Dear Fellow RVers
Transcription
Dear Fellow RVers
Dear Fellow RVers, e h t t e G right ... p o sco We Know the RV Lifestyle Get the right scoop... Education Makes the Road Safer Recreational Vehicles Travel Trailers Home Autos Renters Insurance Condominiums Manufactured Homes ATV’s Park Models Mobile Homes Stationary Trailers In-Home Business Boats Snowmobiles Motorcycles Personal Umbrella Medium Duty Tow Vehicles 5th Wheels RVeRS’ GOOD NeIGhBOR POlICy Some of the most respected RV consumer clubs have joined together to support your right to park on private businesses’ parking lots overnight under the following code of conduct: Industry-sanctioned Code of Conduct (RVers’ Good Neighbor Policy) 1. Stay one night only! 2. Obtain permission from a qualified individual. 3. Obey posted regulations. 4. No awnings, chairs, or barbecue grills. 5. Do not use hydraulic jacks on soft surfaces (including asphalt). 6. Always leave an area cleaner than you found it. 7. Purchase gas, food, or supplies as a form of thank you, when feasible. 8. Be safe! Always be aware of your surroundings and leave if you feel unsafe. If your plans include touring the area, staying for more than one night, or necessitate conduct not within the code, please relocate to a local campground. It’s the right thing to do! Most of the complaints lodged regarding RV parking on business parking lots have to do with aesthetics and perceived abuse of the privilege. There are a variety of competing interests that were balanced to arrive at this industry-sanctioned code of conduct. As you can see, the Code of Conduct is nothing more than an RVers’ “Good Neighbor” policy. Not following the code has serious consequences and is detrimental to the rights of all RVers. Already, some municipalities have passed ordinances to prohibit parking on private business property overnight. Please do not take offense to this letter; it is only provided as a reminder that RVers must be perceived as good neighbors, or there will be more pressure to institute state, county, and local ordinances to prohibit parking on private business property. We wish you safe and happy travels, Fire & Safety Training Courses Sponsored By Phone: 503.636.6347 • Fax: 503.699.9348 • Toll Free: 800.622.6347 5805 SW Willow Lane • Lake Oswego, OR 97035-5342 cheryl@MillerRVinsurance.com • www.MillerRVinsurance.com 094-0810 RVing Women January/February 2011 Volume 21 q Number 1 MEMBERS SHARE 16 Memories Shared by RVW Founders by Lovern King and Zoe Swanagon 28 Finding Florida's Forgotten Coast by Kathe McCleave ON THE ROAD 40 Rachel's Ramblings by Rachel Harp Janice Lee Ives demonstrates characteristic enthusiasm for christening RVs at a recent Texas Ramblin' Roses Chapter rally. photo: Linda Krajewski RVW CONNECTIONS Smiles were liberally shared at Convention 2010 held in October in Mesa, Arizona. photo: Pearl Racette lebrating Ce Years 1991 - 2011 6 8 9 12 14 18 22 24 64 Membership Recruitment Campaign Welcome New Members Loyalty Pin Awards Gratitudes RVW Open Road Futures Program Convention Report Your Letters Photo Contest Results Photo Feature Dedicated since 1991 to supporting all women who are interested in RVing RVing Women is a national nonprofit 501(c)(7) corporation organized and operated exclusively for social, recreational and educational purposes. Our mission is to build a supportive network of women RVers so that any woman, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or financial status, has the opportunity to enjoy the RV lifestyle in a safe and knowledgeable manner. RVing Women MANAGING EDITOR Dee Johnson P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction, Arizona 85117-1940 ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE CHAPTER FOCUS 10 Chapter Contacts 32 Chapter News Women's Basketball Indianapolis, Indiana April 2–5, 2011 TRAVEL PLANNER 42 Calendar Preview 44 National Events Registration Form 45 RVW National Events 50 Calendar of Events RVW News 3 Steering Column 7 Board of Directors Listing 7 Mission Statement 23 Election Ballot Boot Camp Drumright, Oklahoma April 11–15, 2011 DEPARTMENTS 4 Editor’s Page 4 If You Move 5 Membership Application 61 Classified Listings 61 Magazine Deadlines 60 Advertisers 62 Recalls RVW Driving School Drumright, Oklahoma April 16–17, 2011 The photo on our cover was taken by Shelly Haley last September at an Ohio River Valley Chapter rally. This photo is the 2010 photo contest winner in the RVing category. It also was chosen as the People's Choice Award at Convention 2010 in Mesa, Arizona. 2 | January/February 2011 | RVW Karlene Field CONTRIBUTORS Arlene Dawson – Pat Graves Tammy Haley – Rachel Harp Arleen Huffman – Lovern King Linda Krajewski – Connie Mart Kathe McCleave – Marilyn Nichols Gayle Pierce – Barbara Schneider Jan Secor – Nancy Shoop Zoe Swanagon – Meg van Zyl Marj Ward – Judy Wisdom Send membership requests and address changes to: RVing Women P.O. Box 1940 Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940 Toll Free: (888) 557-8464 Local: (480) 671-6226 Fax: (480) 671-6230 E-mail: rvingwomen@juno.com Website: www.rvingwomen.org RVing Women Office Location: 879 N. Plaza Drive, Suite 103B Apache Junction, Arizona 85120 (across from the post office) For advertising information contact: Karlene Field E-mail: karly55@aol.com Cell (206) 909-2607 We welcome suggestions and submissions of articles, photos and letters. Please query rvweditor@rvingwomen.org or call (360) 510-2557. RVing Women is published six times a year for members and friends of RVing Women. All rights reserved. Permission to quote or reprint with credit is available on request. www.rvingwomen.org | STEERING COLUMN Celebrating 20 RVW Years Happy New Year! This year we are pleased to be celebrating RVing Women’s 20th anniversary. In this year’s magazines we will share our organization’s history—or should I say herstory? Many, many women have volunteered an awesome amount of time and effort to build this organization. Thanks Nancy Shoop, President to all of you from the current RVW Board of Directors RVW Board of Directors. Please start planning to join us in Goshen, Indiana this October 12 to16 as we celebrate together the past, present and future of RVing Women. October in Indiana will be beautiful with the changing leaves. However, most important will be the time we get to spend together networking, learning and just plain having fun. A new year means a new RVW Board of Directors. I am sure most of you have heard by now that our three new board members are Cathy Atkins from the Cascadia Chapter, Dorene Thomas from the Oregon Chapter, and Judy Wise from the Ohio River Valley Chapter. They have already been working hard to learn their duties as directors and will really become active when the board meets January 10 to14 in Apache Junction, Arizona. The officers for this year are Nancy Shoop, president; Gayle Pierce, vice president; Constance Wray, secretary; and Wendy Humphreys, treasurer. Our contact information is included in this magazine on page 7 and on our website at rvingwomen.org. Please contact any of us if you have questions or concerns. Speaking of our new Board of Directors, I want to tell everyone what a great privilege it has been to serve on the board with our outgoing directors. Beckey Beckey has been a great president for the last two years and has given so much to RVW during her five years as a board member. Joanne Mallett and Judith Robinson have given many hours in the last three years in their director positions. Those of us on this year’s board thank them. If you have an opportunity to see them in your travels, please let them know how much you also appreciate their dedicated volunteer work. What a wonderful time was had by all at the 2010 RVW national convention in Mesa, Arizona! Thanks go out to Meg van Zyl, who was the coordinator this year, and to the Arizona Chapter, the 2010 host chapter. You all did an excellent job! Unless you have done a convention, you cannot imagine how much time and effort these members put in to providing our attendees such a great time. Thanks also to the Arizona Day Trippers Chapter and the other chapters that donated their time and funds to support our national convention. Last but not least, thanks to our vendors and seminar speakers. I know we are all much more knowledgeable because of you. www.rvingwomen.org I want to thank each volunteer, all 241 of you who helped during the convention. I especially want to thank all the chairs of the convention committees that put in hours of work before as well as during the convention. While I am thanking convention volunteers, I also want to thank our members that volunteer each year on our RVW committees. Your efforts are greatly appreciated even if we don’t say it too often. Remember, our organization needs volunteers. If you are interested in becoming more active, please call any Board of Directors member and let us know. I am excited to tell you about some of our plans for this coming year. Our primary focus is going to be on improving communication throughout the organization. One of the improvements will be with our technology. We want to make joining, renewing and registering for events easier, faster and more accurate. We are also improving our website and e-news so you can be informed more quickly. We started the process last year by hiring a consultant that has helped us organize our needs, and we are now looking for an online company to help us integrate our systems. The other focus for the organization is to find ways of increasing member benefits. Again, we hired a consultant last year to help the board strategize how to get and keep members by providing more bang for the buck. We also want to get our story out to the media so more women can learn about us. Stay tuned to hear about these new benefits. We want to thank all the supporters of the Open Road Futures Program (see pages 12 to 15 for information about this program). This new way to donate to our organization is how we are funding the two initiatives I just described. It is great to know that members want to give a little extra to make our organization even stronger. We already have had over $5,000 in donations. Our organization is made up of a wonderfully diverse group of women that share a love of RVing. Thankfully, we are not all alike—that would be soooo boring. The last two years I have been fortunate enough to attend our national events as well as the national conventions and some chapter rallies. I have enjoyed meeting and making many new friends. Some of us travel together and some are solos. What I think the most important thing we do is empower each other. I have met several women that never thought they could drive an RV until our members helped teach and support them. Now they are not only RVing women, they have higher self-esteem and confidence in all they do. I believe that our diversity is our strength as well as sometimes creating challenges. What holds us together is our love of RVing and our respect for each other. I look forward to this year and the opportunities I will have to meet you and hear your issues and concerns, both positive and negative. As I said before, if we all thought alike, it would be really boring. Nancy Shoop RVW | January/February 2011 | 3 EDITOR'S PAGE | Two Resolutions for 2011 I have made two resolutions for 2011. The first is to avoid spending time living in the past. There is not enough space there. In his delightful and sometimes melancholy book, Lunch at the Piccadilly, Clyde Edgerton Dee Johnson, Managing Editor gives us a vivid picture of what RVing Women Magazine happens to the space that inhabits our past. Speaking through Aunt Lil, he ponders the ways in which “Time is the strangest thing. It pulls up into a little bunch and just sits there, not even spread out anymore, and all the people you’ve ever known—mothers you remember from way, way back, and their babies, babies you remember, babies becoming mothers and then grandmothers—all of it gets wrapped up in a little bunch that seems about a year or two old, and it’s all right there behind you. It just stops being all stretched out for some reason.” Well, Aunt Lil is right; the past gets all bunched together so tightly that there is no room for living there. The only time that gives us any space to live is right now, and so that is where I plan to spend all the minutes and hours and days that 2011 brings me. I don’t plan to become a hedonist—I do know that how I live now will affect the kinds of nows I have in the future—but I do plan to be less influenced by the past and the outdated messages that reside there. For example, I don’t care what color shoes I wear before Easter rolls around. Truthfully, I never cared that much. I wore white whenever I wanted to. But there were other messages that I carried around in the past that are not appropriate for today. Some of these messages never were appropriate, but I packed them up and carried them on my back regardless. One of those messages told me repeatedly that I can’t dance. Despite evidence to the contrary, that is not an appropriate message. So, moving into the present, I have decided to reject it. My second resolution for 2011 is that I will learn to dance. I got an early start in late November and began taking a beginning line dancing class. In that class, I demonstrated the proof of the evidence to the contrary, but my classmates were encouraging and I made the decision to continue counting to eight and moving my feet and moving my hips—all at the same time. Hopefully I will soon be doing all this multitasking at exactly the same time that every other dancer in the line is doing so. For those of us who are flat-footed, learning to dance can be a real challenge. Add to that a stunted sense of rhythm, and the challenge can be likened to taking the introductory steps needed to scale a mountain. I have a friend who has visited the ruins of Machu Picchu, a sacred city that is often referred to as the lost city of the Incas. Invisible from below, Machu Picchu was undiscovered until 1911. It is tucked away in the Andes Mountains at an elevation of 7,970 feet above sea level. My friend reached Machu Picchu by climbing the peaks and valleys of Peru’s Andes Mountains. She trekked (sounds so much easier than climbed) for eight hours every day for as long as it took to get there. I figure if she could climb up to Machu Picchu, I can learn to dance. Three essentials contributed to the success of the trekkers who climbed with her to that ancient city. They each had the will to do whatever was necessary to reach their goal, they had the support of tour leaders and Sherpas, and they had an adequate supply each day of calories packed with carbohydrates and protein. They probably also had a strong aversion to quitting. I certainly don’t have a problem with getting enough calories every day, and I do have lots of support. All I need now is the will to succeed. I also am told that I will need to practice, practice, practice. My friend says she did not practice scaling any mountains before ascending to Machu Picchu. This fact all by itself makes me a bit suspicious that learning to dance may be actually more difficult than scaling a mountain. If that is the case, my sense of accomplishment will be all the sweeter when at last I have become a dancer, when at last I have trained my feet to follow the music without interference from conscious thinking. Whatever you do this year, I hope you will jettison outdated and inappropriate messages and make a resolution to live every moment as fully as possible. Go with the flow and let happiness inspire you. Dee Johnson We welcome your letters and articles. Electronic files sent via email are preferred. The email address for the editor is rvweditor@rvingwomen.org. Her cell phone number is (360) 510-2557. Photos to accompany articles are always appreciated. Please identify the person who took the photo and include two or three sentences describing the photo and listing the full names of any people pictured. The deadline date for each issue of RVing Women magazine is listed on page 61. If your address changes, please notify the RVW office, even if the change is temporary. Include your membership number, previous address and new address. Send this notification to RVing Women, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940. If you have calendar announcements and chapter news for the magazine and website, please send these to rvweditor@rvingwomen.org. Send other website correspondence to webmaster@rvingwomen.org. RVing Women magazine is available online at www.rvingwomen.org. 4 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org q NEW MEMBERSHIP q RENEWAL MEMBERSHIP RVING WOMEN MEMBERSHIP FORM Recreation, Support, Networking and Education for Women RVers Visit our website at www.rvingwomen.org PL E A SE PR I NT Name_ _________________________________________________ Membership #_______________ Date of Birth_ _____________ Name_ _________________________________________________ Membership #_______________ Date of Birth_ _____________ Mailing Address________________________________________________________________________________________________ City____________________________________________________ State/Province_ _____________ Zip______________________ q Home Phone ______________________q Cell Phone_ _____________________ Email___________________________ Please initial: _______________ I understand that I am not to use the RVing Women directory or magazine for commercial purposes or for financial gain, nor permit others to do so. I also understand I am not to discard the directory, but destroy it. How did you hear about RVW? q RVW magazine q RVW brochure q Internet q Dealer q RV show q RVW Member (name and #)_ ________________________________________________________________________ q Other ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Please indicate services you can provide: q Tour of your area q Assistance q Information q Overnight stay I am interested in more information regarding serving with one or more of the following national RVW committees: q Bylaws q Finance q National Events q Member Services q Development/Fundraising q Policies and Procedures q Elections q Public Relations and Marketing I am a member of _______________________________ Chapter as my primary RVW chapter. q Not a member of a chapter I own or share in the use of a q Class A q Class B I travel q Full time q 9-12 months I am q Working part time q Retired q Class C q 6-9 months q Trailer q 3-6 months q 5th wheel q Other RV q None q Less than 3 months q Sporadically q Working full time My work experience includes _ ___________________________________________________________________________ q Instead of receiving a print copy of RVing Women magazine, I would prefer to read the magazine online. RVING WOMEN DUES SCHEDULE FOR NEW AND RENEWAL MEMBERSHIPS q $10 New Member Processing Fee $___________ Individual Membership Dues q One Member/One Year: $45.00 q One Member/Two Years: $80.00 q One Member/Three Years: $120.00 $___________ $___________ $___________ Household Discounted Dues * Membership in RVing Women is open to adult women only, ages 18 and older. Membership renewals are due on the anniversary date of your current membership application. Renewals not received within 60 days of the anniversary date will be considered a new membership. * Household discounted dues and annual guest rider fees reflect the receipt of only one magazine and one directory per household. q Two Members/One Year: $70.00 q Two Members/Two Years: $130.00 q Two Members/Three Years: $180.00 $___________ $___________ $___________ Annual Guest Rider ($25.00 per year) $___________ q Charge my q MasterCard q VISA Gift to RVW Reserve Fund (under $50)** $___________ Card Number________________________________________ Gift to Open Road Futures Program (over $50)**$___________ TOTAL AMOUNT SUBMITTED (U.S. funds only) $___________ ** I would like to make this gift to RVW to support future growth of the organization. I know that my gift is NOT tax deductible. q Check or M/O enclosed (payable to RVW) Check #_ _____________________ Expiration Date_____________ V Code*______________ Signature_______________________________________ *3-digit number on the back of the card near the signature area Please mail or fax this form with your dues to: RVW, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940 Phones: (888) 557-8464 or (480) 671-6226 • Fax: (480) 671-6230 • Email: rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org www.rvingwomen.org v1210 RVW | January/February 2011 | 5 Help a Friend Discover RVW We want women to know about this great organization operated exclusively for women who enjoy the RVing lifestyle. Tell a friend about RVW, and invite her to go with you to a rally. Share information with her. Your chapter leaders have RVW brochures and contact cards and extra copies of recent RVing Women magazines. Help us put these materials in the hands of other women who are interested in RVing. To participate in the RVW membership recruitment rewards campaign, be sure to let your friends know they should mention your name when they submit their applications for membership in RVing Women. The annual term of the current recruitment campaign is July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Individual Member Rewards • Membership Credit: For each new member recruited, the recruiting member receives $5 (five dollars) credit toward the following year’s dues. Recruit nine members in a calendar year and receive one year fully paid membership. Recruit more than nine members in a calendar year and receive credit toward the next year and following year's dues. • Six-month Drawing: A recruiting member will be entered into a six-month drawing each time a member she has recruited joins RVW. The reward will be a $50 (fifty dollar) gift certificate. • Annual Reward: Annually the top two members recruiting the greatest number of new members will receive gift certificates: $100 for the top recruiter and $75 for the runner-up. Successful recruiters and prize winners will be indentified in RVing Women magazine and on the RVW website. Chapters will be recognized in each issue of RVing Women magazine and on the RVW website for their members’ success in member recruitment. Annually at the RVW convention, commencing in 2010, the chapter that was most successful in recruiting members to RVW during the prior recruitment year (July through June) will be recognized at an appropriate gathering of the membership. A banner identifying the chapter and the year will be displayed. The chapter will receive the banner for use at rallies or other events. For more information, contact Meg van Zyl, chair of the RVW PR and Marketing Committee, at megenrv@yahoo.com or (623) 680-2085. 