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

• 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 the first year in a looooong time that our unit has not won. However, we did have the largest number of units in attendance.
• Carol White‘s 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.

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.

Gordon