Wyoming International Rally which was held the last week in June through July 4, 2010. Since neither Mac nor Sheila could go, Elna was the designated delegate with Winston the alternate. Elna carried our flag in the opening ceremony and both she and Winston attended the delegate’s meeting.

After the usual officer’s and Region President’s reports the President, VPs (1st 2nd, and 3rd ) were unanimously elected as nominated by the nominating committee. When the nominees for the Nominating Committee were read, Mark Garvey, Leo Garvey’s brother was nominated from the floor. When this happened, a roll call vote was necessitated. Big Bend voted for those on the ballet though
Garvey received 1500+ votes. (100% of Top of GA Unit’s votes.) Many units want some positive change to WBCCI and feel this is a way to show dissatisfaction with the way the club is being run.
I believe this was ineffectual and proved nothing.

In the arts and crafts show, Winston and Jay took 2nd and 3rd places respectively for their entries in the Woodturning portion. Congratulations, guys!

Region 3’s new President Rick Bell is the only top officer (no 1st or 2nd VP). Winston and Jay are now Region Caravan Committee Co-chairmen. Many of us attended a lovely luncheon at a local restaurant. Big Bend was awarded a Superior rating and ribbon for its activities during John Duncan’s administration.

We attended workshops and seminars on officer training, unit caravans, maintenance of our rigs,
International caravans, and conducted one of our own for people signed up for and those interested
In joining the SW Adventure Caravan run by the Montagues and Thompsons. We joined the Host-to-Host Group and got to meet with town folks from Gillette.

Later in the week 31 of us members, affiliate members and guests enjoyed a Big Bend Unit luncheon at a popular local restaurant. We may have a new affiliate as a result. We’ll wait to introduce them when we get their application. Lynne and Julian Clements, Carol and Rick Bell, Anne and Don Shaffer, Martha and Harold Kerns were our guests as well as the Angelini’s from Massachussetts.
We also staged a cookout one evening for the unit and several happy hours.

On the final night, Jay and our International President Tom Collier became part of the evening’s entertainment when they were called on stage by a strange man from Norway (Ollie) who turned out to be none other than our own Wes Hurner of A&W Designs (a member of Big Bend). Funny show! Good job, all!

At the IBT meeting on July 5, the new President appointed a committee to study the WBCCI constitution and a committee to study a possible Thor motor home/Airstream model. Many seem to feel that we are losing members because they no longer have the option of buying a new Airstream
Motor Home. If they choose to remain motor home owners, they will have to find one which is not Airstream if WBCCi does not change. A motor home made by Thor is under consideration.

As you can see, we had a very busy time at the Gillette International Rally. We feel it was the most organized and best run rally we have ever attended. If they were all this good, we would encourage
more of you take part. We saw and enjoyed being with so many of our friends from all over the US. Many of them we have met on caravans we have taken over the years, but we also met new people we look forward to seeing again. We had full hookups and the International officers were camped out with us, so no favoritism in sites. There was a shuttle running every 10/15 minutes to the buildings from the campground, therefore no one was stuck, if you were separated from your spouse.

A great time was had by all of us who went to Gillette and we look forward to next year in Illinois!

First Vice President, Sheila Skipper has proposed the following Rally sites for next year. Please give her your feedback on these.

PROPOSED

2010 – 2011 RALLY SITES

December 11, 2010 Christmas Dinner @ Marie Livingston Estimate $19.95 – $29.95
Elks Club Estimate: $20.00

January , 2011 IBT Rally

January 17, 2011 Location: TBA
Hosts: Chipley Crew

February 11 – 13, 2011 Suwannee River Hideaway (On our way to Fla. State Rally)
1218 SE Hwy 346
Old Town, FL
Hosts: 352-542-7800

February 15 – 20, 2011 Florida State Rally – Sarasota, FL
Sarasota Fairgrounds

Hosts:

March 18-20, 2011 Rocky Bayou State Park
Niceville, FL

Hosts:

April 8 – 9, 2011 Belling Graft Garden
Payne’s RV Park
Hosts: Mobile, ALA

Region III Rally April – May ?