6 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org 2011 RVW Board of Directors Nancy Shoop President 110 E. Center, PMB 1436 Madison SD 57042-2908 Cell: (317) 289-9940 nancys@rvingwomen.org Cathy Atkins Director 4725 S. 284th Place Auburn WA 98001-1108 Cell: (253) 709-8366 cathya@rvingwomen.org Liaison to: Chapter Advisory Council RVW Historian ail ew em RVW Office Oversight f the n for the o e t o n ge make a office. this pa Please es listed on rs and RVW s to addres ard of Direc Gayle Pierce o B W Vice President RV Liaison to: Communications Website, E-news, Magazine and Directory Ads and Vendors Convention 2011 904 W. Montgomery, Ste 4-349 Willis TX 77378-8834 Cell: (713) 828-4627 gaylep@rvingwomen.org Liaison to: Member Services Contracts RVW Booth 2011 Convention 2012 Dorene Thomas Director 13620 SW Cresmer Drive Tigard OR 97223-5003 Cell: (503) 740-9392 dthomas@rvingwomen.org Liaison to: Bylaws Committee Trademark and IRS PR and Marketing Constance Wray Secretary 3700 S. Westport Avenue, PMB 1614 Sioux Falls SD 57106-6360 Cell: (913) 558-0998 constancew@rvingwomen.org Judith (Judy) Wise Director 1770 W. 635 N. Howe IN 46746-9716 Cell: (978) 502-6779 judyw@rvingwomen.org Liaison to: Election Committee National Events Liaison to: Policies and Procedures Convention Site Selection 2013, 2014, 2015 RVW Booth 2012 Wendy Humphreys Treasurer P.O. Box 334 Winfield WV 25213-0334 Cell: (304) 552-5939 wendyh@rvingwomen.org Liaison to: Finance Committee Development Committee RVing Women Office Monica Lindmark and Grace Ironside P.O. Box 1940 Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940 Phone: (480) 671-6226 / (888) 557-8464 Fax: (480) 671-6230 rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org The RVW office is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays. The Mission of RVing Women is to build a supportive network of women RVers so that any woman, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or financial status, has the opportunity to enjoy the RV lifestyle in a safe and knowledgeable manner. If you have questions regarding member benefits, go to www.rvingwomen.org or contact our office. Send an email to rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org or call (888) 557-8464 or (480) 671-6226. Fax us at (480) 671-6230. When you email the RVW office or a member of the Board of Directors, please include RVW in the subject line. The office gets more than its share of spam; if your message is not RVW identified, it could be deleted as junk mail. www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 7 Welcome to These New Members ALABAMA Brenda Church Jeanne Earwood ARIZONA Bev Welch Tani Gibson Cynthia Thomas Sharon Parks Cher Cobus Michelle Mace Ann Standeven Laura Patterson Jill Waters CALIFORNIA Debbie Simpson Carol Baach Diane Ariotti Sara Lauderdale Helen Harvey Lesley Schneider Lisa Gay Babcock Pati Stein Katherine Goehle Mary Howland Gwen Steinberg Sondra Buffett Geneva Potepan Nancy Janeck COLORADO Millicent Butterworth Ljuba Lemke FLORIDA Billie Meyers Teddy Hamlett Ann Hinkle Karen Bohl Peg Cooper Pamela Gray Melanie Chadwick Mary Ann Polce Molly Bundy Brenda Bundy Rion Gabel Kay Whitman Sandra Davis 8 | January/February 2011 | RVW Huntsville Huntsville Apache Junction Chandler Clarkdale Glendale Marble Canyon Marble Canyon San Tan Valley Tucson Yuma Castro Valley Fallbrook Glendora Goleta Nevada City Nevada City Nipomo Oakhurst Palo Alto Palo Alto Roseville San Marcos Seal Beach Sebastopol Boulder Durango Land O'Lakes North Fort Myers North Fort Myers North Fort Myers North Fort Myers Newport Richey North Port North Redington Beach Punta Gorda Punta Gorda St. Petersburg St. Petersburg Treasure Island Beverley Smalley Marritta Wade Treasure Island Treasure Island IOWA Cindy Hansen Lynne Sims-Taylor Jane Breitwisch Arnolds Park Arnolds Park Marion ILLINOIS Donna Perdun Pierson Alton LOUISIANA Nancy Walters New Orleans MARYLAND Suzie Feldman Shelly Lykins Parkville Parkville MASSACHUSETTS Susan Davis Phyllis Dixon Diana Rubin Provincetown Quincy Quincy MICHIGAN Linda Grandstaff Pat Pokay Janice Lovel Silva Freeman Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Ishpeming Rudyard MINNESOTA Sara Gould Ilene Harlicker Minneapolis Perham MISSOURI Deanna Tolliver Saint Robert NEW YORK Suzanne McHugh Annamae Schuler Kerchenkson Kerchenkson OHIO Carol Thomas Alice Goers Leslie Hoppes Jo Leatherberry Maineville Parma Ravenna Ravenna www.rvingwomen.org Loyalty pins were presented in November and December to the following members. To all of you, we appreciate your support of Rving Women. OKLAHOMA Joyce Williams Sequita Stetson Sharon Thoele Midwest City Norman Wagoner OREGON Sharon Vining Portland SOUTH CAROLINA Denise Beauregard Janice Norton Little River Little River SOUTH DAKOTA Sue Daugherty Rapid City TENNESSEE Lynn Baxter Kay Spearman Ooltewah Ooltewah Candy Attili Terry Bryan Shirley McNew Casey Norman Sue Wittig New York New Hampshire Tennessee Colorado Michigan 10-Year Membership Winnifred Davies Sandy Stephens Doris Westoby Eve Zaremba Florida South Dakota Oregon Ontario 5-Year Membership TEXAS Clara Conner Marilyn Wiles Judy Pringle Kathy Teel Yvette Tudor Center Point Center Point Dallas Portland San Antonio WASHINGTON Debra Pitts Jeana Herriges Cathy Phillips Mary Korver Burlington Medina Seattle Spokane WISCONSIN Susan Hanson Tilleda WYOMING Jean Matthews Sheridan BRITISH COLUMBIA Francis Beveridge Chilliwack NOVA SCOTIA Anne Carswell Shelley Solmes Hubbards Hubbards www.rvingwomen.org 15-Year Membership Linda Baldassari Judith Conigliaro Vickie Cox Debra Daenzer Nancy Davis Michelle Dunn Rene Gray Wanda R. Lee Kristina Leone Diane McHenry Judy Miles Ann Moseley Linda Panthen Sue Stanton Linda Sweely Betty Vales South Dakota Maryland British Columbia California New Jersey California Arizona Wisconsin Florida California South Carolkina Arizona New York California South Dakota Oregon If you have been a member of RVing Women for five, ten, fifteen years—and if we faialed to recognize that anniversary—please contact the RVW office to remind us of your anniversary date. Send an email to rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org or call (480) 671-6230 or (888) 557-8464. RVW | January/February 2011 | 9 CHAPTER CONTACTS | ARIZONA CHAPTER GREAT LAKERS CHAPTER Arizona – Adjacent States – Snowbirds www.rvw-arizona.org Michigan – Illinois – Indiana – Ohio – Pennsylvania www.greatlakersrvw.org glrvw.wordpress.com Mary Beth Stearns Mary Cordell marybethstearns@yahoo.com cordellm41@yahoo.com (480) 247-9573 ARIZONA DAY TRIPPERS CHAPTER Seasonal Outings – Phoenix Area Judy Bozman mollynme2@juno.com (480) 611-4388 Lanny McBrown jlmcbrownks@att.net (785) 224-5860 Kay Houchin houchin190@hotmail.com (517) 764-0399 CASCADIA CHAPTER Washington State – British Columbia www.cascadiarvw.com Cheryl Edman driffin@ywave.com (360) 446-2060 Elaine Ploegstra eploegstra@comcast.net (206) 524-8270 FLORIDA CHAPTER Florida www.flrvw.org Nancy Carbonari mzcee@bellsouth.net (321) 757-0265 Connie Anderson conniecanoe@hotmail.com (813) 245-6145 FREEWHEELERS CHAPTER Northern California – Northern Nevada www.rvwfreewheelers.org Cheryll Clark gr82bcheryll@yahoo.com (775) 882-4112 Judy Leonard jmleonard3@juno.com (530) 477-8548 FULLTIMERS CHAPTER Bringing full-time RVers together from all areas of the United States, Canada and Mexico Carol Miller cacm46@aol.com (317) 431-5171 Flo Hurlburt flojo0052@yahoo.com (402) 290-2630 10 | January/February 2011 | RVW Gayle Bennett gayplezeus@aol.com (248) 669-3826 Shirley McMahan shirley_denise@hotmail.com (248) 545-5416 LYTE HEARTS CHAPTER Wisconsin – Minnesota – Illinois Iowa – Nebraska – Missouri Sandy Ferris smferris@hughes.net (618) 498-1721 Jeanne Carter rvingdogmom@att.net (414) 352-8341 MID-AMERICA CHAPTER Kansas – Oklahoma – Missouri – Arkansas – Illinois www.rvwmidamerica.wordpress.com Marj Ward marjanddoc@cox.net (316) 204-3894 Jan Russell russell@hughes.net (816) 738-3105 MIDATLANTIC CHAPTER District of Columbia – Pennsylvania – New Jersey Maryland – Delaware – Virginia – West Virginia Kentucky – Tennessee – Georgia – Alabama North Carolina – South Carolina www.midatlanticrvw.com Joyce Cochrane cochrane@tcnj.edu (609) 658-6893 Lee Ensor megandlee@webtv.net (717) 993-5571 NORTHEAST NETWORK Maine – New Hampshire – Vermont – New York Massachusetts – Rhode Island – Connecticut Ontario – Quebec – New Brunswick – Nova Scotia www.nennavigator.org Pat Saxton siggietoo@aol.com (508) 579-1000 Claudia Combies claudia_a_combies@sbcglobal.net (860) 774-4215 www.rvingwomen.org | CHAPTER CONTACTS OHIO RIVER VALLEY CHAPTER SOLO TRAVELERS CHAPTER Michigan – Illinois – Indiana – Ohio Pennsylvania – Kentucky – Tennessee www.ohiorvw.com Bringing solo travelers together from all areas of the United States, Canada, and Mexico http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rvsolotravelers Tammy Haley tamtam4@indy.net (317) 250-4222 Vicki Eident victoria.eident@sbcglobal.net (317) 679-5386 OREGON CHAPTER Oregon www.oregonrvingwomen.org – (541) 997-0886 Lyn Rogers Roseann Molyneaux lovestravlyn@earthlink.net rmolyneaux@aol.com TEXAS RAMBLIN' ROSES CHAPTER Texas www.txrvw.org Pat Bowen txpatrving@aol.com (830) 624-9299 Gina Masciantonio scmrmm@charter.net (541) 267-6999 Vicki Blake vblake42@comcast.net (713) 562-2271 Barb Pace barbpace1@msn.com (541) 764-2910 Sharon Barfield sharonbar01@aol.com (936) 446-9979 ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER Wyoming – Colorado – New Mexico www.rmrvw.org Susan Moore smoore1819@hotmail.com (303) 756-0273 Marga Callender margacallender@hotmail.com (719) 473-2256 Jo Stanbrough bjwolfeyes@msn.com (719) 633-4747 WE NEED CHAPTER LEADERS We need chapter leaders in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Louisiana. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity to help women RVers in these areas get together more often, please contact the RVW office. Call (888) 557-8464 or (480) 671-6226 or email rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org. We will give you support to help your chapter get started. SOCALJOURNERS CHAPTER Southern California Nancy Rockwell bar2r@aol.com (951) 940-4718 Linda Brown brownroeder@aol.com (760) 745-9452 Myra Roselinsky msmyro@aol.com (562) 427-8525 Vikki Knight cloudermom@aol.com (310) 649-2208 Information about RVW national and chapter events is regularly updated at www.rvingwomen.org When you join RVW, you connect with RVing Women all over the USA, Canada and Mexico. You are welcome to participate in chapter events wherever you travel. Contact the chapter leaders listed on these pages to find out about chapter activities and membership opportunities. www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 11 Open Road Futures Program Contributions to the Open Road Futures Program are securing a brighter future for RVW. The following members have invested in the future of RVW through this program. Camper Tier Cathy Atkins / Vicki Para Beckey Beckey Margaret Duncombe / Zoa McGuire Rachel Harp Wendy Humphreys Janice Ives / Scottie Scott Sally Johnson / Ardie Jarrett Maria Manetta Joanne Mallett Gayle Pierce Judith Robinson Sylvia Robinson / Dana Scholdt Nancy Shoop / Carol Kramer Thursa Stair / Dotti Pease Dorene Thomas Judy Wise Fulltimers Chapter Gratitudes We are pleased to officially announce the election of Cathy Atkins, Dorene Thomas and Judy Wise as members of the 2011 RVW Board of Directors. Their terms began January 1. We look forward to having them join us at our January Board of Directors workshop. Many of you cast ballots during the convention at the RVW booth and many other members mailed in their ballots. Your ongoing participation in the election process is critical in helping RVW attract and elect well qualified board members. Thank you for voting! The officers chosen for 2011 are Nancy Shoop, president; Gayle Pierce, vice president; Constance Wray, secretary; and Wendy Humphreys, treasurer. Gayle Pierce 2010 Election Committee Liaison, RVW Board of Directors Nomad Tier Constance Wray / Doris Fry Sightseer Tier Mary Schoenfeldt / Ardith Bathurst Cindy Turvy / Naomi Weinert The Open Road Futures Program opened at the 2010 Convention held in October. A total of $5,390 has been contributed to date. An anonymous contribution was made in honor of the seven members of the Board of Directors, increasing the contribution from each board member by $100. To outgoing RVW President Beckey Beckey and directors Joanne Mallett and Judith (Jude) Robinson, please accept our sincere thanks for your service. The time and talents you donated to RVW are sincerely appreciated. An anonymous contribution was made in honor of Rachel Harp. Sally Johnson and Ardie Jarrett made a contribution in memory of former RVW President Ellen Stammer. The Fulltimers Chapter made a freewill donation and is the first RVW chapter to establish a place on the Open Road Futures Program giving tiers. Contributions made for 2011 will be targeted for improvement and upgrades of technology and the development and implementation of a strategic marketing plan. 12 | January/February 2011 | RVW Top photo: 2010 RVW Board of Directors. Pictured left to right (front row) are retiring board members Jude Robinson, Beckey Beckey and Joanne Mallett. Pictured left to right (back row) are Gayle Pierce, Wendy Humphreys, Constance Wray and Nancy Shoop. Second photo: 2011 RVW Board of Directors. Pictured left to right are Judy Wise, Constance Wray, Gayle Pierce, Nancy Shoop, Wendy Humphreys, Cathy Atkins and Dorene Thomas. www.rvingwomen.org The exhibit hall was a popular gathering place for attendees at Convention 2010, held October 26 to 31 in Mesa, Arizona. The following vendors came to show their support for RVing Women and to display some great products. Old Crow Enterprises Sky Med / RV Quick Shades Pet Mats & More Decorative Floor Mats Pickleball Source Pickleball Equipment Almost Heaven Microfibre Products RV Solution Cleaning Solutions Badges 'R' Us Name Badges and Ladder Plaques RV Sun Shade Co. Exterior Sun Shades for RVs Coil 'n Wrap RV Accessories Satellite Electronics Satellite TV Accessories Creative Memories Scrapbooking and Supplies Sheridan Designs RVW Clothing Dip 'n Good Dips Dry Dip Mixes and Dip Coolers Tank Techs Holding Tank Pressure Washing Fantasy RV Tours RV Travel Experts Techno RV Electronic Accessories Fire & Life Safety Fire Detection and Safety Tomboy Tools Tools Designed for Women Flags, Etc. Garden Flags and Windsocks Water Filter Source Water Filters Ganon Detailing Exterior RV Detailing Windshield Chip Repair Chip Repair and Jewelry Happy Feet Feet Massaging Insoles Please let these vendors know we appreciate them! Harp's RV Service RV Parts and Service Henderson's Line-Up Super Steer / Safety Plus J & J's Gold & Gems Jewelry and Tilly Apparel Lawrence RV Accessories Surge / Voltage Protectors Luxury RV RV Dealership Mesa RV RV Dealership Miller Insurance RV Insurance www.rvingwomen.org We are pleased to recognize the following RVing Women for their success in recruiting members who joined RVW during the months of September and October. Linda Allen Sammy Baron Dot Beemis Carolyn Boran Pat Bowen Evelyn Braden SandyBrown Susan Cox Doris Diedrich Joan Gottfried Rachel Brett Harley Pat Hayes Judy Hohl Earlene Lang Dorothy Loll Anne Mathisen Paula McDonald Deb Medlin Annette Montoya Bev Mulligan Lois Nix Kathy Pfeifer Rem Remley Debbie Rubin Maureen Schaeffer Toni Shaw Chris Shelger Mary Beth Stearns Becky Stinson Cindy Turvey Pat van Gorp Naomi Weinert Lynn Williams Linda Woodford Maureen Zwemke To all of you, thanks for sharing information about RVW. Keep up the good work! Mac McCoy, Fire & Life Safety, demonstrates the safe way to extinguish a fire. Many of the vendors at Convention 2010 led seminars for attendees. Meg van Zyl RVW PR & Marketing Committee RVW | January/February 2011 | 13 The Open Road Program Leads to the Future of RVW The RVW Open Road Futures Program is a multitier giving program providing opportunities for members and friends to underwrite new projects that will contribute to the growth and stability of RVW. Projects for 2011 include the development and implementation of a strategic marketing plan and improvements and upgrades of our technology. Each contributor will receive a name badge and/or name bar and will be listed in RVing Women magazine and recognized at the RVW convention. The first time a contributor reaches the minimum level in a tier, she will receive her choice of one of the rewards offered at that tier level. Contributions will be cumulative year to year so members may advance from tier to tier. Contribution levels range from an introductory level of $100 to over $25,000 (cash and/or stocks) and are separated into seven tiers. Contributors can opt out of recognition in the magazine and any other recognition aspect of the program and/or decline to receive a premium. A household may participate as one unit but may include no more than two individuals. Chapters may participate in this program and are eligible for flag streamers for their chapter flag. Chapter participation may include special fundraising events and sponsorship of convention events or specific RVW administrative costs such as postage or office supplies. RVW Open Road Program Premiums • RVW reserves the right to change premium items based on variety or availability. • Convention premiums are assignable to a member attending convention if the contributor cannot attend. • RVW gift cards will be made out to the contributor's choice of the following vendors: Camping World, Flying J, Cracker Barrel or an RVW merchandise provider. photo: Audrey Palyo 14 | January/February 2011 | RVW • The RVW Board of Directors may stipulate time frames for imprinting stationery with a Pioneer Lifetime Member's name. www.rvingwomen.org Camper $100 to $499 tier Nomad $500 to $999 tier Sightseer $1,000 to $2,499 tier Adventurer $2,500 to $4,999 tier Traveler $5,000 to $9,999 tier Explorer $10,000 to $24,999 tier Pioneer $25,000+ tier Choice of one: A. RVW tote B. RVW T-shirt C. D. RVW flag RVW hat RVW Open Road Futures Program Choice of one: A. Ladder tag and one item from Camper tier B. RVW denim shirt and one item from Camper tier C. $50 RVW gift card D. Registration for one national RVW convention tour Choice of one: A. Three nights camping at an RVW convention or national rally B. Four days use of golf cart during RVW convention C. Picnic basket and RVW polo shirt D. $100 RVW gift card Choice of one: A. One-time convention registration plus use of golf cart for four days B. Pair of lawn chairs and 9' x 12' patio rug C. Three-year single RVW membership and $130 RVW gift card D. Three-year household RVW membership and $70 RVW gift card Choice of one: A. One-time convention package to include premium parking site, four paid nights of camping, two convention registration fees and use of golf cart for four days B. Six-year single RVW membership plus $260 RVW gift card C. Six-year household RVW membership plus $140 RVW gift card D. $500 credit toward an RVW caravan trip offered by Fantasy RV Tours Choice of one: A. RVW lifetime membership (non-transferrable) B. One-time convention package to include premium parking site, five paid nights of camping, two convention registration fees and use of golf cart for five days plus paid registration for two convention events (tour, golf tournament, etc.) C. Pair of mountain bikes with helmets and water bottles D. Flat screen TV (32", 37" or 40") Choice of one item from each tier plus: Name imprinted on RVW stationery and/or publications as a Pioneer Lifetime Member Please detach and mail to: RVW, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940 — or fax to (480) 671-6230 I AM PLEASED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RVW OPEN ROAD PROGRAM My contribution will support future growth of RVing Women. I know that my gift is not tax deductible. Last Name_______________________________________________ First Name __________________________________________ Last Name_______________________________________________ First Name __________________________________________ Address_ _______________________________________________ City_ ________________ State______ Zip__________________ Phone______________________________ Email____________________________________ RVW #_________________________ I/we wish to participate at the following tier q Camper q Nomad q Sightseer q Adventurer q Traveler q Explorer q Pioneer Please indicate choice of tier premium Contribution amount $_ ________________ This amount is to be deducted: q One Time Only q Monthly q Annually / U.S. funds only q Check or M/O enclosed (payable to RVW) www.rvingwomen.org qA qB qC qD q Charge my q MasterCard q VISA Card Number_________________________________________ Expiration Date____________________ V Code*____________ Signature____________________________________________ *3-digit number on the back of the card near the signature area RVW | January/February 2011 | 15 lebrating Ce Years 1991 - 2011 RVW is the only international support network organized solely for the benefit of the female RV enthusiast. Celebrating 20 RVW Years: Memories Shared by RVW Founders Lovern King and Zoe Swanagon When we first started RVW, we were surprised at the interest and enthusiasm of the many women who wanted connections on the road. We realized very early on that we needed to offer more services than just the little newsletter that we were producing, so we decided to hold a rally and see if anyone would come. We decided on Ashland, Oregon for our first rally because it was close to where we would be at the time. To our surprise, between 30 and 40 women came in every conceivable type of RV. The enthusiasm they brought would have carried the rally to success, but we had planned a number of things to do to give the event some structure. Since we had never done this before, we had to use our imagination and ask ourselves what would we want at an event if we were new to RVing. We held seminars on different kinds of RV issues such as care of the RV on the road and money issues on the road. We also had access to a volleyball court, and we scheduled lots of socializing time and eating time. It was here we realized that events like this were essential and needed to be developed all over the country. This was where the real connections would be made—at gatherings where women could connect face to face. It felt wonderful to be a part of this first-of-akind event. From there, RVW went forward on its own momentum. That was in the spring of 1991. In 1995, just four years later, we had 70 events held all over the country. The idea of bringing RVing Women together was well established, and we could see that women were building long-lasting friendships. We made friends at the very first rally that we still have to this day. We also quickly found out that it takes a large number of dedicated, enthusiastic women to make this organization work. Everyone who volunteered made it happen. We, of course, could not be everywhere at once. There are no limits to the size and scope to which RVW can grow. All it takes is participation at all levels, even small contributions. For as far as we can see into the future, we know that RVW will be important, as important as it was at that first rally. The following is excerpted from an article written by Lovern King and Zoe Swanagon on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of RVing Women. We loved traveling the country in our 23-foot Class C. Around every corner was an exciting discovery. The only thing missing (and it loomed large) was contact with other women on the road. We found that even in RV parks, women appeared to be second-class citizens. We missed the company of other women who were practicing the same lifestyle, whether it be full time or part time. Actually, we wondered if there were, in fact, other women traveling the same manner. Maybe we were crazy. After being on the road for about three years, we were walking on a beach at dawn in North Carolina when a woman came up to us and asked, "Are you two traveling together?" We told her we were, and she said, "Thank goodness. I thought I was the only woman out here traveling full time." We joined her at that point and traveled to Florida with her. After a wonderful month of being shown around by a native, we decided there was a need for a networking organization for traveling women. We said our goodbyes to our new friend and made a beeline for Arizona, where we owned a lot in an RV resort. There we started our first newsletter. We also placed ads in major RV magazines. The response was overwhelming. We gradually started holding rallies at campgrounds in different areas of the U.S. Some were for fun—singing around campfires, sharing potlucks—and some focused on a number of informational seminars. RVW will probably never run out of new members who need its services. Women love to travel and explore, and they love and need the connections that are possible on the road. RVW is still the way to go and will be for years to come Help us celebrate the 20th anniversary of RVing Women. We would like to hear from you about how being a member has influenced your life. Send your comments, letters and articles to rvweditor@rvingwomen.org or mail to RVW, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940. 16 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org Travelin' out West? We've got you covered! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Engine Maintenance and Pre Trip Inspections Cooling System Service and Repairs Tires and Brakes Suspension Tuning for Ride Comfort, Handling and Safety Anti-Sway Bars, Trac Bars, KONI Shocks Overload Springs and Bags Precison Scales for Weighing Bee Line Laser Alignment Blue Ox and Roadmaster Tow Systems and Base Plates Tow Car Auxiliary Brake Systems Prodigy Brake Controllers Exhaust Brakes Performance Exhaust Systems Solar Panel Systems Air Conditioning Service and Repair Refrigeration Service and Repair Brazel's RV Performance and RV Park Redlands Truck & RV Performance Center 3912 Harrison Avenue Centralia WA 98531 510 Amigos Drive Redlands CA 92373 Mike@BrazelsRV.com Jon@BrazelsRV.com www.BrazelsRV.com Keith@RedlandsTruckService.com Karens@RedlandsTruckService.com www.RedlandsTruckService.com 877 786-1576 Count on us for performance and products that exceed expectations www.rvingwomen.org 888 249-0124 RVW | January/February 2011 | 17 Attendance Record Set at Convention 2010 A record 476 women attended Convention 2010, held October 26 to 31 in Mesa, Arizona. In addition, nearly 100 day passes were issued. There were 242 rigs parked on site at Viewpoint RV and Golf Resort. Beginning with the pre-convention tours and classes, every day was packed with lots of activities. Seminars were well attended; some were standing room only. Informal get togethers and the Wednesday evening block parties were also well attended. Convention goers seemed to welcome these opportunities for sitting down, catching a breath and connecting with friends. The exhibit hall was a popular gathering place. There were 42 vendors representing 27 companies at Convention 2010. The Arizona Chapter hosted the convention. Their hard work was appreciated in all areas, from the check-in to golf outing, opening ceremonies, security detail, communications, transportation, volunteer recruitment, seminar selections, entertainment variety, devotional service and closing ceremonies. Ninety-five percent of the 211 attendees completing a convention survey rated their experience at the convention as excellent or good. Many of the surveys included praise for the outstanding work done by the Arizona Chapter to plan and organize the convention events. Convention 2010 opened with a Native American history presentation that included traditional blessings and hoop dances. Pre-convention events such as the pickleball experience led by Bonnie Blossom and Pi Hueter enticed many participants to come early to the convention. Pictured above proudly displaying the results of this year's volunteer recruitment is committee chair Lindy Louden. all photos / courtesy Pearl Racette 18 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org Seminars at Convention 2010 were very well attended. Pictured here are Candace Acton and John Hutchinson demonstrating proper self-defense moves, Cathy Atkins leading a seminar (with Vicki Para, not pictured) on geocaching and Linda Brown leading a seminar on women's health. Also pictured is the special assistant to Charis Williams, who led a seminar describing the training canine companions can utilize to become therapy dogs. Chapter support and individual volunteer hours made this year's convention a success. Special thanks go to the following chapters for their contributions: Arizona Chapter — for hosting the convention and providing the neck collars Arizona Day Trippers Chapter — for managing several pre-convention activities Solo Travelers Chapter— for providing security coverage SoCALjourners Chapter — for sponsoring the first timers' breakfast Special thanks are due also to the following chapters for their financial support: Mid-America Chapter Northeast Network Oregon Chapter Rocky Mountain Chapater Texas Ramblin' Roses Chapter www.rvingwomen.org To all of these chapter members and to all of you who volunteered at Convention 2010, thank you. RVW would not exist without women like you! Meg van Zyl RVW PR & Marketing Committee RVW | January/February 2011 | 19 RVW veterans carried the flags at the opening and closing ceremonies. Over 200 volunteers provided behind-the-scenes support at Convention 2010. The Solo Travelers Chapter provided on-site security. Pictured here are Jan Owen, Carol Waymire, Char Ank and Lyn Rogers. Several members volunteered to register attendees and provide on-site transportation. Pictured to the right are Linda James, Dee Evans, Carol Waymire, Jan Owen, Barbara Nelson and Jan Kegel. In the photo below, convention photographer Pearl Racette captured one of the many smiles seen during the week. On-site transportation was provided by train and car. Bicycling also was a popular form of transportation. Convention 2011 will be held October 12 to 16 in Goshen, Indiana. Make plans now to attend. 