Last weekend, our officers all decided not to run for office in 2014. This creates a difficult dilemma for those of us left. If we have never been an officer, there is no mentoring to make the transition for any one without experience easy. If we chose this direction, I fear we may be driving a stake in to the heart of the chapter.
This blog is set up to accept comments. Please post yours below. We need your thoughts.
Also, Linden's and Roule's have volunteered to be a committee to find rally sites for the Pen-NY Mixers and Fingerlakers, if that might help. That doesn't mean we will be wagon masters, we still need them.
Tom
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
July Rally highlights
This was the first Pen-NY rally we attended this year. But --- boy was it worth it !!
Carol and Wilbur Shafer (with timely help from the Wordens) put together a great weekend.
They planned for 15 coaches at the rally, but 21 signed up at Genesee Country Campground. The campground accommodated (fitting us in) and so did the Shafer's - with 15 showing up on Thursday and the rest on Friday. Not phased, Carol arranged for meals at restaurants on Thursday and Friday evenings and then things got serious... The Worden's pitched in and hosted the Friday "ice cream social". Saturday morning breakfast was donuts and fruit followed by a meeting (more about that on another post).
The area around Caledonia has lots to do; so, I will mention the Shafer's plan for dinner. Did you know Carol's daughter is a caterer? Well, she made hamburgers, barbequed and froze them for our Saturday dinner. The rest was supplied by the culinary skills of our members.
The Saturday evening "pound auction" was MC'd by Nelson Hanson and Larry Kotar with special effects supplied by Bob Webster (in spite of spraining his knee in the shower). Laughing with them made the evening..
Sunday morning, we had a great breakfast supplied by the campground (included in the rally fee).
The Shafers showed that a good plan doesn't require a small army to make it work. If in doubt, just ask Carol how to do it.
Carol and Wilbur Shafer (with timely help from the Wordens) put together a great weekend.
 |
| Pound Auction attendees |
They planned for 15 coaches at the rally, but 21 signed up at Genesee Country Campground. The campground accommodated (fitting us in) and so did the Shafer's - with 15 showing up on Thursday and the rest on Friday. Not phased, Carol arranged for meals at restaurants on Thursday and Friday evenings and then things got serious... The Worden's pitched in and hosted the Friday "ice cream social". Saturday morning breakfast was donuts and fruit followed by a meeting (more about that on another post).The area around Caledonia has lots to do; so, I will mention the Shafer's plan for dinner. Did you know Carol's daughter is a caterer? Well, she made hamburgers, barbequed and froze them for our Saturday dinner. The rest was supplied by the culinary skills of our members.
 |
| Nelson and Larry |
Sunday morning, we had a great breakfast supplied by the campground (included in the rally fee).
The Shafers showed that a good plan doesn't require a small army to make it work. If in doubt, just ask Carol how to do it.
Monday, July 22, 2013
August Rally
Our August rally is all set. Our rally will be in Bouchville, NY, hosted by Walt and Beryl Linden.. They have arranged a neat stop off point for Susquenango.
Check out the August Rally tab above.
Check out the August Rally tab above.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Note From Tom Ziobrowski, Senior VP NEA
Tom has been talking to folks about the future of the Northeast Area. Many of the board, including Paul Dubois are not running for office. Below are some of his thoughts. Tom
Hi, Northeast Area Chapter Members, Presidents & Delegates,
I'm writing to you all with my concerns about are Northeast Area. We have till the 18th of this month to nominate a candidate for our National Northeast Area Vice President. Upon filling this we will be nominating and electing officers to fill the rest of our board positions. So talk this up and help bring the spirit back.
Many of you are aware that I went for a week to FMCA Headquarters in Cinncinatti for the business meeting to see how the organization operates, as I am considering in running for Paul's position, but would not challenge anyone wanting the position. I do not want the Northeast Area to dissolve nor do so many others that have spoken to me. It's up to each and everyone of us. If you are interested in this position, please let it be known,
Now we have a new National President & Senior VP. I have had several discussions with both of them in regards to our Area. They are behind us and have already paid a visit to a couple of northeast chapter rallies. The staff is also waiting to assist us in anyway they can, as well as other area officers.
We need an enthusiastic,energetic & dedicated board to pull the area back together, as one or two people cannot do this, all the chapters in the area need to get involved. A question that each and every chapter needs to answer is if they are going to support the board and area. I ask you all to talk this up and please let me know by the 18th of July your intentions, concerns, & questions. You need to consider a representative for the other officer positions. We can make this fun and enjoyable for everyone if we want to. I really want to see us succeed. Much thought has been given and suggested to me how to perk up things. We are committed for 2014 & 2015 to the Champlain Valley Expo per a signed contract or be obligated to pay $5,000 per year if we do not hold a rally there. 2014 may need to be just a downsized rally with no dealers, vendors, etc. Just an organizational get together with all to see where we go from here. I know many want to change location and this is being looked into, maybe you would like to serve on a committee, which lets say one could be a steering committee. For 2014 one night we could do a catered pig roast like last year which so many enjoyed, then another night have entrainment.
