Tim Buchholz (12344)
Florida Pelicans – President

Well, it’s mid-August as I prepare this article for our NKK Magazine. Hopefully, there is something here for Pelicans, Buddies, and guests to check out. Our chapter has a “Dynamic Duo” of Jim & Mary Kennedy at the helm of Membership recruiting. With their streamlined method of getting chapter information to new owners and non-members, we have added 30 owners to our rolls since the first of the year.

Then during the International in Rock Springs, Connie & I added nine (9) more owners to the rolls. I would like to acknowledge those folks that have joined since June 1 this year. They are Gus & Pat Hawkins; Lowell & Liz Olmstead; Jack & Brenda Dunkin; Larry & Linda Martin; James & Sandra Chitwood; Vince & Donna Minnillo; Bruce & Betty Mayberry; Tommy & Becky Rygiel; Richard & Pam Behrens; Chuck & Karen Stone; Bob & Mary Sue Briggs and Larry & Sheryl Foster.

Back to SW Florida for a moment: Pat Hartman has been arranging the monthly luncheons, and we have an uptick in attendance in July. There were 16 folks in attendance that got together for lunch in Fort Myers. That number is going to increase as folks head back south in the September/October time frame.

Now up north and west: The International in Rock Springs was a huge success from most people’s point of view. I volunteered for the parking business and Connie worked on locating with the parking crew. As the rally started, both of us volunteered each day to shuttle folks to wherever they were wanting to go within the complex. We met so many fine new folks, and it felt good to help make the rally special for many. The attendance was about 444 coaches with 218 or so being first time attendees. That in itself is remarkable. The weather was warm, and the winds were strong coming off the mountains in that part of Wyoming.

You will probably read it elsewhere, but I must mention it here. Our friend Wayne & Susan Burke, Pennsylvania State Directors, are involved in a Caring & Sharing Program for the International Rally. Their enthusiasm and drive resulted in raising about $17,000 dollars plus funds to build an outdoor building for the local Animal Shelter. Wayne & Sue also reside in SW Florida and can always be seen at the Newmar NKK Lunch at the Golden Corral. We certainly left a warm and wonderful impression with the folks in Rock Springs.

Moving on: Connie & I headed further west to Salt Lake City for about two weeks. The best thing we could do there was take a drive up in the mountains to cool down. The weather was 99-100 degrees each day. Connie somehow got COVID, and I had a very mild case of it. The Salt Lake is in the throes of drying up it seems. There has even been conversation of at some point, piping in water from the Pacific Ocean. From the roads you can see nothing but dry bottom with the lake somewhere out there. I took a trip out to the Bonneville Salt Flats as that event was opening while we were there. So, I got my chance to drive around on the flats and then spend over an hour washing all the salt off when I got back to camp.

Leaving Salt Lake City, we headed east and stopped in Casper [100 degrees]. Then to Rapid City where we took the afternoon to mingle with the folks at the Sturgis Rally and then on to Minnesota. There we joined Newmar folks at their Minnesota State Rally. Again, we met some more great folks. We then travelled to Princeton, Minnesota where our son will let us roost until we head toward Savannah, Georgia in October for our Region Five Rally. When that is completed, we go directly to Punta Gorda, Florida for our Pelican “Welcome Back Rally.” Our Hosts, Susan & Gary Duchesneau and Gerry & Allen Smith, have an interesting rally planned for 20 coaches.

Enough said again, Till then, Happy Trails by Newmar to All. We can be reached at Tim.buchholz80@gmail.com Cell: 239-464-0219.