Our RV form of recreation is being seriously impacted by current economic situation. Just a few notes of interest include:

1. Recently, Winnebago (one of the original motorhome manufacturers) reported sales revenue drops of 68% relative to the same period in 2007.
2. On December 22, 2008, Flying J Inc. and its Big West refining and Longhorn Pipeline subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The filing was made with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.
3. FMCA is planning to limit international rallies to one per year starting in 2010.
4. Lazydays, one of the largest RV dealers missed a $8 million dollar loan payment.
5. Beaudry RV has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization.
6. Monaco has restructured $80 million in dept.
7. Several manufacturers have closed their doors.

In this environment, remember:

• Keep your RV maintained. It helps milage.
• Know your supplier of parts and repairs as some may be encountering the same difficulties surviving.
• Don't do like some companies. KEEP YOUR DEPT TO EARNINGS TO A MINIMUM. (Consensus opinion: monthly payments less than 35% of gross income).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

October dinner at Tomasso's

Secretary's report (thanks to Bonnie Pollow):

On Saturday, October 25th, the PEN-NY MIXER’S gathered at Tomasso’s Restaurant in Waverly, NY, to end their 2008 camping season. President Tom Roule welcomed everyone to the dinner, giving particular acknowledgement to: Peg Packard, a charter member and the second president of the PEN-NY MIXER’S, Jean and Ola Williams, Eileen and Ralph Cooley and Matt Miller who were in attendance. He also thanked Sylvia and Ed Plaisted and Walt and Pat Ott for hosting get-togethers earlier in the day and Charlie and Doris Kline for making arrangements at Tomasso’s for the dinner. Tom and Charlie then announced that Ed and Sylvia Plaisted’s 50th wedding anniversary would be November 1st, 2008. The group presented Ed and Sylvia with a beautiful cake and sang “Happy Anniversary “ to them. (Sylvia made mention that she was a “child bride”). Matt Miller was presented with a friendship quilt from the group.

Eileen Cooley offered grace before the forty-five people enjoyed their ham, chicken, pork chop, or prime rib dinners. Following dessert of anniversary cake and ice cream, Nelson Hansen began the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected officers for 2009. President RosaLee McGlynn, Secretary Bonnie Pollow, Treasurer Sherry Miller, and Alternate National Director Sharon Roule took the oath of office at Tomasso’s and Barbara Kotar and Walter Linden took their oaths for Vice-President (Barb) and National Director (Walt) simultaneously via cell phones that were on loudspeakers for the group to hear.

Outgoing President Tom Roule was thanked for his leadership as President the past two years and for being newsletter editor for several years. Tom said he couldn’t have done the job without his fellow officers and credited his Vice-President Barbara Cole, Secretary RosaLee McGlynn, Treasurer Sherry Miller, National Director Walt Linden and Alternate National Director Sharon Roule as being very supportive throughout his presidency. He also thanked Shirley Moore for doing a great job as Newsletter Editor. (Shirley will continue on in that capacity).

Those in attendance were: Jim and Sherry Miller, Peg Packard and Jim Slaven, Matt Miller, Ola and Jean Williams, Ralph and Eileen Cooley, Nelson and Neena Hansen, John and Carla Couture, Millie and George Worden, Tom and Sharon Roule, Wilbur and Carol Shafer, Howie Neuman and Pat Connors, Bill Carleton and Dot Court, Lee and Vivian Robbins, RosaLee and Bill McGlynn, Norm and Madeline Pease, Lee and Shirley Moore, Walt and Pat Ott, Barb and George Cole, Ed and Sylvia Plaisted, Ed and Gayle Austen, Charlie and Doris Kline, Lury Wallenbeck and Phil Liberatore and Larry and Bonnie Pollow.

Door prizes were distributed and folks were urged to drive home safely or walk across the parking lot to their coach and drive safely home the next day.

Sunday morning, 16 of us gathered in Tomasso's for breakfast.

September Rally

Our September rally was held at the Hickories town park in Owego, NY. We had 20 coaches with George and Barb Cole as Wagon Masters. Many folks arrived on Thursday greeted by rain showers. These continued throughout the weekend, but did not dampen the spirits of the folks at all.