Region 6
IN KY MI OH WV
Regional Directors
Chuck & Michelle Steenwyk (20036)
Hello Everyone! We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to all of the Parking & Registration volunteers who helped at the International Rally in Lewisburg, West Virginia!! It is a big job, and we could not do it without the help of all of our volunteers……THANK YOU!! We would also like to thank all of our volunteers who helped us with the Newmar Kountry Klub Merchandise Store at the rally. Your help during set-up and the rally was tremendous…. THANK YOU!!
We remember way back when time seemed to pass so slowly. Now it seems we barely have time to fit everything in. You know what they say….time flies when you are having FUN!! I guess we are just having too much fun. We have laughed so hard at rallies and even cried with friends at rallies. We have made new friends and lost treasured friends over the years. The Klub has truly been a blessing to us. As we look back, we have asked Ron & Wanda Llewellyn former Region 6 Directors, Members At Large & International Directors to share their experience with Newmar with all of us …. the following is their journey with Newmar.
Ron & Wanda Llewellyn (16303-L)
Reminiscing about our years as the Region 6 Directors brings us joy and fond memories. It is only one of our steps of involvement with the Newmar Kountry Klub. We joined the Klub in 2004 when we bought our first Newmar, a Dutch Star that we thought was very elegant. We enjoyed it during our entry years in the Klub when we joined two chapters in Ohio, the Buckeye Kountry Travelers and the Cardinals. Both chapters brought us closer to other RV enthusiasts and introduced us to a variety of very enjoyable people from all walks of life. After serving a year as President of the Buckeye Kountry Travelers, in 2011 we were appointed Region 6 Directors. We served in that capacity until 2015 when we were elected Members-at-Large. Our final step in the Newmar Kountry Klub was to International Directors in late 2019, where we served for four years. As you can see, our journey took us to activities with the Klub though many years and many miles of traveling.
Thinking back about our most memorable rally as Region 6 Directors would probably be our first rally held in Zanesville, Ohio at the county fairgrounds. Since we were from Ohio, we had knowledge of the area and what might excite and entertain our attendees. We visited The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio. It was voted the BEST SAFARI PARK in Ohio in a recent USA Today poll. At that time, they did not have a campground but have since increased their animal population and included a campground. None of our attendees had visited this unique adventure so we all enjoyed our open-air bus tour of many animals not native to Ohio. They even have a zip-line tour where a guide stops at each animal location and shares unique information as you watch the animals below. However, it was quite chilly, and no one attempted the zipline, although there were many challenges!
In addition to The Wilds, we visited the Zane Grey Museum, the John Glen Homestead where portrayals of his family brought the homestead to life, the only Y bridge in North America, and a local bronze sculptor. Of course, there was lots of food and fun. Getting to know members from throughout Region 6 was icing on the cake!
And this was just the beginning! We also hosted region rallies in Richmond Hill, Indiana in 2012, Georgetown, Kentucky in 2013, and Bellville, Michigan in 2014. We did not have a chapter in West Virginia until our last year and were not able to have a regional rally there.
Each year we enjoyed meeting new people, visiting new places and making life-long friends. One remembrance that keeps coming back to us was our first visit as Region Directors to that State up North. We weren’t as familiar with those people…yet! At a Michigan and Illinois Joint rally, everyone was enjoying a day of games. Most of you are familiar with hillbilly golf, which we had never played. But were paired with the Cisler brothers who knew they played the game well. And of course, they beat us. Then they worried they should have given us the game since we were the new Region Directors. That began years of fun and enjoyment with our Michigan friends.
We found many unique people in our Region that we might have never had the privilege of knowing if it weren’t for the Klub. One couple who came to our rescue several times are Ralph & Nancy Dennis who we appointed as Kentucky State Directors. Our first rally with them introduced us to a kind, knowledgeable couple who knew their state well. We soon learned that they were great storytellers! They often entertained us with stories of their interactions that left all of us in tears of laughter. We even asked them to share some of their stories at Rally in the Keys we hosted.
