July, 2010 Konnection Article

Summer greetings from Nappanee. We have just returned from Essex Junction, VT., with Jim & Wilma Weeks getting everything lined up for next year’s International Rally. It should be a really good time. Vermont is entirely different in June than in October. There are many different things to see and do. This year’s rally is right on top of us and we’re headlong into next year already! Where’s the downtime?
We are very pleased to announce that all surviving Past International Directors will be at the International Rally at least from Sunday through Tuesday. They will be recognized at Opening Ceremonies as well as previous Region Directors and Members at Large who attend. All will have a special “VIP” ribbon to identify them. If you see one of them, please, stop and introduce yourself and thank them for all they have done for the Klub.
Mahlon Miller, the owner of Newmar Corporation, makes pens and mechanical pencils as a hobby. He has graciously donated a number of them to the Klub to sell as a fundraiser. The proceeds go directly in our Klub account. Some of the pens are acrylic, some are made from Corian scraps from the router at Newmar and some are made of wood that he has picked up here and there. They are very nice and the pen insert is the same used by Cross and it uses Cross refills. They are on sale at the Klub Office and will be on sale in the Klub Store during the rally. Barbara and I have already picked out our set.
I wrote previously about challenges being laid down to see which Region and State would have the most units at International Rally. Well, at this time, there are four Regions running neck and neck as well as five States. It should be interesting this year!
At the end of June Ralph & Sharon Martori, Region 7 Directors, retired. We would like to acknowledge all of their hard work and time they have donated to the Klub. They did a superior job in their Region as well as for the Klub in general and will be missed greatly. Ralph and Sharon have become great personal friends and we look forward to being able to relax a bit when we attend an event instead of all four of us working.
As you already know, we are encouraging all of you to bring a photo of yourselves from 1985 so others can try to guess who you are. Since we announced that, some of you have come forward with old Klub memorabilia and photos. If you have any such items, please bring them with you. We will collect them at the Information Desk during registration and display them at the Information Center in Young McDonald’s Farm (Red Barn) during the rally.
Finally, this will be Barbara’s and my last article. Jim & Wilma Weeks will assume duties as International Director after the International Rally and will begin writing their article with the September edition of the Konnection. When you are trying to write an article like this so many things come to mind and it would take a book to express all our thoughts and thanks. All the many friends we have made over the years, the things we have experienced, words just can’t describe. Barbara and I would like to thank Newmar Corporation, the Kountry Klub Board of Directors, the Miller family and most of all you, the members of the Kountry Klub for allowing us to serve in this capacity for the past seven years. This has been simply an awesome experience for us and we could not have accomplished it without the host of volunteers out there that make our Klub so special. The last couple of years have been a bumpy ride and many changes had to take place. The vast majority of you understood and have continued your undying support, for that we are eternally grateful. We are not out of the woods yet and more changes may have to be made, however, I can assure you that any changes that we have made were done out of necessity or for the betterment of the Klub. I know the same will be true of Jim and Wilma. Some say that Newmar Corporation no longer supports the Klub. NOT SO! As long as there is a Newmar, there will be a Kountry Klub. There is no way we can thank all the people responsible for the success of this Klub during our time as International Directors. I really can’t think of the proper words to describe the group of Region Directors we have worked with over these past years and no words could ever express how much we appreciate what they have done. What can one say about Vicky and Linda! Simply put, they are the greatest, nothing more can be said. We wish you all safe travels and good health. May God bless each and every one you.

NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE

There are two items of interest pertaining to the International Rally which we have not posted before:

ALLISON TRANSMISSION SERVICE AT RALLY: Inland Power Group, which does Service work for Allison Transmission, has advised us that in addition to selling parts this year, they will also be doing service that can be done in the field. Currently they plan on having technicians on grounds on August 18, 19 and 20. If enough service requests come in they will bring their technicians in a day earlier. I would encourage you if you might need any service to contact them on Monday or Tuesday at their booth in the vendor building.

TRAFFIC UPDATE: Initially we advised everyone coming in from I-80/I-90 to use exit 96, County Road 17. There is now bridge construction on that route as well so you may use this exit or exit 101, County Road 15, which goes directly into Goshen. Both roads have construction so it makes little difference. Drive Carefully!!

