President’s Message – Mar/Apr 2024

 

Ed's "Springtime in Minnesota"

Hello Dogwood! It is April and I know some folks are preparing their rigs for a trip to Lancaster, to join the Penn Coachmen. By the time you read this, everyone will have probably already come and gone, but that’s OK – it is going to be a fun event and I’m sure we will get some good stories out of it. Speaking of travel – I think most of our club is coming back up from Florida now, and some are returning from Tucson, all back to the fine weather here in the mid-Atlantic. Jean and I flew out to Minnesota last month to visit grandkids and basically got snowed in for three days. That was the most snow they had all winter – how strange for Minnesota! I’m wishing safe travels for everyone.

 

2019 Ed H, Pat S, Ed & Anke F

Mr. B’s Spring Bluegrass Music Spectacular is coming up in the first week of May and that’s always been a great event for families and music lovers.  Fifteen bands over three days. There is still plenty of room for Dogwood if you are interested; see the club blogsite for details. 

I need to stand on my soapbox and stress the need for leadership in our club – elections are coming up, to be held this summer. We will need new Dogwood Officers for Secretary, Treasurer, and President (yes, this is my last year). Please consider stepping in to help out. Officer duties are now on-line and well-detailed in the Membership Documents and Forms section of the FMCA web site (log in with your userid, etc.) and listed as the Officer’s Handbook. Please talk to anyone of us if you have questions or talk with anyone on the Nominating Committee - Jim Buelow, Buck Buchanan, and Nancy Greene for more details. Thanks again for all you do for this great club. 

Travel safe! 

Ed Herbert, President
FMCA Dogwood Chapter

    

Treasurer’s Report – Mar/Apr 2024

Treasury balance is $ 3,806.72.

Thanks to ALL our members!  The Membership Dues for 2024 are now paid up.  Great Job!

 

Pat Allen, Treasurer

FMCA Dogwood Chapter

   

VP Rallies Update – Mar/Apr 2024

TGO Rally 2024

More fun is scheduled for 2024

  

     May 2-4:  Mr. B’s Bluegrass Festival in Woodford VA; Hosts: Ed & Jean Herbert 

June: Kentucky Bourbon Trail - CANCELLED 

     August 14-17:  FMCA International Rally; Redmond Oregon 

August 29-Sept 4:  Lobsterfest Rally in Boothbay, ME;  Hosts:  Alexander & Bonewitz

September 25-October 2:  Pocono International Speedway, Penn Coachmen (http://penncoachmen.org/pocono/).

     October 23-27:  FMCA Greater Eastern Area Rally (“GEAR”) in Fletcher (Ashville) NC,  Hosts for Dogwood gathering, Ed & Connie Tilman 

November 1-3:  Urbanna Oyster Festival - CANCELLED

     December 5-8:  Dogwood Christmas Rally at Rockahock Campground in Lanexa, VA;  Hosts: Jean & Ed Herbert, Dell & Terry Tenney 

 

Please see all the Rallies and updated information planned for this year.

Happy Camping, 

Dell Tenney, Rally Master

FMCA Dogwood Chapter

  

VP Membership Update – Mar/Apr 2024

WELCOME to our newest Dogwood Members:

 

– Steve & Lois Crawford from Reston, VA.

– Richard & Denise Davis from Catlett, VA.

 

Glad to have you and looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming Rallies!!

They are EVERYWHERE!

Pat & Clint, Are there any Cherry Tomatoes left?  (and yes - there is a story behind this!) 😂

 

Pat Allen, VP Membership

FMCA Dogwood Chapter

  

VP Communications Update – Mar/Apr 2024

Hello All.  We updated and distributed the latest Membership Directory on April 11^th.  Please let me know if you did not receive it or if you have any updates for me.  We also posted a couple Rally updates and have a couple cancellations, so please be sure to check out the latest.  One of the cancellations unfortunately is the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in June.  We simply waited too long to make reservations and the timing, coming back from OK, has us getting there on Memorial Day, so the Rally planning was just not working out for us.  Nanette & I are still planning to attend the INTO Area Rally in Muskogee, OK and plan to stop in KY on the way back.  So, if you would like to join us in KY, I’d be happy to send you our dates and “itinerary”.

