October 2008:

 Rally season 2008 is over and we are all looking forward to year-end Holidays!  Our members who go south to warmer climes have probably already departed or are planning to leave soon—wish my wife and I could join you but that will have to wait a couple years.

Our Wagonmaster, Loretta Marlowe, has selected some great rally sites for next year and I hope all of you will try to attend one or more rallies.  Our members have a great time at the rallies regardless of agenda or location.  I’m sure we will have another year with a broad variety of activities.  Loretta also works hard keeping the chapter website updated so visit it every time you log on to the internet. 

In closing, I want to challenge each of our members to assist our nominating committee (Lynn Baker, Pat Donnelly, and Mike Steed) in putting together a slate of candidates for Covered Wagons Officers for the election to be held later in 2009.  If you know someone you believe would be willing and able to fill a role (or if you would be interested in being a candidate) please contact one of the committee members.  They will verify that the individuals are willing to serve and present the slate to the membership.  Your input will be greatly appreciated.

That’s it for now.  See you on January 24, 2009 at the new La Hacienda Restaurant on Santa Fe in Olathe to kick off the 2009 rally season!

Virg Paulson
Covered Wagons President

September 2008

The Six-State Rally in North Little Rock is over and the Chapter members that worked so many long hours as volunteers parking almost 1,000 coaches are still nursing tired feet, sore muscles, and even a few bruises!  It was an experience we will never forget and will provide endless hours of conversation around the campfire at future gatherings.  We will find out in mid-January 2009 what the value was of all those volunteer hours.  I want to personally thank each member who attended the rally for their hard work.  A special ‘Thank You’ goes to Bill Keegan for working almost non-stop to get the arriving coaches parked and make sure each of us knew what to do and where to go.  The rally parking sites made the job much harder than former venues—but we somehow got them all parked.

The winner of the Covered Wagons Gift Basket was a couple from Virginia, Doug and Lila Blaha.   They sent us the following message: 

“My wife and I were fortunate to receive the wonderful Covered Wagon Basket at the FMCA Rally. Thank you. As Virginia travelers, we were on our way home to Gloucester, Virginia after a summer's travel out west. We participated in a retired military caravan in several western states and selected the Rally at the Rock as our first FMCA event. Thanks for adding the Kansas touch to our summer's adventures.”

Hope to see you at Pony Express RV Park for the final Covered Wagons rally of 2008!

 August 2008
Our August Rally is now history and we are looking forward to the big Six-State Rally in North Little Rock this September.  Nearly half of our members made it to Lake Perry last week to enjoy the efforts of hosts Bill & Sharon Keegan, Geri Vanover, and Don Hoover.  The meals they orchestrated were simply divine and I want to thank them again for the entire chapter!

A special welcome to our newest members: Elmer and Dorothy Kingsbury, Bob and Kathy Newby, Norma Robbins, and Phil and Margaret Walker.  You should have already received their ‘biodata’ for the members’ directory from our Webmaster and Directory Publisher, Loretta Marlowe.  Be sure to extend a warm welcome to all of them when you next see them.

Bill Keegan has almost 30 coaches signed up for the Six-State Rally and says we should all be able to park together in North Little Rock.  He has his hands full trying to accommodate the member’s schedules and match it with the limitations placed on our volunteer numbers so please do what you can to make his job less stressful!  Also, the chapter in charge of providing volunteers for the trams (basically ride along as a ‘conductor’) is looking for extra help.  If anyone feels they can put in some additional hours and increase the Covered Wagons share of the proceeds, talk to me or Bill Keegan once we get to North Little Rock.

I want to send a special ‘Thank You’ to Reed and Carol James.  They presented the chapter a beautiful covered wagon model (over 2 feet long) they had located in Mexico.  It will be a wonderful addition to our growing ‘Historical Archives’ and we’ll try to have it displayed at each rally.

Please keep Connie Freeberg in your prayers as she has been having some medical challenges.  Her husband Don wrote that she was seeing a doctor this week and may be in for some heart surgery.  We wish her a complete and speedy recovery.

