More Iformation for March FYI

Alicia Rafter wrote:

“I apologize for having omitted a vital piece of information in he March newsletter:

As stated in the newsletter, we are looking for candidates for 2nd VP and two Directors.  I failed to state that we also need a candidate for Recording Secretary.

Please, please, step forward and volunteer for these positions!  Contact information for the Nominating Committee is in the March newsletter.

Alicia”

FTCU February 2015 FYI by Alicia Rafter

 

FTCU Pirate FYI’s – February, 2015

April Unit Rally
Our next rally is scheduled for April 23-26, 2015 at Blueberry Hill  RV Resort in Bushnell, Florida. Details and reservation forms will go out in late February or early March.

Short Caravan to 2015 Region 3 Rally, Charleston, S.C.
The Florida Treasure Coast Unit will host a SHORT UNIT CARAVAN to the Region 3 Rally in Ladson,  SC (Charleston area). The caravan will leave the FTCU Spring Rally at Blueberry Hill RV Resort, Bushnell, FL on Sunday morning, April 26, 2015, spend Sunday night near Jacksonville (approx. 150 miles), Monday and Tuesday nights near Savannah (approx. 150 miles) and arrive at the Region 3 Rally (approx. 90 miles) on Wednesday afternoon.

Monday night we will enjoy dinner at one of the Savannah area’s fine restaurants. On Tuesday we will tour the historic area of Savannah, GA, and have lunch downtown. If touring Savannah is not your “thing,” there is a Tanger Outlet Mall a few miles north of the campground near Hilton Head, SC. Activities and meals are voluntary. If you would rather do something else on Tuesday, that would be fine. We will collect a kitty fee (TBD) to cover camping expenses. Meals and tours are on your own.
The FTCU rally and caravan is open to any WBCCI member. If you plan to caravan with us, we
encourage you to enjoy our rally beginning on Thursday, April 23, 2015.
Call or email Blair LittleJohn 561-373-4666 or blAirstream72@gmail.com if you plan to go on this
caravan. He needs to know how many to plan for.

Region 3 Rally Registration
Plans are underway for the “Low Country Reflections” Region 3 Rally. To register, go to http://
region3.wbcci.net; on the left side under the calendar, click on 2015 Region 3 Rally Registration. All
information is on that page.

In Case You Missed It
Several folks wrote us about the story on Airstreams which was on NBC Nightly News in January. We
had seen it, fortunately. If you missed it, this link was still active as of February 10, 2015.
Airstream Campers Help Give Economy Second Life – NBC News.com

Candidates Needed
At the business meeting at the upcoming rally we need to elect two Directors and a 2nd VP. If you are
willing to serve in either of these positions, please let Susan Taylor-Arens or Alicia Rafter know.
staylor-arens@hotmail.com or abrafter@bellsouth.net.

Friends,Fellowship and Food
The second BYOB&F picnic was a happy success last Sunday. Those in attendance  included Tom Cotter, Eileen and John Frerking (Region 3 1st VP), Carol and Charlie Helm, Sallie and Blair LittleJohn, Mary Ann and Jack McLaughlin, Alicia and Mike Rafter, Jenny and Dave Southard,
Lea and Rob Stanton (new members to our Unit), and Jacqueline and Allen Strickland. The weather was sunny and breezy – just right for a picnic so long as you held on to your napkin and paper plate. Unfortunately, we did not get a group photo this year.

Jack and Joan Starr had planned to attend the picnic, but a cold has slowed Jack’s recovery from heart surgery and they decided not to come. Recent reports have been that he is doing well in general.
Charlotte and Ed Curran had also wanted to come, however a bridal shower for a granddaughter
conflicted with our event.
Gail and Don North emailed that they really wanted to come but had a previous commitment they
had to honor. They said to tell everyone “hello” for them.
Due to a bad cold, Eric and Susan Arens were also unable to attend the picnic. They sent good
wishes to everyone.
We encourage those of you in other areas of the state to hold a similar event. It’s an easy and fun
way to get together without being a burden on hosts. It could easily be done at a public park instead
of at someone’s home. Try it!

