Illinois Lincolnland Unit

2nd SUMMER NEWS LETTER

Hello fellow Lincolnlanders.

 

Your president here back at the daily grindstone funding all those social security checks out there.  The International is finished.  It will be one for the history books.  The early workers got pounded by a tornado.  Does anyone remember Du Quoin?  Yours truly was officially inducted as 1^st Vice President of Region 5.  And we added a unit from Australia.  The motor home issue failed.  It was quite interesting to watch how all the units voted.

 

Once again Illinois Lincolnland was well represented.  Bill had his crew hard at it with the handicap parking.  Susan had her security crew keeping everyone on the straight and narrow.  Raoul can still hit the high notes in the band.  

 

I was kept busy with meetings, lunches and dinners.  Next year at Gillette there will be a special emphases on all veterans.  I am starting my diet now so I can fit into my uniform.  I could probably squeeze into it now but I wouldn’t be able to sit down.

 

We had a wonderful Il. Luncheon at Grace Episcopalian Church.  You can’t beat church women’s cooking.  We had our happy hour at an ice cream shop.  We canceled the photo op at the Big Pheasant.  It was just too windy.  Some Lincolnlanders helped Floyd & Linda pick out their new trailer sight unseen.  We hope to see them at Quincy.  Remember Floyd, shinny side up.

 

I hope everyone is gearing up for Quincy.  George and Angie have put together a wonderful rally.  Don’t forget our Wounded Warrior project.  Thankfully Mary is helping me with the Pontiac rally.  I was informed by our Region 5 President, Barry Bell that I will be doing the inductions at Salem.  It will look pretty funny inducting myself to another year as President.  I hope one of you will step up and take 2014 for me!

 

I will tell all of you about my caravan when I see you in person.  I look forward to your stories as well.

 

See you down the road.

 

Monte

 

 

á  The 56^th International Rally at Huron, SD was enjoyed by many members of the ILLU.  In fact, we had the most in attendance from Region 5!  Those members attending were:  Monte Barksdale, Bob & Anne Fahey, John & Rita Green, Val & Sally Johnson, Bud Lanoue, Raoul & Anita Reinertsen, Bill & Cheryl Shelander, and John & Susan Swearingen.

Everyone in attendance was kept busy and helped in so many ways including:  Susan Swearingen was Chair of Building Security and helping with that duty was Monte Barksdale, Bob & Anne Fahey, Bud Lanoue & Cheryl Shelander. Bill Shelander was Chair of Handicap Parking with Val Johnson, Bud Lanoue & John Swearingen making sure that everyone was parked in the correct location. John Green is the 2^nd VP for the Ham Radio Club and was the Station Manager for the Club. Raoul Reinertsen played in the band and Anita Reinertsen was the Band Librarian Asst. Susan Swearingen also helped with the Welcome Committee and Cheryl Shelander participated in the joker tournament and Monte Barksdale donated blood. Monte Barksdale carried our new & revised ILLU flag & was installed as 1^st Vice President of Region 5.  Congratulations Monte and thank you for such a wonderful job of putting together what was needed for ILLU at International this year!! It was a wonderful Illinois Luncheon that was held at the Grace Episcopal Church on June 27^th with 28 people in attendance.   The church ladies served chicken casserole, homemade rolls with wild lakota plum jelly and delicious homemade cookies plus various other items. Members could get a first hand look at some new Airstreams at International including the Interstate van. A total of over 1,600 pounds of pull tabs were collected at International which Don & Mary Smith contributed quite a few pounds of pull tabs to be taken to Huron.  It was announced at International that Airstream has dealers in England, South Korea, China, Japan & Australia.  The club from Australia applied for a charter & was approved so their flag was also flying at International.

 

á August 2^ndbegins the Driftwood Campground rally in Quincy, Illinois hosted by George & Angie DeVaull.  If you plan on going you needed to have your reservations into the campground by June 15^th so see you there if you have reserved a spot already.  The agenda for the rally is attached also, George & Angie have a lot planned!

 

á The Threshermen’s Reunion Rally coming up Aug 30-Sept 2 will be joint with the Northern Unit & will be at the 4H campground in Pontiac, IL.  It’s a great place to camp & a lot is going on that weekend close to the campground.  Information will be coming to you in a few weeks for this rally.

 

á September 8-10 is the Computer & Mobile Tech Rally & the “Unbridled Spirit” Region 5 rally is September 11-15.  They will be held at the General Butler State Resort Park in Carrolton, KY.  Door prizes are needed.

 

 

• ·         IMPORTANT MESSAGE:  As you may have noticed, our Illinois Lincolnland Unit does not have a Vice President for 2013, therefore, doesn’t have a President or rally locations for 2014.  We need YOU to step up & be the President for 2014 (to be inducted at our October 2013 rally).  Most of the ILLU members have already been VP & President (some more than once) & are all willing to help the next President.  If you would like to host a rally for 2014 or are interested in being President for 2014, please contact Monte Barksdale.  These items will be discussed at our next 2 rallies because WBCCI has to receive the rally locations for 2014 by 11/1/13! 

 

• ·         The Region 5 newsletter is available on-line at www.region5.wbcci.net
• ·         George DeVaull is the person that is keeping information on our website up & running.  Check it out for more information & pictures:  lincolnland.wbcci.net. 

 

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.

 

 

 

July 13 2013 | Uncategorized | No Comments »

NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2013

 

Hello fellow Lincolnlanders.

