Embrace the Pace - June Rally

The bustling downtown of Nappanee Indiana is a busy gateway to Amish Country with friendly people, an on the go RV industry, and underneath it all, the quiet rhythms of Amish life. From motorcoaches, to buggies and sleighs, join us for a great weekend June 10-12, 2010. Denny and Linda Filson with the help of Steve and Cassie Lisle have put together a fun filled and educational weekend that we believe all will enjoy.

Members arriving on Thursday will enjoy leisure time to visit with friends. No dinner is scheduled however we suspect many will group together and go out to eat.

Friday morning we will enjoy a carry in of breakfast dishes, fruit and pastries. After breakfast we will be touring Precision Painting, a short drive away in Bremen. They specialize in full body painting, detailing, and interior renovations of coaches. It is a nationally advertised and known business. Open toed shoes are not allowed in their factory. In the afternoon we have a chance to watch a motorcoach be born from the first nail to the last as we tour the Newmar factory in Nappanee. Again, no open toed shoed are allowed. Friday evening dinner will be catered in the pavilion and will consist of lasagna, chicken alfredo, salad, a vegetable, breadsticks, and cheesecake with tea and lemonade included. We will have a guest speaker following dinner who will share with us the heritage and history of the Nappanee area. Saturday morning we will gather at the pavilion for another pitch in breakfast with contributions of your choice. Juice and coffee will be provided. Following breakfast, we have a unique opportunity to tour Martin’s Buggy shop where the makings of an Amish buggy will be explained and you will watch Amish craftsmen at work building and restoring buggies and sleighs. An added attraction is a large building filled with these gleaming jewels ready to purchase. We will also make a stop at the Union Center Store which is an Amish owned general store specializing in archery, guns, fishing equipment, Coleman supplies, kitchenware, and bulk foods. The owner told us he repairs all types of guns from antique to present ones and will be happy to ship yours back to you should you need one repaired. Another stop will take us to Mint City Millwork where we will tour the shop of an Amish man who makes beautiful Grandfather Clocks. Saturday evening will conclude with a wonderful traditional Amish dinner at Mullett’s Family dining, both prepared and served by the Amish. You will not want to pass on this dinner! Sunday morning the Rally masters will provide rolls and donuts, coffee and juice and breakfast will be followed by a short church service. That will bring this exciting rally to an end with farewells, wishes for safe travels, and anticipation as we look forward to our next time together.

CAMPING INFORMATION

Location:  PLA-MOR CAMPGROUND

2162 U.S.6 East

BREMEN, IN

We will have 30 amp service with water and electric.

IMPORTANT: Registration deadline is May 22, 2010

If you have questions call Denny or Linda Filson at 574-936-6493 or 574-780-0676

Registration Form - Click image on right to print.

Angel Bus

Jerry Hardacre shared the following information about an opportunity for persons who have a coach to help others.  Angel Bus is an organization that helps people who have a medical condition and limited resources to get to a distant facility for specialized medical care.  For many of these folks, a motor home is the ideal mode

to make this trip. The purpose of Angel Bus is to identify these people and put them together with volunteer motor home owner/drivers who can provide the needed transportation. 

There are three different organizations involved.  They are the Angel Bus itself, the FMCA Angel Bus chapter, and the Angel Bus Support Group.The actual missions (trips) are run by Angel Bus. They ensure that the passengers actually need the mission, that their condition will not be worsened by it, and that the driver is qualified. Angel Bus actually plans the mission and informs everyone involved as to the schedule. The Angel Bus chapter will be an FMCA social chapter that is part of the International Area. Rallies and meetings will be held where member can share their experiences and have a good time. In addition to having fun and meeting folks who have a common interest, they will also have a mission of recruiting new motor home owners for both Angel Bus and the chapter. Anyone is welcome to join any, or all, of these three groups.

