May 31, 2009
Hello All:
After a very long and cold winter, rally season is upon us again. Our first rally of the year was hosted
by Danny & Gail Leonard and co-hosted by Herb & Sue Felter at the Bill Monroe Campground in
Beanblossom, Indiana. It certainly was good to see everyone and catch up on all the news. The turnout
for this rally was terrific. Those attending were Jerry & Carol Hardacre and grandson, Josiah, Tom &
Judy Robinson, Gale & Joan Scheller, George & Patti Stavropolos, Jim & Nina Francis, Jean and Barb
Zielinski, Alice, Scott and Jodi Blind, Ron & Mickie Alberter, Rick & Kathy Groves, Jim & Connie
Bucksot, Joe & Tommie Nash, Bob & Paula Young, Dick & Joan Clay, Bob and Jan Israelson and Jan's
sister, Kay Peirce, Larry & Jolly Whitener and new members, Melvin & Nancy Coy.
The rally activities started off with a social hour on Thursday evening. Friday morning, we toured For
Barefeet Sock Factory. It was absolutely an interesting tour, with everyone receiving a pair of socks
at the end. For Barefeet Sock holds the licenses on all of the pro teams, a very large number of
colleges and many other organizations. There were amazing machines, old and new. It was one of the
cleanest facilities I've ever seen. One of the most interesting facts was that one of the machines cuts
off the tops of the socks and those pieces that are cut off are used to make potholders. Many of us
made potholders as kids with weaving looms. www.forbarefeet.com
On Friday evening, our potluck dinner was held at the Cottonwood Christian Church. Lowell Hardacre
(Jerry's brother) is a member of this church and helped facilitate the dinner. It was a quaint little
church with a remarkable Pastor. Pastor Miller stayed with us during the evening and shared many
stories. In lieu of our 50/50, an offering plate was passed and we gave the collection to the church.
Abe Martin Lodge was the location of our dinner on Saturday night. The food was great. There
happened to be a Mustang Car Show. It was fun to reminisce about the cars of our pasts.
The host and co-host did a great job of feeding us, entertaining us and arranging this great rally.
Traditions were still intact. There was a run for ice cream and nightly campfire gatherings.
A business meeting was held after breakfast. The secretary read minutes and a treasurer's report was
given. It was announced that two MAB members are running for BOA offices: Tom Robinson, Candidate
for National Executive Vice President and Jolly Ann Whitener for National Secretary. Please
remember to vote to support our chapter members. Herb Feltner was been appointed Editor of the
Bounder Beacon. Congrats to him. Gail Leonard has taken on the job of our “sunshine girl”. If you have
any news about our members, please get in touch with Gail so that she may keep in touch with them.
News & Concerns:
Our sympathies go to Lowell Hardacre on the loss of his lovely wife of 53 years, Carolyn. Our prayers
and thoughts are with him and his family. Our sympathies also go to Ron Rutherford and his family on
the loss of his wife Thelma, in December, 2008.
Dave Czerniak is having rotator cuff surgery early in June.
Alice Blind is making good progress with her arm, and Scott Blind is tackling issues from his accident.
Rick Groves is making a nice recovery from 7 bypasses in open-heart surgery. He will be doing his
cardiac rehab in Cape Coral, FL during June.
Bob Hansen is doing well after having surgery on his leg veins.
Larry Whitener has completed his recent treatments and is doing well.
Tom Robinson has a new email address: bounder.tom@gmail.com. They also have new phone numbers, so
check the roster.
Herb Feltner has so kindly agreed to update the MAB Cookbook which was originally printed a few
years ago. He will be adding new recipes to the cookbook, so please send your favorites to him at
chf4328@sbcglobal.net .
