Hoosier Cruisers arrive at Circus City

Peru welcomed the Hoosier Cruisers last Thursday and even published an article in the Peru Tribune about our club. Rally master Don Orman was quoted saying "we've been here before...but it has been several years". Nineteen coaches and at least 20 grandchildren and children took full advantage of the wonderful opportunity to visit the Circus City Festival. It began Thursday with dinner at a unique restaurant called the Siding. We had our own buffet and sat at tables in old railroad cars.

Friday was a day of exploring and shopping at the festival and downtown Peru. I thought we would never see some of the women again. Friday night was a pitch in dinner with our host providing a wonderful beef brisket as the main entree. As always, we had the best side dishes possible from some of the best cooks in FMCA. The rest of the evening was relaxing mostly watching the kids and a few adults play numerous games. The water balloons were definitely the biggest hit.

Saturday brought some excitement as we headed downtown to the festival parade. Our rally masters had arranged private parking and we were escorted to our own barricaded lot. Boy did we feel special. The parade was excellent and started with a fly-by of an Army Huey gunship and appropriately our National Anthem. It was then on to the circus. Boy was I surprised. The performers ranged in age from 6-18 years of age and showed great courage, poise and professionalism. We were even treated to a seven women pyramid on the high wire performed by an all women wire act. The show closed with a great performance on the trapeze. These kids are awesome, very talented and definitely dedicated. I'm sure there were many proud parents in attendance. The evening was continued with a great catered dinner and we were then entertained by a local blue grass band singing many familiar songs.

On Sunday Bettie Wessel led us in devotions which were wonderfully geared to the children. Assisted by Betty Behnken it was the perfect conclusion to our visit. All in all a very successful fun filled rally due in large part to our terrific rally masters Don and Lou Ann Orman and there assistants Duane and Lois Stoner. Well done!!

Sauder Village- A Trip Back In Time

We started our journey several weeks before when Dick and Janice Schumaker asked us to help with the June rally. We were a little cautious but since they were the seasoned rally masters what could go wrong.

The coaches started rolling in on Thursday and we all headed to the " Home " restaurant for a great meal and wonderful service that evening. Following a pitch-in breakfast we toured an Indian Village and moved on the Pioneer Times. All the houses and shops had period greeters to explain their jobs and of course there were retail shops as well so the economy got a boost from our visit. Following all of that we met for happy hour and dinner at the Barn Restaurant and called it a day.

Saturday began at the Sauder Village Hotel for a nice continental spread. Afterward the ladies learned to knit a ruffled scarf and the men went to a tractor event. I was really impressed with how quickly the first time knitters picked it up. Several of them finished their scarfs the next day.

Saturday evening we had a pulled pork dinner with everyong providing sides and desserts. As usual the food was delicious and I ate too much. After dinner we played the Newlywed Game.

The Tilmanns, Winebrenners Lisles and O'dells didn't know much about their spouses so it was great fun and lots of laughs. We also had a good time playning card bingo and finished the nite with a nice campfire back at the coaches.

Sunday we had coffee and rolls followed by a church service with an inspiring talk by Dennis Filson. Jerry Hardacre lead us in song and it was time to say good bye to old and new friends.

Being a host is an exhausting but wonderful experience. I would encourage everyone to think about hosting or at least helping with a rally.

See you all down the road and keep all of us in your prayers. Connie Decausmaker

Hoosier Cruisers Have a Heavy Heart

It is with profound sadness that I report the loss of our great friend and Hoosier Cruiser Bruce Bailey. Bruce passed away suddenly early Wednesday at the GLASS rally. Our hearts and prayers go out to Beth and their entire family at this most difficult time.

We now have more information on the arrangements.
Calling will be from 6:00-8:00p.m. on Saturday at the Ballard and Son's Funeral Home in Daleville Indiana. The funeral will be Sunday at 4:00p.m. at the Daleville Christian Church. A complete obituary notice can be read at www.ballardandsons.com

Circus City Bound

The Ormans and Stoners have arrainged a great rally for "children of all ages". Many are already planning on bringing their grandkids to this fun event in Peru, Indiana and this rally should be very special. The newsletter will be out soon but you can print the info and registration form from the documents below. Just put your cursor on the document and right click to enlarge and or print. The rally masters need to have a head count as soon as possible so lets all help out by getting our registration forms in quickly.

Celebrating the Kentucky Derby

The May Rally celebrated the Kentucky Derby and the coaches began to arrive on a beautiful day on Thursday. The campground, Follow the River, proved to be an excellent site for the weekend activities.  The large sites and fantastic meeting room enhanced the planned events.  That evening the members went to Mo's Steakhouse and later were treated to popcorn and the movie, “The Long, Long, Trailer”.  Even though it is an older movie it highlights many of the misfortunes that have happened to many of us.  It was interesting to see so many laughing and punching their spouses in the ribs when they saw situations that they too had found themselves in.

Friday began with a pitch-in breakfast and no one went away hungry.  The food was delicious.  Those attending had the day to choose from many interesting points of interest in Vevay including two museums, many small shops, one of the oldest hardware stores in Indiana, Markland locks and Belterra Casino.  In the evening members enjoyed a “haystack dinner” which included just about everything except the kitchen sink.  The club was lucky that the stormy weather held off so that members could enjoy carriage rides and live music.