For all you singers out there, they are planning to have a Six State Grand Chorus at the Rally next month in North Little Rock.  Look over the flyer you should have received via e-mail and get signed up.

See you in North Little Rock!

Virg Paulson
Covered Wagons President

 July 2008

WOW!! Where has this summer gone?  It’s the last day of July so I just barely qualify titling this my July letter.

The Covered Wagons members have racked up a lot of miles since then and have visited many scenic places.  My wife and I missed the June rally and were unable to leave as early as some for the FMCA rally in St. Paul so we missed out on many interesting sights.  The heavy rains in June prompted a change in itinerary for the trip to Hannibal but word is every one had a good time at the last minute alternative location at the Osage Prairie RV Park in Nevada, Missouri.  There were almost 2,400 coaches at the FMCA rally and we all found something to learn or spend our money on!  This was my first national rally and will certainly not be the last.  There is so much to take in that you just can’t do it all in one week.

Bill Keegan has just had knee-replacement surgery and is doing great.  Please send him an e-mail to wish him a speedy recovery!  Bill has been working extremely hard the last couple of months on our volunteer effort for the Six-State Rally in North Little Rock in September.  The last I heard he has 27 coaches signed up which just happens to be the number the rally committee allocated to our chapter based on size—excellent work Bill!

Check the Covered Wagons website frequently as Loretta is constantly updating it to quickly keep all of us informed about rallies and other important information.  We still have not filled the Vice President position so if you would like to be considered for that position please contact a member of the nominating committee (Lynn Baker, Pat Donnelly, and Mike Steed).  You could also contact me or any of the other Board Members.

I hope you all saw the July issue of Family Motor Coaching which featured the Covered Wagons Chapter in the Chapter Spotlight column.  We have a few extra copies of that issue if you would like to pass it along to a prospective new member—just give me a call.

Hope to see many of you at Lake Perry for the August rally.  Stay well and drive safe.

Virg Paulson
Covered Wagons President

June 2008

Covered Wagons had another very successful rally over the long Memorial Day Weekend at the brand new Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka.  Early arrivers told me the park was busy laying sod, installing signage, and completing entrance landscaping on Friday just before most of the members got there.  The accommodations were first class and Loretta said she has already got a reservation in for us for the same holiday weekend in 2010.  My hearty congratulations to Alice and Brad Elkins who served as our hosts and to Loretta and Dave Marlowe, Bill and Sharon Keegan, Wanda and Rod Ryel, my wife Vickie, and others who pitched in to help with food and activities—you all did a great job!  Thanks also to Patrick Donnelly for suggesting the Topeka Steak House for dinner on Saturday, and to Dave Marlowe for calling about a million Bingo games after dinner on Sunday—our thanks to everyone who contributed prizes.  I want to thank Rosemary Rupp for filling in as Secretary for the business meeting and reminding me to ask for the vote on the motions—some days I just get ahead of myself!

One of the highlights of the rally was a brief visit by Don Hoover on Sunday evening.  As some of you may know, Don had a life-threatening medical situation a couple weeks ago but is getting better every day.  We thank Geri Vanover and Don’s son for bringing him over to see the group and hope to see both Geri and Don back in the motorhome later in the season.

Thanks also are due all of you who have let Bill Keegan know that you will attend the Six-State Rally in North Little Rock in September and help the Covered Wagons with our first opportunity to be one of the ‘volunteer’ chapters.  So far the registration for this annual rally is running ahead of normal and that is a good sign.  If you plan to attend and have not yet signed up, please give Bill a call or drop him an email.  Congratulations are also due to Bill for agreeing to take over the Membership Chairperson position.  Let Bill know of anyone that would like to join our chapter so he can give them the details.

Special thanks to Wanda Ryel who has agreed to be the Sunshine Chairperson in addition to her duties as Treasurer.  Wagonmaster (and also Webmaster), Loretta Marlowe, is always looking for rally hosts so please don’t be shy about contacting her to volunteer.  Check the website frequently as she is constantly updating it and wants to make maximum use of it as a communication tool.  We still have not filled the Vice President position so if you would like to be considered for that position please contact me or any of the other Board Members.  The appointed position of Historian is also still vacant and I would like to hear from anyone who would be willing to fill that position.

