RVing Women - Recreation, Support, Information and Networking for Women RVers

Banning, California (May 1-6, 2008)

Members started arriving early Thursday morning at a cool Silent Valley Club at Poppet Flats for this event jointly sponsored by the SoCALjourners Chapter and Arizona Chapter. By late afternoon, over 33 members had arrived.

Members were treated to freshly grilled hamburgers and fixings provided by rally leaders Linda Brown and Barbara Roeder and co-leaders Marilyn Teresi and Connie Mantis. A special thanks to Mo and Jolene, the master grillers.

Rachel and Joel Harp were introduced. They provided on-site RV repair during the rally. Their work began before arrival, as members had already made arrangements for repairs. They got phone calls en route to help with refrigerator and water leak issues. They even stopped to pick up sewer adaptors when we discovered the campsite sewers provided us with a challenge.

Eleven more members rolled in on Friday. In the morning, Keith Shomaker from Redlands Truck Service spoke to us about the latest products in suspension, towing, braking systems, performance additions, and routine RV maintenance.

In the afternoon, Rachel Harp provided us with information on digital versus analog TV, new products, water and sewer basics, and the basics RVers need to have. A raffle provided us with special RV products donated by Rachel.

Our Friday nachos potluck featured the best member-created nachos and margaritas on the mountain. After dinner, we were treated to a concert from the Ukulele Lady and Her Friends.

Saturday brought clear skies and warmer temperatures�and 10 more members. A continental breakfast was provided by Keith Shomaker of Redlands Truck Service.

After breakfast, we gathered for a SoCALjourners and Arizona Chapter update meeting. Future chapter outings and national conventions were discussed. Suzanne Seay presented a seminar on investment basics, preparing for retirement, and healthcare and legal issues.

In the afternoon, Rachel Harp presented a seminar on battery basics and solar sizes and functions. Rachel provided another raffle of RV gifts. We ended with a brief walkabout with Rachel to our RVs.
Happy hour at 5 p.m. got us in the celebration mood. Most of us went out to enjoy a dinner of prime rib and chicken. A happy birthday song for Suzanne Seay topped off the dinner celebration. Members then enjoyed gathering outside, where there was a great band to entertain us. Many stayed for dancing under the stars.
Sunday morning, we gathered in the Big RV Circle for surprises and acknowledgements. Our newest fulltimers�Marilyn, Connie, Stephanie, and Patty�were given the Rand McNally Road Atlas (complete with Wal-Mart campground listings) and a Hose Buddy. The three members who signed up first were also given a Hose Buddy. Our thanks to this vendor for their donation to our chapter.

A gift of $100 was given to Rachel and Joel Harp on behalf of the attendees. A new big yellow wig was presented to Joel�now we will be able to find him more easily. Rachel and Joel drove over 700 miles one way to be here with us. Their knowledge and expertise is a true gift to all RVing Women members. We were honored to have them with us these few days.

The presentations were followed by a special card game by Donna and Irene.

In the afternoon, we were treated to another walkabout by Rachel. Members learned to change their own anode rod. Alice Dyer, whose rod had become a wire, was declared a winner.

In the evening we enjoyed a happy hour and leftovers potluck. The barbecue was fired up again. Many members continued talking under the stars. Some were later seen watching the finale of Survivor.

Monday, Cinco de Mayo, finally arrived! A light breakfast was prepared by Linda and Barbara. This was declared a rest and relax day. Women were seen playing miniature golf or billiards and enjoying the pool and spa. Some members left to donate money to the nearby casinos.

Redlands Truck Service returned, and some members got new shocks and air filters installed at their sites.
Arizona Chapter members prepared a wonderful dinner that evening, complete with mango margaritas, sangria, build-your-own tacos and other special Mexican dishes. Dessert was provided by the smashing of two pi�atas filled with candy.

A no campfires rule did not stop the ladies from talking into the night.

For four women, this rally was the stepping off point of their full-timing venture. It was a fantastic rally enjoyed by 55 women in 33 rigs. Our goal was to make this rally like a mini-convention, and I believe we succeeded.

We will be back next year, from April 30 to May 5, so mark your calendars for another great rally.�Linda C. Brown

Balancing Acts

Balancing is one of the key issues in our lives as RVing women, and as a board member of this chapter, I am happy to say that is exactly what this chapter has�balance. We come from all walks of life, so therefore we need something for everyone.

So in February we hosted our infamous laid-back rally at Caballo Loco near Tucson. The keys to this rally, above and beyond our great hostesses Annie Boisvert and Barbara Clark, were beautiful skies, sunsets, stargazing and, most of all, the sound of silence. Not to worry, we did have opportunities to become gold diggers, trade books and play a little pool and nickel and dime poker.

March brought us to our Saint Patrick�s Day rally in Laughlin, �Nevada. Our hosts Jolene Greeley and Lori Hagge and their helpers Nita Howard and Maureen �Hennessy kept us moving�starting with goody bags, a seafood buffet, champagne breakfast, a drawing where everyone was a winner�and now let�s take a breath and think about our four-legged friends�they got a walk down to the river and played in the water. The beat then goes on with our Ellen/ Oprah interview and once more a new member�Pennie Kubla�was chosen. Needless to say, she was a great sport!

One of the highlights of this rally was hearing Robin Merrill, author of �Some Like It Red Hot,� talk about her adventures. She was brought to us via one of our original members�thank you! Another highlight was a Chateau Cardboard wine tasting. Last, but not least, was our very own slam-dunk St. Patty�s Day potluck. Everyone outdid themselves.

April�s rally at Lee�s Ferry was a fantastic outdoor adventure. Betty Tunstall made good on her promise that we would enjoy a full moon rising over the vermillion cliffs, intricate mazes of canyons and delicate arches and massive rock monoliths.

Activities included fly fishing lessons, guided hikes to breathtaking sites, kayaking or canoeing the Colorado River, and listening to speakers talk about condors and the Lee�s Ferry area.

Plans of an authentic Navajo night and a rubber ducky race had to be adjusted somewhat; however we certainly know how to adjust to any given situation, and we did! A special thanks to our hostess Betty Tunstall and her team, which included Sharon Dewey and Donna Hutchison. And for jumping in and helping, thanks to Stephanie Tisdale and all the helpers at this rally!

To top off the versatility and balance in our rallies, in May we co-�hosted a rally with the SoCALjourners. Led by Linda Brown and Barbara Roeder, this rally was an absolute ball. We did it all�from education to dancing in the streets, sharing a great sit down dinner, beating up pi�ata�s and so much more.

A big thank you to SoCALjourners for all your hard work, and hugs from across the border! Balance is a good thing!�Marilyn Teresi

Boondocking Events

Ah, how sweet it is, just being out there not connected to anything. Yes, that is what our last three outings were. We started with our Thanksgiving rally in November, where the only thing connected were the �RVing Women that attended. We had a wonderful time discovering our imaginations and playing Pictionary. What a Thanksgiving chow down we had! Great potluck!

This was also our elections meeting. We elected a new activities chair to head up our activity committee.We also voted in our past treasurer and secretary for another term and, to complete our five-member board of directors, our membership chair and president chair each have one more year to their terms.

In December, we gathered for our Christmas rally. We shared stories and had our first Ellen/Oprah interview, which was quite interesting. One of our new members was interviewed by one of our been-around-for-a-long-time members (the names were picked out of a hat). The interview lasted for 15 minutes, and I must admit we all enjoyed it very much.

We also had our grab bag, which always brings the more unselfish, sharing, love-thy-other-member feelings out in us�oh yeah! And, of course, we will not forget our fantastic Christmas dinner.

Now, if you want to talk about the biggest connection with no connections event hosted by the Arizona Chapter, that would be our Quartzsite rally in January. We can only say thank you, thank you to our hostess with the mostest and to all her helpers!

There were RVing Women from all over the country and from England and Canada in attendance, and now we are all ready to go mining and looking for gold�thanks to Sandy. We also know what wine to bring�thanks to Marty. And, of course, all our rigs will be prepared to go anywhere and do anything for all the gadgets and clothing and supplies we purchased while we shopped till we dropped.

Last, but we all know this is most important, our auction raised more than $1,600 dollars for breast cancer. All of the items were donated by �RVing Women! Thank you one and all, and always remember: free to be you and me!�Marilyn Teresi

Lake Powell, Arizona (September 13-17, 2007)

This Arizona Chapter never ceases to amaze me. I have just learned, while camping at the eighth wonder of the world (Lake Powell), that my chapter is full of chameleons�those little critters that change colors�with one of our very own turning into a rock diva right before our very eyes in her fancy pink dress with black leather and a hot pink wig. Of course, we were all transformed in spirit back to the 50s, which was our theme for this rock �n roll rally. Yep, they jitterbugged, they played bingo, and we all went back in time and had what Mama used to make us for supper. For sure, the Grand Bowl in town learned a few things about creative bowling and form from our R&R gals.

