October 30, 2008
Hello All,
We have had a wonderful rally season in 2008, visiting many exciting and educational
places. It never ceases to amaze me how we can keep coming up with new and exciting
things to do. We have an equally attractive rally schedule developing for 2009 but we
need everyone’s help. We encourage everyone to take a look at the 2009 Rally
schedule and give a call to a host and offer your help. Consider hosting or co-hosting
a rally in the future, it really is fun. We still have the May 2009 rally open for a
host and co-host.
The October rally was a great success. St. Charles , Missouri is a beautiful, historic
town with charm and ambiance, and served as the final embarkation point of the Lewis
and Clark Expedition in 1804. The St. Charles Historic District includes numerous
19th-century residential and commercial buildings, and is the home of the first
Missouri State Capitol building (1821-1826).
The rally was held at Sundermeier R.V. Park, a Best Parks in America affiliate. This
is a beautiful park with concrete sites, cable TV, WI-FI and all the amenities you
could ask for. It was located just blocks from the historic area and a short trolley
ride to the river front attractions. Weather was perfect, cool, crisp nights and warm
sunny days. We all missed our traditional campfires but evening hospitality was tended
to in a very handsomely decorated Event Room with comfortable couches and
overstuffed chairs. Attending the St. Charles Rally: Larry & Jolly Whitener
(Hosts), Tom & Judy Robinson (Co-Hosts), George & Patti Stavropoulos (New
Members), Dick & Joan Clay, Herb & Sue Feltner, Bob & Paula Young, Jim & Carolyn
Shedenhelm, Bob & Judy Hansen, Gale & Joan Scheller, Alice, Scott, Jodi & Heavenlee
Blind, Dan & Niecy Milner and Rick & Kathy Groves.
Wednesday night, early arrivals enjoyed an evening out for dinner and made a stop
afterwards at the Ameristar Casino on the Missouri River . Everyone was happy to
make a deposit, there were no big winners.
Thursday, Gale and Rick were given a lesson in golf by new member George
Stavropoulos. Happy hour was in the Event Room with our usual tasty morsels and lots
of socializing. Thursday night would not be complete with a run to the Dairy Queen….
only a few blocks away.
Friday morning there was a casserole, fresh fruit and juice breakfast that was
enjoyed by all. After breakfast, many in the group boarded the Trolley and set off
for an adventure in downtown St. Charles . The Trolley picked us up at the
campground and gave us a 45-minute tour of St. Charles and many exited the Trolley
at the Historic shopping section where everyone enjoyed their site-seeing day
downtown. This area is full of unique shops and quaint sidewalk café’s and
restaurants. Dinner Friday evening was at the Sundermeier Banquet Center located on
the campground property. It was nice to just walk to dinner without a caravan to deal
with. The restaurant, Beef-Eaters, provided a great menu and super service. We
returned to the Event Room for an evening of chat and “Dirty” Uno.
After our Saturday morning continental breakfast, we left in a caravan to Grants
Farm. It was home to an amazing diversity of animals including cute kangaroos and
some very large Clydesdales. We learned of the historical era of General Ulysses S.
Grant. Some ventured to the Arch in St. Louis and others toured the Museum of
Transportation . Certainly, there was a very interesting variety of places to visit.
Dinner Saturday night was our ever-popular Pot Luck. A short business meeting was
held after dinner and the election of officers was held. The results were as follows:
President: Jerry Hardacre
Vice-President: Rick Groves
Secretary: Carol Hardacre
Treasurer: Jolly Whitener
On Sunday morning, we gathered for a continental breakfast, words of inspiration from
Tom Robinson and farewells until next year.
We want to thank our hosts Jolly & Larry Whitener and co-hosts Judy & Tom Robinson
for a super rally.
Through the Windshield
By Tom Robinson
This has been a great camping season for the Mid-America Bounders! We had a lot of
differences in the campground amenities, a huge variety in the activities offered by
our hosts, an abundance of laughter, and too much food!