 

I hope everyone is having a great summer so far.  We had a great adventure in Pella.  One for the history books.  For those of you not there you missed a great time.  We had snow, 4″, rain, wind, and cold.  But I can say without a doubt we all had a good time. Thanks again John and Rita.  Great job.  We elected to have our business meeting in Culvers.  I’m sure some of the customers were wondering what was up when we debated the motorhome issue.

 

The caravan from Peoria got off to a great start.  What fun.  Unfortunately it ended in mishap.  Floyd and Linda crashed their truck and beautiful trailer.  A total loss.  But as far as I have heard they were unharmed.  Wally must have been watching over them from above.  Steel and aluminum can be replaced.

 

I hope everyone is gearing up for the International.  Susan will need help with security again.  I have arranged a wonderful family style meal for our IL luncheon.  It will be held at Grace Episcopal Church June 27th at noon.  The price will be around 10 bucks.  I hope everyone has been on the lookout for some great door prizes.  We also will have a Lincolnland happy hour the 28th at four.  It will be at Putters and Scoops, an ice cream shop at a golf course.  It is real close to the big Pheasant.  I would like to get our picture there.

 

Aug 2^nd starts our rally at Driftwood Campground in Quincy.  George and Angie are working up a great rally for us.  The campground doesn’t need deposits but they do need a head count.  They are holding our sites until June 15th.  Please give them a call if you plan on attending.  Make sure you tell them you are with Airstream.  Their number:  (217)222-7229.

 

Safe travels my friends.  I hope to see you in Huron.

 

Monte

 

 

á John & Rita Green hosted our 1^st rally of 2013 & what a rally it was!  Thank you to George Rice who met all of us & took pictures of the caravan as we were pulling out of the parking lot.  Unfortunately, Stefanie recently broke her arm & had surgery so they were not able to attend the rally.  About an hour before our destination is where Floyd & Linda Hattan got into their accident.  We all are so thankful it wasn’t any worse.  Like Monte said, steel & aluminum can be replaced, people cannot.  Hope to see both of you soon! The Pella Rally was joint with the Illinois Northern Unit.  Those from Northern attending were:  Chuck & Rulene Aarup, Warren & Linda Dutton, Bob & Anita Koch and Wayne & Lillian Kortum.  We were fortunate also to have Art & Doris Meier and Gordon & Carol White attend from Southern.  Louise & Jerry Humble were scheduled to attend, but Louise’s sister passed away.  Terry & Pat Esrael from Kentucky also joined us at Pella.  Illinois Lincolnland members at Pella were:  Monte Barksdale, George & Angie DeVaull, Jeff & Mary Elliott, John & Rita Green, Val & Sally Johnson, John & Waneta Riggenbach, John & Susan Swearingen and Bernie & Mary Taylor.  The Tulip Time Festival parade finally took place the last day, being rain/snow/sleeted out every other scheduled time it was to take place.  Even with the weather being as bad & the heavy snow falling on the Airstreams, sounding like it was going to come through the roof along with a limb we all had a great time looking at the tulips, walking the streets & touring different sites around Pella.  The tour of the Vermeer plant was wonderful, there was just so much to see & the people that worked there were so nice & friendly.  We had our Saturday & Sunday evening meals at Culvers & the Pizza Ranch which was nice that we all could sit down together and talk about the day.  Thanks again to John & Rita for a wonderful rally!

á The 56^th International Convention/Rally at Huron, South Dakota is coming up quick.  Keep your calendar open for the Illinois Luncheon at the Grace Episcopal Church on June 27^th at noon and the ILLU happy hour June 28^th at 4:00 PM at Putters & Scoops.   Please remember to bring your door prize(s) to the Illinois Luncheon.  Call Susan Swearingen if you can help her at International, she is the Chairperson of the Building Security Committee.  The more people that volunteer helps get ILLU points for the Unit’s merit award.

 

á August 2^ndbegins the Driftwood Campground rally in Quincy, Illinois hosted by George & Angie DeVaull.  If you plan on attending this rally, you will need to call the campground by June 15 to reserve your site, 217-222-7229.  Make sure you tell them you are with the Airstreamers!  George & Angie are finalizing plans as the newsletter is being sent so plan on driving to Quincy for this great rally.

 

á Don’t forget the Threshermen’s Reunion Rally coming up Aug 30-Sept 2 at the 4H campground in Pontiac, IL.  Jeff & Mary Elliott has a tour planned on Saturday morning & of course downtown Pontiac has a great selection of shops for you to browse.  The Threshermen’s Reunion is this same weekend & they have music, threshing & much more so it will be a fun filled, busy rally!

 

á September 8-10 is the Computer & Mobile Tech Rally & the “Unbridled Spirit” Region 5 rally September 11-15 will be held at the General Butler State Resort Park in Carrolton, KY.  Door prizes are needed.

 

 

• ·         The 2013 ILLU directories were just dropped in the mail to those of you that were not able to attend the Pella rally.  If you have any revisions throughout the year for the 2014 directory, please let Mary Elliott know so your information can be kept up-do-date. 
• ·         George DeVaull is the person that is keeping information on our website up & running.  Check it out for more information & pictures:  lincolnland.wbcci.net. 

Our deepest heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families that have had loved ones pass away.  Please keep their families in your prayers. &  Louise Humble’s sister passed away April 2013.

 

 

 

• ·         The Region 5 newsletter is available on-line at www.region5.wbcci.net plus it gives other great information for our region.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

May 28 2013 | Uncategorized | No Comments »

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

 

 

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 1^st 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 56^th 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!

 

 

• ·         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 1^st VP for Region 5: “My name is Monte Barksdale I live in Braidwood IL. I was born in Joliet IL on Aug 24^th, 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 

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.

 

 

• ·         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 »