20 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org We all need you — to run for the RVW Board of Directors RVW needs good candidates to run for the Board of Directors. The terms of two members of the RVW Board of Directors (Constance Wray and Wendy Humphreys) will expire at the end of 2011. If you are interested in helping to ensure that RVW remains a strong, growing organization for future generations, please consider using your time and your skills as a member of the board. Step up and submit your application! To serve on the RVW Board of Directors, you must meet the following criteria: • As of Jan. 1, 2011 you have been a member of RVW two or more years; • You own or share in the use of an RV; July 1 is the deadline for submitting your application. • You have attended at least one national RVW event; and • You have been an active participant at either the national or chapter levels. Board candidates may campaign at this year's national convention, which will be held Oct. 12 to 16 in Goshen, Indiana. Board candidates will be invited to attend the meetings of the Board of Directors that will be held in Goshen immediately prior to and after the convention. Please complete the candidate application and return it by July 1, 2011 to the RVW Office, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940. For more information, contact Constance Wray, the RVW Board of Directors liaison to the Election Committee. You may reach Constance at (913) 558-0998 or constancew@rvingwomen.org and by mail at 3700 S. Westport Avenue, PMB 1614, Sioux Falls SD 57106-6360. Candidate Application for the RVW Board of Directors Name__________________________________________ RVW #_________________Chapter Affiliation(s)______________________ Address_ _______________________________________ City_______________________________ State_______Zip_______________ Phone_______________________Cell Phone______________________Email Address_ _____________________________________ • Please attach your photo (color photos are preferred). • In 100 words or less, describe your tenure with RVW, the number of years, highlights, disappointments, etc. • In 200 words or less, include your bio, highlighting experiences that would contribute to the RVW mission, which is stated below. • In 100 words or less, describe two challenges/opportunities that now face RVW and describe how you woud address those challenges/opportunities. • Complete your application and submit it no later than July 1, 2011 to the RVW Office. Email your materials, along with a photo attached as high-resolution .jpeg file, to rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org or mail to P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940. RVW Mission Statement RVing Women (RVW) is a national nonprofit 501(c)(7) corporation organized and operated exclusively for social, recreational and educational purposes. Our mission is to build a supportive network of women RVers so that any woman, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or financial status, has the opportunity to enjoy the RV lifestyle in a safe and knowledgeable manner. ver 1210 www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 21 The sy e t r cou ur o of y n is io t n e d, att e t s e u q e r e! s a e pl The RVW email address has changed. Our new email address is rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org. Please update your records. RVW in the News The Texas Ramblin' Roses Chapter made front page news in September when they gathered in Boerne, Texas at the Top of the Hill RV Resort. Reporter Bill Terry interviewed several of the 49 women who attended the rally. His story was published in The Comfort News, billed as "the only newspaper in our world that cares exclusively about the community of Comfort, Texas and has been reporting its news for over 100 years." Accompanying the article was a large photograph with a picture of the Texas Ramblin' Roses RVW flag prominently displayed by chapter members. 22 | January/February 2011 | RVW Your Letters ——————— Building on Our Dream The logo for the 2010 convention in Mesa, Arizona was a dreamcatcher superimposed over the outline of the state of Arizona. Details inside depicted mountains, a saguaro, water, desert, a Kokopelli and Native American pottery. Dreamcatchers are made with one or more hoops with a mesh design that is woven around a hole in the center and then attached to the hoop(s). Native Americans of the Great Plains have a legend that the air is filled with both good and bad dreams. According to the legend, good dreams pass through the center of the hole; bad dreams get trapped in the web and then evaporate in the light of dawn. The Arizona Chapter has worked very hard this last year building on our dream of the convention in Mesa. They certainly caught all the good dreams for all 476 RVers who registered for the convention (plus the nearly 100 daypass participants). We all had a super time, thanks to the Arizona Chapter, the Arizona Day Trippers and the many volunteers from adjacent chapters, as well as a number of women that live at The Pueblo and Superstition Mountain Resort in Apache Junction. There were 241 volunteers who signed up to helped during the convention. What wonderful dreams you all gave us! Thanks so much!— Beckey Beckey and other members of the RVW Board of Directors Flowers in the Desert There are those that would have you believe the desert Southwest is a vast, dusty, hot, dry wasteland. I found this to be untrue many years ago when I began camping in the California Anza Borrego Desert State Park and Joshua Tree National Monument. I became more familiar with the desert area around the city of Mesa, Arizona while attending the RVW national convention. Now, we all know the desert is known for its springtime bloom, but I must say the Mesa area was full of beautiful blooms the last week of October. Women from all over the USA and Canada came to the desert to celebrate the RV lifestyle. It was truly a coming together in the desert of the many RVW tribes. I even met a couple of gals from England. The female energy must have been felt all the way to Phoenix. Although this was my second convention, it was the first convention where I was able to spend time going on bus tours and attending workshops and volunteering my time so I could meet these wonderful RVing Women from around the country and Canada. What an experience! There were so many stories about lives lived and still being lived. I wish the convention could have lasted longer so I could have heard more of these stories. If you didn’t attend this convention or past conventions, I highly recommend you attend a future convention. The workshops offer lots of good information, and sometimes they are just down right fun. When you attend an RVW convention, you also visit an area of the country you might not otherwise visit, and you get to explore with informed locals. And, my favorite part, you get to meet and socialize with a diverse group of women who, yes, like to RV, but who also have a variety of interests and achievements. I have come away from this convention with a renewed commitment to keep this very important organization going strong. I must admit a little piece of my heart didn’t leave the desert with me. It’s still wandering out there with the cactus and the coyotes waiting for the next bloom.—Judy Leonard www.rvingwomen.org RV'ingWomenAd.pdf 1 7/21/10 10:57 AM TM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 23 Announcing Results of the 2010 RVW Photo Contest . . . The winning photograph in each category of the 2010 photo contest will be published on the cover of a 2011 issue of RVing Women magazine. Photographs selected as runner up and honorable mention will be published on an inside page. Photo: Maggie Birchmore Category: Landscapes and Nature Winner Di Chawner Shadows and Light Runner Up Tammy Hanson Wyoming Snow Scene Photo: Jan Secor Photo: Maggie Birchmore Photo: Jan Secor Honorable Mention Shelly Haley Bryce Canyon Photo: Nancy Rinehimer Shown on these pages are a few additional honorable mentions. Sorry, we are unable to recognize all photos entered in the 2010 contest. 24 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org Category: RVing Winner Shelly Haley Picture Perfect Outing Runner Up Tammy Hanson Seward, Alaska Honorable Mention Dianne Walker Moonshine Photo: Di Chawner Photo: Beverly Hiltachk Category: Pets Runner Up Carol Burk Navigator Honorable Mention Dianne Walker Riding in Comfort Photo: Dianne Walker www.rvingwomen.org Photo: Cathy Cable Winner Sandy Raddatz Yummy Nasturtiums Photo: Beverly Hiltachk RVW | January/February 2011 | 25 Category: Sports and Adventure Winner Judy Amstutz Story Lake Shortcut Runner Up Dianne Walker Ready. Set. Go. Honorable Mention Diane Milnor Boats at Havasu Creek Photo: Mary Ellen Appleton Photo: Maggie Birchmore Photo: Jeri McLees Photo: Cathy Cable Category: Wildlife Winner Dianne Walker Squirrel with Pinecone Runner Up Sandy Raddatz Bees Harvesting Honey Honorable Mention Diane Milnor Dragonfly Photo: Carol Burk 26 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org Photo: Judy Amstutz Category: People Winner Dianne Walker Climbing the Ladder Runner Up Diane Milnor Stone Creek Waterfall Photo: Paulette Casper Nordahl Photo: Judy Amstutz Honorable Mention Di Chawner Photographer Photo: Judy Amstutz Get your cameras ready! Information about our fifth annual RVW photo contest will be published in our March/ April issue and online at www. rvingwomen.org. Photo: Dianne Walker www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 27 Finding Florida's Forgotten Coast article and photos by Kathe McCleave Florida’s coast through the panhandle along the Gulf of Mexico covers way too much distance to be discussed in generalities. It stretches from the state line with Alabama all the way east until it nearly touches Tallahassee, Florida’s capital. There is no denying that much of this coastline models our TV-fueled expectations. Condos and stylish developments? Check. Strip malls, big box stores, fast food restaurants and traffic jams? Check. Decorative lighthouses, crowded beaches, t-shirts and shell shops? Check. How about trendy marinas with white yachts moored along Captain Somebody or Other’s latest seafood restaurant? Yes. Yes. Yes. Check. Check. Check. Been there, done that, seen it all over the country. And yet, given time enough and a little RV for poking around in, an older, slower Florida emerges along some of the county roads and byways that hug the coast or even extend out into the waters to islands and keys off the main shore. These often lead to Florida state parks, many with developed RV campsites. Two that especially capture the atmosphere of these seaside lands are Grayton Beach State Park, about halfway between Destin and Panama City Beach, and St. George Island State Park, which is near Apalachicola. Both are Gulf Coast parks, with miles of undeveloped beaches for sunning, swimming, surf fishing, bird watching or beachcombing. The first has a double ring of sites, many screened by scrub oaks and shrubbery into individual alcoves with openings to a small lagoon off the main beach. Park literature claims that Grayton “has consistently been ranked among the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the United States”—and seeing is believing. Land's End / Port Washington, Florida 28 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org St. George, on the other hand, has the distinction of being sited out in the Gulf at the end of one of the barrier islands off the mainland. It has a barren, windswept feel to its approach through the dunes, though its sites are also ringed with trees offering good privacy. Both these parks are well developed, with trails, interpretive activities and clean bath and shower facilities. St. George also has the added advantage of being across Apalachicola Bay, not far from the town of the same name. This is Florida the way traditionalists imagine it should be. Apalachicola sits on a little nub of land, part of what is called Florida’s Forgotten Coast, that curves southward after Panama City and backs up close to Tallahassee. It is land worth visiting if only to see the scenic coastline as it approaches the town from either side. From the west, an opening to the Gulf frames a view reminiscent of the rocks and craggy trees of the Pacific Northwest or New England’s coast—a totally unexpected gift tucked among miles of endless white, sandy beaches and dunes usually devoid of any rocks or trees. To the east is Eastpoint, a bluecollar kind of place filled with all things related to oysters—working boats and processing plants and piles of shells. Walk along the shore in Eastpoint and the ground crunches beneath your feet. You are not walking on sand here—you are walking on pulverized shells. Walk in old Apalachicola, however, and you’ll be charmed by the ambiance of ducking through tree tunnels along the sidewalks, among a fine mix of old store fronts, steps down to the street, antique emporiums, inviting cafes, and antebellum mansions. Several of these are on the National Register of Historic Homes, including the Raney Home, dating to 1838, and the Orman House and Chapman Gardens, from the same period, impressive enough to now be a Florida State Park. The Gibson Inn, called variously “the crown jewel of historic A palachicola” and “Apalachicola’s finest Victorian Inn,” was built in 1907 when the town was a shipping and lumber center. The inn is an example of what is now called Florida’s cracker architecture. The term references a style of wood frame buildings characterized in part by metal roofs, high ceilings and large wrap-around porches. The inn has been carefully restored and offers over 30 rooms, fine dining and banquet rooms, and a lovely bar that serves a fine, stout ale to revive the inquiring visitor. Not long after leaving Apalachicola, heading east along coastal road U.S. 98, there is a turn off the highway for St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge. I visited in October. The annual monarch butterfly migration from North America to the mountains of central Mexico was in full swing, and resting monarchs covered much of the shrubbery in the refuge. Additionally, as part of the national preservation effort, this year’s whooping crane chicks had already left the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and were following ultra lights south in order to learn migration routes and destinations, one of which is St. Mark’s. This is a long and difficult journey, with many stopovers, especially dependent on flying conditions, and the birds weren’t expected until sometime later continued on page 30 Coastline West of Apalachicola The world's largest selection of books, DVDs and eBooks about RVs and the RV lifestyle. St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 29 Oyster Boats near Eastpoint, Florida St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge in the year. Still the journey was being tracked and whooping crane updates were being issued for visitors and friends. In addition to these uncommon enticements, the refuge is known for its trails and bird watching opportunities. The visitor’s center maintains a list of unusual birds that have been seen, with time and location noted. The center offers interpretive information, exhibits, maps and trail guides. This is a good place to start any visit. At the end of the park road stands the St. Mark’s lighthouse, dating back to the early 1800s when the town of St. Mark’s was an important port of entry for U.S. commerce. Nearby lagoons and marshes are merely stages for preening and posing and posturing birds of every description. It is only about ten miles back up to the highway, but there is a whole other world in that ten miles. You will come away from this coastal experience understanding why this area— and Apalachicola in particular—has been designated as one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations.” If it was up to me, I would leave this piece of coast “forgotten” so it can stay that way. Kathe McCleave is a photojournalist. She makes her home in Wisconsin for those few months of the year that she is not traveling in her RV. This is the second in a series on Florida's rich coastal areas. St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge 30 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org Your all inclusive membership covers your RV and all other personal vehicles. 24/7 Unlimited Roadside Assistance Concierge Services – A Personal Assistant on the Road • • • • • • • • • TOWING FLAT TIRE ASSISTANCE EMERGENCY FLUIDS DELIVERY RV TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESTAURANT REFERRALS & RESERVATIONS RV CAMPGROUND REFERRAL & RESERVATIONS BUSINESS LOCATOR SERVICES THEATRE, MUSIC OR SPORTING EVENT TICKETS RESEARCH REQUESTS CALL TODAY! • 877-250-6732 or visit www.coach-net.com RVWMN1210 www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 31 Chapter News Cascadia Chapter Castle Rock, Washington October 15-17: Our last rally of the 2010 season took place at the Toutle River RV Resort, a nearly new resort nestled just west of I-5 between the highway and the railroad tracks. Given the location, it is a bit noisy but is such a beautiful park that the noise is quickly forgotten. The weather was perfect on Saturday, cool and sunny. It was a bit foggy at night. Friday and Sunday were overcast. Thursday night it rained. We were able to sit by the fire on both Friday and Saturday nights with coats. The resort delivered free firewood. There were 18 to 20 rigs at the rally and about 30 people, plus a couple of day trippers who stopped in on Saturday. We didn’t have event captains, but thanks to Christine and the amenities of the park, we had a great time anyway. The park has an excellent play area partially under cover. Activities available included Bigfoot croquet (with balls almost as big as volleyballs), volleyball, basketball and badminton. The park is near the Toutle River, so there were also opportunities for fishing and hiking. We had the use of a large clubhouse with a great kitchen and a huge patio with picnic tables. The park also has a pool and hot tub, as well as saunas. We held our general meeting of the Cascadia Chapter on Saturday morning. The primary discussion revolved around what to do about no shows—people who register for the rally, then don’t show up. At this rally, we had four no shows; in Westport, we had seven. This gets us in trouble with the parks that hold spaces for us. Overall, it was agreed that people who don’t show up should pay for one night at least. photo: Jan Secor 32 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org We also elected officers for next year. Cheryl Edman has been president elect. She will take over as president for 2011, complete with blond jokes. President elect for 2011 will be Diane Milnor; treasurer, Suzanne Larson; secretary/registrar, Elaine Ploegstra; and activities coordinator, Lana Weed. Christine Taylor will take over the website. With this illustrious group leading us it should be another great year. We had great potluck dinners Friday and Saturday evenings, followed by games. On Saturday, Diane Milnor treated us to a PowerPoint presentation of portraits she has taken of us and our pets all summer. She also showed us pictures of her trip this summer down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and of a trip she took several years ago to New Zealand. Sunday morning, Christine and Leanne treated us to a pancake breakfast. We christened Jean Hart’s new rig before saying our farewells. Jean and several others took off from the campground to drive to the national convention in Mesa, Arizona. Other Cascadia Chapter members will fly down to join them. As usual, we will have a good representation at the convention.—Jan Secor Florida Chapter St. Augustine, Florida October 18 to 22: As a primary tourist destination, St. Augustine provided an entertaining venue for the Florida Chapter October rally. The event was planned by hosts Arlene Dawson and Alice Stremick to offer the group a reduced week-day camping fee at the North Beach Resort, a full-service park with both ocean and river access. As anticipated, we enjoyed the cooler sunny days and clear moonlit nights of October in northern Florida. Many of the 28 attendees extended their stay to the weekend. Our initial gathering was a happy hour on Monday afternoon. The local touring trolley company offered a shuttle van service to the campground and a very reasonably priced three-day pass on the trolley, www.rvingwomen.org providing convenient access to the many museums, restaurants and shops in the area. It became a common sight to see some of our hearty members eagerly meeting the van each morning and recounting their adventures while soaking sore feet and muscles in the hot tub each evening—and they still reported not seeing it all. It was commonly agreed that the chapter should schedule a return to the area soon. As has become a tradition, we came together as a group for a meal on the last evening of the rally. Aunt Kate’s Restaurant, adjoining the campground on the river side, accommodated us efficiently and delectably. After dinner, many gathered to watch one last sunset on yet another successful Florida Chapter rally.—Arlene Dawson Florida Chapter Mims, Florida November 4 to 7: Our annual election rally was well attended, as always. We also were pleased to see several new members. To give us a break from cooking, rally leaders Lou Bee and Ally Bowers arranged for a delicious catered lasagna dinner prepared by two members of a fellow RVW chapter. Although a scheduled space launch at Cape Canaveral did not go off as planned, the group had a wonderful time anyway. Elections were held on Saturday afternoon after a root beer float event sponsored by the outgoing board. We also decided at our annual meeting to use some of the money in our treasury to sponsor four holiday gifts through the U.S.O. to women service members. Last year our chapter donated money towards a guide dog at the Southeastern Guide Dogs. A letter was read from one of the grateful recipients of a guide dog. We enjoyed dining together at the Dixie Crossroads as well as playing games on Saturday afternoon. After a catered breakfast on Sunday morning, we all headed off looking forward to our December rally in central Florida.—Arlene Dawson continued on page 34 It's Time to Update! The email address for RVW has changed. Our new email address is rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org. Please update your records. The previous email address will be operational for only a limited time while we make this transition. The new email address for RVing Women is rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org. Photo: Ann Standeven RVW | January/February 2011 | 33 CHAPTER NEWS | FreeWheelers Chapter Olema, California October 1 to 2: Our group got a slow start on Thursday, so we decided to forgo the eager beaver snacks and campfire since lots of us were arriving late and tired from the drive. Things picked up on Friday. We had a meet and greet followed by a bonfire. Saturday began early with a potluck breakfast. After that, many of us went on side trips to Point Reyes Seashore to see the elk, do some biking or hiking, or stop in at the visitors’ center. Others went into Point Reyes Station to browse the world famous farmers’ market and the many little shops. Our Saturday potluck dinner was followed by a campfire. This is the perfect time of year to enjoy a campfire every night! Sunday, we had our traditional clear-the-fridge breakfast and, of course, each day there were root beer floats at 3 p.m. at Beverly’s rig. As always, everyone had a terrific time.