May 20-22, 2011 Stephen Foster State Park
Live Oak, FL
Hosts:

June 27 –July 4, 2011 International Rally
DuQuoin, Illinois (near Louisville, KY)
Hosts:

September 9-11, 2011 Seminole State Park
Bainbridge, GA
Hosts:

October 14-16, 2011 Election Rally
White Oak Creek Corp of Engineers Park
Park Res: 877-444-6777
Hosts: Park PH: 229-658-3061

November 11-13, 2011 Installation Rally – Food Drive – Fund Raising Auction
Colquitt, GA

Hosts:

Other sites to consider: Georgia Veterans State Park,
Reed Bingham – Adel, GA
FDR – Calloway, GA (New Years)
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Consider themes for each rally. Holidays, grandchildren, etc.

This picture was on the front page of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Good publicity for us!

We have put together the schedule for the “How to Boondock in your Airstream” Rally. If you have interest in attending, please let us know so we can buy the food supplies. Presently there are about 24 rigs signed up to attend.

Boondocking Rally Feb. 9-12, 2010

Schedule

Tuesday, Feb. 9

Arrive anytime during the day

4:30 P.M. Welcome Meeting and social time
6:00 P.M. Dinner: Chili, Salad, Bread (bring your drink, place setting, & chair for all meals)
7:30 P.M. Campfire, indoor games, and social time

Wednesday, Feb. 10

8:30 A.M. Breakfast (if weather permits i.e. temperature or rain)
9:30 A.M. Introduction to Boondocking- Conservation of power, Use of Batteries & Generators
11:30 A.M. Lunch on your own
1:30 P.M. Introduction to Solar Power
4:30 P.M. Social time
6:00 P.M. Dinner: Pork Chops, Green Beans, Salad, Bread
&:30 P.M. Campfire, indoor games, and social time

Thursday, Feb. 11

8:30 A.M. Breakfast (if weather permits i.e. temperature or rain)
9:30 A.M. Conservation of fresh water and waste water
How to stay warm or cool
Safety
11:30 A.M. Lunch on your own
Afternoon Free Time
4:30 P.M. Social Time
6:00 P.M. Dinner: Steak, Baked Potato, Salad, Bread
7:30 P.M. Campfire and closing critique/discussions

Click on anyone of these pictures to read the captions and to progress through the pictures.

Here are some pictures from Charlie Hurst taken at the October Rally


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The Montagues and Thompsons are having a three-night rally, Feb. 9, 10, & 11 just before the Big Bend rally in Suwanee to help folks learn how to effectively use our Airstreams to “dry camp” or “BoonDock”. The caravan that we lead, the SW Adventure Caravan is scheduled to have 14-16 nights of camping in locations without electricity or water, i.e. national park and national forest campgrounds. We will have it at a facility near Lake City, FL which is operated by John Palmer. The facility is set up for dry camping and is a nice place for a rally. John Palmer sells and installs solar systems and has offered this spot for the rally. He will not be trying to sell his solar systems unless someone wants one. The cost will be $5 per night plus whatever we put together for food. We plan to cook for everyone, at least the evening meals. The camping will be dry camping as there is no power or water on the site.

John will give a seminar(s) on how to utilize solar and the small Honda type generators. Also what to expect from your batteries and how to maximize their life. We also will have information about alternative methods of keeping warm without using your furnace. Last but not least ,how to optimize use of the fresh water.

We plan to put together a schedule for the rally. and get it out to everyone. Everyone is invited

Our President, John Duncan presenting our Unit flag at the International Rally. He was loudly cheered by those of us in attendance. Attending were members Ken and Nancy Davis, Mac and Mary Palmer with granddaughter Caroline, Joan Downie, Joan Augustine, Judy and John White, Jack White, John Thompson, Carol and Winston Montague, Allison and Wes Hurner and Elna and Jay Thompson. Also attending were affiliate members Judy and Dick Martiny, Peggy and Charlie Matthews, Bonnie and Bob Herman, Sheena and Drew Calderwood, Julia and Frank Wagner, and Judy and John Hice.

Here is another picture of John and Region 3 First V-P, Rick Bell as they wait to present the Region 3 flag and our Unit flag.

Another important happening at the International Rally was the presentation to our Unit of the Superior Merit Award for 2009. Region 3 President, Julian Clemons presented it to John Duncan at the Region 3 luncheon. Thanks to the many folks who helped our club last year to achieve this award. Special thanks to Julian for helping us!

Jim Weilhammer has written a “Rally Information Form” which may be used by those acting as hosts for a rally or for developing a caravan. This provides a check list of things to look for at a campground as well as activities to do at the rally.