The Airstream Delite Company has now become history, but many good memories remain.  The Silver Birds pilots and co-pilots, Jim and Betty Hutchens, Walter and Linda Hangsleben and Bob and Linda Zoeller, did a great job of planning activities and food.

The following unit members, Romaine Broughton and granddaughter, Emma Lagerhausen,  Dwight and Marilyn Burrus, Man and Sarah Doerr, Roger and Marian Hoffmann, Richard and  Frankie Howell, Jerry and Louise Humble, Norma Koen, Bill and Wanda Lockin, Art and Doris Meier, Steve Mentz, Karl and Erika Schaette, Dennis and Edna White, and Gordon and Carol White were present.  We inducted our new member Steve Mentz.  Other guests present were Dennis Komeshak; Steven and Army Burrows and son, Collin; Nick Weigard and daughters, Grace and Faith; Roger and Alice McFarland and daughter, Kristen; and Karen Jones, a member of the Wisconsin unit who lives in St. Louis.  On Friday afternoon, affiliate members Lloyd and LaVara Frye, who live in Florissant, Mo. and Dan Nugteren joined us for dinner and the business meeting.

Susan Swearingen from the Lincoln Land Unit drove in Friday afternoon.  She and Erika Schaette have scheduled a joint rally at Alton for next August.

Signing up as new members of our unit: Nick and Lisa Wiegand and daughters, Grace and Faith; Roger and Alice McFarland and daughters, Kristen and Laura; Dennis and Terri Komeshak; Curt and Connie McGhee; and Jeffery and Susan Mason, son-in-law and daughter of Frankie and Richard Howell.

Some rally highlights included a tour of the Alton Underground Railroad, the Lovejoy Monument, and the Confederate Memorial led by guide Eric Robinson and a tour of the Melvin Price Lock and Dam led by a Corp of Engineer staff person.  Another highlight was seeing our story on the front page of The Telegraph, the local Alton paper. Steve Mentz made sure all of us received the Sunday newspaper.  Thanks, Steve!

A sympathy card was sent to Ron Boss on the loss of his wife, Marilyn.  The Boss’s are former members.  Also a “thinking of you” card was sent to Dorothy Rickenberg, also a former member.

Former unit member, now affiliate member, Lloyd and LaVara Frye donated two white jackets, size large, and a blue denim vest with the Southern Illinois emblem on them.  The board decided to auction them to the highest bidder at the next unit auction.  If you have any questions, please ask me.  Thank you, Lloyd and LaVara, for the jackets and the vest.

A reminder to each unit going to Region 5 is to bring a wrapped gift for a door prize.  A note was sent to us by the door prize committee chair to remind us that the quality of a gift is more important than the quantity of gifts. Remember the rally theme is Hillbilly so wear your best costume.