Fox Valley Winnies

Outing Dates – 11-13 May 2007 

Fairgrounds in Holland, Michigan (Tulip Time)

WagonMasters – Chuck and Sue Borcher and Bob and Laurie Dukes

 

Meeting - Friday, May 11, 2007

 

Present: John and Diana Ahaus, Chuck and Sue Borcher, Bob and Laurie Dukes, Vince and Ginny Innocenti,  Dennis and Connie Relihan, Bill and Sharon Powell*  (*Our Wagonmasters planned their stay to include all of the “Tulip Time” activities starting on 5 May.  Bill and Sharon Powell joined them on the previous weekend.)

 

President Dennis Relihan called the meeting to order at 10AM on Friday. Dennis thanked our Wagonmasters, Chuck and Sue Borcher and Bob and Lorie Dukes for all they had done to make this outing such a special time. 

 

The minutes of our April meeting were approved as provided.  The minutes of the special meeting held during the State Rally in April were accepted with one item in question.  This item has been corrected and so reflected in the minutes you are receiving.  A motion to accept them was made by Chuck Bocher and seconded by Bob Dukes. Dennis Relihan requested a motion to table the Treasurer’s Report until our next meeting.  This was made and seconded. 

 

Old Business:

Fox Valley Winnie’s 25^th Anniversary.  This has been designated as our Friendship outing.  Ginny Innocenti suggested the Casino in Joliet as a possible location as they have a camp ground with water and electric as well as offering hotel accommodations for past members who no longer have a motorhome.  It was discussed and agreed that we should do a lunch vs dinner so people who are not staying over will not be worried about driving home in the dark.  Dennis Relihan will contact the Casino to determine if they can meet our needs and our budget.  Dennis asked for volunteers to help with this outing – those who responded were Bob and Laurie Dukes, Diana Ahaus, Bob Gardner, Sue Borcher and Connie Relihan.

The October Outing will be the designated “Grandparents Weekend”.   Vince and Ginny Innocenti said they hope to secure space at Outdoor World in Belvedere, Illinois.  Vince and Ginny have taken their children and grandchildren to several of the area’s attractions - The Illinois Railroad Museum in Union, The Clock Tower Museum in Rockford and the Edwards Apple Orchard.  Sounds like fun for young and old alike.  They will confirm the location.

 

New Business:

As we are planning to provide copies of the FMCA “Good Manners” in the welcome bags at the June State Rally, Dennis asked if our membership saw any problem in doing so as WIT is not mentioned as a sponsoring entity.  It was agreed that it would not be as problem. Diana Ahaus asked that Dennis bring up the fact that WIT is not listed on this document when he attends the President’s Dinner at GNR. 

 

Dennis requested the membership’s approval to provide a website link to RVAct.  Carl and Barbara Bergstedt wanted everyone to be aware that this site exists and that it deals with issues that concern R.V. owners. One such concern was brought up by Vince Innocent.  He feels that the state of Illinois, should work on ways to control the use of dump sites rather than eliminating them.  The membership agreed that the link should be on our site.

 

Dennis mentioned that Otto and Georgie Ryl and Estel and Norma Schermerhorn are planning to sell their motorhome.

 

Special Note: Bob Gardner previously agreed to contact Barrington Motors regarding “Show and Tell” in July.

 

John Ahaus reviewed the arrangements for the June outing in Thompson.  At the time of our meeting 7 or 8 coaches had responded to say they would be at the campout.  John sent an e mail to those members who had not responded with any answer. He felt that some follow up calls might be needed.

 

Dennis reviewed our future outings and said he was working on a format that would make the Wagonmaster’s job easier.  This lead to a discussion on how to get more members’ new and old involved in being a Wagonmaster.  As we are now a club with 40 coaches, it was felt that 4 Wagonmasters may make the job easier.  The ideal combination would be one couple to book and set up the outing, one couple with the ability to communicate using the computer to do the email invitation, one couple responsible to contact those members who do not use a computer and to follow up with members that have not responded and one couple to plan the menu.  All Wagonmasters would help with the food master plan, but the food couple would be responsible for looking after the costs that are covered by the members and paid at the outing.  We should have two experienced Wagonmasters work with two new Wagonmasters.  We might consider a standard format for the e-mail and written invitation as well as a master list of places we have attended and new places for consideration.  These are things that were discussed – let’s turn the conversation into an action plan.

  

Dennis requested that we table for the next meeting a format that will include in each meeting a discussion period for an exchange of information on coach maintenance, camping experiences good and bad, good deals on insurance and/or services.  This was agreed.

 

Chuck Borcher moved to adjourn the meeting.  It was seconded and passed.    

 

Future Outings:

June 8-10, 2007 Thompson Causeway, Thompson Illinois   Wagonmasters - Ahaus and Postels

June 22-24, 2007 State Summer Rally Crescent City, IL

July 11, 2007 Pre-GNR – Oakwood RV Park Clear Lake, IA  

July 15-20, 2007 GNR – Forest City, IA

August 10-12, 2007 Rock Island/Quad Cities KOA – Circa ’21 and Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island, IL. The play is “Don’t Dress For Dinner”.  The camp ground fee is $27.00 per night and the dinner and show is $38.00 per person.  A free guided tour of the John Deere Pavilion is scheduled with a luncheon at the River House immediately following the tour. Wagonmasters are the Chilsons and the Relihans.  This outing has been proposed as a joint outing with the Quad City Winnies.  Reservation forms will be sent to you at a later date.

September 14-16 – Fox Valley Winnies 25^th Anniversary Celebration – Friendship Weekend - Location to be Confirmed.     

September 28-30,2007 – Illinois Indians Fall Rally, Crescent City, IL (Fox Valley will be responsible for Parking)

October 11-14, 2007 – Grandparent’s Weekend  – Location To Be Advised – Wagonmasters are the Ryls and Innocentis.  

November 3 (Noon) Annual Meeting and Luncheon at Barrington Motors – Installation of new officers. 

 

About Our Tulip Time Outing

Tulip Time is much more than just the beautiful flowers, although for flower lovers they are enough all on their own, and Holland Michigan is truly a slice of Americana.  Because Tulip time is a full week of activities, everyone of our group came in early. The Dukes and the Borchers were there for the full week and made sure that we participated in the many things to see and do.  Every day offers fun and unique entertainment.  Most of it is free and the shows that had a cost were really great values. On Wednesday afternoon we returned to camp to find Laurie roasting chickens.  She and Sue treated us to a totally unexpected dinner to celebrate the Dukes’ new Vectra motorhome.  Laurie roasted enough chickens to feed the whole park and Sue cooked up a storm with sides that tasted good and were good for you – well that chocolate cake was very good for me. Ginny treated us to an Italian favorite.  After so much food we might have worried that we would sleep through the show but the songs of “The Red White and Blue” kept our toes tapping.  On Thursday evening we have another excellent group dinner followed by the choice of a show or the sandy shores of Lake Michigan to see the sunset. On Friday we saw the military horse skill trials at the fairground, heard the Town Criers competition and went to a great dinner show.  On Saturday a pub lunch, the parade, dinner and a show.  Between all these meals we got in a few stops at “Captain Sundaes” for ice cream!! It was a wonderful outing and Sunday morning’s breakfast may have been a Fox Valley Winnies first.  The weather was cool so we ate our gourmet brunch inside the Dukes’ new motorhome!  We all extend a special thanks to Sue and Chuck Borcher for their expertise in knowing that the Fairground offered RV facilities and their guidance in the selection of tickets for the many shows and activities.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Connie Relihan,

Secretary