A recognized need of the chapter, which has begun to be addressed, is that we do not
have a good grasp of the BOA Constitution and Bylaws; and, we have decided that our
chapter Bylaws that are no longer adequate to address issues for us. I am pleased to
announce that you may now view and download the BOA Constitution and Bylaws (www.
bounder.org/contacts.htm). At our October rally, our President named a Bylaws
Committee to study and rewrite as necessary the chapter bylaws and have them ready
for a vote by next May. Robert’s Rules of Order are also necessary, but not needed
very often if we follow the BOA and chapter bylaws (as rewritten). At this point, the
only one of Robert’s Rules that strikes me as extremely important would be that to
speak during a meeting requires for us to be recognized by the presiding officer.
I suggest to the chapter officers that starting with the chapter rally following
approval of our new chapter bylaws, that we have a session at each of our rallies to
go over the BOA Constitution, the BOA and the MAB Bylaws, and Robert’s Rules of
Order, until we all feel comfortable with our understanding of each of them and how
they are interrelated.
I hate to winterize the Bounder; but, I am already looking forward to our May rally!
I am planning on seeing each of you there!
A Note from Sue Feltner
I want to thank all who in the last two years have hosted or co-hosted our rallies.
We have gone to some very interesting places. I know that it takes a lot of time to
find the campgrounds and co-ordinate the rally, but without the volunteers we wouldn’t
enjoy Bounder outings. I would encourage any who have not hosted a rally to find an
interesting place near you and volunteer. We will all help you to have a successful
rally. Please think of a place where we could have a May rally in 2009 or think of a
site for one of the 2010 rallies. We need everyone to take a turn hosting and you in
turn will find it a rewarding experience.
Lets remember we are not only summer Bounder Buddies but winter also. I would love
to hear from all of you this winter and what you are doing. If you find someone is
having problems, let us know so we can be supportive of them.
Hope to see any and all that can make the trip to Indianapolis to the MCL Cafeteria
at 86th and Allisonville Rd on Dec 1, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. Let us know if you are
coming!
President’s Corner
By Jerry Hardacre
My Fellow MABounders:
I wish to echo the above comments in regard to this years rallies. This has been an
outstanding year. We have rallied in some spectacular areas this year and learned
some great things. I appreciate all the hosts and co-hosts and the work they have
put forth to lead us through some good rallies. I know it will be hard, but let’s see if
we can equal or top the experiences for next year. We still need a set of hosts and
a location for the May 14-16, 2009. Who is up for the challenge?
I want to thank you for electing me as your President for another term. I will do
everything I can to improve the quality of the campouts and grow the club. (Does
that sound like a politician or what?) It has been my pleasure serving you for the
past four years.
As I have mentioned before, each member needs to talk to other Bounder owners that
we encounter in our travels that do not belong to BOA and sign them up. Carry extra
applications with you and talk it up.
Be sure to keep checking the MAB Website periodically to keep up on what is going
on.
If you know any of our members are having a problem health wise or otherwise, please
contact Sue Feltner our “sunshine girl” so she can send a card or contact them
whichever is appropriate.
On a personal note, Carol and I were sorry we had to miss the last rally. We had a
family event in Tennessee to attend on that same weekend. We had a good time with
the Grandchildren. On a further Personal note, Carol is having cataract surgery on the
left eye November 25 and the right eye December 16, 2008.
We want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Season.
2009 RALLY SCHEDULE
May 14-17, 2009 Hosts and location needed.
May 19-22, 2009 BOA Regional Rally in Lake George, NY
June 18-21, 2009 Hosted by Robinson & Francis at Effingham, IL
July 16-19, 2009 Hosted by Groves & Zielinski & Scheller, Location TBA
Aug. 20-23, 2009 Hosted by Feltner & Hardacre at Shipshewana, IN
Sept 17-20, 2009 Hosted by Israelson & Serio, location TBA
Sept 22-25, 2009 BOA/BU Joint Rally in Urbanna,VA
Oct 15-18, 2009 Hosted by Zielinski & Clay at Springfield, IL
* Please note "Calendar" is official rally schedule.
Happy and Safe Boundering! See everyone in the spring.
Kathy Groves, Newsletter Editor
(Fashionably accessorized with a black cast !)