Kansas City Unit Gopher News WBCCI Kansas City, MO Unit 059 President s Message Hello Happy Campers! "Did anyone see those Airstreams that just went by?" Yes, that's what people were saying these last few weeks all over Missouri. Airstream Trailers, Motorhomes and B Vans were seen heading toward Branson's Region 8 Rally. Our very own Beth McCall hosted this annual event and "a good time was had by all. KC Unit 59 showed off with 41 members in attendance. Prior to the Region 8 Rally, our Unit held a 4-day Spring Rally in Higginsville, MO. This 1st Rally of 2018 gave us all a chance to get reacquainted with our rigs and, in some cases, show off improvements made over the winter. We also got to Rally with the Hansens and the Colberts, "first timers" who both have beautiful rigs. In Higginsville we got a chance to enjoy historic sites and local restaurants. My personal favorites were "The Dancing Bear" and "Bryant's at the Park. Many thanks to Linda Bryant and crew for the great meals at the campsite. Our business meeting on Saturday allowed us to collectively review Unit finances, and release $1200 to our Common Cents charity. We also held a silent auction and now have over $400 to kick-start next year's Common Cents Fund. Please keep sending the love and the $$. In a few weeks the fun continues with many members getting ready to caravan West for the WBCCI International in Salem, OR. Keep watching the sky for UFOs AND the road for silver Airstreams speeding by. Your Prez, Mike B. Welcome New Members! John & Sarah Green Shawnee, KS Douglas & Cheryle Hansen Kansas City, KS Stuart & Kate Robertson Prairie Village, KS Executive Officers President: Mike Bedinger bedingerea@gmail.com 1 st Vice President: Debra Doll Dpdoll01@att.net 2 nd Vice President: Tim Timmons ttbikes@aol.com 3 rd Vice President: John Eckardt jeckar52@gmail.com Treasurer: Kay Corder kayceelsmo@gmail.com Recording Secretary: Cheryl Ball qball1951@aol.com Corresponding Secretary: Linda Bryant bedingerea@gmail.com Past President: Larry Poage LPoage@kc.rr.com May 2018 Parliamentarian (non-voting): Henry Roberts Newsletter Editor: Kirk Moore kcunitnews@gmail.com We hope to meet you at a future luncheon or rally!
Kansas City Unit - GOPHER NEWS Member Health News After Beth McCall valiantly soldiered through her Presidential duties at the Region 8 Rally, she returned home for more tests to help diagnose and reduce the pain that she spoke of at Branson. Let s keep her in our thoughts until we see her again and we hope that s soon. Joyce Cantrell will be having surgery in Manhattan, KS on May 4 th for a re-occurrence of cancer. We know she would appreciate our thoughts and prayers. Cards can be sent to: P.O. Box 25 Olsburg, KS 66520 News from the Nominating Committee The 2018 Nominating Committee consists of Larry Poage, Chairman, along with Cheryl Ball and Bud McFie. The committee is happy to announce that Rachel Hughey has graciously accepted the responsibility as Membership Chairman for 2019. This position has been one of two positions held by Kay Corder for the past few years. Rachel will begin working with Kay and assume full responsibility for her new role in October. We have really appreciated Kay shouldering both roles and Rachel s willingness to serve as well. As the KC Unit Membership Chair, Rachel will receive new owner notifications from Airstream and WBCCI (via Betty Sullivan, the Region 8 Membership Chair.) Rachel will send out club information packets to all the KS & MO names on that list, as well as contacting the new owners by phone to invite them to a luncheon or rally. (Coke Melton and the Unit Call Team will follow up with luncheon reminder phone calls to new-member prospects.) Rachel will also help insure the timely processing of new membership. Although Rachel will be the first contact to new members, it s important that everyone in our KC Unit welcomes, assists, mentors and stays in touch with the New Members. Club Mentors are earthly Rally Angels with aluminum wings Mike B. The Nominating Committee is currently in the process of securing candidates for the open position of Third Vice President. Please give careful consideration to stepping forward as a candidate for this position or other responsibilities. If you have questions or are interested in serving, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee. Upcoming KC Unit Activities LUNCHEONS May 5, 2018 11:30am Zarda BBQ 11931 W. 87 th St Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66215 Hosts Dan & Debra Doll 913-492-2330 dpdoll01@att.net June 2, 2018 11:30am Pegah s Family Restaurant 5354 Robert s St, Shawnee KS 66206 Hosts Martin & Rachel Hughey 913-636-8311 dpdoll01@att.net July 2018 No Luncheon in July! Many of us will still be too exhausted after Oregon. See you in August! RALLIES June 6-20, 2018 Region 8 Caravan En route to Salem, OR More information at http://region8.wbcci.net/ June 23 30, 2018 WBCCI International Rally Salem, OR More information at http://wbcci.org August 2-5, 2018 Region 8 - Iowa Irish Fest Rally Waterloo, IA Contact Kirk Stevenson kirkinc2005@yahoo.com or 701-306-9280 August 31 Sept. 3, 2018 Region 8 Special Event Rally (Antique Equipment) Birmingham, IA Contact June & Paul Ryan jpryan341@gmail.com or 641-455-9444 Page 2 September 27-30, 2018 Fall Installation Rally Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Ashland, NE (Check your future Gopher News for more info.)