 

2024 TGO Rally

Nanette & I have had another wonderful trip to Florida again this year.  Next year we have to make it a longer stay!!  We finally made it to a TGO Rally and had a blast!  Steve & Sue, Butch & Susie – thanks for opening up your homes – you are wonderful hosts!   And we were able to head over to Southern Leisure in Chiefland for a few days and thoroughly enjoyed another Dogwood get-together.  Thanks to Fairleigh and Cil for hosting – and, btw, your smoked BBQ was perfection!  Rob and Donna gave us a tour out to Cedar Key and several of us enjoyed lunch at Steamers.  If you haven’t seen the pictures, head over to the 2024 Photo Albums.

 

2024 Nanette at Pinnacle Overlook in PA

Earlier this month we traveled up to Lancaster, PA to join the Penn Coachmen Rally.  They were great hosts.  We met a number of their members and were made to feel right at home!  Also attending from Dogwood were Tim & Sheila Schwartz.  And as you may already know, we have several couples who belong to both the Penn Coachmen and Dogwood Chapters.  We’re not able to make their Pocono Raceway Rally, but it sounds like a great time, so make your reservations early!

 

Notice anything out of place?

So while we were in Lancaster we suffered from a refrigerator that stopped cooling… What a pain that has become!  Special thanks to Steve Mahanes who drove me to Lowes so I could buy a small dorm-sized fridge.  We lost everything in the freezer, but managed to save most of what we had in the fridge.  And thanks to Gary Cipa for checking it out and confirming it was time to call the Maytag repairman.  I quickly found out that Mobile RV service folks do not work on residential refrigerators. And unfortunately, it doesn’t fit through our door, so we are still working with Maytag to get the repairs completed… parts are on order.  Wish us luck!      

 

 

Hope to see you at one of the upcoming rallies!

 

   

Dave Meyer, VP Communications
FMCA Dogwood Chapter

 

Care Person Update – Mar/Apr 2024

Hello Dogwood Friends!

Is everyone ready for Spring, well after the pollen settles down?!? I am definitely ready for some warm weather and for some travels!

 

In February, our President, Ed Herbert, had some issues due to medication he was given after his ablation in January, so he ended up in the hospital again. His meds were changed, and he is doing great! A get-well card was sent.

 

In March, I sent a sympathy card to Carolyn Spezio after the death of her father. Keep her & the family in your prayers as it is a most difficult time. 

 

Henry Kuiken had a pacemaker put in and I’ve heard from Patty that he is doing well. A get-well card was sent.

 

Our pup, Bella, was spayed on 25 March, and I’m happy to report that she is doing well so she will be ready for our next trip, to Lancaster, PA in April.

In April, I sent a get-well card to Ed & Jean Herbert, as they got home from their visit in Minnesota with the flu! And then allergies set in, so they had to cancel their plans for attending the Penn Coachmen rally in Lancaster. I hear they are getting better!

 

Then I sent a get-well card to Jim & Susan Buelow as they were under the weather as well. Jim has been having back issues that prevented them from joining the Penn Coachmen rally in Lancaster also. Hopefully that will be resolved before too long.

Thanks to all who reached out to keep me informed of these events. Please continue to let me know whenever you hear of our members being ill, having surgery, losing a loved one (even a pet) or just not doing well for whatever reason at ndmeyer3@icloud.com.  

 

 

Sincerely,
Nanette Meyer, Care Person
FMCA Dogwood Chapter 

Celebrating Dogwood Birthdays and Anniversaries – Apr/May 2024

 

Dogwood Lobster Fest Rally in Maine

Dogwood Lobster Fest Rally in 2018

Anyone in the mood for lobster?  The Maine Rally dates are 8/29 to 9/4 and we’re heading to Boothbay!

 

This rally includes happy hours, potlucks, and restaurant outings.

To start you must... 

  

See all the Rally details ... Read More

Your Hosts Berkley & Karen Alexander

Berkley @ 804-754-1308 

Karen @ 804-740-3101

 

Mr. B’s 2024 Bluegrass Spectacular Announcement for Dogwood

Attendee Update and Brunch Plans!

Hello Dogwood Folks! This is a second call for the upcoming Mr. B’s Bluegrass Spectacular on May 2-4, 2024.  So far we have eight Dogwood Families signed up.  

Time to get your Bluegrass on!  Three days of bluegrass music for $95 and four (4) days of camping (water & 30-amp electric) for $130. (Or 3 days of camping with water and 30-amp electric for $100 – see the flyer). No sewer, but sewer clean-out service will be available.  

See all the details ... Read More

Your Hosts - Ed & Jean Herbert

Dogwood Florida Rally at TGO - Summary

2024 The Great Outdoors Rally

Our 4th Florida Dogwood Rally was held February 26 and 27, 2024 at the Great Outdoors RV & Golf Resort in Titusville FL.

