Presidents Notes

Although by the calendar it is officially Fall, you sure could not tell by the weather. Four Dogwood couples took advantage of that summer like weather on September 27-29 at Virginia International Raceway near Danville, Va. That was the site for the Heacock Gold Vintage Auto races. It was a beautiful weekend and we got to see some very interesting and fast old race cars. There were some that were valued at close to half a million dollars, yet their owners had them racing on the track.

The following week we will journey to York, Pa. for the fall GEAR rally and then some of us will attend the Quad Rally in Gettysburg, Pa. Both promise to be filled with lots of socializing, entertainment and excursions. I hope to see many of you in the coming weeks.

The Dogwood schedule continues on into November with the Urbanna Oyster Festival and don’t forget our December Christmas Rally in Williamsburg, Va. The 2014 schedule starts with the National Convention in Perry Ga. in March.

It will not be long before the weather gets below 50 degrees and it’s time to move South, so the time is right to get the pre-winter coach maintenance completed and don’t forget to practice your escape plans, you do have a plan…. of course you do.

Butch Jones

Message from VP Rallies

I know it's hard to believe but the 2013 Dogwood rally's are winding down and it's time to begin planning for 2014.

After conferring with some of our chapter elders, I have decided to approach 2014 in a different manner.  Rather than me finding rally locations and then finding hosts, we're going to approach next year in a different manner.  For 2014, I would like for volunteer host to pick a location and dates for their rally.  After you have gathered the information, contact me to confirm and lock in your dates.  I have asked Carolyn to post the following information to help you in making your decisions.

• Potential Rally Dates for 2014 - These are potential dates that don't conflict with holidays or FMCA events.  You can use this to help with your decision process.  Try to maintain at least a 3 to 4 week buffer between other scheduled events.
• 2014 Rally Schedule - Once locations, hosts and dates are confirmed, the rally information will be posted in the schedule.  This will be the official schedule for upcoming  rally's.  For those of you that haven't hosted lately, this is a great opportunity for you to choose your dates and locations for next year.  Remember, we will need host before we can plan a rally.
• Dogwood Hosting Handbook - Over the past year, I have had many people to approach me about hosting, but didn't feel like they knew enough about it, to undertake the task.  I have compiled a handbook to assist hosts with information necessary to host a rally.  The information was compiled from other FMCA chapters and Dogwood members.  It should provide the necessary information to host a successful rally.  Since it is a work in progress, input from members is more than welcome.

There is one exception to the new procedure for rally selection next year.  I have taken the liberty of booking the first weekend in May for the Houstonfest in Galax, VA.  Because of the feedback from members, I took the liberty of booking the only prime event available next year at the Coolbreeze Campground.  I would like to see someone "step up to the plate" and  host this event.  Our campground host, Robert Sells, said that he would hold the weekend for us until the end of this year.  Don't let this one get away from us!  Anyone interested, get in touch we me for more details.  

I feel that we have had some great venues for rally's this past year and I am looking forward to even greater rally's next year.

Dennis Reid

Christmas Rally in Williamsburg

The Christmas Rally will be held December 6 - December 8, 2013 at the KOA in Williamsburg VA. 4000 Newman Road, Williamsburg, VA.  Your hosts for the weekend are Mike & Suzanne Greenfield, and Ron & Donna Foore. 

Campground Reservations: Make your reservations directly with the KOA campground at 1-800-562-1733. Tell them you are with the Dogwood Chapter FMCA (Dogwood contact person is Dennis Reid). A block of sites are reserved for us in the Colonial Section. 50 amp full hookup sites are $36 per night according to VP of Rally’s Dennis Reid, who booked this site last year.

Directions: Take exit 234 (Lightfoot) off I-64. Turn northeast on 646 (left from I-64E and right from I-64W). Follow 646 for 2 miles to the KOA - Colonial Campground on the right. The registration office is on right. Note that there are 2 KOA camping areas on 646; we are in the Colonial section.

Rally fees for the weekend are $25 per person to cover dinners for Friday and Saturday and breakfasts for Saturday and Sunday. Bring your own beverages, plates, and utensils. Please register with Mike Greenfield by November 20th.

Schedule:
Friday evening: Happy hour followed by dinner.  Bring a heavy appetizer dish to share.  Soup & Salad dinner provided by hosts.

Saturday morning: Breakfast provided by hosts followed by a business meeting.