It has been a LONG time since windbreaker jackets have been ordered for club members. Dick Clay
has found all the ordering information for us. They will have a large logo on the back and a small chest
logo. They will be tan, but the supplier warns that since so much time has passed since last ordered,
there MAY be a shade difference from previous colors. If you want your name on the chest, there will
be a $4.00 per jacket up-charge. Prices are as follows: SM thru XL: $30.50, 2XL: $32.50, 3XL:
$34.50. Supplier says the order will take two to three weeks from date of order, so if I have the
money in hand by Friday, June 19, I will place the order on Monday June 22. We MUST have a
minimum order of six jackets to place the order. If you will not be able to attend the July or August
rallies, and want them shipped to your home address, those charges will have to be added on as we ship.
Please send the following info to Dick: name(s); how many of each size; what name?, shipping address or
deliver at next rally; and don't forget to include your check! If you don’t have Dick’s address, contact
me and I will forward it to you.
Upcoming Rallies:
June 18-21, 2009 Hosted by Robinson & Francis
Lakewood Campground, 1217 W Rickelman Ave, Effingham, IL
Reservations need to be in by June 1, to assure you will be with the group. Camping fees are $23 per
night. Check in is at 1:00 PM Central. For reservations call 1-800-961-1198
www.camplakewoodcampground.com
Driving Directions: From I-57/70, exit 160, N 0.7 mi on SH32/33 to Ford Ave. (Ford dealership on
corner), E (right) 0.4 mi to Raney St. (water tower), N (left) 0.5 mi to Rickelman Ave. (‘T’ intersection
– people from right have the right-of-way, be cautious), W (left) 0.3 mi (entrance on left). There are
small signs along the route.
What to expect? Late Thursday afternoon we will gather to visit (bring beverage of choice and a bag
of something to share - chips, cookies, etc.). Dinner following is on your own. Breakfast on Fri., Sat., &
Sun. provided. All noon meals are on your own. Fri. evening we will eat out at Niemerg’s Steak House
(great food at reasonable prices). Sat. evening, the meat will be provided, everyone brings a dish for a
potluck dinner. We have scheduled nightly runs to area ice cream stores. You will get a packet when you
arrive listing area attractions if you want to wander. There is free lake fishing (no license required),
approx. 25 restaurants, a Wal-Mart SuperCenter, and Menards – all within a few miles of the
campground.
July 16-19, 2009 Hosted by Groves & Zielinski & Scheller
Sunny Brook RV Park, 68300 County Road 388, South Haven, MI
Reservations need to be in by June 7, to assure you will be with the group. Check in is at 3:00 PM.
For reservations call 888-499-5253
www.sunnybrookrvresort.com
Driving Directions: From the South Bend/Chicago area, take I-94 East into Michigan, exit at I-196
North to Exit 20/Phoenix Road (South Haven). Turn right, go two miles to the entrance to Sunny Brook
RV Resort. For Indiana folks, come straight north on US31, which runs directly into South Haven.
South Haven is less than an hour into Michigan. From Indy it is 198 miles from Springfield it is 294
miles and South Bend 62 miles.
What to expect? On Thursday evening, bring your snacks for an informal happy hour. We will be
having our Potluck dinner on Friday night at the Clubhouse. We have made arrangements with a local
eatery for our evening out dinner on Saturday night. They have very reasonable prices and you order
off the menu. The campground has a theme that weekend if you care to participate. It is called
“Christmas in July/Decorate your site” contest. This is a historic area on the Lake Michigan shore with
lots of things to see and do. The downtown shopping district is quaint and the Lake Michigan beaches
are gorgeous. Golf, fishing and relaxation is in abundance. There are lighthouse tours, winery tours,
farmers markets, boat rides, a chocolate factory and Michigan's Maritime Museum. The RV Park has
everything imaginable and you wouldn't even need to leave the grounds. There are horseshoes,
shuffleboard, fishing, Wi-fi Internet access, swimming and nightly campfires. There is no additional
cost for any of the activities at the park. Also, there is the Sherman Dairy Bar and DQ very close to
the park for nightly ice cream runs.