On a final note, the July issue of Family Motor Coaching will feature the Covered Wagons Chapter in the Chapter Spotlight column so keep your eyes peeled for that one.

‘Till our trails cross again – be good & stay well.

Virg Paulson
Covered Wagons President

The Covered Wagons rally at the Oak Grove KOA campground on the fourth weekend of April was a great start to our 2008 season.  The weather was beautiful and our hosts, Bob & Edris Bond and Raymond & Nina Hughes, treated us to some excellent dining and activities.  Much of the discussion during the business meeting centered around the 2008 Six-State Rally to be held this September in North Little Rock, Arkansas.  Bill Keegan gave an excellent overview of the volunteer responsibilities (parking) that have been granted our chapter.  The “Parking” assignment will allow our members to arrive early, get the choicest parking spots, and have our required volunteer hours completed prior to the actual start of the rally.  Bill is making a list of when our volunteers plan to arrive at the rally and he will appreciate hearing from you if you have not yet signed up.  Please see the Covered Wagons website and meeting minutes for more details.  We hope to see all of you at the Six-State Rally in North Little Rock—it promises to be the best one in years!

We have not yet filled the Vice President position and if you would like to be considered for that position please contact me or any of the other Board Members.  The appointed position of Historian is also vacant and I would like to hear from anyone who would be willing to fill that position.  Our Wagonmaster, Loretta Marlowe, is always looking for assistance in the way of rally hosts so please don’t be shy about contacting her to volunteer as a rally host.  She has prepared a very complete list of hosting duties which will make the task easier and more enjoyable.

‘Till our trails cross again – be good & stay well.

February 08

Covered Wagons Winter Luncheon and Business Meeting was held at the China Star on January 26th. At the conclusion of the business meeting, Fred turned the Covered Wagon President reins over to me since they have sold their motorhome and may not be getting another right away. It will be hard to fill the President’s role after Fred did so well during our inaugural year but I will attempt to get us down the road a ways until someone who REALLY knows what they are doing can take over! The chapter also owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Esther Allison for serving as our first Webmaster and all the hours spent creating and maintaining our award-winning web site. Esther and Fred were each presented engraved plaques commemorating their service and hard work getting the Covered Wagons Chapter up and running. We wish them the best in the coming years and hope to see them at a rally real soon.

I enthusiastically look forward to working with the officers, committee chairpersons, rally hosts, volunteers and fellow chapter members to make the Covered Wagons 2008 rally season an enjoyable and memorable experience for all! Loretta has done a fantastic job getting things lined up for the rallies and I know all of us will help her out by keeping her informed of which rallies we will attend – and making our own reservations (i.e. the August rally at Perry Lake Rock Creek Peninsula COE area) when so directed. ‘Till our trails cross again – be good & stay well, Virg Paulson Covered Wagons President Covered Wagons Winter Luncheon and Business Meeting was held at the China Star on January 26th. At the conclusion of the business meeting, Fred turned the Covered Wagon President reins over to me since they have sold their motorhome and may not be getting another right away. It will be hard to fill the President’s role after Fred did so well during our inaugural year but I will attempt to get us down the road a ways until someone who REALLY knows what they are doing can take over!

The chapter also owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Esther Allison for serving as our first Webmaster and all the hours spent creating and maintaining our award-winning web site. Esther and Fred were each presented engraved plaques commemorating their service and hard work getting the Covered Wagons Chapter up and running. We wish them the best in the coming years and hope to see them at a rally real soon. I enthusiastically look forward to working with the officers, committee chairpersons, rally hosts, volunteers and fellow chapter members to make the Covered Wagons 2008 rally season an enjoyable and memorable experience for all! Loretta has done a fantastic job getting things lined up for the rallies and I know all of us will help her out by keeping her informed of which rallies we will attend – and making our own reservations (i.e. the August rally at Perry Lake Rock Creek Peninsula COE area) when so directed.

‘Till our trails cross again – be good & stay well,

Virg Paulson Covered Wagons President