A GREAT RALLY IN SIDNEY!

      (Scroll down for the next Rally at Port Hardy.)

     Many thanks to Ian & Lyn Van Treight for the use of their place for the rally!  Due to our wet spring, a week before we were to use it, the field in Sidney was used for a Carnival and their rigs had to be removed with an excavator.  Kudos to John and Susan Van Schaik for checking around and finding another site so quickly.
On an unhappy note, Susan Van Schaik had a fall the night before the rally after setting up and was taken to hospital to have a very bad break set on her arm.  A few days later she actually underwent surgery to have plates put in the arm.  We hope Susan recuperates well and quickly.  She had some great volunteers to help her pull things together.
    The weather was good but cool and a few furnaces were running. 
    Friday night for dinner each couple was given a whole roasted chicken and the meal was completed with pot-luck sides and desserts.  Wayne and I had another meal and sandwiches from the chicken.
    Saturday morning was a continental breakfast and a then the meeting was called to order.  Because the Executive felt some changes should be made to the by-laws, elections have been post-poned until the new by-laws come into effect.  The proposed new by-laws were gone over by the membership and 30 days notice will be given before the final vote which will be at the Port Hardy Rally.  Swap meet tables were set up and some made purchases and some made money!  Lots of fun!  We then had part of the day on our own until time for Bean Bag Baseball in the afternoon.  The game was a huge amount of fun, lots of hecklers and jeering, but both teams did well.
    Dinner was a humongous "BBQ it yourself" steak each, baked potato, salads and desserts all provided by the rally hosts.  (Wayne and I also had another meal with the leftover steak!)  Afterwards, some warmly dressed people stay out and played card Bingo.  Lots of cash prize winners.
    Continental breakfast again Sunday morning and then everyone helped dismantle the tent and headed home. Another great rally thanks to John & Susan Van Schaik and their crew!

Read up on the next Rally, Scroll Down.

Port Hardy Rally

July 18, 19, 20, 21

The rally in Port Hardy will be held at Storeys Beach.  The  theme will be “Christmas in July” with donations and proceeds going to the Harvest Food Bank.  The cost is $80 per couple and send your cheques, payable to:   Laurel Macaulay, 1356 Reef Road, Nanoose Bay, BC  V9P 9B9    Cut off July 6.   PLEASE INDICATE YOUR COACH LENGTH AND IF YOU WILL EAT OATMEAL.   
Note: If you are interested in the Whale Watching for @ $84 + tax  or Cannery tours please contact Laurel ASAP at  taupeview@hotmail.com  or 250-468-9744

Door prizes given nightly but the ticket cost will be a daily donation of food or non-perishable items for the Food Bank.  Badly needed are baby foods, diapers, cereals and staples. No outdated items, please.  A Poker Run, Trivia contest, Christmas ornament contest and Centerpiece making contest will be ongoing.

July 18:  On arrival, please pick up your Welcome package and Christmas supplies for the contests.  Happy hour at 4 PM.  Dinner will be cold cuts, buns, coleslaw, potato and bean salads.  At a closer date will be a division of who brings appies and who brings desserts.  Dinner to be followed by Christmas Bingo, a twoonie a card, good for 5 games.  Prizes will be given, bingo proceeds to the Food Bank.

July 19:  Coffee by 7:30 AM and Breakfast at 8:30  -   French toast, sausage, fruit and juices.
Day on your own, do the trivia contest and go to town for the Poker Run.   Possibly Whale watching ( 4 people booked – need 10 total),  or the Cannery tour, contact Laurel ASAP if interested. 
Happy hour at 4PM and  Dinner at 6 Pm which will be a “surprise”.   Door prizes and 50/50 draw.  Post time for 5 Reindeer races is at 7:30.

July 20: Coffee by 7:30 Breakfast at 8:30 Oatmeal with Butter Pecan Ice cream.   Those who do not like oatmeal please indicate when booking and Cheerios or Raisin Bran will be provided.
 Dinner on this night will be a full Christmas dinner and volunteers to help with the prep and production will be appreciated.

Happy hour at 4 PM – no snacks – save space for Traditional Christmas dinner at 6PM!  Everyone to bring their favourite family traditional cookie or dessert.  Dinner followed by a gift exchange.  Bring a gift, take a gift, drawn by number. THE GIFT MUST BE HAND-MADE BY THE PERSON BRINGING IT!  Wrapping paper will be supplied. Card games, etc afterwards.

July 21:  Coffee at 7:30 and  Breakfast will be scrambled eggs, ham, hash browns and fruit juices.
Day on your own, work on Trivia, ornaments, centerpiece or explore.
Happy hour at 4 PM and  Dinner at 6PM of steak, baked potato, Caesar salad.  Division of who brings appies and who brings desserts later.  50/50 and door prizes.
This night, judging of the Trivia contest, Ornament and Centerpiece making will take place, as well as the finals of the Best Poker hand.

July 22: Coffee at 7AM and Continental breakfast at 8AM  Dismantle, and clean up, vacate the premises by noon.

Directions to Storeys Beach:  WATCH FOR FMCA SIGNS!

