Well it’s time again to get those “rigs” out; flush’um, wash’um, shine’um and head’um out for the “New Year’s adventures!” Hope you all have
had a good winter. At this time Betty and I are still in Florida but will be heading back the second week of April. Spring is just around the corner and we are looking forward to the “New Year” ahead.

We attended the Florida State Rally in Sarasota. The Region 5 dinner was a big success for our unit with 11 units represented; George and Grace Britt, Morris and Shirley Clodfelter, Jim and Betty Hutchens, Roy and Meryl Kerley, Elmer and Norma Koen, Art and Doris Meier, Al and Vi Scheibe, Bill and Barbara Schrader, John and Rose Ann Schwartz, Bob and Linda Zoeller, Jeff and Gail Vail.

We had good fellowship and, as always, a great meal. Art and Doris Meier and their committee for the April rally have been busy putting their plans in motion and it looks like they have a lot in store for us. Hope you are making plans to attend and hope to see you all there.

We would like to welcome new members Jeff and Gail Vail, from Villa Grove, IL, Curtis and Jane Wheat from Martinsville, IL, and Otis and Barbara Erwin, transfers from Kentucky. Welcome aboard!!!

Now it’s about time for Betty and I to flush’um, shine’um and head North. See ya down the road.

Betty’s buzzzz this month is just to say hello to all and share this little tidbit with you.

After a spring break, a teacher asked her young pupils how they spent their holiday. One small child wrote the following:

We always used to spend holidays with Pop and Grandma. They used to live here in a big brick home, but Pop got retarded and they moved to Florida. Now they live in a place with a lot of other retarded people. They all live in little tin boxes. They ride on big 3-wheeled tricycles and they all have name tags because they don’t know who they are. They go to a big building called a wrecked hall, but they must have got it fixed, because it’s alright now. They play games and do exercises there, but they don’t do them very good. There is a swimming pool there but they stand in it with their hats on. I guess they don’t know how to swim.

As you go into their park, there is a doll house with a little man sitting in it. He watches all day so they can’t get out without him seeing them. When they sneak out they go to the beach and pick up shells.

My Grandma used to bake cookies and stuff, but I guess she forgot how. Nobody cooks, they just eat out. They eat the same thing every night ‘ early birds. Some of the people don’t know how to cook at all so my Pop and Grandma bring food to the wrecked hall and they call it “pot luck”.

My Grandma says Pop worked all his life and earned his retardment. I wish they would move back up here but I guess the little man in the doll house won’t let them out!

Does this sound familiar? Out of the mouths of babes!

As my good friend Morris says “keep the sunny side up”! See ya next month!!

April 20-22
Monroe County Fairgrounds, Waterloo, Illinois

Friday, April 20

5:00 pm Dinner on your own
7:00 pm Join the Fun: A toast for the New Year at twelve minus four

Saturday, April 21

7:00 am Coffee is ready
8:00 am Breakfast served. Bring table service to enjoy the pancakes, sausage and all.
9:00 am Executive Meeting
10:00 am Business Meeting
1:00 pm A trip to the winery
5:00 pm Dinner is served. Bring your table service and drink to enjoy BBQ food and all
7:00 pm Entertainment. After the entertainment, join us for an ice cream treat

Sunday, April 22

8:00 am Coffee is ready
9:00 am Church
11:00 am Brunch, Please bring a dish to share, table service and drinks

Now that we have started the new year, lets pray that we have safe trips wherever we go. Have a safe trip home!

Please let us know if you are coming but we hope that you are. Let’s start the new year with good attendance.

Committee members are:

• Art and Doris Meier, 618-493-6204,
• Roger and Marian Hoffmann, 618-939-4022,
• Roland Keim, 618-457-5238,
• Al and Vi Scheibe, 618-939-1954,
• Jim and Joane Wagner, 630-969-6466.

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Directions: State Route 3 from north or south, turn west on Route 156 to the Fairgrounds on the North side of the highway. From the East, follow 156 through Waterloo.