Canadian Snowbird Association Advisory

        Dear Snowbirds,

In late December the Canadian Snowbird Association received some very good news from the Minister of Health, the Honourable Margaret MacDiarmid.

After working with the Minister and senior officials, the Canadian Snowbird Association received the following commitment, "with respect to the Canadian Snowbird Association request to increase out of country stays from 6 to 7 months, the Government of British Columbia's intentions are to proceed with this request through legislation once the Provincial Legislature resumes sitting now scheduled for early February 2013".

The Canadian Snowbird Association would like to thank Premier Christy Clark for her support as well as Ministers and MLAs from the British Columbia Legislature.

We will keep you posted when legislation is tabled in the House.

Have a great day, best regards ,

Bob Slack, President & Director

Rick Thorpe, Director Canadian Snow

COWICHAN BAY REDNECK RALLY AUGUST 9 –11, 2012

The “Stars and Bars” flew proudly over Cowichan Bay when the Vancouver Islanders held their Redneck Rally August 9 – 11th, hosted by Laurel and Wayne Macauley.    There were 29 motorhomes attending this fun-filled weekend.  The weather was fantastic and everyone enjoyed their “waterfront sites”.

(Click on Picture for larger view)

Thursday started with our usual Happy Hour, followed by a game of Redneck Trivia.    A lovely dinner featuring pulled pork on buns with coleslaw and baked beans was served, followed with ice cream and watermelon for dessert.  After dinner the “Seed Spitting” contest was held and the winners were Tanya Williams and Pete Norton.

Friday “Redneck Day” was off to a good start with Flapjacks, Sausages and Fruit for breakfast.   In the afternoon, the Spam Carving Contest was held and several “artists” created works of art using a tin of Spam and plastic cutlery.  Matt Blogg was the winner with his carving of his Class C motorhome and “toad”.

At Happy Hour people arrived dressed in their best Redneck attire along with Redneck names.   A vote was held and the winners of the Best Dressed Redneck were Mary Ann Tennent and Audrey Hauge (Audy-Joe) (tied for first place) and Brooke Williams (Zeke). Gary Schur cooked three delicious deep fried turkeys for dinner, along with salads and desserts provided by the members. After dinner the Plunger Game was played with 6 couples participating.  This was a very “interesting” game and provided a lot of laughs for all, both spectators and participants.   The winners were the unlikely duo of Mick Hargreaves (Mickey-Sue) and Brooke Williams (Zeke).

Saturday started with a hearty breakfast of Stuffed Redneck Toast, Taters, and Fruit.   After breakfast, Gary and Mary Ann Tennent gave a demo on the making of Redneck Wine Glasses.  Many people attended this demo and everyone went home with glasses that they had created. Dinner that evening was a delicious combo of Tacos, Mexican Rice and Corn on the Cob along with salads and desserts provided by the members. After dinner the Can Races were held, bringing out many people willing to place their bets on: Bud “bet on him and you will be wiser” Rootbeer “always root for the Beer” Pabst Blue Ribbon “already a Blue Ribbon Winner” Mountain Dew “the Dew can move mountains” The Islander “maybe a slow starter but watch him float by” Lemonade “you think he may Suck, but he could squeeze by the others”

Sunday morning started with a Continental Breakfast and then it was time to clean-up, take down the tent and head for home.

The winner of the 50/50 draw was Brian Bowden and Brian and Lynda also won the Ken Williams Memorial Award – a lucky weekend for them!

It was a wonderful, fun-filled rally and many, many thanks to Laurel and Wayne for doing such an excellent job of hosting (and cooking) at this rally.

Submitted by Stella Blogg

NATIONAL DIRECTOR’S REPORT

87^TH ANNUAL FAMILY REUNION CONVENTION

INDIANAPOLIS, IN. AUGUST 2012

The Governing Board met on Monday, August 27, 2012 at 9 a.m. in Indianapolis, Indiana. We had 67% attendance for a quorum. The Northwest Area had a total of

18 delegates present.

The Standing Rules and the Agenda were adopted, the head table was introduced and the reading of the Minutes was waived per Standing Rule #4. Treasurer, Wil Young, gave the Treasurer’s Report followed by the Executive Director’s Report and Standing Committee Reports.