Angel Bus started in 2000 and regularly conducted missions, where bus conversion owners provided transportation for people who had serious medical problems and had to get to a distant hospital or get back home. Mercy Medical Airlift currently is managing missions and has established a web site for Angel Bus at http://www.angel-bus.org/. If you have any interest in running a mission you should check out
the "Volunteer Handbook" section on the site. It should answer most of your questions.

SOME KEY POINTS

• Angel Bus volunteer drivers only provide transportation, not food or medical assistance.
• Most passengers, including all children, will be accompanied by an assistant (parent).
• Each volunteer will be thoroughly briefed on each mission before committing to it.
• Each volunteer has the right to refuse any mission for any (or no) reason.
• Trips more than 500 miles are usually arranged in a relay with additional volunteers.
• Most volunteers will be offered about one mission a year unless they ask for more.
• In most cases, each mission will begin or end near the volunteer's home.
• Angel Bus and FMCA are not affiliated with each other.
• You must be an FMCA member to belong to the chapter.
• Chapter membership does not require that you are an Angel Bus volunteer.
• Angel Bus is a 501(C)(3) charity and all expenses are tax deductible.
• By joining Angel Bus, you too can experience the personal satisfaction of knowing that you helped make a significant difference in someone's life.

If you have an interest in assisting  in this worthwhile endeavor contact Jerry Hardacre:
jhardmailto:jhard1138@gmail.com

Nominations for GLASS Vice President

Are you interested in serving as the Great Lakes Area Vice President? It is open to anyone who is not a chapter officer. This is an office of importance because the Vice President serves the chapters represented in GLASS. This person shares the views and votes on issues that will impact the district members. The length of term is 2 years. If you have any questions contact me at bjwessel@hotmail.com. I need this information by April 10, 2010. Thank you, Bettie Wessel, National Director.

GLASS Pre-Rally at the "Tilmann Ranch"

Doug Tilmann and Dick Shumaker have put together a "Pre-Rally", prior to the GLASS Rally, at the home of Doug, Betty and Dorothy Tilmann beginning on Sunday May 23rd. Their place is located at: 58965 County Road One, Elkhart, IN, 46517 (GPS coordinates - North 41o 38'18.24" West 86o 02'43.31). You can arrive any time you wish on Sunday or, if you wish you may arrive on Monday or Tuesday by prior arrangement.

The location that the Hoosier Cruisers will gather on Wednesday morning of the 26th (to caravan into the GLASS Rally) is a forty minute drive. There is room at the Timanns' to park twenty-five plus coaches so space will be a problem. It will be dry camping so arrive with full fresh water and empty waste water tanks and fuel for your generators. If you need it, you will be able to top off with fresh water when you depart. Also if you feel the need to dump, arrangements have been made for you to dump your waste water at a nearby location if you feel the need to arrive at GLASS "full and empty".

A tour of a nearby RV repair facility is on tap for Monday and an expedition to the Shipshewana Flea Market is scheduled for Tuesday plus whatever the Tilmanns and the Shumakers might dream up in the meantime. The balance of the time will be spent at campfires, Happy Hours, yakking with fellow "Cruisers" and watching the birds tweet and the bunny rabbits hop around the Tilmann joint.

Breakfasts and lunches will be on your own. There will be a pot luck Sunday night so bring a dish to pass. Betty and Janice are conjuring up a "Caldron of Chile" dinner on Monday night so everyone is requested to arrive with a dish of chili to contribute to the "Caldron" and a dessert to share. Tuesday will be a LEO (Let's Eat Out) at a local joint. There is no charge for this "Pre-Rally" nor for any of the scheduled events.

Your RSVP by phone or E-Mail would be greatly appreciated so that parking can be planned.

Contact Information:
Tilmann House 574-295-4321
Doug Cell 574-261-1611
Betty Cell 574-261-1612
Dick Cell 219-229-4825
E-Mail douglasltilmann@verizon.net

See you there,
Doug, Dick, Dorothy, Betty and Janice

National RV Great Lakers Invitation

The National RV Great Lakers have invited the Hoosier Cruisers to participate in their June Rally which will begin June 16th and end June 20th.  It will be held at the Great Darke County Fairgrounds in Greenville, Ohio.  This would be a great time to make new friends and increase your camping network.

