April-May 08 News

Cardinal Newsletter

Publisher-Virginia Cardinals Volume Number 2Issue Number 2

Editors: Bob and Kathy Ray April-May 2008

Recent Happenings

Several Cardinal members were on the move during March and April, enjoying traveling here and there, and all over. No campouts were held in March, due to failure of the weather to cooperate. However, club members continue to plan for the state rally in September. President Tom Fleming has been working diligently to get things in order, including sending out letters to potential sponsors to help defray the cost of rally expenses. Tom is looking for members to volunteer to help with certain activities. If you think you would be able to help out in any way, please let Tom know, and he can tell you the areas where he still needs help.

Also, Cookie Lachance has been working on getting our meals lined up with first rate caterer, Country Kitchen. Bob Ray has been working on the entertainment, which has been lined up on a tentative basis. The scheduled entertainers are as follows: for Thursday evening, Kelly Kennedy, a Virginia folk singer who will provide us with an hour and a half or so of stories and folk songs. On Friday night, the James Madison University Steel Drum Band will give us an evening of their own special brand of music, which will also feature a vocalist. On Saturday evening, a New Orleans style Dixieland Jazz group, Laissez Foure' will perform for us. They perform well known and popular melodies from days gone by, and usually wind up their performance with a snake dance around the pavilion.

April

The April campout was a great success. Twenty three of our members participated in a WOW event (Women on Wheels) that was blessed with good weather on Friday and Saturday, allowing enjoyable chats around the campfire. Wagon masters Bill and Kathy Lord prepared a very nice supper on Friday evening, as well as a breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday morning. The Women on Wheels “hands on workshop“, designed to help wives learn how to hook up, unhook and drive their rigs in an emergency, or anytime, for that matter, was assisted by our sponsor, Reines RV. From all accounts, Tony, the service manager at Reines RV, provided a very popular workshop. Saturday evening, members enjoyed a hearty meal at a popular restaurant, followed by another very pleasant evening around the campfire.

May

The May club outing will be the scheduled State Meeting in Williamsburg at the Pottery Factory Campground. Although reservations were supposed to be made by April 15 th , the word we have gotten is that it's not too late to sign up if you still wish to attend. The dates for this event are May 16 th -18 th The May club outing will be the scheduled State Meeting in Williamsburg at the Pottery Factory Campground. Although reservations were supposed to be made by April 15 th , the word we have gotten is that it's not too late to sign up if you still wish to attend. The dates for this event are May 16 th -18 th . The campground where the meeting will be held is just a couple of miles to the west of Williamsburg on Rt. 60. Their web site gives further information. Let Tom know if you plan to attend. Also, Bill Lachance has agreed to head up the nominations of Cardinal Officers for next year, so if you feel you can serve the club, please let either Bill or Tom know before the May meeting

Having fun in Williamsburg .

In addition to our campout, there are many other things to do in the Williamsburg area. A new visitor site is now open at the Jamestown Settlement area, which explains the settlement both from the English standpoint and that of the Indians. Recently, the site of the original fort has been located, and is currently being examined. Not far away, is the site of George Washington's victory over General Cornwallis, the British general, that effectively ended the Revolutionary War, bringing independence to America .

June

Pennsylvania Dutch Country will be the location of our June 19 th – 20th campout in Lancaster , PA. at the Old Mill Campground. Wagon masters Cookie and Bill Lachance have planned a very full four day weekend, beginning on Thursday, with an Old Fashioned Country Flea Market and dinner at a traditional Amish-Mennonite style restaurant on Saturday. There will be plenty to do in between. Cookie has put out an email detailing the entire weekend, which, if you haven't received it, she'll be glad to forward to you-Cookielachance@comcast.com.

July

The annual WIT Grand National Rally celebrates its 50 th anniversary this year, and it is forecast to be a real humdinger. If you can swing the gas money, you should plan to attend; the festivities will begin with Pre GNR celebrations on Sunday, July 13 th , with the full blown rally kicking off the week of July 20 th . Many of our club members are planning to head out Iowa the week leading up to the Pre-Rally, so check with Tom Fleming to get the scoop on meeting up at the rally, or at an Amish community campground, Amana, in southeast Iowa the night before, so members can arrive together.

August

The August State Meeting will be held the third weekend of August at Buena Vista , VA. , the same site as our State Rally the following month. This is considered a “warm up” for our state rally. Tom will be putting out more information on this as we get closer to the date.

September

The big date to mark on your calendar is September 19 th -21 st , when our club will host the Virginia State Rally. Many club members are assisting Tom Fleming, the Wagon Master in preparations for this major event. If you can help in some way, and haven't yet volunteered, Tom will be happy to hear from you.

Officers

President-----------Tom Fleming

Vice President----- Cookie Lachance

Secretary-----------Kathy Ray

Treasurer-----------Bob Ray