BIG SKY FMCA Covering the State of Montana September 2016 Presidents Message... September 2016 Hello Big Sky Folks, While the July rally in Ronan was, by all accounts, an outstanding rally, the August rally at Will and Shirley Ketterling s place in Joliet, has to rank right up there beside it. There were twelve coaches in attendance all parked on their property. The weather was near perfect with sunshine, no wind and just a few sprinkles of rain. What a wonderful time of fun, food and fellowship with our Big Sky friends each day and around the fire pit in the evening. A big THANK YOU goes out to Will and Shirley as well their family, especially their son Kevin and his wife Diana who cooked the outstanding smoked pork ribs and chicken wings. Friday morning was Caramel French Toast casserole & scrambled eggs. And if that was not enough, they made big fluffy pancakes on an outdoor grill for us on Saturday morning. I made sure Dixie got the recipe for the Overnight Caramel French Toast. (Calories not listed) While the deadline for booking has passed, if you are interested you can contact the park to check on availability. It is our annual business meeting rally and new officers will be elected to serve our chapter for the next two years. We will also present a report of our experience while at the National Governing Board Meeting we recently attended in West Springfield, Massachusetts. It has been a privilege to serve as your President (and Dixie the Secretary) for the past four years. Hope to see you in Libby on September 8th. Safe Travels Mike Teague Denny & Karen Davis have a Roadmaster Guardian Rock Shield & Brake Buddy for sale. If interested call them at 360-0395. 2017 Dues are due in September!! Look in the roster, the date that appears above your name is the date you are paid through. If 2016 appears your dues of $15 are now due for 2017. Please make checks payable to Big Sky FMCA and mail to Susie Farr, 935 Isy Loop, Helena, MT 59602. Big Sky FMCA 2016 Chapter Officers... President: Mike Teague 406-868-6711 On Saturday, we drove to the town of Red Lodge and watched a small parade and had lunch at the Red Lodge Vice President East: Al Baird 406-656-3606 Pizza Company. We then decided to drive the 32 mile Vice President West: Paul Bessler 406-443-3768 BearTooth Hwy up to the mountain summit which is about Secretary: Dixie Teague 406-868-6711 eleven thousand feet. Although the climb (and summit) is Treasurer: Susie Farr 406-431-9341 not for the faint of heart, the view was simply awesome. Back in Red Lodge we perused some vendors and watched Wagon Master: Gene Farr 406-461-0426 a hay toss contest (and of course had some refreshments) National Director: Kelly Kruse 406-388-6827 at the Red Lodge Ales Brewing Co. Alt National Director: Mike Teague 406-868-6711 As you know, our next and last rally for the summer is in Newsletter/Membership: Susie Farr 406-431-9341 Libby where thirteen coaches have registered to attend. -1-
Wagon Master Message Our Summer season is coming to an end and we ve had some great rallies starting off in Missoula hosted by Tom & Dianne and Bob & Becky. Then on to Ronan, hosted by Mike & Dori Tucker and Dave & Sharon Miller. Moving on to August was Joliet, hosted by Will & Shirley. Hats off to them for a great rally! They put on a feast every day and were very hospitable in opening up their home to us. Their two sons, Kevin & Willard and their wives Diana & Susie along with Shirley s adopted daughter Lisa helped with all the cooking, from pancakes to BBQ d ribs. Her brother, Ray, and his wife Alice, also helped daily with set-up and clean-up. Dave & Sharon Miller won the $100 attendance award. And then Libby in September for the Nordicfest. and election of officers for the upcoming two years. Susie & I are hosts. Dan & Jinny Schoenback was co-hosting but Dan suffered a fall and fractured four ribs so they will not be able to attend. Get well Dan! 2016 Rally Schedule September 8-9 - 10, 2016: Libby (Nordicfest) Hosted by Gene & Susie Farr and Frank & Kathie Richmond. 2017 Rally Schedule June 15-16 - 17, 2017: Boulder, Boulder Fair Grounds. Hosted by Dennis & Carole Ogle & Bernie & Frannie Briggeman Gene Farr, Wagon Master Newsletter/Membership Message Please note that 2017 dues are due in September. If you can please get your dues to me no later than Sept. 23 so I can get them in the bank before leaving for winter on the 25th. The date (year) above your name in the roster is the date your dues are due. This will also be a good time to advise me of changes you may have in your e-mail or phone number. If you had to miss Joliet you missed a great one! The Ketterling s made us all feel so welcome. They had the perfect spot to park the motor homes and set up their garage with tables & chairs for our breakfasts and dinners. Shirley is quite a cook. We also met her family who was a tremendous help to her & Will with cooking & cleaning up. Thank you to Kevin, Willard, Diana, Susie, Lisa and her brother Ray & his wife, Alice and Will s brother, Floyd. It was our privilege to meet & get to know them. Well September is the election of new officers for the upcoming two years. What was the Treasurer/Membership position has been split into two. Treasurer is one position and membership is staying with me as it goes hand-in-hand with the newsletter & roster that I will still be doing. Gene and I will be leaving for Albuquerque shortly after the Libby Rally then on to Arizona for the winter. We will be flying home for Christmas this year, something new for us. Hope to see you soon, Susie Farr, Newsletter/Membership Editors Note: See minutes from Governing Board Meeting page 5 ELECTION OF 2017-18 OFFICERS The election of new officers will be held at our annual business meeting at the September Rally in Libby. Our nomination committee has worked diligently in recruiting the nominees listed below and would like to thank them for accepting the nomination. We still need a historian, national director and assistant national director. If you or someone you know would like to add their name to the following list for any shown officer please call Dixie Teague, Dennis Ogle or Susie Farr. Gary Drosten President Dennis Ogle Treasurer Al Baird Vice President East Mike Tucker Wagon Master Paul Bessler Vice President West Susie Farr Newsletter/Membership Dori Tucker Secretary - 2 -