That took up our evenings.

For the days, we saw our little creatures turn into the water, where they performed a water ballet for those around them. We have pictures! They were great! You think you know the expertise these RVing Women have on wheels. That�s nothing! You should see them on water skies and on the big tube�having fun, fun and more fun! And let�s not count out our fisherwomen, who brought dinner back to the camp. And how about the kayakers? Yep, we had our own captains, who donated their time and boats to our rally captain Audrey, our host for this rally. Great job�and thank you and our other captain Betty, who is a host at other rallies. These gals, using their vast knowledge of the area, took us to places on the water you could only imagine.

Again, who are these women? Ring Women, that�s who!
Though it sounds like we had a lot of fun, our host did put us through some very vigorous hiking. We hiked to Horseshoe Bend Overlook�another breathtaking sight we were forced to endure. Then there was the guided tour to Glen Canyon Damn, in which we did not do a very good job in getting there. Those that did, enjoyed.

To end our 50s bash, we had breakfast�little boxes of cereal with strawberries and bananas, Hostess cupcakes, Twinkies and juice!

While all this was going on, we were hosting four new members that not only joined in, but gave back. Thank you, Pat, Stephanie, Mary Ellen and Barb. They have entertained, invited and volunteered. I guess we will keep them!

Thanks to our host Audrey and all her helpers. This was another great rally!�Marilyn Teresi

Arizona Day Trippers Chapter

Arizona DayTrippers is a chapter primarily for those RVW members who no longer own a rig or travel but want to stay active and in touch with their many RVW friends.

Winter 2008

The Arizona DayTrippers have been enjoying the beautiful winter season with monthly activities. In February, JoAnn Goldsmith led us as we carpooled to the Florence museum for a guided tour about the colorful history of early Arizona. Afterward we enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant.

In March, 13 of us went to see the Arizona State University women�s softball team finally pull off a 1-0 win over Creighton, Nebraska after 11 innings of play.
In April, we gathered for a BBQ dinner followed by an evening at the Centennial Observatory.

Mesa, Arizona (November 27, 2007)

Arizona Day Trippers and their guests came together for the day to play miniature golf at Golfland in Mesa. A wide range of skills over 18 holes resulted in a gap of 30 strokes between high and low scores, but all had an equally good time. After working up big appetites on the golf course, the golfers drove to Chompies Deli in Tempe for monster sandwiches and gigantic salads. Thanks to our top notch organizer Judy Bozman for this most fun outing.�Linda Louden

Cascadia Chapter

Castle Rock, Washington (July 18-20, 2008)

What do you get when you mix a dozen ukuleles with one explosive volcano? No, it isn�t a trip to Hawaii. It�s RVW Aloha at Mt. St. Helens!

In lieu of a luau, we had a �BYOBBQ, grilling up everything from hotdogs to chicken and steaks.
With 23 rigs and 42 people in attendance, there were plenty of activities for everyone throughout the weekend. Event captains Barb Gilger, Judy Polenske, and Jo Schilling started things off Friday night with a Mt. St. Helens trivia game based on the Jeopardy rules. Contestants were grouped into four teams. Each team sent one representative at a time to the podium. The first contestant to activate their assigned noisemaker had a chance to answer the trivia question. This format brought out the natural competitiveness of �Cascadians. Team Two was declared the champion, and each team member received a prize. Thanks go to Judy for researching the material and putting the game together.

Saturday morning we were treated to a presentation on local history from Bud Buchard, a member of the Cowlitz tribe and a former tour guide from the area. He spoke about the history of Native American life in the region and the arrival of explorers and settlers.

The theme of exploration continued into the next planned activity�an introduction to geocaching by Barb and Jo. After a brief presentation about the activity, participants went out to search for nine caches that had been hidden throughout the RV park.

At the same time, others drove to the Johnston Ridge Visitors� Center to view Mt. St. Helens. Half a dozen more went to Seaquest State Park for a hike.

The weekend also marked Castle Rock�s 50th anniversary, celebrated with a parade and carnival in town. Several Cascadians chose to celebrate along with the locals.

Saturday afternoon we learned to play the ukulele, taught by Marianne Brogan, founder of the Portland Uke Festival. Many students found previously undiscovered talent for the instrument. We predict many uke sing-alongs at future events. Students presented a group recital after dinner Saturday night followed by singing from songbooks also provided by Marianne. Our thanks go to Marianne for a terrific day of music!

We had four guests for the weekend, one of whom, Sue Yarborough, became a member.

Additional thanks are due to Hi There Girls Laura and Barbara S. and Bandana Divas Cheryl, Barbara H., Sue Ellen, Marne, and Elaine. Thanks to everyone for making the weekend a big success!�Jo Schilling

Long Beach, Washington (June 20-22, 2008)

After the month that began with snow plows in the mountains, the first time in 30 years to have the need to clear the road of snow in June, we landed in Long Beach and found summer finally coming around. What a wonderful weekend we had with a large group of 37 RVs and 72 RVing women joining us for the weekend. We had some visitors: Dar, Mary, Flo and Coe from Arizona; Char, a long-time member who hadn't attended; and a new member, Sue, who traveled from Kennewick to join us.

The early birds, those who come on Thursday, went for a wonderful dinner at a place that has a French chef who visits with the customers, so they had quite a treat. After dinner they went to the go-cart track and wowed the young attendants with their competitiveness. Wild women letting their kids out made for a great time. We seem to exude so much happiness and fun on one of these events that it is contagious to the local townspeople and they can't help but enjoy us, too.
There was a lot to do here: the annual garlic festival, the cranberry museum�they even have cranberry mustard.

There was also a doggie contest to raise money for the animal shelter. Of course, the Cascadians are all such animal lovers and wanted to support the town, so some helped out. Doggie sports included the spoon lick to see who can lick the peanut butter off the spoon the fastest and the hair comb to see who combed out the most in five minutes. There also was a race, and one of our dogs came in for a prize�congrats to Lucy, who ran straight to her owner when the other dogs went awry following a Jack �Russell Terrier who took off in another direction. Four of our companions entered the Run/Walk to Chowder 5k event. They all finished and got their chowder and medals, which they wore proudly.
Not wanting to miss getting back in time for our Saturday fun, Malka and Shannon were in town waiting for a bus that didn't come on time, so they flagged down a patrol car. It was the police chief who brought them back to us. What great townsfolk!

With the Divas help, our event planners organized a wonderful barbecue and potluck dinner. Shelley and Lisa were in costume and were marvelous hostesses. Tickets were drawn for prizes. Following that they had a dance, and Cascadians arose to the fun. It lasted late into the evening, with everyone who attended having a grand time. Music was from all of our generations, so no one was left out. Thank you ladies!

Lori stepped up to the plate and actually cooked in her RV when friends ran out of propane. There was a campfire each evening. One night it was raining lightly, but a little rain doesn't stop us in the Northwest.

Another sport being added this year is Wii. Two RVs set up their games, and laughter could be heard all around. What fun!

As always, the weekend ended much to soon, but we'll see you next time.�Norma Dalla Santa

Mossyrock, Washington (May 23-26, 2008)

Our annual Mossyrock Memorial Day Weekend once again proved to be the premiere event of the season. Fortunately, we had the extra day on Monday to wrap things up for this jam-packed weekend.

Kudos to weekend captains Linda J., Mary N., Sue Ellen and Norma. It all came off without a hitch. You women are amazing!

There was loads of work to do, and lots of hands to help get it done. Thanks go to Hi There Girls Carol and Linda A. and Bandana Divas Bonnie, Mary S., Miriam, Diane D., Beemer and Alice.

As rigs began to roll in on Friday afternoon, several early-arriving members were seen returning from the lake carrying Ziploc bags full of fresh-caught trout. Fishing trips �occurred throughout the weekend.
Sue Ellen and Norma put together the Friday night mixer. The name of a famous woman was pinned to the back of each member who then had to ask questions of others in order to guess the name she was assigned. Games of Texas Hold �em, Rumicube, and Mexican Train followed.

A board meeting was held on Saturday morning to finalize changes to the chapter bylaws.

The centerpiece activity, the annual Cascadia Triathlon, was exceptionally exciting for participants and spectators alike. The events once again featured horseshoes, bocce ball, and Cascadia (or ladder) Golf. Competition was stiff. Scores were so close that two playoff matches had to be held.

