Andy Cuoto & Christine Patnode – Presidents

Well rally season is winding down in the northeast and we’re looking to get plans going for next year. Check the NKK website to see what’s available in Region 7 for next season as some rallies may have already been posted.

Here’s the short story for this month and this time it’s big. Not so long ago while attending a rally in southern Florida the agenda called for meeting up at a restaurant for lunch.  As it turned out the restaurant was very busy and putting together tables was out the question. Christine & I were new to the group and didn’t know many attendees. Everyone already had gift cards and so, we were asked to find a table or booth and sit with another rally attendee. As luck would have it, we were able to get a booth and sit with Jim & Nancy Lucas who we had never met before. After a few minutes of getting to know each other a bit and exchanging some traveling stories, we discovered their home in the winter was located just twenty minutes from our RV park where we stay in the winter.

Big Jim, who he is better known as, is a Marine veteran and also a fellow Vietnam veteran. We hit it off right away and became good friends. We meet often at our winter homes and rallies alike. Sharing stories of the past that Big Jim and I can relate to is both fascinating and fun. Don’t get me wrong here Jim’s a big guy and a former Marine but, Nancy keeps him in-line just the same.  I’m sure some of you reading this have met them and will agree that they’re great folks and fun to be with at rallies.

Jim & Nancy are from Connecticut and are New England Aires now. Besides doing rallies we’ve also caravanned together many times including to Perry Georgia and an NKK International Rally not to mention celebrating New Year’s together. Goes to show you that rallies are one of the best ways to meet old friends and make new ones too.

The stories don’t stop there but it’s time to do some planning for next year so, check the NKK website and Region 7 New England.  We have lots going on including our rally coming up next September 2025. It should or soon will be on the NKK website.

We can be reached by cell or email:  Andy: 508-789-4007 andycouto@yahoo.com,

Christine: 508-789-6225 cpatnode333@gmail.com.