GRANITE STATERS November 2000 Carol Bovee, Editor |
Did you know that our state legislature passed a law which essentially makes it illegal to park more than one recreational vehicle on any piece of property, other than a campground? If my motorhome is parked in the driveway, and my kids sleep out in a tent in the back yard, we would be in violation... a tent is a recreational vehicle under this law! We unknowingly had one Granite Staters' rally this summer which clearly was taboo, and a couple others which were questionable.
I am told that this bill originated with a politically-connected member of the New Hampshire Campground Owners Association. It slipped through the legislative process largely un-noticed. On the surface, one would expect this law would be a boon to campgrounds. In trying to look at their side from a businessman's perspective, though, I doubt it will help them much. How many campgrounds have room for 20 or 60 of our coaches on a summer weekend? How many don't even have sites big enough to accommodate a 35' or 40' coach period?
We often do have rallies at campgrounds, especially early or late in the season. Campgrounds are nice, but many memorable rallies have been held in a field with no amenities. Our coaches are well equipped to stay for several days like that. Forcing us to always stay at campgrounds is like banning home cooking and forcing us to always eat at full-service restaurants.
I am proud to say we are working to repeal this new law. Dave Munroe chairs our "Legislative Advisory Committee". Many thanks to Bill Gowen, FMCA's Northeast VP, for inviting Max Durbin, chair of FMCA's Legislative Advisory Committee, to our Sandwich rally to help us get started. Max really did his homework. It is obvious he's dealt with issues like this before. We will have our first direct contact with the NH Legislature in a few days. Richard Kimball arranged a meeting with Senator Sylvia Larson in Concord.
When you see a State Senate or House candidate out campaigning, let them know that this bill did more harm than good. As Max pointed out, a politician will become very interested when they start hearing from a lot of constituents.Fall Season Wrap-up:
The weather was good. the foliage was gorgeous, and the people are great. In September, we gathered once again at the Sandwich Fairgrounds for our "Birthday Bash". Activities included a dinner. entertainment, and our fall business meeting. While much of the meeting covered routine matters, I will highlight a few items. We inaugurated Bruce Brown as our Alternate National Director, and Steve Ford as our new VP. Steve will also assume the Wagonmaster role from Louise Parsons. We voted to make a $500 donation to the Goodwill-Hinckley School in Hinckley, Maine, birthplace of FMCA. One very non-routine matter was forming the Legislative Committee I mentioned earlier. I hope this is a temporary committee whose work can be accomplished in a few months.
October was the month for the small-but-fun Ted Williams Camp rally that I was unable to attend, and the season finale at Salisbury Beach.We will keep you posted on the legislative situation and next year's schedule as plans firm up. Have a great holiday season.
NATIONAL DIRECTOR'S REPORTS | |||||||
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Evelyn Merrill, National Director |
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
We have had nine new members added to the membership since our September newsletter. We want to welcome the new members and wish them many years of HAPPY MOTOR
HOMING in the Granite Staters.
The new members are:
Steve and Diana Brede F272870 09/05/00 Merrimack, NH
Chuck and Donna Fletcher F278756 09/18/00 Alton, NH
Al and Ginny Guidotti F241643 09/05/00 Peterborough, NH
Franklin and Lorraine Hendrick F184849 10/12/00 Westminster, MA
John and Ruth Jacquinet F197859 10/15/00 Ludlow, MA
Joe and Louise Jeffrey F 10/06/00 Sanbornton, NH
John and Lisa Anne Landry F196395 10/15/00 Pelham, NH
Maureen and Anne McCracken F 09/27/00 Audubon, NJ
Tom and Linda MacKay F282954 09/09/00 Meridith, NH
Our present membership has now reached an all-time high of TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE COACHES.
Start saving your tabs for next year. We did not quite make our goal to bring in more tabs than we did last year, so we will hold them over until spring. I want to thank all of the members and their friends for making it possible for the chapter to collect 936,300 tabls (585.5 pounds). Keep it up!
Thank you all for the Shriners' Children's Hospital 75th anniversary T shirt.
We would like to publish a list of members and their E-mail addresses in the newsletter. If you are interested in having your name on this list, please send me an E-mail requesting it. (email address is parsons@srnet.com)
Nobody tail gates me since I put my "Tires by Firestone" sticker on the bumper of the motor home.
See you in the Spring or maybe in Brooksville
Bob
Congratulations to Bob and Louise Parsons who celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on Sept. 20th. We wish you many more years of happiness!!
Tentative Schedule for 2001
Feb 7-10 FMCA SE Area Rally, Brooksville, FL
May Normandy Farms Hosts: Prentisses and Parsons
June Hosts: Roberts and ???
July 2, 3, & 4 Northeast Area Rally Essex Junction, VT
Aug 17,18 and 19 Highland Orchard Resort Park with the Jersey Gems North Stonington, CT Hosts: Reads, McSheas, and Sandstroms
For full details on next year's rallies, see the 2001 schedule at the 2001 Rallies Page.
See the Rallies page, for details for the Ted William's Camp and Salisbury Beach rallies, and for reports on Brunswick and other past rallies.+-+-+-+-+
From the Sandwich Fire Department:
"Thank you for your donation to |
A friend of Elaine and Jake Perrault has just started a new business called Whiteforest RV Repair at 802-728-3421. He will come to you for any repairs. He has a very good reputation and he is very fair. If any of our members have a problem, he is the one to call.
Thanks, Bob Burnham
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GRANITE STATERS September 2000 Carol Bovee, Editor |
It surely was an impressive sight, those thousands of people and their thousands of coaches diagonally parked in four rows on each of the two runways (which are probably 2 miles long), as well as on the infield grass, taxiways, and apron areas.
Let’s give Stet Hunt a great big thank-you for his long days and hard work coordinating our security volunteers. At FMCA conventions, it is customary for chapters in the hosting region to volunteer for one of several vital tasks. The Granite Staters, under Stet’s able leadership, shared the security duties with the Jersey Gems.
Most of the security volunteers arrived in a caravan on Monday, and were given prime, close-to-the-activities parking spaces. I spent Monday night in the "holding area" to lead our second caravan on Tuesday. Regrettably, but not unexpectedly, we were parked over a mile from our first group. There was a shuttle bus service, and yes, Amy, Mara, Sam and I put a lot of mileage on our bicycles that week. "First Lady" Carol skipped most of Brunswick, so she could be with her brother in the hospital. He’s doing much better now. Thanks to all for your prayers and get-well wishes.
I brought my kids along for my security assignment on Wednesday, "guarding" a seldom-used door to the indoor exhibits building. Amy said "that was the most boring afternoon of my life!", but yet she understands it was important. One can’t expect the glamour assignments all the time.
On Friday and Saturday there were numerous activities for the kids, so I wasn’t able to socialize as much as I would otherwise have liked.
It was a pleasure to meet so many of you for the first time. Big events like Brunswick are fun, but I like the smaller chapter rallies even better. We have three good ones lined up in the next few weeks... hope to see you again at one or more of them.
Brunswick was a success. Entrance and exit was smooth and uneventful, thanks to the local police and FMCA’s advance planning. We left Thomas Point about 7:45am and were all set up at the airbase by 8:45 am. The weather cooperated and made the convention very pleasant. We also were able to meet quite a few new Granite Staters who parked with David Bovee’s caravan. Bob and I left Saturday morning to attend our daughter’s wedding in Sunapee, NH. It was a lovely wedding and we had a fine time.
One of the nicest things that happened at the convention was the Granite Staters and the Jersey Gems finally meeting face to face. We have been in touch by e-mail for most of this year. We sure enjoyed visiting with them and their congenial president and first lady, Paul and Marilyn Densten. We plan to have a joint meet next year.