In the first playoff Saturday evening, Diane M. and Nancy (The Rainbow Girls) met Jo and Judy (The Dixie Chicks). The match ended in a squeaker victory for The Rainbow Girls who finished in fourth place overall. (The Dixie Chicks declared themselves losers.)

The real playoff match for first and second place was held on Sunday with Diane D. and Beemer vs. defending champs Cheryl and Barb. In a pressure-filled game of Cascadia Golf, challengers Diane and Beemer took an early lead and held it until the last two frames when the defending champs came back to tie the match. The challengers pulled ahead again and with the last throw reigning champ Cheryl�s toss spun around the crossbar and fell to the ground for a 1-point defeat.

Congratulations to the new champions of the Cascadia Triathlon: Diane D. and Beemer!

Saturday night brought everyone back to the clubhouse for a dinner of soup, salad and dessert. Afterwards, a large group gathered around the campfire for songs led by Candy, Annie and Shay. We enjoyed a glorious sunset followed by a sudden downpour of rain, which chased the singers and musicians to their rigs.

Linda J. and Mary N., with help from the divas, prepared a delicious French toast breakfast on Sunday morning.

Masanee Brown, a member of both the Oregon and Cascadia chapters of RVW, presented a talk Sunday morning entitled �Keep the Adventure Going � How to Find Out What You Really Want.� The room was packed for her presentation. Masanee spoke about how our perceptions of an event change, depending on the context. She demonstrated a breathing technique designed to enhance mental clarity and to focus one�s energy and attention.
Members spent the day Sunday at activities such as hiking, kayaking, fishing, lunching in town and sightseeing in the area.

Sunday evening�s dinner featured baked potatoes with a huge variety of toppings to choose from, plus salads and desserts. Dinner was followed by the chapter�s traditional honoring of military veterans.

After a dishwashing and dog-walking break, we reconvened for the annual fundraising auction as called by Sue Ellen. Elaine played the role of Vanna by showcasing each item. Purchases totaled almost $1,800�just shy of last year�s record-setting figure.
Thanks to everyone who donated auction items and to all who placed winning bids!

Monday morning coffee was followed by rig christenings and reluctant goodbyes.�Jo Schilling

Florida Chapter

Dunedin, Florida (July 24-27, 2008)

Camping in Florida in July is not for the faint-hearted, but as we have found for the last three years, the Dunedin RV Resort provides shade trees, groomed concrete sites, a large swimming pool and a comfortably climate-controlled recreation hall providing needed relief from the blazing Florida sun.

Thirty-two women gathered to enjoy the resort and the efforts of our hosts, Linda Woodbury and MaryAnn Siniscalchi. MaryAnn�s first encounter with RVW was a year ago at this same site. She returned a year later to co-host the gathering�a good example of why we are successful as an organization!

At lunch on Friday, the group carpooled to a Greek restaurant in nearby Tarpon Springs. The owner acknowledged our repeat patronage by treating the group to baklava for dessert. The afternoon found many attendees staying neck-deep in the pool for socializing and water games. In lieu of dinner, we reassembled at our usual happy hour for substantial hors d�oeuvres and did some planning for the ice cream social our Florida Chapter is sponsoring at our upcoming national convention. And, just for practice, our hosts provided ice cream and all the trimmings to round off the day.

On Saturday, as is becoming routine, the geo-cachers gathered and departed to share their quests and a few routine maintenance items were completed on a few rigs. Dot will always help, just ask her! Some of our members tucked themselves away for an afternoon snooze. For dinner, we enjoyed a summer salad and fresh fruit potluck; the balance of the ice cream provided an appropriate dessert.

After dinner, Connie Anderson shared pictures and details of her recent 90-mile (nine days and eight nights) kayak/camping trip through the Florida Everglades. To say she had no difficulty in holding our attention is an understatement! Such adventurous confidence is not in abundance in the Florida chapter. With choice, we definitely find ourselves in the full hook-ups category. When we agree to roughing it, that usually means an occasional rally at a state park. Connie provides us with much needed balance. Many expressed their appreciation for her presentation.

To round out the day�s entertainment, a few remained to try their skills at the Wii video game that Joella and Patty shared with the group. Bowling, Ping Pong, Guitar Hero and challenging road races were all enjoyed in air-conditioned comfort.

As usual, Sunday morning came all too soon and we parted. Until next time!�Arlene Dawson

Melbourne Beach, Florida (June 12-25, 2008)

Our June rally at �Sebastian Inlet State Park was our first non-host rally, but it quickly became an all-host rally with many of our members pitching in to make this a memorable weekend attended by 31 RVers in 19 rigs. This area of Florida�s Atlantic coast has a very interesting history, having been a passageway for Spanish fleets returning to Spain after digging up vast quantities of gold in Mexico and South America.

In 1715, one of the fleets sank in a storm, and the gold the ships carried remains buried to this day. Treasure hunters from our group organized trips to the local treasure museum and combed the beach with metal detectors. Although no gold was found, a good time was had by all.

Other activities included kite flying on the beach, fishing, swimming, and geo-caching.

We also participated in nighttime sea turtle walks with park rangers to witness female turtles laying their eggs on the beach.

As a group, we went to dinner and listened to live bluegrass music at Marsh Landing, a restaurant in historic Fellsmere owned by Fran �Davis, one of our members. Fellsmere is where the first suffragette in Florida voted in 1915.

Instead of our usual Saturday night potluck, we had a barbecue and picnic at one of the park�s pavilions on the inlet. A water gun battle finished off the evening. The next day, most were on their way home. This was truly a rally to remember.�MJ Cancro

Naples, Florida (May 15-18, 2008)

We gathered in Naples for our May event, drawing 32 friends in 20 rigs. Our hosts Patty Petruff and Joella McGaw started the weekend off with a scavenger hunt list. For three days we heard, �Do you have the mystery item? Did you find a cocktail umbrella?� etc. etc., but there did not seem to be much sharing going on! Despite concentrated effort, only four participants successfully completed the entire list.

On Friday, several members enjoyed a pontoon boat ride around the islands of the west end of Everglades National Park, followed by lunch at a waterfront, rustic seafood restaurant. Others took advantage of sightseeing and shops in Naples. As always in Florida at this time of year, the park swimming pool was a common meeting place for many attendees.

On Saturday morning, HJ Cougan and Carol Welch treated the group to donuts, followed by a discussion of estate planning, trusts, living wills and healthcare surrogate designations, presented by one of Patty�s law partners. The many questions from the group indicated much interest in these topics.

We met again, later in the day, for our traditional potluck. As the prerogative of the host, Patty called the order in which each table approached the feast and, after our newcomers and guests, she elected to give priority to those wearing their nametags. Good idea, Patty!

Thanks to all in attendance, this was a great rally!�Arlene Dawson

Nokomis, Florida (April 17-20, 2008)

Florida offers an abundance of camping opportunities and with that quantity comes variety. In April, 30 women in 21 rigs enjoyed the leisure and conveniences of a full-service Encore park in Nokomis.

We took advantage of all the amenities and facilities. Our (obviously experienced and capable) hosts, HJ Cougan and Carol Welch provided a schedule of morning and afternoon gatherings to bring the group together.

The brainteaser games and the shuffleboard and putt-putt golf offered a bit of competition and an abundance of laughs. On Saturday morning, HJ and Carol produced the wands and liquids to send big and small bubbles floating in the soft morning sunlight as we were encouraged to �play� and send our spoken or silent intentions and memorials aloft. It was a very novel and poignant activity.

Saturday�s potluck was initiated by a rendition of �God Bless �America� and concluded with an equally heartfelt chorus of �Happy Birthday� for our April celebrants.

As always, the weekend went by much too quickly. There always seems to be that one intended visit or conversation that never happens. So next month, we�ll do it again, but it�s hard to imagine that it can be done better than it was in April.�Arlene Dawson

FreeWheelers Chapter

Corning, California (Mau 20-June 2, 2008)

This was our fourth spring clean-up campout. RVs began to arrive on Thursday to get a jumpstart on the weekend. We had a total of 57 rigs and 88 people.

As we have done in the past, on Friday and Saturday mornings we started out with buckets, soap, and brushes for any and all awnings that needed cleaning. On Friday night, we held our greet-and-eat.

Saturday morning, following our regular breakfast get-together, we were fortunate enough to enjoy a presentation of the latest RV stuff on the market, brought to us by Rachel Harp (of the now-famous Rachel�s Ramblings). Rachel�s husband Joel spent the entire weekend working on RVs that needed his services. A big shout out is due also to Carl, a local gentleman who went from rig to rig pressure washing and shining our equipment.