It was reported that the Executive Director resigned during 2011 and the position was filled with an Interim Executive Director from within the current staff. Jerry Yeatts was selected to fill this position along with his responsibility of Director, Membership Services and Benefits. At the recent May meeting, the Executive Board voted to make this position permanent. With his selection as Executive Director, there are no plans to hire a replacement for the Membership Director position.

With the departure of several members of the Accounting Department, FMCA is in the process of hiring an accounting professional. The Accounting Department will then have a Director and three staff members.

Current staffing is 36 full-time and 4 part-time employees--a reduction of 16 employees since 2009. No changes have been made to the staff benefits. However, the cost of these benefits keeps going up. FMCA has also contracted with a human resources and payroll company to keep them in compliance with current employment rules and regulations, both federal and local. They also provide employee training in employment and personal growth programs.

Treasurer, Wil Young, reported that our investments are still providing positive returns and increased market value. Revenue from magazine advertising is showing signs of improvement and web site advertising continues to improve.

The biggest item on the budget was the de-funding of the medical evacuation program known as FMCAssist. On Call is currently supplying this benefit and has chosen not to do business with us after September 30, 2012. The Governing Board, after much discussion, voted for a Member Purchased Plan at a cost to the members of $105 per year for a couple or $85 per year for a single. There are some inclusions for children, grandchildren, disabled, etc. Information on this program will be available soon. The contact claims phone number will remain the same. More information on this will be sent out via email blasts and can be seen very soon on the FMCA website at www.fmca.com.

There were several housekeeping items passed by the Governing Board to make the Policy and Procedures and Bylaws conform. Electronics meetings were approved for the Executive Board, Committees, and Chapters. This was to conform to the latest change to Roberts Rules of Order, 11^th edition. Temporary Delegates must be members of the chapter they are representing, this was inadvertently deleted during a 2008 Bylaw proviso. Some changes in wording for updating the supplemental budget to match the change in the fiscal year were approved with a slight correction in wording. The Board approved some investment policy changes allowing the Investment Manager the ability to invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts.

The Governing Board eliminated P&P 2031D. There will no longer be any Stipends, Travel Allowance or Per Diem paid to any Association Member. All positions will now be Volunteer. The Indianapolis, IN. Convention was the first all Volunteer convention in years, and was very successful. The Volunteers proved that it can work very well. The Governing Board also voted out it’s own stipend for attending the Governing Board Meeting for the near future.

The Governing Board approved $10,000 for Area Support to be divided by the 10 areas.

This will help with our area expenses. The Board also approved P&P 3017, allowing a

member to hold offices in two different chapters as long as it is not two National Director or Alternate National Director positions. A member, however, can be a President in one chapter and a National Director in another chapter.

The proposal for allowing Towables to become FMCA Associate Members was voted down. They will still be welcome to come to Conventions and Area and Chapter Rallies as guests.

Membership is still declining due to people aging out and/or selling their motor homes or the rising fuel costs. The new memberships are not keeping up with the number of declining members. FMCA urges all chapters to recruit.

The next Convention will be the 88^th Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase, celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of FMCA to be held in Gillette, WY, June 19-22, 2013.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your National Director. If anyone has any questions regarding the meeting, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Submitted by

Kathie Balogh

Vancouver Islanders

kabalogh@telus.net

PACIFIC PLAYGROUNDS RALLY SEPT. 13 – 16, 2012

9082 CLARKSON AVE., BLACK CREEK, B.C.

PLEASE NOTE THE CHECK IN TIME FOR PACIFIC PLAYGROUNDS IS

1:00 P.M. ON SEPT. 13^TH NO EARLIER PLEASE

CHECK OUT TIME ON SEPT. 16^TH IS 11:00 A.M.

