Care Person Update - Berkley Alexander

Berkley & Karen Alexander 

Updated 8/11/2026

 

Hi all,

 

Want to give you a quick update on Berkley.  He is back in the hospital with the same symptoms as a couple weeks ago.  He was admitted again this past Sunday.  Still no determination on what is causing the issues.

 

Karen said he was doing ok but asked for our prayers and good wishes.  Let’s continue rallying around them with Dogwood love!!   ❤️‍🙏

 

We'll keep you updated.

 

Sincerely,

Nanette Meyer, Care Person

FRVA Dogwood Chapter 

 

 

 

__________________

Posted 7/28/2026 

 

Hi all,

Want to pass on that Berkley spent the last 2 nights in the hospital, but is thankfully back home and resting.  They are waiting on the test results to determine exactly what was going on, but the initial thought is pneumonia.

 

He was feeling poorly after getting back home from the rally and decided to have it checked out.  

 

Karen asked for your prayers and good wishes.  Let’s rally around them with Dogwood love!!   ❤️‍🙏

We'll keep you updated.

 

Sincerely,

Nanette Meyer, Care Person

FRVA Dogwood Chapter 

 

Dogwood 30th Anniversary Rally – Summary

1996 ~ FRVA Dogwood Chapter ~ 2026

Hello Dogwood Family,

 

We hope that all is well with you and that you are enjoying your summer. Here’s the summary for the 30th Anniversary Rally. If you missed it, you missed a great rally.

 

The rally was held at Rockahock Campground in Lanexa, VA July 23-26, 2026. The campground facilities were great and campground owners and management provided us with outstanding customer service, as did the onsite restaurant - the Split Chick Grill. Both facilities provided us with several items to use as gifts for our Friday evening raffle. A very positive review was posted on their website.

 

Dogwood 30th Anniversary Rally

 

We had 46 attendees at the rally including: Bob Weithofer, (FRVA VP) and wife Pat, new members Steve Raileanu (EAMA Central Region VP) and wife Jeanette, along with Berkley Alexander, (EAMA Treasurer) and wife Karen, Steve and Judy Czarsty, (Dogwood Founders) and Carol Warthan (a long time Dogwood member), and new members Mike and Coreen Gelber and Mark and Nancy Lague. Welcome to Dogwood new members. We sincerely hope that we made you feel welcome to Dogwood. 

Ed, Denise, Rick, & Jack

The rally kicked off on Thursday evening with a social hour and pizza and salad for dinner. After dinner we had a campfire provided by the Tilmans and were then entertained by the Dogwood Bluegrass band featuring Ed Herbert, Rick and Denise Davis, and Jack Warren. A very enjoyable evening was had by all. Thank you Tilmans and our very own Dogwood band.

Friday morning, we had a delicious potluck breakfast with lots of goodies provided by attendees. No one left hungry. Thank you, attendees, for a great meal.

Jim, Ed, & Mike

 

Friday evening, we had a summer cookout with burgers, hot dogs, and all the trimmings, along with fruit and desert. Yummy.

 

After dinner we had several raffles and gave away $300.00 along with enough nice gifts for everyone. Gifts included a beautiful afghan donated by Susan Buelow, and a beautiful quilt donated by Connie Tilman.

 

Robi

And after that, we were entertained by none other than our own Robi Robison with a Karaoke show. Yes, Robi definitely has some hidden talents. Great show with lots of clapping and singing. Thank you very much Robi. 

  

Saturday morning, a delicious breakfast was provided by the rally hosts. As usual, no one left hungry. Following breakfast, a business meeting was conducted by President Ed Herbert. Minutes will be published.

 

Saturday evening, we had a delicious Pork BBQ dinner provided by our hosts, and two beautifully decorated cakes for dessert. 

 

Dave & Bob

And after dinner Bob Weithofer (FRVA VP) presented Dave Meyer with the Robert L. Richter Award, an FRVA award to honor individuals who excel at managing chapter newsletters, publications, and member communications. And Dave certainly excels in his position as our VP of Communications. Congratulations Dave for a job very well done...