Saturday evening we were delighted to have the All Girl Band perform for us. If you were at the convention in Lodi last year, you know how fun and talented they are.

And lo and behold, we also enjoyed a surprise visit from our own Gracie and Nursie�not a dry eye in the house on that one.

The casino did get some attendance, but it was hard to compete with all that was happening in our own camp. Still, it is always nice to hear that some of the group came back to camp with some pretty nice winnings.
After four successful years of organizing this outing, we would like to take a moment to personally thank everyone who helped make this weekend such a memorable experience. FreeWheelers really come together, and when they do, wonderful things happen.�Beth Gilliam and Susan DuShane

Bodega Bay, California (May 2-4, 2008)

Thirty-three rigs gathered for our May outing at Porto Bodega RV Park. Under clear (mostly) but quite windy skies�small dogs had to be securely tied�some hardy souls ventured out Saturday and Sunday to explore the area, the ocean, the bay, the harbor, do some bird watching, check out various restaurants in the area and the wonderful barbecued oysters at Tony�s and help the economy by purchasing various wind socks, kites and flags. I am sure salt water taffy folks also noted an increase in their sales for the weekend.

Saturday morning, the biscuits and gravy breakfast potluck crowd outdid themselves again. The wind settled down for a few hours. We took advantage of that and had breakfast outside. The sausage gravy was delicious, the biscuits light and fluffy, the bacon and sausage just right, the assorted egg dishes were nicely done�and what wonderful fresh fruit dishes!

Our Cinco de Mayo potluck Saturday night also was a wonderful success. We had quite an array of Mexican casseroles. All the dishes disappeared quickly. What great cooks these FreeWheelers are! Loved the sombreros, too! A special thank you to those who helped clean up.

Most left for home after a leftovers breakfast on Sunday, but a lucky few were able to spend another day at the park. It seems to help with the cost of gas if you can come early and stay late�or so I tell myself. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves for whatever length of time they were able to stay.�Doris Aab

Isleton, California (February 1�3, 2008)

What a great weekend! We had 32 rigs with 46 women. The rain and wind couldn�t dampen the spirits of those attending. We had everything from pull Sue and Glo out of the mud entertainment to a chili cook-off, line dance lessons and even a new rig (Jeri�s) dedication. A gift of soft slippers to soothe their sore feet was given to the line dance teachers as a thank you. We had a tie in the Saturday night chili cook-off with a vegetarian chili by Noni and a Weight Watchers recipe from Jeri. The prize of three boxes of Crockpot liners and Crockpot mixes went to Jeri since Noni couldn�t use them.

Saturday night, after dinner, several games were going on. The one I was involved in was a partner Skip-bo, which was a total crack-up. On Super Bowl Sunday we had a party sponsored by Delta Shores with door prizes, pizza, sandwiches, decorated cake and all. The FreeWheelers football pool was won by Beth and Joan, each taking two quarters. Thank you everyone for participating in this fun week-end.�Joan Beason

Tracy, California (January 4-6, 2008)

For a boondock outing this was a wild one. Ten brave souls weathered the winds and rain that introduced the 2008 New Year. Fortunately, we were able to park our rigs right around the clubhouse. A roaring wood-burning stove kept us cozy and warm.

The birders had a field day, spotting lots of birds, but the fisher gals seemed to be content to stay dry. Nothing that was planned happened, but that didn�t stop us from having a good time together. Good food, challenging games and interesting conversation helped us relax while the wind howled outside.

We did have some unfortunate excitement. When Linda went out to the country store, there were seven sheriff�s cars surrounding the building. The store had been robbed and the attendant had been shot. Made us appreciate that we were behind locked gates on our private island.�Winona Abrams

Bethel Island, California (November 2�4, 2007)

Rigs started rolling into Sugar Barge RV Resort on Thursday evening. By Friday afternoon, we had filled all the 43 spaces the campground manager had scrounged up for us. We had an enthusiastic 67 women in attendance!

The campground reserved the activity room for us all weekend, which is a great thing for our ever-growing membership. Friday evening we enjoyed a reception hosted by the 2007 advisory board. Our chapter leader, Jeri McLees, started a new tradition of presenting red beads to first-timers. The rule is that the next time they come to an outing, they are to bring the beads and pass them along to the next first-timer.

Saturday morning we enjoyed our traditional biscuits �n gravy breakfast, thanks to Susan and Beth. After breakfast, we had our annual meeting, which proved to include very lively and also very productive discussion of several important issues. A highlight was a very informative presentation by Teri Shugart about RVW�s legal status and what this means for our chapter.

The weather on Bethel Island was perfect�clear, sunny skies and balmy temperatures. After the meeting, women scattered for the day to enjoy various activities�touring in Lodi to see the cranes sly in, fishing, playing games, walking along the levee, geocaching, or sitting under an awning talking with old and new friends. The evening potluck dinner was fabulous, but even more fabulous was our own All-Girl Band repeating their convention performance just for us.

Sunday morning we all cleared our refrigerators and shared a hitch-up breakfast before either pulling out and heading home or settling in for one last night at Sugar Barge. Based on feedback as people packed up and left, this outing was a huge success! The red bead tradition definitely caught on. Our newer members told us that they truly felt a warm and welcoming spirit throughout the weekend.

At this rally, the advisory board also tried sign-up sheets for various activities to see if that might help women find companions for things they might be interested in doing. We are not sure if this will catch on as a regular outing feature, but we will keep this going for the next few outings to see if it helps get members connected and involved in activities they want to share. Of course, as FreeWheelers, just simply freewheeling for the entire outing remains the norm.�Peggy Chinn

Fulltimers Chapter

Candy Wood and Beckey Beckey in Oregon

See the current issue of RVing Women magazine for information about upcoming events.

Great Lakers Chapter

Niles, Michigan (July 16-19, 2008)

At this, our third get-together of 2008, we had 16 members attend in 10 rigs. There were 13 pets enjoying the weekend, and we had four guests with two pets spend time with us. The campground was quiet and well maintained, with roomy grassy sites. There was a small lake for swimming and fishing.

The greatest challenge was the weather. It was extremely hot and humid. The rain came down in torrents on Saturday, but Great Lakers are troopers, and we had fun in spite of the challenge. On Friday folks either went kayaking or casino hopping. Most enjoyed a great dinner at The Nugget in Niles that evening.

Saturday found us braving the rain to visit two wineries and a u-pick blueberry farm. The rain stopped just in time for our potluck and bonfire.

Sunday we said goodbye at a community breakfast. One participant came from California. Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana, as well as �Michigan, were also represented at this get-together.

A big thanks goes to our hosts Carole Goodwin, Rene DeMar and Pat Bubel for doing such a fine job planning this event.�Pat Bubel

Middlebury, Indiana (May 18-21, 2008)

For our first outing of 2008, the pets�five dogs and six cats�outnumbered and outfoxed the humans�nine of them. We thought we had two different cats escape rigs, but after much calling and underbrush searching, we discovered that each cat had found a new hidey-hole. Our mascot, Buddy, really should consider a name change�Houdini or Buddy Houdini. The dogs were feeling quite smug for a change.

A few of us met a day early, so we decided to have a great Sunday breakfast at the Mediterranean Garden followed by a short road trip to Elkhart to visit the New York Central Railroad Museum. Maybe we need to resurrect a few of these trains to offset gas prices. By late afternoon, everyone had gathered for finger food in the meager warmth of the waning sunshine.

On Monday, we went back to Elkhart to visit the RV � Motorhome Museum and Hall of Fame, a fascinating experience for RVers. A few women went to Bontrager�s RV Surplus to check out items for their RVs. Our potluck that evening, like our finger food, was predominately great vegetarian food�not planned.

Tuesday we spent time shopping the Shipshewana Flea Market and then had a family-style dinner at Das Dutchman Essenhaus. All those pies!

Both Monday and Tuesday evenings, the winds died down sufficiently to enjoy campfires, complements of Pat Bubel and Sue Wittig. A special thanks goes to our hosts Susan Trippet and Pat Bubel and to our drivers Sandy Gauntlett and Karen Lentz.�Susan Trippet.

Silver Creek, Michigan (August 24-28, 2007)

Women from five different states�34 campers in 24 rigs�attended this rally. The weather was hot during the day and cool in the evenings, making it cozy for large campfires each evening.

Friday evening, 18 women enjoyed a wonderful dinner at The Open Hearth, a nearby restaurant. Everyone participated in the Saturday evening potluck dinner, which included our fresh corn roast.

Ten women helped the two men from the RV park put up a 20-foot by 40-foot dining tent. High winds off Lake Michigan caused it to blow down on some of the women and a dog just after it got up.