Saturday evening: Happy hour followed by dinner.  Light appetizers and dinner provide by hosts.  Dinner menu is: Chicken and Shrimp Caesar Salad, Entrées are Marinated Boneless Breast of Chicken, or Tilapia stuffed with Seafood Imperial, Cheese whipped potatoes with gravy or Rice Pilaf, Country style green beans, and dinner rolls.  Cheesecake and dessert. 

Sunday morning: Breakfast provided by hosts.

Chinese Gift Swap: This event has become a Dogwood tradition. Each coach is to bring a wrapped gift with a value of $25. Each coach will draw a number from the hat. #1 selects a gift and opens it. #2 can either take #1's gift or an unopened gift. #3 can take #1 or #2's gift or an unopened gift and so on. There is lots of laughter as gifts are "stolen".

What you need to bring:

• Friday evening - A dish (appetizer or dessert) to share. Please email fooredonna@yahoo.com as to what you will be bringing so the hosts can ensure there is a variety.
• Saturday evening - Gift for Chinese gift swap.

Attendees (as of November 27):  Greenfield, Foore, Jones, Vreeland, Duff, Davis, Tillman, Buchanan, Allen, Gilbert, Greenwood, Stankovic (guest), Hall, 
Moore, Sohles, Schoolar, Anderson (guests of Foore's), Warthan, Cockrell, Dyke, Alexander, Johnston, Bonewitz, Buelow, Sharon Fisher (guest), Martha Talent (guest), Hicks, Chinery, Gruel, Zobel, Jones guest, Cummings

REGISTRATION FORM

Dogwood Christmas Rally at KOA in Williamsburg VA 

December 6 - December 8, 2013

Names: ____________________________________________

__________________Number of people at $25 each

__________________Amount enclosed

Mail check payable to Mike Greenfield, 13224 Railey Hill Drive, Midlothian, VA 23114

Urbanna Rally

Dogwood will have a rally November 1 - 3 at Ed Fisher's garage in conjunction with the Urbanna Oyster Festival. In the past the coaches have parked around his garage then members congregated inside for meals and socializing. Most arrive on Thursday and depart on Sunday. We will be dry camping (limited electricity available for some coaches), however, there is water, electricity and a bathroom inside the garage. This is an informal rally. Berkley collects monies for oysters for roasting and the attendees provide food to share at pot luck dinners and breakfasts.

The Urbanna Oyster Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday (November 1 & 2). Click here to link to the festival's web site.

Space is limited, so if you are interested in attending or have any questions, contact Berkley Alexander 804.754.1308 or (berkleyja007@cadscanning.com ).

Attendees (as of Oct. 6):  Alexander, Reid, Hicks, Gruel, Schoolar, Zobel, Buelow, Warthan

Rockahock Rally Highlights

The Rockahock rally was a huge success.  We had 16 coaches in attendance, most arriving on Thursday.  Friday the chapter went to Rose&Crown Tavern Restaurant in New Kent.  The rain didn’t put a damper on the fabulous dinner had by all.  The rest of the weekend awarded us with a lot of sunshine.  Saturday started off with breakfast of omelets (made by Mike Vreeland and Jim Buelow) bacon and sausage, croissants and assorted muffins.  After the business meeting, Mike Vreeland lead a forum on the different discount out there for campgrounds and resorts.  The afternoon was fulfilled with a corn hole tournament.  First place was Barbara and Bobby Dyke, second place was Pat Allen and Sue Sohles. Great time of fun and fellowship.

Delicious pulled pork and all the fixings was Saturday night dinner.  Sunday was a continental breakfast.  The tournament winners were given their prizes.   

Special thanks go to Ryan Golbitz, General Manager of Blackfinns in Washington DC (Marcy & Mike Vreeland’s son) for getting all the special things for the Welcome Bags and Raffle Bags.  Along with Marcy’s homemade candy made the bags very special.  Marcy Vreeland made the center pieces for all the tables and those who wanted them took them home to enjoy.

Click here for photos from the rally.  The hosts for the weekend were Marcy and Mike Vreeland and Marion and Bill Cockrell.  Other attendees included Pat & Clint Allen, Jim & Susan Buelow, June & Bob Chinery, Barbara & Bobby Dyke, Liz & Butch Jones, Barbara & Wilt Greenwood, Donna & Carl Gruel, Barbara & Max Hicks, Joyce & Dennis Reid, Cil & Fairleigh Schoolar, Sue & Steve Sholes, Connie & Ed Tilman,  We had 3 special guests for the weekend: the Barbara & Bobby Dyke’s granddaughter, Kate, and Donna Gruel’s brother and sister in law.  Anke &Ed Fisher joined us for dinner Friday night's dinner.  Nancy &Paul Cummings had coach problems but were able to join us on Saturday and brought their puppy Dixie.  

