Sandys' Scribbles July.

I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine.  We are at Qualicum Bay, and it is windy here...not really too relaxing.  We are tying down tents and gazebos!

I think the Buttle Lake Rally was a huge success!  11 coaches attended. Perfect! We had warm and sunny weather, which makes a huge difference to everyone's demeanor.  Barb Lucas even braved a dip in the lake!  Firewood was plentiful, thanks to the Balogh family, and those of us who packed some in. WYATT SABOURIN took on splitting wood and unknowingly, the job of Chief Fire Warden.

Many thanks to Brian & Linda BOWDEN and Randy & Barb COOPER for arranging salads and desserts to go with our entrees the first night.  It was great to just park and relax after our trip in.

Too bad, but the Driftwood Bay site now has an annoying MOUSE problem!  Many of us had nighttime visitors and full traps!  Too many campers throw leftover food into the bush.  Our dog Tinker has come back with 1/2 muffins, chicken bones, wieners and whatever she managed to swallow before we caught her.

Joe, Stella and Jayden BLOGG provided a hearty pancake and sausage breakfast and delicious hamburgers for dinner on the Monday.  Attendees really tied in and the jobs were spread around, making it more enjoyable for everyone.

We enjoyed Mollke, Baseball, Skipbo, Dominoes, Kings Cribbage and games daily!

Once again, a few of us participated in paper boat races.  Jayden BLOGG took the prize for determination!  Some of the board and card games were necessary because it was too hot to play in the sun.

Many went exploring by car, bike and on foot during the days.

Randy and Barb Cooper stepped up again and did our Tuesday breakfast of ham, eggs and hash browns.  Joint effort  made a nice pasta for Tuesday dinner and clean up easy.

Porridge and ice cream for Wednesday breakfast and everyone brought a can of soup to go with fresh baked buns for dinner.  I was amused by the reactions of a few, who were concerned about mixing so many kinds of soup.  It was declared delicious!

Unfortunately, on the last night Don & Bev PURDEY had a flat front tire to contend with, but I understand everything worked out well.  The guys were all ready for a project, and direction, anyway.

A nice quiet, relaxing week...thank you to all who helped make it happen!

Sandy Quesnel

Sandy's Scribbles

SANDYS SCRIBBLES

The Anniversary Rally is now finished and I am very pleased to say, it was a great weekend!  26 coaches arrived Friday afternoon and we all gathered in the Barn for Happy Hour at 4 PM.  Pot luck dinner was another example of what great cooks we have in our Chapter.  There was plenty of very tasty food.  After clearing our dinner dishes and wiping up, we enjoyed the movie “Last Vegas” with a cup of popcorn and some good laughs.  

We started out Saturday with Monte Cristo breakfast sandwiches, fruit and yoghurt.  The General Meeting started at 10:00 AM, and as usual we endured some heavy discussions.  I am sure Barb Lucas will post the minutes soon for all to read.  Upcoming rallies are Buttle Lake June 25 to 29th, a Roving Rally August 8th to 21st or we get tired, and we will be returning to Seal Bay, September 19 to 22nd.

Elections produced only one change, Joe Blogg is replacing Wayne Quesnel as Alternate National Director.  Audrey Hauge will continue as Treasurer and I will remain as President.

Once again we played Baseball, ladies against the boys.  Once again, the ladies cleaned their clocks!  It was a really fun, noisy game!   I am sure the score was something like 14 to ??? 8???  Lots of laughs.

Happy hour again at 4 PM, another RV joined us, and we were all looking forward to our catered dinner.  A fabulous meal was prepared for us by Vancouver Island Event Catering and I would certainly recommend their business and use them again.  Personally, I did not hear of anyone disappointed and many of us really enjoyed not having to prepare or clean up.  We had a bit of a scare  when the ambulance was called for Wayne Hendricks who wasn't feeling well, but is now back to his normal self, and feeling fine.

  

Kathie Balogh presented the Chapter with a Certificate for our 15 years of Membership with FMCA.  The Charter members still active and present were introduced and given a years free dues.  

After dinner we did a little quiz about table centrepieces and previous rally themes over the past 15 years.  Prizes were given to Linda Williams, Stella Blogg and Laurel Macauley. The youngest and oldest at each table were given twinkle lights, plants or centrepieces as door prizes.  Laurel Macauley kindly donated 4 very nice door prizes as well.   50/50 draw of $118 was won by Bill Sutherland, and Alan & Nancy Dand won the Ken Williams Memorial Award.  After dinner, we had some interesting visiting with some of the Charter members who had joined us for dinner.  The intention was to play Pass the Ace later, not sure what happened.

A Celebration of Life hosted by the local Kinsmen with a Lobster-fest was happening in the large hall beside us, so we had great music until 1 AM. Again, I asked and not one person from our group had a complaint about the noise or party.  I am also very pleased to pass on that over $10,000.00 was raised on Saturday night, for local charities.  Worth listening to good music!

I was approached by the Kinsmen this morning, and they have asked to share the venue with us again next year.  They are offering to cut the cost of $55 a plate in half for our group only, to install fans in the South doorways so as to keep the West door closed, provide us with our own Security person and pretty well whatever we can think of to ask for, if we share the venue.  If the attendance isn't too large, we will be able to use the Scout Hall and be a little further from the action.  Thought provoking!

A Continental breakfast Sunday, quick tidy up, and most of us were out by noon.  A few stayed another night, for a cost.

Now, on to prep for the Buttle Lake rally!  There are still a few spots left.  If you are interested, please email me or send a cheque for $100 payable to Sandra Quesnel before June 10th.