Saturday, 18 women went on dune buggy rides and then toured the lighthouse. On Sunday, 18 women went for a boat ride on Silver Lake, stopping at the sand dunes. Some of the women climbed up a small sand dune.

We enjoyed swimming in the large pool, wading in Lake Michigan, easing into the large hot tub at the park, playing games, and visiting with each other. A couple of women even got in a golf game on Sunday while others went on the boat ride. There was plenty of time to go sightseeing around the area, which several did.�Nancy Wurm and Sue Witig

Lyte Hearts Chapter

Lyte Hearts Chapter Honors Anita Thomas

The Lyte Hearts Chapter gathered once again at Young�s Lake near Monmouth, Illinois. Sunny and breezy weather created a perfect environment for the 26 women who met there to share laughter, games, fishing campfires and more.

Things were looking grim for our annual fish-fry until campers outside our group noticed our dismay and began to secretly fill our fish baskets when we were otherwise engaged. We had so many fish that all experienced fish cleaners, as well as trainees, were called into service. One of the more experienced cleaners was Anita Thomas.

Anita joined the Heartland Group, now known as the Lyte Hearts Chapter, at our first get-together and has only missed one gathering at Young's Lake during the 12 years we have been meeting there. That was the year she broke her hip trying to close the barn door.
Anita proudly announces her intention to keep attending RVW rallies until she has achieved her 100th birthday. She currently is striding boldly into her 90th year.

Anita�s spirit and attitude inspire the group no matter what the activity is. She comes each year with her beloved cat Angel by her side. She drives her trusty motorhome confidently and has no trouble parking it in the most difficult spots�a skill many of us envy.

Anita�s lovely smile and positive attitude brighten any activity in which she participates. She loves to play all sorts of table games, especially Mexican Train (which we play by Anita�s rules because there are so many ways to play). Lively conversation is never lacking at these activities when Anita is present.

The Lyte Hearts Chapter says, �Thank You, Anita for sharing your beautiful self with us throughout the years.��Jeanne Carter and Kathleen Pearson

Mid-America Chapter

Year-end Review 2007

It hardly seems possible that another year is about to come to an end and with it, another memorable year of RVing. It has been a very enjoyable and productive year for Mid-America. We have had three outstanding official rallies, as well as several when and where events.

Our annual maintenance rally at Rutladers Outpost was its' usual huge success. The addition of the highly competitive washers and spades tournaments made the weekend even more enjoyable.

The Branson rally was great. It was so much fun meeting members from the other chapters. I know we had attendees from Michigan, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, not to mention those attending from our own chapter states. We had many compliments as to the friendliness of our chapter. One lady from Florida told me that we really lived up to our reputation. Ellie, Arlene, Dot and Nancy did a great hosting job. The food was fabulous, the activities were fun and well planned, and they even managed to turn off the rain at just the right times. I was also elated that we had twelve ladies at the newbie reception.

The Lanagan, Missouri rally and the War Eagles Crafts Festival were awesome. Marsha Thompson outdid herself with this rally. The hotdog luncheon, pizza and bingo party, plus all the other good food, were outstanding. There were so many beautiful arts and crafts to look at and to buy. My rig was loaded with things I just had to have. The campground was so much fun, with many activities offered. I hope we can do this rally again real soon.

We also had several when and where events: Salina, Melvern, Pomme-de-Terre, Bennett Springs. Who can ever forget Pat Mitchell and her modeling of cocktail dresses in the thrift shop, Marsha�s fish fry and, of course, Peg Ellis' fantastic green-colored salad. These were such good times, and I hear that there may be a couple more this year if the weather permits.

2008 will mark a milestone for Mid-America. It will be the tenth anniversary of the chapter. As they say, time flies when fun is being had! Norma Cartwright will be leading the chapter, and she is already working and planning on ways to make this a special year. I, for one, think the other nine years have been pretty special, too!�Kathy Wintle

Mid-Atlantic Chapter

Sponsor Board

The MidAtlantic Chapter has introduced a Sponsor Board that displays all the partners in business that graciously supply the chapter with products and services. These donations go to the members as prizes during our rallies. We proudly display the board for all to see.

The Sponsor Board also boasts the title of �Shop Here First,� which our members refer to as a point-of-purchase to their needs. We also put product brochures and business cards on our information table. When making a purchase, we mention where we saw the information.

Thank you is too little to say for our sponsors. We will continue to support them, and with great appreciation.�� Bonnie Simkins

Lancaster, Pennsylvania (April 25-27, 2008)

This was our first official Cabin Fever Weekend. Having the company of 47 women and guests helped round off the best of this rally. The weather was still brisk at night and rain was forecast, but that never stops us. The rain did hold off on Saturday so we could explore the area. As usual, the food was good and abundant and the company at its best.

Thanks to Meg, Lee and others, there was a nice campfire on Friday night. That is always a good time to catch up and to also share camp stories. Saturday was a free day to see the sights and shop the outlets. Activities at the campsite included ladder ball and cards. An Amish vendor came through the campground with his horse and buggy to sell cakes, pies and jarred goodies to the campers.

Saturday evening we had a potluck dinner with broasted chicken as the main dish. The turkey chili was a hit, as were the many other dishes created.

For our Saturday breakfast, we had creamed chipped beef on fresh-baked biscuits from Lee, our kitchen maven. Sunday�s breakfast included light and fluffy pancakes and Amish sausage. We all had a great time, and we�re looking forward to coming back to Lancaster for our Thanksgiving rally.�Bonnie Simkins

Mastoris Restaurant (March 29, 2008)

The Lunch Bunch met for the third year at Mastoris Restaurant for their wonderful bill of fare. Ooh, that cheese bread! There were twenty-one women who came out to shake off the winter and enjoy the better part of the afternoon together. We talked about what we did with our non-camping time, but we also focused on our new season ahead. Needless to say, we are all anxious to get going on the road. Five new women joined the bunch for lunch and they too are ready to go. Our national rally is near capacity and we are looking forward to that extended weekend in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lunch was a success, we made new friends and enjoyed the company of old ones. Now we can�t wait to go camping.�Bonnie Simkins

Lancaster, Pennsylvania (November 9�11, 2007)

The trees were in their splendor and the air was crisp and cold. A record number of women made it to this final MidAtlantic Chapter rally of 2007.

We have made it a tradition to hold a pre-Thanksgiving event to say ado to the snowbirds, talk about winter plans and share a grand meal of turkey and ham. What better place to have friends but in the heart of Lancaster County where fresh food is still plentiful and the people who live here are gentle and good. There is much to keep you intrigued with this area of Pennsylvania, which is why we keep coming back.

On Saturday night we had our feast set out with the many side dishes our talented women prepared. We always have enough food to feed the masses. After dinner, we had door prizes and games of every variety. This was a very relaxing time to be with old friends and get to know our new members.

Sunday we enjoyed more social time and a full breakfast prepared by our cook staff.

Special thanks for all the hands that helped make this a successful rally�a big hand for Lee and Meg, our kitchen mavens, and Lynda, for our early morning coffee. Many thanks to all our chapter members for a wonderful year. Wishing all RVW members a healthy and happy New Year�Bonnie Simkins and Karen Welter

Northeast Network

Abbot, Maine (Moosefest 4)

Moosefest 4, hosted once again by Pat Saxton, Claudia Combies, Marion Wilson, Teddie Grayson and Gloria Hollis at Balsam Woods Campground, began with a Friday evening meet and greet with shared munchies and a pot of Pat Saxton's Hot Stuff Chili. Carole Ogg read passages from here newly released book, Fields of Fire and was kind enough to sign copies of her book. We finished the evening with a roaring campfire.

Saturday morning, Teddie the Spatula and her able assistant, Gloria, cooked a stupendous breakfast of eggs to order with bacon, kielbasa, toast, bagels and assorted breads. After allowing some time to digest, many participated in games of ladder golf, washer
toss and the secibd annual Moose Poo Hunt.

Saturday evening's potluck was an old fashioned church supper with ham provided. An array of side dishes and desserts were brought by the participants. After dinner, we were treated to a concert by Lucie Blue Tremblay. The concert was a fundraiser to benefit the creation of an educational CD promoting breast health awareness. We were entertained with a beautiful voice and then educated about the importance of correct self breast examination. Lucie brought her breast cancer awareness chopper for all to view. More information on this project can be found at www.thebreastexamproject.org. Northeast Network RVW members were very generous in their support of this project.

Sunday morning we again had a excellent breakfast prepared by Teddie and Gloria. Prizes were awarded to winners of the proceeding day's events. That was followed with a prize drawing for all attendees that provided their RVW numbers. It was great fun checking for the lowest number. Everyone went home with a prize. Keep those membership cards in your wallets�you never know when a prize is lurking.