Thank you to Sue Wendt for recent updates to the website. We appreciate the time, effort, love and
frustration that goes into a job which most of us “don’t have a clue” about how to do. As the “keeper of the lists,” Sue is also working on updating the Unit Directory information. If you have a new phone
number, address, email, etc., please send to her ASAP. syeutter@bellsouth.net

Donna Rothery recently sent the following news to share about a lunch some “old time Airstreamers
had in Melbourne.” “Ed and Charlotte Curran contacted Bob Duckett (a former FTCU president) to
have lunch with him. Bob, in turn, contacted Donita, a former FTCU president, and Carroll Pyles,
Dan & Maxine McIntyre and Frank and me to have lunch at one of Bob’s favorite restaurants on
January 20. It was nice seeing Ed and Charlotte and all the others. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen
each other.”

Cheryl Uhrig-Rivard has posted on her facebook page that she fell at home a few days after her
back surgery. She is back in the hospital and had to have her back re-operated on. While they were
operating they found a MSRA infection from the first operation. Sounds bad but she was lucky she
fell so the infection was found. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

The following are from the notes Blair LittleJohn received with dues and cancellations.
Chad and Suzette Tennant wrote: “Have been a member for 2 years and due to work and family
have not had time to caravan, not going to join until I have time.”
Dave and Pat Shaw are excited about coming to Florida!
Larry and Kathy Warren wrote: “Kathy and I have regrettably decided to cancel our affiliate
membership in the FTCU. It is sad I know but at this time we must sacrifice a bit. We hope to see you
in Farmington. However we can’t make the West Virginia one. We thank all of the FTCU members for all the good times. Perhaps we can renew at some future date.”
From Bill and Pat Herzing: “We sold our trailer in the spring and are not renewing. Had a great run
and now have wonderful memories the rest of our lives.”
Jim McCollough wrote: “We were quite active during the early 2000s and are disappointed that we
can no longer be active members because we have a lot of good friends and memories of those
years. We attended a number of national rallies as well as all the local Tampa Bay rallies.
Unfortunately our health has overcome our desire to participate. So we are sorry to drop out but there is no way we are going to regain our health and be able to participate. We wish the members of
FTCU all the best of success in your future activities.”
Maxine McIntyre wrote: “Dan just can’t ‘give it up’ yet. Doubt we will ever do much more camping.”

We regret that each year we have members who can no longer travel and find that they must give up
their membership, yet we understand that circumstances dictate changes we may not welcome. In
recent years, the Currans, the Helms, Jerry Honaker, the Mummas and the Riveras, among others,
have been in a similar situation. We do, and will, miss them and we wish them all well.
On a different and lighter note, be sure to read the old, but still funny, story on the next page!

Mark your calendars! Important events and dates coming up:
AlumaFlamingo in Sarasota February 24-March 1, 2015, put on by R & B Events, LLC
All Florida Rally at St. Johns County Fairgrounds in Elkton March 3 – 8, 2015, put on by the Florida Unit
FTCU Rally at Blueberry Hill RV Resort in Bushnell April 23 – 26, 2015, hosted by the Foremans and Rafters
Unit Caravan to Region 3 Rally April 26 – 29, 2015, led by Blair LittleJohn
Region 3 Rally at Exchange Park in Ladson, SC, April 29 – May 3, 2015
WBCCI International Rally in Farmington, NM June 26 – July 4, 2015
FTCU Rally at Sunshine Travel RV Resort Vero Beach November 12 – 15, 2015, HOSTS NEEDED

 

A charming, delicate, elderly woman was particularly elegant about the use of the English language.
When she and her husband were planning a trip to Florida, she wrote to a campground to seek a
reservation.
She wanted to be certain the campground was completely equipped, but she didn’t quite know how to
ask about the toilet facilities. She couldn’t bring herself to write the word “toilet” in her letter. She
thought about how to ask the campground manager about the availability of facilities for some time
before she decided to use the words “bathroom commode.” But, because she was so elegant and so
determined not to embarrass the manager, she wrote and asked if the campground had its own “B.C.”
The manager received the letter which left him totally confused. He asked everyone he knew if they
understood the “B.C.” abbreviation. Finally he decided the abbreviation stood for “Baptist Church,”
and he promptly wrote the woman this reply:
Dear Madam:
I regret the delay in answering your letter, but I now take the pleasure of informing you that a “B.C.” is
located nine miles north of the campground and is capable of seating 250 people at one time. I admit
it is quite a distance away if you are in the habit of going regularly, but no doubt you will be pleased to
know that a great number of people take their lunches along and make a day of it. They usually arrive
early and stay late.
The last time my wife and I went was six years ago, and it was so crowded that we had to stand up
the whole time we were there. It may interest you to know that right now there is a supper planned to
raise money to buy more seats. They’re going to hold it in the basement of the “B.C.”
I would like to say it pains me very much not be to able to go more regularly, but it surely is not from
lack of desire on my part. As we grow older, it seems to be more of an effort, especially in cold
weather.
If you decide to come down to the campground, perhaps I could go with you the first time you go, sit
with you, and introduce you to all the other folks. Remember, this is a friendly community.
Sincerely,
Campground Manager
– thanks to Carol Helm for sharing this

