It has been a while since our last issue and much has happened and is getting ready to happen. I am going to try and recap the Region 2 Rally from May as well as the International Rally from Bismarck. I also will be providing announcements for our final four Y2k Unit events. In other words, we got alot of ground to cover! Before we begin I want to remind everyone that all our Unit business, including our future activities, is always available on our Unit web site. This also includes photographs and write-ups of past events as well as all our past "newsletters".
REGION 2 RALLY
This Rally was held May 25th to 29th, 2000 at the Kutztown Fairgrounds
in Kutztown, PA. Since the WDCU is a new Unit in Region 2, this was our
first participation with the Region. With most of our Unit members
still working, we had a rather small showing of Unit members although
there were a number of WDCU Affiliate members in attendance. The WDCU
members in attendance were Elisa Miro and & John Delgatto (#7229), Jim
Voell (#5452) and the Howarths (#6490). For Elisa, John and Jim, this
was their first WBCCI rally or event of any manner. Several WDCU
affiliates were also there including Don & Dee Perry, JR & Sabina
Freeman, John & Esther Dona, Doug & Terry Rowbottom, Wilson & Cindy
Yerk, Matt, Pam, & Darrell Worner, and Barry & Lesley Heckenswiller. We
also gained three new affiliate members. These are Al & Ellie Peskoe
(who are the same folks that co-organize the Statue of Liberty Rally),
Joseph & Kathy Fodor and Sue & Hunt Jones (who own a real cherry
Globetrotter pulled by their '55 fully restored Chevy). There were
around 190 participants at the Rally which started on a Wednesday and
ended on a Monday. We arrived on Friday and left Sunday which was the
weekend edition and prorated accordingly. We also hosted the Vintage
Open House on Saturday where we garnered much attention and had an
enjoyable visit. WDCU affiliate member Barry Heckenswiller was
nominated for the Region 2 3rd Vice President, way to go Barry! Next
year the Region 2 Rally is in Toronto so let's plan on a better Unit turnout.
WBCCI INTERNATIONAL RALLY
This Rally was from June 26th to July 5 in Bismarck, ND. We just got
back from this Rally and our Unit was well represented. The WDCUers
participating were the following: Dan & Vicky Kirkpatrick (#5168),
Garnett Horner (#2878), Bill Scott (#3221), Karen & Mathew Waldo
(#8440), Hunter Hampton (#2268), Wayne & Linda Moore (#15116), Jim &
Joanie Zimmer (#9289), and the Howarths (#6490). Our Affiliate members
in attendance included Don & Dee Perry, Wilson & Cindy Yerk, John &
Esther Dona, Ed & Sandy Emerick (and daughters) and Scott & Lise
Scheuermann. We also picked up almost another dozen new members and
affiliates whose names and addresses are still being tabulated and will
be included in our future adventures. One of our new members, Rich
Cooper (son of VAC founders Bud & Bettye Cooper), donned his WDCU
affiliation and then went out a garnered a first place in the water
color art contest as well as a second place and honorable mention for
other art works! Linda More did the Unit proud by winning second place
for our Unit Bulletin Board in the geography category! She had never
even seen a Unit bulletin board before and was faced with some very
stiff competition, hopefully she will place a photograph onto our web
site in the near future. Wayne & Linda went on to further distinction
by winning the Best Interior and the Members Choice award while the
Scheuermann's won the Best Idea award for their awning design and the
Emericks placed second for the Best of the '60's coaches in the VAC
Concours d'Elegance contest. Garnett Horner made the Unit signs for our
participation in the Region 2 promotion of the 2001 International Rally.
As folks begin arriving home and having their pictures developed, we
will get some of the photographs onto the Unit web site.
WDCU EUROPEAN DIVISION KICKOFF DINNER IN LONDON ON JULY 22,
2000
This is our next scheduled Unit event and is being organized by WDCUer
Anthony Slocock (#5398). The new program now includes a slate of
speakers beginning at noon and meeting at the Cumberland Lawn Tennis
Club, 25 Alvanley Gardens, London while the evening program is to be
held at The Westbourne Public House, 101 Westbourne Park Villas,
London. For a full listing of the program and events, please contact
Anthony Slocock (aslocock@globalnet.co.uk).