Our house is getting more straightened out and now we are trying to clear room in the garage for our cars which have been in the driveway since the move. Bob is also making a place for the motor home next to the garage.
We have three more rallies that are exciting for this year. Our birthday party in September is going to be bang up time. The club’s first holiday weekend rally in October is in a new area for the club. It is in Longmeadow, Mass., which is close to Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Plantation, the Cranberry Museum and the train for a quick trip to Boston. The next weekend is our favorite way to close out our season. Salisbury Beach with the Yankee Travelers. Reservation forms are enclosed for these three fun rallies and I hope
to see a good turnout at each of them. The hosts are excited and ready to go, so sign up soon and sign up often.
ACTIVE MEMBERS ARE HAPPY MEMBERS
THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF JERSEY GEMS WAGONMASTER, BRUCE BROWN, WHO DIED OF A HEART ATTACK ON SEPT. 1ST. MANY OF US MET BRUCE AT THE BRUNSWICK CONVENTION.
Thanks, Bob Burnham
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
We had two new members join the chapter at the FMCA National Convention in Brunswick, Maine and two added to the membership since that time. We all want to welcome the new members and wish them many years of HAPPY MOTOR
HOMING in the Granite Staters.
The new members are:
Donald and Gateanne BERUBE F203199 08/21/00 Bow, NH
Anyone that has tabs tucked away, PLEASE start bringing them to me at the Sandwich Rally or to the Ted Williams Rally in Lakeville, MA. If enough tabs are turned in at these two rallies, I will make plans for the Shriner’s
to pick them up at the Salisbury MA. Rally. We have not collected as many tabs this year as I had hoped and if we do not collect many more I may hold them over to next year. [I still can’t get the cars into my garage after the moving so please help me to be able to turn them in].
We would like to publish a list of members and their E-mail addresses in the newsletter. If you are interested in having your name on this list, please send me an E-mail requesting it. (email address is parsons@srnet.com)
If only the "good" die young then what does that say about senior citizens?
See You in Sandwich
Bob
It’s September Already!
Dave Bovee, President
The FMCA convention at Brunswick, ME is over, the kids are starting school this week, and soccer starts next week.
WHEREVER WE GO, WE HAVE FUN
COME AND JOIN US
OUR SYMPATHIES TO:
GRANITE STATERS MEMBER FREDA WEAVER. HER HUSBAND, BOB PASSED AWAY SHORTLY BEFORE THE BRUNSWICK RALLY. WE SURE WILL MISS BOB’S FRIENDLY FACE AND DRY SENSE OF HUMOR AT OUR RALLIES.
mail.4nh.net:81/guest/RemoteListSummary/GDG
or send an email to:
webmaster@granitestaters.org
See the Rallies page, for details for the Ted William's Camp and Salisbury Beach rallies, and for reports on Brunswick and other past rallies.
William and Caroline HATLEY F274204 08/15/00 Barnstead, NH
Gene HENEHAN and Penny DEMERITT F082110 08/15/00 Forest City, IA
Bernie and Lu RIOPEL F 08/28/00 Suncook, NH
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Recent Rallies: I have heard several reports, all good, about the Top Guns rally,and can tell you first hand that we had fun in Keene. Full reports are in this newsletter.
It’s election time again for chapter officers. I am pleased to see one name brand-new to the Granite Staters ballot this year- Steve Ford is running for Vice President (Shirley DeCoste chose not to run this year), and Past President Bruce Brown is running for the Alternate National Director slot which Vera Hemphill has held since this chapter was formed. The remainder of the ballot is made up of incumbents.
This has been a busy camping year and I hope that you will remember to
thank our hosts for this season and think about being a host yourself next
year. Active members are happy members.
The Granite Staters Tuesday, August 15 non-volunteer caravan will
receive
their numbered entry placards from Dave Bovee at the holding area.
Please contact Thomas Point Beach directly if you have not reserved your
place for the no frills, nothing planned, enjoy the area pre- rally. I
have sent the Thomas Point Beach flyer to those who have pre-registered.
Our house move is complete and there are just a few boxes still unpacked
and only 2 unusable rooms. We have a new 30’ Holiday Rambler Admiral motor
home. The house is not in order but the RV is all set and ready to go.
Come and see it at Brunswick.
This is my last year as wagon master and I hope that someone will want to
take over next year. The Granite Staters are a great group. They are
easy going and are always ready to help so remember my motto: "ACTIVE MEMBERS
ARE HAPPY MEMBERS" and come join the leadership team. You will help the club
and have a wonderful time too.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
Bob
Bill Read, Treasurer
Rally Details and Applications - Reports of Recent Rallies
Click here to go to Rallies Schedule Page for Details and Reports
5TH BIRTHDAY BASH SANDWICH FAIRGROUNDS
4th ANNUAL CO-PILOTS MOTORHOME RODEO
A WEEKEND AT SALISBURY BEACH
News from the current newsletter
GRANITE STATERS August 2000
Carol Bovee, Editor
BRUNSWICK, HERE WE COME
Dave Bovee, President
The Granite Staters will be well represented in Brunswick, (possibly FMCA’s biggest event ever?). I still have a big list of little things to do before heading downeast. I plan to arrive at the Thomas Point Beach “pre-rally” on Sunday the 13th, spend Monday night in the “holding area” inside N.A.S. Brunswick, and meet the rest of our Tuesday caravan there in the morning.
It looks like this will be a solo trip for me. Daughter Mara will be at camp most of that week, and Carol will be home with Amy and Sam. They could come up for the weekend, but if you’ve ever traveled I-95 between Portsmouth and Portland on a summer Friday afternoon, you might wish you’d stayed home.
I hope many of you will make the trip to Prince Edward Island for the Post-Brunswick rally. However, yours truly will be back at work that week. The picture at the top of this page is from the Granite Staters ad in the PEI rally’s program book. Do you think Bruce Brown could really convince that many of us to march across the Confederation Bridge? It’s only a few miles long...
Can you believe it? It’s time to think about our fall schedule. Sandwich and Salisbury Beach are perennial favorites, and a new venue for us- Ted Williams Camp in Lakeville, Mass. If you’d like to improve your driving skills, don’t forget the Co-Pilots Rodeo at the end of September.
Please participate. Vote! I realize all the seats are uncontested, but the election is still important. If we’re doing a good job, give us a vote of confidence. If we’re messing up, please tell us that, too. This chapter is filled with great people and an open, easy-going atmosphere. Let’s continue this tradition!
WHEREVER WE GO, WE HAVE FUN
COME AND JOIN US
GRANITE STATERS PRE-RALLY’ AUGUST 12 and 13
Thomas Point Beach, Cook’s Corner, Brunswick, Maine
Toll free 1 877 TPB 4321 E mail summer@thomaspointbeach.com
www.thomaspointbeach.com
JUNE
Alford, Bob and Maura
Burnham, Hal and Bev
Gagnon, Ronald and helen
Kageleiry, Harry and Barbara
Molginano, Stanley and Virginia
F278444
F141373
F279077
F279070
F208383
06-10-00
06-17-00
06-19-00
06-18-00
06-28-00JULY Cuff, Richard and Eileen
DeMers cm, John and Gloria
Knowles, Rick and Connie
Patterson, Irving and Lorene
Pedrick, Jack and Cathy
F231994
F068295
F052253
F280389
F278037
07-22-00
07-15-00
07-20-00
07-01-00
07-15-00TOTAL CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP August 4 = 201
The bartender fills up twenty shot glasses with his finest Scotch and the cowboy drinks them all just as fast as he can.
