Past Newsletters
July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008
April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 Sept 2009 October 2009 December 2009
Our Current Newsletter
July 18, 2010
Hello all my HOT camping buddies!!
Sure was a HOT humid weekend but that will never stop us from gathering and having a good
time. We enjoyed ourselves at our favorite campground – Camp Givens near Wabash. Hosts for the weekend were Gary and Carolyn Rexroad with Paul and Tonya Berg and their children Samantha and Nick. Ken and Sharon Dickman were the “Thursday Early Birds”; arriving Friday were Ron and Carol Koenes, Wilbur and Ginny Haggerty, Dick and Marsha Helm, Eric and Teresa Cohee, District #3 Directors Tom and Ladonna Nicklaus from the Sycamore Sams and, of course, the residents and owners Guy and Jan Givens. (Good thing the campout was at the Givens’ residence as they were having RV problems and had to “rough it” actually staying in their home! All solved by Saturday morning, however.) Some “canine news” to report: our hearts go out to Al and Addie Goletz with the loss of their puppy Chance. We all can relate. Brighter news is we have another new “canine” member – Catalina Chewbacca Berg (now Maria Chewbacca has a little sister and a cutie!). Nicki Nicklaus (a Yorkie) was a new “canine camper” for the weekend and Eric and Teresa brought 2 of their Bishons to visit – Skeeter and Buddy. Also visiting were Jerry and Connie Holmes with their BIG and “little” dogs – Mac (Mastiff-Rottweiler mix weighing in at 157 lbs.) and Zeke (Mastiff-Great Dane mix weighing in at 185 lbs.) and Teddy (Yorkie weighing in at 5 lbs.)!! Picture this – they arrived in a HHR!!! GORGEUS dogs and so glad they brought them to visit. Enough about dogs - on to the weekend: Bill and Nancy Plummer popped in and out over the weekend. Dinner time arrived and we had hot dogs with all the fixins’ including coney sauce, coleslaw, a couple varieties of baked beans, chips and assorted brownies. Later that evening Lance Agness, Gwen and Ethan paid us a visit. Soon it came to that favorite time – gathering around the campfire (yes, we have them even when it is too hot to have them; love the atmosphere). Marsha made us feel like it had cooled off some as she soon donned a jacket and snuggled near the campfire. Must have dropped a degree or two as Ginny showed up with her jacket and long pants! Guess we are getting too accustomed to HOT temps and anything below 90 is cool!! Got me convinced!
Saturday morning we all enjoyed the Breakfast in a Bag meal along with a big fruit salad, juice and coffee. It was another hot and humid day so most of us enjoyed just sitting and visiting by the pond getting to know Tom and Ladonna better. We thoroughly enjoyed their company and so glad they could make it. A “situation” did occur with “someone” who “needed their knob fixed”!!! And he used a big tool to fix it! :o) Hmm?? Some enjoyed using the paddle boat on the pond, fishing, swimming, going to a “man” sale, exploring the sales at Big R and checking out the Wabash Library. Sherry Gehring paid us a visit, too. Givens’ grandchildren Graydon and Hannah came and spent the rest of the weekend with us; Larry and Ruth Yoder were also able to join us later Saturday. Also, joining us was an approaching storm! So----Plan B: take down the Easy Ups; secure the chairs and all else and head to the “Givens’ Rec Hall” for the pitch in. Ron and Melody Thompson were able to be there, too. Our group is nicely growing! Of course, lots of people means lots of yummy dishes brought to dinner (all calorie-free and sugar-free!! Ha! Ha!).
The meeting immediately followed dinner. Ron led us in a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Our special guests – Tom and Ladonna Nicklaus – were formally introduced. Minutes and the treasurer’s report were read and approved. Account balance is $701.32. July birthdays and anniversaries were announced. Jan was the “lucky” birthday attendee and got to wear the Circus City Sams Birthday Hat; all birthday attendees posed for a picture. We had the following correspondence: Thank you from Helping Hands for the donations collected last month; thank you from Bill and Nancy Plummer for the donation made to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Rescue benefit in May; information re a gathering of districts for a campout from Ladonna Nicklaus (info to follow); Sharon had an e-mail from our Australian friends – Marty and Karen Crouch; and Melodie shared a letter from Dogs for the Deaf enclosing our patches for our members for having sent a donation to them (if you weren’t at the July dinner/meeting please see Melodie to get your patch!). Ron suggested you start thinking about which month you would like to sign up to host for 2011 and which winter dinner you’d like to arrange. Please let him know your choices soon. Carolyn R. announced that she would be taking any donations for this month’s charity – Domestic Violence Safe House – and would get them delivered. Charity for the August campout is Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (“wish list” is attached; $$ always works). Carol Koenes was the lucky winner of the 50/50 drawing - $21.