The next day Nancy Ruster prepared her homemade donuts and Hoosier Cruisers left at 8:15 for the Power Plant tour.  The plant was built in the mid 1950’s and continues to produce electricity from coal.  It burns 100 train car loads of coal a day.  The guide shared many interesting facts including a bomb shelter was built below the control center.  Two additional tours were available including a behind the scenes tour of the Lanier Mansion and a tour of the Shrewsbury-Windle House.  In the evening the group watched the Kentucky Derby on a big screen TV.  Those attending got in the spirit of the derby by wearing “Derby Hats”. The day concluded with a horse race.  Each person had a horse that they had to move along a track.  It was an activity that was filled with raucous laughter as players exchanged places with opponents or moved to the head of the pack.  Winners were given prizes for their efforts.

The rally concluded with a church service at the Markland Baptist Church which is a little white clapboard church.

June in Archbold, Ohio

We've got a great rally in June with thanks to the Schumakers and Decausemakers.

This will be a great trip back in time. There is a bit of a time sensitive aspect however. We need to register at the campground by May 20.2012. So get your reservations in soon and look forward to a great rally. All the info is in the newsletter but just in case here it is again. If you want to print it just put your cursor over the document and left click to enlarge. Then right click and print..

May Rally Update Information

For those members traveling to Vevay, IN, the May Rally.  Please be aware that there is road construction in the area.  The best way when traveling from the north is to travel to Versailles and then take Hwy. 129 south to  Hwy. 156 and turn left (east).  Go through Vevay about 5 miles and the campground is on the left.

A tour of the Madison Power Plant has been added.  A limited number may take this tour.  If you are interested contact Greg Wessel, 765-749-3386.  There is no charge for this tour.

Just a reminder-we will be watching the Kentucky Derby in the meeting room and members are invited to wear their Kentucky Derby hats.  Your hat can be humorous or fashionable.  Join in the fun.

In Sympathy

Sadly, Ernie Clashman has informed me that former Hoosier Cruiser Owen Kiel has passed away at 84 years of age. The funeral is Thursday at Burns-Kish Funeral Homes, 8415 Calumet Ave,
Munster, Indiana. The thoughts and prayers of all Hoosier Cruisers go out to his entire family.

FMCA Family Renunion

I've been asked how the club can camp together in the volunteer area at the Indianapolis rally. Each member should register as usual selecting their area of choice ie electric, full generator, partial generator etc and pay the indicated fee. I am assuming most attending members will assist the club in its responsibility to man the FMCA store as volunteers. We then need you to let me know you are attending the rally so you can be added to the volunteer list. There is no pay for this volunteer service. This will then be submitted and you will receive additional credentials. Volunteers will enter the grounds on Friday. We will work out a way to caravan into the grounds so we can be together as much as possible. If you are unable to caravan with us you should still be close enough for convenient happy hour gathering. This is a great opportunity to attend a national rally very close to home. I'm looking forward to seeing all of you there. Rick Hahn

Off to the Races - May Rally

All Hoosier Cruisers are invited to a fun filled weekend in Vevay and Madison Indiana. The Wessels and Rusters have planned a variety of activities that should appeal to everyone.

On Thursday, May 3rd, members will arrive at the Follow the River Campground that is a first class facility that offers long concrete pads and full service hook-ups at each site. We will also have the use of the meeting room that is air-conditioned or heated, and have access to a large projection screen which we plan to use to see the Kentucky Derby at no additional charge. All members attending are invited to participate in an optional dinner at Mo’s Steakhouse in Vevay.

Friday will begin with a pitch-in breakfast in the meeting room at 9:00 a.m. Steve Ruster has agreed to have the coffee going by 8:00 for those early risers. After breakfast members may visit the two museums in Vevay at no charge. Coupons will be provided in your welcome bags from Vevay. Members can car pool to the museums and explore them at their own pace. Other possible sites of interest include the Belterra Casino, Markland locks, Danner’s Hardware and Village Gift Shop, Ridge Winery, Dutch discount and scenic driving tours. Lunch is on your own, but plan to attend the “Haystack” dinner in the meeting room. If you have never tried a “Haystack” you are in for a treat. After dinner members will go to Vevay for the monthly festival where there will be live entertainment and free carriage rides. What Fun!

Saturday will start with Nancy’s “World Famous Homemade Donuts”. The rest of the day will be spent in Madison with shopping and tours. Members may participate in a “Behind the Scenes” tour of the Lanier home and/or visit the Shrewsbury-Winkle home which has a free standing staircase which is an architectural wonder. After a busy day in Madison members will return for a “happy hour” before dinner which is “Kentucky” fried chicken with the clubs great cooks providing the sides. The campground will also have the telecast Kentucky Derby shown on a large screen in the meeting room. Continuing with the derby fun members are encouraged to wear their own Kentucky Derby hats (the wilder the better). The day will end with our own derby with the winners receiving prizes.

On Sunday, a continental breakfast will be provided and the club has been invited to attend a rural church service at 10:30 which is next to the campground.

Click on the registration below to sign-up for this event:

The Wessels and Rusters are looking forward to seeing all of you after this year’s winter adventures.