We have enjoyed our first three year term as Members-at-Large. We have been warmly welcomed at rallies and events across the United States and Canada and had the opportunity to speak to many members of the Klub. It has been our pleasure to represent you, and bring your thoughts and ideas to the International Directors and the Board of Directors of the Newmar Kountry Klub. We thank the those members who have taken the time to share their ideas with us about how the Kountry Klub can make their experience in the Klub even better.

We would like to thank the membership, the International Directors Ron & Wanda Llewellyn and the rest of the Board of Directors for the opportunity to continue as Members-at-Large for the next three year term. We look forward to being involved in continuing to shape the future of our Klub.

As we get back into the rally spirit, things may seem different with new procedures and restrictions, but getting together safely for all is important and how we must move together until all restrictions are lifted.

So, on that note we wanted to share the many different and diverse rallies we have attended in our time as Members-at-Large. We have had the opportunity to attend rallies across the United States and into Canada. First we need to say there is no one method to host a rally, not a right or wrong way to host either. Each location and group of people bring their own flair and sense of adventure to hosting. I think we can all agree the main reason we get together is to visit with others, it is the human connection, the sharing and friendship we make along the way that draw us back to rallies.

Maybe some of our experiences will spark ideas for your group to use in future rallies.

Activities vary a lot, which is good because it enriches the experience and draws attendees together. Some rallies have a few activities or outings, and some are jam packed, including local attractions that showcases the area and encourage attendees to explore some. While staying at the campground and engaging in team games, grows friendships and foster ideas. And a mixture of both is fun for those not familiar with the local area or those who may be new to the group.

To name just a few that have stuck out in our mind as an example: the host scheduled a tour of a commercial kitchen in a restaurant that we ate in later. At one we visited a local gold mine and experienced large blasting, from a distance of course. We visited the Dusenberg and Cord Car Museum, it was a “Dusey”. Then there was a Melodrama, and a yummy chocolate factory, with tasting. We toured a German Settlement in Texas and a living bat cave in Arizona. Everywhere has something special if you think outside the box.

But, activities don’t have to be limited to outings. You can have a lot of fun for little or no cost. With things as simple as camp fires for people to meet and mingle, add simple games and give it a different focus. We were at a rally just sitting around talking one afternoon when one of the participants brought out a set of stacking blocks sometimes referred to as ‘Jinga’. I have to be honest when he pulled this out, my first thought was this was not going to be a hit. I was wrong! Attendees took turns and had a ball. We have been to rallies where everyone is broken into teams, even spouses are separated. Each team is given a name and they are challenged to create a ‘team logo’ and transfer that idea to a T-Shirt. Those teams then worked together at various games both physically and intellectual. Eventually every team won a prize, gained new friends and laughed. There have been Phantom Rally bags that appear at your rig, take something out, put something in, place the sign that you have been —- on your window and secretly place it at the door of another attendee who has not received. Yet.

Food is always a big part of rallies and many lovingly ‘rate’ a rally as a ‘five or 10 pounder’, referring to how much you have gained. There are full potlucks, partial potlucks where the main course is provided and attendees bring sides and dessert, or catered meals, and those with ambitious hosts who cook it all. And even those that travel to local restaurants. Each is fun in its own way. We may even have rallies where each person provided their own meals while COVID restrictions and provisions are in place.

We noticed that the way that rallies are priced varies greatly across the land. Some have a nominal cost, sometimes a low as five or ten dollars where everything else is paid by the attendee once they arrive. Others are all inclusive, including the cost to camp. There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these fee structures. On one hand when you see five or ten dollars for a rally fee it sounds like a good deal. However when you price camping and any additional cost for outings or activities it can add up. If you give a package price where all or most things are included you may be able to get group discounts or pricing that can bring down the overall cost. All-inclusive rallies have a tendency to give the prospective attendee a better idea of the actual cost to attend. Now with that said, there is no one way or right way to put on a rally. For smaller rallies it can be fun arriving and then as a group deciding what to do and where to go, but when a rally is large it is easier to a host to coordinate things behind the scenes. Try mixing things up, keep rallies fresh and inviting.

One thing we have noticed is the manner in which rallies are advertised on the Kountry Klub calendar. While some groups give many details and others post only a date with TBA. It’s important to remember that you want to entice people to attend, therefore giving Klub members a glimpse of what to expect is a good idea, even if it is just a little bit. So we encourage you to put as much information into your Calendar posting and update when you have the information to do so. You want to bring in new attendees. We love it when we get emails a month or so before the rally promoting the rally and sharing the plans as they unfold. We find this get people excited about the event and gives them an idea about what to expect. We have seen some rallies that actually pair up new members or first time attendees with another member who has been with the group for a while. They encourage them to make contact before the event to share information. By doing this it give the new members a better idea of what to expect and they know someone before they even arrive.

Again there is no right way to plan a rally. Any variation can work. Frankly we are happy they are not all the same or we might get tired with the same old thing. We love the variety. We love meeting new people and getting your ideas about how to make your experience even better.

We hope this gives those who plan rallies some additional ideas for planning. We also hope it gives those who may not have attended a Kountry Klub rally an idea of what they are like. We know that things may be a bit different this year as we get back into the rally mode, please be safe, kind and patient, we want everyone to feel welcome.

We hope to see you down the road soon,

Evan & Debbie Hughes (19771)
Members-At-Large