NEWSLETTER SPRING 2013
Hello fellow Lincolnlanders.
I hope this finds all of you well. The long winter is finally drawing to a close. Yeah! We have a wonderful camping season ahead of us. Before we get to that I would like to thank everyone who attended our two midwinter dinners. The Palms on historic Route 66 was great. The St. Paddies day event at Irish Circle was a good time also. Yours truly was in festive form dressed head to toe in green. I’m sure I was a sight to behold. Luckily for me I didn’t have to look at myself I had all my fellow Lincolnlanders to look at. Good food at both places. But more importantly good fellowship.
Our first campout is rapidly approaching. The caravan to Pella. I would like to thank John and Rita for all their hard work. There are still a couple spots left open if you haven’t signed up yet.
Also I would like to mention our community service project this year. If you have been paying attention to President Boutwell in the Blue Beret he has asked us to champion the Wounded Warriors Project. This is a great program. I have chosen it as our project. We will be asking for donations at each campout. Also we can hold bake sales and sell the goods to each other. So remember to put your baking hats on before each campout.
Another item on our agenda is the Vice president position for Region 5. Yours truly was nominated at the IBT. It was my understanding that each unit has to vote on it. We had our vote at the Irish Circle and it carried.
I hope a lot of you are planning to attend the International at Huron. I have an Illinois luncheon planned and a Lincolnland happy hour planned at where else but an ice cream shop. There will also be a photo opt at the big Pheasant.
Until then be safe my friends.
See you down the road.
Monte
INFORMATION ON PAST & UPCOMING EVENTS
á Those attending the Illinois Lincolnland dinner at Atlanta, Illinois in February were: Monte Barksdale, Val & Sally Johnson, Bud Lanoue and guest, John & Waneta Riggenbach, George & Stefanie Rice, John & Susan Swearingen and Bernie & Mary Taylor.
á A St. Patrick’s celebration dinner was enjoyed by Monte Barksdale, Jeff & Mary Elliott, Val & Sally Johnson, Bud Lanoue, Roy & Evelyn Peacock, Bill & Cheryl Shelander, John & Susan Swearingen and Bernie & Mary Taylor at the Irish Circle in Wapella, Illinois. Monte had the tables decorated in a festive St. Patrick’s Day theme along with necklaces & green leis for guests. Monte was even dressed for St. Patrick’s Day, hat & all! The tenderloins, rib eye sandwiches and pork rueben sandwiches were all delicious. Bud Lanoue won a door prize for traveling the farthest & Bernie & Mary Taylor won a door prize for being the last to arrive at the dinner. A great time was had by all.
á The caravan to our 1st rally for 2013 is coming up quick. We depart on May 1 to head toward Pella, Iowa. John & Rita Green are hosting this rally, which was enjoyed last time in 2007. If you haven’t already signed up for this caravan, call John to see if there are any openings left for this caravan. You don’t want to miss this one!
á An attachment shows rally dates for 2013, here is a quick version also:
May 1-5 Tulip Time festival at Pella, Iowa June 27 Illinois luncheon at noon. Grace Episcopal Church, Huron, SD June 28 Illinois Lincolnland Happy Hour at 4:00 PM. Putters & Scoops, Huron, SD Aug 2-5 Driftwood Campground at Quincy, IL Aug 30-Sept 2 Thresherman’s Reunion Rally, 4 H campground, joint with Northern Illinois Unit, Pontiac, IL Sept 8-10 Region 5 Computer & Mobile Tech Rally, Carrollton, KY Sept 11-15 Region 5 Rally, Unbridled Spirit, Carrolton, KY Oct 11-14 Marion County Fairgrounds, Salem, IL joint with Southern Illinois Unit
á The 56th International Convention/Rally will be at Huron, South Dakota this year. There will be no unit bulletin boards displayed this year. Susan Swearingen is the Chairman of the Building Security Committee and is looking for volunteers. Anyone who volunteers helps toward the points for the Unit’s merit award. Contact Susan at 309-824-5085. Also, our Unit is the host for the Illinois luncheon at International this year.
á The Unbridled Spirit Region 5 rally will be in September, not to early to start thinking about door prizes!
MISC.
- · WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! We hope to see you at our rallies! ó Joseph & Mary Alger, #5131 from Crystal Lake, IL who are proud owners of a 1991 29’ Excella. ó James & Lisa Olson, #6663 from Westmont, IL who are proud owners of a 1998 34’ Classic Limited. ó Mickey Finch & Linda Esper, #1850 from Springfield, IL who are proud owners of a 2012 16’ Bambi Sport. ó Stanley & Bernice Davis, #5994 from Varna, IL. Welcome back!
- · Illinois Lincolnland Unit has a new look! Our flag was approved by IBT & will hopefully be flying at the Pella rally. The flag has a yellow background & the new look will be on the cover of our 2013 directory. Thanks to Monte & everyone that worked on the new flag.
- · The following is Monte’s “resume” for his nomination as the 1st VP for Region 5: “My name is Monte Barksdale I live in Braidwood IL. I was born in Joliet IL on Aug 24th, 1961 I went to Minooka community schools, graduating in 1979. I served in the US Navy from 1979 to 1983. I saw action in Libya and two Persian Golf deployments. After the service I found a job at Kaiser Chemical in Marseilles IL. After my layoff from there I found my current job. I started under Mobil Chemical. After several name changes I now work for Styrolutions, having been here for 25 years. A few more to go before retirement. I was married and now divorced. I have 13 step-grandchildren. I bought my first Airstream in 2004. It was a 1975 25’ Tradewinds. I currently drive a 1996 Landyacht widebody diesel pusher. I joined WBCCI at large in 2004. I joined IL Lincolnland in 2005. Vice President 2011-12. President 2012-13. I am a Free-Wheeler. I currently am the Vice President in that great Intra-club. I have only been on one caravan so far. The Cajun Caravan. I will be going on the Taste of the Blueridge in 2013. I hope to go on more when I retire. I look forward to serving Region 5 as Vice President and President. I know with help from others and an open-mind we can move this great club forward.” Respectfully yours, Monte Barksdale 2115
JOURNEY’S END – IN MEMORIAM
Our deepest heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families that have had loved ones pass away. Please keep their families in your prayers. & Monte Barksdale’s dad passed away January 2013.
& Julie Hoch’s mom, Betty Seibert passedaway January 25, 2013.
“MEMBER’S COLUMN”
- · The Region 5 newsletter is available on-line at www.region5.wbcci.net plus it gives other great information for our region.
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.” ― Bil Keane
As always, if you have an item or ideas for the newsletter, please contact Mary Elliott, jmefam@gmail.com or call 815-257-1420. Thank you.
April 10 2013 | Uncategorized | No Comments »