45th Anniversary Picture

Barbara Smith (and Ed), Northeast Area President joined us for the 45th anniversary weekend
And, Many folks from the Niagara Frontier Travelers joined us to help celebrate.
And, Jim and Pat Sennett joined us Saturday night.

More information to follow.

45th Anniversary Highlights

Our 45th Anniversary celebration returned to Cambria Fireman's Field in Cambria, NY with the officers hosting. Harold Wollaber has spent 55 years helping turn this venue into a great place to have a rally (not to mention "tractor pulls") and more.

We had 22+/- campers show up for our PARTY. We had classic 70's music, one mini skirt, some dancing, good food and more. 

 

Every officer pitched in making delicacies for each meal.
Thank you, Barb, Ken, John, Joan, Wes, Janet, Nancy, Jim, Harold, and especially SHARON. You folks are fantastic.
Barbara Smith (NEA President) presented the chapter with a 45th anniversary certificate.
Barbara and Ed were here for the entire rally. And...Jim and Pat Sennett (NEA Treasurer) were there.
Niagara Frontier Travelers had 6 members helping us celebrate after they were so helpful during NEAR in Syracuse.
We hope you had as much fun as I did.

45th Anniversary Update

We hope you had a good Labor Day weekend. Ours was spent with the family Fantasy Football draft. 

So, it's time to think about our 45th anniversary. 

It appears we will have about 21 members and guests attending. 

Saturday night will be dedicated to 1972 (45 years ago). What was exciting in then? Like:

• Mini skirts 
• Nehru Jackets
• Who was president of the United States?
• Music - What is a Victrola? 8-Track?
•  Artists like: Neal Diamond, Connie Francis, Cher, Bobby Vinton and ??????. We will have many.
• There will be a 1972 trivia game
• Whatever else we can think of.
• Barbara (NEA President) and Ed Smith will make the trip from eastern Massachusetts for the weekend, as well as some Niagara Frontier Travelers and Pen-NY Mixers. 
• The officers will be making Saturday breakfast and dinner.
• The Saturday meeting, will elect next years' officers

Bring a 1 pound item for our Saturday auction. 

Please think about hosting a rally next year. The calender is pretty open.

Also, since this is our officers meet. What would you like to do in October. Many are heading south soon. Shall we do lunch?

As always, we are looking forward to seeing you.

Northeast Area Rally - 2017

August brought 12 Fingerlakers' coaches to the New York State Fairgrounds for the Northeast Area 
Rally. Along with 6 coaches from the Niagara Frontier Travelers, we staffed the FMCA Store Thursday through Saturday and helped area and national officers with the membership booth.
Unlike the National Rallies, we were also responsible for managing the computerized I-PAD based cash management system. Considering the short learning curve (less than 24 hours), folks did a excellent job learning on the fly. During the 3 days, we sold $3127 worth of merchandise. THANK YOU all!
On Wednesday night, a severe thunderstorm rolled through threatening the tent and canceling the entertainment.
Thursday night, we managed to get all 34 of us together and celebrate a little before the entertainment - which was cancelled again because of severe weather warnings.
The annual meeting was normal with the exception of one twist - Tom Ziobrowski (outgoing president) was elected a vice president. (Yes, it's perfectly legal).
There were some glitches supporting arrivals, but they managed to be resolved by area officers. Also, we found some problems with the store software and documentation. It was documented and sent to FMCA.

Pictures may be viewed full screen by "clicking" on one.

Octoberfest Highlights

This July, once again, we returned to Oswego for Harborfest.
This is a multi-chapter rally including many of us from the Fingerlakers. The Fingerlaker tent is the center of activity, as it has been in the past visits to Oswego.

Organized by Jim and Sherry Miller, we ended up with about 90 coaches. The amount of work they do to accommodate this group is hard to emulate.

The pictures can be seen full screen by "clicking" on one.

 

Indianapolis FMCA Highlights

Some rain

We had 7 Fingerlakers willing to travel the 500+ miles to the Indiana State Fairgrounds for the FMCA 96th International. We managed to get together for dinner a couple times at Golden Coral and Chili's. Most of us parked inside the sulky race track - which meant our campers got muddy trying to cross it to get to the infield.

