President's Message

Greetings Dogwooders.

Christmas is almost here and the festivities at Dogwoods Virginia Beach rally are a memorable part of the holiday season. I’m sure I speak for everyone that was there when I say THANKS to the Hicks, Greenwoods and Cummings, for their hard work in hosting another very successful rally.

Elsewhere in this issue of eNews is the 2010 schedule for Dogwood rallies. It looks like a fairly full schedule except that we need hosts to assist the Schoolers with a mid September rally and we need host(s) for the December rally. If you haven’t signed up to host a rally or if you are a newer member of Dogwood and haven't experienced the joy of hosting , please consider volunteering for one of these two. All it takes is one member couple to sign up and then we should be able to easily find a co-host to work with you.

In just a little over two weeks Carolyn and I will be leaving for warmer weather. This year we’re going to Texas and then who knows where. The flexibility to go where we want when we want is one of the few benefits I’ve found to growing older. As I think about it, this isn’t really true. I have to be back for the Doctors appointments in early April. Hmmmmmm. Maybe there isn’t any benefit to getting older.

Carolyn and I both send best wishes to each and every one of you for a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year. We look forward to seeing you in the spring unless of course our paths cross this winter.

Y'all travel safe,

Mann

Membership

Membership statistics for 2009:

• 59 members on role as of 12/31/2008
• 2 members did not renew in 2009
• 12 new members joined in 2009
• 69 total membership as of 12/1/2009

The following members will not be renewing their memberships for 2010: Bill & Sandy Freed, Larry & Mem Halstead, Ralph & Janice Parsons, Jean Plott, and Chuck & Donna Tolson. We wish them the best. They will be missed.

The Photo Directory has been updated. If your photo is missing (or you don't like the one that is there), feel free to send one and we will include it. We also have a new feature where you can print a Member Photo Catalog (multiple pictures per page). The file is large enough that it may be a problem for dial up access. Links to both the Photo Directory and Member Photo Catalog are found on the right side of the screen (green section) under Photos.

A new Member Directory (addresses and phone numbers) will be distributed in January. Please review the your personal information that was included on your 2010 dues notice and let me know if there are any changes.

Highlights from Virginia Beach Rally

The annual Christmas rally was held December 4-6 at the Holiday Trav-L-Park campground in Virginia Beach. The campground facilities were nice - paved pull thru sites (which were great considering all the rain we had had) with full hook ups and nice meeting room facilities. The only complaint was the noise from the Navy planes. After the Dykes best described it as the "sound of freedom", folks were a bit more tolerant.

The rally officially kicked off Friday with a wine tasting followed by a pizza dinner. To get in the holiday spirit, some members took the campground trolley down the boardwalk to enjoy the Festival of Lights.

Saturday started off with a breakfast of "iHop" style pancakes, sausage and made to order eggs followed by a productive business meeting. Despite the rain, some members ventured out to check out the local attractions.

Saturday evening we enjoyed a BBQ dinner catered by Rodman's BBQ followed by our traditional Yankee Gift Swap emceed by Donna Gruel.

Lots of laughter as gifts were "stolen". Barbara Greenwood must have a special sense for Bailey's Irish Creme as she picked 3 wrapped packages containing it from under the tree (unfortunately she didn't get to keep a bottle as they all were stolen).

Following a breakfast of gravy and biscuits, members packed up and headed home Sunday morning.

Special thanks to our hosts, Max & Barbara Hicks, Wilt & Barbara Greenwood, and Paul & Nancy Cummings, for a great rally. Click here to view photos from the rally.

Highlights from Urbanna Oyster Festival

15 coaches gathered around Ed Fisher's garage to enjoy the festivities the weekend of the Urbanna Oyster Festival. Guests for the weekend included Carter & Rosalee Clements, Sissy Cannon, and Karen & Donald (the Gruel's daughter and son in law).

Click here for photos from the rally.

For those Dogwood oyster lovers, there were plenty of roasted oysters as well as the Alexander's famous oyster stew. As usual lots of food was provided by members. We discovered that new member Dickie Cannon and his daughter, Sissy, are great breakfast makers (we will keep that in mind for future rallies).

Dogwood's own blue grass band (Don Warthan, Dickie Cannon, Doug Cherrington, Mel Hughes, and guest Carter Clements) provided entertainment Friday and Saturday evenings.

Other activities included festivities at the Oyster Festival, including the parade where our own Ed and Anke Fisher drove their church float, dinner at the Sandpiper Reef, geocaching, antique & yard sale shopping.

Rally Schedule for 2010

Click here for 2010 rally schedule. We need hosts for the Christmas rally and would also like to have a rally in the September timeframe.

We typically plan the upcoming year's rallies at the December meeting. Mann suggested that we plan more into the future; come up with potential rally ideas, get someone to investigate the logistics, see if there is an interest from the group; and it may or may not materialize into an official rally.

We recommend 2 or more couples to host a rally and that members who have hosted before team up with those who haven't.

And remember to chip in at rallies - set up, cook, clean up - so that the burden is not placed solely on the hosts and everyone can have a good time.

2010 Chapter Dues

Everyone should have received a notice concerning their 2010 chapter dues. If you have not done so, please pay your 2010 dues to Barbara Dyke.

To make things easier for the treasurer (and for audit reasons) we prefer that you pay by check and include the invoice notice which includes your personal information. If you need a copy of your invoice notice, please request it from fmcadogwood@gmail.com .

Business Meeting and Reports 2009 12

A Dogwood chapter business meeting was held on December 5, 2009. Please refer to the Secretary's report , Treasurer's report , revised chapter bylaws and the new standing rules. If you haven't read the new standing rules, now would be a good time to read them.

Correction to Charter Members Article

In the September eNews there was an article on Charter Members of the Dogwood chapter. Max & Barbara Hicks attended the initial Dogwood gathering in Portsmouth, however, were not included on the initial FMCA chapter roster (most likely because they joined both FMCA and Dogwood that weekend so did not have their F number when the Dogwood member names were submitted to FMCA).

So please congratulate Max and Barbara as being charter members of Dogwood.

Share Your Travel Plans

Let me know where you are traveling this winter and I will post it here. It is always fun to meet up with friends when you are traveling.

Texas - Mann & Carolyn Duff, Max & Barbara Hicks, Donald & Carol Warthan, Carl & Donna Gruel

Florida - Berkley & Karen Alexander, Butch & Liz Jones, Nick & Elizabeth DeMonte, Ed & Anke Fisher

For Sale

Jean Plott is selling her motor home, a 37 foot 2000 Discovery. If you are interested, or know anyone who is, please contact Jean at 804.559.4093