—Connie Mart FreeWheelers Chapter Bethel Island, California November 13 to 14: As always seems to be the case, our annual meeting outing at Sugar Barge RV Park was blessed with sunny days and cool nights and a full house. We were joined by 72 FreeWheelers arriving in 49 rigs. The fun began early this year with over half of the attendees arriving Thursday. Unfortunately, the internet ate the emails sent to attendees with their space assignments, so no one knew where they were supposed to be. However, in true FreeWheelers style, people just jumped in and figured out how to help. A big thank you to Cheryll Clark who got a list from the office and got people to their assigned spaces. At the meet and greet sponsored by the FreeWheelers advisory board, we learned a little more about our newest member, the FreeWheeler Hitchhiker. Afterwards, we all headed back for barbecues, campfires and friendship. Saturday morning, we convened for breakfast and then held our annual meeting, introduced new officers and said goodbye to outgoing board members. We had some great fun with a flashcard routine put on by Cheryll Clarke and Christy Stevens. Saturday afternoon, we had our craft and collectible show and sale. We saw some terrific crafts and did some shopping. The sale gave people a chance to clean out their rigs of useful treasures. The finale of the day was a wonderful potluck. We decided to start a new tradition at this year’s potluck by inviting our beloved Joel Harp to have dinner with us. He and Rachel attended and we had a great time. We hope this becomes an annual tradition going forward. We finished up the evening with a disco lounge and karaoke club event where folks danced and sang to music provided by Arleen, our love and peace emcee. There were many great disco and hippie costumes—even a great 50s outfit sported by our own Connie DeCoud. The winner of the costume prize (by audience acclaim) was Kathy Nellis. We had a last potluck before bidding our farewells on Sunday morning.—Arleen Huffman continued on page 36 A root beer float party sponspored by the outgoing Florida Chapter advisory board preceded the chapter's annual meeting held in November. Shown here are Connie Anderson and Mary Anne Laviano. / photo: Dot Raab 34 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org Christine and Leanne treated Cascadia Chapter members to a Sunday morning pancake breakfast at the chapter's October rally. / photo: Jan Secor Introducing our NEW IMPROVED Solar Panels and Complete Systems ! They are More Efficient and Specifically Tuned for RVs !! Go to www.amsolar.com and Check ‘em out !!! Our Customers say it best: “The folks we sent to you were very pleased with the way they were treated by you. It is so nice knowing that the quality of your work and your business ethics are something I can recommend without reservation.” RV-150 RV-100 Dana K. RV-50 3555 Marcola Road Springfield, Oregon 97477 www.amsolar.com www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 35 CHAPTER NEWS | Mid-America Chapter Eureka Springs, Arkansas October 14 to 17: Forty-six RVW members gathered at Wanderlust RV Park, nestled high in the Ozark Mountains, to enjoy a weekend of craft fairs, shopping in downtown Eureka Springs, touring the area, or gazing at the natural beauty of the Ozarks. The Fall War Eagle Mill Antique Craft Show attracted some who dared to tackle the crowd and give in to, or resist, shopping temptations. Others took advantage of the trolley that stopped at the campground and transported them to various sites around the town. And then, of course, there was the winery! Everyone took advantage of the breathtaking views of the hills and sunsets. Officers for 2011 were elected at our business meeting and our new chapter website was introduced. Barbara Schneider presented a slide show of the RVW national chapter survey results. Thanks to Nicki Bonner for hosting the rally and arranging beautiful weather!—Barbara Schneider Oregon Chapter Salem, Oregon September 17 to 19: A small contingent of Oregon RVing Women had planned to dry camp in Mrs. Hoffer’s field so we could attend the Mount Angel Oktoberfest the weekend of September 17. Well, things did not go as planned. As the weekend drew near, the weather report turned to rain. We eventually decided that we were not looking forward to the thought of camping with our four-footed friends in a muddy field. Thoughts of getting stuck in the ruts that would develop in heavy rain made us give serious thought to an alternative plan. Such a plan developed quickly, and we found a real RV park about 12 miles from Mount Angel—no more thoughts of contending with mud. The added advantage of having electricity, running water, a place to dump and the bonus of using the clubhouse to watch the University of Oregon football game on TV made everyone happy. We went with the alternative. On Friday evening, we met at the clubhouse for snacks and a special treat of root beer floats so we could plan the next day’s trip to the festival. Planning done, we spent the evening playing the card game, 9 Square. On Saturday, we drove to the festival where we visited various booths and a car show. There were several flashy hot rods and a few muscle cars; however, our favorite was a Rolls Royce being shown by a true Scotsman. It was a beautiful, elegant car with a highly polished wood interior. We then returned to main area of the festival to listen to music and watch the glockenspiel. We also walked to the local Catholic Church to listen to a concert by the Alpenhorns—and get out of the rain. Other festival events included polka music, dancing, children dancing around the maypole, beer and wine gardens and lots of food stands, both German and non-German. We settled on a traditional German meal of wienerschnitzel. The rain didn't let up and kept getting heavier, so we returned to the RV Park, reassembled in the clubhouse and watched the University of Oregon trounce Portland State. We played more games later that evening. TAMMY HALEY TAMMY HANSON Your destination gurus. 2011 TOURS CARAVANS Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, AL April 13-20 Outer Banks, NC – June 2-9 RALLIES Door County, WI – September 14-19 317-250-4222 • 317-250-4203 www.tntrvtours.com tamtam4@indy.net 935 Texarkana Drive • Indianapolis, IN 46231 specializing in rv tours for women 36 | January/February 2011 | RVW Several MidAmerica Chapter members took advantage of the trolley that stopped at Wanderlust RV Park and took them to various sites around Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where they gathered for an October rally. / photo: Barbara Schneider www.rvingwomen.org | CHAPTER NEWS Texas Ramblin' Roses know that Janice Lee Ives never does anything half way. Here she demonstrates characteristic enthusiasm as she christens a new travel trailer belonging to Cecile Gault. / photo: Linda Krajewski We went to a local restaurant for Sunday breakfast, after which we said our goodbyes.—Marilyn Nichols Texas Ramblin’ Roses Chapter Alpine, Texas October 21 to 24: We had a roaring good time at the Lost Alaskan RV Park in Alpine. Different groups of Roses went to see the Marfa lights, check out the Big Bend Museum, or visit the McDonald Observatory and other local spots. Some even traveled to Big Bend National Park. As usual, we ate lots of food and played games. Some of us worked a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle. From Alpine, eight rigs traveled on to the national convention in Mesa, Arizona.—Judy Wisdom and Page Graves RV Park north of Waco. The rally hosts were Janice Lee Ives, Scottie Scott and Sharon Barfield. In attendance were 55 women with their 39 rigs. Beautiful late autumn weather greeted the Roses’ arrival. Shirtsleeves were the order of the day as we began our gathering on Thursday. Our hosts had planned for a full weekend of interesting activities. On Friday morning, Carol Burk, our own professional photographer, held a session instructing and introducing about 20 participants to a computer program called M yPublisher. She helped us to download the program off the internet (for free) and showed us how easily a printed, published photo book can be produced. We may have a follow-up session at an upcoming rally with digital books that members made of their travels. Sounds like another show and tell time! Our Friday evening meal was our oh-so-favorite soup and salad potluck. The tables were lined up with Crock Pots and most every kind of soup imaginable—everything from spicy to easy-on-the-palate and vegetarian to very chocked-full-of-meat. There were numerous salads, too. Almost no leftovers went to the rigs. On Saturday morning, former school teacher Sharon Barfield had the tables of the rally room covered with brightly colored paper and all the supplies for making homemade Christmas cards. Using the covers of used Christmas cards, her students decorated, lettered and glittered. Sharon made the rounds, validating the self-esteem of her busy artists. The cards were then judged for creativity by a panel of highly skilled and unbiased women. The stack of cards were hand-delivered along with sacks and sacks of groceries, towels and clothes to the Waco Family Abuse Center. This was the second year that the Roses collected among our chapter to help make Christmas a little brighter for women and children in need. continued on page 38 Texas Ramblin’ Roses Chapter Elm Mott, Texas December 2 to 5: The Texas R amblin’ Roses held their annual meeting and election of new officers at an early December rally at the I-35 www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 37 CHAPTER NEWS | At the Texas Ramblin' Roses December rally, outgoing president Janice Lee Ives was presented with a plaque suitable for a proud Texas resident. / photo: Linda Krajewski On Saturday afternoon, the Roses continued our new tradition of christening new rigs. President Janice Ives used a yellow water-filled balloon to christen the new rigs belonging to P.J. Immel, Joyce Pierce, Franki Whitbeck and Cecile Gault. I can never tell who enjoys it more—the owner of the rig or Janice. The rig owner keeps the balloon for good luck. Saturday evening brought the autumn weather to an end as a cold front pushed through and threatened an overnight freeze. We gathered in the rally room for happy hour followed by a brisket dinner provided by our hosts. The Roses brought a variety of side dishes, and once again the dishes were emptied. Janice Lee Ives, our chapter president, called to order our annual meeting. Linda Krajewski, chapter secretary, read the minutes from the 2009 annual meeting and the financial report, which indicated that we are in the black. This was an election year, and the officers nomi- nated were all elected. The officers for 2011/2102 are Pat Bowen, President; Vicki Blake, Vice-President; Sharon Barfield, Secretary; and Dede Wells, Treasurer. Following the election, the Roses presented our outgoing (and she is really funny, too) president with a plaque to show our appreciation for her two years of service to the chapter and for serving as liaison to the 2009 RVW national convention. The seriousness of the annual meeting was followed by a hilarious white elephant gift exchange with gag gifts, useful RV accessories and the ever-popular re-gifted gift being drawn for and sometimes stolen. Lori Sherwood laid down the rules in advance, but that didn’t keep the Roses from trying to break them. You never know what you might or might not end up with at a Texas Ramblin’ Roses party.—Linda Krajewski Industry Leader in RV Ventilation & Fans Serving the RV Industry for Over 25 years! ■ Exchange cabin air in minutes with clean, fresh, natural air ■ Highest quality components proven to withstand harsh weather ■ Maximum air exchange with minimum sound levels & power Signature Products, Signature Service BRINGS THE OUTSIDE ■ Fully Open Dome Stability While Driving ■ Upgrade Kits Easily Add: - Reverse Air Flow Switch - Built-In Thermostat - Pop ‘N Lock Screen - Variable Speed Control - Hand Held Remote ■ Expert Technical Support MADE IN USA 800.521.0298 38 | January/February 2011 | RVW ■ Trusted and Installed by more OEM’s ... INSTANTLY. ® www.fantasticvent.com ww.rvingwomen.org www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 39 Rachel’s Ramblings Getting Charged Up When I teach classes on batteries, it appears to be a very confusing discussion. Since most of us don’t deal with batteries on a daily basis, it is hard to remember what should be done, when it should be done, and how often it should be done. In this article, I am going to talk about what I have used as a guide for maintaining my RV coach batteries. Stay safe. Before you do anything involving batteries, be sure the engine and all accessories are turned off. Almost all RVs have a 12-volt battery system. Since items like lights, pumps, switches, slides, jacks and control boards on appliances run off 12-volt power, you need to make sure that the batteries are in good condition. Because these items run off 12-volt power, so you can still use your RV without running the generator when you dry camp (boondock). That is assuming, of course, that your 12-volt batteries are charged. There may be a time you need to stay overnight without hookups due to weather, travel conditions or simply because you can’t drive anymore for the day. The last thing you want to deal with is a dead battery when you pull into a spot late at night—although you probably are not traveling at night! So that you get the most out of the batteries that you have without experiencing these surprises, you should check your battery before each trip and before you store the RV. Before you decide what you need to do to maintain your batteries, you need to find out what type of batteries you have. There are “wet” or lead acid batteries that require you to check the water level in them; and there are sealed batteries. The most common sealed batteries are called gel cell or AGM batteries. These battery types do not require you to fill them, and they have fewer problems with corrosion. However, they are more expensive. Because of that, most RVs have wet or lead acid batteries. I will be primarily talking about the lead acid battery in this article, because it is the most common and it is the type I have. About a week before I am going to depart on my trip, I do a battery check. Before you do this (or before you do anything involving batteries) always be sure the engine and all accessories are off. After you have done this safety check, then disconnect the negative terminal of the battery and perform the following steps. 1. When checking batteries, always wear safety goggles, remove all your jewelry—you don’t want the metal to touch anything it shouldn’t—and wear gloves. It is also recommended that you wear a work apron or make sure you are wearing clothes that are okay to damage. If you have a wet battery—the type that has to been checked for water level— you are dealing with sulfuric acid. Be careful! Also, keep flames away from the battery. There are several options available for filling batteries. You can use a device that looks like a turkey baster but is made for batteries. The problem with this option is that you better have plenty of clearance above the batteries to fit the water in. Some compartments for batteries are unbelievable. You can’t even see the batteries let alone check them. When you are using this filler make sure that you fill to approximately 1/8-inch below the bottom of the fill well. There is also another filling device that can be purchased from a local automotive store that looks like a small gas can. When you put it into the cell, it will stop when the battery cell is filled. My favorite filling tool is called the Qwik-Fill made by Pro-Fill. It is a system that stays on the battery permanently. It has a bulb and hose connection and caps that permanently mount on the cells of the battery. The unit has a quick connect to the tubing. When you are ready to fill the batteries, you drop the water line from the kit into a gallon of distilled water and squeeze the bulb. When the battery is full, the bulb no longer pumps. You never have to remove caps off the battery, never have to check the individual cells, and this device automatically keeps you from overfilling the batteries. The only problem with this unit is that you will need to have one to two inches of clearance above the batteries to mount the unit. All the cells in your battery need to be checked for water level. Make sure that the caps are securely back in place after you have watered the cells. If you have a 12-volt battery, you will have six cells to check; if you have a 6-volt battery, you will have three cells to check. One final thought—never add acid to the cells, add only distilled water. There are products out there that claim you should add additional acid for better performance, but do not. 40 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org | ON THE ROAD by Rachel Harp Know your batteries! I cannot tell you how many times I have been told that the customer thought their batteries were sealed and they would never have to check them. Nine times out of ten, the batteries were not sealed—and by the time we saw them, they usually were dry. 2. Make sure the water level in the batteries is at the correct level. Overfilling a battery can cause sulfation and corrosion due to boiling of the batteries, so do not overfill! [If you have a sealed battery, you can skip this step; if you don't have a sealed battery, pay attention—and also take time to read the additional information included in the box on the previous page.] 3. Check to make sure that all connections on the battery are tight. There are usually wing nuts on the terminals for the wiring to the RV; you want to make sure they are tight and clean. Do not use soda pop to clean the terminals. Believe it or not that was used in the past quite often. What a mess! You can purchase a battery cleaner/protector for the terminals or you can use a solution of baking soda and water. An advantage of the protector is that it helps to reduce corrosion. 4. Check to see that the battery compartment is in good condition and the battery hold down bracket is tight. Use some white lithium grease as a lubricant if needed. Make sure the battery tray is in good shape. Corrosion from the battery can cause the tray to become damaged. 5. Now that the battery is ready, make sure it has had a good charge before departing on a trip. There are a few good ways to charge a battery. I use a 10-amp battery charger that has a timer on it. This charger has a setting www.rvingwomen.org for 6-volt or 12-volt and can be set up (using the manufacturers directions) so that you can come back later to check on it. If you have an upgraded converter with a charger in it, you could use your converter to charge your batteries. You can also charge your batteries with some new products out there that can be left hooked up to the battery while the RV is plugged into 120volt (shore power) electricity. One of these units is called the Battery-Tender. These take a little longer, but they do a good job. Solar and wind power can also be used to charge your 12-volt batteries. I will be discussing these in another article. Don’t depend on a generator or standard converter to charge your battery. These standard units provide only a trickle charge. If your battery has been discharged too far, they will not bring them back to full capacity. Most people have been told that they will do the job, but over time your battery capacity gets reduced. If you do these steps on a regular basis or each time you get ready to go on the road, your deep cycle battery should last three to five years, maybe even longer. It is worth your investment of time. Always put a charge on the battery when it is put in storage. If you have any questions about charging, filling or caring for a battery, drop me a line at rachelharp@hotmail. Happy RVing.... Rachel Harp has led several classes and workshops at RVW rallies and conventions. If there are topics you would like her to discuss in this m agazine, please let her know by sending an email to rachelharp@hotmail.com. RVW | January/February 2011 | 41 JANUARY 2011 8 13–16 14–17 18–24 Covington, Indiana Orlando, Florida Newport Beach, California Quartzsite, Arizona Ohio River Valley Chapter Florida Chapter SoCALjourners Chapter Arizona Chapter FEBRUARY 2011 3–6 10–13 18–21 18–20 24–27 Cisco Grove, California Lake City, Florida Sonoran Desert, Arizona San Marcos, Texas Sage, California FreeWheelers Chapter Florida Chapter Arizona Chapter Texas Ramblin' Roses Chapter SoCALjourners Chapter MARCH 2011 11–13 16–21 17–19 18–20 18–20 24–27 25–27 26 Red Bluff, California Laughlin, Nevada Bushnell, Florida Sutherlin, Oregon Aguanga, California Palestine, Texas Sequim, Washington Bordentown, New Jersey FreeWheelers Chapter Arizona Chapter Florida Chapter Oregon Chapter SoCALjourners Chapter Texas Ramblin' Roses Chapter Cascadia Chapter MidAtlantic Chapter APRIL 2011 2–5 Indianapolis, Indiana 8–10 Bandon, Oregon 11–15 Drumright, Oklahoma 14–17 Ocala, Florida 15–17 Ione, California 16–17 Drumright, Oklahoma 28–May 1 Jackson, California 28–May 1 Archbold, Ohio 28–May 3 Banning, California 29–May 1 Ferndale, Washington 29–May 1 Platte City, Missouri 29–May 1 Lancaster, Pennsylvania RVW National Event Oregon Chapter RVW RV Maintenance Boot Camp Florida Chapter FreeWheelers Chapter RVW National Driving School FreeWheelers Chapter Ohio River Valley Chapter Great Lakers Chapter SoCALjourners Chapter Cascadia Chapter Mid-America Chapter MidAtlantic Chapter MAY 2011 6–9 6–8 6–8 12–15 13–15 13–15 16–24 19–22 20–22 27–30 Holland, Michigan Halstead, Kansas Luray, Virginia Murrells Inlet, Georgia Canyonville, Oregon Aransas Pass, Texas Florida Keys, Florida Frankfort, Kentucky Kirkwood, Illinois Mossyrock, Washington 42 | January/February 2011 | RVW Great Lakers Chapter Mid-America Chapter MidAtlantic Chapter MidAtlantic Chapter Southern Belles Oregon Chapter Texas Ramblin' Roses Chapter Florida Chapter Ohio River Valley Chapter Lyte Hearts Chapter Cascadia Chapter www.rvingwomen.org JUNE 2011 1–5 2–5 3–5 3-5 10–12 17–19 17–19 Sedalia, Missouri Corning, California Toppenish, Washington Lancaster, Pennsylvania Elkton, Oregon Lindell Beach, British Columbia Galena, Illinois Mid-America Chapter FreeWheelers Chapter National RVW Event MidAtlantic Chapter Oregon Chapter Cascadia Chapter Ohio River Valley Chapter JULY 2011 8–10 14–17 15–17 16–Sep 1 21–24 22–24 TBA Lincoln City, Oregon Mackinaw City, Michigan Egg Harbor, New Jersey Heart of Alaska Tour New Paris, Ohio Olympia, Washington Cisco Grove, California Oregon Chapter Great Lakers Chapter MidAtlantic Chapter Fantasy RV Tours Ohio River Valley Chapter Cascadia Chapter FreeWheelers Chapter AUGUST 2011 4–7 Ouray, Colorado Rocky Mountain Chaapter 4–8 Graeagle, California FreeWheelers Chapter 12–14 Blue River, Oregon Oregon Chapter 19–21 Chesterton, Indiana Great Lakers Chapter Ohio River Valley Chapter 22–26 Brownsville, Oregon National RVW RV Maintenance Boot Camp 26–28 Tokeland, Washington Cascadia Chapter TBA Branson, Missouri Mid-America Chapter Annette Montoya TBA Urbanna, Virginia MidAtlantic Chapter SEPTEMBER 2011 9–11 9–11 14–18 15–18 23–25 Cedar Springs, Michigan Lakeside, Oregon Lakeland, Florida Springfield, Illinois Leavenworth, Washington Great Lakers Chapter Oregon Chapter Florida Chapter Mid-America Chapter Cascadia Chapter OCTOBER 2011 6–9 7–9 12–16 21–23 Red Bluff, California Brookings, Oregon Goshen, Indiana Castle Rock, Washington FreeWheelers Chapter Oregon Chapter RVW National Convention Cascadia Chapter NOVEMBER 2011 10–13 11–13 Titusville, Florida Lancaster, Pennsylvania Florida Chapter MidAtlantic Chapter APRIL 2012 7–May 27 Australia and New Zealand by RV Fantasy RV Tours See page 50 for contact information and descriptions of these events. www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 43 Registration Form for RVW National Events Use this form or go to www.rvingwomen.org to register online for national RVW events. Please make a copy for your files. Fill in the information and mail this form to RVW, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117 or fax to (480) 671-6230 with credit card information. Include all fees that are payable to RVing Women. Please make a separate copy of this form if you wish to sign up for more than one event. EVENT NAME: _____________________________________________ Registation Fee $_______ per person TOTAL $ ____________ Non-Member Fee $_______ per person TOTAL $ ____________ Campground Fee TOTAL $ ____________ $_______ (if applicable) TOTAL FEES $ ____________ Check the event description to verify amount due for registration fees. q Check or M/O enclosed (payable to RVW) q Charge to my credit card (VISA / MasterCard) Card Number_________________________________________________ Expiraton Date ____________________ V Code*___________________ Signature ____________________________________________________ *3-digit number on the back of the card near the signature area Waiver and Release: In consideration of the acceptance of my registration request and/or participation in the event noted here (including optional side trips) operated by or under the control of RVing Women, and knowng that there are risks in any form of travel, I assume all risks attendant thereto and hereby waive, release, and forever discharge RVing Women, and any of its officers, employees, agents, successors and assigns, from any and all claims or actions of any kind for personal injuries and/or property damage which I may cause or sustain during the event or during travel to and from the event. I agree to pay any and all costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees, that may be incurred by the above entities as a result of any such claim by me or my agents. I hereby acknowledge that I have sole responsibility for my personal safety, possessions, equipment and vehicles during this event and its related activities. This waiver and release is to be controlled by Arizona law. In addition, by attending this event, I irrevocably and unconditionally consent to being photographed and recorded, including being viodeotaped, and to having my voice, likeness, identification and actions used in any and all media without restriction. Recording and use will be made in reliance on the consent evidenced by my attendance at this event. If for any reason I do not consent as herein provided, I am responsible for notifying the photographers and/or video recorders. Signature ____________________________ Date ______________ Signature ____________________________ Date ______________ NAME OF ATTENDEE _____________________________________________________ MEMBER NO __________________________________ NAME OF ATTENDEE _____________________________________________________ MEMBER NO __________________________________ RV TYPE: MH Bringing a tow car? TRL 5W Yes_______ VAN CPR No_______ TNT LENGTH ___________ # SLIDES Can it be used to carpool? Yes_______ q Check here if you do not need a campsite. q ADA accommodations required COMMENTS: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EMERGENCY CONTACTS Name ______________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________________________________ Name ______________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________________________________ CONFIRMATION (Confirmations are emailed unless you request otherwise.) EMAIL ______________________________________________PHONE _________________________ CELL PHONE _______________________ ADDRESS _________________________________________CITY ____________________________STATE/PROV _______ ZIP ______________ TERMS AND CANCELLATIONS: RVW has a very reasonable cancellation policy, but there are some rules to follow. If you have signed up for an activity and must cancel, please call the event leader as soon as possible so the appropriate parties can be notified, then follow up with a letter or email message to the RVW office to confirm your cancellation. (Note: tour provider, campground, instructor and caterer/restaurant refund policies vary. We may not be able to refund these fees. Often, because of minimum guarantees, these providers must be paid regardless of your participation.) You must notify the RVW office and request a refund prior to the event. No shows are non-refundable. All fees are payable in U.S. funds. Unless otherwise stated, registration fees are fully refundable (minus a $5 fee) when cancellation is received by the RVW office 14 days or more before the event start date. Cancellations received between 9 and 13 days prior to the event will be charged a 25% cancellation fee. Sorry, there is no refund if you cancel 8 days or less before the event. Please remember, RVW activities are for adult women only, ages 18 and older. 44 | January/February 2011 | RVW ver 0609 www.rvingwomen.org | RVW NATIONAL EVENTS What are these women doing? And why are these women smiling? To find out, make plans now to attend the next RVW RV Driving School The next RV Driving School sponsored by RVW will be held April 16 to 17 in Drumright, Oklahoma. See the following page for details, then go to page 44 to register. Class size is limited to a maximum of 14 rigs and drivers. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Pictured above are RVW Board of Directors members Constance Wray and Nancy Shoop and graduates of the RV Driving School held last October in Tucson, Arizona. www.rvingwomen.org Women's Basketball NCAA Final 4 INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA April 2 to 5, 2011 Registration deadline: January 1, 2011 Who will be the number 1 team in America in 2011? It could be Tennessee, LSU, Notre Dame or Purdue—or your hometown team. Whoever it is, you want to be right there in the middle of the action with other RVing Women to enjoy this great NCAA Women’s Basketball Final 4. Our four-day rally will be held in Danville, Indiana, just 30 minutes west of downtown Indianapolis, at the Danville 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex. We will have the main boulevard through the middle of the grounds lined up with our rigs. All sites will have full amenities. The conference room will be the site for our group activities and big party on Saturday night. The following is our tentative agenda. Saturday: Arrival and NCAA party on grounds. Sunday: Two sectional games held at Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the Indianapolis Colts. Monday: Visits to NCAA Hall of Champions, Bracket Town (interactive activities, exhibitions, autograph sessions) and NCAA store, Battle of the Bands, concerts and more. Tuesday: Championship Game. Rig decorating contest awards and NCAA Spirit Awards. Rally leaders: Tammy Hanson and Tammy Haley. For information call (317) 250-4222 or email tamtam4@indy.net. Camping fees: All campsites have water, sewer and electric for $20/night, payable in cash or check only to the campground upon arrival. Directions to the Danville 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex can be found at www.4hcomplex.org. You do not need to make reservations with the campground; we are holding spots for you. Motel options: The nearest motels are approximately 15 minutes to the east in Avon, Indiana. A Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott has just opened and is beautiful. Quoted rates for this time period range from $99 to $129 per night. For information, call (317) 271-9200 or go to w ww.marriott. com/indav. A Super 8 is currently under renovation to become a Comfort Inn. Rates are $89 per night and up. For information, call (317) 272-8789 or go to www.super8.com. Registration fee: The fee for this event is $60 for RVW members. Include your RVW membership number on your registration form. The fee for non-members is $80. NCAA ticket fees: You will need to send a $175 cashier’s check/money order payable to Tammy Haley by J anuary 1, 2011. Mail to: Tammy Haley, 935 Texarkana Drive, Indianapolis IN 46231. How to register: Register at www.rvingwomen.org or use the registration form on page 44. Mail or fax this form with payment of the registration fee to RVW, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940. Fax to (480) 671-6230 with credit card payment. The registration deadline is J anuary 1, 2011. RVW | January/February 2011 | 45 RVW NATIONAL EVENTS | RV Maintenance Boot Camp DRUMRIGHT, OKLAHOMA April 11–15, 2011 RVW is again sponsoring a oneweek maintenance and RV fulltiming boot camp for owners of recreational vehicles who want to learn more about the vehicle safety and maintenance issues that affect their RV experiences. This camp is for the experienced woman RVer, as well as the woman just starting to RV. What you will learn: Instruction will include selecting the right RV for you, the pros and cons of full-time RVing and the special needs you must consider if you live on the road—how to handle mail, towing and hitches, weight distribution and insurance. Classroom instruction will also include maintenance of electrical systems, batteries, plumbing, appliances, generators, hydraulics, slides and RV exterior care. Propane safety and theory of handling propane in a safe manner will also be discussed. Where: Instruction will be provided from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Central Tech Transportation and Safety Education Division of Central Technology Center located in Drumright, Oklahoma, 45 miles west of Tulsa. Central Technology Center serves over 2,000 adults and 700 high school students each year. Class size: To keep instruction individualized and allow for skill training exercises, enrollment in this five-day program will be limited to a maximum of 20 students. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Instructor: Jim Potter. Jim has a masters degree in safety education and has been an RVer for many years. He is now retired and is full-time RVing. Rally leader: Larry Ann Holley. Larry Ann is a retired assistant superintendent of the C entral Technology Center. She supervised programs offering business education and industry-specialized classes for adults. Camping: Boondocking on campus will be available. Registration fee: For RVW members, the fee for this fiveday program is $400 per student plus $50 for the textbook (available on CD or print). Include your RVW membership number on your registration form. The fee for non-members is $450 per student plus $50 for the textbook. Please register early as class size is limited. How to register: Use the registration form on page 44 or go to www.rvingwomen.org to download a registration form. Mail or fax this form with payment of the registration fee to RVW, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940. Fax to (480) 671-6230 with credit card payment. Please register early. Enrollment in this five-day program is limited to a maximum of 20 students. 46 | January/February 2011 | RVW RV Driving School DRUMRIGHT, OKLAHOMA April 16 to 17, 2011 RVW is again sponsoring a twoday driving school for new owners of recreational vehicles and those who wish to renew their driving skills. What you will learn: Working with certified instructors and using a state-of-the-art three-mile driving range, you will practice backing and other skills maneuvers and learn how to use your mirrors effectively. Classroom instruction will augment the hands-on driver training you receive. Instruction will also include pre-trip vehicle inspection, space and speed management, map reading, trip planning and tips to avoid driver fatigue. Each s tudent must provide her own RV. All types of RVs are welcome, including travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class A, B or C motorhomes, conversion vans and truck c ampers. Where: Instruction will be provided from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Central Tech Transportation and Safety Education Division of Central Technology Center, a nationally accredited driving school located 45 miles west of Tulsa. The Technology Center is a multi-campus facility serving over 2,000 adult students each year. The paved driving range includes traffic signals, railroad crossings and skill practice areas. Class size: To keep instruction individualized, enrollment in this two-day class will be limited to a maximum of 14 rigs and drivers. Registration is on a first-come, firstserved basis. Rally leader: Larry Ann Holley. Larry Ann formerly served as the assistant superintendent of the T echnology Center Vocational School and supervised the truck driver training program. Camping: Boondocking on the campus will be available. Registration fee: The fee for this two-day program is $260 per student for RVW members signing at least 30 days in advance; for members signing less than 30 days in advance, the fee is $270. Include your RVW membership number on your registration form. The fee for non-members is $285. Please register early as class size is limited. How to register: Use the registration form on page 44 or go to www.rvingwomen.org to download a registration form. Mail or fax this form with payment of the registration fee to RVW, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940. Fax to (480) 671-6230 with credit card payment. Please register early. Class size is limited to 14 rigs and drivers. Registration is first-come, first-served. www.rvingwomen.org | RVW NATIONAL EVENTS Mural-in-a-Day TOPPENISH, WASHINGTON June 3 to 5, 2011 Toppenish, Washington is a place "where the West still lives in the city of murals and museums." It has been named one of the 20 best places to live in the West by American Cowboy Magazine. Each year on the first Satuarday in June, the Toppenish Mural Society gets a group of artists together to design and complete a new mural, which is added to the town's already impressive collection of 72 murals. Walls have been built in Toppenish specifically for the purpose of having a mural painted on them. This event draws artists from throughout the western United States and Canada and brings approximately 13,000 visitors into town each June. Only invited artists participate in creating these town masterpieces. We will spend Saturday observing the artists as they paint the city's newest mural and take a narrated tour (on your own) by horse-drawn wagon of several of the murals already painted. We will begin our weekend with a meet and greet Friday (bring your own beverage and a snack to share). On Saturday, we will enjoy a hosted breakfast, carpool to the site of the mural and then come back to the campground to take the horse-drawn wagon tour. After lunch (on your own), we will carpool back to see what progress has been made on the mural. We may go to the Yakima Nation Legends Casino that evening for dinner. Sunday will begin with a hosted continental breakfast, and we will then carpool to see the completed mural. After lunch, we will tour the Yakima Nation Cultural Center and Museum and then return to the campground for a potluck dinner. The evening will be left free for playing cards or table games or going to the casino. Other area attractions include the Northern Pacific Rail and Steam Museum, the Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge and the American Hop Museum. Fort Simcoe, the remains of an old Army fort, is about 30 miles south of town. Rally leader: Patricia "Beckey" Beckey. For information call (541) 680-1935 or email rvwbeckey@rvingwomen.org. Camping fees: We will circle our wagons at the Yakima Nation RV Resort. Campsites are $30/night for full hookups. The resort is located at 280 Buster Road, Toppenish WA 98948. Information is available at www.ynrv.com. Registration fee: The fee for this event is $40 for RVW members. Include your RVW membership number on your registration form. The fee for non-members is $60. How to register: Register at www.rvingwomen.org or use the registration form on page 44. Mail or fax this form with payment of the registration fee to RVW, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940. Fax to (480) 671-6230 with credit card payment. www.rvingwomen.org RV Maintenance Boot Camp BROWNSVILLE, OREGON August 22 to 26, 2011 RVW invites you to come to Oregon for a one-week maintenance and RV fulltiming boot camp for owners of recreational vehicles who want to learn more about the vehicle safety and maintenance issues that affect their RV experiences. This camp is for the experienced woman RVer, as well as the woman just starting to RV. What you will learn: Instruction will include selecting the right RV for you, deciding whether or not to tow, and learning about weight distribution. The special needs you must consider if you live on the road—how to handle mail and insurance, for example—will be discussed. Classroom instruction will also include maintenance of electrical systems, batteries, plumbing, appliances, generators, hydraulics, slides and RV exterior care. Propane safety and theory of handling propane in a safe manner will also be discussed. Where: Instruction will be provided at the Country Western Festival Grounds near Brownsville, Oregon. Class size: To keep instruction individualized and allow for skill training exercises, enrollment in this five-day program will be limited to a maximum of 20 students. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Rally leader: Patricia "Beckey" Beckey. For information call (541) 680-1935 or email rvwbeckey@rvingwomen.org. Camping: Boondocking will be available on the Country Western Festival Grounds. Just-for-fun activities: We will have potlucks and may drive to Sweet Home for dinner one evening. Prevost and other RV manufacturing facilities are narby; we may be able to arrange tours for those who can arrive a few days early or stay after the boot camp. The Willamette Country Music Fest will be held on the Country Western Festival Grounds the weekend of August 19 to 21. Come early and enjoy the music and fun. Information about this event is available at www.willamettecountrymusicfest.com. Registration fee: For RVW members, the fee for this fiveday program is $200 per student plus $50 for the textbook. Include your RVW membership number on your registration form. The fee for non-members is $250 per student plus $50 for the textbook. Please register early as class size is limited. How to register: Use the registration form on page 44 or go to www.rvingwomen.org to download a registration form. Mail or fax this form with payment of the registration fee to RVW, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940. Fax to (480) 671-6230 with credit card payment. Please register early. Enrollment in this five-day program is limited to a maximum of 20 students. RVW | January/February 2011 | 47 RVW NATIONAL EVENTS | Exclusive Tour for RVW Members Only Fantasy RV Tours 48-DAY HEART OF ALASKA TOUR July 16 to September 1, 2011 Imagine yourself in Alaska. There is no other place on earth like this magnificent landscape, from its pristine beauty to its unforgettable people. With Fantasy RV Tours as your guide, you and your RVW friends will experience a northern adventure of a lifetime. The dramatic stage of staggering peaks, glaciers, fjords, wilderness preserves and spectacular coastlines offers a personal connection with nature. The instant you first glimpse a grizzly, you will know you have arrived at unspoiled splendor. Enjoy the long summer days by traveling through the majestic landscape of British Columbia and the wilderness of the Yukon. Relive the gold rush era through old-time vaudeville and historic tours. Dine on fresh salmon in the remarkable Yukon Territory. Tok, your first stop in Alaska, is the trade center for the Athabascan villages. Here, native arts abound, along with a good number of canines that take part in the city’s worldfamous annual dog sled race. Expect a perfect blend of cultural activities and natural wonders. In Fairbanks, you will have seats for the symphony, while the next day, in Denali National Park, you will marvel at wildlife and forests. Later, along the Alaskan coast- 48 | January/February 2011 | RVW line, you can take advantage of the prime salmon and halibut season with chartered fishing trips into fertile waters. Boat tours, glacier viewing, museums, fishing tours and more wrap up this extraordinary tour as you wind your way through the Great White North. Fantasy RV Tours will be right there with you, making your RVW vacation safe, carefree and rewarding. Tour dates: July 16 to September 1, 2011. Tour departs from Dawson Creek, BC Canada and ends at Smithers, BC Canada. Driving miles: 4,475 miles. This tour is limited to 22 rigs. All types of rigs are welcome. Tour price: $7,795 (2 people in rig); $5,995 (1 person in rig); $3,695 for each additional person in rig. Price includes wagonmaster, tailgunner, exclusive Fantasy RV Tours travel protection, 47 nights RV parking, 15 meals and 67 events and tours. Exclusive travel protection: Includes trip cancellation insurance, medical emergency coverage and medical evacuation, return of RV and vehicle, and 24-hour emergency assistance. For more information: call (888) 270-7281 or (800) 952-8496 or visit www.fantasyrvtours.com/rvw. www.rvingwomen.org | RVW NATIONAL EVENTS Fantasy RV Tours AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 2012 RV CARAVAN April 7 to May 27, 2012 Many folks go on their own “Down Under.” They can spend a great deal of time looking for secure places to stay and eat—while missing some of the more interesting locations. Fantasy RV Tours will get you to all the main attractions in addition to numerous places off the beaten track that could be easily overlooked. Traveling with a caravan company in Australia and New Zealand eliminates the confusion and concern that international travel presents for many these days. You will discover that international RV travel can be safe, easy and rewarding. Fantasy RV Tours is offering this members-only "Down Under" caravan for RVW members and guests. You will experience Australia and New Zealand during a 51-day tour that includes a 12-day optional add-on excursion of Australia’s Outback. New this year, Fantasy RV Tours features trip cancellation insurance on all tours—a program not available with other RV tour companies. Below is a list of benefits and tour highlights for this amazing RV caravan. Exclusive Tour for RVW Members Only www.rvingwomen.org Tour dates: April 7 to May 27, 2012. New Zealand highlights: Polynesian and European cultural experience, mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, beaches, lush rainforest, thermal wonderlands and hot springs, boat cruises, sheep farms and a Penguin Express Tour. Australia highlights: Aboriginal cultural experience, Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef, Billabong Wildlife Park, Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, crocodiles, kangaroos and koalas. Price includes: • Standard Fantasy RV Tours Benefits • Exclusive Travel Protection Trip Cancellation Insurance Trip Interruption Coverage Emergency Medical Benefits • Motorhome Rental Fully Equipped Coaches Unlimited Mileage • Vehicle Insurance Policy • Airfare New Zealand to Australia • Intercountry Airfare • 11 Hotel Nights • New Zealand Ferry • Events, Meals, Tours on Itinerary For more information: Call (888) 270-7281 or (800) 952-8496 or visit www.fantasyrvtours.com. RVW | January/February 2011 | 49 Calendar of Events As an RVW member, you are welcome to participate in chapter and national events wherever you go. Space may be limited for some events, so please make reservations as far in advance as possible. Please remember that RVW events are exclusively for women ages 18 and over. JANUARY 2011 8 Ohio River Valley Chapter: Covington, Indiana. Beef House Restaurant. Join us at 12:30 p.m. for lunch and an afternoon of great conversation. 13–16 Florida Chapter: Orlando, Florida. Tropical Palms Resort. We will have use of the Veranda Room at this rally. Activities will include a happy hour Thursday evening, a continental breakfast Saturday morning and a Saturday evening dessert buffet. We will be voting on the best desserts! Our campsites are located in the 200 section of the resort, which is back and to the right of the section where we were this past February. More information about this resort is available at www. tropicalpalmsresortfl.com. Campsites are $33/night and include water, 30-amp service and sewer. Anyone needing 50-amp service will need to park in the section where we were in February, and there may be a difference in cost. For information, contact rally hosts Cindy Barrett at cindy142jim@aol.com. Please RSVP to Cindy when you make your reservations. 14–17 SoCALjourners Chapter: Newport Beach, California. Newport Dunes RV Resort. Details to follow. 