Covering the State of Montana August 2015 Presidents Message... Hello again Big Sky FMCA friends: Summer has officially arrived in Montana which means it is time to crank up that motor home for some fun and fellowship with your Big Sky family members. We just did that recently when 29 (15 coaches) met in Deer Lodge for our June rally. Needless to say we all had a good time visiting with some of our new members as well as many of our veterans. Thank you again Tony and Sandy Heaton for hosting the rally. At our business meeting we voted on and elected some new officers of our chapter. Kelly Kruse volunteered to take over the National Director position from Tom Clump. Yours truly volunteered to be his alternate. Thank you Tom for thoroughly explaining the requirements of the job. Thank you Kelly for stepping up to be our voice at the national meetings of FMCA. As you know there is not a July rally scheduled. However, the August 13-16 rally, hosted by Klaas and Johanna Kloosterhof, is in Manhattan at the Christian High School. There are no hook-ups available therefore no camping fee. More on this rally in this newsletter. Have a good summer and hope to see everyone at the August rally. Mike Teague Fun Times at Coos Bay We had a great time at the Coos Bay Rally. The food was very good and the activities kept us busy. We finally met up with the McGrews and Millers for the last meal there. The weather was beautiful and much cooler than the heat Montana was experiencing. The Mill Casino was a great place for a rally, with very friendly staff. The best part was meeting new friends. This is a photo of the glass floats we found on our excursion to the beach. _ Linda and Jim Bales ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We had a great time at Coos Bay. We followed the Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon Coastal Highway on the way to the rally and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery. Neither of us had toured that area before. We were able to connect with the Bales and the McGrew s for a dinner and enjoyed their company. The salmon baked in the traditional native American way was delicious! Coos Bay sponsors a wine walk around the downtown area which was fun and we also took a very interesting boat tour of the bay. There were the usual seminars and vendors as well as quite a few new motor homes on display. I believe there were about 700 people attending so I suppose that translates into about 350 motor homes. Of course, we enjoyed meeting and chatting with members from all over the NW area. We really had a good time at the event and the weather was nice.until we hit the heat on the way home. _ Dave and Sharon Miller Big Sky FMCA 2015 Chapter Officers... President: Mike Teague 406-868-6711 Vice President East: Al Baird 406-656-3606 Vice President West: Paul Bessler 406-443-3768 Secretary: Dixie Teague 406-868-6711 Treasurer: Susie Farr 406-431-9341 Wagon Master: Gene Farr 406-461-0426 National Director: Kelly Kruse 406-388-6827 Alt National Director: Mike Teague 406-868-6711 Historian: Karen Davis 406-360-0395 Newsletter/Membership: Susie Farr 406-431-9341-1-
Wagon Master Message I want to thank Mike and Dori Tucker who have offered to host a rally for the 2016 RV Season. I also hear that the Clumps and Hagens are considering a rally. That leaves two months available - so who out there is going to step up? Give me a call I will help you through it all from start to finish! This Years Rallies: August 13-16, 2015, Manhattan Christian High School, 8000 Churchill Rd Manhattan, MT to be hosted by Klaas & Johanna Kloosterhof. Details in this newsletter. September 17-20, 2015: Hosted by Gene & Susie Farr and Gary & Marcia Drosten. Devils Elbow Recreation Area on Hauser Lake. Details in this newsletter. Gene Farr, Wagon Master Newsletter Editor Message Thank you everyone for your get well wishes. I got out of the hospital on 7/29 and am beginning the process of healing at home! Still not sure if we will make the Manhattan rally but we are keeping our fingers crossed. Looking forward to the rally at Devils Elbow. I hope everyone can make it. Please