The bartender remarks, "I have never seen anybody drink that fast.!
The cowboy replies, "Well, you'd drink that fast too if you had what I have!"
"What's that?" asks the bartender.
"Only fifty cents!"
BRUNSWICK SHORTS
At Brunswick, we will have social hour each day at 4:00 PM at Bruce and Anne Brown's Coach. They will be parked with the Security Workers in the volunteer parking area. Come and find us. BYO. F#'s ending with an odd # bring snacks on Tues., Thurs, and Sat. Even numbers bring snacks on Mon., Wed., & Fri. If we have conflict with another social hour such as Northeast Area Reception we will gather at the reception.
IN THE RUNWAY!!!
FMCA is requiring all Brunswick attendees who are parked on asphalt to have wood blocks under their leveling jacks. Suitable blocks would be 12"x12"x3/4" plywood or 2x10x12 lumber. You may or may not be parked on asphalt, but you should be prepared!
Please wear your Granite Staters clothing while you are working your security detail.
If you have them, please wear black shorts or slacks with your shirt.
Also, wear your GS shirt to the volunteer dinner!!
Sept. 8-10. Details and application.
(See below for Craft Information)
Sept. 28, 29, 30, Oct. 1. Details and application.
Oct. 13-15. Details (Advance registration not necessary).
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The Granite Staters had rallies two weekends in a row. The weekend of 9-11 June found many of us camped in Jane and Bill Williams’ back yard in Greenland, NH. We are grateful to them for sharing their apple orchard with us... it’s a lovely site, and only a few miles from the Market Square Day festivities in downtown Portsmouth, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard open house. The following weekend, our chapter joined the Yankee Travelers at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH.
I haven’t yet figured out how to be in two places at once. I passed up Rockingham Park to be with the GM Bus Owners of New England (that’s the other FMCA chapter I belong to) in Lowell, Mass. I may not make it to another one of their meets this year. Our next rally, Top Guns (in conjunction with four other chapters) is the same weekend I will be helping install the new playground equipment at my kids’ school. I do expect to see you all in Keene in July, though.
Brunswick. We’ve been building up to it for a year now. Before you know it, it will be time for FMCA’s "37th Annual Summer Grand International Convention". We could probably fill an entire newsletter with Brunswick items. I will try to give an overview of what’s going on, so that you can (hopefully) put all these little tidbits of information into perspective.
FMCA expects between 6000 and 8000 coaches (20,000 people?) at the Brunswick Naval Air Station. That’s a small city’s population to move in and out in a week! Needless to say, there are many big logistical considerations. Please register early- www.fmca.com or see your "Family Motor Coaching" magazine. If you are entering with a caravan (the Granite Staters will have two), be at the rendezvous point on time, or a little early. If you choose to come in on your own, follow the instructions that "national" will mail you when they confirm your registration. We will be on an active military base. Please respect their ground rules.
Once you’re inside and registered, there will be plenty to see and do. They have lots of entertainment planned, seminars, and vendors of everything from little trinkets to million-dollar motorhomes. Remember to look for the Granite Staters’ late-afternoon social hour.
I look forward to seeing you soon. Enjoy your motorhomes!
In appreciation of your visit to Maine this summer, the Maine Turnpike Authority is offering a special program to save you time and tolls when touring our great state. It’s called the Pine Tree Pass.
More on Brunswick
LAWN CHAIR BRIGADE CANCELLED
The appearance of the Lawn Chair Brigade at the Brunswick, Maine National Convention has been cancelled.
There were too many logistical problems such as two shows each night and room for only ten marchers at the front of the hall and time constraints and security work schedules etc.
Plan on marching with us in the parade at the Southeast Area Rally in Brooksville, Florida next February, if not sooner.
SOCIAL HOUR
At Brunswick, we will have social hour each day at 4:00 PM at Bruce and Anne Brown's Coach. They will be parked with the Security Workers in the volunteer parking area. Come and find us. BYO. F#'s ending with an odd # bring snacks on Tues., Thurs, and Sat. Even numbers bring snacks on Mon., Wed., & Fri. If we have conflict with another social hour such as Northeast Area Reception we will gather at the reception.
Bruce & Anne Brown REMINDER!!!!!!!!!
Please arrive in Brunswick with your water tanks full and you holding tanks empty. There will be a honey wagon available starting on Thursday morning.
See the 2000 Schedule Page
Would you like to host a rally next year?
Do you have an idea of where a rally could be held? Let Louise Parsons, our wagonmaster, know. She would love to hear from you!!
What a wonderful weekend! We all panicked when the clouds rolled in on Friday but it lasted for 14 minutes and the rest of the weather was about perfect! No more rain until nearly everyone had cleared out on Sunday!
Jane Williams
I have arranged for a Granite Staters’ caravan to enter the Brunswick Naval Air Station on Tuesday, August 15 at 12:30 in the afternoon.
The June issue of the FMCA magazine will give directions to the holding
area, which is where we will meet for entry to the convention. In a large rally, you will park with the people that are in line with you as you enter.
It is very important that you be on time (or early) at the holding area
on
the 15th because if you arrive after we depart for the air base you will
not
be able to park with us. Arrive with water tanks full and holding tanks
empty. Please check last month’s newsletter about the required wood
blocks.
You must pre- register for the rally using the form in the FMCA magazine.
Please fill out the caravan registration form below for the Granite
Staters’
caravan and send it to me before June 26. On that date, I have to give
the
FMCA caravan coordinator firm numbers for our group.
Please call 603 863 1135 or E-mail, parsons@srnet.com if you have any
questions. This form is on our website www.granitestaters.org and you may
register with me by E-mail.
GRANITE STATER’S CARAVAN REGISTRATION FORM
I will be parking at the Rally with the Granite Staters and will be at
the
holding area by 12:30 on Tuesday, August 15. I have pre registered with
FMCA for this rally.
Name ___________________________________________
A PLEA
Bob and I are still packing and packing and packing. Moving day is June 22.
GRANITE STATERS PRE-RALLY’ AUGUST 12 and 13TH
Thomas Point Beach, Cook’s Corner, Brunswick, Maine
(207) 725 6009 E mail summer@thomaspointbeach.com
www.thomaspointbeach.com
FMCA International Convention, Brunswick Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine August 18-20, 2000. You do not have to go to the pre-rally in order to be a volunteer and park with the volunteers. Some volunteers will enter the Naval Air Station on Monday, August 14.
DUES ARE DUE
The 31st of May has come and gone and many of you have forgotten to pay your dues for the year 2000-2001. Instructions for sending in chapter dues seem to have slipped the minds of many of our members. PLEASE SEND YOUR CHECK AND APPLICATION TO THE TREASURER (BILL READ). ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT. THESE APPLICATIONS MUST BE SENT IN WITH YOUR CHECK. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Members that have not paid their dues for the current year will not be receiving any more copies of the
newsletter. Please pay your dues and maintain your membership in the Granite Staters.
In the last newsletter, I said that this season for tab collecting has started with a bang and at that point, we had 123,200 tabs. Well I am happy to report that we are now up to over 400,00 tabs. We owe a tremendous amount
of thanks to Peg McShea as she and her school children collected 268,142 tabs this past school year. At Rockingham, this past weekend I had the pleasure of seeing a picture of Peg sitting on all the boxes of tabs. Peg really deserves a lot of credit for a job well done. Several members turned in tabs this past weekend and a big thank you goes along to them.
A couple was on a trip in their motor home. The pilot was going on a diet, but when he pulled into a fast food restaurant, he ordered a large milkshake.
