TIDBITS FROM PENNY
November 2015
Volume 6, No. 7
Edited by Louise Birett—[email protected]
RECAP OF RALLY AT CAMP SWATERA, BETHEL, PA
ALOHA:
Executive Board:
For those of you unable to attend our Hawaiian Luau Rally, you missed magnificent weather, excellent food and fellowship.
Ron Becker, President
Phyllis Britz, Exec. V.P.
Bill Freed, Treasurer
Barbara Arcati, Secretary
Carol Becker, Area VP
Jim Lexa, Area VP
Wayne Dilliplaine, Area VP
Larry Troutman, Area VP
2016 Rallies:
4/15-4/17—Pine Grove, PA
5/27-5/30—Centre Hall, PA
6/24-6/26—Gilbert, PA
7/17-7/19—Lebanon, PA
8/15-8/17—Bloomsburg, PA
9/23-9/25—Orrstown, PA
Thursday's early arrivals did some decorating and then caravaned to Kaufman's or Esther's for
dinner. Laughter was the word for the evening as some watched the movie " Lilo and Stitch.”
10/5-10/9—GEAR, Lewisburg,
WV
Continuing to decorate the hall and tables was the activity for Friday morning.
10/16-18—Quarryville, PA
After lunch, South Pacific was the featured matinee.
11/11-13—Bethel, PA
Yummy, yummy, it's supper time and what special treats. For something different, we all brought
hardy hors d'oeuvres (far too varied to mention).
Scrumptious covered dishes started a busy Saturday. You name it and we had it -- potatoes, ham, sausage, quiche, French toast, fresh
fruit, cakes - oh, I could go on and on.
Ten o’clock and it was all aboard for the Deer Farm. What a unique visit arranged by George Moyer. As an aside, thanks to George for
providing the gas heater for the hall.
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Tea time for the ladies and Phyllis' s Pearls of Wisdom meant sharing great cookies and ideas for RVing.
The men gathered at 3:00 p.m. to discuss the latest tech info led by Gary Cipa. Everyday problems RVers encounter were shared.
Time to eat again. Everyone dressed in their finest Hawaiian attire. No two shirts were alike. Wow!
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Then came the island Feast complete with a roasted pig with all the fixings. We can't say thank you
enough to Walter Sattazahn and his family for providing and roasting this very special dinner.
There were outstanding dancers direct from Camp Swatara Island featuring a dance contest. There
was one more relay "Tacky Tourist". What a riot! Prizes were then awarded for all the games and
activities.
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The evening concluded with a special surprise by Phyllis and Eric Britz. Each couple received a hot air lantern which we lit and released
over the open field in the moonlight. What a lovely sight.
Sunday, following a continental breakfast, we had a church service conducted by Louise Birett, accompanied on the keyboard by Ruth
Morrell, and with Robert Salzman delivering the message.
It was soon time to say "Aloha" til next spring. We all sadly prepared to leave but not before expressing our thanks to the Britzs,
Breisches and all the committee people for a fabulous time. And so we say "Thanks Again.”
Submitted by Helen Young
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PENN COACHMEN WOMEN’S PEARLS OF WISDOM
Saturday afternoon , 11/7/15, at the Swatara Rally, approximately 38 ladies got together to share tea and cookies and some “pearls of wisdom.” Below is a list of some of those “pearls.”
Make a packing check off list. There are some tools on websites such as http://www.vacation-lists.com/rv-packing-list.html , http://
www.rvresources.com/checklist/rvsupplies-checklist.php or http://www.allthosedetails.com/camping-checklist.
Tools to help us to get where we’re going:
 AAA maps
 Next Exit This book “Includes an exit-by-exit listing of services and amenities such as food, gas, lodging, camping, shopping, and more.
Lists services within one mile of exit--save time, fuel and frustration finding what you need. Big rig accessibility in easy to spot red
print.”
 Walmart Atlas is a comprehensive guide to more than 4,300 Walmart stores, Supercenters, and Sam's Club stores in the U.S. Includes
state maps that provide a quick and easy way to locate stores and identify if gas or diesel fuel is available. (Call ahead to the Walmart
you wish to stay at to verify they allow RVs overnight).