18–24 Arizona Chapter: Quartzsite, Arizona. Once again, RVW gals will gather near mile marker 99 for a primitive camping weekend in conjunction with the flea markets and RV show that Quartzsite is known for. This will be a very loosely scheduled event with no formal agenda. We will have a finger food meet-and-greet one evening, a potluck dinner and perhaps one evening meal in town. Bring firewood for campfires. Some of us may go to Lake Havasu, about 45 minutes away, to check out the Island Balloon Festival and Fair happening January 21 to 23. This is a boondocking event on BLM land. There are no camping fees. Come with full water tanks, full batteries and empty holding tanks. This is a great introduction to dry camping; there will be plenty of experienced ladies to answer questions and deal with issues. Directions: These are different than the directions previously published and will take you over terrain that is less rough. Going south on Hwy 95, drive past 99 and turn west (right) onto La Paz Road. Take the first dirt road on the right. If the Beaver Coach rally is going on, you can follow the Beaver signs. Go past the Beaver coaches and turn left to the RVW area. Mary Cordell and Flo Hurlburt are the rally hosts for this event. Contact Mary at (602) 619-9483 or cordellm41@yahoo.com or Flo at (402) 290-2630 or flojo0052@yahoo.com. 50 | January/February 2011 | RVW FEBRUARY 2011 3–6 FreeWheelers Chapter: Cisco Grove, California. Casa de Fruta Resort. The theme of our February outing at the Casa De Fruta Resort has long been one of general entertainment. Our wonderful All Girl Band will be providing their usual mix of great tunes. This year, we are going to provide the warm up acts for the band with a FreeWheelers Cabaret showcasing any sort of talent you have. There are no prizes, no judges. This is not a competition, just bring your talent for the rest of us to enjoy. We are looking for women who tell jokes, sing, tap dance, play an instrument, juggle or whistle. You might want to get together with friends to do a skit—or a magic trick. Dare to get out there and become part of this cabaret. If you are interested in participating, email Arleen or Marlene at huffmorr@sbcglobal.net. Campsites are $36/night for two people (add $2/night for each additional person). We have reserved 45 sites and the clubhouse. Rally hosts Arleen Huffman and Marlene M orrison will handle reservations for Thursday night through Sunday night. If you want to come earlier or stay later, you will need to make those reservations directly with the park, but be sure you tell them you are with the RVW FreeWheelers. Arleen Huffman and Marlene Morrison are rally hosts for this event. For information and to register, email huffmorr@sbcglobal.net. Please indicate if you have any special site needs. Registration for this event will close January 15. 10–13 Florida Chapter: Lake City, Florida. Oaks ‘n Pines RV Campground. Campsites are $27.25/night including tax. This discounted rate will also be honored for two nights before and after this rally. For reservations, call Cherri or Jim at Oaks ‘n Pines at (386) 752-0830. Be sure to mention that you are joining the Florida RVW rally. Also let them know the size of your RV, your arrival and departure dates, your phone number and any special needs you have. Information about this park is available at www.oaksnpines.com. Joella McGaw and Patty Petruff are hosting this event. For information, visit www.flrvw.org. 18–21 Arizona Chapter: Sonoran Desert, Arizona. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Please join us for an outdoor adventure. The Sonoran Desert at this time of year has an average maximum temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit and average minimum temperature of 42 degrees Fahrenheit. February is blooming season for fairy duster, brittlebush, ocotillo, globe mallow, Mexican gold poppy, lupine and desert marigold. www.rvingwomen.org | CALENDAR OF EVENTS This is a boondocking rally. We will be in the group campground (with restrooms, water and dump site available). There are some shaded ramadas and a shaded group picnic area. There are limited generator hours. There is a nominal campsite fee and a park entrance fee. After the rally, some of us may caravan to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico (Rocky Point) for a day, a week or a month. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is located in southwestern Arizona, 141 miles south of Phoenix and 144 miles west of Tucson. From Phoenix, take Interstate 10 to Arizona 85 South. From Tucson, take Arizona 86 West (Ajo Way) and then Arizona 85 South. The monument visitor center is 34 miles south of Ajo. Mary Beth Stearns and Linette Davis are the rally hosts for this event. For information and reservations, email marybethstearns@yahoo.com or linettedav@gmail.com or call (360) 510-1472. 18–20 Texas Ramblin’ Roses Chapter: San Marcos, Texas. Pecan Park Campground. This is a lovely park with your choice of shade campsites or sites with no trees at all. We will have exclusive use of a fully-equipped rally room for our potlucks and gatherings. There is a heated, indoor swimming pool. Information about this park is available at www.pecanpark.com. Campsites are $28/night for standard sites and $33/night for deluxe sites. We will also have that rate for two additional days. To reserve your campsite, call the park at (888) 808-7181. Be sure to mention that you are joining the RVW Texas Ramblin’ Roses. We have reserved only 25 campsites, so please reserve as early as possible. After you have reserved your campsite, please also contact rally leaders Pat Bowen and Peggy Authement to let them know you are attending. Call (830) 624-9299 or email txpatrving@aol.com. 24–27 SoCALjourners Chapter: Sage, California. Tucalota Springs RV Park. We will hold our annual meeting at this event. This park, nestled in the foothills of the Temecula Wine Country, has full hookups, a clubhouse, general store, showers, fire rings, tables and a catch-and-release fishing pond. Peg Ralston, Nancy Rockwell and Vicki Lewis are the rally leaders for this event. MARCH 2011 11–13 FreeWheelers Chapter: Red Bluff, California. Durango RV Park. Beverly Smith, Faye Mendenhall and Judy Leonard are rally hosts for this event. Information about this park is available at www. durangorvresorts.com. 16–21 Arizona Chapter: Laughlin, Nevada. Riverside RV Park. This park is located across the street from Don Laughlin’s Riverside Casino.This will be a loosely scheduled outing so that everyone can enjoy the main attraction—the casinos. Wednesday we will plan on attending an 8 p.m. performance of the Dance of Desire (Irish www.rvingwomen.org dance show) at the Riverside Casino. The performers are straight from Ireland and are very good dancers, singers and musicians. On Thursday and Saturday mornings, we will have our famous dog walk to the city park on the river. People without pets are welcome. We will also have our traditional St. Patrick’s Day feast on Thursday. Please bring a meal or dish that includes a small corned beef, potatoes and cabbage; we will sample each other’s cooking. If you don’t like the Irish menu, bring your preferred main dish for yourself. Be sure to dress in green. Friday we will have our second annual golf outing at a nine-hole course; bring your own clubs or rent them there. Friday night we will go to a seafood buffet at one of the casinos. On Saturday, we will have our Oprah/Ellen interview and our second annual Irish potato famine bar. We will supply all the fixings; you just need to bring your already baked potato. Sunday morning we will enjoy a champagne brunch buffet at the Riverside Casino. We will have a happy hour Sunday night, so please bring light munchies and your drink of choice. Some of us may go bowling after. We have been able to arrange discounted prices for several rally events by reserving in advance and agreeing to prepay. To take advantage of these discounts, mail a check before March 1 payable to co-host Mo Hennessy, 7987 Via Roma Drive, Fair Oaks CA 95628 for the following events: Wednesday Irish dance show, $31 continued on page 52 Tired of a TERRIBLE Ride? Need a break after two hours driving? SuperSteer® designs and distributes steering, suspension & braking equipment for motorhomes, 5th wheels, pickups, trucks, SUVs and 4x4s. Our parent company, Henderson’s Line-Up, repairs steering, suspension and brakes 17 Common Problems; Steering Free Play • Returnability • Pull • Road Wander • Rut Tracking • Sway • Porpoising • Harsh Ride • Noise • Vibration • Shimmy on % retail • Tail-Wagging-The-Dog off parts • Bump Steer • Delayed • Steering Response • Bounce • Dog Tracking • Leaning Low On One Side 10 Henderson’s Line Up Service: (800)245-8309 ext 301 Parts 888-898-3281 • Tech 541-955-0769 Call for a Dealer Near You! Visit our website for more information at: www.supersteersuperstop.com RV 10 2x4 HLU RVW | January/February 2011 | 51 CALENDAR OF EVENTS | per person (regular price is $36); Friday seafood buffet, $17.28 per person (does not include tip); Sunday champagne brunch, $10.50 per person (tip included). Make your campsite reservation at Riverside RV Park by calling (800) 227-3849. Be sure to tell them you are with RVing Women and want to be close to Jolene Greeley and Lori Hagge in space #376L. Look for a coupon in RV Journal. Several dry camping options are available in Laughlin, including parking lots at the Riverside, Tropicana and River Palms casinos. Some are free; others charge a nominal fee. Jolene Greeley, Lori Hagge, Mo Hennessy and Nita Howard are rally hosts for this event. To RSVP, email Jolene at jtgreeley@gmail.com or Lori at lhagge7@gmail.com or call (480) 332-6724 or (480) 332-6723. 17–19 Florida Chapter: Bushnell, Florida. Blueberry Hill RV Resort. This rally will include a Saturday night celebration of St. Patrick’s Day featuring a delicious home-cooked meal of corned beef and cabbage prepared by our rally leaders ($5 per person). Those who do not like corned beef and cabbage can sign up for shepherd’s pie at the Thursday or Friday social hour for the same price. Campsites are $25/night. We have reserved only 25 sites at this group rate, so reserve early. Call the resort at (877) 793-4112 to make reservations, and be sure to mention that you are joining the RVW Florida Chapter rally. Blueberry Hill RV Resort is located at 6233 C.R.609, Bushnell, FL 33513 (at exit 314, east on CR48). Information about this park is available at www.morganrvresorts.com/pages/blueberryhillfl_homepage. Rally hosts hosts for this event are Kathy Donoghue, Judy Nevins, MJ Cancro, Sue Goldfarb, Ginny McCauley and Judy Costa. 18–20 Oregon Chapter: Sutherlin, Oregon. Hi-Way Haven RV Park. Pam Mayne and Ann Pearson are the rally hosts for this event. Campsites are $27/night for 30-amp service and $29/night for 50-amp service. Pets are okay, but pit bulls and Rottweilers are not permitted. Hi-Way Haven RV Park is located at 609 Fort McKay Road, Sutherline OR 97479. For information about this park, call (800) 552-5699 or (541) 459-0505 or go to www.hiwayhaven.com. To register for this event, contact chapter secretary Barb Pace at barbpace1@msn.com and then send a deposit check payable to ORVW to chapter treasurer June Willoughby at 1101 Fulton Avenue, Coos Bay OR 97420. The registration deadline is February 10. Deposits are refundable if canceled at least 24 hours in advance. 18–20 SoCALjourners Chapter: Aguanga, California. Oak Grove Campground. This will be a KISS campout (Keep It Simple SoCALjourners) at a forest service campground. Oak Grove Campground is on the northeastern fringe of the Cleveland National Forest at 2,800 feet elevation. 52 | January/February 2011 | RVW Campsites are $15 to $20/night (no hookups). There are 81 sites for tents or RVs up to 32 feet long. Generator rules are observed. Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. The sites are blacktop surrounded by desert brush and trees with plenty of privacy. Drinking water and flush toilets are available. Leashed pets are permitted. Directions: Take the I-15 to Hwy 79 south exit (Temecula Parkway) and drive east to Aguanga. Continue east on Hwy 79 for 6.5 miles to the campground entrance on the left. Please RSVP to bbevgonagn@aol.com to let Bev know you are planning to attend. On arrival, check the kiosk for the site number of rally leaders Bev Laing and Kennette Babb, pick your campsite (no reservations), pay your fee (checks are okay) and check in with Bev and Kennette. 24–27 Texas Ramblin’ Roses Chapter: Palestine, Texas. “R” Place RV Park and Campground. This will be our second annual Dr. Pepper rally. We will have interest groups, so bring your musical instruments, poems, anything you would like to share with the group. We will have use of a large barbecue grill. Also, we can have an open fire in the fire ring, so that just might mean that we will have a weenie roast. If you need to be entertained commercially, the train from Palestine to Rusk is available for your enjoyment. There will also be dogwood trees blooming free of charge. Campsites are $25/night for 30 or 50-amp. For reservations, call the park at (877) 723-8883 and ask for Peter. Only 25 sites are available, so call early and be sure to mention that you are joining the RVW Texas Ramblin’ Roses. “R” Place RV Park is located at 14000 E. US Hwy 84, Palestine TX 75801. For rally information, contact Janice Ives at glassives@aol.com. 25–27 Cascadia Chapter: Sequim, Washington. Rainbow’s End RV Park. For information and to register, go the Events page at www.cascadiarvw.com. MidAtlantic Chapter: Bordentown, New Jersey. 26 Mastoris Restaurant. Join our lunch bunch for this annual get-together. For reservations, call Bonnie Simkins at (302) 832-0705 or email boomer471@verizon.net. The phone number for the restaurant is (609) 298-4650. APRIL 2011 National RVW Event: Indianapolis, Indiana. See 2–5 page 45. 8–10 Oregon Chapter: Bandon, Oregon. Bandon-by-theSea RV Park. Dee Hamer and Dottie Allen are the rally hosts for this event. Campsites are $26/night with a flexible refund policy. Bandon-by-the-Sea RV Park is located at 49612 Hwy 101, Bandon OR 97411. For more information about this park, call (541) 3475155 or go to www.bandonbythesearvpark.com. www.rvingwomen.org | CALENDAR OF EVENTS To register for this event, contact chapter secretary Barb Pace at barbpace1@msn.com and then send a deposit check payaable to ORVW to chapter treasurer June Willoughby at 1101 Fulton Avenue, Coos Bay OR 97420. 11–15 National RVW RV Maintenance Boot Camp: Drumright, Oklahoma. See page 46. 14–17 Florida Chapter: Ocala, Florida. Lake in the Forest Black Bear Resort. We will enjoy a relaxing time in the woods at this rally. Our campground is tucked away east of Ocala off SR 40 near SR 19 on the edge of the Ocala National Forest and 350acre Half Moon Lake. Sometimes the bears visit. The winter guests start heading home in April. Campsites are $25/night. Electric use is monitored. For reservations, call the park at (352) 625-6275. Be sure to mention that you are joining the RVW Florida Chapter rally. Rally hosts for this event are Pat Howard and Carol Edeker. 15–17 FreeWheelers Chapter: Ione, California. Pardee Lake Recreation Area. Save this date for our Sixth Annual Weenie Roast. Irene Paulin and Mary Sue Ferrell are rally hosts for this event. For information, email paulin@lzdz2.net. 16–17 National RVW Driving School: Drumright, Oklahoma. See page 46. 28–May 1 FreeWheelers Chapter: Jackson, California. Jackson Rancheria Casino and RV Park. This area offers opportunities for browsing the surrounding Gold Country towns, doing some wine tasting and shopping, golfing, fishing and geocaching. The casino has a wonderful buffet; a 24-hour shuttle is available from our campground. Beverly will have root beer floats at 3 p.m. each day. Friday evening we will have a meet and greet—bring an appetizer to share and your drink. Saturday will begin with a potluck breakfast. We will have a book exchange table—leave one, take one. Boxes will be available for canned food or dry products donations to the local food bank. Saturday night, we will have a potluck plus bring your own meat if you want to barbecue. Entertainment will be provided after dinner by our All Girl Band. Games will be played in the clubhouse. Sunday, we will have a clean-out-the-fridge breakfast followed by a Sunday service and farewells to those having to leave. Campsites are $25/night for full hookups with cable and Wi-Fi. You can come Thursday and stay until Monday at this rate. We have reserved 50 campsites and will have the use of the clubhouse all weekend. Campground amenities include cable and Wi-Fi, a large swimming pool and two hot tubs, a dog run and walking trails. No open campfires allowed. Jackson Rancheria Casino and RV Park is located on Hwy 49 just two miles east of Jackson on Hwy 88. Information about this park is available at www.jacksoncasino. com/lodging/rv_park.aspx. www.rvingwomen.org For rally information and reservations, contact host Sharon Adams at sharontripinon@ yahoo.com or (209) 257-1132. The deadline for reservations is April 9. 28–May 1 Ohio River Valley Chapter and Great Lakers Chapter: Archbold, Ohio. Sauder Village Campground. Our first rally of the year is a joint rally of both chapters. There are some surprise activities planned. You can count on us to have some campfires, good food and lots of fun. At Sauder Village, you will visit a pioneer settlement and see craftsmen work their magic with glass blowing, pewter and copper. There is an on-site quilt shop, general store, beautiful wood furniture outlet and a bakery and restaurant at the inn. There is an indoor pool and hot tub that campers may use, so bring those suits for a little downtime after all the shopping. Friday will be an open day to relax and visit. In the afternoon, there will be a geocaching session and a Zoogle game introduction followed by a short Zoogle tournament. Shuffleboard and horseshoes will also be available. We will have a down-on-the-farm ham dinner pitch-in Friday evening. Wear your straw hats, overalls, plaid shirts, etc., and come prepared to share your grandmother’s favorite recipe. continued on page 54 a woman-owned company We have been manufacturing quality wood and composite paddles since 1986 for Pickleball Inc. We recently expanded our business, and we are now an authorized online reseller of competitively priced Pickleball equipment, paddles and clothing. We are your source for everything Pickleball. Check us out online. We look forward to serving you. ld ne Fie Karle inke Diane Me 206 909-2607 www.PickleballSource.com RVW | January/February 2011 | 53 CALENDAR OF EVENTS | After dinner, we will have a bingo game to help raise funds to contribute to the 2011 convention in Goshen. Saturday, we will have dinner at the inn. Sunday will start with an optional devotion time followed by a host-provided hitch-up breakfast. Sauder Village Campground has a shelter, free Wi-Fi, bathhouse, and laundry. We have reserved fifteen spots with water and electric. There is a dump station available. This campground fills up every weekend, so make your reservations as soon as possible. These spots will only be held for us until March 1. For our first night camping, Sauder Village is offering this special package at a cost of $66 (a $17 savings): first night camping, which includes water and electric; $25 village bucks to use for food and shopping; and two one-day tickets to the Village. Campsites for each additional night are $24. If you are traveling solo, you can purchase a package with a single one-day ticket to the Village; the price will be changed to reflect the difference. For reservations, call Sauder Village at (800) 590-9755. Be sure to mention that you are joining the RVing Women rally. Campground information is available at www.saudervillage.org. There will be a $10 rally fee to offset the cost of other planned activities for the weekend. Tammy Haley, Tammy Hanson, Harriet Miller and Monica Wehrle are rally hosts for this event. After you have made reservations, please email Tammy Haley at tamtam4bikes@gmail.com to let these ladies know you will be attending. 28–May 3 SoCALjourners Chapter: Banning, California. Silent Valley Club. Join us for an early Cinco de Mayo celebration. FreeWheelers, come south for a week! Arizona Chapter members, come west for a week! Activities are limited only by our imagination. Come early or stay late. Silent Valley Club at Poppet Flats is located at 3,500 feet in the San Jacinto Mountains, 30 miles from Palm Springs and 10 miles south of Banning. The resort has over 700 campsites. Amenities include the Village Center, Chuck Wagon Restaurant, Watering Hole Lounge, a general store, recreation rooms, pool tables, an arts and crafts center and a laundromat. Outdoor activities include miniature golf, basketball, volleyball courts, four tennis courts, horseshoes, two swimming pools, two saunas and Jacuzzi. With 460 acres of oak and cottonwood trees, the area is perfect for hiking, birding, and biking. Cell phone access, on-site TV and Wi-Fi are limited. Find out more at www.silentvalleyclub.com. If you feel like you must run down the hill, Palm Springs and 10 casinos are nearby on the interstate. There is also the Desert Hills Outlet Mall in Cabazon with over 120 stores, and there is a Walmart in Banning. 54 | January/February 2011 | RVW Rally activities include a rally leader sponsored dinner on Thursday night, an Uno de Mayo/Royal Wedding potluck on Friday night and dinner at the restaurant on Saturday night. A spring tune-up of educational activities will be offered. Rachel Harp will be teaching on a variety of RV topics. Her maintenance class handouts will be available for $10. Joel Harp will be doing RV repairs. Please contact Rachel directly at rachelharp@hotmail.com to sign up for classes and to schedule your RV appointment. Campsites are $35/night for full hookup sites with 30/50 amp service. These campsites are up to 40 feet long and 22 percent are pull-through. Discounted rates are available for members of Silent Valley Club, Coast to Coast, RPI and ROD. For reservations, call Silent Valley Club at (951) 849-4501. Be sure to mention that you are joining the RVW SoCALjourners rally. After you have reserved your campsite, please also register with rally hosts Linda Brown and Barbara Roeder. Email brownroeder@aol.com or call (760) 745-9452. Registration will open February 15. The registration deadline is April 1. Silent Valley Club is located at 46305 Poppet Flats Road, Banning CA 92220. We recommend using www.mapquest.com for directions. 29–May 1 Cascadia Chapter: Ferndale, Washington. The Cedars RV Park.To register, go the Events page at www.cascadiarvw.com. 29–May 1 Mid-America Chapter: Platte City, Missouri. Basswood Resort. This national award-winning RV park is located just northwest of Kansas City. A–Z RV Mobile Service technicians will be available to work on rigs and answer technical questions. An on-site country and hardware store will meet our shopping and mechanical needs. In addition to getting our rigs ready for the season, we will make time for games and socializing. For information, contact rally hosts Jan Russell and Tammy Zeiler at (816) 773-6915 or russellj@hughes.net. 29–May 1 MidAtlantic Chapter: Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Old Mill Stream Campground. Join us for our annual cabin fever weekend! For campsite reservations, call Old Mill Stream Campground at (717) 299-2314 or (866) 386-2839. Make your reservations early, and be sure to mention that you are joining the MidAtlantic Chapter RVW rally. Information about this campground is available at www.oldmillstreamcampground.com. The rally registration fee for this event is $12/ person ($11 for the rally and $1 for the chapter). For rally information, contact host Caryn Cohen at cvrdwgn42@aol.com or (215) 884-2640. MAY 2011 6–9 Great Lakers Chapter: Holland, Michigan. Dutch Treat Campground. Join us for a weekend of fun and beautiful blooms. This is Tulip Festival week www.rvingwomen.org | CALENDAR OF EVENTS in Holland, Michigan. Activities will start Friday with a caravan to Windmill Island and Gardens. The cost for this tour is $7.50. If we have more than 20 people, the cost will be $6.75. We will head into Holland on Saturday morning for the traditional street sweeping parade. Amenities at Dutch Treat Campground include large pull-thru sites, a heated swimming pool and a recreation room. Information is available at www.dutchtreatcamping.com. Dutch Treat Campground requires a threenight minimum stay during the Tulip Festival. Campsites are $32.50/night for full hookups. We have reserved 20 campsites for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. These will be held for us until March 1. To reserve your campsite, call the campground at (616) 772-4303. Let the phone ring (you may not get an answer right away) and be sure to mention that you are joining the RVW Great Lakers Chapter rally. Dutch Treat Campground is located near Holland at 10300 Gordon, Zealand, Michigan 49464. Sandy Gauntlett, Pat Bubel and Nancy Wurm are the rally hosts for this event. After you have made your campsite reservations, please email one of these ladies to let her know you are planning to attend. Contact Sandy at sandyg3061@ sbcglobal.net, Pat at pbubella@aol.com, or Nancy at ncwurmlh@aol.com. 6–8 Mid-America Chapter: Halstead, Kansas. Spring Lake RV Resort. Resort amenities include a minigolf course, horseshoe pit and fishing ponds (a fishing permit is required). We will have the clubhouse available all weekend. We have planned a trip to Hutchinson for a tour of the Kansas underground salt museum (650 feet underground) on Friday; cost will be $13.95. There are many on-your-own activities also available, such as the Cosmosphere and space center with Imax theatre and planetarium, Yoder Amish community, and the Buhler community, a unique shopping area. One of the oldest stilloperating hardware stores in Kansas is located in Halstead. Also nearby is the Dillon Nature Center. Saturday night, we will enjoy a catered, oldstyle, hand-breaded chicken fried steak dinner with all the trimmings for $6.75. Grilled chicken is available for those who choose to be a little more health conscience. Sunday, a catered breakfast will be available for $5.25. Campsites are $17/night for water and electricity. For rally information and to request a registration, contact host Judy Brown at jlmcbrownks@att.net or call (785) 286-1121. 