2009 MAY NEWSLETTER

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Hello, everyone…

Forty of us gathered in Marysville for our annual March Potluck.  This was a great turnout, since so many of our members were kept away by family loss, illness, travels and various other events.  We finalized our 2009 camping calendar (attached).  Please note the following changes:

ü      Location Change August Rally now at Rustic Knolls Campground, 8664 Keys Road, Mt. Vernon, OH 43050 (740) 397-9318.

 

ü      Date Change September Rally at Cedarbrook Campground in Lebanon, OH.  It is now the weekend of 9/18-9/20.  Remember to note you are with the Starcraft Camper Club when you make all reservations.    

The North Central Rally in Indiana was a HUGE success!  Few can remember such beautiful weather so early in the season, with shorts and T-shirts the preferred attire.  Twenty-five units (12 Ohio) camped for the weekend and another five families joined us for Saturday’s pulled-pork dinner.  Many of us enjoyed mini-golf, corn hole, euchre, sunny walks, good food, naps, pancakes, and great fellowship.  Joyce/Andy Skinner and Gene Downer of Jayco/Starcraft visited Saturday and stayed for dinner.  It was wonderful to see everyone and reunite with our Michigan and Indiana Starcraft families. 

            Two new Ohio units traveled to Fremont to join us at the North Central Rally.  It is my sincere pleasure to welcome Guy/Jean Mendes and Walt Schoeneck/Trudy Schultz as the newest members of the Ohio Starcraft Camper Club.  The Mendes are from Sullivan, and Walt/Trudy live in Toledo.  Welcome!! J

We are camping this weekend at the KOA in Wapakoneta for our May Rally.  As of today, we are expecting approximately 15 units to attend.  Our June Rally (6/12 – 6/14) is in Archbold, OH, at Sauder Historic Village.  The Pollaufs are our hosts, and “baseball” is the theme.  If anyone has bean bag baseball that we can use that weekend, please contact Shelly at [email protected].  To make reservations, call Sauder Historic Village at 800-590-9755, booking ID#: 2210 Starcraft Camper Club.  The rate is $25/night per site.  You must make reservations by Friday, May 29, as the campground will release the block of sites after that date.  See the attached flyer for more information.

            As of Monday, 5/11, 86 units and 200 people were registered for the Starcraft International Rally in DuQuoin, IL.  If you have yet to complete your registration, please do so as soon as possible.  Remember, Jayco owners are permitted to attend this year, as well as previous Starcraft Camper Club members who now own SOB’s (some other brands).  All units will now be permitted to camp together as one group, rather than SOB’s camping with the vendors. 

Our chapter assignments for the International Rally are as follows:  Parking, Registration (volunteer), Teen Activity (Tuesday), Children’s Arts & Crafts (Monday), Children’s Story Time (Don), and Red Hat (Linda S.).  Ohio also serves on the Teen Advisory Committee, with WI and MN, to help organize the teen activities for that week.  A preliminary, online review of the DuQuoin area revealed a roller skating rink, municipal parks and pool, bowling, DJ services, the Perry County Jail Museum (perfect for the teens?), and a movie theatre.   Do not forget the “unofficial” wine/cheese/munchies party the OSCC sponsors, as well as our “Margaritaville” event (yummy).  We need volunteers to aid with the all of the above, so please come forward and help out.

This year’s International Rally theme is “State Fair.”  The chapter game is the “Staratonian,” Starcraft’s version of the Hambletonian.  Each participating state must be prepared to bring a horse, sulky and jockey.  Points will be awarded for horse appearance, winner of the horse race, amount of effort put forth, and number of team participants per chapter.  This event is “age friendly” and no running is required.  So start horsin’ around and “giddy up!”  Please forward your ideas to me as soon as possible.  We will discuss and finalize our plans at the May and June camping rallies.

Historically, several members of Starcraft’s upper management staff attended our yearly International Rally, answering questions, providing direct customer support, and discussing new products.  Andy, Joyce and Gene, especially, became and still remain well-loved members of our camping family.   Today’s economic climate may prohibit their participation this year as official Starcraft representatives.  However, I recently telephoned Jayco’s Vice President of Marketing, Sid Johnson, and asked him to consider sending a Jayco/Starcraft representative to the rally as a show of “good faith” support for the International Club.  He was receptive to the idea and indicated he would share my request with the “powers-that-be.”  I am optimistic. 

Our official club magazine, The Chatter, is now an e-magazine.  You may access it at:

http://www.easyhomesearch.com/Ezines/SpecialPublications/Coachmen/Starcraft/flash.html#/1/

Many of us purchased the new Ohio Starcraft Camper Club flags for our units.  I am in receipt of our flags, and RCMI did a great job with our logo.  I will distribute the flags as I see you at our rallies.  If you wish, I will mail your flag(s), if requested.    We will fly the flags from our units to promote the club and designate ourselves as members.  The flag is white nylon, approximately 13.5” x 18”, with our OSCC logo.  The background Starcraft “S” is light grey, with red lettering (OSU colors).  Your family name may be placed at the bottom if desired.  The flags have a “sleeve” at the top to slide a bar, pole or rope through them.  The flags are $10 each.  If you do not plan to attend the May Rally, please send your payment (made payable to me) as soon as possible, as I wrote a personal check to RCMI to cover the cost.  If anyone wishes to still place an order, I can order more at any time…let me know.

Many of our members remain in our thoughts and prayers:

§     Dolores Pollauf continues to recover at home from heart surgery (valve replacement);

§     Laura Fritz wages a battle against pancreatic cancer;

§     Lucy Shaner recently underwent a successful lumpectomy and will now undergo weeks of radiation;

§     Beth Hock had tears in her rotator cuff and bicep surgically repaired this week; and

§     The Musteric/Hay and Yosick families continue to mourn the loss of dear family members.

Let’s take a few moments to celebrate our many blessings, including the strength, love and support we receive from one another.

Remember, please renew your International and local Club dues, and submit your deposit for the International Rally as soon as possible.  Our camping season has begun…I look forward to seeing you soon!

Love to you all…

Amy

 

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