Will & Shirley Ketterling and family Joliet From camping to food, it was all perfect Hats off to the cooks, a family affair! Floyd, little Rory, Diana & Kevin Ketterling Will s brother Floyd Shirley s brother & his wife, Ray & Alice Can you believe this dinner? Evenings in the back yard Fun & Games It doesn t get any better than this! Check out that garden in the background The attendance award winners Dave & Sharon - 3 - You go girl! Anna Hagen
Please Note Arrival day happy hour at 4 and dinner at 6:00. We ll leave about 5:30 Libby - September 8, 9, 10 Woodland RV Park, 31480 US-2 (located west end of Libby) Phone 293-8395 to reserve. Call by August 6th & Mention you are with FMCA Group $35/night or $40 for creek side, Full Hookups. Hosted by Gene & Susie Farr & Kathie & Frank Richmond. Nordicfest is celebration of the area s rich Scandinavian heritage with music, food & cultural events. Held each year in September. Events are held at various locations around Libby. Thursday September 8: Arrival Day 4:00pm - Happy Hour at host site - bring your beverage 5:30 pm - Caravan to dinner at the Venture Inn - dinner at 6 Friday September 9 8:30am - Continental Breakfast at host site 10:00am-4:00pm - Free day to enjoy Nordicfest, visit Libby Dam, Ross Creek Cedar Grove or whatever 4:00pm - Happy Hour - bring a heavy hours-d euvre and beverage. Dinner on your own. Saturday September 10 8:30am - Continental Breakfast at host site 10:00am-4:00pm - Free day to enjoy the parade, Nordicfest, Ross Creek Cedar Grove or maybe Kootenai Falls 4:00pm - Happy Hour - Happy Hour bring your beverage 5:00pm - Potluck - at host site - bring your favorite dish Business meeting with elections immediately following potluck Sunday September 11th: Departure Day 8:30am - Continental Breakfast Thanks for attending, safe travels home Sons of Norway Float in parade - 4 - Ross Creek Cedar Grove nearby
FMCA Governing Board Meeting West Springfield, MA August 3, 2016 The meeting was called to order at 9am by President, Charlie Adcock.. The Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance & singing of National Anthems started the meeting. There were 216 Delegates registered for the meeting. The adoption of the Standard Rules and Adoption of Agenda and the Introduction of the head table followed. The reading of the previous minutes was waived. The Treasurer's/Finance Committee Report was read and approved. YDT of the fiscal year (ends Oct 1) shows a net loss of 68 members, down considerably from previous years. This was followed by Committee Reports. Under Policy & Procedures National Vice Presidents allocation of Expenses for Travel was deceased by 6.2 percent for the Intl Area and increased in the other areas by 0.7 percent. Also all expenses must have a receipt. The other items were clarification and wording changes. Action Items for 2016: Approval to renew the FMCAssist Medical Emergency & Travel Assistance Program for 2016-2017. Recommendation to bestow the Kenneth T Scott Pipe Dreamer's award to Jean Pryor. To hold FMCA's winter 2019 convention in Chandler, AZ or Tucson To hold FMCA's summer 2019 convention in St. Paul, MN To hold FMCA's winter 2020 convention in Perry, GA To hold FMCA's summer 2020 convention in Redmond, OR Information Items: (Highlights) To develop a door hanger card to get new members (to - 5 - include a $10 off coupon) That the Executive Board not take per diam when traveling by motorhome for the remainder of this year and the 2017 fiscal year. To approve the recommendation of MCA to amplify FMCA's membership marketing effort by extending our digital outreach. To accomplish this we joined with RVillage as proposed & spent $250,000 for the FMCA logo and Chapter links to be displayed in their popular pages. The monies were taken from the Investments which have done well the past year. There was much discussion on this topic The Executive Board approved this prior to the Governing Board meeting. New Business: Membership Dues Increase of $10 beginning October 1, 2016. There will be an Email blast to inform members and give the opportunity to renew in advance. (Approved) Fiscal Year 2017 Budget (Approved) Motion made to change the Articles of the Incorporation...to 'loosen' them so at a later date changes can be made, such as adding a new business. This would allow FMCA to add an area where 'towables' could be added to our membership. This of course would have to be approved by the membership. It is a three year process and is needed prior to changing any bylaws. This will be put out for a full membership vote in the October magazine. (Approved) Motion made to limit the Executive Board spending amount to $75,000. (Failed) The Area Vice Presidents were then introduced. The meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Mike Teague Alternate National Director ~ Big Sky Chapter Upcoming Conventions: Winter 2017 Chandler AZ Wild Horse Casino Summer 2017 Indianapolis, IN Winter 2018 Perry, GA Summer 2018 Gillette, WY
Big Sky FMCA 935 Isy Loop Helena, MT 59602 BIG SKY FMCA MEMBERSHIP FORM Name FMCA# Address City State Zip Phone Cell# (Optional) E-Mail(s) Annual dues $15.00 plus one time new member sign up fee of $5.00. Badges (not required) $15/pair (pin or magnet) (Circle one) Make checks out to Big Sky FMCA. Multi-year memberships available. Circle: 1 yr 2 yr. 3 yr. Total amount Enclosed Mail to Susie Farr, Treasurer, 935 Isy Loop, Helena, MT 59602-6 -