October 2013 Joint Rally with Southern Il. Unit
October 2013 Joint Rally with Southern Illinois Unit
The “Show Your Team Spirit Rally”, joint rally with Southern Illinois Unit, held October 10-14, 2013, at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Salem, IL is now in the history books. Four members from Southern Illinois Unit joined forces with seven members of Illinois Lincolnland for the weekend. Southern Illinois also had 4 members who drove in for the day on Saturday and Sunday. Those attending from Illinois Lincolnland were: Monte Barksdale, George & Ange DeVaull, John & Rita Green, Floyd & Linda Hattan, Val & Sally Johnson, Bud Lanoue & John & Susan Swearingen. Thursday evening activities included chili & cornbread for supper, followed by the card game of golf. This was a new game for many of us, easy to learn and one that we will play in the future.
Friday morning we toured Schutt Sport Manufacturing in Salem. Schutt specializes in baseball and softball helmets, catchers’ chest protectors, umpire gear, football helmets, custom face masks, shoulder pads and reconditioning of helmets. 35% of NFL players choose to wear Schutt helmets. Some college football teams have as many as 5 different helmets for the season. The next time you watch a football game, look for the Schutt name on the back of the helmets. Schutt offers more than 1300 color options, a myriad of patterns and paint finishes. For more info, go to www.schuttsports.com.
Friday afternoon we caravanned to Centralia to the local museum, which included items related to the oil industry. Oil was first discovered in the area on the farm of Betty Hutchens’ grandfather. Betty is the 2013 President of the Southern Illinois Unit and she arranged for all the tours for the weekend. The museum had a wide variety of items, including some famous basketball and baseball teams’ memorabilia, the bar and back bar from a local establishment and vintage ham radio equipment.
Saturday morning we caravanned to the Ingram Pioneer Log Cabin Village in Kinmundy for their 36th Annual Craft and Flea Market weekend. 14 log cabins are furnished to the period in a wooded area, much as they would have been 180 years ago. Mrs. Ingram, a local school teacher, wanted students to learn history first hand, so she started collecting cabins that were destined for destruction. She was aided by students from Kinmundy/Alma High School who helped to relocate the cabins. The village was first opened to the public in 1977. Some of the interpreters in the cabins were descendants of the original cabin owners. For more info, go to www.iplcv.com.
Saturday afternoon several of us made fleece blankets, which will be taken to the Gillette, WY International next summer, for distribution to various agencies. Dinner on Saturday evening was followed by the joint installation of the 2014 officers. Region 5 1st Vice President Monte Barksdale did the honors. Our 2014 officers are: Linda Hattan, President; Floyd Hattan, Corresponding Secretary; Waneta Riggenbach, Recording Secretary; and John Swearingen, Treasurer. We are still in need of a vice president. If you are interested in or have questions about the vice president position, please contact Linda Hattan, phone #815-476-6744.
After our church service and potluck lunch on Sunday, the afternoon was free to explore the area, finish fleece blankets, or simply relax. With Sunday evening came the camp fire, complete with hot dogs, smores and stories. What’s told around the camp fire, stays at the camp fire!!
On Monday morning we caravanned to Centralia for a tour of The Original Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce facility. This is a locally owned family business, with a new, state-of-the art facility. Country Bob’s has been selling to the public since 1977 and is available nationwide and online. The All Purpose Sauce is their signature item, but they also offer BBQ sauce, Seasoning Salt, as well as, Apple Chipotle and Honey Habanero All Purpose sauces. In addition to producing their own products, they have the capability of producing Private Labels for stores and restaurants. We were able to view their production line, the cooking room, the plastic bottle production line and their warehouse. Our thanks to Betty Hutchens for the bottles of All Purpose Sauce given to each member. For more info, go to www.countrybobs.com.
The Marion County Fairgrounds has a very nice building for use by groups. The building has a large meeting room and an equipped kitchen, both of which can be air-conditioned, and an additional room with picnic tables that can be opened to the outdoors. We utilized all of these spaces for the weekend.
We had a great weekend of fun, fellowship and adventure with our Southern Illinois Unit friends. I wish to thank Southern Illinois Unit President Betty Hutchens and SIU members Carol & Gordon White, rally co-hosts, for their invaluable assistance in preparing and presenting this rally.
Susan M. Swearingen WBCCI #4482, Rally Co-host