August 20-23, 2009 Hosted by Feltner & Hardacre
Middlebury KOA, 52867 S.R. 13, Middlebury, IN
Call 800-562-5892 for reservations
www.middleburykoa.com
September 17-20, 2009 Hosted by Israelson & Serio
Willow Rose Campground, Bridgeton, Indiana
Sites are $20 per night for Electric and Water
Make reservations:
www.willowroseproperties.com
September 22-25, 2009 ***BOA/BU Joint Rally***
Bethpage Campground, Browns Lane, Urbanna, VA
804-758-4349
www.bethpagecamp.com
October 15-18, 2009 Hosted by Zielinski & Clay
Double J Campground, 9683 Palm Road, Chatham, IL
217-483-9998
www.doublejcampground.com
Just a reminder that our Rally Fees are $7.50 per person.
Through the Windshield
As I write this, Judy and I are in the quaint town of Gatlinburg, TN in the heart of the Smokey
Mountains. It is a beautiful setting for the Gaither Family Fest, which is a whole lot of gospel music
over a 3 day period. Our children bought our tickets along with a sizeable debit card for our 50th
wedding anniversary. So here we are, just relaxing and having a great time. It is good to take a break
from the BOA/BU Merger issues. I'm sure I will return to the task in a few days with renewed vigor.
The writing of a constitution went very quickly. The bylaws are proving to be much more demanding and
is requiring a lot of work from all members of the committee. Vince Soplinski (BU co-chair) and I are
very confident that the committee will be able to provide the memberships with the necessary
constitution and bylaws to get a combined group started.
Since we are just getting our camping season started, let me suggest that as a random act of kindness
you stop your officers every once in a while and let them know you appreciate the time they are taking
to keep the chapter going. Now that I think about it, you probably should do the same for their spouses
since they are the ones giving up time also. The North Central Region is one of the best if not the best
region in BOA. We may have only two chapters, but both are large in numbers with great leadership.
Also, every one of you is willing to step forward for the common good by serving in any way asked.
That is what makes our chapters so great - and fun to be around! And, after the next election, 4 of the
10 national officers will be from North Central. Just another example of how willing the people from
North Central are ready to serve.
So, give yourselves a pat on the back, give each other a pat on the back, and let's all enjoy another
great season of fellowship and fun!
Tom Robinson
North Central Vice-President, BOA
President’s Corner
I trust everyone had a good winter and have found ways to survive the recession. I guess we can count
our blessings that the fuel prices are not as high as last year at this time. Nevertheless, we are
counting on a great camping season again this year.
Our July rally is going to be a bit “out of the box” by creating a new adventure in the state Michigan.
The Groves, Zielinskis and Schellers are putting together an exciting rally, and hope you all can attend.
Everyone needs to get their reservations in very soon to get a guaranteed space in the group. I have
extended an invitation to the Michigan O Bounders members to join us if they are so inclined.
Over the years, MAB has established itself as a very friendly group with family like attitudes. For
this I am very proud to be a part of this organization.
We are in the midst of the BOA Elections. If you have not sent in your ballot please do so ASAP.
Mail it to the BOA Secretary no later than June 10, 2009 and put your name and/or BOA number on
the outside of the envelope and the word “Ballot” in the lower left hand corner of the envelope. We are
privileged to have two of our MAB members running for national offices, Tom Robinson for Executive
Vice President and Jolly Ann Whitener for Secretary. We need to give them our support.
On a personal note, I had to replace my front wheels and tires on the motor home this spring. As a
result, the wheel simulators (hub caps) will not work on the aluminum wheels. Therefore, if anyone
needs to replace 1 or 2 wheel “simulators” for a Freightliner Chassis with steel wheels, let me know.
In closing, I think we have a good mixture of rally locations this year. We plan to revisit some former
locations and explore several new ones for a good verity. Carol & I are looking forward to seeing all of
you at as many rallies as you can attend.
Happy Boundering,
Jerry Hardacre
President, MAB
Please forward any articles, news, info, pictures or “Look What We Did” pictures to Kathy Groves at
kgroves@mabounders.org. Don’t forget to check our website frequently for new items.
Submitted by,
Kathy Groves
Newsletter Editor/Webmaster
Visit us at www.mabounders.org