FYI update #2

We have learned of some changes in circumstances since the last issue of Pirate FYI’s went out . . .
Because his doctors said “no cruise,” Jack and Joan Starr did not go last week as planned. Jack is having open heart surgery tomorrow, Tuesday. Joan will keep me posted and I will pass news along. If you wish to send a card, their address is: 7689 Lawrence Rd, Boynton Beach, FL 33436.
Jennifer Martin’s recovery has suffered setbacks and she has been hospitalized twice in recent weeks with more complications. Her address is: 29129 Johnston Rd. #2801, Dade City, FL 33523.
Please pray for both Jack and Jennifer, and their families, during these difficult times.
Alicia
Also we have learned Cheryl Uhrig-Rivard is having major back surgery.  Please keep her in your thoughts also.
Sue

FTCU January 2015 FYI’s by Alicia Rafter

BYOB &; F Picnic

Bring your own beverage and sandwich, salad, or take-out, and come for a picnic on Sunday, February 8, 2015, 12:00 noon to 3:30 pm at Alicia and Mike Rafter’s house, 1864 Indian Rd W, Lake Clarke Shores, West Palm Beach, FL 33406.Please bring your chairs! Paper plates, napkins and cups will be provided; bring any eating utensils you may need. Ice and ice cream will also be provided, with plastic spoons. If the weather is good, we’ll be on the patio; if not, we’ll have an “indoor picnic.”

Please respond by Wednesday, February 4, 2015, by email or leave a message at 561-965-2175.You need to eat lunch somewhere, so why not join your Airstream Florida Treasure Coast Unit friends for an informal get-together.

Region 3 Rally Registration:

To register for the Region Rally, go to http://region3.wbcci.net; on the left side under the calendar, click on 2015 Region 3 Rally Registration. All information is on that page.

Short Caravan to 2015 Region 3 Rally, Charleston, S.C

The Florida Treasure Coast Unit will host a SHORT UNIT CARAVAN to the Region 3 Rally in Ladson, SC (Charleston area). The caravan will leave the FTCU Spring Rally at Blueberry Hill RV Resort, Bushnell, FL on Sunday morning, April 26, 2015, spend Sunday night near Jacksonville (approx. 150 miles), Monday and Tuesday nights near Savannah (approx. 150 miles) and arrive at the Region 3 Rally (approx. 90 miles) on Wednesday afternoon. Monday night we will enjoy dinner at one of the Savannah area’s fine restaurants. On Tuesday we will tour the historic area of Savannah, GA, and have lunch downtown. If touring Savannah is not your “thing,” there is a Tanger Outlet Mall a few miles north of the campground near Hilton Head, SC. Activities and meals are voluntary. If you would rather do something else on Tuesday, that would be fine. We will collect a kitty fee (TBD) to cover camping expenses. Meals and tours are on your own.

The FTCU rally and caravan is open to any WBCCI member. If you plan to caravan with us, we encourage you to enjoy our rally beginning on Thursday, April 23, 2015.

Questions? Call or email Blair LittleJohn 561-373-4666 or blAirstream72@gmail.com

The April Unit Rally is scheduled for April 23-26, 2015 at Blueberry Hill RV Resort in Bushnell, FL.

President Jack Starr wrote that he and Joan are going on a long-planned cruise on January 14. He also wrote that he is  having a problem with his aortic valve and expects to have surgery in the near future. Please remember him in your prayers.

From Jackie Groeveveld, we learned: “Jim Humphrey passed away 12/15/14.  He was 96. He was a past president of the Tampa Bay Florida unit as well as a Life Time member of WBCCI.  His memorial service will be held at the Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church at 700 N Lake Howard Ave in Winter Haven. The service will be held on January 31, 2015 at 10:00.