State Directors complete the team effort as they all come together to help with our duties for the International Rallies. We were privileged to have Indiana State Directors Bill & Alice O’Brien and Steve & Phyllis Thornburg, Kentucky State Directors Mike & Marilyn McEvoy. and Ralph & Nancy Dennis, Ohio State Directors Jerry & Phyllis Rose, Michigan State Directors John & Carolyn Williams, and West Virginia State Directors Ray & Lisa Hollen and Bill & Beth White as our support people. They all worked diligently in the efforts for the Klub. We were able to visit all chapters in our region at least once a year and several state rallies each year. We worked with the best possible team of people and were able to increase memberships significantly each year. Several continue their positions, and we are proud of all of them.
As Region Directors we joined a team of special people who are very dedicated to the Newmar Kountry Klub. When we first began our duties, Region Directors had different assigned tasks each year for the International Rally, except for the Parking and Registration which was normally done by the Region where the event was held each year and the Region from the next year. This meant learning new expectations of duties each year. Eventually, if we wanted to keep our duties from the prior year, and we weren’t doing Parking and Registration, we could keep our assignments from year to year. This allowed for better planning and working with knowledgeable teams. As Region 6 Directors our first International Rally was in Essex Junction, Vermont where we were in charge of service, suppliers, games, and new model displays. Our second International was in Gillette, Wyoming where we were in charge of food service and seminars. Our third was in DuQuoin, Illinois where we co-chaired parking and registration. Our fourth was Escanaba, Michigan where we chaired the parking and registration. Our last International Rally was in Lewisburg, West Virginia where we again chaired parking and registration along with Region 1 as co-hosts.
We would encourage all members to work with your chapters, States and Regions to learn more about the workings of the Klub. Get involved. See how it’s done. Be prepared for change, as that is up to the next generation to establish the wonderful experiences we have had in the Klub. We learned so much working with former International Directors Barny & Barbara Barnett, Jim & Wilma Weeks, and Bob & Bonnie Krieger. We were blessed to have five continual years with directors from other Regions who became a family to us. We also learned from former Members-at-Large Jim & Sue Hagedon and current Members-at-Large Evan & Debbie Hughes.
As always, we were in positions to work with many of the Newmar Corporate Staff and employees. They were a vital resource for all our activities, and we sincerely appreciate the time and effort they put into all our Klub activities.
The duties of Region Directors might appear staggering, but we can assure you, you will be truly blessed by the experience. The comradery grows from year to year. Teamwork brings satisfaction. Traveling to each of your State and Chapter rallies, and locations of the International Rally is worth the time and effort. Our State and Chapter Officers become very special to our calling.
Be sure to plan your travels to the Region 6 rallies this year.
Remember, if you are traveling through the area, you can still register and join the fun. If you have questions, just call the host listed in the Calendar of Events.
We have many more stories we could share, but alas, our space is limited. Come and sit by our Newman and enjoy more stories, more history and lots of laughs.
REGION 6 – 2024 CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
July 10 – 13 – Michigan Great Lakers – Shipshewana, Indiana Amish Rally
July 16 to 20 Indiana State Rally – Bremen, Indiana
July 24 – 27 Ohio State Rally – Sauder Village, Archbold, Ohio
August 7 – 10 – Hoosier Kountry Klub & Illinois Kountry Kuzzins Joint Chapter Rally – Knox City Park & Recreation – Ouabache Trails Park, Vincennes, Indiana
September 4 – 8 – Region 6 Rally – Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping – Mackinaw City, MI
September 22 – 25 – Hoosier Kountry Klub – Fair Oaks, Indiana
September 25 – 28 – Kentucky State Rally & West Virginia Traveling Mountaineers Chapter – Joint State & Chapter rally, Renfro Valley KOA Holiday, Mount Vernon, Kentucky.
September 4 – 8 Region 6 Rally – at Mackinaw Mill Creek Campground – Mackinaw City, Michigan
September 22 to 25 – Hoosier Kountry Klub chapter rally – Fishers, Indiana
October 2 – 5 Buckeye Kountry Travelers & Lake Erie Drifters Fall joint rally – The Resort at Erie Landing, Port Clinton, Ohio
October 9 – 12 – Michigan Great Lakers – Gilmore Car Museum Rally – Markin Glen RV Park, Kalamazoo, MI
*Everyone from any region is welcome to join us at any of our rallies!
*Visit the NKK website for the most up to date information on these and other events!