We said goodbye to some. Those who were making the Northwoods of Maine a vacation by staying later decided that a clambake would do us just fine!! Steamers and corn for all�what a way to end a get together and start a vacation, and oh, how we are looking forward to August 2008 for MooseFest 5!�Jean Alexander

Ohio River Valley Chapter

Nashville, Indiana (June 5-8, 2008)

We came with rigs, but we should have brought boats. We had a 100-year-record flood while we were there. Our campground was high on a hill, but all exits out of Nashville were under water. Evacuations were being carried out just down the road from us.

The Log Cabin Tour was canceled due to flooded roads, but we were able to tour the Sock Factory. It was a hit with everyone, and we even received a free pair of socks. The factory was started by a single mom with five children. Now it is the largest factory for making personalized socks, including our Pacers and Colts.

Following the tour, we went to the Farmhouse Caf�, which served delicious food flavored with fresh herbs. We visited the nearby nursery to enjoy all the flowers.

Even though we had floods and unseasonably high temperatures, we had a good time. It was great to get together again with everyone�old and new faces alike. There were quite a few first timers, so as usual everyone helped get them a little more educated and familiar with their rig. The Saturday evening potluck was a success and was followed by a root beer float party.

After our hitch-up breakfast, many brave souls ventured toward home on the few roads that were passable. They reported that they had seen much devastation on the way home. We�re happy to report that everyone made it out safely. We have great expectations of a good rally next month.�Carol Miller

Covered Bridge Rally (September 17 � 20, 2007)

Our covered bridge rally once again was a huge success with 20 rigs and 33 attendees, not to mention quite an array of animal children.

The weather could not have been more perfect. It was a beautiful, early autumn weekend with the days being warm enough for shorts and T-shirts and the nights chilly enough for jeans and a sweatshirt or jacket.

The days were filled with traveling miles of the covered bridge country back roads by car and stopping at quaint villages and towns. We were thrilled to be in Amish country, seeing horse-drawn plows and delighting in eating home-cooked pastries.

Back at the campground, we had a yard game tournament featuring Kentucky Golf, Corn Hole and Bocce Ball. We declared winners in many categories. Saturday evening we had a bingo party with prizes for winners of each round.

We had the usual good food that always accompanies our rallies. Friday evening, 33 of us went to a local restaurant. On Saturday, we had an old-fashioned wiener roast pitch-in. Yes, we also had our happy hours every evening where everyone shared stores about their day�s adventures.

All the fun came too quickly to an end Sunday afternoon following a farewell pitch-in breakfast. Many things go to Kathy Isenhauer, Shelly Haley and Tammy Hanson for all their work and help that went into this great weekend.�Tammy Haley

Oregon Chapter

Sweethome, Oregon (July 18-20, 2008)

Foster Lake RV Resort was the site of this July event with 15 Oregon RVW members and five guests attending. Several members arrived early and stayed later, taking advantage of a weekly rate, while the rest of the gals arrived on Friday and left either Sunday or Monday.

The weather was very cooperative with warm days and cool nights�in fact, there were several air conditioners running mid-days. The facility was superb�pool, nice meeting room with kitchen, store and other amenities�and park management was very cooperative and helpful.

Friday evening, the group met for introductions and substantive snacks. Pam, Ann and their three Rottweiler rescue dogs traveled from Utah to join the group. After much chitchat and story swapping, the gals found their way to card games, more visiting, movies and TV for the remainder of the evening.

Saturday morning, the traditional continental breakfast was provided by the chapter. The members talked about different options for the rest of the day. This area, located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, is rich in history. There are a number of covered bridges, museums and self-guided tours. Many of the gals carpooled to this place and that with a stop for lunch or a root beer float or to see what goodie they could find at a yard sale.

Many of the dogs in the group enjoyed a nearby dog park for an hour or two each day. They chased balls, played tag, and tried to socialize one little guy who had not experienced a daily dog party before. Lots of stories were swapped as the ladies lounged leisurely in lawn chairs under the pines in the middle of the dog park.

Saturday evening started with a salad extravaganza which was enjoyed by all, considering there were little to no leftovers. The usual games in the clubhouse occurred and several small groups continued visiting at various RV sites.

Several useful gifts for RVers were won by site number drawings and individual awning operation sessions were given to those still unfamiliar with how to provide their own shade.

The Sunday morning continental breakfast was enjoyed while the group discussed where to have dinner and decided the place practically next door with the lake view, outside dining and affordable prices was A-okay.

Some enjoyed the pool, others went sightseeing, and all loved the weather.

Monday morning the rigs were packed, goodbyes were said and the journey home began. Everyone seemed to enjoy the Foster Lake RV Resort so it could well be on the list for 2009.�Peg Ralston and Nancy Rockwell

Brookings, Oregon (May 16-19, 2008)

We had 16 rigs and 30 attendees at this event., including a lot of new faces. Many members arrived a day early, on Thursday night, which coincided with a record-breaking heat wave, 100 plus degrees�pretty darn hot for the Oregon coast. The rest of the folks cruised in on Friday. Several members came without their RV�s and stayed in nearby lodging.

Fulltimers Maureen Carryn and Jan Kuderna joined us and offered several interesting stories and tips about work, volunteering and life on the road. We welcomed guests from the SOCALjourners Chapter, Irene Stevens and Cooper Gallegos, and returning members Betty Vales, Peggy Ervin, Dixie Ever and Joyce Pickens. It was great to see them. Food and camaraderie was the order of the evening with games and lots of catching up on everyone�s news. Evenings cooled off 30 degrees�tolerable sleeping temperature for the few who did not have air conditioned rigs.

Gina was surprised by a happy birthday chorus during breakfast Saturday morning. After breakfast, an education presentation was provided by Henderson�s Line-up, which is located in Grants Pass. Rob, from Henderson�s, answered questions, offered great discount coupons and serviced some rigs at the park. �Mobile service is a real convenience.

Local RVW member Doris �Westoby escorted some attendees to Crescent City for an afternoon of sightseeing and visits to the Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center and Ocean World. Others kicked back, had fun at the local casino, or walked on the beach with their dogs.
Saturday evening was the big event�a salmon feed provided by the RV park and cooked by Roger, the very hospitable park manager. The salmon and member-provided side dishes came together to satisfy all. A door prize drawing was held and new member Pat Peck from Central Point, Oregon won the donated Hose Buddy. All attendees went home with a nice gift, some with two.

As the evening cooled, we retired to the deck to enjoy a campfire and sing songs. Betty and Dee played guitar and one-person rhythm section Doris provided the orchestration. Singers, hummers, foot stompers and clappers rounded out the night�s entertainment. You had to be there!

Another community continental breakfast was enjoyed on Sunday, and we bid farewell to a few folks. Many enjoyed another great day at the beach, taking in Azalea Park or beautiful Harris Beach. Some ventured further into the national forests and up the beautiful Chetco River into Loeb State Park. It was a glorious day for those explorations. Twenty folks got together that evening at a local seafood eatery for some great food.

A christening ceremony was held to celebrate the new motorhome acquisitions of Shirley and Gina, Ruby, Betty and Peggy, and Pat. We wish them all safe travels in their new rigs. More merriment ensued in the clubhouse after the event. Laughter reverberated throughout the park until a very late hour.

Monday saw the last of those staying over disburse to make the trek home or move on to other adventures. This was a great event with good friends, good food and good times. Please join us in the fun at our next event.�Tamra Swerdlik

Salem, Oregon (April 11-13, 2008)

Twenty-four members and guests attended our rally at the Hee Hee Illattee RV Resort. Everyone agreed this is an excellent park with one of the best meeting rooms we have experienced.

On Friday evening we had our usual heavy appetizers followed by a lively bingo session.
Saturday morning began with a continental breakfast followed by our annual business meeting. Some very healthy and positive discussions occurred which will give our chapter direction for this year as well as 2009. Afterward, several members attended the Tulip Festival in Woodburn. �Others toured Salem.

In the afternoon, a guest speaker from Les Schwab made a presentation on maintenance of tires, batteries and shocks. I am sure he was impressed with the members� level of knowledge and questions.

After the presentation, some members visited an orchard to purchase locally grown products. We gathered for a potluck dinner in the evening, followed by card games.
Sunday we enjoyed a delicious breakfast followed in the afternoon with a cruise on the Willamette Queen Sternwheeler.