Governing Board meeting

Weather was in the 80's most of the week. So, generators got a workout if you didn't have electric (we didn't).
There were about 1350 coaches and several hundred vendor coaches.
Barbara Smith was officially sworn in as President of the Northeast Area.
Below is John Pangburn's (ND) summary of the Governing Board Meeting.


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The 2017 Governing Board meeting was started promptly at 9am. There was a bit of a new twist this time as we had a workshop on the day before.  It was a very good idea.  Although criticized  by some Charlie Adcock took a straw vote to see if the proposition 3 would likely pass.  Proposition 3 was the by-law change to allow towables in FMCA.  It did certainly appear there were enough votes to pass. The remainder of the workshop was spent developing a definiton of what recreational vehicles are that we will admit.  The working definition is “defined as a self-contained, wheeled vehicle that includes permanently installed cooking, sleeping, and sanitary facilities”.  The definition is subject to review at future gb meetings. The proposition did receive the necessary 2/3 margin receiving 277 yes votes out of 308 total.  Of interest to us attending was what President Adcock referred to as the roast of the executive board. The fisrt 2 propositions for by-law amendment put forth as approved by the executive board; during discussion were obviously not favored by the executive board..The question was then raised of why the 2 proposals were even on the agenda which amounted to a waste of time for the governing board. The discussion was ended there. The decision to add towables is not over yet.  Now the question goes before the membership.  If you all approve the measure in November, we will begin adding towables in December.  This action was the high point of the meeting in my opinion.  The remainder of the meeting was taken up with the usual housekeeping of updating policies and procedures.  The meeting ended with the report of the nominating committee. Our new national officers will be

                                             President Jon Walker

                                             Vice President Erretta Porter 111, Rett

                                             Secretary Gaye Young

                                             Treasurer John Reynolds

There was a nomination from the floor for vp but the candidate select was as above.  I will bring the GB agenda to our meeting in September should anyone be interested to review the details of the meeting including my thought as it progressed.  I was really amazed the progress that has been made since the last time the idea of towables was brought up.  Most of those attending expected a long and very heated meeting, although there was an oppsition present the measure very easily and swiftly passed. Hopefully if approved by the total membership FMCA will begin a new concept for the future.

Although brief I believe this sums up the main points of of the meeting. I am hopeful President

Walker will continue the practice of  workshop prior to the meeting.  I believe this was the reason the proposal was acted upon so quickly.  In any case Our new president has a tough act to follow.

45th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FINGERLAKERS

The agenda for the 45th anniversary of the chapter is on tabs above.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

Himrod Rally Highlights

For almost 2 years John Pangburn has tried to arrange a rally at an old PenNY Mixer rally site – the Himrod Conservation Club.

In June, he accomplished his goal when our rally was held at the club. We had 12 coaches.

The weekend coincides with the Haiti auction put on by the Mennonites. They put on great meals Friday night, Saturday morning and afternoon where we donate to the cause. Food was donated by Mennonites and the Amish. Auctions occur Friday night and Saturday. All proceeds go to Haiti. John reports there 2300 for Friday dinner.

In addition, we had hots Thursday, pizza and ice cream Saturday and a continental breakfast Sunday.

Between the auction, Windmill, bulk food, quilt shops and wineries, there are countless things to do.

The PenNY Mixers voted to join us next year during the 3^rd week of June when we return.

Thanks John for your perseverance, Joan, Alice and Fred for a great weekend.

Chapter Plans

As we approach our 45th Anniversary, we need help planning the party. It will be the officers meet in September.
45 years ago was 1972. What was great then? I had a Camaro RS350 and used a ski rack to carry a tent when camping. It was fast, but no trunk space. Sold it when it couldn't carry a "play pen".
What do you remember? Do you want to share?
Or, do you want to do something else?

Oh, yeah, we got married in 1972.

It looks like we need a nominating committee. Barbara has done a great job, but wants to move on. We cannot survive without a full compliment of officers. Chapters are closing their doors because of a lack of officers. Nothing is hard, if we help each other. Please help!

The rally dates for next year are on the future rallies tab. Please consider volunteering as a wagon master.