Email is   smquesnel@gmail.com

Address is   3819 Cavin Road, Duncan, BC  V9L 6T2

The Roving Rally is fully booked, but if you can't make Buttle Lake, please start working on joining us at Seal Bay.

15th Anniversary Celebration

The Vancouver Islanders Chapter of FMCA is celebrating its 15th Anniversary.

The current Executive would like to invite everyone who is a member, or ever was a member, of the Vancouver Islanders to join us.  FMCA membership nor ownership of an RV are required to attend.  Just come, meet old friends and help us celebrate all of the fun times we have enjoyed.

The rally will begin on Friday, May 26 at Cowichan Exhibition Park, just north of Duncan, for those wishing to bring their RV.

Our Celebration Dinner will be catered by VI Event Catering Saturday, May 27.

The cost for this rally will be $110 per couple per coach, singles $85.  If you are planning on attending only the Saturday dinner the cost will be $25.

If you do not plan on attending, please, drop me a note with a comment about something you remember about the club.  Good or bad, I am sure a we can learn from it.

Because there will be a lot of planning, we need numbers a little earlier than usual.  Please respond to  smquesnel@gmail.com  before May 1st.  Mail cheques to:

Sandra Quesnel

3819 Cavin Road

Duncan, BC. V9L 6T2

Unfortunately, because of differing methods of record keeping over the years, many email addresses have been lost.  If you know of a former Chapter member who did not receive this invitation, PLEASE pass it along.



Sandy Quesnel

Sandy's Scribbles Feb 2017

As our 2017 season approaches, I thought it might be appropriate to post a few updates.

The 15th Anniversary of the Vancouver Islanders Chapter will be celebrated at the Cowichan Exhibition Rally, May 26 - 28.  There will be a catered dinner on the 27th and everyone who is a member, or ever was a member of the Chapter will be invited to attend.  Membership in FMCA, or ownership of an RV at this time will not be required for attendance.  We just want old and new friends to come together and celebrate the fun times we have had!  For current members and Chapter Executive, any suggestions for entertainment would be appreciated. Email me at smquesnel@gmail.com

Buttle Lake group area is reserved for the dates June 26 -29.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to host this rally, or anyone wishing to volunteer to provide a meal during this rally...please let me know...email smquesnel@gmail.com

Nothing is booked for July at this time, let me know if you are volunteering to do so at smquesnel@gmail.com

Aug 8 - 20+ will be the Roving Rally, from Luxton to Port Hardy.  No host required.

Seal Bay RV Resort has been reserved for Sept. 19 - 22.  Rally hosts or co-hosts needed.  Please volunteer!

For those in or near the Yuma area, the annual Potluck will be on Feb. 26.  The club will provide a Ham and requests sent out for the remainder.  If you would like to attend, please respond before Feb 20 to smquesnel@gmail.com

Travel safe, keep on having fun!

Sandy Quesnel

Sandy's Update

Sandy’s’ Scribbles

DATES TO NOTE:

Park & Play – September 2 -6 Cut-off August 26

Cow Ex Rally – September 16 – 19 Cut-off September 7

I hope everyone’s summer has been going well. So far, Wayne and I have had a great one! We have hardly been home!

The rally at the Cowichan Exhibition grounds in May was fun, we were all well fed and the weather was good. Prizes were given for the Best Western outfits, won by Andy Delange and Audrey Hauge. We played lawn games and bet on some exciting horse races.

In June, a hardy few attended a small rally at Driftwood Bay in Strathacona Park. We had 12 rigs attending. It was cool and wet, but again, it was fun and we ate well. The scavenger hunt at that site is always a good laugh.

We have just returned from the rally at Seal Bay, with 14 rigs attending. The weather was very warm so we had no lawn games, but the group did T-shirt stenciling one evening and the next evening we had a painting group. Both events were good fun and well attended. As always, we enjoyed lots of tasty food.

A Park & Play has been arranged for the Cowichan Bay spit on Labor Day weekend. We go in on Friday, September 2^nd and we may stay until Tuesday, September 6^th if we choose. This is “DRY” camping, there are NO services. The gate is controlled and in & out times will be determined by attendees at the time. It is called a Park & Play because there are no amenities, no theme, no organized entertainment, no meals planned and no tent for shelter other than your own. The only thing provided is a tarmac surface, views of the wildlife & ocean and I would bet…a lot of good laughs! The cost to PARK is $10 per night, pretty inexpensive for a long week-end out! If you are interested in the PARK & PLAY, please email me at smquesnel@gmail.com I need a rough estimate of numbers before August 26^th.

The final rally this year is at the Cowichan Exhibition grounds again. Entry is Friday, September 16^th leaving Monday, September 19^th. We are having a change of venue this time as the parking will be “dry” and at the north end of the facility. We will have use of the Scout Hall, with the lovely kitchen and projector screens instead of the barn. There will be a beautiful view this time. Electrical hook-ups are scarce at that end and will be given, for an extra charge, to those requiring power for medical purposes.

The cost for this rally is $120 per couple, per coach, and $100 for singles. Send your cheques before September 7^th, payable to:

Sandra Quesnel

3819 Cavin Road

Duncan, BC V9L 6T2

Questions? My email address is above 

Proposed Rally schedule for 2017

Cow Ex grounds – May 26-29, 2017

June and July – Buttle Lake and ?

Roving Rally – August 8- 18+ 2017 (Luxton to Port Hardy)

Seal Bay – Sept 19-22, 2017