Rallies

As we head into this New Year, we have several exciting rallies planned, or are in the planning stages out thru summer 2003.

In past, our rallies have been one of the strong points of this organization, I have had people tell me one of the reasons they belong to this group is to enjoy the camaraderie they find by attending DI rallies.

The first of these is our pre-rally, hosted by Mary & Harry Condrey, at Pine Mountain, GA. As of this writing I am told that we have reached our capacity. If you are interested in attending, please contact Mary for possible cancellations. Indications based on the efforts of Mary & Harry are that this will be another very successful rally.

Following this pre-rally we will be caravanning to Perry for the FMCA convention. This is a very popular location and we could expect attendance to exceed 7500 coaches. For the first time FMCA is offering electrical power sites for an additional fee, contact FMCA for details. Our Chapter meeting will be held on Wednesday at 4 PM in Seminar 4, McGill building, but, please check your convention schedule in case of changes.

The next planned rally will be early in September and hosted by Janet & Griff Livingston, literally in their backyard. Sarah & I made an overnight stop on the way south and the Livingston's are very excited about this rally. There are so many things to do in their area, it will be difficult to decide what to do. Janet is planning a special day in our nation's Capital.

Shortly after, we will be gathering in Abilene, Kansas, as guests of Neil & Marlene Elkins, Rally masters for a pre-rally for the convention in Hutchinson, Kansas. Both of these rallies offer the opportunity to visit some historical areas in our great country.

Focusing on the upcoming rally & convention in Georgia, Fleetwood will be supporting DI with a financial contribution, pre-registration for service at the convention, preview of a new coach, and an opportunity to participate in a focus group discussion. Dawn Fann of Fleetwood RV is asking for volunteers for the Fleetwood display, see her letter in this newsletter.

Looking longer range, FMCA has confirmed Pomona, CA as the site for the spring 2003 Convention, based on approval of 45-foot coaches in California. The summer convention 2003 will be in the Buffalo, NY area.

We hope that you have sent your renewal dues to Janet Livingston, if not please do so in order to maintain your membership in good standing.

Sarah & I hope to see you at one of our upcoming rallies. It is a great opportunity to meet with other members and share experiences, and to make new friends. At each rally we have attended, we have met new and great people.

INFLOWS:
Uncategorized	$1,195.35
FMCA Reimbursements	$75.00
Membership Dues	$845.00
Other Income	$3,602.06
Rally Income	$412.50
TOTAL INFLOWS	$6,129.91
OUTFLOWS:
Uncategorized	$28.00
Advertising	$4.00
Badges Expense	$272.00
Donation	$250.00
Dues	$50.00
Dues Overpayment	$10.00
Newsletters	$257.40
Name Tags	$550.50
Office Supplies	$250.40
Officer Plaques	$294.00
Postage	$210.00
TOTAL OUTFLOWS	$1,625.80
OVERALL TOTAL	$4,504.11

In the last issue (#15) of Discovery'ing, there is reported that Mr. Ed and Mz. Jane Colburn lost their alternator, drained their chassis battery, and continued to a repair facility by holding down the switch to connect the coach battery.

We have had, unfortunately, the loss of two alternators, and would like to inform drivers that if their ammeter needle, which should register near the "r" or "m" of normal starts to read lower on the scale, their alternator is failing. When the needle gets down to "N", TURN ON YOUR GENERATOR. This will provide enough electricity to get you anywhere without draining your batteries.

The dues have been coming in a steady stream. If you have not sent your 2002 dues in yet, it would really help if you could send them now. It's our goal to get the updated club directory to all current members in March.

Things have gone great with the sign up for the March pre-rally in Pine Mountain. We have filled the 30 spaces that we were limited to. With all the things to see and do in this area, we expect everyone to have a good time. March weather in Georgia can never be predicted. Highs can be in the 80's or 30's depending on whether a warm front or a cold front is coming through. We have ordered warm weather with no rain. Maybe we will get our wish.

