Fall Rally Report 08
By Deb Fair
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Wednesday
What a wonderful rally we had September 18 – 21 in White Cloud, Michigan. Our hosts Fred & Dixie Dawe ordered up the best weather any of us could remember having had at a fall rally in many years. After all the rain we had the previous weekend many of us were ready to hit the road early and as Bob & I arrived on Tuesday we found that 4 other couples had similar ideas. In fact the weather was so nice that we never did get to finish the puzzle we started and have it set aside for another time. On Wednesday our hosts invited us to their home on Peck Lake for a cook out and pontoon ride on the lake. Fred & Dixie's 88 year old Aunt Gladys made us THE best apple and raspberry pies. The red raspberries coming from Fred & Dixie's own back yard. Yummy! Joyce and Aunt Gladys became instant friends and Joyce proclaimed it was the best time she had in quite some time.
Thursday
On Thursday afternoon our hosts provided us with fresh bakery donuts, hot cider and coffee while we caught up with each other and our adventures over the summer. We had a great soup supper that evening with two different homemade soups and Stanley lusted after Dixie's homemade chicken soup. Alas, there is no actual recipe, except for the 6 ½ pound chicken and Aunt Gladys homemade noodles along with a few veggies and seasonings added to Fred's taste. The weather was perfect to sit around the campfire with the guys wondering if they could build a fire to compare with Steve and Brad's. They did manage to do just fine but we missed them anyway. And of course we always think of Jacolyn's shoes! We should have framed those!
Friday
The following morning we all met for coffee and had our business meeting. The $2 increase in the rally fee was discussed and noted that we had not increased that fee for 6 years. As we all know, the cost of food and supplies has gone up for everyone. This additional cash is then directly available to the rally host to cover their cost and figured into their budget. It was suggested by a member that the $5 membership fee be raised to $10 to accommodate this increased cost but it was voted down. Instead it was agreed that the host should charge what is needed to cover their costs. After all, if you were to have family or friends come for 3 days and tried to feed and entertain them for $10 a piece during that time I am sure you can see that our hosts do an amazing job. We also voted to continue the volunteer cleanup project at the Back Home rally next year.
Horse-shoes anyone?
Bonnie is suggesting that we get our reservations and $50 deposit in to her for next years Back Home Rally soon and request your campsite with a 2nd and possibly 3rd choice listed as well. It seems she is getting lots of reservations now. She said she would do her best to park us together. As of two weeks ago the Main Streams were at the printers so we should soon be receiving them.
After the business meeting the ladies assembled to learn to make bows while the men took advantage of the fine weather and played horseshoes. Later in the afternoon we assembled again to play not one, but two games of bean bag baseball. The men won the 1st game while it ended in a tie the second game.
After the business meeting the ladies assembled to learn to make bows while the men took advantage of the fine weather and played horseshoes. Later in the afternoon we assembled again to play not one, but two games of bean bag baseball. The men won the 1st game while it ended in a tie the second game.
However----the guys really made the throwing line a l-o-n-g way back for us ladies and during the 2nd game we ladies were trying to play the game while running back and forth to our rigs for table service and our dishes to pass while the guys sat and grumbled that we ladies we going out of rotation. We ladies are after all multitaskers! After the wonderful casserole Dixie prepared for us, many people chose to play cards or take advantage of the beautiful evening and sit by the fire once again.
Saturday
Saturday arrived and our great guys once again provided us with a wonderful sausage and pancake breakfast. A friend of Fred & Dixie's supplied us with real maple syrup for our pancakes and it was really good. We all met up for lunch in Jugville, on Robinson Lake at the “Shack” for lunch which Gulf Stream treated us to. What a beautiful place and it was anything but a shack. Huge Log Cabin style buildings (a bed and breakfast facility) with many acres of beautiful grounds, a boat launch, sandy beach, pavilions to enjoy the view from, and a museum as well. A nice way to spend an afternoon. That evening we assembled for our evening meal and Stan Dobies and Jim Smith kept us amused as we bought tickets and bid on White Elephant items wrapped in newspaper. We had a lot of laughs over that activity.
Sunday
The following morning we again assembled for coffee and rolls and sadly said our goodbyes. We all happily departed with our choice of Dixie's homemade jams, peaches, or pickles! However a few couples chose to stay and spend another day. A very successful rally!
I need to have some people step up and commit to hosting either the spring or fall rallies of 2010. I will be asking in the spring so if you have never hosted a rally before or have not done so for a while I would ask that you consider signing up. Perhaps a couple never having done a rally before would team up with a couple who has had experience. Remember that you can have it as simple or fancy as you are comfortable with.
Our spring rally will be held May 14 – 17, 2009 at the Moscow Maples RV park in Moscow, Michigan. So mark the date on your calendar and plan to come to the Irish Hills for a lot of fun. A Russian/Dr. Zhivago theme will be used. Marlene & Ed Capa will assist our hosts with this rally. You should have received a letter from Jim & Carol about their rally at the fall rally, by email, or included in a mailing of this newsletter for those not having email. They are having fun with its location and we are sure to have a good time.
Our chapters 20th anniversary is this next year and will be held September 17 – 20, 2009 in Niles, Michigan at the Spaulding Lake Campground. We hope you will come and join us and have a great time. There are 3 stocked fishing ponds on the grounds and you may catch up to 5 fish per day per rig for free. You do not need a fishing incense but do bring your own bait and equipment. We will have a contest for the largest Catfish and Blue Gill caught. Sorry but the “Big One” that got away does not count. There are also casinos in the area, many wineries offer wine tasting and we are close to Lake Michigan and Notre Dame. With South Bend being so close there is also University Park Mall! Lunker's sport shop is just a couple of miles away and that may also interest you. This area provides much to do which we are further exploring with the Forburger's who are familiar with this area.
I need to have some people step up and commit to hosting either the spring or fall rallies of 2010. I will be asking in the spring so if you have never hosted a rally before or have not done so for a while I would ask that you consider signing up. Perhaps a couple never having done a rally before would team up with a couple who has had experience. Remember that you can have it as simple or fancy as you are comfortable with.
Our spring rally will be held May 14 – 17, 2009 at the Moscow Maples RV park in Moscow, Michigan. So mark the date on your calendar and plan to come to the Irish Hills for a lot of fun. A Russian/Dr. Zhivago theme will be used. Marlene & Ed Capa will assist our hosts with this rally. You should have received a letter from Jim & Carol about their rally at the fall rally, by email, or included in a mailing of this newsletter for those not having email. They are having fun with its location and we are sure to have a good time.
Our chapters 20th anniversary is this next year and will be held September 17 – 20, 2009 in Niles, Michigan at the Spaulding Lake Campground. We hope you will come and join us and have a great time. There are 3 stocked fishing ponds on the grounds and you may catch up to 5 fish per day per rig for free. You do not need a fishing incense but do bring your own bait and equipment. We will have a contest for the largest Catfish and Blue Gill caught. Sorry but the “Big One” that got away does not count. There are also casinos in the area, many wineries offer wine tasting and we are close to Lake Michigan and Notre Dame. With South Bend being so close there is also University Park Mall! Lunker's sport shop is just a couple of miles away and that may also interest you. This area provides much to do which we are further exploring with the Forburger's who are familiar with this area.
See you down the road. Deb
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