Well spring is finally showing itself and we all know what that means..............'streaming! To that end, the Washington DC Unit has already had its first Rally of the year, the 2nd Annual Cherry Blossom Rally. This year was so successful that we have been inquired as to consider making the Rally a National WBCCI Rally which is now under consideration. For a recap of the fun, Linda Moore sent in the following paragraphs. She also will be posting Rally pictures on both our WDCU web site (http://www.servintfree.net/wbcci-dc) and on the Vintage Airstream website (http://www.airstream.net) as there were many VACers also in attendance.
This years CBR was held at the Rogers’ horse farm in Upper Marlboro, MD just minutes outside of DC. It was the most beautiful rally site that I have seen so far. Our rally hosts were Clayton and Christie Rogers. There were 37 coaches in attendance, more than double the amount from last year when the WDCU held its inaugural Cherry Blossom Rally in the RFK parking lot in Washington, DC. Garnett Horner had set out a superb parking arrangement where the trailers were set up in a half wagon wheel with a group campfire in the middle. In front of us was the Roger’s picturesque barn in front of a field with horses running and grazing. We could not have found a more photogenic spot.
The weekend was full of in-town events letting one do whatever they wanted with the city was close by. We toured the capital for the first time and found it to be very beautiful. The Cherry Blossoms were all in bloom at their peak making DC ablaze with pink everywhere. As usual, everyone congregated to have dinner with a potluck on Friday and a great BBQ on Saturday. Each of the meals (including daily continental breakfasts and morning Washington Post newspapers) was held in one of the barns, a definite plus for atmosphere. An open house on Friday morning was also one of the events.
Clayton and Christie did a great job in hosting the rally. They worked very hard in making sure everyone was comfortable and their goal was met. Thank you Clayton and Christie and thanks to Mr. Rogers’ for allowing us to hold the rally there. I would also like to include the efforts of Matt Worner who set up an electrical system so that everyone had power throughout the rally. We had a great time and look forward to the 3rd annual CBR.
Our next Unit Rally will not be in August but in the meantime, many WDCUers will be participating in the WBCCI Region 2 and the International Rallies. The 22nd Annual Region 2 Rally will be in Toronto from May 22-28, 2001. Full details are available at http://www.wbcci2.org/markham.htm including a registration form. The Ontario Unit (http://www.airstream.homestead.com/default.html) is hosting this years Rally and judging by the 5 Ontario Unit members (including current Ontario Unit President Don McKelvay) in attendance at our CBR, they are promising a fun event. Since most WDCUers are working stiffs, Region 2 is offering a weekend rate. WDCUer affiliates Matt & Pam Worner have agreed to participate on behalf of the WDCU in the Opening Ceremonies.
Right before the International Rally, WDCU Treasurer Ruth Baldwin and WDCU 1st VP John McHugh are leading the 2001 VAC Wagon Wheels caravan (WBCCI Caravan N-30-R). As i hear from Ruth, the spaces are filling up fast so if folks are interested in participating, please contact her ASAP. The caravan will span 10 days (June 15 June 24, 2001) discovering north and west Minnesota with the Vintage Airstream Club. The starting point will be on the shore of Lake Superior at Two Harbors, MN (June 15-16) to explore Minnesota's North Shore. The caravan will then continue on to Chisholm, MN (June 17-18) to tour the half mile underground Soudan Mine. The next stop is a national forest campground on a beautiful lake in Cass Lake, MN (June 19-20 followed by a southern turn to Sauk Centre, MN (June 21-22) which is the boyhood home of Sinclair Lewis as well as the Runestone Museum in Alexandria, the Lake Wobegon Trail, and Charles Lindbergh’s birthplace. The final stop will be Pipestone, MN (June 23-24), just 50 miles from Sioux Falls, to tour Pipestone National Monument and observe Native Americans working with the red stone, which is quarried on-site and used for making peace pipes. From here the caravan will head to the Empire Mall Shopping Center in Sioux Falls to dry camp with other VAC members (June 25) prior to the VAC parade into the International at 2:00 PM on June 26. The Kitty Fee for this 10 day caravan is $295 for two persons ($245 for single, $50 per each extra person). This includes all parking, four dinners per person, a rally plaque, and tours of the Soudan Mine and the Pipestone National Monument. This Caravan is limited to 25 trailers. Talk to us if your trailer is over 25 feet (it may not fit some of the sites). All of our campsites (except the VAC rendezvous) have electric; most have water at the site. Dump stations are available at all locations. To ensure your space, send your deposit check for $75.00 to Ruth Baldwin, 6126 Callery Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, 412.361.2654, ruth@airstream.net. Please let us know how many will be in your party, the length, year, and model of your trailer and your WBCCI number. We also need your address, phone number(s) and your email address, if you have one.