Bob
On the weekend of June 2, 3, and 4, I attended the Northeast Motorhome Association meeting held at Deer Run Campground in Schaghticoke, NY. There were 38 coaches in attendance. Dave and Carol (Bovee), our president and newsletter editor arrived for the day (on Saturday).
First of all, I would like to thank John and Gloria Demers for helping Roger and I with the parking there. Neither wind, rain or thundershowers kept us from our duty.
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 Saturday morning. Minutes from the previous meeting were read and accepted. The treasurer’s report was read and accepted. Our balance as of 6/3/2000 was $93,326.86. A complete report will be published in the next NEMA newsletter.
Approval was given to the executive board to enter into a contract with the Fairgrounds at Essex Junction, VT for the 2001 rally.
The By-law committee reported on changes they were recommending. They will be sent to all National Directors to be voted on.
The upcoming rally at Brunswick was touched upon (what exit to take and the holding area). Rather than confusing everyone, including myself, I will let you read it first hand when you receive your rally packet.
The nominating committee presented the following slate for NEMA officers:
A report was given on the national office candidates:
Evelyn Merrill
News from the current newsletter
GRANITE STATERS Late June 2000
Carol Bovee, Editor
JUNE...A Busy Time of Year!
Dave Bovee, President
Save Time and Tolls in Maine!!!
Special FMCA Convention Offer!!
See Maine Tpke Offer for details. Apply before July 10.
for details.
Some coaches arrived a day early, but most rolled in on Friday. After the desserts we had the bonfire blazing and thanks to Kennith Adams and Sam Bovee, there were lots of marshmallow sticks cut from the apple trees and some of us enjoyed too many roasted marshmallows!
Saturday morning we woke to clear skies and the smell of Bette’s and Carol’s pancakes and sausage. Not only did we have Market Square Day
festivities, but the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was having open house. So folks went off for the day in many directions, while others just stayed at the farm.
That night we had the Lobster Feed and another spectacular fire. In fact, it was nearly 11:00 when Bill and I called it quits leaving many people still sitting around the fire. (I think the fire tender, Bob Burnham, needs recognition...)
The kids were very busy with the tree house, a scavenger hunt, and an afternoon hike into the woods. They now know how to identify the different pines and spruces and can track a deer! They also found a lucky clump of clover and every one of them found at least one 4-leaf clover! I think they all put at least 28 miles on their bikes this weekend!
We had 32 coaches parked in and around the rows of apple trees, along with 9 kids and 5 teenagers! A few tents were set up here and there. Thank you Stet Hunt for helping with the parking.
(Chuck and Elaine Peahl brought along 4 grandchildren, 3 boys and a girl. All the kids had plans to sleep in the tent. But come nighttime, the boys all wanted to stay in the coach. No one would stay out with Christie, except Elaine. So the men stayed inside and the two women slept in the tent. Elaine did comment that it had been 40 years since she last slept in a tent, and it would another 40 before she would do it again!)
Each attendee received a white spruce seedling along with a few door prizes. (Thanks to Kennith and Sam for helping me dig and bag the trees).
So, now are we forgiven for the wet weekend 2 years ago? Everyone here had a great time. This weekend was as busy or as relaxing as they chose.
We missed Bob and Louise Parsons, who are in the process of moving. The McSheas brought in 269,000 can tabs that had been collected at the school.
(I thought I had a lot of tabs in my bag of 6000). I hope the Parson’s new home has a big basement! At this rate we will have 2 million tabs by the end of the season!
There were several first timers at the rally, as well as 2 coaches that are potential new members.
The Bridles and the Bovees had most of the work done before Bill and I even got back from Florida. Rob brought in a generator and the Bovees’ borrowed tables from their church so the facilities were very complete. The Lobster Feed was delicious! We all appreciate the work and planning the Bridles and Bovees put in to this rally! The 2000 season is well on its way! Don’t miss any more rallies.
TO THE
37th ANNUAL SUMMER GRAND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
AT THE BRUNSWICK NAVAL AIR STATION
FMCA#_______________
Phone#______________________
E-mail__________________________________________
COME AND JOIN US
Tom and Jennette Pickels provided us with a wonderful weekend at Rockingham. We had sunshine, cool breezes, and some of us sat in the shade of an underpass. We could walk to the races and it was a short drive to all kinds of shopping and eating areas. A group of us toured the Lowell National
Historical Park. A sudden rain, wind and lightening storm came up at the beginning of our program so we took a trolley ride and an inside mill tour instead of the planned canal rides. We hope to go back next year for
the canal tour. Lowell has many interesting places and is well worth a visit.
A sudden squall on Saturday had club members running around and putting up awnings of those who were not in the rally area. One of the men
asked me to have everyone put some WD40 on the handles that loosen the awnings. They had difficulty getting some of the awnings down and lost extra time trying to wrestle with stiff handles that were very hard to
turn.
Bob and I visited Thomas Point Beach and it is like a park with a beach and is very nice place to stay. FMCA members may bring pets.
Thanks, Louise
His wife pointed out that a shake was not exactly the best snack for someone that wants to lose weight.
He agreed, but he did not change his order. The long line must have given him time to make the connection between his order and his waistline.
As the clerk handed him his shake, she said "Sorry about the wait."
"That’s O.K.," he replied. "I’m going to lose it."
Helen Caserta -1st Vice Pres.
After the NEMA meeting there were separate meetings for presidents, newsletter editors, and national directors.
A round table discussion was held for the National Directors. Everyone had a chance to express their ideas about FMCA and the direction they should take in the future.
Roger Merrill - 2nd Vice Pres.
Bill Conway - Treasurer
Ruth Moore - Secretary
Charlie Atkinson - President
Opening the summer convention window from July 10 to August 20 to include June and September was discussed. A lot of different points of view, but with no clear cut answers. The majority feels it should be investigated more.
Ed Ruese - Sr. Vice Pres.
Jeff Jefcoat - Sr. Vice Pres.
Jim Jennings - Secretary
June Davis - Secretary
R. G. Wilson - Treasurer
Don McGrath - Treasurer
More Chapter Notes
Can you help by correcting these invalid e-mail addresses? . If you can, it would be appreciated. Thanks!!
Please send an email from the correct address to Webmaster.
At the Market Square Day Rally in Greenland, 2 items were left behind, a wicker paper plate holder and a black plastic dinner plate. If either of these belongs to you, please let Carol or Dave Bovee know!
FMCA is requiring all Brunswick attendees who are parked on asphalt to have wood blocks under their leveling jacks. Suitable blocks would be 12"x12"x3/4" plywood or 2x10x12 lumber. You may or may not be parked on asphalt, but you should be prepared!
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GRANITE STATERS Early June 2000 Carol Bovee, Editor |
Dave Bovee, President
I have arranged for a Granite Staters’ caravan to enter the Brunswick Naval Air Station on Tuesday, August 15 at 12:30 in the afternoon.
The June issue of the FMCA magazine will give directions to the holding
area, which is where we will meet for entry to the convention. In a large rally, you will park with the people that are in line with you as you enter.
It is very important that you be on time (or early) at the holding area
on
the 15th because if you arrive after we depart for the air base you will
not
be able to park with us. Arrive with water tanks full and holding tanks
empty. Please check last month’s newsletter about the required wood
blocks.
You must pre- register for the rally using the form in the FMCA magazine.
Please fill out the caravan registration form below for the Granite
Staters’
caravan and send it to me before June 26. On that date, I have to give
the
FMCA caravan coordinator firm numbers for our group.