 Apps for your smart phone-RV Parky, is an RV Park directory built by a full time RV'ers lists campgrounds, Walmarts and other useful
tools and gas buddy which gives cost for gas and diesel at locations along your route. Sams Club travel app which gives directions and
maps which you can also print. WAZE connects drivers to one another, to help people create local driving communities that work together to improve the quality of daily driving by helping avoid the frustration of sitting in traffic, avoid a police speed trap or shaving
five minutes off of a regular commute.
Places to stay other than Walmart lots:
 Join the ELKs. Over 2000 lodges nationwide, many with RV parking and hook ups
 Passport America-Discounts on camping
 Core of Engineers Camping Book
 FMCA Headquarters, Cincinnati, Ohio. 2 nights free camping
Safety:
 Use tension curtain rod to keep windows securely shut when away from your coach
 If alone and parked, when leaving your coach act as if someone is in the coach and give a holler that you’ll be right back or see you in a
few minutes.
 Leave the TV on or use a blow-up dog to discourage someone from entering the coach.
 All women should learn as much as they can about their RV. They should learn to drive their coach. Northampton Community College
has a 1 day RV driving class.
Health:
 Make frequent stops on your trip. At least every 2-2 1/2hrs to walk around the coach and stretch.
 Stretch your legs and do ankle circles as you travel as a passenger.
 Stretch your legs & get your blood moving before getting out of bed.
 Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water.
Food on the road:
 Make a large pot of soup and freeze in smaller container to take out and heat as needed.
 Overnight yogurt and oats (2 cups vanilla yogurt or Greek yogurt, 1 cup old fashioned oats and (1) 8oz can of crushed pineapple
undrained. Mix and refrigerate overnight. Breakfast is ready the next day. Can add other fruit toppings such as bananas before serving.
 Always have some meatballs on hand and hard boiled eggs.
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A semi-annual membership meeting of the Penn Coachmen Chapter of FMCA was held on Friday, November 6, 2015, at Camp
Swatara in Bethel, Pennsylvania. The following officers were in attendance:
Ron Becker, President
Phyllis Britz, Vice-President
Bill Freed, Treasurer
Carol Becker, Area VP
Wayne Dill plane, Area VP
Larry Troutman, Area VP
Jim Lexa, Area VP
John Breisch, National Director
Joe Thurston, Alt. Natl. Director
Barbara Arcati, Secretary
Ron Becker opened the meeting at 7:20 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said and an invocation was given prior to the
dinner just before this meeting. One first timers were introduced, Gerald and Ann Berger. Ron certified that we had a quorum with
38F members in attendance.
Secretary’s Report Ron Becker stated that the minutes of the May, 2015, meeting are on the Penn Coachmen web page. A motion was
made by Bob Birett, seconded and approved to waive the reading of the minutes.
Treasurer’s Report Bill Freed stated that the balance in the treasury now is $8692.40.
Old Business Ron Lee stated that the 2015 yearbook has been distributed and there are still some available to members who did not get
one. Please contact Ron Becker if you need a yearbook. Ron asked if anyone has rally pictures and/or corrections to send them to Karl
Deardorff.
Membership. Nancy Breisch stated that dues are needed before November 30 in order to be included in the 2016 yearbook. A person
must be a member of FMCA to be a member in Penn Coachmen. If a member’s status changes they may still maintain their FMCA
membership and be eligible for the benefits.
National Director Report John Breisch and Joe Thurston both attended the Governing Board meeting in Madison, Wisconsin in July,
2015. Elections were held. Three incumbent positions were approved and a new National Secretary was elected.
Executive Board report Ron Becker reported that the Executive Board decided that the profit from the sale of 50/50 raffle goes toward
helping finance the 50th Anniversary of Penn Coachmen. The board also discussed the condition of the trailer. Members Gary Cipa
and Eric Britz will check out the trailer to see if it is reparable. They will have an initial budget of $1500.
Bob Birett discussed the FMCA Finance Committee and how much is involved in FMCA. Next summer there will be a reunion in
West Springfield, Massachusetts. The decrease in membership is not good but FMCA is fiscally good.
Ron Becker stated that the Audit of the 2014 Penn Coachmen books was conducted by Wayne Dilliplane and Larry Troutman and
found to be satisfactory and in good order.