Well, the “approaching storm” was a false alarm so we cleaned up the “hall” and headed back to the pond and a campfire. Joining us for a little while were Givens’ daughter-in-law Paula and her new baby Cody (what a cutie!). Well, most of us relaxed around the campfire but Paul and Tonya got a work out making popcorn, kettle corn and caramel corn. Nick and Sam helped, too. WOW!! Good stuff! We got more visitors before the evening was over – Erin Cohee and “significant other” Jacob. Gee, I think we had visiting or camping 36 humans and 15 dogs!! Good turnout!
Sunday morning gave us a little more time to visit before packing up. Marsha sported her adorable “Go to Hell” hat!! :o) Sharon is realizing she has become a “pee attraction”! Poor, Sharon! And Tom Nicklaus really enjoyed the “belly scratch” from Carolyn R. (You have to check the website and photos when available!!). It was a wonderful weekend and sadly had to come to an end. We were thrilled to have Tom and Ladonna as part of our group and hope they will join us again sometime. Thank you, Berg Family, for being great co-hosts. Again, thanks to Guy and Jan for sharing their wonderful “resort” with us. Wrapping up I will say the fundraiser we had “donating” in lieu of paying to camp raised $180!! That’s super!
Upcoming information to note:
August campout information
When: August 20, 21, 22
Where: Old Mill Run, Thorntown
Hosts: Ken and Sharon Dickman dickmansk@wmconnect.com
Allen and Carolyn Crist
Plans: ASAP contact Sharon or Carolyn to let them know you are coming!!
Friday dinner – Clarks Hill Fish & Steak
Saturday – hosts will provide breakfast; evening the pitch in. Please remember your donations for Turpentine Creek Wildlife Rescue
(wish list attached) NOTE: Rt. 18 between 31 and 29 is under construction – keep that in mind when making travel plans)
From Ladonna: Campout Districts #1, #2, #3 and #4
When: June 24, 25 & 26, 2011 (early birds June 23)
Where: Elkhart County Campground (where Chapter #89 is going this September)
Plans: Nightly entertainment, church, & request: please pitch in 3 dozen cookies
Please let your District Director know before first week of June if you are coming so they can put all Chapters attending together.
NOTE: This is OUR regular campout weekend. Ron and Carol Koenes will be hosting this weekend and plan on our camping there. So keep this in mind.
August Birthdays August Anniversaries
14 Tim Finster 3 Tim and Terry Finster
28 Paul Berg 8 Ken and Sharon Dickman
30 Lee Wilkinson 11 Ron and Carol Koenes
19 Steve and Iris Lewis
Sincerely,
Carolyn Rexroad
Corresponding Secretary
May 2010
Greetings my camping buddies! Our second campout of the season has come and gone and was “a little wet around the edges”---and then some!!! A few of our camping couples arrived on Thursday with the rest of us coming in on Friday. We were at Lakeview Campgrounds near Rochester. Our hosts for the weekend were Ron and Melodie Thompson with Bill and Nancy Plummer (unfortunately the Plummers were unable to be there for the weekend as they were keeping vigil with Nancy’s mom at her assisted care facility; time was drawing nigh for her to be in a better place. Our hearts go out to Nancy and Bill keeping all of them in our prayers). In their stead, Eric and Teresa Cohee stepped up to the plate and helped out (as did everyone else, as needed). Along with the hosts (and “helpers”) also camping were Dick and Marsha Helm, Guy and Jan Givens, Gary and Carolyn Rexroad, Ken and Sharon Dickman and Allen and Carolyn Crist.. Exciting news!!! Ron and Melodie arrived in their new Class A motor home – a Windsport!! So this was their “maiden voyage” in their beautiful new rig. Keep in mind that now they no longer need to keep track of their crank for the pop up BUT they still need to keep track of the keys to the RV!!! As true to form, weather at the campground was “not perfect”!! Thursday was a drizzly, rainy day. Friday afternoon it poured!!! It did finally let up later Friday evening and we even got a campfire going as we “waddled around in the mud and muck” (oh, well…we are washable). Nicely timed, while it was pouring most of us were at the Elks for dinner. Able to join us there were Wilbur and Ginny Haggerty and George and Sherry Gehring. After dinner it was time to gather around the campfire; or shall I say “most” of us did-----there were a couple who “disappeared”?? Wonder who and what they were up to?? :o) As usual, stories and laughs abounded around the fire. Time to turn in and for Ron and Melodie to find out what it is like to actually have heat overnight and not need to worry if the bathhouse is locked
Saturday morning was a clearer day. We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast prepared by the Thompsons and Cohees (with contributions from the Plummers). Available to us were Dutch oven casseroles – ham and/or sausage - fruit cups and assorted muffins. YUM!!! The sun tried often to peek through the clouds and as the day progressed it did warm up. After eating we enjoyed visiting; some walked (burn off all those delicious calories!!); some to town; some paid a visit to the cemetery; others off to a wedding and some helped Ron with his flat tire on the truck. Speaking of Ron, we do like to help him out. To lessen the possibilities of his losing his keys to the motor home, Gary made a presentation to him…..HIS keys attached to a LONGGGG red ribbon labeled “Remove Before Flight”. MAYBE with that on, he won’t lose his keys! Time for lunch which was hotdogs with coney sauce – yum! Some of us tried a new game provided by Jan – Dice Squence. It is a quicker version and great fun. Somewhere along the way Guy found out the muck and mud was a bit slippery; unfortunately the jeans he was wearing were the only ones he brought – fortunately, he didn’t have any injuries. Before long it was time to get our dishes ready for the pitch in. Carolyn R. actually initiated the stove, convection oven and microwave in their new RV!!! Worked fine! :o) George and Sherry were able to join us for dinner. As usual, there was a vast array of delicious items in which to indulge (shame they aren’t all calorie free!!). Oh, well.