Please call 603 863 1135 or E-mail, parsons@srnet.com if you have any
questions. This form is on our website www.granitestaters.org and you may
register with me by E-mail.
GRANITE STATER’S CARAVAN REGISTRATION FORM
I will be parking at the Rally with the Granite Staters and will be at
the
holding area by 12:30 on Tuesday, August 15. I have pre registered with
FMCA for this rally.
Name ___________________________________________
The Motorhome Season Begins!
Chichester, New Hampshire was the site for our 2000 "season opener." Over 30 Granite Staters' coaches were at Hillcrest Family Campground on that cool and occasionally rainy weekend. Yours truly got his bus stuck briefly, but a little help from the campground's tractor had me back on solid ground in a jiffy.
Our thanks to hosts Ray and Jackie Bisson, Bob and Louise Parsons, and Bill and Ginny Read for organizing this rally. Saturday night featured a pot-luck dinner, followed by several door prizes and a raffle drawing.
We held a business meeting after our Sunday morning coffee. I won't bore you with all the details, but do wish to hightlight two items. Evelyn Merrill, National Director, our legislative voice at FMCA, asked for input regarding summer national conventions. Currently, FMCA rules require these to be held in July or August. There is a proposal to widen this "window" to include June and September. This would be a bit of an inconvenience to those of us with kids in school, but would hopefully avoid the mid-summer heat in hotter parts of the country (a la Ames IA 1999). Most members in attendance at our meeting were in favor of this proposal, which will be voted on at this year's summer convention in Brunswick ME.
Speaking of Brunswick, Stet hunt informs us that we now have enough volunteers for security duty. Thanks for pitching in. Security isn't a glamorous job, but it is a very important one. If you have volunteered but must drop out, or if you want to volunteer but haven't yet, let Stet know...he might appreciate a few back-ups.
Note: If you are not a recognized "security volunteer' you will not be allowed into the rally early (Monday).
Bob Burnham continues to do a great job with our web site. The latest addition is the Granite Staters Discussion Group, (a "chat group" in computer lingo) making it possible to send a message to everyone whose e-mail address is on the list. Please note: If you use the chat group to reply to a message, expect your reply to go to everyone, too! Carol and I have received several irrelevant e-mails that way.
Our Portsmouth rally is only a few days away. We still have room. Give me a call right away! Hope to see you there!
TO THE
37th ANNUAL SUMMER GRAND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
AT THE BRUNSWICK NAVAL AIR STATION
FMCA#_______________
Phone#______________________
E-mail__________________________________________
Portsmouth, Market Square
Day Rally
June 9, 10, 11, 2000
Market Square day is a giant street fair, full of people in scenic and historic doawntown Portsmouth NH. If you choose to avoid the crowds, you can hang out at the Williams's farm, where there are nature trails, or you can head to the beach or go shopping! If you choose to join the crowds in Portsmouth, you will find vendors selling a variety of "treasures", food of infinite varieties, and entertainment as well.
Camping at
Parker's Tree Farm
576 Post Road
Greenland NH 03840
home of Jane and Bill Williams
Call or email Dave Bovee ASAP!!
(603)742-0790
dovabov@mindspring.com
Lost and Found
A tray and a dinner knife were found at the rally in Chichester. If you think that one or the other belong to you, please contact Ginny Read at (603)924-3077 or
biviread@aspi.com
James & Maureen CATELOTTI | North Adams MA | 5/01/00 | ||
David & Violet DESPRES | Peterborough NH | 5/20/00 |
The 31st of May is here again and many of you still do not have a new dues card in your pocket. A red dot on your newsletter label means that you have forgotten to pay your dues for the year 2000. Instructions for sending in dues seem to have slipped the minds of many of our members. PLEASE SEND YOUR CHECK AND APPLICATION TO THE TREASURER (BILL READ). ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT. THESE APPLICATIONS MUST BE SENT IN WITH YOUR CHECK. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
The year has started with a bang. Thanks to all the folks that turned in their tabs at the last rally. The present count is 77 ( seventy seven ) pounds or to make the amount seem even bigger that is 123,200 ( one hundred and twenty three thousand, two hundred ) tabs. It is difficult to say thank you to each individual but I want you all to know that your efforts are REALLY APPRECIATED.
A woman applying for a job in a Florida lemon grove seemed far too qualified for the job.
"Look Miss", said the foreman, "have you really had any actual experience in picking lemons?"
"Well as a matter of fact sir, yes I have!", she replied, "I have been divorced three times".
Make sure you bring lots of lucky two-dollar bills to Rockingham
The Chichester Rally went very well. The weather was cold but the members were warm and friendly. The campground owner said that we were the best-organized group that she has had stay there. So here is a pat on the back for all who attended.
Bob and I are still packing and packing and packing. Moving day is 3 weeks away.
GRANITE STATERS PRE-RALLY’ AUGUST 12 and 13TH
FMCA International Convention, Brunswick Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine
You do not have to go to the pre-rally in order to be a volunteer and park with the volunteers. Some volunteers will enter the Naval Air Station on Monday, August 14. We are planning to have a pre-rally at Thomas Point
Beach in Brunswick Maine. This campground is less than 2 miles from the convention site. I am taking reservations for Thomas Point and I will take care of letting them know how many sites we need. If you plan to arrive before Saturday or stay after Monday, you can contact the campground directly with your expected arrival date but you still need to let me know about your Saturday /Sunday plans so my count will be accurate. The Jersey Gems are sharing security duties with us and are staying at Thomas Point Beach.
Bob and I visited Thomas Point Beach and it is like a park with a beach and is very nice place to stay. FMCA members may bring pets.
Please fill out the reservation form at http://www.granitestaters.org/brunswick1ns.htm and send it to Please send your reservation and checks by June 26
COME AND JOIN US
Thomas Point Beach, Cook’s Corner, Brunswick, Maine
(207) 725 6009 E mail summer@thomaspointbeach.com
August 18-20, 2000
Bill Read, 406 Sand Hill Road, Peterborough, NH 03458 so I can give the campground a firm number.
Thanks, Louise
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From Dave Bovee, President
Some days I’m not sure which side of the line I’m on. I saw that quote somewhere... I think it came from Dave Barry.
When I was a kid, probably 10 or 12, I read a magazine article about a big Airstream Trailer rally. There was an aerial picture showing hundreds of them parked in a field somewhere. I couldn’t imagine why people would want to bake themselves in their tin-cans-on-wheels in the hot sun. I still don’t quite understand it, but thirty-some years later, I am one of those people!
Driving my old Greyhound is one of my favorite hobbies. Carol, my wife, is less enthusiastic about the bus, especially in hot weather. It has no A.C. If I were completely sane, I wouldn’t own a 45-year old bus, and probably not a "store-bought" motorhome either. We’d drive our van or fly on vacations, and stay in hotels like "normal" people. But would that be as much fun?
See you soon, sane or not
Coming attractions
Our first meet is coming up soon in Chichester, followed three weekends later in Portsmouth. Our complete season schedule is inside this newsletter. I’d also like to highlight a couple rallies of interest that are not on your schedule.
Chapter Leaders Spring Rally, 2-4 June, Schaghticoke NY. Bruce Brown is hosting this spring’s gathering for Northeast Area Leaders, and any other interested FMCA members. The various meetings and workshops sound like great opportunities to learn more about how our association and its chapters work, and making them even better. Those of you who haven’t yet volunteered for a leadership position in a chapter will also benefit from this weekend. Speaking of which, a couple of our key people would like to step down after this year. Please make it known that you’d like to help the Granite Staters thrive. Please volunteer for something... it’s a very rewarding experience.
