Region 3
AR KS LA MO OK TX
Jim & Lorie Landers (20761)
Region 3 Directors
Past Region Directors
Larry & Patsy Wood (12255-L)
Larry joined the Klub in 2001. Larry became Region 3 Director in 2008. Patsy joined him in 2009. We retired the first time in 2011 when our good friends from Texas, Larry & Katie Harrington, agreed to step into the role of Region Directors. In 2018, Larry Harrington passed away after battling cancer. We agreed to step back into the role for a year. Five years later, we retired for the second time.
Larry has loved the Newmar Kountry Klub. He was able to retire from his job as maintenance manager for the Tulsa State Fairgrounds at the young age of 55 and spent the next 25+ years traveling. He and Patsy have hosted several special events including four different trips to Alaska as wagonmaster or tailgunner, a trip to Newfoundland as wagonmaster, tailgunners for the Lewis and Clark adventure and three seasons as hosts of Christmas in Branson. In addition, they have also traveled with NKK on the Western Caravan to Glacier National Park. His first International Rally was at Sedalia, Missouri, in 2001.
One of my favorite memories was the International Rally in Nappanee in 2009. I was still very new to RVing at that time, although Larry was already a Region Director. I was very naïve about the RV lifestyle, but I jumped in feet first.
As we traveled from Tulsa to Nappanee, it was so much fun to be able to watch the world go by in that big, big window as I sat back in my recliner with my feet up. Having our own kitchen with our very own refrigerator was wonderful! Even more wonderful was having our own bathroom that we didn’t have to share with anyone.
Every year, the Region Directors meet two weeks before the International Rally. The first week was spent going over rules and regulations and discussions of what changes or improvements could be made. We spent time getting to know each other, and we had fun activities and lots of good food to eat. The second week was spent at the site of the rally doing the physical preparation for the International Rally and preparing for whatever jobs we had been assigned.
The Directors meeting that year was being held at what we called “The Miller Compound.” The owner of Newmar was Mahlon Miller, and he had the PERFECT spot for us. For those of you who haven’t been to Nappanee, it is an Amish/Mennonite community. It isn’t unusual to share the road with horse-drawn buggies and bicycles ridden by ladies in dresses or bearded men in their distinctive clothing. The Miller family is Mennonite. The Miller Compound was located in the middle of a cornfield. It consisted of the home, which was mostly used for large family gatherings, a barn to house the equipment for the farm, and a pond with a circular driveway with full hookups for 10 motor homes. (9 Region Directors and 1 International Director.)
Our Directors meeting was held in the home. It was not fancy at all. The kitchen work area was small. The living room was large and was furnished with many swivel rockers. At first, we wondered why; but then we realized that when the family got together there were lots of babies and children that spent time in the laps of their mothers and fathers. The upstairs area was open and looked like the greatest spot to have a family slumber party that ever existed. There was a room with a huge table where we had our meetings and ate our meals, which were cooked by Mahlon’s wife, family and friends. The food was delicious and definitely home cooked! The Miller family was wonderful, humble and grateful to be able to serve us in any way they could.
It was so quiet and peaceful there. Occasionally you might catch the sounds of horses on the road. However, as Larry & I were having lunch in our motor home one day, we suddenly heard what sounded like a plane trying to land on top of us. It was LOUD and scary! We looked out the windows and didn’t see a thing. We went back to eating lunch. About 30 minutes later, the same thing happened again. This time we saw what it was. It was a crop duster plane just doing its job! It had flown right over the top of us.
We have made so many lifelong friends in the Newmar Kountry Klub. It has been a wonderful experience. Even though we just recently sold our 2003 Mountain Aire with more than 200,000 miles, we still participate in some rallies and luncheons. We enjoy seeing and visiting with our Newmar friends every chance we get.
Current Region Directors
Jim & Lorie Landers (20761)
We joined Newmar Kountry Klub in 2015 before taking delivery of our coach, a 2014 Ventana 4377. Within the first month we had the opportunity to attend a Chile Peppers chapter rally. Boy, were we surprised when we parked in our site that right next to us was the exact Ventana 4377! It’s the first and last one we have ever seen. Ted & Ruth Ann Hines owned that coach and were happy to show us what they had added and changed to make it perfect for them. Lacking a tow vehicle turned out to be a great way to meet people. (We needed rides)!
We attended our first International at Pueblo in 2016. Our state director term started in 2018 and ended in April of 2024 when we became Region 3 Directors.
Our most memorable rally was our last state rally as state directors which took place in September of 2024. This was a two-stop rally focused on the culture and history of the Pueblo Peoples of New Mexico. Included were presentations and performances by native musicians and artisans, professional guides, authors and historians. Inspiration and co-hosting support was provided by the current New Mexico State Directors, & Bob & Wendy Wilkerson.
Our Region Director experience has been informed by the opportunity to work with other Newmar Kountry Klub leaders on the challenges and enormous opportunities connected to our Klub’s growth and continued success.
We can be reached at nkkregion3directors@gmail.com or
505-508-9353 Jim, 505-977-9828 Lorie
UPCOMING REGION 3 EVENTS
July 24 – 27 Kountry Sunflowers Chapter Rally, Abilene, KS
August 21 – 25 Kountry Sunflowers Chapter Rally, South Hutchinson, KS
September 15 – 18 Bayou Kruisers Chapter Rally, Breaux Bridge, LA
September 24 – 28 Missouri/Kansas Joint State Rally, Carthage, MO
November 6-8 Kountry Lone Stars South, Aransas Pass, TX
November 10-13 Bayou Kruisers Chapter Rally, Livingston, LA
SEE THE KLUB CALENDAR ONLINE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS AND CONTACT INFORMATION.