For the ones what will be going on to the FMCA Convention in Perry, Georgia, we have a few suggestions. Make sure you have your packet from FMCA with your arrival window decal. Don't worry about the date that they have put down for you to come in. We have contacted FMCA and they have given our group a March 17th arrival date. We will have the window decals for the group caravan at the campground.

Plan to come into Pine Mountain Campground with your diesel fuel tank and propane tank full. The route we have planned for the caravan to Perry should give you a look at rural Georgia. Rolling land and small towns along the way.

Cason Callaway purchased thousands of acres of land in rural Georgia and he and his wife, Virginia eventually decided to develop a garden of incessant beauty to share with the world.

Cason became one of Georgia's leading farmers and agricultural economists. He shared his knowledge with other Georgia farmers through a program he developed called 100 Georgia Better Farms with an emphasis on nourishing the soil so that it could be nurtured back into profitability.

Virginia had an interest in botany and love of plants that began in her childhood as she helped to grow camellias and other flowers. She was an active partner with Cason in planning and guiding the development of Callaway Gardens. Under her direction, azaleas and other native plants were used to enhance the lakeside drive through the Gardens.

Initially, they planned a residential community for their friends and business associates. But as the garden began to take shape, they felt it was much too beautiful for just a few people to enjoy. They wanted to share their treasure with many people. After much planning and planting and building, Callaway Gardens opened to the public on May 21, 1952.

Cason died of a heart attack at Blue Spring on April 12, 1961. Virginia died on February 11, 1995.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt built the Little White House in 1932 while governor of New York, prior to being inaugurated as president in 1933. He first came to Warm Springs (Georgia) in 1924 hoping to find a cure for the infantile paralysis (polio) which had struck him in 1921. Swimming in the warm, buoyant spring waters brought him no miracle cure, but it did bring improvement. On April 12, 1945, during his 41st visit to the rural community of 500, he suffered a massive stroke and died while his portrait was being painted. Today, the "Unfinished Portrait" is a focal point of the Little White House tour. The house and furnishings have been carefully preserved very much as Roosevelt left them in 1945. The adjacent museum displays memorabilia collected in honor of the statesman and presents a brief film containing historic cottage of Roosevelt and his contemporaries. Visitors also can see the guest house, servants' quarters and garage where Roosevelt's 1938 Ford roadster is displayed.

9,047 acres with 140 tent, trailer, RV sites, 21 cottages, 2 lakes, swimming pool, trading post, 2 picnic shelters, group shelters, 2 group camps, pioneer campground, hiking and backpacking miles of trails, fishing and boating and horseback riding stables. Several structures within the park, including the stone swimming pool, were built by Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Above Kings Gap is Dowdell's Knob, Roosevelt's favorite picnic spot overlooking a magnificent view of the valley below.

I had the unfortunate need to enter a hospital while on my way to FMCA Oklahoma City National convention this past March. I had the fortune to be covered by the FMCA Deductible Reimbursement Insurance Plan, which all FMCA members receive FREE as a part of our membership. If you don't know about this important coverage, this piece will inform you on it's workings. The existence of this benefit can be used as a tool to recruit new FMCA and Discovery International members as well.

This plan covers all your deductible accident or sickness claims up to $1,500 when more than 50 miles from your home. This insurance is co-coordinated with any other carrier. A $50 deductible applies. The process of filing the claim is fairly straightforward. A claim form can be torn out of the FMCA magazine (Page 219 in January 2001 issue) and filled in. You need to attach a copy of your driver's license as well as copies of all medical and hospital bills and any Explanation of Benefits (EOD) forms from your other insurance carrier(s). Here's a description of the claim I filed:

**I had heard some member's claims were delayed due to requests for additional information. I tried to include everything that existed on the claim so that no further requests would be necessary. The company does not require copies of cancelled checks.