 

Steve Raileanu (EAMA Central Region VP) also presented a 30th Anniversary Certificate and a check for $150.00 from FRVA to President Ed Herbert to commemorate the 30th anniversary of our chapter. Congratulations Dogwood, and thanks to all of our members who make Dogwood the great chapter that it is!

 

Ed & Steve

After the presentations, we had the pleasure of viewing the 30th Anniversary video produced by Paul Cummings. This is the third video Paul has produced for Dogwood, and they have all been great, and this one was no exception. It was a great show with lots of great memories of 30 years of Dogwood history. Thank you very much Paul. A Dogwood trivia followed the video with awards for the correct answers.

 

Sunday morning , we had our final breakfast of the rally, and most members said their farewells. Numerous members stayed over Sunday, so we gathered for a final dinner on Sunday evening with plenty of leftovers.

 

We sincerely hope that all who attended the rally had a wonderful time and look forward to seeing you at a Dogwood rally in the near future.

 

1996  ~~  2026

And many thanks to all the hosts and to those who assisted in making this rally a great success.

 

Regards and Safe travels.

 

Your Hosts,

Jim and Susan Buelow

Paul Cummings

Ed and Jean Herbert

Dave and Nanette Meyer

Doug and Mary Ann Owen

Jack and Mary Warren

 

 

 Here are links to the Rally Photo Album and Video

 

Jul - Dogwood's 30th Anniversary Rally

Dogwood's 30th Anniversary Video 2026

 

BTW – We now have Dogwood Tote Bags commemorating our 30^th Anniversary… They turned out really nice!    Watch for them to be advertised on the blog.  Here’s a sneak peek at what they look like 🙂

 

 

Dogwood Lobster Fest Rally in Maine

Lobster Fest 2026

Anyone in the mood for lobsta?  The Maine Rally dates are 8/26 to 9/2 and we are heading to Boothbay!

Your Rally Hosts:  Alexander, Bonewitz, and Meyer 

 

Call the campground at 207-633-4782 for Reservations and Information.

You may have to go to the Shore Hills website to print out the reservation sheet.  Click here for Reservation Form and mail to Shore Hills Campground  

Campground Information:

Shore Hills Campground & RV Park

553 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay, ME 04537

Your Campground Hosts:

Neal and Jean Reny

207-633-4782

email:  camping@shorehills.com

Depending on how long you wish to stay will determine how much your reservation fee (deposit) will be. 

NOTES:

   Deposits are non-refundable

   Cash, checks, and traveler’s checks accepted

   Credit Cards and Debit Cards are NOT accepted

 

Come join us!!  There is no Rally Fee.  This rally includes happy hours, potlucks, and restaurant outings to be decided on a day-to-day basis.

Cabbage Island Clambakes (207-633-7200).  Last day is September 1.  If you want to go on you need to make reservations now.

 

Please address any Rally questions to Rich Bonewitz or Dave Meyer and please let us know if you are coming!

 

Happy Birthday to the U.S. Coast Guard

 For the Coast Guard’s 236th Birthday, Here Is Its Story and That of Its Veterans

It's the oldest continuous seagoing service in the U.S. and the only armed force that answers to Homeland Security instead of the Pentagon.

From 10 Ships to a Fifth Armed Service

The Coast Guard's roots trace to Aug. 4, 1790, when Alexander Hamilton, then secretary of the treasury, persuaded Congress to authorize construction of 10 small vessels called revenue cutters. Their job was narrow and unglamorous: Enforce tariff and trade laws and stop smuggling that was starving the young federal government of revenue it desperately needed to survive. That force became known as the Revenue-Marine, then the Revenue Cutter Service in 1894.

The modern Coast Guard didn't fully take shape until 1915, when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service, combining law enforcement and armed maritime authority with organized search and rescue under a single command. Along the way, it also absorbed the Lighthouse Service and the Bureau of Navigation, giving it a mission set that stretches from drug interdiction and port security to icebreaking, environmental response and saving people out of the water in conditions almost no other agency is equipped to operate in.