Thank you to everyone who helped to make the weekend fun for everyone.  

Mike & Marcy Vreeland and Bill & Marion Cockrell

Myrtle Beach Rally Highlights

Following a slow start for rally registration, 11 coaches attended the Myrtle Beach rally at Pirateland Campground.  Click here for rally photos.  

The campsites were just a short walk to the beach and the campground donated a campsite in the middle of our rally sites.  The group was then able to set up 4 canopies to protect us from the elements.  This made an excellent area for all of the groups functions.  With the beautiful weather bestowed upon us, we never had to use the inside facilities.  A special thanks to Cil and Joyce for rising to the occasion and volunteering as host for the rally.  The Reids provided the ham for Friday night's dinner and pancakes Friday morning.  The Schoolars provided the London Broil for Saturday night's dinner.  Attendees provided the side dishes for the meals.  I would also like to thank the Buelows for the fantastic Saturday morning breakfast and Dan Moore for the Fried Pickles during happy hour. - Dennis

Attendees for the rally were, Reid, Sohles, Johnston, Schoolar, Fisher, Buchannan, Vreeland, Buelow, Allen, Duff and Moore.  

VIR Rally Highlights

Some of Dogwood's  car lovers gathered at the Virginia International Raceway for the historic races and the car show for road driven cars. This Ford GT40, MG A and Rat Rod Postal Jeep were among the cars at the show.  Click here to view other photo section of eNews.

Ford GT40

Classic MG A

Rat Rod

Besides the racing, weekend highlights included Thursday night happy hour - where we all caught up on recent activities of the group, Belgian waffle breakfast at the Tilmans on Friday morning, Friday night meal of burgers and fixins, Saturday and Sunday breakfasts of eggs, sausage and french toast, and Saturday evening meal at Oak Tree Tavern where we enjoyed great food, drink and camaraderie.

Dogwood women enjoying crafts

Jigsaw puzzles and crafts occupied the ladies when they weren't into the racing.

This Audi was easily the fastest car on the track

One of the really neat things about this event and others at VIR is the open paddock where there's an opportunity to meet and talk with car owners, crew and drivers who are all passionate about the sport of auto racing.  There are many photos included in the photo section.

Business Reports

A business meeting was held August 24, 2013.  Click to link to the Secretary and Treasurer reports.

Member Updates

Dogwood currently has 45 members.

Paul Cummings recently had rotor cuff surgery.  We wish Paul a speedy recovery.

Former Dogwood member, Donald Longest, passed away.  Click here to link to his obituary.  Our condolences to his wife Anke and their family.  If you would like to send a card, the address is  6773 King William Road, Aylett VA  23009.  

Campground Membership Information

Click here for a writeup on RV Campground Memberships by Mike Vreeland as discussed at the Rockahock rally.

Recipes

SLOW COOKER CHOCOLATE            

40-60 pieces depending how big the mount of chocolate

(from Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood Cookbook)

Ingredients

• 2 pounds salted dry-roasted peanuts
• 4 ounces German's sweet chocolate (about 4 squares)
• One 12-ounce package semisweet chocolate chips (about 2 cups)
• 2 1/2 pounds white almond bark

Directions

Put the peanuts in the bottom of a 4-quart slow cooker. Layer the chocolate over the peanuts, beginning with the sweet chocolate, followed by the chocolate chips and then the almond bark. Set the temperature on low and cook for 3 hours. Do not stir the mixture.

After 3 hours, stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until smooth. Drop the candy into cupcake pan liners using about 2 tablespoons per liner. Allow the candy to cool completely before removing the cupcake liners.

2013 Rally Schedule

Click here to link to the 2013 rally schedule.

Motor Home for sale

2007 Itasca Horizon, 40td model with a diesel cummins engine. Along with all the standards that are included in this top of the line model, the coach has all of the factory added options available at the time including washer/dryer, dishwasher, in-motion satellite, generator, tile kitchen/bathroom, and many, many more. Asking $148,500, which is $10,000 below the lowest NADA price.  Click here to link to listing on RV Trader. Contact Mike or MB Myer at mbmameyer@gmail.com or 804.784.3838.