make sure to write down our new address: 935 Isy Loop, Helena, MT 59602. This is where you will send your dues. In the roster there is a date above your name this is the date you are paid through so if you have 2015 above your name your dues are due this year. 2016 Dues are due in September Behind the Scenes The following were submitted on the biography forms from prior newsletters. Look for other bio s as space allows. If you have not yet submitted the bio form (look for it in this newsletter) please do so as soon as you can as we would love to know more about you and your background. We would like to highlight a couple or two each month in the newsletter. William (Bill) Walling & Lois Freeman Bill hails from Wyoming Lois came all the way from Minnesota. We are glad you both migrated to Montana! They live in Helena, MT at 620 Faw Rd. in the summer. They enjoy their winters at 9546 E 33rd Place in Yuma, AZ. Bill has been Rv ing for 56 years, yes you read it right that s since 1958! Lois has only been at it for 43 years 1971. I guess she is a bit of a novice! Bill was a Steel Worker until retirement in 1985. Lois was a Bookkeeper prior to retirement in 1995. They have been part time RV ing since 1994. Lois has four month on Bill Her Birthday is Jan. 9 and Bill s big day is May 1. Their Anniversary Day is June 25, 2009! Bill and Lois co-hosted our July 2014 in Clinton Thanks! Virgil Ward Virgil has been Rv ing since the summer of 1976. He is working on becoming a Full Timer soon. Virgil summer s in Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska. That makes sense since he originally from Juneau! Lake Havasu City, AZ is where he calls home in the winter. In his work life he was a General Manager until the time of his retirement in May of 2002. Virgil celebrates his birthday on October 29. - 2 - Virgil joined our club at our rally 2014 July rally in Clinton. Welcome Virgil! Mike & Dixie Teague Mike & Dixie have been RV ing since 2001. They went full time in January 2005. In Oct. of 2008 they purchased a condo in Great Falls where they summered and RV d part time. They winter somewhere in the south moving around AZ and CA. In July 2013 they leased the condo and went full time once again. However it didn t last long as they purchased a home this spring in the rural town of Turner, MT. It is 12 miles from the town Dixie grew up in. Mike grew up in Texas and Dixie in Hogeland, MT. They both worked for Continental Airlines in various ground operations. They lived the Houston, TX area the last 20 plus years. After retirement in Dec. 2004 (Mike with 38 years & Dixie with 20) they hit the road in the RV traveling to all lower 48 states! Mike & Dixie married on April 7, 1990. Birthdays are celebrated on November 10th for Mike and January 21st for Dixie. They have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. Mike & Dixie hosted our July 2012 rally in Great Falls and our September 2014 rally in Havre. They currently are officers in our Big Sky FMCA Chapter. Thanks for serving and attending rally s. - more Behind the Scenes on page 5
August 13-16, 2015 - Rally Fee: $15 Dry Camping Hosts: Klaas & Johanna Kloosterhof - (406) 570-5973 or 570-4517 and Dave & Sharon Miller - (406) 589-4786 or 589-4787 Where we have no camping fees, there will be a free will donation to the school for the use of their facilities. We will have use of their atrium for our get togethers as well as a lunch counter and refrigerator & bathrooms available for our use as well. Contact Klaas or Johanna no later than 1 week prior to rally so they may plan appropriately. Driving Directions from Belgrade: From Belgrade, head S. on Jackrabbit Ln. Turn right onto W. Cameron Bridge Road for 6 miles. Turn right onto Churchill Road. School will be on the right. Watch for FMCA Signs along the way. AGENDA Thursday Aug. 13: Arrival and Happy Hour at 4 at the atrium, bring light snacks. BBQ in downtown Manhattan from 6-8 pm to start off the Potato Festival. Friday Aug. 14: 8:30 am Continental breakfast at the atrium 10:00 till 4 Free day 4:00 pm Happy Hour at the atrium, bring light snacks Dinner on your own. A list of