The Capitol Times Newsletter, the official newsletter of the Washington
DC Unit (Unit #170)
Volume 2, Number 5
July 18, 2001


Hello Fellow Campers!

Yes it has been a while since our last issue of the Capitol Times. As
each of members should know, all our back issues are always available on
our Unit web site at http://www.servintfree.net/wbcci-dc.

So with so much time since our last newsletter, where shall I start? In
this issue I will begin with a recap of what has been going on since the
last WDCU Rally (which was the outstanding 2nd Annual Cherry Blossom
Rally as hosted by Clayton & Christi Rogers). I will then present the
upcoming WDCU Rallies for 2001, followed by other Unit news.

There were two Rallies in May that WDCUers participated in. The first
Rally was a Region 1 sponsored Special Events Rally called the Yankee
Doodle Dandy Rally held in Richmond, Rhode Island on May 18-20. Four
WDCUers participated in this event including Linda & Wayne Moore, Tom
Walden, Mike & Sharon Seneshale (& children Nicole & Allison) and Tom &
Kathy Howarth (& children Benjamin, Sam & Colin). Since all the
participants live in New England, this was a convenient Rally for each.
It was also very well done with plenty of family activities. Region 1
folks were most accommodating and even included a lobster dinner for
Saturday night. Mark down this Rally for future years as it was most
enjoyable.

The second Rally that WDCUers participated in was the Region 2 Rally
held in Toronto, Ontario from the 24th to 28th of May, 2001. This years
Rally was sponsored by the Ontario Rally and as always, was well planned
and coordinated. The Moores and Howarths were the lone WDCUers but we
parked in the Vintage area and had a nice Open House on Sunday, May
27th. Affiliate WDCUers in attendance included Wilson & Cindy Yerk,
Doug Rowbottom, Barry & Lesley Heckenswiler, JR & Sabina Freeman and
Joseph & Kathy Fodor.

This leads us into June where the WDCU had its first Unit caravan. The
Unit caravan was called the East Coast Workers Tour 2001 since four
families met along the way from the East Coast to caravan together onto
the 2001 WBCCI International Rally in Sioux Falls, SD. The WDCU
participants included the Howarths leaving from RI on Friday, June 22nd
and meeting up with the Moores in CT. This contingent drove late into
the night to Penn Woods Airstream Park in Limestone, PA. We then met up
with the Weimer family (Marc, Becky, Mike, Kate, Willy, & Super Dan).
We also met up with John McHugh & Ruth Baldwin as they were staying at
the park. Ruth surprised the group and presented us with enough cooked
chicken and beef for everyone on the caravan for dinner later that
night! We left Penn Woods on Saturday, June 23rd and met up with
Garnett Horner at an OH Turnpike Rest Area. The caravan continued on to
Elkhart, IN to spend the night (and enjoy Ruth's cooking). The next
morning we all went over to the RV and MH Heritage Museum in Elkhart for
a private showing. It was quite fun but we all agreed that they still
need a vintage Airstream to complete their collection although none of
us were ready to donate one of ours. However it was an interesting
visit that is highly recommended for everyone (and yes, all the kids
loved it too). From there, the caravan drove on to WI where we cooked
up a WDCU specialty.........pot luck. We left there on Monday, June
25th and drove on to Sioux Falls, SD, where we parked at the Empire Mall
with the Vintage Airstream Club. For a first Unit caravan, things went
relatively well although we had long days with many miles as each of the
participants are still working and time was of the essence. But even
with the long days, the company was wonderful and even the children
enjoyed it as they swapped into each others tow vehicles and traded
games and fun.

This naturally leads us to the WBCCI International Rally held in Sioux
Falls from June 26 to July 5. On June 26, the Vintage Airstream Club
paraded into the Rally site with police escort in front and in the rear.
WDCU affiliate, and VAC 1st VP, Rick Davis led the 28 VACers into the
site with yours truly pulling the caboose. This is an event that always
brings a knot into my throat as it is a beautiful thing to see so many
vintage Airstreams from so many places still on the road and gloriously
marching on. As we entered the Rally site, the WDCU reported in to
Region 2 President Wilson Yerk that it was now in Sioux Falls and ready
to rally! Other WDCUers at the Rally included Dan & Vicky Kirkpatrick,
Steve Hingtgen & Dana Robson and Bud & Betty Cooper. We also had many
of our affiliates in attendance including Don & Dee Perry, Wilson &
Cindy Yerk, Barry & Lesley Heckenswiler, JR & Sabina Freeman, Scott &
Lise Scheuermann, Sue & Hunt Jones, Rick Davis & Carol Deaton, Herb &
Faye Spivey, Vern & Kathey Heaney, the Emerick family, Betty Zimmerman
and Kevin Allen. We also welcomed in two new members, Linda Martin and
Donald & Pamela Hill as well as new affiliate members Tom Bartlett, Dick
& Eileene Bartram, Ken & Petey Faber and Charlie Pildis & Elaine Price.
The WDCU was successful again in various competitions including a
Special Act award for our Unit Bulletin Board as done by Linda Moore
(this is a rather stiff competition that Linda has performed in award
winning fashion both last year and this); Benjamin Howarth won Best of
Show for the Youth Art contest; Charlie Pildis won Second Place for his
wood carvings in the Hobby contests; and of course the WDCU was well
represented in the VAC Concours d'Elegance. The awards there included
Best of the '40's to Bud & Betty Cooper; Best of the '50's to Rick Davis
& Carol Deaton; Best of the '60's to the Emericks, 2nd Place for the
'60's was tied between the Moores and the Jones, 3rd Place in Best of
the '60's to the Weimers; Best Tow Vehicle/Trailer Combination to Sue &
Hunt Jones and Best of Show to the Emerick Family! Congratulations to
all and it was wonderful to see so many old friends and to meet so many
new friends.