We were very fortunate to have warm sunny weather the entire weekend. A great time was had by all.�Dee Hamer

Lincoln City, Oregon (March 14-16)

Devils Lake RV Park was ready for camp host Barb Pace and the rest of our members. The meeting room there was nice and big, and the kitchen had everything we could possibly need, and more. The manager, Chris, even started the coffee pot for us in the morning when she unlocked the door. This is a park with new owners and manager and lots of improvements that we appreciated.

On Friday, rigs trickled in as the rain reminded us about spring weather in Oregon. Eventually we were 24 members and guests, with 15 rigs. Old friends and new made quick work of our favorite appetizer potluck dinner, then the games began. We broke out Cribbage, Rummicube, and Phase Ten. Some of us just sat and talked, and watched the gamers.

After a continental breakfast provided by the chapter on Saturday, people went off in several directions. Some went to see and support the Tanger Outlet Stores. Some went to deposit, and a few to withdraw, funds at the Chinook Winds Casino. Many got the dogs out for a walk whenever the rain let up, too. Short walks in the rain were the best plan for the day.

We gathered together again for our regular potluck dinner that evening, and we really outdid ourselves on that one! Following officer and member introductions, we welcomed four new members to our group. Charlotte Norby won the drawing for the door prize, a Hose Buddy to help control those unruly dump hoses at the ground. Games rounded out our evening with the addition of poker.

The rain on Sunday was intermittent. Some had to head for home after sharing a leftover continental breakfast. For others, more shopping and gambling seems to have been the order of the day with continuing dog walking, too. That evening, many of us went out for seafood at the Surfrider, which has a nice ocean view.
Despite the rain, we enjoyed our first campout of the year at the coas. We are already planning our next happy trails.�Barb Pace

Rocky Mountain Chapter

See the current issue of RVing Women magazine for information about upcoming events.

SoCALJourners Chapter

Solo Travelers Chapter

Roadside Rendezvous

We, in the eastern part of the country, eagerly anticipate the upcoming National RVW Convention in Charleston and encourage those who have not had the opportunity to attend and witness what a professional and impressive organization we are and to become acquainted with some of the hundreds of amazing women who have the same amazing stories that we do.

I recently had an experience, in the company of only eight of those women, that has clarified for me what it is that draws us together and how it may have all begun

The setting was with the Solo Travelers Chapter. We gathered to enjoy the balmy winter weather in the rural area of north central �Florida. Due to the widespread �geography of the Solos Travelers, a structured and pre-planned rally is rarely attempted. So a roadside rendezvous is called and it all evolves from there�and, it did!

Upon arrival, as is typical, the eight attendees were eager to come together, meet new friends and catch up with those of previous acquaintance. Introductions were made, all pets were duly admired (we were one animal short of being outnumbered this time) and some planning was done. We planned a Super Bowl party and agreed that we would take advantage of the nearby scenic and historic town of Cedar Key.

On Saturday morning, the roosters at a nearby henhouse, along with the minimal effort it takes to organize eight people, ensured an early start to Cedar Key. Arriving there, we found beautiful winter blue skies and very few tourists competing for the narrow sidewalks. Eager to explore, we quickly decided on a lunch site. The ladies dispersed, some to the gift shops, some to the local museums and some to just enjoy strolling through the small town center. Upon rejoining the group, we enjoyed our seaside lunch, shared our impressions and Cedar Key experiences and departed back to our Old Town campground, with stops on the way to stock up on party fare.

All agreed that the owner of the campground, Joe Navatto, was undoubtedly one of the most hospitable we had ever encountered. Despite his posted price of $5 for firewood, he insisted on bringing a fire ring, wood and starter kindling to a location of our choice, all without charge. All weekend, Joe was visible in his golf cart, accompanied by assorted children and/or pets�including one of those hens. He was quick to offer assistance if needed or just to engage in friendly conversation.

Due to the lack of a recreation hall, Joe allowed us to use the two tables in the campground office to gather around our laptops on Saturday afternoon. Lyn and Judith conducted an impromptu review in navigating the RVW national website and ensured that those present were registered and using the Yahoo group site that the Solo Travelers have initiated for easier contact with one another.

We ended Saturday around Joe�s campfire, sinking even further into the relaxation sense of all�s well that the company of a group of RVing Women always seems to evoke.

On Sunday, Shirley was evidently in league with the roosters. Soon after the night�s mist had cleared, she gathered a few willing participants to take advantage of the developed walking/biking trail in town. The trail took us over the Suwannee River and summoned memories of canoeing and kayaking that same stream. A scouting party departed after lunch to look over a campground adjacent to the headspring of the river, with the plan of a canoeing, kayaking, maybe even tubing, rally in the Florida Chapter�s future.

We gathered at sunset to enjoy our Super Bowl feast and ignited yet another of Joe�s campfires. Gail�s contribution to the event was a very little television and a very long extension cord. So there, gathered around an eight-inch television (bereft of HD/LCD technology) perched on the end of a picnic table and not too far from the campfire, on a balmy winter night, eight enthusiastic (and, yes, betting) sports fans enjoyed as memorable a Super Bowl party, we are sure, as any of the other ninety-seven million reported viewers! Shirley and Ruth and the Giants won.

On Monday, a few had to leave, but before departures our techie, Gail, reviewed the workings of her GPS for those still comfortable with maps and clipboards. It didn�t appear that any converts emerged, but admittedly this navigation thing is a definite challenge to those traveling without co-pilots.

The lucky lingerers passed the day with a visit to an antique shop and a winery followed by a lunch that included the local delicacy, soft-shelled crab.
Super Bowl leftovers served very well for supper.

Rounding off the weekend, a single female traveler, also visiting the campground, was approached and given a welcoming introduction to RVW.

So, a few women came together with no more notice or information than that contained in a few emails and with the expectation of welcome, acceptance, relaxation and friendship that we have all come to know as RVing Women.

Could such a gathering be reminiscent of how RVW probably started�a few women, having a love of travel and independence, gathering together, finding commonalities beyond their expectations and, upon leaving, thinking, �When and how are we going to do this again?�--Arlene Dawson

San Antonio, New Mexico (November 6-8, 2007)

Solo RVing Women met in New Mexico, Land of Enchantment, for a rally and visit to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. We had the opportunity there to view some of the thousands of migrating waterfowl up front and close. Host Kathleen Presley and Beckey Beckey greeted nine women as they arrived Monday night at the campground. A few knew each other already. Some had been caravanning from the RVW convention in Lodi. Others were on their way to someplace warm in the southwest. All gathered before noon the next day, with their lunches, at the Eagle Scout deck to watch the snow and Ross� geese, bald eagles and ducks.

It was a beautiful clear day. However, the geese decided they were not going to snooze there that afternoon. We used binoculars and a spotting scope on the deck to observe the few birds that did show, and then we had lunch and went on to the visitors center to spend some money and look at the displays.

In the afternoon, we all went back to our rigs to take a nap. All that fresh air and sunshine makes you crave a nap. That evening we carpooled to the big town of San Antonio, population 8,700 spread over 10 square miles, where we had dinner at the Buckhorn, a small tavern rated seventh in the United States for it�s hamburgers.
At dinner, we went around the table telling about where we had come from and how we got involved with RVing Women. Some had joined in 1991, the year RVW was formed; others, much later. While we sat and talked and listened to each others� stories, the bartender/owner kept dropping in to see how we were doing and finally commented that we were very respectful of each other. She said that usually when you get 11 women sitting around a table, there is a lot of talking, laughter and general chaos. But we were all enjoying hearing about our new friends. Yes, we laughed�but there were long periods of silence while we listened to the stories that enfolded.

Finally, we realized that everyone in the restaurant had left, and the bartender and waitresses were waiting for us to leave so they could go home. We paid for our meals and, as we walked out to our cars, we laughed about the fact that it was the first time for some of us to close down a bar. Of course, it was only 8 p.m.
The next morning we met at 6 a.m. to see the fly out, which is always impressive. The noise of the geese gabbling about taking off and the sound of thousands of wings lifting the birds into the air makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

After the fly out, we drove back into San Antonio for a New Mexican breakfast at Acosta�s. From there we drove 20 miles south of the refuge to the El Camino Real Heritage Center. El Camino Real was established in the mid-16th century as the trade route from Mexico City to Santa Fe. The center is new and has displays on the various cities through which the traders traveled.
That evening we observed the fly in of all the snow and Ross� geese and sandhill cranes flying back to the ponds where they roost during the night. The water is only a foot or two deep, but the coyotes will not go out into the water to attack the birds so they feel safe in the water.

We drove into Socorro that evening to the Socorro Springs Micro Brewery. The next day we went back to Socorro and visited the mission that has been in continuous use since it�s inception in 1598. It�s a beautiful little church with a reclining Christ in a niche in the wall.