Anthony already has confirmed nine folks coming with another dozen or
so as possible. The program will include an introduction to the WBCCI
and WDCU by yours truly as well as additional talks concerning
importing, European rules and restrictions, caravanning in Europe and
Airstream restorations. This is a unique opportunity that the WDCU is
proud to include within it's programs.
JOINT RALLY WITH THE PA UNIT, AUGUST 4 TO 6, 2000
The Joint Rally between the WDCU and PA Unit is being held at the Penn
Wood Airstream Park in Limestone, PA. The theme of this Rally is 'The
Good O' Summertime' and the Freemans (sabina@erie.net) have been
coordinating all the fun for this Rally including Friday evening
supper, Saturday evening dinner, one full breakfast, one continental
breakfast, two hospitalities, entertainment, games and maybe prizes!
In particular there will be special activities and games for the
children. Registration is now on-going with forms available on the web. (Note that
ALL children under the age of 17 are free but need to be registered so
meals can be planned.). This referrenced site also contains
directions to the Penn Woods Airstream Park as coming from Washington
DC. Further directions can be obtained from either the Freemans or
from Ruth Baldwin (baldwin@icubed.com) and John
McHugh (jmchugh@cert.org).
INSTALLATION RALLY AND NEWPORT NEWS FESTIVAL, OCTOBER 6 TO 8,
2000
Garnett Horner (g.c.horner@widomaker.com)
is organizing this Rally and has reserved 25 sites at the Newport News
Campgrounds. The Newport News Fall Festival is listed at
http://www.newport-news.va.us/parks/park1.html. The idea is that
people will arrive on Friday, go to the Festival on Saturday. On
Sunday there is another festival in Williamsburg called "An Occasion
for the Arts". This is a smaller but very nice festival with crafts
and food and it's located in a small area between Colonial
Williamsburg and the College of William and Mary. So, the thought is
that people could go to this function also. Monday is a Federal
holiday and so there may be some people wanting to stay Sunday night.
For those who enjoy shopping, there are many outlet stores in
Williamsburg. We will have our usual happy hour each day at 4 pm and
breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday evening we will transition
the happy hour into a crab pickin’ and pot luck dinner. Hope you
like steamed crabs. After we have our fill of food, Region 2
President (and WDCU affiliate)Wilson Yerk will install the 2000 to
2001 WDCU Officers. The Newport News campground is a wooded setting
where sites have an asphalt pad, water and electric hook up. There is
a dump station at the park. The campground is next to a lake that
separates it from the Festival area where in past years there has been
a free shuttle bus between the campgrounds and the Festival area (you
can walk to the Festival as well as it is relatively close). The cost
for the rally is $90 per trailer which covers 3 nights, 2 breakfasts,
and steamed crabs. Please mail a check to me ASAP (Garnett Horner, PO
Box 7300, Hampton VA 23666) with the check payable to WDCU. We will
give refunds if notified before September 28.
JOINT RALLY WITH THE VINTAGE AIRSTREAM CLUB, NOVEMBER 2 TO 5,
2000
The 3rd Annual Vintage Airstream IntraClub Northeast Gathering is
being sponsored by the Washington DC Unit. The Gathering is set for
November 2nd to the 5th, 2000 at the Harpers Ferry KOA in West
Virginia. This campground can also accomodate enthusiasts who do not
have their rigs ready for the road but want to admire the vintage
Airstreams and participate in the VAC activities by staying at one of
the KOA cabins. The organizers for this Rally are John Gilliland and
Harley Muse (hcmjdg@airstream.net). John
and Harley will be providing increased discussion about this Rally as
we get closer. They have already thought up several special surprises
for visiting the local area so look for additional information in
future issues.
It is likely that I have forgotten some items and will try and get the next issue out a bit more timely. Something we should I am seeing and realizing more with each of our events and that is that our Unit is strong and moving forward with much enthuseasm and contributions. This is what makes our Unit viable and fun to participate with. We have members with so many talents and abilities, so come on out to our events and meet your fellow Unit members! We realize that many of our Unit members are living all over the world so if you want to set up an event in your particular locale, just let us know and we will sponsor it under our Unit banner. Start thinking now about such events as we are beginning to gather information for our 2000 to 2001 season.
Until next month, happy 'streamin', I'm off to London next week to meet some of our new European Division members!
Tom Howarth Editor, The Capitol Times Newsletter