Greetings my friends! So many times we have to fight the urge to say, “As this update is being typed we are on the road” or list the places and events that we have attended. I know this is difficult to believe but we are home in Hampton, Virginia as this update is being typed….unreal!
We have visited Syracuse, New York and explored that magnificent Exposition Hall. The interior floor is larger than a football field and has easy access to power for the motor home displays. We will probability be able to put service, parts, suppliers, and vendors at one end, new display model motor homes in the middle, and dining and entertainment at the other end. Initial plans are to have registration, the Klub office, and door prizes in this building. The Expo Center is conveniently located adjacent to the large campgrounds. Jerry & Phyllis Rose, Bob & Jane Hadley and Ron & Wanda Llewellyn assisted us in checking out the campground and planning for the parking teams. They have made additional improvements to the camping area and that Exposition Hall is ready for us.
The Exposition Hall will be the base camp for meals, for new coaches, for entertainment, for the Klub office, and many other events. The seminar rooms that will be across campus are large and comfortable. It will be a great time!! Stay tuned to the “Happenings, the Konnection and the website for updates as we move to October 2019. Goodness; that does sound like a long time away but it will be here before we know it.
We had several tours of the building where the seminars will be located as well as the Exposition Hall and the campgrounds. We were on site in mid-October and the weather was wonderful. Scooter was able to walk me all over the Fairgrounds and was delighted with all the grass, climbing on the piles of dirt for the horse shows, and trying to chase the geese. Hope that the weather will be the same in October 2019.
The temperatures were ideal during our visit, but the fall colors were a little disappointing; we hope they are more vivid during our rally. We also took the opportunity to scope out and meet with caterers, and discuss our requirements with a local tour bus company. Our plans were to stay an additional two days to work additional issues with the fairgrounds manager, but Hurricane Michael had other ideas. We got a call from home that three large trees had fallen and there was some minor damage to the house and utility buildings. Overall, we were truly blessed – the trees missed the house but took out the tool shed and, of course, the chain saw was in that shed! Next activity is to replace the roof and some damaged siding. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who suffered the wrath of this very active hurricane season and the wild fires in California – we were extremely lucky with only minor damage and no flooding.
There are some exciting new changes in Nappanee! We have not had the pleasure of visiting the new and improved service center and lounge but all reports and pictures are that it is magnificent! Every one reports that Newmar has done an excellent job in opening the new state of the art service location for their customers. Be sure to look elsewhere in this issue for an article by Matt Utley, Vice President of Service and Facilities Development, for an in-depth discussion of the new capabilities including the new service area campground.
Well, that’s about all for now. We have signed up Bil Lepp, our resident tall-tale storyteller and Jimmy Travis, our comedian/songwriter – both who performed for us at Gillette. Now, we need to find some excellent bands to fill in the week.
It’s about time to hit the road again – our plans are to stay east this winter, to attend the Myrtle Beach Christmas Rally, to attend the Tampa RV Super show and to attend rallies and luncheons in Florida. The dogs are eagerly gathered at the front door checking on the progress of packing the motor home, they know that it is getting cold and time to roll south!
Safe Travels…
Bob & Bonnie Krieger
International Directors