The cost will be $15.00 a night for full hook-up.  The National RV Great Lakers are planning a catered dinner on Saturday.  More information will be available as plans are finalized.  Watch your upcoming newsletters and the blog http://hoosiercruisers.blogspot.com/.

Southern Vice President Resigns

Floyd Harding has resigned as the Southern Vice President for the Hoosier Cruisers.  The club wishes both Floyd and Pat the very best in the future. 

With the resignation of this position we find that we need to recruit someone to act as Rally Master for the October Rally. 

• If you have ever thought about the opportunity to participate in the organization and implementation of a rally, contact one of the officers. 
• If you want to learn about being a Rally Master and want to help, contact an officer.
• If you have a good idea for an October Rally, contact an officer.

Do you see a reoccuring theme?  Yes, we could use some help in the fall.  Club President Greg Wessel would be willing to talk to anyone interested in helping.  E-mail gmwessel@gmail.com. 

Thank you for considering serving in some capacity at the October Rally.

Sarasota Dinner

The dinner at Fun 'N Sun was a huge success.  There were 45 members in attendance who had traveled from all over the state of Florida to participate in this gathering.  The club's thanks go to Sandy and Rick Hahn, and Jane and Ernie Clashman for organizing this event which went off without a hitch.  It was great to visit with friends both new and old.  Along with the great fellowship members enjoyed a super seafood luncheon buffet.  If you are in the area next year, make sure that you plan to attend this fun get-together.

Dorothy Casada Will Be Missed

Dorothy L. (Ekvall) Casada will be missed by the Hoosier Cruisers.  Dorothy and her husband Ed were charter members and instrumental in the formation of the club.

The Hoosier Cruisers want to extend their sincere sympathy to the family.
Dorothy L. Casada (nee Ekvall), age 85, of Highland, formerly of Oshkosh, WI, passed away January 29, 2010. She is survived by her husband, Ed of 64 years. Friends are invited to meet with the family on Monday, February 1, 2010 from 4:00- 7:00 PM at Kuiper Funeral Home, 9039 Kleinman Rd. (two blocks south of Ridge Rd.), Highland, IN. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 2:00 PM at Lake View Memorial Park, 2786 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

May Rally - April 29th-May 2nd

The May Rally has a little something for everyone.  The rally masters and assistant rally masters have planned a variety of activities in a setting that is sure to please Hoosier Cruiser campers.  The rally will be located at West Boggs in Loogootee, IN.  Many of the campsites are located right on the lakes.  Each site will have electricity and water.  The dump station is located nearby in the park.  The campground has reserved a shelter that will be available to us for the entire weekend.  Listed below are a few of the opportunities available during this rally:

• biking and hiking
• fishing and boating
• tour engine rebuilding plant
• two museums
• walking tour of historic West Baden
• train ride on refurbished railroad cars
• Amish buffet dinner
• chili supper
• business meeting

Check out the upcoming newsletter for additional details.  One important change is camping reservations are to be made directly with the West Boggs Campground.  They can be contacted at 812-295-3421.

Click on the registration right to enlarge for printing.

The rally masters - Bettie and Greg Wessel and assistant rally masters - Mable and Bob Heath are looking forward to your attendance.  See you all in May.



If you would like additional information about the campground, click on the address below:
www.westboggs.com/

E-mail Warning

A warning from Hoosier Cruisers' President, Greg Wessel:
 Unfortunately, my email contact list was hacked and a letter in my name was sent by email requesting money for my aunt.  THIS IS A SCAM!  Only a few members emails were in the list so most Hoosier Cruisers will not be affected by this SCAM.  Please do not respond to this request.  If you need to get in touch with me I have a new email address:  gmwessel@gmail.com

I am sorry that this has occurred and have reported it to Hotmail. 
Greg Wessel
Hoosier Cruisers President