See the entire article, here, on Military.com

Dogwood-Penn Coachmen Co-Rally in Luray VA

Updated 7/12/2026 

Last call for the Dogwood-Penn Coachmen Joint Rally at Spacious Skies

Hello Dogwood! This is the last call for our upcoming joint rally with Penn Coachmen at Spacious Skies Campground in Luray, VA.  The Rally runs Monday to Friday, 8/10 to 8/14/2026. We have around 35 coaches signed up so far, from several different clubs, so it ought to be a really good time for us. Details on the rally can be found at:

http://penncoachmen.org/spacious-skies-luray/

Dates: August 10-14, 2026. 

Place: Spacious Skies/Shenandoah Views Campground, Luray, VA 

3402 Kimball Rd.

Luray, VA 22835

540-743-7222

 

Click Here For Rally Details and Registration Form

Ed Herbert (Dogwood, 540-760-4180)

Dogwood 30th Anniversary Rally

1996 ~ FRVA Dogwood Chapter ~ 2026

Dogwood 30th Anniversary Rally - Final Notice

 

Hello Dogwood Family, we hope all is well with all of you.

 

This is the final notice about the 30th Anniversary Rally. We hope all of you are ready to have a GREAT TIME.

  

Rally Location:    Rockahock Campground

                             1428 Outpost Road

                             Lanexa, VA 23089

                             804-966-8362

 

Rally Dates: Thursday, July 23 - Sunday, July 26, 2026

Click here to see the Rally Agenda and Details

Thank you and Safe Travels,

Jim Buelow

757-876-7399

 

 

President’s Message – May/Jun 2026

Hello Dogwood! It is June and we are coming up on Dogwood’s 30^th Anniversary Rally in July – probably by the time you read this! It is going to be a big event for us and I am glad to be part of it. Jim Buelow and friends have been hard at work putting together a great program for us.

 As you know, Jean and I toured Ireland, Northern Ireland, & Scotland back in May – what a grand trip it was. In addition to the incredible scenery, we saw a robust RV culture going on throughout the countries. Now, nobody drove the big Class A coaches like we were in (read “Bus”), but the Class B’s and C’s were everywhere as were the campgrounds. Many of the RVs had our standard left-hand steering and these mostly came over from mainland Europe – France, Germany, Switzerland, etc. The roads were narrow and the “Motorways” were at best two lanes, but usually just 1-1/2 lanes. I was glad I wasn’t driving.

The next FRVA convention starts this week as I write; the issues to be voted on concern the reduction in numbers of things needed for the organization to keep working – reducing the number of club members needed to start/maintain a club; reducing the quorum size for voting at the national business meetings, etc. All necessitated by the considerable reduction in size of  FRVA over the past year. I mention that here as a reminder to all of us that we need to keep recruiting – Dogwood has been very fortunate that we have maintained an average of 50 family members annually; some join, some leave, but we hover around 50. So please talk to folks when you are in that campground and let them know about FRVA and the benefits it offers.

That’s it for now – safe travels and stay healthy.

Ed Herbert, President

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

 

   

 

Treasurer’s Report – May/Jun 2026

Treasury balance is $4673.59 as of 6/26/2026.

And a Reminder - 2026 Dogwood dues are now due in the amount of $15.00/coach. 

 

Please mail them to me at:

 

Sonia Kuppert

FRVA Dogwood Chapter Treasurer

6113 Providence Court

Fredericksburg, VA  22407

 

Please make checks payable to FMCA Dogwood Chapter.

 

 

Sonia Kuppert, Treasurer

FRVA, Dogwood Chapter

    

VP Rallies Update – May/Jun 2026

Notes on our 2026 Christmas Rally Planning.  

 

The Christmas Rally is set for December 3-6 at Rockahock Campground (1428 Outpost Road Lanexa, VA.)  Jack and Mary Warren are our hosts this year.