Co-Pilots’ Rodeo, 27 Sep-1 Oct, Devens MA.
National Director’s Report
February 7th found 35 Granite Staters and Green Mountain coaches gathering in the K-Mart parking lot ready to caravan into the Southeast Area Rally. We all managed to stay together while travelling the last few miles so we could all park together.
On Friday our Northeast Area Vice President, Bill Gowen, held an informal social hour for all families from the northeast. He spoke briefly about the upcoming Brunswick Rally where they expect approximately 8000 coaches.
Following the Brunswick Rally, the Perfect Circle Chapter and the Scotia Roamers Chapter are planning a rally on Prince Edward Island. Dates are Aug. 24, 25, & 26. (See application.) They are limiting it to 800 coaches, so if you are interested, get your application in early.
A Mr. Jerry Yeatts has been hired to replace Ginny Bauman. He is currently working with the state of California to have legislation passed to lift the ban on motor homes over forty feet. There are also 22 other states with this same law. He will also be handling the contracts for future rally sites.
This is all from Florida. We will be leaving here and heading for the National Rally in Ponoma, CA. Will have more news after that. See you in May.
Evelyn Merrill
Got Wood?
FMCA President Charlie Atkinson announced that any Brunswick attendees who are parked on asphalt will be REQUIRED to have wood blocks under their leveling jacks. You can’t blame the Navy for not wanting us to make holes in their runways! Suitable blocks would be 12 x12 x 3/4 plywood, or 2 x 10 x12 lumber. You may or may not be parked on asphalt, but please be prepared.
Here we are again for another season of motorhoming. I feel that this report from your Membership Chairman should start by welcoming all the new members who have joined the chapter since the beginning of the new millienium.
The 31st of May is just around the corner. If any of your membership cards have the date 05-31-2000 your dues are due. Please fill out an application form and return it with your check to the chapter treasurer (Bill Read). (See www.GraniteStaters.org/membappl.htm for the application blank. Use Back to return to this page.) Please PRINT all of the information on your application as it makes it easier to read. You may think an application is not necessary, but I assure you that it makes the treasure's and the membership chairman's work a lot simpler and helps to keep our records up to date.
TABS, TABS, TABS
I hope you have all been saving soda tabs for the Shriners Childrens Hospital and please bring them to any rally you attend. I will start picking them up at the May rally in Chichester, NH.
JOKE OF THE MONTH
Stet and Bob met one day at a motorhome rally and Bob said to Stet: "I just purchased the most expensive hearing aid ever made. It is imported and guaranteed for life."
SEE YOU IN CHICHESTER
FROM THE WAGONMASTER
I hope you like the 2000 schedule, which is in this newsletter. It is possible because of the cooperation of volunteers. Other members not listed are Stet Hunt who helps with parking, Norman and Barbara Cote who have gone for morning goodies, Alan Bryant who cooks a mean pancake.. Those names come to my mind right away but there are certainly others involved. We needa few more helpers. . Please contact me and volunteer and you will discover that ACTIVE MEMBERS ARE HAPPY MEMBERS.
Have you checked out our www site? It is www.granitestaters.org and is super, thanks to our computer guru Bob Burnham. There is a list server started for Granite Staters and that will give you the latest information. So far, only a few are on it but more will be added. Bob has had difficulty reading the correct e-mail addresses from your applications.
GRANITE STATERS 'PRE-RALLY’ AUGUST 12 and 13TH
FMCA International Convention, Brunswick Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine August 18-20, 2000You do not have to go to the pre-rally in order to be a volunteer and park with the Granite Staters. Some volunteers will enter the Naval Air Station on Monday, August 14. We are planning to have a pre-rally at Thomas Point Beach in Brunswick Maine. This campground is less than 2 miles from theconvention site and we will be able to avoid the main road entrance. I am taking reservations for Thomas Point and I will take care of letting them know how many sites we need. If you plan to arrive before Saturday, you can contact the campground directly with your expected arrival date but youstill need to let me know about your Saturday /Sunday plans so my count will be accurate. The Jersey Gems are sharing security duties with us and are staying at Thomas Point Beach.
Motor home clubs from all over the United States are trying to stay at Thomas Point Beach so we must get our reservations in early to assure our spaces will be reserved.
News from the current newsletter
GRANITE STATERS May 2000
Carol Bovee, EditorThere is a Fine Line Between Hobby
and Mental Illness
I often hear comments about how people will buy a huge motorhome and start driving it, with no experience or training. If you and/or your spouse want to improve your driving skills and be more comfortable behind the wheel, or are considering trading up to a bigger coach, here’s your golden opportunity.
As usual, Bruce and Anne Brown were excellent hosts serving coffee and donuts in the morning and hosting a social gathering every afternoon at four.
There were 2218 FMCA family coaches, 400 vendor coaches and 175 live in vendor coaches.
President Charles Atkinson held a National Directors Seminar. The following items were discussed:
The spring rally in 2001 will be held in Oklahoma City, April 3, 4, & 5. Future locations being considered are Redmond, OR and Hutchenson, KS.
The Governing Board will be asked at Brunswick to widen the window for summer conventions, which is mid-June to mid-August to include September. This will make more locations available to the rally committee for consideration. I would appreciate your feelings on this.
The long-range planning committee handed out questionnaires. Bob Burnham will put it on our website. (Webmaster's note: Oops! Where did it go?) Please read it and e-mail your comments to me so I can notify national our feelings. My e-mail address is: REMERRK10@aol.com.
National Director
AMICK, Frank and Ruth F203304 03-16-2000 renewal (welcome back) BARNES, John and Phyllis F256046 01-12-2000 CAVANOUGH, John and Mary F270403 03-16-2000 COURNOYER, Randy and Pat F242416 01-12-2000 FRANCIS, Bob and Ellie F237518 02-08-2000 GARNEAU/MAHANEY
Leo and RoslynF213680 02-10-2000 GEORGE, Larry and Mary Ann F164582 01-03-2000 GREENWOOD, Maynard & Sayako F245910 02-05-2000 JEWELL, Edward and Susan F271479 02-04-2000 (newest FMCA member) LOURIE, Raymond and Barbara F182563 02-09-2000 LYNCH, Edward and Ann F269783 01-12-2000 METTLER, Bruno and Margrit F262154 01-06-2000 NEWELL, David and Debbie F227471 02-08-2000 O'NEILL, Arthur and Joan F237449 04-11-2000
Stet: "That really sounds great, how much did you pay for it?"
Bob: "Five past three".
Upcoming Rallies
Click the links below for rally details and reservation forms, or see the Rally Schedule.
Hillcrest Family Campground
Portsmouth Market Square Day
Fathers Day Bash at the Track
Top Guns Rally and Auction
Baseball Weekend with the Keene Swampbats
Pre-Convention Rally
The FMCA Summer 2000 National Convention
Northeast Area 'Post Brunswick 2000' Rally
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The PRESIDENT Says:
HAPPY WINTER!
SANDWICH Birthday Rally:
BROOKSVILLE, FL, FMCA Southeast Area Rally, 9-12 February 2000.
MYRTLE BEACH, SC
* * *
Until next time,
SECURITY 2000
Our chapter membership has now reached two hundred and eleven with the addition of our latest members. We want to welcome our new members to the Granite Staters and hope that we see them at many of our gatherings. Let me introduce you to:
The 1999 camping season ended at Salisbury Beach, MA. last October. I was very pleased to present over one million can tabs to the Shriners Children Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts. I hope we can continue to keep up this good work and go over the number that we presented to them this past year. Again I would like to thank all of you that contributed all these tabs and encourage you to keep up the good work.