So that is where the WDCU has been, now where are we going during the
rest of 2001?

Well the next event is the Mount Washington Rally in Mount Washington
Valley, New Hampshire on August 9 to 12th as hosted by Linda & Wayne
Moore. This Rally will include the annual WDCU Business Meeting and
also includes a preRally caravan (which will be WDCU Caravan #2!).
Linda tells me that the Rally is sold out with the 35 trailers already
paid up. She also has a waiting lists for cancellations. Right now she
has ten trailers signed up for the caravan so if you are paid up for the
Rally but have not signed up for the caravan, please contact Linda ASAP.
The pre-Rally Caravan will start from Salem or Windham, New Hampshire
as she will inform caravanners next week. From there we will travel
north through the cities of Manchester and Concord, and through the
foothills of the White Mountains to Franconia Notch where there will be
an opportunity to view the NH landmark "Old Man In The Mountain" located
on the southern side of Cannon Mountain. From there we will proceed
northeast on Route NH3 to the northern entrance of Crawfords Notch then
turn south on to NH302. We will proceed to the Parking Area of Bretton
Woods Ski Area for a short lunch break then to the entrance road of the
Mount Washington Hotel where there will be an opportunity for a scenic
viewing and photo shots of "Mount Washington with Airstreams" in the
foreground. From there we will proceed south down a winding section of
NH302 to Crawfords Notch Valley and continue down Route NH302 to North
Conway and the Saco River Campground. As an alternate route, depending
on time and traffic constraints, when we reach Glen, NH, we will proceed
south on West Side Road to Conway and over the Saco River Covered Bridge
then North on NH16 to the Saco River Campground. Total time for this
trip should be 3 to 4 hours. For those that do not go on the Caravan and
wish to arrive at the Campground Early, Check-in time is 12:00 where
upon Linda and Wayne will see you when you arrive.

So, you say, if that Rally is sold out, how can I attend a WDCU Rally
this year? Well hot off the presses is the finalization of plans for
the fall WDCU Installation Rally. This will also be the 4th Northeast
Gathering of the Vintage Airstream Club (which is the oldest of the VAC
Gatherings) as hosted by the WDCU. The dates are October 25-28, 2001
and the place is 3 Seasons RV Resort, 727 Country Club Road, Rehoboth
Beach DE 19971, 302-227-2564 (http://www.3seasons.com) where the sites
each have cable TV, electric, water, and sewer hookups. Check-in time is
2 p.m. This years hosts are Margaret Natof and Gayle McClelland. They
have put together the following program:

Schedule of Activities

Thursday, October 25
Arrivals and informal happy hour at 5 p.m.
Dinner on your own

Friday, October 26
8-9 a.m. Breakfast provided in lounge
Spend the day on your own*
6-8 p.m. Potluck dinner in the lounge

Saturday, October 27
8-9 a.m. Breakfast provided in the lounge
Spend the morning on your own
1-5 p.m. Open house - visit your neighbors' Airstreams
6-8 p.m. Dinner provided in the lounge
8 p.m. Installation of officers by Wilson Yerk

Sunday, October 28
8-9 Breakfast provided in the lounge
Departures


* Perhaps spend the day at the Rehoboth Beach Sea Witch and Fiddlers
Festival which will be happening all weekend.

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Registration must be received no later than October 8, 2001
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Name _________________________________________________________
Spouse's Name _________________________________________________
Children's Names _______________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________
City/State/ZIP __________________________________________________
Phone _________________________________________________________
e-mail _________________________________________________________
Unit/WBBCI Number ____________________________________________
Length of Trailer or Motorhome ____________________________________

Please make the following reservation:
_____ Camping fee $75
_____ Rally fee ($30 per person for adults, children free)
_____ Total fees

Rally fee includes 3 breakfasts and one dinner for rally participants.
Guests or visitors will be charged for meals.

Make check (U.S. dollars) payable to: WDCU
And mail to:
Margaret Natof
17216 Hobble Bush Ct.
Rockville MD 20855

For confirmation of your reservation, please include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope.

Questions: Call 301-977-4334 or e-mail "natofs@aol.com"




Now in other WDCU news, our European Division, as headed by WDCU Charter
member Anthony Slocock, has put together a very comprehensive web site
about Airstreaming in Europe. The web site,
http://www.eurostream.co.uk, tells about the rules and regulations in
Europe as well as possible future directions. Nice job Anthony and we
look forward to seeing you and hearing more about the Europe
Airstreaming scene when you are in New Hampshire.

So, with all of these news and announcements, another Capitol Times is
in the books. I look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events
and till then..............Happy Streaming!


Tom Howarth
Editor, The Capitol Times Newsletter