 

Steve & Sue Sohles and Butch & Susie Jones co-hosted this Rally for those who wanted to bring their coaches, as well as others who came to visit and join in meals and Happy Hours too.  

 

Attending with coaches were Berkley & Karen Alexander, Jim & Susan Buelow, Dave & Nanette Meyer, George & Clairevon Nixon, Kenneth & Bernice Wyatt.  Fairleigh & Cil Schoolar had coach problems and were unable to attend - we missed them.  

 

Dogwooders also participating included, Clint & Pat Allen, Jim & Bonnie Spain, and Ed & Connie Tillman.  

 

The Sohles hosted a cookout at their TGO Winter home for early coach arrivals on Sunday (The Alexanders, Buelows, Meyers, and Nixons) and the Spains. It was the most hamburgers that Steve had cooked so far on his outdoor griddle. SpaceX arranged a rocket launch (more StarLink satellites) for all to enjoy.

 

Monday night was another enticing Dogwood potluck, attended by 24, with lots of delicious contributions. How these meals come together with so many good dishes and treats is a wonder. Many thanks to the Joneses for generously opening their home for this event, and also their 2 dogs for keeping the floors clean of spills. Illness prevented Robi & Dale Robinson, staying nearby at Patrick Space Force Base, from joining in, but they arranged a wonderful contribution to the potluck. All enjoyed the evening, catching up with friends and making new friends. 

Also joining in were former members Steve & Mary Hall now living at TGO.

 

Tuesday night our group of 14 had dinner at Dixie Crossroads, nearby in Titusville, where we ordered off the menu. Lots of comments that the food and service were great! And of course, more visiting followed in the Rally Lot afterwards. 

 

Our Rally officially ended Wednesday morning with doughnuts at the Rally Lot. 

 

Thanks to the Buelows for setting up a gathering spot under their canopy. 

 

We were fortunate to have spectacular weather while spending time together, viewing an alligator on the nearby shore of Lake Judy and adding to our many good memories with friends. 

 

Steve & Sue Sohles 

~Click here to see the Rally Photo Album~

President’s Message – Jan/Feb 2024

Happy soggy, foggy February morning to all Dogwooders out there! Up here in the mid-Atlantic, it has been a very mild winter. Yes, we have had a bit of snow and the Weathermen are calling for some kind of snow storm by February’s end, but this has truly been another mild East Coast Winter. Soooo, maybe those of us not already on the road will get an early start to the RV season this year!  

 

By the time you read this, the Florida contingent of Dogwood will have already had our first rally for 2024 and I can’t wait to read about it on the blog.  Thanks to Sue and Steve Sohles for sponsoring this.  Of course the big March event is going to be Tucson and I know we have some folks going to that – you can see our full schedule on the blog. “Pop-up” events are always welcome too; if you know a great campsite that would do for a weekend and want to host, call our Rally Master and/or Communications VP (Dell or Dave) to post on our blog site. It doesn’t have to be a big event – three to five rigs and an evening night out to a local diner makes a perfect rally! And, keep those stories coming in, folks. 

 

FMCA has been putting out almost weekly deals for items like Passport America Savings, Mail Forwarding and on-the-road internet services. Please visit the FMCA Site and take advantage of all the deals offered; the FMCA folks in Cincinnati work really hard to bring us the deals that save money. As an aside, I have sent out about 30 invite (to Dogwood) letters to folks based on the new member registration information we get monthly from FMCA. We have already picked up several new members from that. 

 

Jean and I will be traveling in March (by airplane) to Minnesota to see the grandkids; campgrounds don’t open out there until early May, but we will be back in the RV in April and are looking forward to seeing folks up in Lancaster for the big rally with Penn Coachmen.  

 

Lastly, I need to put a plug in for the club elections, to be held this summer. We will need new Dogwood Officers for Secretary, Treasurer, and President (yes, this is my last year). Please consider stepping in to help out. Officer duties are now on-line and well-detailed in the Membership Documents and Forms section of the FMCA web site (log in with your userid, etc.) and listed as the Officer’s Handbook. Please talk to anyone of us if you have questions. Thanks for all you do for this great club. 

 

Safe travels 

Ed & Jean 

Ed Herbert, President
FMCA Dogwood Chapter

    

Treasurer’s Report – Jan/Feb 2024

Treasury balance is $3,729.41.

REMINDER:  All Membership Dues for 2024 are now due and should be paid to the Treasurer.

 

Pat Allen, Treasurer

FMCA Dogwood Chapter