Southern Illinois Unit

November President’s Corner

Unit 0039 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:13:10 +0000

Once more Doris and I wish to thank you for putting your trust in us to lead the club for the next year. We can only promise to give it our best shot. Please don’t forget, what makes the club is YOU.The Meiers had a great time on the 2008 Maple Leaf Caravan except for one thing, missing out on so many unit rallies. We always look forward to good times with our Airstream family, but it’s never the very best of times if YOU aren’t there. Yes, we have heard all the reasons and we understand the restrictions we all face but please, let us see YOU in 2009. That’s what we are all about!Again, great thanks to Gordon and Carol White for their leadership efforts in 2008. We will be trying something new this year as Gordon has consented to staying on as editor of the unit newsletter. Many units have designated editors and we want to see how this will work for our group.With heavy hearts and a tear in our eye we have just returned from visitation for unit member Elmer Koen. Elmer finally succumbed to brain cancer on November 11. He was a great friend who will be missed. We send our condolences to Norma and the rest of the Koen family.The Christmas party is just around the corner and the winter lunches will be here quickly. We hope to see you there, but if not we hope to “see you down the road.” God Bless. Art and Doris Meier, President and First Lady

Christmas Party

Unit 0039 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:11:33 +0000

The annual Christmas party will be:Sunday, December 7, 20081:30 p.m.,Holiday Inn in Mt. VernonThe cost is $16.00 per person. If you have not yet told the Whites that are you planning to attend, at least call them at 618-529-3379 by December 1. As in past years, we can do a community service project by contributing a toy, game, or cleaning supplies for the Adopt a Family Program of the Olney Food Pantry. Personal NotesConrad Jenkins is having a hip problem and checked it out with the doctor. He was told it was arthritis and not a broken bone. Carol Treadwell continues to make progress from her surgery, but slowly. Frank Keeser continues to go to physical therapy for his toe. Walking for a distance tends to be a hard task. George Britt’s shoulder is improving. Grace Britt fell and broke her left hand. She has had a cast on her left hand for five weeks. When she fell, she also put extra strain on her left leg which bothers her.

Sympathy Extended

Unit 0039 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:10:02 +0000

Max Doerr reported that Leon King, a former member of our unit, from Marion passed away on November 8. His wife Madelyn survives. Also, we want to remember Elmer Koen who died on November 11th. Several unit members were able to attend the visitation and funeral service. This past week, Max Doerr’s nephew, Gordon Doerr, and Sarah Doerr’s brother, Tom Parrish, passed on. Our sympathy to all of these members.

A Thank You Note

Unit 0039 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:08:57 +0000

Dear WBCCI Family,Thanks so much for your love, prayers and support during Elmer’s illness. Thanks for the memorial gift.Norma and the Entire Koen Family.

Birthdays and Anniversary

Unit 0039 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:08:11 +0000

I heard a quote from Billy Graham who celebrated his 90th birthday. It was “Every day is a gift from God”. I thought how true that statement is. We have several members who will celebrate their birthdays in December. The following unit members have birthdays in December. Jim Hutchens 2 Betty Hutchens 4 George Britt 6 Frank Keeser 15Rev. Leroy Pittman 16 Curt Wheat 19 Marilyn Burrus 22 David Daniels 31We have three anniversaries. They are Bud and Sheila Himes on the 25th, Dan and Delores Mayfield on the 16th and Jim and Betty Hutchens on the 29th.Congratulations to everyone. Hopefully, I haven’t made a mistake. If so, please let me know and I will correct it.Doris

The Few, The Dedicated, The November Airstreamers

Unit 0039 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:06:06 +0000

It was a chilly weekend when unit members gathered for the November free rally at Forbes State Park.There was a chill in the air and chili in us as we huddled inside the tarp walled shelter on Friday evening. Then came the usual good conversation as we sat around the campfire, complete with ever-shifting smoke, drinking coffee or hot cider and wondering what had happened to our warm fall.

Saturday was more of the same except the menu changed into a wonderful blend of vegetable soups. Come Sunday morning, the cold was too much so devotions were held in the Schaette motorhome. Brunch was also devoured in the warm confines of the Schaette unit, along with continuing conversation and followed with packing for home.