DIRECTIONS: Take the Inland Highway (19) North or South to the Hamm Road Exit. From the South, turn right, from the North turn left onto Hamm Road and follow the road down to the Old Island Highway (19A). Turn left onto 19A and drive approx. 1.7 km. to Regent Road – watch for signs ”Saratoga Beach”, “Pacific Playgrounds” (There is a church on the corner.) Turn right onto Regent Road. Take the 1^st right onto Saratoga Road. Continue onto Henderson Ave. then turn left onto Eyre Road. At the STOP sign turn left onto Clarkson Ave, follow to Pacific Playgrounds. FMCA signs will be posted. Once at the campground, people will be there to direct you to your campsite and help you park.

MEALS PROVIDED:

THURSDAY: Pot Luck. The division of food will be as follows:

If your last name begins with A to G, please bring a dessert.

H to P please bring a salad or side dish

R to Z please bring a meat/main dish.

Please remember to bring a serving that will be suitable for 8 people.

FRIDAY:

8:30 a.m. Breakfast will be provided by Bart & Linda Verruyt

5:30 p.m. Dinner will be provided by Wolf & Barbara Schlichting

SATURDAY:

8:30 a.m. Breakfast will be provided by Joe, Stella & Matt Blogg

5:30 p.m. Dinner will be provided by Audrey Hauge & the Bloggs

SUNDAY:

8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast will be provided by Audrey Hauge and the Bloggs

HAPPY HOUR will be each day starting at 4:00 p.m. so bring your own beverage and munchies and socialize with friends.

SATURDAY will be the Ugliest Sweater Competition so wear your ugliest sweater to dinner.

As usual, card games will be played in the evening. If anyone is interested, we can play Bingo one evening, with all monies collected being returned as prizes.

Weather permitting there will be baseball, swing golf, etc. during the day. If anyone has a Bocce Ball set, please bring it along as there is a lovely field near our sites.

There are many things to do in the area. Perhaps one of the most interesting, from a view standpoint, is from on top of Mount Washington. The many trails in the area offer views of alpine meadows and wetlands and occasional nature sightings.

Explore Cumberland with its funky shops and historic tributes.

Merville/Black Creek offer numerous wineries and farm stands for a taste of the valley.

Have a safe drive and we will see you at Pacific Campgrounds.

Cowichan Bay "Redneck Rally" August 9th ,10th ,& 11th

Welcome Y'all to the Cowichan Bay "Redneck Rally" August 9th ,10th ,& 11th.
A weekend of fun, games, good food, and hopefully some laughs.
[Hope no one takes offense to any of the games, or activities]
My decorating skills are not the best, so if you have anything
"Redneck" you would like to add please feel free to bring it along.
Water sources are scarce here, if any of you have any 5 gallon containers
you could bring full, for washin' up the dishes it would be appreciated.
Generator Hours will be generous so if the noise affects you please ask
to park accordingly.
Please do not arrive before 11am on August 9th.
So let's get parked and let the "goodtimes roll".

Thursday

4 p.m. Happy hour, bring your Likker, or Iced Tea and have some "Redneck
Party Mix"
We will have a "Redneck" Trivia Game at 4:30 pm
Teams of 4 and please let's mix it up and don't sit with your other half.
We will also learn to speak Redneck, have some dictionary's to pass around.
50/50 tickets will be sold at this time 3 for $5.00 or 1 for $2.00 draw on Friday night.

5:30 p.m. Dinner "Come and Git it "

Pulled Pork on Buns
Coleslaw
Baked Beans
Dill Pickles
Potato Chips
Dessert Ice cream Bars, and Watermelon. [Save your seeds fo the Seed Spitting competition]

6:30p.m. to 7:15pm Clean Up Volunteers needed to washup and dryup and cleanup.


7:30p.m. Seed Spitting Contest 3 seeds per person longest measurement will be recorded
1 man and 1 woman to win.

Come see Laurel if you would like to help cook sausage or flip FlapJacks in the mornin'

Games at you Leisure. See you in the Morning.

Friday August 10th
"Redneck Day"
[Change your name to a hyphenated name, by adding, Billy, Bobby, Mae, Sue, etc.
I will be Laurel Mae, nametags provided]

7:30 am Coffee on

8:30 to 9:30 Breakfast

Flapjacks, Sausage, Fruit, Juice.