 

I secured the following sites at Rockahock for our Christmas rally:  406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426. (Jack and Mary have reserved site 417, so it is not available.).  All sites are under the DOGWOOD name and will be held until 15 October. They will give us more once these are full.  (See the map for sites.) 

 

Sites are Standard and the weekend rates are $72.00 a night plus tax, anyone can elect to choose a Patio site which is $82.00 a night.  Please make sure when calling in your membership indicates they are with the Dogwood group.  

 

As a reminder they do offer a discount to active/retired military members and first responders.  Please let us know when making reservations.

 

WE NEED SOME MORE COUPLES TO ASSIST.  Let Jack know if you can help, copy me please.

 

We have a blog announcement with updates that will be coming out/ posted soon.

 

   

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

Happy Camping, 

Dell Tenney, Rally Master

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

    

 

VP Communications Update – May/Jun 2026

Hello Dogwood. 
 
In the last newsletter I shared a few tips on navigating the Blog Site, and I received some positive feedback – so thanks for that.  I covered several sections on the main page including our Dogwood Banner and the menu bar with shortcuts to other areas.  I also covered the Blog posts and some of the sections along the right-hand side, including FRVA and the Eastern Area (EA) and finally, the Chapter Reference Documents.
 
In this newsletter I want to continue looking at the different sections along the right-hand side of the main Blog Page.
 
Underneath the Eastern Area section are 3 different search functions.  These can be very helpful if you are looking for specific information, or want to find older posts on various topics or rallies, etc.

ê The 1^st search function (Previous Newsletters and Posts) allows you to search by previous years and months, using the dropdown. 

ê The 2^nd search function (Search This Blog) allows you to enter a keyword you want to search on.  This is the one Robi mentions in his article 🙂

ê And the 3^rd search function (Search by Labels) allows you to select from the various labels (or Tags) assigned to the different blog posts.  The size is related to the number (in parenthesis) of posts with that label.  Note, these labels currently only date back to 2020. 

 

             

As with anytime you are scrolling down through a number of posts, when you get to the bottom, you can continue by clicking “Older Posts”, page backward by clicking “Newer Posts”, or go back to the top of the main page by clicking on “Home”  

I hope this information is helpful.  I will plan to cover additional sections in future articles.  BUT if you have any questions now, please email me at FMCADogwood@gmail.com, and I will respond as soon as possible.  Also, if you have ideas for items that would be useful to Dogwood members, please submit them via email and we will look at how to incorporate them into the Blog. 

Hope to see you at one of the upcoming rallies!

   

Dave Meyer, VP Communications

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

     

Nominating Committee Report

Hello Dogwood Family, we hope that all is well with all of you.

 

In this article, I am again going to discuss Dogwood elections. As all of you know, this is an election year for our chapter. Elections will be held in the September time frame...

 

In the last newsletter I informed all of you that we needed  to fill 3 positions on our Governing board, President, VP of Rallies, and National Director.

 

I am very pleased to announce that we have filled two of those positions, VP of Rallies and National Director. Steve Mahanes has agreed to step up as our new VP of Rallies and Jeanette Raileanu has stepped up to be our National Director. The Raileanu's are new members to our chapter, and Steve, Jeanette's husband is the EAMA Central Region VP... Welcome to Dogwood. Thank you both very much for stepping up. I can assure you both that you will not be left hanging, and you will receive all the assistance that you need to succeed in your new positions. Thank you again.

 

So we now have only one position left to fill, that of President of our Great chapter. And as I previously stated in earlier emails, our chapter cannot function as an active chapter without a President.

 

So, who out there is going to step up to be our next President. It only takes one person to say YES, and we definitely have talented individuals in our chapter who would do a great job. So Please consider stepping up and supporting our chapter. Time is getting short.  

Regards and Safe travels, 

 

Jim Buelow, Nominating Committee Chairman

FRVA Dogwood Chapter