A special thanks to all who came; Walter and Linda Hangsleben, Karl and Erika Schaette, Marilyn and Dwight Burrus, Romaine Broughton with grandsons Seth and Jackson, Curt and Jane Wheat, and Doris and Art Meier. Dennis and Edna White were Saturday drive-ins. An extra “tip of the hat” to Walter and his leaf blower, Romaine and her soup pot, Dennis saving the fire with his chainsaw (is there anything he doesn’t have in the back of that truck?), Erika and her hot cider, and Linda for leading the devotions. In the words of Curt Wheat and in the hearts of all the attendees, “This was a great rally!” Take note, motor homes outnumbered trailers two to one!

UNIT OFFICERS 2009

Unit 0039 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:40:47 +0000

President: Art Meier, 618-322-8246 1st Vice-Pres: Erika Schaette, 618-393-2955 2nd Vice-Pres: Curt Wheat, 217-382-3255 Treasurer: Linda Hanglesben, 618-277-4657 Rec. Secy: Dennis White, 217-767-2720 Corr. Secy: Doris Meier, 618-322-8246Trustees:Edna White, Dick ThompsonRose Ann Schwartz, Betty Hutchens

Corresponding Secretarys notes

Unit 0039 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:39:32 +0000

Sixteen units attended the October rally: Ashbaugh, Broughton, Doerr, Hangsleben, Humble, Hutchens, Jenkins, Nugteren, Ryan Schaette, J. Schwartz, Wheat, D. White, G. White, Thompson, Zoeller. Meiers drove in for the business meeting Saturday. We enjoyed a real down-home country weekend, complete with chili tasting, hot cider, and a hayride. Nine men entered the chili cook-off, which was won by Jerry Humble. The women served as judges. They were presented small cups of each of the nine entries, each identified only by a number. After tasting all nine, each judge wrote the number of her favorite chili on a ballot. Names were revealed when all ballots were turned in. The attendance prize went to J. Schwartz; the award for flying flags went to D. White.We were sorry to learn that George Britt fractured a bone in his shoulder, which kept him from attending. Also, that Carol Treadwell has been in the hospital. Frank Keeser has had an infection in one foot and has been hospitalized because of it. We hope all are improving now.The property inventory (mentioned in last months newsletter) includes: one dining fly with posts (10 x 20) at Humbles; one tent (welcome station for region 5 rally) at Schaettes; rally supplies (two tubs, roaster, two coffee pots, WBCCI directional signs and bell) rotating among rally hosts; business meeting supplies (loud-speaker, flags and poles, unit banner, hymnals and collection buckets) at Meiers. If you have anything to add, please let me know this week. At the October rally, we voted to replace one of the coffee pots and accepted a donation of another coffee pot from Erika Schaette.Carol

Region 5 News

Unit 0039 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:38:41 +0000

The Region Rally in Brandenburg, Ky had 76 Airstream units in attendance. Our unit was second in percentage of attendance with 29.4% (15 Units) behind Southern Indiana with 32.1% (9 units). This was thefirst year in a looooong time that our unit has not won. However, we did have the largest number of units in attendance.
Carol Whites work as Community Service chair resulted in 424 food items and $163 in cash being donated to the Meade County Food Bank which had lost its building and inventory to a tornado earlier this year. The Sunday morning church offering of more than $400 was also given to the Food Bank.
The Usherettes at the Rally were our own Stella Thompson, Linda Zoeller, and Betty Hutchens.
Region 5 Second VP, Bob Gregory, presented a membership workshop. He urges Units to expand their membership effort with the creation of a Retention Chairman and a Recruiting Chairman in addition to the Membership Chairman. The program is intended offer each Unit a fresh look at the membership challenge and, if initiated, cause the Unit to realize a revival of enthusiasm, a more enjoyable organization and an increase in numbers.

Your Presidents Ramblings:

Unit 0039 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:38:08 +0000

My year as your Unit President came to its end with the October Rally and the installation of Unit Officers for 2009. It has been an honor to serve as President this year. Each of you has contributed to an active program this year. It makes the job of president easy when so many pitch in to do the activities of the Unit. Thanks to each and every member.Art Meier has appointed me to be the Unit Newsletter editor/publisher for the coming year. He and Doris will contribute President and Corresponding Secretary news items along with other items.