6–8 MidAtlantic Chapter: Luray, Virginia. Country Waye Campground. Luray will be hosting a spring festival this weekend, so there will be lots of opportunities to see arts and crafts representative of this area and to sample some local wines. www.rvingwomen.org To reserve a campsite, call Country Waye Campground at (888) 765-7222 after March 15. Plan to pay on arrival with cash or check. The rally registration fee for this event is $12/ person ($11 for the rally and $1 for the chapter). Thursa Stair and Dottie Pease are rally hosts for this event. Please RSVP by contacting Thursa at (301) 253-9821 or etsdiver@aol.com. 12–15 MidAtlantic Chapter Southern Belles: Murrells Inlet, Georgia. Huntington Beach State Park. This is an Roadside Rendezvous (no rally fee). Our campground is near Brookgreen Gardens; we can check on tours if people are interested. Campsites at this state park fill up quickly, so make reservations early. Sites can be reserved a year or more in advance. For information and to make reservations, go to www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/1020.aspx. Please also email sylzoom@sc.rr.com to let rendezvous hosts Sylvia Robinson and Dana Schodt know you are planning to attend. 13–15 Oregon Chapter: Canyonville, Oregon. Seven Feathers RV Resort. Arlene Dian and Woody Wityshyn are rally hosts for this event. We will have use a covered pavilion with electricity at this rally, but the pavilion does not have a kitchen. Seven Feathers RV Resort is located at 325 Creekside Drive, Canyonville OR 97417. For more information about this park, call (877) 839-3599 or go to www.sevenfeathersrvresort.com. To register for this event, contact chapter secretary Barb Pace at barbpace1@msn.com and then send a $30 deposit check payable to ORVW to chapter treasurer June Willoughby at 1101 Fulton Avenue, Coos Bay OR 97420. The registration deadline is April 8. Deposits are refundable if canceled at least 24 hours in advance. 13–15 Texas Ramblin’ Roses Chapter: Aransas Pass, Texas. Ransom Road RV Park. This is a beautiful location with opportunities for fishing, birding, kayaking and shopping. We will have the use of a large meeting room with a kitchen, big screen TV, even a pool table. Campsites are $20/night. There are pull-thru, back-in, semi-super, super, canal, canal with pad and corner sites available. The park provides Wi-Fi. Cable is available for $1 per day. To make reservations, call the park at (361) 758-2715. Be sure to mention that you are joining the RVW Texas Ramblin’ Roses. Ransom Road RV Park is located at 240 E. Ransom Road, Aransas Pass, Texas. More information about this park is available at www.ransomroadrvpark.com. Gayle Pierce, Ann Leakey, C.J. Vaughn and Vicki Blake are the rally hosts for this event. For information, email vblake42@comcast.net. 16–24 Florida Chapter: Florida Keys, Florida. Geiger Key RV Park. This resort is only 10 miles from downtown Key West. continued on page 56 RVW | January/February 2011 | 55 CALENDAR OF EVENTS | Several activities are planned for this weekend. The Monroe County K-9 unit will bring their German Shepherds and give us a demonstration, which might also include some self-defense information. A trip to Dry Tortugas is tentatively planned and, if the weather permits, a sunset sail will be scheduled on the Jolly Rover. A tour of a Navy ship also is planned, and a deep-sea fishing trip is already reserved. The cost of the deep-sea fishing trip is $500 for a half-day for four people. Six members have already committed to going, and the captain has agreed to make two half-day trips so more members can participate. We are guaranteed to bring lots of fish back for Mary Bowman’s fish fry. On Sunday we will have a smokehouse barbecue. If you are a Passport America member, be sure to bring your Passport card with you. Geiger Key RV Park will be letting us use our Passport discounts, a huge concession in the Keys. The phone number at the park is (305) 296-3553. Information about this park is available at www. geigerkeymarina.com. Lynette Birch will host this event. For information, email banditsburro@tampabay.rr.com. 19–22 Ohio River Valley Chapter: Frankfort, Kentucky. Elkhorn Campground. Join us for a rally by the beautiful Elkhorn River. Rally Events may include visiting Frankfort (Kentucky’s capital city), touring Buffalo Trace Distillery, going to Kentucky Horse Park, driving the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, or touring the beautiful Kentucky horse country. Campsites are $27/night. Elkhorn Campground is a privately-owned campground with full hook-ups, cable TV and Wi-Fi. Most sites have 30-amp service, with 50-amp available at a few sites for a $3/night up-charge. The campground is pet friendly with the exception of a few breeds (Rottweilers and pit bulls). The campground is holding 15 sites for us until April 26. To reserve your campsite, call (502) 695-9154. Be sure to mention that you are joining the RVing Women group. Information about this campground is available at www.ekhorncampground.com. Kathy Isenhour, Shelly Haley, and Patty Cooper are rally hosts for this event. After making reservations, please call Kathy at (317) 372-0680 or email k.isenhour@comcast.net to let her know you are planning to attend. 20–22 Lyte Hearts Chapter: Kirkwood, Illinois. Young’s Lake (near Monmouth). Come join us and enjoy a relaxing weekend on a beautiful lake. This campground reserves a grassy, wooded peninsula for us. Everyone has a lake view and electric hookup with water and dump available nearby. Activities include fishing, reading, hiking, games and potluck dinners. Since our Hawaiian theme has been so much fun, we’re continuing it again this year, with the main event being Saturday night. Bring your most festive clothing or 56 | January/February 2011 | RVW accessories, decorations and music and practice moving those hips for the hula dancing. For reservations, contact Jeanne Carter at rvingdogmom@att.net or (414) 352-8341. 27–30 Cascadia Chapter: Mossyrock, Washington. Harmony Lakeside RV Park. To register, go the Events page at www.cascadiarvw.com. JUNE 2011 1–5 Mid-America Chapter: Sedalia, Missouri. Missouri State Fairgrounds. For 30 years, Sedalia has been host to the annual Scott Joplin Festival honoring America’s premier ragtime performer and songwriter (remember The Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag?). This festival, the only pure ragtime festival, regularly draws over 50 entertainers. Our rally will be held during this year’s festival. We will enjoy free performances by piano players and other instrumentalists from all over the world. Information about the festival is available at www.scottjoplin.org/festival.htm. Other planned activities include a visit to the Bothwell Lodge State Historic site, an architectural and mechanical wonder built during the turn of the 20th century. Information is available at www.mostateparks.com/bothwell/geninfo.htm. Campsites are $13/night with full hookups. Nancy West and Barbara Schneider are hosting this rally. For information, contact Barbara at bks311@gmail.com. 2–5 FreeWheelers Chapter: Corning, California. Woodson Bridge RV Park. Christy Stevens and Marilyn Coey are hosts for this event. For information and to register, contact Christy at christy@cjstevens.com. For information about this park, go to www.woodsonbridgervpark.com. 3–5 National RVW RV Event: Toppenish, Washington. See page 47. 3–5 MidAtlantic Chapter: Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Old Mill Stream Campground. For campsite reservations, call Old Mill Stream Campground at (717) 299-2314 or (866) 386-2839. Make reservations early, and be sure to mention that you are joining the MidAtlantic Chapter RVW rally. Information about this campground is available at www.oldmillstreamcampground.com. The rally registration fee for this event is $12/ person ($11 for the rally and $1 for the c hapter). For rally information, contact host Lynda Ippolito at (610) 657-3771 or lyppo@yahoo.com. 10–12 Oregon Chapter: Elkton, Oregon. Elkton RV Park. Beckey Beckey and Barbara Hicks are the rally hosts for this event. Campsites are $25/night. The park has a covered pavilion for our use. Elkton RV Park is located right on the Umpqua River at 450 River Drive, Elkton OR. For information about this park, call (541) 584-2832 or go to www.elktonrvpark.com. To reserve a campsite and register for this event, contact chapter secretary Barb Pace at www.rvingwomen.org | CALENDAR OF EVENTS barbpace1@msn.com. No deposit is required, but you will need to let her know the length of your RV. Attendees who have time are invited to follow Arlene and Woody home from this rally to spend a couple extra nights at their place in Glide, Oregon. 17–19 Cascadia Chapter: Lindell Beach, British Columbia. Cultus Lake Thousand Trails Preserve. For rally information and to register, go the Events page at www.cascadiarvw.com. 17–19 Ohio River Valley Chapter: Galena, Illinois. Palace Campground. Rally hosts Anita Kessinger and Sandy Nosler have many activities planned this weekend. There will be plenty of shopping in the quaint town of Galena and perhaps a tour of a winery vineyard, a slide down a true Alpine slide, a visit to a former president’s home or a river cruise. Other possibilities for the weekend consist of going to the nearby casino, golfing, bicycling and viewing a balloon night glow. For campsite reservations, call Palace Campground at (815) 777-2466 or reserve online at www.palacecampground.com. Please also RSVP to your rally hosts by sending an email to Anita at asuekess@aol.com. JULY 2011 8–10 Oregon Chapter: Lincoln City, Oregon. Premier RV Resort. Gayle Blek and Sandy Brown are the rally hosts for this event. Campsites are $34.48/night, refundable for cancellations made three days in advance. To reserve your campsite, call the park at (877) 8710663 or (541) 996-2778 before May 25. This Premier RV Resort is located at 4100 SE Hwy 101, Lincoln City OR 97367. For more information go to www.premierrvresorts.com and click on the Lincoln City, Oregon button. To register for this event, contact chapter secretary Barb Pace at barbpace1@msn.com and then send a deposit check payable to ORVW to chapter treasurer June Willoughby at 1101 Fulton Avenue, Coos Bay OR 97420. 14–17 Great Lakers Chapter: Mackinaw City, Michigan. Tee Pee Campground. This is our Tip of the Mitt rally. Join us for a weekend of excitement and sightseeing as we tour historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, take on a fun adventure course, and travel back in time to Mackinac Island. (Mackinac is the French spelling and is pronounced as mack-in-awe.) Our campground is located right on Lake Huron and is just one-quarter mile from downtown Mackinaw City. We will enjoy views of the Mighty Mac—the bridge connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan—and Mackinac Island. Campsites are $100 for three (3) nights with a $40 deposit. The Good Sam rate is $90. Tee Pee Campground is holding 30 sites for us until May www.rvingwomen.org 1; after that date, sites will be booked as available. To make reservations, call (231) 436-5391. During the off-season, you may need to leave a message, and they will get back to you. When you call, be sure to mention that you are with RVing Women. If you must cancel, contact the campground at least one week prior to arrival; there is a $10 cancellation fee. Tee Pee Campground is located at 11262 W. US 23, Mackinaw City MI 49701. More information about this campground is available at www. teepeecampground.com. The Mackinac Island tour will be on Friday. Nestled in the straits of Mackinac where the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan meet, Mackinac Island is a national historic landmark. Cars are prohibited on the island. Travel is by horse-drawn carriage, bicycle or foot. Mackinac Island is a great place for all persons with or without disabilities. There are amigo electric carts, adult strollers and carriages designed for persons who are unable to walk or walk long distances. Information can be found at www.mackinacisland.org. Our adventure tour and visit to historic Mill Creek Discovery Park will be on Saturday. The cost for admission to the park is $8. The adventure tour is an additional $7. In the park, we will experience nature trails and interactive exhibits, see a sawmill demonstration, hear the rush of water powering a reconstructed sawmill and participate in the sawpit method of making lumber. The guided adventure tour includes the Eagles Flight Zip Line, Forest Canopy Bridge, and a 50-foot nature trail climbing wall. For participation in the adventure tour, there is a 50 to 250 pounds limit, and you will need to wear tennis shoes or other strapped-on type shoes. Mill Creek Discovery Park has something for everyone, so plan to tour the park whether or not you feel the need for the adrenaline rush provided by the optional adventure tour. More inforfmation can be found at www.mackinacparks.com/historicmill-creek-discovery-park. There are many wonderful sightseeing opportunities in this area. You may want to come early and/or stay longer. If so, please book your campsite early as this rally is during their prime time. More information about Mackinaw City is available at www.mackinawcity.com. René Gray, Pat Reader, Gayle Bennett and Karen Lentz are rally hosts for this event. After you have made campsite reservations, please RSVP to René at kixs42@mail.com. Also let her know if you are planning to participate in the Mackinac Island tour, the visit to Mill Creek Discovery Park and/or adventure tour. You will not be committing to anything at this point, but your early response will allow us to book guaranteed times and may get us a discount. continued on page 58 RVW | January/February 2011 | 57 CALENDAR OF EVENTS | 15–17 MidAtlantic Chapter: Egg Harbor, New Jersey. Holly Acres RV Park. This is our Red, White and Blue Weekend. We will be celebrating the spirit of Independence Day with bocce ball, card games, mini golf, kayaking and chilling out under the Jersey pines. The rally registration fee for this event is $12/ person ($11 for the rally and $1 for the chapter). For information about this rally and campsite reservations, contact Katie Head at kheadpa@aol. com or Ruth Shiers at rshierspa@aol.com. 16–Sep. 1 Fantasy RV Tours: Heart of Alaska Tour. Exclusive for RVW members. See page 48. 21–24 Ohio River Valley Chapter: New Paris, Ohio. Natural Springs Resort. This resort offers fishing, swimming, kayaking, paddle boating and scuba diving. Area attractions include the Annie Oakley center at the Garst Museum and the KitchenAid factory in Greenville, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, the Dayton Aviation National Historic Site and the Carillon Historical Park and Sun Watch Indian Village/Archaeological Park. Plan to arrive on Thursday if possible. Friday activities will include a KitchenAid factory tour. We will carpool from the campground at 9:15 a.m. The cost for the tour is $5. All participants must wear closed toe and heel shoes—tennis shoes are okay, but no sandals. The KitchenAid Factory Store offers cooking demos at 10:30 a.m. Participants can make their own apple dumplings and top them off with ice cream. After the tour, folks can go to the Garst Museum. Admission is free on Saturdays. Friday night, we will have dinner at Baumbach’s, an award winning barbecue restaurant just down the street from our resort. Members who have not visited RV dealers in Ohio and Indiana can do that on Friday or Saturday. There are dealerships about 30 minutes from the campground. They also have RV parts. We will have a Mexican themed pitch-in dinner Saturday night. Make your own campsite reservations online at www.naturalspringsresort.com or by phone at (888) 330-5771 or (937) 437-5771. Reserve before March 1, and be sure to mention that you are with RVing Women so that you can be included in the sites being reserved for us. Our group of 10 or more rigs will receive a 10 percent discount. After you have made reservations, please send an email to victoria.eident@sbcglobal.net so the rally hosts will know you plan to attend. 22–24 Cascadia Chapter: Olympia, Washington. Lost Lake Resort. For rally information and to register, go the Events page at www.cascadiarvw.com. TBA FreeWheelers Chapter: Cisco Grove, C alifornia. Debbie Hurrle and Margot Jordan are rally hosts for this event. For information, email sassys1095@aol.com. 58 | January/February 2011 | RVW AUGUST 2011 4–7 Rocky Mountain Chapter: Ouray, Colorado. Ridgway State Park. Join us for a corny weekend to celebrate the Olathe Sweet Corn Festival and soak in Ouray’s famous hot springs. Campsites are $14 to $22/night. For reservations (available after February 4), go online to www.parks.state.co.us or call (303) 470-1144 or (800) 678-2267. Joanne Mallett and Judy Hashem are rally hosts for this event. They will be at site 213 (Loop F) in the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk camping area. For information, judyhashemj@gmail.com. 4-8 FreeWheelers Chapter: Graeagle, California. Clio’s Rivers Edge RV Park. Celia Buckley and Marion Randall are rally hosts for this event. For rally information, email trysted@comcast.net. Information about this park is available at www. riversedgervpark.net. 12–14 Oregon Chapter: Blue River, Oregon. Holiday Farm RV Resort. Dixie Evers and Joyce Pickens are the rally hosts for this event. Campsites are $35/night, refundable for cancellations made at least 72 hours in advance. This park does not accept checks. To reserve your campsite, call the park at (542) 822-3726 before June 12. Holiday Farm RV Resort is located at 54455 McKenzie River Drive, Blue River OR 97413. For more information about this resort, go to www. holidayfarmrvresort.com. To register for this event, contact chapter secretary Barb Pace at barbpace1@msn.com and then send a deposit check payable to ORVW to chapter treasurer June Willoughby at 1101 Fulton Avenue, Coos Bay OR 97420. 19–21 Great Lakers Chapter and Ohio River Valley Chapter: Chesterton, Indiana. Indiana Dunes State Park. Join our two chapters for a wonderful rally experience. Indiana Dunes State Park offers Lake Michigan beaches and great hiking and nature trails. Planned activities will be announced. Campsites at this park can accommodate rigs up to 45 feet and all have 50-amp electric service, but no water or sewer hookups. Fresh water hydrants and a dump station are available. We will try to group our sites together at the east end of the east loop, so try to reserve a site toward the lower end of the range of #121–130 or in #90–99. Reservations can be made online at www.camp. in.gov (there is a campground map to help you choose a site) or by calling (866) 622-6746. Reservations can be made six months in advance, i.e. beginning February 19. Reserve early; this campground fills up fast every weekend in the summer. After you have reserved your campsite, please also RSVP to rally host Carole Goodwin and Renee DeMar. Call (708) 285-5244 or (708) 3735607 or email caroleagoodwin@sbcglobal.net. 22–26 National RVW RV Maintenance Boot Camp: Brownsville, Oregon. See page 47. www.rvingwomen.org | CALENDAR OF EVENTS 26–28 Cascadia Chapter: Tokeland, Washington. Bayshore RV Park. To register, go the Events page at www.cascadiarvw.com. TBA Mid-America Chapter: Branson, Missouri. JoBeth Griffin and Catherine Dale are hosting this rally. They can be reached at jbgcwd@aol.com. TBA MidAtlantic Chapter: Urbanna, Virginia. Bethpage Campground. The rally registration fee for this event is $12/ person ($11 for the rally and $1 for the chapter). Cindy Hoernlein and Nancy Daves are rally hosts for this event. For information, contact Cindy at cin1155@aol.com or (732) 233-5546 or Nancy at nanedav@aol.com or (732) 233-5541. SEPTEMBER 2011 9–11 Great Lakers Chapter: Cedar Springs, Michigan. Lakeside Camp Park. Activities in this area include golfing, kayaking and canoeing. There is a five-acre private lake in the campground stocked with trout, bass, catfish and perch. No fishing license is required. There is a daily limit of three trout and bass per campsite. Friday night supper, on your own, just might include fish! We have reserved the recreation hall for both Friday and Saturday nights. On Saturday, Shirley McMahan will lead us as we plan for the RVW convention in Goshen, Indiana. We will stop in the afternoon so fans can watch the University of Michigan/Notre Dame football game on the big screen TV in the recreation hall. Sometime during the day, we will have a chapter meeting to discuss summer plans for 2012. If you would like to organize a rally, come prepared to suggest the month you prefer. In the evening, we will go out to eat supper together. On Sunday, Lakeside Camp Park will serve its traditional Sunday-after-Labor-Day pancake and sausage breakfast. Less than $3 buys you three sausage links and unlimited pancakes, juice and coffee. In case you didn’t get your fill of fishing, golfing, kayaking, canoeing, or just chilling in the campground, this will be your day to catch up. Lakeside Camp Park has earned a four-star Woodalls rating. More information about this park is available at www.lakesidecamppark.com. The regular rate for campsites at Lakeside Camp Park is $31.50/night for water/sewer/ electric and $28.50/night for water/electric. We have reserved several campsites, which will be held until August 1, and have been granted a 10 percent discount, so be sure to mention RVing Women when you make reservations. To reserve, call the park at (616) 696-1735. Reservations cannot be made online. Reservations can be cancelled with no penalty up to one week before your arrival date. Lakeside Camp Park is located north of Grand Rapids. From US 131 (Exit 104) and Hwy 46 (17 Mile Road), go 1/4 mile south on White Creek Avenue and enter on the right. www.rvingwomen.org For rally information, contact Rachel Brett Harley at rachelbrett.harley@emich.edu or (734) 945-5942. Please also RSVP to Rachel when you make your campground reservation. 9–11 Oregon Chapter: Lakeside, Oregon. North Lake RV Resort and Marina. Tully Strong, Linda Waterman and Barbara Davey are rally hosts for this event. Campsites are $28/night, refundable for cancellations made at least two weeks in advance. To reserve your campsite, call the park at (541) 759-3515 before August 9. The address for North Lake RV Park, located right on the lake, 2090 North lake Road, Lakeside OR 97449. For more information, go to www. northlakeresort.com. To register for this event, contact chapter secretary Barb Pace at barbpace1@msn.com and then send a deposit check payable to ORVW to chapter treasurer June Willoughby at 1101 Fulton Avenue, Coos Bay OR 97420. 14–18 Florida Chapter: Lakeland, Florida. Carefree Lakeland Resort. We have planned a Saturday night potluck and several games for this weekend. For details, visit www.flrvw.org. Carefree Lakeland Resort is located at 900 Old Combee Road, Lakeland FL 33805. The phone number is (863) 687-6146. Information is available at www.lakelandrvresort.com. Rally hosts for this event are HJ Cougan, Carol Welsh, Angela Clark and Sonia Cook. 15–18 Mid-America Chapter: Springfield, Illinois. Springfield KOA. Springfield is the heart of Illinois wine country, the state capitol, and the home of Abraham Lincoln country. We are planning tours of the 16th president’s home and law offices, the old state capitol building where he served in the legislature, and the Lincoln library and museum. Campsites are $35/night. Pricing and scheduling of tours will be announced. For information, contact rally hosts Sandy Ferris and Cathy Allen. Call(618) 498-1721 or email smferris@hughes.net. 23–25 Cascadia Chapter: Leavenworth, Washington. Icicle River RV Park. To register, go the Events page at www.cascadiarvw.com. OCTOBER 2011 6–9 FreeWheelers Chapter: Red Bluff, California. Durango RV Resort. Beverly Smith and Faye Mendenhall are rally hosts for this event. For information, email beadsmythe@yahoo.com. 7–9 Oregon Chapter: Brookings, Oregon. Driftwood RV Park. Oregon Chapter officers are hosting this event. Campsites are currently $25.25/night but might increase slightly by the time of this rally. There are restrictions on some pets; if you have a pit bull, Rottweiler or German Shepherd or large mixed breed pet, call the park at (541 469-9089 to discuss their pet policy. continued on page 60 RVW | January/February 2011 | 59 Driftwood RV Park is located at 16011 Lower Harbor Road, Brookings OR 97415. For more information, go to www.driftwoodrvpark.com. To register for this event, contact chapter secretary Barb Pace at barbpace1@msn.com and then send a deposit check payable to ORVW to chapter treasurer June Willoughby at 1101 Fulton Avenue, Coos Bay OR 97420. The registration deadline is August 7. 12–16 National RVW Convention: Goshen, Indiana. Elkhart County Fairgrounds. Details will follow. 21–23 Cascadia Chapter: Castle Rock, Washington. Toutle River RV Park. To register, go the Events page at www.cascadiarvw.com. NOVEMBER 2011 10–13 Florida Chapter: Titusville, Florida. Manatee Hammock. This Brevard County park is located on the Indian River with its own 197-foot fishing pier. A tour will be offered at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum with a group rate for 10 or more of $10 each. We can also explore nearby Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge for free, walk the Atlantic coast or visit shops at Cocoa Beach. We also will hold our annual meeting at this rally. In order to reserve 25 campsites at this park, we must collect and pay for the sites 30 days in advance. Campsite rates, payments and other details will follow. The park offers full hookups, restrooms, hot showers, laundry facilities, a recreation room and a pavilion near the water. Information about this park is available at www. campingspacecoast.com/manateehammock. For rally information, contact host Alice Stremick at alstrem@aol.com or (386) 562-6011. 