Jim was a coordinator for the Florida State Rally – for many years. Jim and Evelyn were very involved in WBCCI. Peggy Beck , his daughter, told me that he spent hours going through photo albums of their travels after he sold their trailer. They were in their 90s when the wheels stopped.”

Jackie Groeneveld also wrote that John is doing well. While they were camping over Thanksgiving, (with water jugs, due to broken pipes from TN cold), they noticed extreme wear on their tires and learned that their axles were worn out. They “hope to be road worthy very soon.”

Sandy Poast recently wrote: “I received a message two days ago that Bob Glancy, a past member of the unit, had passed away on May 3rd, 2014. Some of you may remember how funny he was. His wife Millie past away a few years ago and he married a high school sweetheart Yvonne about 2 years ago.” Unfortunately some of us did not know him so do not remember his humor.

Sandy added: “The last time I saw Jennifer, Martin a week ago, she was out on a beautiful day walking her dog in her electric cart and was feeling real good.” We are glad to hear she is better.

Also from Sandy, “Jan Werner has been down with the flu, but usually we see her playing Mah Jongg or cards and of course, we all like going out for dinner as much as possible.”

Lee Brenn has been having a ball JAMMIN’ with several bands around the Dade City area. He plays a variety of instruments. Dot is very busy with her beading and knitting. Their daughter is visiting again this winter.

Sue Wendt is busy with sewing, Mah Jongg and volunteering with the first responder group at Travelers Rest.

Judy Callahan is a first responder and she and Charlie fill their calendar with golf and the golf course.

JJ and Sandy Johnjulio just got back from the North for Christmas. They are busy with Sky Med activities and also plan to go to the IBT meeting this month.

According to Sandy Poast, “I am still playing golf as much as I can and we have Mah Jongg three times a week, plus I take pictures for the newspaper. We are co-chairmen for the TR Dines around Florida Group once a month. Gene is still editing at the TR Times newspaper and deep into geneology.”

As a follow-up to last month’s report on their trailer, Joe and Sue Smedley recently wrote: “Last Rites, including removal of all personal possessions and the big red numbers, was performed on December 15th.  On December 18th, we took ownership of a 2013 Flying Cloud, 27 ft, front bedroom. This was a 40 year upgrade for us.” We hope to see them at 2015 activities.

Eric and Susan Taylor-Arens and Mike and Alicia Rafter spent time over Christmas camping at Highlands Hammock State Park near Sebring, FL with Ted and Maggie Millings (and Nate) from the SEC unit. While there, the group met folks from three other Airstreams in the campground. Of course, they were invited to Happy Hour! One was already a WBCCI member; the other two were given information and literature with an invitation to join.

If  you are interested in  the  agenda  for  the Mid-Winter IBT  meeting  in  Robstown, TX  this month, let us know and we will send you the 38 page PDF.

The November Installation Rally is planned for November 12 – 15, 2015 at Sunshine Travel RV Resort Vero Beach (actually closer to Sebastian than Vero). We need rally co-hosts! As stated before, if the Unit wants to continue to have two rallies a year, more members must volunteer to host them. Please contact Jack Starr if you are willing to do so. Call him at 561-254-4401 or email zjstarr@aol.com., or contact abrafter@bellsouth.net and we will pass the word to Jack.

In the previous issue of FYI’s we included the following blurb:

For preliminary planning purposes: If you are planning to attend ANY or ALL of the following, please let us know ASAP: AlumaFlamingo, All Florida State Rally, Region 3 Rally, International Rally. We want to plan at least one Unit activity at each of these, but we need some “guess-timate” of numbers.

We received ONE reply! It is difficult, if not downright impossible, to plan activities with this sort of participation.

Mark your calendars! Important events and dates coming up:

AlumaFlamingo in Sarasota February 24-March 1, 2015, put on by R & B Events, LLC

All Florida Rally at St. Johns County Fairgrounds in Elkton March 3 – 8, 2015, put on by the Florida Unit

FTCU Rally at Blueberry Hill RV Resort in Bushnell April 23 – 26, 2015, hosted by the Foremans and Rafters

Unit Caravan to Region 3 Rally April 26 – 29, 2015, led by Blair LittleJohn

 

Region 3 Rally  at Exchange Park in Ladson, SC, April 29 – May 3, 2015

WBCCI International Rally in Farmington, NM June 26 – July 4, 2015

FTCU Rally at Sunshine Travel RV Resort Vero Beach November 12-15,  HOSTS NEEDED.