We soon gathered for our meeting. In the absence of President Ron Koenes and Vice President Bill Plummer, Past President Carolyn Crist led the meeting. Dick Helms graciously led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The minutes and treasurer’s report were read and approved – current balance is $526.64. Birthdays and anniversaries for May were announced. Correspondence was passed around for all to check out. We thanked Sherry for the great job she does in sending out all the cards for birthdays, get well, etc. It was announced that the agency designated for donations for the June campout will be Helping Hands Food Pantry. Several items and cash were collected at this campout for Birthright of Peru. Thank you! Rexroads will deliver this. The auction fundraiser for our club has been postponed until the June campout; so bring your “treasures” then. Following up on a suggestion, we will be submitting our request to be considered for Chapter of the Year at the Spring Samboree. You don’t know if you don’t try!! It was announced that the Dutch Café on US 31 (across from the base) has a room that can be closed off for a dinner and will hold up to 35 people. They will even open for just us if that is necessary. Keep that in mind for our winter dinners. Sharon Dickman made a “tempting” fresh raspberry pie which was auctioned off. The lucky winner was Guy donating $23 for the pie….ENJOY!! Winner of the 50/50 was Eric - $13.50. Carolyn C. closed the meeting with a prayer remembering Nancy Plummer’s mother
Spring Samboree – May 28-31 at Lebanon at the Boone County Fairground
Attending will be Steve and Iris Lewis, Al and Addie Goletz, Allen and Carolyn Crist, Gary and Carolyn Rexroad (and Dickmans with Roving Sams).
June campout information!!
When: June 25, 26, 27
Where: Tall Sycamores Campground near Logansport Hosts: George and Sherry Gehring sherry_geh@yahoo.com
Addie and Al Goletz
Larry and Ruth Yoder
Wilbur and Ginny Haggerty (assisting)
Plans: ASAP contact Sherry to let her know you are coming! Plans are dinner out
Friday evening at about 6PM. Hosts will provide breakfast Saturday morning;
Saturday evening will be the usual pitch in dinner. Please bring items to be
auctioned for fundraising for the club. Please also remember to bring
donations for Helping Hands Food Pantry (any shelf item, i.e. peanut
butter, canned meats, paper products, cleaning items, etc. or $$)
June Birthdays June Anniversaries
5 Wendy Langer
14 Andrea Langer * 9 Jeep and Wendy Langer
23 Larry Yoder 12 Larry and Ruth Yoder
27 Alicia “Gwen” Agness * 18 Bill and Nancy Plumme
* indicates child
After the meeting, it was campfire time again. With it cooling off, Marsha enjoyed her new down filled vest – kept her toasty warm. Melodie and Eric’s dad and mom (Phil and Melinda Cohee) and their little 4 legged friend (Peaches) joined us, too. Even more hilarious stories were told including several talking about going to “see Alice” (???) this weekend. :o) (Guess you just had to be there!!
Sunday blessed us with being warm and sunny. It was a morning of gathering for breakfast, going to church and unfortunately breaking down camp to eventually leave. We all stayed around to cheer on Ron with his first try of “getting out without getting stuck” and “dumping” (I’m sure we’ve all seen that segment in the movie “RV”!!). He did very well but did get the new nickname “Wrong Way Ron”!! Hmmm?? We sat around for a little while longer; a couple of the men thought it was time to torment Beaner – oh, well. Eventually we pulled out; some heading to Alejandro’s in Rochester to eat. Thanks again to the hosts and all that helped out for a wonderful weekend. We were a small group – 18 humans, 5 dogs and 1 cat – but a great group.
Sincerely
Carolyn Rexroad, Corresponding Secretary
Email us at ccsams89@circuscitysams.org