Kansas City Unit GOPHER NEWS Page 3 April Luncheon April 7, 2018 La Fuente Mexican Restaurant Lee s Summit, MO Does history repeat itself? The Kansas City Unit knows that it does. Last month, our group held their Spring Rally at the Fairground Park in Higginsville, Missouri. As we gathered with friends, we heard the history does repeat itself story of Neil and Delores Crain. In 1985, Neil Crane and his first wife, Veryl, bought an Airstream trailer from Bill Thomas RV Sales and were told of the Kansas City Airstream Club. As luck would have it, there was a rally at the Fairground Park in Higginsville, Missouri, and so they attended and became official members of the Kansas City Unit. Neil and Delores, both having lost their spouses, met in 2000 and were married. Neil introduced Delores to Airstreaming and their first rally together was, you guessed it, the Fairground Park in Higginsville, Missouri. In order to duly celebrate their union, the rally attendees decided to throw a surprise chivaree. The standard wheelbarrow used for this sort of occasion was not to be found, but a local resident, Mrs. Martha Anderson who lived adjacent to the Park, offered up a little red wagon. Delores sat in this wagon and it was pulled down the street with much clanging of pots and pans, shouting and celebration. A night to remember for sure! Here we are in April 2018 - eighteen years later - with Neil and Delores a bit slowed down from those earlier days, but still Airstreaming again at Fairground Park in Higginsville, Missouri. And, as the rally attendees gathered for fun and frolic, what to our wondering eyes should appear? Not eight tiny reindeer, but Mrs. Anderson and her little red wagon! She and the Crains had a wonderful visit reminiscing about the newlyweds chivaree, and a picture was taken to capture the moment in time. Yes, history does repeat itself and the writer of this little article was so very happy to be there to capture the story. There were several other members at the April 2018 rally that were also there for the chivaree 18 years ago. What wonderful memories to share with our Airstream friends! - Julee Shields
Kansas City Unit GOPHER NEWS Page 4 KC Unit Spring Rally April 19 22, 2018 Higginsville, MO Photos provided by Linda Bryant and Tim & Paula Timmons
Kansas City Unit GOPHER NEWS Page 5 WBCCI Region 8 Spring Rally April 19 22, 2018 Branson, MO Photos provided by Tim & Paula Timmons, Linda Poage, Kathy Allen, Denise Chevalier and Kirk Moore
Kansas City Unit GOPHER NEWS Page 6 Kansas City Unit Community Focus At the Spring Rally in Higginsville, our KC Unit collected 200 lbs. of canned goods and dry food items for the local food pantry. We also collected 2 Quilts, 3 throws, 2 pairs of gloves, 1 scarf, 12 hats, 1 book and 60 stuffed animals. These items will be provided to social service programs in the Branson area. For the Common Cents Fund, our unit collected $103.53, then held a silent auction and made an additional $186 for the fund. We voted to give $1,200 to the International Fund, which leaves us a current balance of $556.29. We have a great start for the coming year! Thanks so much to the members for supporting this worthy cause. Also thanks to all New Airstream Member gets wired with WBCCI International President During the Region 8 Rally in Branson MO new Member Charles Colbert worked with Jim Cocke, WBCCI International President who is an old hand on setting up radios and CBs. Charles was really keen on getting his CB radio antenna trimmed to operate on Channel 14. Channel 14 is the standard channel that Charles and his wife Nadine will use when caravanning to the WBCCI International Rally in Salem, OR. The antenna "trim" required a special meter that Jim owns. Charles now has the best electronic means to communicate with his caravan leaders when in remote areas where Cell Phone Service is not available. Unlike cell phones, CB radios require an FCC Permit/License, which is easy to get. Thanks Jim for being at our Region 8 Rally, and see you again in Salem! - Mike B. Where can you buy Airstream parts AND have them shipped directly to your home? Larry Poage has found an online dealer out of Colfax, NC: Out-of-Doors Mart The Longest Running Airstream Dealership in the World! www.odmrv.com 336-993-4518 Thank for the tip, Larry! Lifetime 05 Regular 53 Affiliate 02 Total 60 Membership Report April 21, 2018 New Members since last report Joe and Susan Pelzel Charles and Nadine Colbert David and Claudia Sokolowski Josh Schukman and Brittain Kovac (2018) Lisa and Jeff Walters (2018) David and Stephanie Porto (2018) Douglas and Cheryle Hansen (2018) Bud McFie transferred from his old unit and is now a regular member. Be sure to visit http://kansascityunit.wbcci.net for all archived and up-to-date information about our unit.