nearby restaurants will be provided. The Bozeman area has too many to mention. Saturday Aug. 15: 8:30 am Continental breakfast at the atrium Potato festival day in Manhattan, with a parade around midday. Car show and arts and craft booths, food vendors etc. 4:00 pm Happy Hour with light snacks, 5:30 or 6 pm Potluck at the atrium. Bring either a cold or a warm dish. White elephant gift exchange, bring one gift per couple not to exceed $ 10 or a old gift you d like to re-circulate! Sunday Aug. 16 - Going home again 8:30 till 10 am Continental breakfast Due to the close proximity of the church, please do not leave till about 11:20, their worship service should have ended by then. - 3 -
Relax at DEVIL S ELBOW September 17-20, 2015 Hosted by Gene & Susie Farr - 406-431-9341 & Gary & Marcia Drosten - 465-8717 Rally Fee: $40-3 nights dry camping & food. (Does not include dinner out night). Thursday, July 17 - Arrival 4:00 pm - Happy Hour - bring a heavy hors-d oeuvre and beverage. Friday, July 18 8:30 am - Continental breakfast at the picnic shelter 4:00 pm - Happy Hour before we caravan to the Grubstake for dinner Saturday, July 19 8:30 am - Continental breakfast at the picnic shelter 4:00 pm - Happy Hour at the Picnic Shelter 5:00 pm - Potluck - bring your favorite dish to share Business meeting immediately after potluck Sunday, July 20 - Departure Day - Thank you for coming have a safe drive home 8:30 am - Continental breakfast at the picnic shelter Directions: From Helena take Exit 194 (Custer Avenue) from I-15. East on Custer for 1/2 mile, then turn left on York Road for approximately 12 miles through Lakeside until you reach the Devil s Elbow entrance sign. Watch for Big Sky FMCA Signs. 12 spaces available with group. Reservations should be made directly with the Farr s or Drosten s only. If group spaces are taken then you will be parked outside the group. It would be best to reserve your space with BLM although being in Sept. there should be plenty of spaces available. There is lots to see and do in Helena and the surrounding area. Or just relax everyday by the lake. - 4 -
John & Millie Storment John & Millie are brand new to our club. They live in Great Falls and winter in Tucson, AZ. They are new to RV ing starting in 2013. John hails from Eugene, OR. He retired in 2005 from the US Navy as a Health Care Administrator. Millie traveled quite a distance to find her home in Montana as she is from Boston, MA. She was a Registered Nurse until she retired in 2014. The celebration starts for them on July 17th on John s Birthday, then their Anniversary on August 5th and finishing up on August 19th with Millie s Birthday. Welcome to the Big Sky Chapter of FMCA! Hope to see you at a rally this summer. Rocky & Suzi Healey Rocky & Suzi are new to the Rv ing lifestyle and to our club, joining in July 2014. They live in Frenchtown, MT and travel in winter. Rocky & Suzi are originally from Cleveland, OH. Rocky spent 20 plus years in the Food Service industry and also owned a Furniture Repair place. He retired in November 2013. Suzi was a Physical Therapist, specializing in geriatrics until she retired in June 2014. Behind the Scenes tell!!!!! Their special days to celebrate are Anniversary August 28th, Rocky s Birthday June 28th and Suzi, well...it s a secret, she won t They braved out most of the winter in Montana before taking a 5 week circle trip to Alabama, Kentucky and Illinois. Welcome to our club Rocky & Suzi! Big Sky FMCA Member 'Bio' Return Return to Dixie to Dixie Teague ~ Mail: ~ PO Box 126 235, Hogeland, Turner, MT 59529 59542 (or) Provide (or) Provide info in info an Email: in an Email: dixieormike@yahoo.com Name(s): Summer location: Winter location (city, park): Rv'ing Since: Full Time RV'er 'MISTER' Originally From: Vocation(s): Retired ~ if so, when? Birthday: Part Time RV'er 'MRS. / MS.' Originally From: Vocation(s): Retired ~ if so, when? Birthday: Anniversary: Additional background or current info you would like to provide: -5 -
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) $12/pair (pin); $15/pair (Magnetic) (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