Look what Lori did with are youth program, I can still see the kids, laughing, having fun together and making new friends, that's what it is all about and we need to try a little harder to do that ourselves as a group. It is for sure something we can all work at and do together as a team and camping family. I know our granddaughter from Arizona asked if we were going to bring her as she loved the time spent with Lori and the rest of the kids. They look forward to coming to our Rally here in the Northeast. The program she puts together is great.
Maybe VP's should be responsible for a section of the northeast chapters each, and attend a chapter rally if possible and keep a line of commination open, and bring their concerns and or issues back to the Northeast board.
I for sure do not have the answers, and i do not want anyone to think that I do, these are just some of my ideas, thoughts & suggestions. We can make it better.
In my heart as a family man, camper, and people person feel we can have fun, enjoy our families together by sharing our rally time putting our effort and energy to work in a positive way.
Please share my thoughts, concerns, for your organization with fellow chapter members and step up and volunteer even in a little fashion, this is what it takes, believe it or not, togetherness with team effort. I still get emails kicked back as my list comes from the listing on FMCA site. So please pass this along as you wish.
Respectfully,
Thomas M. Ziobrowski
Senior VP Northeast Area FMCA
Z8iggy@aol.com
Hi, Northeast Area Chapter Members, Presidents & Delegates,
I'm writing to you all with my concerns about are Northeast Area. We have till the 18th of this month to nominate a candidate for our National Northeast Area Vice President. Upon filling this we will be nominating and electing officers to fill the rest of our board positions. So talk this up and help bring the spirit back.
Many of you are aware that I went for a week to FMCA Headquarters in Cinncinatti for the business meeting to see how the organization operates, as I am considering in running for Paul's position, but would not challenge anyone wanting the position. I do not want the Northeast Area to dissolve nor do so many others that have spoken to me. It's up to each and everyone of us. If you are interested in this position, please let it be known,
Now we have a new National President & Senior VP. I have had several discussions with both of them in regards to our Area. They are behind us and have already paid a visit to a couple of northeast chapter rallies. The staff is also waiting to assist us in anyway they can, as well as other area officers.
We need an enthusiastic,energetic & dedicated board to pull the area back together, as one or two people cannot do this, all the chapters in the area need to get involved. A question that each and every chapter needs to answer is if they are going to support the board and area. I ask you all to talk this up and please let me know by the 18th of July your intentions, concerns, & questions. You need to consider a representative for the other officer positions. We can make this fun and enjoyable for everyone if we want to. I really want to see us succeed. Much thought has been given and suggested to me how to perk up things. We are committed for 2014 & 2015 to the Champlain Valley Expo per a signed contract or be obligated to pay $5,000 per year if we do not hold a rally there. 2014 may need to be just a downsized rally with no dealers, vendors, etc. Just an organizational get together with all to see where we go from here. I know many want to change location and this is being looked into, maybe you would like to serve on a committee, which lets say one could be a steering committee. For 2014 one night we could do a catered pig roast like last year which so many enjoyed, then another night have entrainment.
Look what Lori did with are youth program, I can still see the kids, laughing, having fun together and making new friends, that's what it is all about and we need to try a little harder to do that ourselves as a group. It is for sure something we can all work at and do together as a team and camping family. I know our granddaughter from Arizona asked if we were going to bring her as she loved the time spent with Lori and the rest of the kids. They look forward to coming to our Rally here in the Northeast. The program she puts together is great.
Maybe VP's should be responsible for a section of the northeast chapters each, and attend a chapter rally if possible and keep a line of commination open, and bring their concerns and or issues back to the Northeast board.
I for sure do not have the answers, and i do not want anyone to think that I do, these are just some of my ideas, thoughts & suggestions. We can make it better.
In my heart as a family man, camper, and people person feel we can have fun, enjoy our families together by sharing our rally time putting our effort and energy to work in a positive way.
Please share my thoughts, concerns, for your organization with fellow chapter members and step up and volunteer even in a little fashion, this is what it takes, believe it or not, togetherness with team effort. I still get emails kicked back as my list comes from the listing on FMCA site. So please pass this along as you wish.
Respectfully,
Thomas M. Ziobrowski
Senior VP Northeast Area FMCA
Z8iggy@aol.com
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