From Highway 19 turn RIGHT onto Fort Rupert Road,  RIGHT onto Bing Road, LEFT onto Beaver Harbour Road,  come to Beaver Harbour Park on your right, then take the FIRST RIGHT and go towards the beach.  Rally parking will be on the RIGHT.

National Directors report

NOTE: Details of the Spring Rally in last Post below.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Planning Meeting for the FMCA rally this June has just wrapped up and there are some items I want to pass on to you. To begin, at the business meeting it was announced FMCAssist will pick up where Medex left off with no interruption of service. New cards are available for print at the fmaca.org website. Of particular interest will be the seminar at the Rally regarding all things FMCA.

The next National FMCA Convention will be held in Madison, Wisconsin, August 2011. Andy & I will be attending and I am asking that you read the candidate’s resumes in the June 2011 FMC Magazine. I will vote as the Chapter advises me to vote. In addition to National elections, there will be issues of interest to our membership.

After a fair amount of discussion regarding the NW Area rally in 2012. the rally will take place at the Mill Casino in Coos Bay, Oregon, June 14 -17, 2012. The Casino has made amazing concessions and offers and it was decided to give it a try to see if this could be a successful venture for us. There was even discussion to make this a ‘friends and family’ rally, thereby allowing just that, friends and family members who are not FMCA members to attend. More discussion will ensue at the next Planning Meeting this September in Lacey.

It was decided to hold the 2013 and the 2015 NW Area rallies in Moses Lake, the 2014 and 2016 rallies will be held in Albany, Oregon. It was reported that we get better pricing by committing to 2 years at a time as opposed to a year by year basis.

Should you be holding off making plans to attend the FMCA rally in Albany this coming June because you need minimal electricity to power a CPAP, there are 13 sites available with 10 amp power. These sites are available at a low cost, on a first come, first serve basis. Please contact Neil Radford at 206-718-0091 PRIOR to sending in your registration form (available in your FMCA magazine) to make sure Neil has a spot for you, then complete your registration form. These sites will go fast and there are only 13 of them so please act fast if this concerns you.

Tickets for the Ladies Luncheon will be $10 and Pat Spofford and Karen Pratt are planning a fashion show. Our own, President Sandy Quesnel is the Chairperson for the Parade. If you are attending, please let Sandy know, as I am sure, she would like your input in the planning of the parade.

There will be seminars, bingo, an ice cream social, 2 dinners, 100 show coaches (and you know they are ready to deal!) FMCA merchandise, welcome bags, door prizes, vendors, entertainment Friday and Saturday evenings, coach repair available by several vendors and the opportunity to meet and socialize with members of the other 39 NW Area Chapters!

Thanks and safe travels!

Kathie Balogh

National Director, Vancouver Islanders

NOTE: DETAILS OF THE SPRING RALLY BELOW.

Spring Rally 2011 in Sidney

May 27 - 29th

Check in is at 12:00 on May 27th. "no earlier."

Directions to get to the Rally field in Sidney. From Victoria turn right on Beacon from the Hwy into Sidney.

First turn on the right is Bevan, Turn right. From there First right turn is Fifth St, turn right.

2nd street on the right is Orchard Ave, turn right. Then go straight to the field. Click on Map for larger version.

On Friday only

Salads will be supplied by the A to N group

Desserts will be supplied by the M to Z Group

Happy Hour: 4:00 P.M.

Supper: 6:00 P.M

Chicken & Buns will be supplied

Saturday Breakfast

08:30-09:30

Continental Breakfast

Meeting to follow

possibly members Swap and Shop and get together.

3:00 -4:00 Old Timers Baseball game

Happy Hour: 4:00 P.M.

Supper: 6:00 P.M

Strip Loin Steaks, Baked Potatoes, Ceasar Salad, Buns, & Desserts will be supplied

(Everyone is in charge of cooking there own steaks at a central location)

Sunday Morning, 08:30-09:30

Continental Breakfast

Cost of rally $60.00 send cheques to John Van Schaik, 559 Broadway Street, Victoria V8Z 2G3

Cut off Date May 17, 2011

Please make the check payable to John Van Schaik "not' to the F.M.C.A. Island Chapter

Sandys Scribbles Mar 2011

Sandys Scribbles

Here we are, the start of another fun year! I hope everyone had a good winter and that this finds you all rich and happy in every way!

Mom & Dad, Wayne, Joey & I, just arrived in Yuma last week. We had a really great 4 months in Mexico, although it was a little cooler than usual.

Now, I am getting excited about the coming year and just can’t wait to get a rally schedule together. The first rally of the new season will be May 27 & 28^th at Sydney. John & Susan Van Schaik and friends will be hosting. You have plenty of time to schedule this in, so hope to see you all there. A rally in Port Hardy in July is in the works.

If we are going to have as much fun as possible, we need just a few more sites. HOSTS ARE NICE, BUT NOT NECESSARY! What we need are pleasant sites to park our rigs. If your preference is for an RV Park, now is the time to consider booking. A level field, retired log sort or lumber yard, parking lot or fairgrounds are excellent.

Hoping to hear from you as soon as we all get home, with a few ideas. Email me at skew67@hughes.net

Have some fun every day and drive safe.

Sandy