Ron Becker stated that Penn Coachmen won the white ribbon for 3 rd place in the Chapter Fair at the GEAR rally and took 2 nd place in
the Bean Bag Baseball game.
New Business Ron Becker stated that the Rallies for next year are set but there is still a vacancy for Rally Master for Centre Hall. If
no one steps up to be Rally Master then the Area VP assigned to that rally must take the rally. At the Centre Hall rally our chapter alternates obtaining the entertainment with the State Coachmen club for Saturday night.
Diane Freed stated that at the GEAR rally she attended a program on Fire Safety. She suggested we try to set up a similar program for
one of our rallies. She stated that a demonstration was given on evacuating a motor home out of a window.
Ron Becker stated that a discussion was held at the Executive Board meeting about getting a new trailer. Bob Birett is going back to
the person who gave him an estimate last year to see how much the price may have changed.
Phyllis Britz discussed doing a survey regarding what people want to have at a rally. We will distribute the survey here and have it
posted in a newsletter.
Ron Becker stated that during the Executive Board meeting it was decided to add a $5 charge per coach to each rally fee to help defray
the cost of repair or a new trailer.
Election of Officers The Election Committee of Linda Deardorff, Jackie Shaak and Bob Birett, chair, has polled the current officers
who are willing to serve another term. There being no nominations from the floor for any of the positions, Ron Lee made a motion,
seconded and approved that the current board continue in their posts.
There will be meeting of hosts for some of next year’s rallies tomorrow. There will be a tour of a Deer Farm and people need to meet
at 9:45 Am if they are going.
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There was a question from the audience regarding the audit. Do we need an outside auditor to take over this job?
The question was answered by treasurer, Bill Freed, CPA who stated that in Pennsylvania, a non-profit organization needs to make over a specified amount of money to be required to hire an outside auditor. We do not make
that kind of money.
Jim Lexa stated that the “country store” will be open for business tomorrow morning. He does not have any more
decals and is looking into where he can get them.
Ron Becker adjourned the meeting at 8:25 PM.
Barbara Arcati, Secretary
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TRIVIA CORNER
On average, you breathe about 5 million times a year.
You are born with 300 bones; by the time you are an adult, you will have 206.
The average lead pencil will write a line about 35 miles long, or write approximately 50,000 English words.
The average person spends 2 weeks of their lifetime waiting for the light to change from red to green.
One fourth of the bones in your body are in your feet.
Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.
It takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than the celery has in it.
The largest recorded snowflake was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick. Native Americans used to name their children after the first thing they saw as they left their tepees after their children were born, hence the names Sitting
Bull and Running Water.
“Almost” is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.
400 quarter pounders can be made from a single cow.
Cockroaches can live several weeks with their heads cut off.
A 10 gallon hat will only hold three quarters of the gallon.
Earth is the only planet not named after a God.
The silkworm consumes 86,000 times its own weight in 56 days.
To produce a single pound of honey, a single bee would have to visit 2 million flowers.
A colony of 500 bats can eat approximately 250,000 insects in an hour.
If removed from the stress of the modern world, the average human would sleep about 10 hours a day.
The average American spends about a year and a half of his or her life watching commercials on television.
There are no naturally occurring blue foods, even blueberries are purple!
The elephant is the only mammal that can't jump.
111, 111, 111×111, 111, 111 equals 12, 345, 678, 987, 654, 321.
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REQUEST FROM THE EDITOR:
In order to make forthcoming newsletters interesting, I would
like to request your help by sending me any of the following
throughout the year at [email protected]:
Vacation tidbits or advice
Seeking items to purchase or items for sale
Family news such as births, deaths, illnesses, prayer concerns,
accomplishments, etc.
Favorite recipes
Motor home repair/upkeep advice
Hobbies or craft how-tos
Poems, stories, vignettes
New camping gear/equipment you have learned about and
where to purchase them
Special camping experiences
Funny pet stories
Funny grandchildren stories or sayings
Life on the road
Interesting stories or vignettes
Interesting people you have met
along the way
Out of the way places you have found to be of interest
Nature encounters
Special anniversary celebrations
Members and former Penn Coachmen who are ill, have had surgery, or have passed away
Photos taken at rallies
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THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
Bill Rollins - Chronic back pain.
