Spike Kramer & Kay Warnock-Kramer (18573)
Region Two Directors
As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, we find our wings starting to spread wider building more muscle so they can move faster in preparation for joining the annual snowbird migration back to the Pacific Northwest. This year’s migration route took us from Yuma, Arizona to Palm Desert, California, California for the California State Rally the first week in April. Once that was concluded we then headed north on the roads less traveled (US-395 and US-95) to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, then on to our permanent nesting spot in Belfair, Washington. We stopped along the way to visit Bish’s RV in Meridian, Idaho and Blue Compass RV (formerly Appleway RV) in Liberty Lake, Washington. We also stopped at Blackwell Island RV Park to finalize some of the arrangements for our September joint Region Two/Washington State Rally.
Region Two will have three Klub rallies this summer, if you are looking for something to do in June come join Terri & Terry Roberts for Evergreen Aires Chapter Rally being held at Smokiam RV Resort on the beautiful shores of Soap Lake in Soap Lake, Washington. Soap Lake’s mineral-rich waters have long been thought to have medicinal value. Native American Tribes frequented Soap Lake to relax and heal themselves and their animals. Soap Lake was once known as the “world’s greatest mineral sea.”
After spending early July thru mid-August traveling to, attending, and traveling home from the 38th Annual NKK International Rally in Pueblo, Colorado we finish our rally schedule in the month of September with the Oregon State Rally being held on the beautiful central Oregon Coast city of Newport at the Newport Marina RV Park on the shores of Yaquina Bay. Linda & DJ have a great itinerary including a motorcoach tour of the beautiful coastal points of interest in that area. At the time of drafting this article there are still spots open, better get them while they last.
When that rally has ended, and you are lost for something to do, four days later the joint Region Two/Washington State Rally starts on the shores of beautiful Lake Coeur D’Alene at Blackwell Island RV Park in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. We plan to keep your tummies full and entertain you. We plan to renew the old Eastern vs Western Washington rivalry by checking out your bean bag baseball skills (all attendees are eligible to play). We will also plan to have some free time to explore the area on your own. Unfortunately, this rally has been full since mid-December, but we do have a waiting list.
As we find the weather moderating, we, and the Oregon State Directors will begin in earnest to solicit for volunteers to fill the Officer positions of the Oregon Pioneers’ and the Idaho Spudnuts dormant Chapters. Finding members to join these chapters is not an issue, filling the officer positions is. Being an officer of a chapter probably sounds daunting, but it is not, it is one of those things you get out of it what you put into it. For instance, the duties of President as listed in the Officers manual is a truly brief list of 3 things: 1) Run the day-to-day operations of the chapter, make appointments as necessary, approve expenditures of chapter funds and delegate authority to members of the chapter. 2) Preside over and conduct a Business Meeting (minimum of 1/year) IAW Roberts Rules of Order, and 3) Annually submit the Incoming Chapter Officers Information form. Vice President: 1) Fill in for, advise, support Chapter President. 2) Take over the office of President if current President cannot finish their current term. Secretary: 1) Take minutes of meetings, 2) Keep copies of Chapter records, 3) Keep an accurate up-to-date list of members, 4) Advertise your Chapter Events, 5) Submit a list of Chapter Members as of December 31st along with a check to the State Directors. Treasurer: 1) In charge of all chapter funds, 2) Keep a record of Chapter income and expenditures, 3) Compile Treasurers report for Chapter Business Meetings, 4) Do the Annual Chapter Financial Report, 5) Keep the Chapter financial records and reports. The term of these offices is one (1) year, and the Klub does provide some benefits for people holding these positions. Yes, there is the requirement that the Chapter does have at least one rally per calendar year, and yes, the Chapter is asked to support the State and Regional Directors, and there is submission of an article to the Legacy Magazine every two months. But note it is the Presidents job to delegate things, not perform them.
Why would I want to host a rally one might say! Here is our cut on this: 1) The host gets to pick the location of the rally, the RV park the rally is held at, the time for the rally, the food that is served, the itinerary of the rally and etc., all this at little, or no, expense to the rally host. Yes, you do have the time you have invested, but planning any adventure takes time. As a rally host you have the personal satisfaction of seeing the smiles on peoples face after they have participated in an event they never would have done on their own, had a meal they never would have ordered, won the $13 pot on Left/Right/Center night, cooked smore’s around the camp fire, or complimented you on how much they enjoyed your rally, and hard work, at the “farewell’s and good-bye” breakfast on the last day of your rally. Yes, the first one you do is a bit stressful, but well worth it in the end. Some would say they cannot wait until the next one.
We look back at the rallies we have attended over the years, been to locations and done things that we always wanted to do but never had a reason to go out of the way to do them. For instance: 1) Always wanted to go on a jet boat ride up Hells Canyon on the Snake River, Clarkston, Washington, it is a long way and off the beaten path from Belfair, Washington. 2) Luncheon Cruise up the Hanford Reach, only natural flowing part of Columbia River that exists in Washington State and a tour of Hanford Museum. Grew up in Tri-city area of Washington, been there too many times to count but never thought to do it, now we have. 3) Learned about how wine is made and blended, how vineyards are tended to provide the best fruits for wine making. We like wine, now we know what it takes to make it. 4) Heard about the healing qualities that a dip in Soap Lake in Washington State afford, been by it, again to many times to count, now have the opportunity immerse these aging bones in the lake to see what it’s all about, 5) Who would have guessed that there was an underground area beneath the city of Port Angles, Washington, yup there is, 60 miles from home never heard of it, 6) Seen many pictures of the Coachella Valley taken from the Tram that goes to the top of Jacinto Peak in Palm Springs, California. Now we get to experience it thanks to the California State Rally. Kay and I have traveled through Coeur d’Alene, Idaho many times, always said we should stop and spend some time, guess where our first rally is being held?
Hope this article piques some interest in wanting to become a Chapter Officer, a Rally Host or fill any of the open State Director positions in Region Two. Please feel free to contact a member of the Evergreen Aires Chapter, Oregon or Washington State Directors, or us, if it does. Without chapter officers we have no chapter! Any of us will be happy to talk with you in more detail.
A reminder to everyone attending the International Rally in Pueblo, Colorado this summer, if are interested in volunteering your services, stop by our Food Service volunteer table when negotiating the rally registration process. We offer a chance to eat before anyone else does, an excellent selection of desserts and a chance to engage with all rally attendees.
Happy trails to y’all, save travels, may the wind be at your backs.
Region Two Calendar of Events:
June 9-13, Evergreen Aires Chapter Rally, Smokian RV, Soap Lake WA.
September 16 – 20, Oregon State Rally, Newport Marina RV Park, Newport OR.
September 25–29, Region Two/Washington State Joint Rally, Blackwell Island RV Park, Coeur d’Alene ID.
SEE THE KLUB CALENDAR ONLINE FOR COMPETE DETAILS AND CONTACT INFORMATION