June 2010 Konnection Article
Goodness! Time is just flying by. Barbara and I are now back in the Office until the International Rally. When we last left Nappanee the crops had been harvested and everything looked barren, now, the cycle has again started and the new crops are up and on the way! We never tire of watching nature at its best.

We have a new Dealer Member.
Buddy Gregg Motor Homes LLC (19264)
1206 Simmons Freeway
Lewisville, TX 75067

If you are in the area and need service or a new unit, stop in and see them and welcome them to the Klub.

As most of you know, Jim and Wilma Weeks (9233-L) will be taking over as International Directors later this year. They will be working with us in the Office from now until the rally. We look forward to working with them and helping to prepare them for their new duties. We would also like to welcome Ken and Sharon Koch (18540) as the new Region 4 Directors who are replacing the Weeks. We will welcome them to their first Region Director conference in August. They are looking forward to taking on the challenges of Region Director.

With our departure, several of our Region Directors will be leaving as well, as their terms come to an end. A couple we had already extended. We are looking for replacements in Regions 6 as Jim and Judy Ploesser leave after 4 years, Ralph and Sharon Martori, Region 7 after 5-1/2 years, Ken and Marilyn Jenkins, Region 8 after 6 years and Dave and Gwen Harris, Region 9 after 6 years. They will all be sorely missed and much experience goes with them; however, we know the talent to replace them is out there. If you are interested in applying for the position in your respective Region, please contact the current Director or contact Barbara or me at the Office.

This year’s entertainment for the Rally is now set. On Sunday Mahlon Miller has graciously agreed to deliver the message at our Sunday morning service. On Sunday evening we have “The Dieners”. Some of you have heard them before. The father and all three sons have worked for Newmar, for a period of time, all at once. We look forward to welcoming them to the rally as they are surely part of our anniversary. On Monday evening we have “Phil Dirt and the Dozers”, a 50s and 60s group that can do much more. On Wednesday evening we have “The Challengers” an equally talented group who can perform most anything. Both are new to our rally. On Friday evening we have my personal pick, “Dave and Daphne”. They were last with us in Gillette and always put on a fantastic show. We think you will enjoy all of them this year. We will be using the Grandstand Stage and the covered Grandstand for entertainment. There is a track between the Stage and the Grandstand, BUT, we highly encourage you to bring your chairs and get up close and personal on the track. There is also plenty of room for dancing for those who like to “trip the light fantastic”. It should be a great time.

We will also have many of our past, International and Region Directors and Members at Large attending. We will introduce them to all of you and hope that you will visit with them at some point during the week. They were all an integral part of the success of the Klub.

The last “Official” function that Barbara and I will be doing is the Panama Canal Cruise. The sign ups are going extremely well and we invite as many of you who can to come and enjoy the cruise with us. Neither of us has ever been to Panama or the Canal and we are looking forward to it. Of course with a cruise comes “FOOD” and you all know, I LIKE IT! If you are interested you can contact Edgerton’s Travel at 1-800-731-8300, ext 3195. Please remember to check the rally information at the end of our article. There may or may not be anything new, however, please take a moment to look over the information again to make sure you have not missed anything.

Remember there are NO trams, so if you want to rent a golf cart it must be done BEFORE the rally as they only bring the number of carts that have been rented. The cost is $295 and you must contact Carolina Golf Cars directly to reserve one. Their number is 704-392-2211, ask for Sheila. Their ad is located elsewhere in the Konnection.

Kay Tibbetts reports that she has received many quilt squares for our Klub quilt. We are anxious to see the finished product. Many thanks to all who supported the project and sent her a quilt square representing your chapter, state, province, or region.

The Kountry Klub Board meeting will be held in July. If you have any concerns you would like to be brought before the Board, please send in writing to our attention by June 30th.

We have several craft classes scheduled for this year’s International Rally. Check elsewhere in this Konnection for the information. If any member would like to volunteer to teach a craft class, it’s not too late. Contact us at the Klub office.

June is always a busy month with graduations and weddings as well as family reunions. If you are attending any of these, we hope you have a wonderful time visiting with family and friends. Don’t forget Father’s Day!

April 2010