Betty Moyer - Chronic neck pain.
Joe Veneziale - Chronic leg pain and kidney failure.
Ed Molinsky - Cancer treatments.
John Breisch - Cancer treatments.
Doris (Boozie) Henning - Dementia.
Bill Pascoe - Cancer treatments.
Stan Seyfried - Cancer treatments.
Patti Salzman - Complications from childhood polio.
Jim Lexa - Heart problems.
Roy Weil - Amputation of toes.
Ed Park - Heart surgery.
George Young - Eye problems.
Joanne Freeman - Diverticulitis.
Mickey Shaak - Gall bladder surgery, heart complications.
*******************************************************************************
.
.
Thank a soldier
this Christmas
and Hanukkah
season.
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Those known to be celebrating a birthday from November 2015 through April 2016:
November 8
Bob Salzman
February 6
Mary Amos
November 10
Don Lassen
February 7
Sharon Ziegler
November 11
Kathy Weber
February 12
Judy Bracken
November 24
Ed Molinsky
February 13
Diane Freed
November 26
Bob Bendziewicz
February 15
Nell Kline
November 27
Gary Cipa
February 16
Bill Young
December 8
William Walthour
March 7
Ellis Brown
December 11
John Weber
March 5
Joe Kluk
December 8
Ed Park
March 13
Barbara Beers
December 12
Carol Pritchard
March 15
Eunice Smith
December 13
Irene Lassen
March 15
Martha Lloyd
December 19
William Bracken
March 22
Glenn Momme
December 20
Hal Amos
March 25
Ed Pritchard
December 21
Carol Mandik
April 2
Joe Thurston
December 21
Linda Bruckart
April 5
Barbara Veneziale
December 25
Margaret Kluk
April 6
Jill Funk
December 30
Rae Molinsky
April 11
Bill Doering
January 1
Walter Sattazahn
April 11
Dorothea Troutman
January 2
Bill Freed
April 11
Roy Weil
January 8
Ann Cocco
April 14
Hal Henning
January 10
Sue Cipa
April 17
Gene Boniello
January 14
Ron Becker
April 19
Lorraine Shaak
January 19
Nancy Hunsicker
April 19
Emily Momme
January 21
Jay Ziegler
April 24
Pat Doering
April 25
Kate Smith
April 26
Jake Kessler
April 27
Dotty Finn
April 30
Barbara Arcati
NOTE TO OUR NEW MEMBERS:
Please provide the editor with your
birthday(s) - [email protected].
Thank you.
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PENN COACHMEN SURVEY
The executive Board of the Penn Coachmen requests your help in planning future chapter rallies. Please complete the following questionnaire and return it to Phyllis Britz. We appreciate your support and value your input. Thanks.
Please rate in the order of importance with 1 being the most important, the reasons for attending a rally:
Rally theme/activities____
Fellowship____
Menu/food_____
Location____
Entertainment____
cost_____
What factors for Rally location influence your reason to attend?
Distance: How far will you travel for a rally? ____miles.
Rally sites: Full hook-ups or water /electric or dry camp (circle one)
Campground or fairgrounds (circle one)
Rally dates: Best months for you are_______________________________
Best days of the week ___________________________Midweek rally verses weekends
What makes a great rally for you ______________________________________________________
Suggested sites to have a rally_________________________________________________________
Other comments or suggestions________________________________________________________
PENN COACHMEN SURVEY
The executive Board of the Penn Coachmen requests your help in planning future chapter rallies. Please complete the following questionnaire and return it to Phyllis Britz by the end of this rally. We appreciate your support and value your input. Thanks.
Please rate in the order of importance with 1 being the most important, the reasons for attending a rally:
Rally theme/activities____
Fellowship____
Menu/food_____
Location____
Entertainment____
cost_____
What factors for Rally location influence your reason to attend?
Distance: How far will you travel for a rally? ____miles.
Rally sites: Full hook-ups or water /electric or dry camp (circle one)
Campground or fairgrounds (circle one)
Rally dates: Best months for you are_______________________________
Best days of the week ___________________________Midweek rally verses weekends
What makes a great rally for you ______________________________________________________
Suggested sites to have a rally_________________________________________________________
Other comments or suggestions________________________________________________________
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