DUES This is also the time of year that we need a little reminder that dues will be payable on June 1, 2000. Please make this job easier for the Treasurer and Membership Chairman by paying yours on time. Thank you. Remember our bargain on dues! One year for ten dollars five years for forty-five dollars.
Happy New Year to all! That’s all folks See you next time!
FROM THE WAGONMASTER
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. Here it is January 3, 2000 and the computer did not crash. We turned it off from Dec. 30 - Jan.2nd. Perhaps that was silly but it made me feel better.
It is time to think about the National Rally in August, which is in Brunswick, Maine. Please see the article in this newsletter and respond as soon as you know your plans. I must give the campground owner an estimate
of the number of sites we need.
We need a few more hosts (for the 2000 rallies). Please contact me and volunteer and you will discover that
MYRTLE BEACH with the Yankee Travelers April 30 - May 7 at the Myrtle Beach Travel Park Registration deadline is February 1, 2000. Please contact Margaret LaRose, 10 Old Plainfield Road, Canterbury, CT, 06331-1223, tel. 860 546 9898 for registration information.
Many volunteers will enter the Naval Air Station on Monday, August 14. We are planning to have a pre-rally at Thomas Point Beach in Brunswick Maine. This campground is less than 2 miles from the convention site and we will be able to avoid the main road entrance. I am taking reservations for Thomas Point and I will take care of letting them know how many sites we need.
If you plan to arrive before Saturday, you can contact the campground directly with your expected arrival date but you still need to let me know about your
Saturday/Sunday plans so my count will be accurate. The Jersey Gems are sharing security duties with us and are staying at Thomas Point Beach.
Louise Parsons, wagon master
Granite Staters, Ray and Jackie Bisson have become distributors for Enviro-Tech, the manufacturers of Dri-Wash and Guard. As you know, Dri-Wash and Guard is a very good product for the care of your Coach and
Automobile. If any member is in need of locating a distributor, feel free to contact us at 603 543 0210 or E-mail @ rbison@turbont.net
The PRESIDENT Says:
It’s been a great fall season for us, starting with our traditional gathering at Sandwich, and two more events since.
Co-Pilots Rodeo The 3rd annual Rodeo was held at Devens, Mass. Sept 22-25. The Granite Staters were well represented at this event, hosted by the Safari Club of New England (SCONE). I again volunteered as a driving instructor. An un-used housing area at the former Army post made a very realistic driving course... real streets, real houses, and real driveways to practice parking in. Driver training was the main event, but there were also many seminars on safety, first-aid and CPR classes, and the Blue Ox Challenge Course. This was a skills test set up by a team from Roadway Express, based on professional truck driving rodeo courses. Our own Shirley DeCoste scored very near the top. Way to go, Shirley!
Our thanks to Rallymaster Bill Gearin, the many dozens of volunteers, the dealers who provided the training coaches, and everyone else who helped put this thing together. I’d especially like to thank the "student" drivers who came to improve their skills, making their RV’ing safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Without a doubt, this is the most worthwhile event I’ve been involved with in my 9 years with FMCA. If you missed this one, look for it again next year!
Salisbury Beach Our hosts David and Judy LeBlanc picked a weekend with perfect weather to close our camping season. On Saturday morning we had the traditional coffee and donuts, after which Stet Hunt updated us on plans for our volunteer duties at the national rally in Brunswick next summer. (More info elsewhere in this newsletter.) Later that morning, Bob Parsons presented the Shriners with the million-plus tabs we’ve been saving for the past year. That’s a lot!
I had to cut short my socializing to take daughters Amy and Mara to their soccer games. (Amy’s team won their game, while Mara’s team lost.) It is fun watching their ever-improving play. We returned to Salisbury Beach in plenty of time for a delicious dinner with our group at the Hungry Traveler Restaurant. I couldn’t help but notice Saturday night’s campfire was very sparsely attended at first, but then we figured it out... the others were watching the Red Sox - Yankees playoff. After the game, we had a crowd!
On Sunday morning we said goodbye. Most of us won’t see each other again until spring.
Next Year’s Events: For you Snowbirds going to Florida, Bruce Brown is organizing a caravan into the Southeast Area Rally in Brooksville in February. The Yankee Travellers are again planning to meet in Myrtle Beach SC for a week in April/May, and the Granite Staters are invited.
Those of us staying up north can look forward to spring. Wagonmaster Louise Parsons is putting together an exciting array of meets for next year. I can hardly wait!
Since this may be the last newsletter for a few months, let me wish each of you a great winter, and happy holidays!
Membership Chairman's Corner
We have had ten new members join in September and October
Tabs
Wagonmaster's Report
Please let me know ASAP what you would like to do as I need to give them an estimate of how many sites we need and what day(s). This is a survey only but I do need as accurate a number as soon as possible. Please E-mail, write or call me.
Salisbury Beach Rally
Mice in the motor home
2000
Myrtle Beach
Louise Parsons, Wagonmaster
You did it. You elected me as your President. When I offered my services to the nominating committee earlier this summer, I hadn't intended to become president, but apparently that is where I can best serve the chapter. I'm a pretty busy guy, but am happy to accept this job.
Since many of you don't know me very well yet, allow me to introduce myself and my family. We're the ones who own that old Greyhound bus. My resume includes graduating from Clarkson College in 1983 with a Business Management degree. I have done a variety of jobs, including construction, bus and tractor-trailer driving, and driving instructor. About nine years ago, Carol's dad and brother asked me to join them in their family's business. I did. Working in a machine shop was quite a change. It's nice to have nights and weekends off, especially with kids. My wife, Carol, recently took the helm as newsletter editor. She keeps quite busy with hobbies such as pottery, singing in her church choir, and being "Mom". Our children are Amy (age 10), Mara (7), and Sam (4).
c
Brunswick 2000 Security
Birthday Bash 2000
I will be at the co-Pilots Rodeo in Ft. Devens, helping folks brush-up on their RV driving skills. I hope to see you there, or at our Salisbury Beach rally in October!
Speaking of the Lawn Chair Brigade, we are scheduled to march in the parade at the Southeast Area Rally in Brooksville FL Feb. 9-12. We will caravan in together so we can park together. You must be pre-registered to park with us. We would love to have you march in the Lawn Chair Brigade (but you don't have to). We will train you at a pratice at the rally.
Welcome to Dave Bovee, our new president. As host of the legendary "Portsmouth Flood" rally he proved himself to be a hard working and capable leader. Did you know that he is also the most popular driving instructor at the annual co-Pilots Rodeo? His wife, Carol, is our newsletter editor. They have three woderful young children and a converted Greyhound bus.
Membership Chairman's Corner
I have always enjoyed saying Hello to the new members of our chapter. WELCOME TO YOU ALL.
Tab Collecting
Granite Staters Decals
Sorry, no room left for a joke this month.
Wagonmaster's Report
A tentative 2000 schedule is in this newsletter. Please note that we still need hosts. Meets without hosts will have to be cancelled. We enjoy ourselves at the Granite Staters weekends and we want to have meets at least once a month during the camping season. The members who participate and help have the most fun. Now is the time to contact me and help keep this club active and friendly.
See you at Salisbury. Do you think that we will be lucky enough to have a repeat of last year's perfect weather?
Remember, please, to get involved and offer to be a host. ACTIVE MEMBERS ARE HAPPY MEMBERS
Louise Parsons, Wagonmaster
News from the current newsletter
GRANITE STATERS January 2000
Carol Bovee, Editor
From Dave Bovee, President
2000 is shaping up to be a busy year for the Granite Staters. We’re bringing the new year’s first newsletter a little earlier than planned. A few hot topics:
Dates have been changed to 8 - 10 September 2000. This change was necessary to avoid a scheduling snafu with the fairgrounds. I hope we have announced the new dates early enough to minimize confusion.