The package was sent to FMCA Insurance Administrator, P.O. Box 467, Kings Mill, OH 45034. They in turn apparently forwarded it to a processor Star Administrative Services, Inc. I immediately received letters from these organizations saying my claim had been received. The problem occurred on April 1, 2001 and it took me until September 1 to get the final EOB and mail it to FMCA. (This was an unusually long delay due to communication problems between Aetna and the hospital and no fault of the FMCA program.) The claim was paid by Star on October 17th. So, it would appear one could expect to receive a check(s) in approximately six weeks after filing a complete package. My checks exceeded $400.00. A wonderful benefit for $25/year membership fee.

I have recently been diagnosed with AAADD: Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This is how it goes...

I decide to wash the car and start toward the garage when I notice the mail on the table. I figure I might as well go through the mail before washing the car. I lay my keys down on the desk, sort the mail and discard the junk mail. As I discard the junk mail, I see that the garbage can is full. I lay the bills down on the desk and pick up the trash can. Then I figure that since I'll be going near the mailbox while taking out the trash, I may as well pay these few bills first. Now where did I put my checkbook?

Ah, here it is! Oops, there's only one check left. My extra checks are in the other room. Oh! There's the soda I was drinking earlier! Hmmm, I guess I'd better take it out to the kitchen and discard it. On the way to the kitchen, my flower arrangement catches my eye and I realize it needs more water. I pour the soda down the sink. As I wipe a spot of the counter, I see my glasses on the window sill. It's about time. I've been looking for them all morning!

I guess I'd better go put them away so I can find them again later. But first I've got to add water to the flower arrangement...Hey! What's the TV remote doing in the kitchen? Aaaaaagh! I'd better take it to the living room because we'll never think to look for it in the kitchen tonight. I take the remote out to the coffee table and find that the living room is a bit untidy, so I go around arranging cushions and throw pillows. Then I'm off down the hall, to...to...what the heck was I planning to do?

End of Day: The car isn't washed, the bills are unpaid, the flowers aren't watered, the checkbook still only has one check, and now I can't seem to find my car keys! I don't seem to have gotten anything done today, but I just can't figure why because I KNOW I WAS BUSY ALL DAY LONG!!!

I realize this is a serious condition and that I'd better seek help. But first, I think I'll check my e-mail...

Well, the holidays are gone, the days are getting longer, and we're getting anxious to get back on the road again! Marlene and I hope that whether you've spent the winter at home or at your favorite travel spot, your holidays have been as pleasant and refreshing as ours have been.

The celebration of Christmas and the New Year have helped the winter days quickly fade into the past and we've been busy getting things in order to start traveling again. Marlene and I are looking forward to a few days in South Texas visiting friends and family (Winter Texas all!) as a warm-up to the year's travel. You can bet that the "warm-up" will include plenty of hot tamales and Rio Star grapefruit which have become our annual reward for surviving the winter! After that we hope to see many of you in Pine Mountain for the Discovery International pre-rally and later at the FMCA International Convention in Perry, Georgia. I'm sure that Harry and Mary have a wonderful time arranged for our enjoyment and I hope that we have a "full house" at their rally.

Don't forget that in April the International Area Rally will be held in San Antonio, Texas. Marlene and I attended the last International Area Rally in Edmonton, Alberta, (as did Ed and Pat Walkup) and really had a super time. We are looking forward to going back to San Antonio since we very much enjoyed a few days there late last September. If any of you are planning to go, let us know so we can go as a group and have our own mini-rally. Maybe some of you Texans out there will arrange a welcome party for those of us who aren't lucky enough to live in Texas!

I haven't had any volunteers offering to arrange rallies at places of interest outside of the semi-annual FMCA International Conventions, but I haven't given up hope yet! Don't be bashful! Surely some of you - many of you, in fact - live in areas where there are places of interest which the rest of us would enjoy visiting. Just let me know and maybe we can work up a "mini-rally." Also, Bill and Diana are still looking for brief articles and/or notes which many of you have in your minds which only require your putting pencil to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and which the rest of us would enjoy reading.