Volunteers needed for cleanup 9:30 to 10:15

Day at leisure, Get ready for Best Dressed Redneck man and woman[does not have to be a couple]
Wayne and I are exempt.

3:p.m.
Spam carving contest,Please bring your own can of Spam or any brand of canned luncheon meat if you
would like to participate.Walmart has a no name brand for a $1.67 do not bring anything for carving
I will provide your "carving tools". Judging will be done at 4:30.Vote done by show of hands.

4:p.m. Happy Hour "Come try our Nuts" and Come dressed in your best "Redneck" attire.
Everyone will recieve 2 ballots to vote on your favorite man and woman.Winner to be
announced at dinner.

5:30 p.m. Dinner

Deep Fried Turkey {prepared by Gary and Penny Schur]
Buns
Mystery Meat Casserole
Assorted Pickles { If someone reminds me to put them out they didn't see the last rally]

If your last name starts with A to Mc please bring a salad.

If your last name starts with Mo to Z please bring dessert.

Lets keep it a Southern Redneck theme salad examples Potato, Jellied, Bean, etc
Desserts examples cobblers, pies, etc.

Please bring enough for 8 good sized servings.

Winner of Best Dressed Man and Woman Redneck revealed.

6:30 to 7:15 Volunteers needed for Cleanin' up

More 50/50 will be sold at this time draw at 7:30 pm.

7:30 p.m.Plungeher game need to be 2 per team, you might want to be with your spouse for this one.

See Laurel if you would like to help with Breakfast of Saturday.

Games at your Leisure, Good night Y'all

Saturday Morning August 11th

Volunteers needed for assembly of Stuffed Redneck toast and frying taters.

Coffee at 7:30 am

Breakfast 8:30 to 9:30
Stuffed Redneck Toast, Taters, Fruit, & Juice.

Washin' up 9:30 to 10:15 come lend us a hand or foot.

11:am Mary Ann Tennent Will conduct a demo on making "Redneck" stemware.I have about
24 jars to bring.We have about 24 Candlesticks for the base that will be available
for sale for a dollar each. The club will supply the glue and sandpaper.If you have
any pint sealer jars bring them, also look for candlestick holders at dollar stores
Mary Ann said she picked hers up at Dollar Giant stores.

3:p.m. Garbage Art. Bring a already made project, or a project to work on[or demo].
Items to be made from of things to be recycled or thrown out.Can be useful or artistic.

4:p.m. Happy Hour "Jimmy Cracked and Popped some Corn and wants to Share"

4:30p.m Judging of Garbage Art. Show of Hands.

5:30p.m.Dinner

Build your own Taco soft tortilla shells
Ground Beef Taco meat
Any left over pulled pork or Turkey perhaps
Refried Beans,Black Beans, Lettuce, Onions, Tomatoes, Salsa, Cheese, Sour Cream, Olives etc.
Mexican Rice
Corn on the Cob [bring corn holders if you have or can share]

If your name starts with A to Mc please bring desserts

If your name starts wit Mo to Z please bring salad.

Let's keep it with the Redneck theme.Bring enough for 8 good servings.

6:30p.m. to 7:15p.m. Cleanin' if you haven't lent a hand nows your chance!

7:30p.m. Can Races 5 Races bets 25 cents bets taken by Linda Williams{volunteered you Linda]
Race called by Brooke[Volunteered you also Brooke]

Your Can Lineup

Gate 1. Bud "bet on him and you will be wiser"
Gate 2. Rootbeer "always root for the Beer"
Gate 3. Pabst Blue Ribbon 'already a Blue Ribbon Winner'
Gate 4. Mountain Dew "the "Dew" can move Mountains
Gate 5. The Islander "maybe a slow starter but watch him Float by"
Gate 6. Lemonade "you think he may Suck, but he could Squeeze by the others"

Maybe some card games happening later.

Sunday Morning Aug. 12th

Coffee 7:30 am
Breakfast 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Muffins,Yogurt, any leftover fruit or juices.

9:30 cleanup, tent down. trailor packed, Volunteers Please.

Thanks for coming! Y'all Come Back Now Ya Ear! Safe Travels!