From there we drove over to the New Mexico Mining College where were able to observe some wigeons. Socorro is a typical New Mexican town with a plaza in the middle, so we walked around the plaza, visiting the stores, and looked at a segment of the outside shell that contained the first atom bomb, which was tested not far from this area. We also stopped in a working art gallery, talked with one of the artists and purchased some pictures and cards painted by the three women artists who own the gallery. We had dinner at the Stage Door, a new Cajun restaurant in an old adobe building.

That evening we realized that RVW had again brought women together for enjoyment and companionship in a safe atmosphere. New friends were made, old ones cemented and we were all sad that this rally was over.�Beckey Beckey

Texas Ramblin' Roses Chapter

Smith Point, Texas (May 8-11, 2008

The Texas Ramblin� Roses chapter of RVW enjoyed a delightful weekend at Smith Point at the Spoonbill RV Park.

Smith Point is near Anahuac and close to the 34,000-acre Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge where purple gallinule, American alligators, red wing blackbirds, songbirds, shorebirds, butterflies and hummingbirds can be seen. Driving the 14-mile gravel road very slowly was an exciting venture.

We had 30 members and three guests attending this rally, which was sponsored by Wanda Rodgers and JoAnn Brenek.

Thursday night, the hosts provided homemade spaghetti and French bread for those arriving early. Friday night, a covered dish of wonderful offerings of the members took place.

Saturday morning, the hosts sponsored a dress-up dog parade, an activity that provided entertainment for the entire campground. After the parade, each entrant received a medal for superb participation.

Saturday night the host campground provided us with a fresh fish dinner.

In addition to eating regularly, we played games, bird watched, kayaked, fished, and took time out for a wine tasting�the area�s two wineries sent people out to our rally. A well-kept secret is that Texas has a very productive wine industry.

We also gathered one evening for a short informative meeting about the convention to be held in Texas in October 2009. We are looking forward to offering a wonderful time in Texas. We are also looking forward to our next rally in October when the weather cools and all the travelers return from exploring other parts of the country.�Janice Lee Ives

Hempstead, Texas (April 2-6, 2008

Our Hempstead Rally was held at the Red Oak Ranch RV Park. We chose the location and the dates to be able to enjoy the beautiful bluebonnets and other wildflowers that bloom so prolifically in early spring. The terrain in this part of �Texas is gently rolling hills, with lots of trees and ranches. Looking out over a hillside covered in bluebonnets is an absolutely breathtaking experience. Seeing such beauty makes it easy to understand why the bluebonnet is our state flower.

Rally hosts June Dossat and Gayle Pierce had a great time planning the rally. There were 55 members of RVW in 32 RVs at the rally, and we all enjoyed lots of good food and laughter. Several of the attendees were from other areas of the country. We always love to have women from other chapters participate in our rallies. If you ever come to a Ramblin� Roses rally, be prepared to get a warm welcome and lots of hugs!

Each evening, we had a mix and mingle followed by a meal, then games and socializing. On Friday evening, we had a potluck dinner that featured a wonderful grilled brisket provided by June. Saturday evening, we were fortunate to have a local Hempstead restaurant chef cater a meal at the rally hall. What a treat! None of us had to cook, and the food was delicious.

After the meal on Saturday evening, we recognized all the attendees with April birthdays (Arden �Eversmeyer, Gayle Pierce, Janice Villyard, Rene Gray, and Susan Mooney). The rest of us sang a fun version (by Julie Andrews) of �My Favorite Things� to Rene who, as the youngest of the birthday group, needed to be educated on what life has in store for her body! We had a good time laughing at the lyrics.

On Thursday morning, several of the attendees participated in a guided birding tour of the Brazos Valley Flyway. Friday afternoon, others attended a docent-guided tour of the International Performing Arts Institute at Festival Hill, which features a uniquely constructed performance hall that has amazing acoustics for musical events.

There were lots of on-your-own local area attractions to visit. Several of the women enjoyed visiting the Antique Rose Emporium and the �Monastary, where you can see Miniature Horses. In addition, there were visits to Washington on the Brazos, the birthplace of Texas, the Brazos Star Gift Shop in Chappell Hill (owned by member Mary Louise Young), and the Lavender Farm.

The highlight for most of the rally attendees was the beauty they saw on the wildflower trails around the area. And, of course, no day trip was complete without a stop at the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham for a tour and sampling of the wonderful ice cream.

I personally had an incredible experience during the rally. RVing Women members are an amazing group of caring, supportive people. Our RVW creed focuses on providing a network of support. Even knowing that, I was still overwhelmed with all the loving care and assistance I received when I became ill with stomach flu just before the rally began. What a wonderful group of women this is! They not only pitched in to help June with rally host duties that I was unable to perform, but a few of them came over to the site in Chappell Hill where I was when I became ill, cared for me, brought me prescriptions and food, and eventually drove me in my rig over to the rally park so they could keep a close watch on me in case I needed anything. I owe a special thanks to June �Dossat, Jo Anne Daigre, �Barbara Ryan, �Arden Eversmeyer, Cindy Winburn, and Janice Villyard�along with all of the other women present who came by my rig daily to see how I was progressing. With that kind of care and support, you just can�t help but get well!

In mid-October 2009, the �national RVW convention will be held in San Antonio. Our chapter is excited about being the host chapter and treating ya�ll to some Texas-style �hospitality. So, mark your calendars for October 14 to 18, 2009, bring your boots and jeans, and come on down to have some fun!�Gayle Pierce

Burnet Lake, Texas (February 29-March 2, 2008

Our rally at Big Chief RV Resort at Lake Buchanan was attended by 62 women, 13 of whom were guests. Some of these guests opted to join RVW and our chapter before the weekend was over! Our hosts Page Graves, Toni Lucas, Karen Son, and Judy Wisdom did a fantastic job of planning, organizing, and conducting a wonderful event.

On Friday morning, an enthusiastic group left for Delaware Springs Golf Course in Burnet. The weather was most cooperative and they returned happy and tired from their day away. Spirits were picked up at the happy hour and the potluck was sumptuous, as usual. Friday evening was a good opportunity for games at the clubhouse.

On Saturday, many women opted to take a tour on the Vanishing River Cruise boat with the hopes of sighting bald eagles and other of the many birds in the area. The early morning group had a better opportunity and did spot an eagle during their four-hour cruise. After another happy hour we all brought our steaks (and other meats) up to the clubhouse to grill them over the coals. Our hosts provided a huge salad and baked potatoes with all the fixin�s. Later there was a campfire and visiting under the stars. Some opted to remain inside and play games in the clubhouse.

Sunday morning we were treated to breakfast tacos before hitching up and heading out. Our state is so vast that many women traveled quite a long distance to attend, but perhaps the biggest kudos go to Billie Rusk who traveled three days to get to us again�all the way from Tucson! A special thanks to our hosts for the work they did to make this such a wonderful rally. We look forward to the next gathering in Hempstead during the Bluebonnet spectacular.�Marge Le Claire

Canyon Lake, Texas (December 6 � 9, 2007

A year after forming the new Texas Ramblin� Roses Chapter with 35 members, 56 of 110 members gathered together in December from Dallas-Fort Worth, Lake Sam Rayburn, Houston, Smithpoint, Dripping Springs, Livingston and many other areas of Texas to have fun, laugh, sing, play games, open Christmas presents, sit around the campfire,mwalk, swim, explore Canyon Lake, boat ride, kayak, and have touching moments that warm your Texas heart. What more could you ask for?

Thursday night our hosts, Donna, Susan, Scottie and Janis, cooked some tasty homemade chili. There was card playing afterward with lots of visiting and catching up in the rally room where we had happy hours, games, and meetings.

Friday morning our group got together to hike and bird watch along the Guadalupe River below the Canyon Lake Dam. Friday night we cooked on the grill, enjoyed a smorgasbord of cakes, pies, candies and cookies and later shared stories around a campfire.

Saturday morning our hosts cooked fat pancakes. After pancakes, we had a business meeting to discuss organizational plans for the 2009 RVW Annual Convention in Texas. Everyone is excited to plan and arrange this event with the help of the national organization. Our officers, President Marge La Claire, Vice President Emma Lou �Scottie� Scott, Secretary Donna Bullis and Treasurer Page Graves were elected to another one-year term.

In the evening we enjoyed a potluck dinner with singing to guitars played by Irene and Susan. Susan has created a wonderful RVing Women song that we have sung the last few meetings. Later, we all opened Christmas presents, one by one stealing what we liked from someone else as our turn came up.

Sunday morning we had to say goodbye to our old friends and newfound friends.�Carol Burk