As announced in the last newsletter, Bruce and Anne Brown will lead a caravan for the Granite Staters who wish to enter and park together on MONDAY, Feb. 7th. Anne says they have 28 others planning to join them, and expect more. The Browns will host a social hour each afternoon, and our (famous?) Lawn Chair Brigade will perform in the parade. Rally registration info is in your "Family Motor Coaching" magazine. For more info, contact Bruce or Anne by phone (321) 264-9441, cell-phone (407) 258-7370, or e-mail: annebrown66@hotmail.com
The Yankee Travelers have invited us to join them April 29 - May 6. for more info.
Those of you who are spending your winter at home in New England have plenty of company, including yours truly. Rather than driving my bus, I am doing some repairs and renovations as time and the weather permit. The first Granite Staters’ rally is 4 months away. If I stay busy on the bus projects, that should be plenty of time. Whether you’re working or playing, staying in a warm climate or here in the cold, I hope you’re all having a good winter.
As of now we have 66 volunteers from Granite Staters, and 36 from New Jersey Gems. Our goal is 136. Some of the volunteers will be going in Monday the 14th of August. Security will start on Wednesday, August 16th and proceed through Sunday, August 20th. Each day, we will start at morning coffee and go until the end of the evening programs. I’ll have more information in the near future.
George and Patricia MADDEN F134733
21 Alken Street
Derry, NH 03038
603-432-2245
Last year I made a New Years resolution. I went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy eating and in fourteen days, I lost exactly two weeks.
COME AND JOIN US
FMCA International Convention, Brunswick Naval Air Station,
Brunswick, Maine, August 18-20, 2000.
603 8631135 or parsons@srnet.com
Dry-Wash and Guard is also made for the home and does a very good job on items such as the shower, counter tops, windows, mirrors and non porous surfaces. We are looking forward to serving your needs.
Email us at
Granite
Staters@GraniteStaters.org
To the Granite Staters Home Page
News from the current newsletter
GRANITE STATERS November 1999
Carol Bovee, Editor
The Granite Staters membership at printing time stands at 207.
The Granite Staters have done it again. We set a goal of collecting 500,000 tabs from soda and other cans and we ended up turning into the Shriner's Hospital for Children in Springfield 1,087,320. I hope we can do better than that for the 1999-2000 year. Everybody please pitch in and get all your friends to help you collect the tabs. Help Us Help Children. (webmaster's note: see http://www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/Directry/Springfield.html to see how our tabs are used.)
The latest information that I have from FMCA indicates that as volunteers we should be prepared to enter the Naval Air Station on Monday, August 14. I have found a place for us to meet and enter as one group. It is less than 2 miles from the convention site and we will enter by back roads and avoid the congestion on the main roads. We would need to stay at the pre-rally site on Sunday night in order to assemble and enter as one volunteer group. We could also plan to stay there for Saturday night. We will try and find out if those entering the convention site later in the week will be allowed to park with us. The pre-rally safari field site is Thomas Point Beach in Brunswick, Maine and the charge will be $20 per night, $5 extra if there is electricity; there is a dump station there which costs $5 also.
Enter on Saturday, August 12________
Enter on Sunday, August 13________
Name and FMCA number__________________________________________
We were lucky again with the fine weather at Salisbury. I think that there were 90 motor homes there and what a great weekend we had. Thank you David and Judy LeBlanc. Norm and Barbara Cote "delivered the doughnuts" each morning. There were many requests for a repeat of this rally for next year so it is on the schedule.
Perhaps Bob and I are sensitive to this issue because we live in a wooded area. I read two articles during the year and I am passing the information on with no guarantees. We are trying both methods to keep the little critters outside the motor home. 1. Buy peppermint leaves from a health food store, crush them and put in old panty hose and put in drawers etc. 2. Buy either Bounce or Downy (I can’t remember which so we bought both) fabric sheets and place them in drawers, closets etc.
The 2000 schedule is in this newsletter and we need a few more hosts. Please contact me and volunteer and you will discover that ACTIVE MEMBERS ARE HAPPY MEMBERS.
MYRTLE BEACH with the Yankee Travelers, April 30 – May 7 at the Myrtle Beach Travel Park. Registration deadline is February 1, 2000. Please contact Margaret LaRose , 10 Old Plainfield Road, Canterbury, CT. 06331-1223 tel. (860) 546-9898 for registration information. Medieval Times and the Dixie Stampede dinner theaters are scheduled for May 1 and May 3. There will be other entertainment announced on the site.
On a sad note, we will miss Bill Drinkwater. He and Ilean were tireless workers on behalf of FMCA and motor homing. They were very instrumental in bringing the national rally to Maine in August 2000. We send our condolences to Ilean and the Drinkwater/Guild families.
News from the current newsletter
GRANITE STATERS October 1999
Carol Bovee, Editor
Our "Birthday Bash" gets a little bigger each year. Many of us arrived in the pouring rain on Friday. Luckily, we had a dry building for our activities. The weather cleared overnight, giving us gorgeous early-fall weather for the rest of the weekend.
Our thanks to Darrell and Helen Mann, and everyone else who did a super job making this a fun event. Saturday started off with a pancake breakfast, followed by a business meeting and installation of new officers. Shirly DeCoste is our new vice president, taking over from Stet Hunt, and yours truly succeeds Bruce Brown as president. I should note that many of our door prizes, and our coffee, donuts, and breakfast were donated by Gary's RVs of Chichester and Hill's RVs of Conway. Due in part to their support, everyone was given a $10 rebate on their registration fee! Jim's RV of Sayre PA also provided several door prizes. That's really unexpected, considering they're 400 miles away! We're all bombarded with ads from the mega-size RV dealers in Florida and elsewhere, but don't forget the "little guys". Here are three who are trying very hard to earn our business.
The Granite Staters and another chapter are planning to to share the security duties at the national rally next August. Stet Hunt is our liaison with the rally organizers. They would like about 75 Granite State volunteers for such duties as checking people's badges entering events, etc. ... more details in coming months as plans firm up. Any rally, large or small, requires volunteers to make it happen, If we have lots of help, no one person needs to carry an undue burden.
Darrell and Helen Mann would like to let someone else organize the Birthday Bash next year. If we continue our tradition in Sandwich, this would be relatively easy, since Darrell and others have established contacts. There were also several new venues suggested, including a ritzy banquet at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston ME. Personally, I like Sandwich the best of the alternatives discussed so far. If you have any thoughts on this matter, or might want to host a rally, please contact Louise (parsons@srnet.com).
From the Ex-President
Anne and I were both moved by your show of appreciation when I left office at that great Sandwich Rally. We have both enjoyed serving you the last four years. This is a great club. I am pleased to be appointed "Social Director" which means I can continue to host social hours and to lead the Lawn Chair Brigade.
The present list of active members is now 196 (motor coaches).
We now have collected 872,560 tabs. For you who may be interested, this is 532 pounds. I want to thank ALL of you who have helped make this project such a great success. Please accept my thanks for a wonderful JOB WELL DONE. Please keep up the good work as we go into our third year of collecting to help kids at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield MA. (webmaster's note: see http://www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/Directry/Springfield.html to see how our tabs are used.)
The new Granite Stater decals were on display at the Birthday Bash in Sandwich. (one was included in the mailed newsletter.) Please display it on the lower portion of the co-pilot's window. Additional decals may be obtained for one dollar at any future rally.
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