PRESIDENTS MESSAGE by Jim Buelow December, 2019
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| Jim Buelow and Reid Saul |
Holiday Greetings to the Dogwood Family
I asked Paul if we could send out a short newsletter to briefly recap 2019 and give you a peek at 2020 plans. A full newsletter will be posted in early 2020. He was fine with that, so here we go.
And please enjoy the beautiful picture album that Paul will provide a link to in this newsletter. It provides a picture story of the Dogwood events of 2019. Thank you very much Paul and to all those who provided inputs.
On a personal note, Susan and I recently returned from the Dogwood Christmas rally where we had a great time. Hosts, the Saul’s, Robison’s, Kuiken’s and Buelow’s put on a super rally, and I am sure that all 42 attendees would agree. Thank you hosts. We are busily getting ready for Christmas and preparing to leave for FL on Jan. 3 for 2 months. We hope to see many of you there. Now for some Dogwood business.
Please note that the Christmas Rally business meeting minutes are included in this newsletter and provide old and new business updates on numerous subjects.
As we close out 2019, I am of the opinion that our chapter had a very good year. Our membership is up to 55 RV families, our treasury should exceed $3000.00 after 2020 dues are collected, and we had some good rally participation, both at local and National levels. We could have had a few more rallies throughout the summer months, and hopefully we can improve on that in2020. And for those rallies we did have this year, we had a good combination of old and new members hosting and participating. That’s great. We have also almost completed Dogwood documentation updates and will complete that in the near future.
And we have a good start for 2020. The rally schedule is filling in nicely, we have 2 new committees to discuss and plan the 25th Anniversary Rally, and to discuss and make recommendations on name badges/pins. More on this later. We also now have 2 new sources for mirror covers. More info on that follows. In addition, we have a new vendor for name tags and badges. You can find that info on the BlogSpot under BADGES R US.
RALLIES:
Note that Paul has added a section to the BlogSpot for rallies. It is in the right hand column under "Rally Schedule & Member Photos". You can also click this link, Dogwood Rally Schedual As we schedule new rallies, they will be posted in this area. Please check it out. Plans are to update this page when new rallies are added or changes. Rally Hosts should send any changes to our email account, fmcadogwood@gmail.com
The full list of 2020 rallies will be post and discussed by Reid Saul in the next newsletter, but tentative dates are included in the meeting minutes. Thanks to all who agreed to host for 2020. And we still have room for another rally in June or July, so please consider stepping up.
The first rally of 2020 will be held at The Great Outdoors (TGO) in Titusville, FL on Feb 10-11. Hosts are the Sohles and Jones’s. Information and a registration form follows.
2020 Florida Dogwood Rally Information
A Florida Dogwood Rally will be held February 10 thru 11, 2020 at TGO/The Great Outdoors RV & Golf Resort, 125 Plantation Drive, Titusville FL 32780.
Your hosts are Steve and Sue Sohles, and co-hosts Butch and Susie Jones.
We are providing for those who want to bring their coach, as well as others who will visit and perhaps join in meals or happy hours.
There will be camping fees, but no Rally fee. Monday night will be pot luck at the Jones home at TGO, and Tuesday night a dinner at Dixie Crossroads in Titusville, where we will order off the menu. (www.dixiecrossroads.com).
We will need to receive your completed Rally Registration Form and any camping payment by January 21, 2020. There are 10 spots reserved.
Do not contact the TGO Rally Center directly for camping reservations, as they require the Rally Host to handle all camping reservations, identification information for the Gate House, and make a total payment for all participants, including any additional days either before or after the Rally dates. Payment of $30 per night includes water and 30AMP service. A dump station is available.
Please complete the Registration Form and send with camping payment no later than January 21, 2020 directly to Steve Sohles at 159 Greenwing Trail, Titusville FL 32780.
If you are not camping, but planning to join the potluck or Dixie Crossroads meals please complete the DAY ATTENDANCE ONLY section so that we can plan accordingly.
If you have questions please call us at 804 824-8525 or email SSohles@gmail.com.
Hope to see you at the Rally.
Your Hosts,
Steve and Sue Sohles and Butch and Susie Jones
Note, rally registration form follows.
2020 Florida Dogwood Rally Registration Form
DOGWOOD THE GREAT OUTDOORS RV AND GOLF RESORT (TGO) RALLY
125 PLANTATION DRIVE, TITUSVILLE, FL 32780
FEBRUARY 10-11, 2020 (2 nights)
DO NOT CALL TGO FOR CAMPING RESERVATIONS
TGO MAY BE ABLE TO ACCOMODATE ADDITIONAL NIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER RALLY. PLEASE INCLUDE IN ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DATES BELOW.
MAIL COMPLETED FORM AND ANY PAYMENT TO STEVE SOHLES, 159 GREENWING TRAIL, TITUSVILLE, FL 32780 NOT LATER THAN JANUARY 21, 2020.
NAME: _____________________________________________
CELL NUMBER: _____________________________________
CAMPING RESERVATION:
TGO RALLY LOT $30.00/NIGHT (30 AMP AND WATER, DUMP STATION ON SITE).
RV LENGTH: _________
ARRIVAL DATE: _____________________ DEPARTURE DATE: _______________________
CHECK AMOUNT: ____________________ MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO STEVE SOHLES
NUMBER ATTENDING 2ND NIGHT DINNER AT DIXIE CROSSROADS: _________
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DAY ATTENDANCE ONLY - if easier you can email this information by January 21, 2020 to SSohles@gmail.com.
MONDAY'S POT LUCK : YES_____ NO _________
TUESDAY DINNER AT DIXIE CROSSING : YES _______ NO ______
NUMBER ATTENDING DINNER: __________
DUES:
Dues for 2020 are due by December 31, 2019. Remember, dues increase to $15.00 per year beginning in 2020. Please make checks payable to Dogwood Treasury for any past or current dues owed and mail to:
Pat Allen
9507 Lakewater Court
Henrico, VA 23229
Dogwood Directory:
Paul is working on an updated Dogwood Directory. It will be made available to all members in the near future. Suggest you print a copy off and keep it in your coach. It is a one stop source for information on all of our members. Thank you Paul, along with Dave Meyer for completing this comprehensive document.
Mirror Covers:
Thanks to Peggy Groves and Nanette Meyer, we now have Dogwood mirror covers available for purchase. They both designed their own version and both versions look great. Pictures and contact information follow. Note that Dogwood purchased 3 covers from Peggy and we have them available for sale. Additional covers from either Peggy or Nanette can be ordered directly from them.
Peggy Groves
228 671-9836
Peggy’s covers are $25.00 each
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| Peggy's |
Nanette Meyer
757 813-0828
Nanette’s covers are $15.00 each or 2 for $25.00.
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| Nanette's |
Member Update:
As you know, Paul and Nancy Cummings daughter Amy is recovering from the loss of both legs due to an illness. She has been doing very well with recovery and rehab, but had a little bump in the road this week. She is in the hospital with some issues, but hopes are that she will be released soon.
And please remember those members of our chapter that we lost over the past 14 months. They include Dillon Joyner, son of Roland and Brenda Joyner, Bob Chuilli, Bill Cockrell, and most recently, Donald Warthan. Please keep them along with others who are sick and suffering or down and out in your thoughts and prayers.
Closing Comments:
Well, so much for a short newsletter (LOL). In closing, I would like to sincerely thank our Governing Board and all of the members of our chapter for making Dogwood the Great chapter that it is. On behalf of Susan and I and our family, we wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Safe and Blessed New Year. See you in 2020.
Regards and SAFE travels
Jim Buelow
Dogwood President
