President Elect, Ed Herbert's Message, December 2020

Ed Herbert, President Elect – Dec 2020

Jean and Ed Herbert 
Jim and Susan Buelow

Hello to all y’all Dogwood members! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy  New Year to everyone. As I write this, it is cold and rainy outside – perfect setting for a winter’s day, with snow in the forecast in the next few days. As I said, a perfect winter’s day – for me, anyway. Maybe not so much for our Florida and other southern members.

As incoming President, this is my first column in the Dogwood newsletter, and I hope I can convey the same enthusiasm as Jim Buelow has put forth in the past. I am looking forward to 2021 – it has got to be better than 2020! No elections in the coming year, a Covid vaccine on the way, and everyone eager to get back on the road again. Things look promising, indeed.

In this newsletter, we have sketched out ideas for rallies and will be keeping our fingers crossed that we can make them happen. If you have ideas for other rallies, please let us know! Our new Rally Master this year is Henry Kuiken, so please call him with your ideas!  Henry’s wife, Patty Kuiken, is our new Care Person, and if you know of a Dogwood member  “under the weather” or dealing with health issues, please let Patty know.

Nanette and David Meyer

Dave Meyer is our new VP of communications, and general all-around Blog-site manager.  He and I have been sketching out ideas for Blog updates and if you have suggestions to the Dogwood Blog, please contact Dave via fmcadogwood@gmail.com

So your new Executive Board consists of:

• VP Membership & Treasurer – Pat Allen

• VP of Communications – Dave Meyer

• VP of Rallies – Henry Kuiken

• Secretary – Jean Herbert

• National Director – Ed Fisher

• Alternate National Director – Rich Bonewitz

• Safety Committee Chairman – Butch Jones

• Care Person – Patti Kuiken

 My goals for the club are pretty straight forward:

• Continue to publish our Dogwood Newsletter bi-monthly

• Update & Publish our Dogwood flyer for members to hand out to prospective new members

• Maintain a good rally schedule – There are two international rallies (Perry and Gillette) and one EAMA rally (Lewisburg) this year which is the 2021 GEAR Rally for the Eastern Area Management Assoc (EAMA). Work with EAMA to volunteer at the rally, and recruit

• Keep our upcoming 25th Anniversary rally at the forefront. Note that the 25th Anniversary Committee members are Connie Tilman, Karen Alexander, Andrea Monaghan,  & Patty Kuiken

• look for local rally locations & events (VIR, Lake Anna, Virginia Beach, Luray, etc.)

• Encourage recruitment of new members (part of this push is to get a club flyer printed)

I also want to acknowledge some other Dogwood members that have roles outside this club; these roles keep us connected with FMCA HQ and other clubs within FMCA. We are part of the FMCA Eastern Area region, and our club participants are:

• Steve Czarsty – Founders of the Dogwood Chapter 1996

• Wilt Greenwood –  FMCA National Audit Committee Eastern Area Gourmands

• Berkley Alexander – Eastern Area Treasurer

• Rob Hill – EAMA Central Region VP

• Maxine Schremp – Former EAMA Sr. VP

These folks provide a very valuable service by keeping us connected with the other groups within FMCA. If you haven’t met them, please do so when you have the opportunity.  Participation is a key ingredient to keeping the club going. 

So let’s hope for a great year in 2021. Everybody stay safe and I will see you on the road.

Ed