The Discovery International (FMCA) chapter is only as much fun and interest as the members make it and we need everyone's help. All that is required to have a tremendously successful chapter is for every member to participate and to contribute in his or her own way. The more people we have pitching in to help, the more fun all of us will have since every one of you has a great deal to offer. Let me assure you that you will have a great time and we look forward to your help in making the chapter fun for everyone!

Until next time, have a great time and I hope I see all of you at one of our events this year!

Regarding job layoffs in the USA. Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (made in Japan) for 6 A.M. While his coffeepot (made in China) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (made in Hong Kong). He put on a dress shirt (made in Sri Lanka), designer jeans (made in Singapore) and tennis shoes (made in Korea). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (made in India), he sat down with his calculator (made in Mexico) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (made in Taiwan) to the radio (made in India), he got in his car (made in Germany) and continued his search for a good paying American job. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day, Joe decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (made in Brazil), poured himself a glass of wine (made in France) and turned on his TV (made in Indonesia), and wondered why he can't find a good paying job in . . . AMERICA!

Fleetwood RV is looking for a few great owners...and we want you!!! We have openings for ambassadors who will be in Perry, GA, for the upcoming FMCA Winter Event, March 18-21, 2002.

Fleetwood RV (FRV) will have an outdoor exhibit displaying the 2002 and 2003 lineup and an indoor booth as well. Many exciting activities will also draw RV'ers in to see what we're up to. Product test drives will be our primary focus along with many drawings for free T-shirts, fuel cards, PocketMail, satellite radios, and MotoSat in Motion Satellite System, along with free hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, and that famous peach cobbler.

Ambassadors are requested to work at least one three (3) or four (4) hour shift. Couples will be working together. The positions are for ambassadors to be greeters and pass out information about booth happenings and the new Club Fleetwood. Fleetwood RV will provide each volunteer with a FRV AMBASSADOR Sweatshirt and FRV hat along with the opportunity to participate in any booth activities. Easy requirements: be registered to attend FMCA - Perry, GA; be willing to work at least one three (3) or four (4) hour shift and attend a training session on March 18th.

If you're interested in working with the best RV manufacturer, Fleetwood, please e-mail our name (spouse, too), address, phone #, e-mail address and shirt sizes to: dawn.fann@fleetwood.com

Pass this along to your friends and club members so they too can be a Fleetwood RV Ambassador.

Leo Everitt's article in this newsletter calls to our attention the value of one of the benefits of FMCA Membership. In the December 2001 issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine, pages 142 and 143, you will find a description of many other benefits. Travel Services, FMCA Activities, Discounts, Insurance, Financial Services, and Additional Benefits which include FREE classified advertising are all described in the magazine.

If you have not registered for the convention to be held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Georgia, do not despair! You still have time to register. Early Bird discount applies until 2/8/02 with a considerable savings. As mentioned in Ron's comments, FMCA is offering 2300 electrical spaces at this convention, but they are offered on a first-register/first-served basis at an additional cost.

Complete registration information is available in the December 2001 issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine on pages 144 A&B. If you wish to register by phone, the telephone number is: 800-543-3622, or register on the web at www.fmca.com . The Perry convention is usually a very popular one, so if you are planning to attend and have not registered, now is the time!

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We attended both rallies in Maine. Had a great time. We had a German Shepherd with us. I was ill at the time with a lung disease. I don't recall telling anyone at the time. However, my condition advanced rapidly as a result I had a lung transplant August 2, 2001.

I'm happy to report I'm doing very well. I'd like everyone to consider being an organ donor. Sign the back of your drivers license and let your loved ones know of your wishes, they have the last say. A donor has to be brain dead, usually a car accident, etc.

We hope to have the Discovery and the German Shepherd back on the road south in a month or two. We have truly enjoyed your newsletter.

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We have been including in the newsletter information about ordering shirts, hats, jackets, etc., with the Discovery logo. You can also order reasonably priced clothing with the Discovery logo embroidered on it from the web. Go to http://www.fleetwoodrvstore.com/