This leads us to the 2001 WBCCI International Rally that will be held in Sioux Falls, SD from June 26th to July 4th. Last year the WDCU had nine coaches in attendance, let's try and double that this year! Details on the International Rally can be found in each issue of the WBCCI Blue Beret including registration forms.
The second 2001 WDCU Rally and Annual Business Meeting is slated for August 9th to 12th, 2001. This Rally is being hosted by WDCU Charter members Linda (MooreLinda@airstream.net) and Wayne (wam52@prodigy.net) Moore in their home state of New Hampshire. The Rally will be in the Mount Washington Valley at a commercial campground with full hook-ups. The total cost will be $125 includes the campground fees, 3 continental breakfasts, a potluck dinner and 1 catered meal. There is a limitation of 30 coaches so again, timing is imperative if you wish to participate (note that the WDCU has had in excess of 30 trailers for its last two Rallies).
The final 2001 WDCU Rally is our joint Rally hosting the 4th Annual VAC Northeast Gathering for the November 1-4, 2001 extended weekend. WDCUer Rally Hosts Margaret Natof and Gayle McClelland have informed me that they are planning on holding this event on Maryland's eastern shore where currently they are deciding which of two campgrounds to select. This Rally will also be the WDCU Installation Rally for the incoming officers for 2002.
It is with great sadness that I report this final bit of news. WDCU CoFounder, original 1st VP, current Trustee and Membership Director, Mr. Bill Scott, passed away while enroute to the CBR from Texas. He was also the 2000 WBCCI International Rally Concourse D’Elegance Director for the VAC. Bill was more than a Unit member, he was an authority on vintage Airstreams with a photographic memory and quick (and sometimes tempered) wit. He also has been an inspiration to all who have restored a vintage trailer or were even remotely considering the restoration of a vintage trailer. I had the pleasure of caravanning with Bill through Wyoming after the 1999 Boise International Rally and we formed a respected and trusted bond between each other and my family. Bill was an expert on Wyoming and knew the many obscure Calvary and Indian sites found throughout the state. In the evening he was a true story teller relating these past battles as we sat around the campfires such that my children still look at Wyoming as a very special place indeed. Bill leaves behind a son, Mike Scott, in Longview, Texas, who has indicated that he plans to keep Bill's beloved Bambi and hopefully participate in future events as time permits. Bill was cremated in accordance with his wishes and Mike is hoping to place his remains with his mother, Bills former wife, who passed away more than 20 years ago in California. Many folks have asked how they might contribute towards something on behalf of Bill and collectively it has been decided that it will be appropriate to engrave Bill's name onto the same headstone as his former wife. WDCUer Linda Moore has thus set-up a trust account for anyone who wishes to participate in this way. To do this, one needs to make a check out to "Linda Moore in trust for Michael Scott" and then send to Linda Moore/Michael Scott, PO Box 4173, Windham, NH 03087.
Although I do not like including pictures with the newsletter, I feel that this case is an exception as it is a picture of Bill in front of his Bambi (46K 512x384) at the 1st Cherry Blossom Rally in April 2000 in Washington DC.
Good bye Bill, you will be missed. Tom Howarth Editor, The Capitol Times Newsletter