11–13 MidAtlantic Chapter: Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Old Mill Stream Campground. Join us for our annual turkey celebration. For campsite reservations, call Old Mill Stream Campground at (717) 299-2314 or (866) 386-2839. Make your reservations early, and be sure to mention that you are joining the MidAtlantic Chapter RVW rally. Information about this campground is available at www. oldmillstreamcampground.com. The rally registration fee for this event is $12/ person ($11 for the rally and $1 for the chapter). For rally information, contact host Lynda Ippolito at (610) 657-3771 or lyppo@yahoo.com. APRIL 2012 7–May 27 Fantasy RV Tours: Australia and New Zealand by RV. Exclusive for RVW members. See page 49. Updates to this calendar are published online at www.rvingwomen.org 60 | January/February 2011 | RVW Please Support Our Advertisers AM Solar.................................................................... 35 www.amsolar.com Badges R Us............................................................... 35 www.badges-r-us.com Born Free Motorcoach.............................................. 37 www.dodgen-bornfree.com Brazel's RV Performance............................................ 17 www.brazelsrv.com Coach-Net................................................................. 31 www.coach-net.com East Valley RV Specialists.............................back cover www.eastvalleyrv.com Fan-Tastic Vent.......................................................... 38 www.fantasticvent.com Fantasy RV Tours/Heart of Alaska Tour.................... 48 |www.fantasyrvtours.com Fantasy RV Tours/Australia and New Zealand.......... 49 www.fantasyrvtours.com Henderson's Line-Up, Brake & RV............................ 51 www.hendersonslineup.com Miller Insurance............................... inside front cover www.millerrvinsurance.com No Freeze Water Hose............................................... 41 www.nofreezehose.com Pickleball Source....................................................... 53 www.pickleballsource.com Redlands Truck & RV Performance Center............... 17 www.redlandstruckservice.com RV Bookstore.com..................................................... 29 www.rvbookstore.com Seven Feathers Casino Resort................................... 39 www.sevenfeathersrvresort.com Sheridan Designs....................................................... 34 sheri@sheridandesignsonline.com TNT RV Tours LLC.................................................... 36 www.tntrvtours.com Torklift Central.......................................................... 23 www.torklift.com/rvw Please let the manufacturers, retailers, mechanics and service providers you patronize, and the campgrounds and resorts you visit, know that you are a member of RVing Women. Our sponsors and advertisers especially need to know that our members appreciate their support. For display advertising, contact Karlene Field (206) 909-2607 — karly55@aol.com www.rvingwomen.org Classifieds EMPLOYMENT GREAT JOBS in great places! We’ve helped more than 70,000 RVers find part-time and full-time jobs in parks, resorts, campgrounds, theme parks, etc. Call 1(800) 446-5627 for a free brochure or visit www.workamper.com. TRAVEL & RESOURCES IF YOU MOVE during the year because of travel or seasonal changes in your residence, please notify the RVW office each time you move (include your full name, membership number, previous address and new address). We maintain only one address for you at any one given time and assume it is your current address. Call (888) 557-8464 or (480) 671-6226 or email rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org. IS IT TIME TO RENEW? RVW membership renewals are due on the anniversary date of your current membership, as shown on your membership card. To inquire about the status of your membership, call (480) 671-6226 or (888) 557-8464 or send an email to rvwoffice@ rvingwomen.org. SNOWBIRD MAIL & MESSAGE. Owned and operated by women. Reliable mail forwarding. Plans from $18/month to $150/year. Call (800) 800-0710, email info@snowbirdmail. com or see www.snowbirdmail.com. SAME SEX MARRIAGE. Heading through Connecticut? Get married in one day. No residency requirement—just your photo id. Top JP in CT on Tyra Banks show May 2010 performing wedding. See testimonials www.ct-jp.com. Have your special wedding on the beach or in a beautiful park. Digital photos included— receive within 24 hours. Can park smaller rigs. Walmart allows overnight stays. Call Mary Pugh (203) 838-1038 or email mary@ct-jp. com. Ask for RVW discount! FOR SALE: 2009 CAVCO DESERT Classic park model at the Pueblo. Near activities center, on back wall. Maximum insulation. Upgraded AC/HT. Smart panel siding. 1,200 sqare foot awning totally covers home, driveway and shed. Two 6' x 30' metal privacy/shade panels. Open floor plan. Large bathroom. Tons of closets/ storage. Ceiling fans. Oak cabinets. Built-in microwave. Fully furnished with Lift 'n Store queen bed. Leather sectional. 32" mounted LCD TV. Lamps, linens, dishes, etc. $125,000 firm. Call Kay at (805) 550-2914. PUEBLO LOT 84. Oversized, landscaped corner lot. Park model, deck, A/C, shed, washer/ dryer. $165,000. (307) 765-2980. WASHINGTON PROPERTIES DISCOVERY BAY RESORT on the North Olympic Peninsula overlooks the water: We have RV lots for rent and sale; also lots for sale with park models, park trailers, fifth wheels and travel trailers. Some for rent. Many amenities in the park and nearby. See why like-minded women are year-round residents as well as snowbirds. Contact ruthmessing@yahoo.com or call (360) 683-8246. ARIZONA PROPERTIES Special Deal for Members Pay for 2 Classified Ads Get the Third One FREE! Place Your Ad Online at www.RVingWomen.org for Just 70 Cents More. RVING WOMEN MAGAZINE DEADLINES THE DEADLINE DATES for each issue of RVing Women magazine for rally and event announcements, chapter news reports, articles, and classified ads are listed below. January 25 March 25 May 25 July 25 September 25 November 20 March/April May/June July/August September/October November/December January/February To submit articles, photos or announcements, email rvweditor@rvingwomen.org or send to RVW Editor, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117-1940. Articles must be relevant in some way to RVing. A primary consideration is to include information that will be helpful to other RVers. Our classified ad rate is just 80 cents per word. To place your classified ad in our March/April 2011 issue, mail or email your ad to arrive by January 25. We cannot guarantee placement in the next issue for ads received after the deadline date. You also may place your ad online at www.rvingwomen.org for just 80 cents per word—or maximize your exposure and place your ad in both the magazine and online for $1.50 per word. You may include color photos online for $5 per photo. As always, if you are an RVW member you can buy placement for two issues and get the third issue free. That gives you a presence in the magazine and online for a full 6 months! Mail ad copy with your payment to RVing Women, P.O. Box 1940, Apache Junction AZ 85117 or email to rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org. Be sure to type or print clearly, include your first and last name and a contact phone number and enclose a check (or credit card authorization) made payable to RVW. You may also place your ad online at www.rvingwomen.org for just 70 cents more. All classified ads are set uniformly with lead words in bold caps. Type variations, abnormal capitalizations and illustrations are not included. Counting words: Two initials are considered one word. Figures consisting of a dollar sign and numerals are considered one word. Zip code is one word and must appear in every ad with an address. City names consisting of two or more words are considered one word (i.e., New York or Salt Lake City). Phone number with area code is considered one word. Web and email addresses each count as one word. RVing Women is not responsible for the products, advice or services offered in ads published in this magazine and does not endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, advice or services offered. All real estate advertising in this publication is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin or any intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” www.rvingwomen.org RVW | January/February 2011 | 61 Recalls Recall: Norcold Refrigerators Dutchmen Mfg. Inc.—Grand Junction (2008–2011), Voltage (2011) Featherlite Inc.—Featherlite Trailer (2000, 2004, 2006, 2009) Foretravel Inc.—Foretravel U320 (1998–1999, 2001–2002) Gulf Stream Coach Inc.—Atrium (2002–2005), Aztec (2010), Canyon Trail (2002, 2006–2008, 2010), Friendship (1997– 2007), Independence (2000–2010), Mako (2001–2010), Prairie Schooner (2000–2010), Scenic Cruiser (1997–2005), Sun Voyager (2003–2010), Tourmaster (2001–2002, 2005–2008), Tourmaster Elite (2000–2001), Yellowstone (2000–2010) Keystone RV Co.—Fuzion (2010–2011), Montana (2007– 2011), Montana High Country (2010–2011), Montana Big Sky (2007–2011), Raptor (2011) Navistar Inc.—Holiday Rambler Endeavor (2010–2011), Holiday Rambler Neptune (2010–2011), Monaco Camelot (2010), Monaco Knight (2009), Monaco Coach Cayman (2009–2011), Monaco Coach Diplomat (2010–2011), Monaco RV Admiral (2010–2011), Monaco RV Monarch (2009–2011), Safari Coach Simba Diesel (2008) Nu Wa Industries Inc.—Campers LS (2008), Champagne Edition (2003–2011), Discover America (2008–2011), Premier (2006) Open Range RV—Open Range (2009–2011), Residential (2009–2011), Rolling Thunder (2009–2011) Peterson Industries Inc.—Classic (2001), Excel Classic (2005), Excel Limited (2001, 2003–2011), Wild Cargo (2010) Thor Motor Coach—Damon Astoria Pacific (2005–2009), Damon Essence (2008), Damon Tuscany (2005–2009), Four Winds Mandalay (2004–2009), Four Winds Presidio (2004– 2008) Four Winds Serrano (2009–2011), Four Winds Valencia (2006–2007), Four Winds Windsport (2006–2007) Tiffin Motorhomes Inc.—Allegro (2007–2010), Phaeton (2007–2010), Zephyr (2007–2010) Defect: Refrigerators installed in the RVs listed above have been recently added to the expanded recall of Norcold refrigerators. The affected refrigerators use either a sensing algorithm or thermal switch to shut off power to the refrigerator when high temperatures are detected in order to prevent a potential fire. The response times of the sensor algorithm and thermal switch devices are not sufficient and may not shut off in time to prevent a fire. Remedy: The manufacturers are working with Norcold to identify and notify any affected owners. Owners will be instructed to contact Norcold dealers to receive the remedy free of charge. Owners may contact Norcold at (800) 767-9101. Dutchmen (574) 537-0700 [Recall No. 10V565000], Featherlite at (877) 903-1444 [Recall No. 10V573000], Foretravel (936) 564-8367 [Recall No. 10V572000], Gulfstream (574) 773-7761 {Recall No. 10V584000], Keystone (866) 452-4369 [Recall No. 10V587000], Navistar [Recall No. 10V588000], NuWa (800) 835-0676 [Recall No. 10V609000], Open Range [Recall No. 10V524000], Peterson (785) 282-6825 [Recall No. 10V612000], Thor Motor Coach (877) 855-2867 [Recall No. 10V563000], Tiffin (256) 356-8661 [Recall No. 50V585000]. Recall: Frame Flexing at Center Axle Keystone RV Co.—Montana (2011) Defect: Under certain side load stress conditions, the frame on some fifth wheels may exhibit excessive flexing at the area of the center axle spring hangers. Remedy: Keystone will install a cross member between the center spring hangers free of charge. Owners may contact Keystone at (866) 425-4369 [Recall No. 10V570000]. 62 | January/February 2011 | RVW Recall: Dimplex Electraflame / Symphony / Optiflame Breckenridge—102S (2002–2010), Bayridge (2002–2010), Fineline Cottage (2002–2010), LE (2002–2010), Perfect Cottage (2002–2010), SE (2002–2010), Xtendable (2002–2010) Carriage Inc.—Cameo (2002–2010), Carri-Lite (2002–2008), Carriage (2004), Compass (2005–2006), Royals (2004) Crossroads RV—All American (2002–2003), Hampton (2008– 2011), Kingston (2008–2010), Paradise Pointe (2002–2008), Seville (2008–2011), Silverado (2003–2006), Tranquility (2009–2011), Zinger (2010–2011) Double Tree RV—Elite (2003–2004), Mobile (2003–2004), Select Suite (2003–2004) Forest River Inc.—Berkshire (2007), Cardinal (2001–2005), Cedar Creek (2003–2006, 2009), Charleston (2004–2005, 2007), Flagstaff (2005, 2007), Georgetown (2001–2005), Rockwood (2005, 2007), Salem (2004, 2007), Salem LE (2007), Sandpiper (2004), Sierra (2004), Wildwood LE (2007) Keystone RV Co.—Everest (2003–2004), Montana (2001– 2005), Montana Big Sky (2001–2005) King of the Road—Crown (2005), Genesis (2006), Royal Villa (2005–2007), Royalite (2005) KZRV—New Vision (2005–2006), Sportsmen (2002–2004), Stoneridge (2009), Escalade (2005, 2008–2009), Montego Bay (2008–2009), Sportster (2009) Navistar Inc.—Holiday Rambler Alumascape (2009), Holiday Rambler Ambassador (2009), Monaco Coach Diplomat (2010), Monaco Coach Knight (2010) New Horizons RV—Majestic (2009) Newmar Corp.—Cypress (2006–2008), Essex (2006–2007), Kountry Aire (2004–2005, 2008–2009), Kountry Star (2004– 2005), Mountain Aire (2002–2005), Mountain Aire Diesel (2006), Torrey Pine (2006–2009) Sunnybrook RV Inc.—Bristol Bay (2006–2009), Titan (2003– 2009), West Pointe (2009) Universal Trailer Corp.—Cherokee (2008), Cimarron (2008), Elite (2008) Exiss/Sooner (2004–2008), Featherlite (2004–2008) Additional RV manufacturers affected by this recall were listed in our November/December 2010 issue. Defect: On certain RVs equipped with Dimplex Electraflame, Symphony or Optifame electric fireplaces, stoves or fireplace inserts, the plug-in remote control receiver can overheat, and a fire could result. Remedy: The manufacturers are working with Dimplex and will provide owners with a free replacement plug-in remote control kit. Owners may contact Dimplex at (888) 346-7539. Breckenridge {Recall No. 10V437000], Carriage [Recall No. 10V484000], Crossroads (888) 226-7496 [Recall No. 10V505000], Double Tree [Recall No. 10V456000], Dutchmen [Recall No. 10V428000], Forest River [Recall No. 10V454000], Keystone (866) 452-4369 [Recall No. 10V521000], King of the Road (800) 400-9840 [Recall No. 10V557000], Navistar [Recall No. 10V455000], New Horizons [Recall No. 10V443000], Newmar [Recall No. 10V434000], Sunnybrook [Recall No. 10V520000], Universal (405) 422-7359 [Recall No. 10V615000]. Recall: Dexter Axles Heartland RV—Big Country (2011), Big Horn (2011), Cyclone (2011), Landmark (2011), Road Warrior (2011) Jayco Inc.—Pinnacle (2011) Defect: On certain fifth wheels equipped with Dexter axles, cracks could appear in the spindle weld. The spindle could detach from axle tube, resulting in the separation of the wheel end from the vehicle. Remedy: The RV manufacturers are working with Dexter Axle and will inspect the axle serial number and replace the axle if it falls within the serial number range. Owners may contact Heartland at (800) 400-2164 [Recall No. 10V461000] or Jayco at (800) 283-8267 [Recall No. 10V469000]. www.rvingwomen.org Recall: Atwood 35 Series Range Ovens Coachmen RV Co.—Brookstone (2011), Chaparral (2011), Northridge (2011) Crossroads RV—Sunset Trail (2011), Zinger (2011) Dutchmen Mfg.—Voltage (2011) Eclipse RV—Attitude (2011), Milan (2011), Stellar (2011) Evergreen RV—Ever-Lite (2011) Fleetwood RV Inc.—Jamboree (2011), Jamboree Sport (2011), Storm (2011), Terra (2011), Tioga (2011), Tioga Ranger (2011) Heartland RV—North Country (2011) Jayco Inc.Eagle (2011), Eagle Super Lite (2011), Greyhawk Class C (2011), Jay Feather (2011), Jay Feather Select (2011), Jay Feather Sport (2011), Jay Flight (2011), Jay Flight G2 (2011), Pinnacle (2011), Recon ZX (2011) Keystone RV Co.—Avalanche (2011), Bullet (2011), Cougar (2011), Energy (2011), Fuzion (2011), Hideout (2011), Hornet (2011), Laredo (2011), Montana (2011), Montana High Country (2011), Mountaineer (2011), Outback (2011), Passport (2011), Raptor (2011), Residence (2011), Retreat (2011), Springdale (2011), Sprinter (2011), Summerland (2011) Lance Camper Mfg.—Lance 1685 (2011), Lance 1881 (2011), Lance 2285 (2011), Lance 850 (2011), Lance 992 (2011) Navistar Inc.—Bison Stratus (2011), Bison Stratus Express (2011), McKenzie Ion (2011), Monaco Monarch (2011), Monaco Riptide (2011), R-Vision Trail Sport (2011) Newmar Corp.—Bay Star (2011) Open Range RV Co.—Journeyer (2011), Open Range (2011), Roamer (2011) Prime Time Mfg.—Prime Time (2011) Skyline Corp.—Aljo (2011), Layton (2011), Nomad (2011) Starcraft RV Inc.—Autumn Ridge (2011), Lexion S-Lite (2011), Travel Star (2011), Travel Star Exp (2011), Travel Star Exp Sport (2011) Sunnybrook RV Inc.—Edgewater (2011), Harmony (2011), Sunset Creek (2011) Tiffin Motorhomes Inc.—Allegro (2011), Allegro Bus (2011), Phaeton (2011) Defect: On certain RVs equipped with Atwood 35 Series range ovens, a potential exists for a small fracture within the line delivering gas to the oven cavity burner. This may cause a propane leak and could result in a fire or explosion. Remedy: The manufacturers are working with Atwood and will replace or repair the stoves free of charge. Owners may contact Atwood at (574) 266-4749. Coachmen (574) 825-8360 [Recall No. 10V508000], Crossroads (888) 226-7496 [Recall No. 10V495000], Dutchmen (866) 869-1109 [Recall No. 10V494000], Eclipse (951) 684-6868 [Recall No. 10V509000], Evergreen (574) 825-4298 [Recall No. 10V510000], Fleetwood [Recall No. 10V539000], Heartland (877) 262-8032 [Recall No. 10V493000], Jayco (574) 825-0608 [Recall No. 10V500000], Keystone (866) 425-4369 [Recall No. 10V478000), Lance [Recall No. 10V531000], Navistar [Recall No. 10V583000], Newmar (574) 773-7791 [Recall No. 10V497000], Open Range [Recall No. 10V498000], Prime Time (574) 862-3033 [Recall No. 10V544000], Skyline (574) 294-6521 [Recall No. 10V533000], Starcraft (800) 945-4787 [Recall No. 10V502000], Sunnybrook (574) 825-5250 [Recall No. 10V522000], Tiffin [Recall No. 10V512000]. Recall: Lippert Axles Nu Wa Industries Inc.—Custom Campers (2006–2007) Defect: Certain travel trailers with Lippert Axles may contain misaligned welds attaching the axle spindle to the axle tube. The wheel assembly could separate from the trailer. Remedy: Nu Wa is working with Lippert to inspect and replace axles found to be defective free of charge. Owners may contact Lippert at (877) 870-4900 [Recall No. 10V448000]. www.rvingwomen.org Recall: Siemens and Murray Plug-in Circuit Breakers Coachmen RV Co.—Cross Country (2011), Encounter (2011), Mirada (2011), Pathfinder (2011) Dutchmen Mfg. Inc.—Aerolite (2011), Coleman (2011), Colorado (2011), Denali (2011), Dutchmen (2011), Four Winds (2011), Grand Junction (2011), Kodiak (2011), Voltage (2011) Keystone RV Co.—Cougar (2011), Fuzion (2011), Sprinter (2011) Defect: On certain travel trailers equipped with Siemens and Murray one inch plug-in circuit breakers, the spring clip plugin assembly may break or fail to provide sufficient force to maintain a proper electrical connection in the panel board. This could lead to excessive temperature, arcing or thermal damage at the connection point and could damage the panel board's electrical insulation. A fire could result. Remedy: Dealers will inspect the breakers and replace as necessary free of charge. Owners may contact Coachmen at (800) 4536064 [Recall No. 10V433000], Dutchmen at (574) 537-0700 [Recall No. 10V589000], Keystone at (866) 425-4369 [Recall No. 10V606000]. Recall: Wheel Welds Coachmen RV Co.—Catalina (2011), Freedom Express (2011) Heartland RV—Caliber (2011), Elk Ridge (2011), Focus (2011), MPG (2011), North Country (2011), North Trail (2011), Sundance (2011), Trail Runner (2011) Keystone RV Co.—Cougar (2011), Energy (2011), Hornet (2011), Laredo (2011), Outback (2011), Springdale (2011), Sprinter (2011) Skyline Corp.—Aljo (2011), Layton (2011), Mountain View (2011), Nomad (2011), Weekend (2011) Defect: On certain travel trailers and fifth wheels with 15-inch painted spoke or modular design steel wheels, some of the wheels may have inadequate weld penetration between the outer ring and the center plate due to improper plate alignment. The wheels could break while in use. Remedy: The manufacturers will replace the wheels free of charge. Owners may contact Heartland at (877) 262-8032 [Recall No. 10V607000] or Skyline at (800) 733-4250 [Recall No. 10V592000]. Recall: Generator Transfer Switch Keystone RV Co.—Alpine (2010–2011), Avalanche (2010– 2011), Challenger (2009–2010), Everest (2009–2010), Fuzion (2009–2011), Montana (2009–2011), Montana High Country (2010–2011), Montana Big Sky (2009–2011), Montana Mountaineer (2010–2011), Raptor (2009–2011) Defect: On certain fifth wheels with a generator ready option, the transfer switch may not be installed to the proper specification, and the elevated electrical loads associated with the RV use in higher ambient temperature may cause overheating of the lugs and degrading of the electrical connections. This could result in a fire. Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transfer switch if necessary free of charge. Owners may contact Keystone at (866) 425-4369 [Recall No. 10V594000]. Recall: LP Pipe Assembly Heartland RV—Caliber (2011) Defect: Certain travel trailers have the potential for the suspension to contact the liquid propane (LP) pipe under the trailer. This could damage the LP pipe and result in a gas leak or fire. Remedy: Dealers will move the LP pipe away from the suspension to prevent contact and replace any damaged pipe free of charge. Owners may contact Heartland at (877) 262-8032 [Recall No. 10V451000]. RVW | January/February 2011 | 63 PHOTO FEATURE | Category: RVing Winner Shelly Haley Picture Perfect Outing (featured on our cover) Runner Up Tammy Hanson Seward, Alaska Honorable Mention Dianne Walker Moonshine photo: Tammy Hanson photo: Dianne Walker 64 | January/February 2011 | RVW www.rvingwomen.org Dear Fellow RVers, e h t t e G right ... p o sco We Know the RV Lifestyle Get the right scoop... Education Makes the Road Safer Recreational Vehicles Travel Trailers Home Autos Renters Insurance Condominiums Manufactured Homes ATV’s Park Models Mobile Homes Stationary Trailers In-Home Business Boats Snowmobiles Motorcycles Personal Umbrella Medium Duty Tow Vehicles 5th Wheels RVeRS’ GOOD NeIGhBOR POlICy Some of the most respected RV consumer clubs have joined together to support your right to park on private businesses’ parking lots overnight under the following code of conduct: Industry-sanctioned Code of Conduct (RVers’ Good Neighbor Policy) 1. Stay one night only! 2. Obtain permission from a qualified individual. 3. Obey posted regulations. 4. No awnings, chairs, or barbecue grills. 5. Do not use hydraulic jacks on soft surfaces (including asphalt). 6. Always leave an area cleaner than you found it. 7. Purchase gas, food, or supplies as a form of thank you, when feasible. 8. Be safe! Always be aware of your surroundings and leave if you feel unsafe. If your plans include touring the area, staying for more than one night, or necessitate conduct not within the code, please relocate to a local campground. It’s the right thing to do! Most of the complaints lodged regarding RV parking on business parking lots have to do with aesthetics and perceived abuse of the privilege. There are a variety of competing interests that were balanced to arrive at this industry-sanctioned code of conduct. As you can see, the Code of Conduct is nothing more than an RVers’ “Good Neighbor” policy. Not following the code has serious consequences and is detrimental to the rights of all RVers. Already, some municipalities have passed ordinances to prohibit parking on private business property overnight. Please do not take offense to this letter; it is only provided as a reminder that RVers must be perceived as good neighbors, or there will be more pressure to institute state, county, and local ordinances to prohibit parking on private business property. We wish you safe and happy travels, Fire & Safety Training Courses Sponsored By Phone: 503.636.6347 • Fax: 503.699.9348 • Toll Free: 800.622.6347 5805 SW Willow Lane • Lake Oswego, OR 97035-5342 cheryl@MillerRVinsurance.com • www.MillerRVinsurance.com 094-0810 Your Complete RV Shop November/December 2010 MOTORHOMES • TRUCKS • TOTERS • TRAILERS FAMILY owned and operated since 1989! Service and Parts Owners: Dan and Sandy Reagles s ad i h t n o i Ment d save n a W V vice r e in R S r o t any Par n o 0 2 $ 00 Over $1 GAS OR DIESEL Large Service Bays to Handle the Biggest Rigs! *Warranty & Insurance Claims Accepted!* Trained & Certified Technicians R.V. Technicians • Chassis Technicians • Body/Collision & Paint Technicians Newell and Tiffin Warranty Center DON’T BE LEFT STRANDED ON THE ROAD. ASK US ABOUT OUR MOBILE TRUCK SERVICE. WE’RE HERE TO HELP! The LEADER in Customer Satisfaction! (480) 380-3801 Toll-free: 866.846.7726 Monday - Friday, 7:30AM to 5:00PM (AZ Mtn Time) 10020 E. Apache Trail • Apache Junction, AZ 85120 • www.eastvalleyrv.com Florida’s Cultural Coast RVW’s Open Road Program Vancouver Island in December www.RVingWomen.org