The June rally is now in the past. The children/grandchildren, Paige and Jamie Gogolek, Anna and Anthony Koen, Norma’s grandchildren, and Emma Lagerhausen, Romaine’s granddaughter, were a nice addition. Gordon and Carol White did a great job organizing the rally. Saturday afternoon, several members made eight blankets for International Rally. For the evening, many of the members attended the Shriner’s Circus. Members in attendance were George and Grace Britt, Romaine Broughton, Dwight and Marilyn Burrus, Max and Sarah Doerr, Linda Hangsleben, Roger and Marian Hoffmann, Richard and Frankie Howell, Conrad Jenkins, Norma Koen, Bill and Wanda Lockin, Art and Doris Meier, John and Rose Ann Schwartz and Gordon and Carol White. Drive ins for Saturday were Jim and Betty Hutchens, Roland Keim and Dan and Rose Nugteren. On Sunday morning, Carol and Gordon presented a devotion about the Prodigal Son.

Cards were sent to Karl Schaette who is in St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, and Leroy Pittman who is recuperating at home. Also, a card was sent to past members Jack and Ada Fleeharty who lost their son in an automobile accident. The group signed cards for many members who have not been at any rallies for a while. We do miss everyone when you’re not present.

We look forward to the International Rally in Madison. At the present time we have sold around 60 tickets for the Illinois Luncheon. We hope everyone has a safe trip to Madison or any place where they may travel.

June is busting out all over! We were happy it didn’t bust out raining at the recent rally in DuQuoin. The weather couldn’t have been nicer and the rally was another good one. For a minute I thought I was in an August rally because that is when we encounter the “dog days.” Seriously speaking, we had quite an attendance of our furry friends. Let’s see. There was Little John Schwartz (who makes at least four critters all alone), Jacki Howell, Callie and T-Rex Koen, Sammie Broughton, the brand new Jess Gogolek, and the always dignified Max Lockin. The attending children and grandchildren thought this abundance of four legged playmates to be a real good thing.

The proposed amendments to the International constitution were approved; the slate proposed by the National Nominating Committee was approved. This vote will be carried forward to Madison. In other actions, the July free rally will take place July 17-19 at Giant City SP. The club executive board also took some action concerning rally fees. Starting with the past June rally, we will be looking at a minimum rally fee of $10 per (adult) person and a maximum fee not to exceed $15. This will help keep fees at any given rally from getting too high when a lot of replacement supplies are needed or when rally attendance is small.

Our August rally is right around the corner and we hope to see all of you there. Traffic is not a real problem when traveling to the East Alton airport. The folks at the airport are going out of their way to see to it that we have good electrical hook ups and other amenities. To all you people looking for a rally with something different, here is your chance!

It is already time to be thinking about the unit Merit Award. If any of you participate in anything for the good of the unit or WBCCI, be sure to document what you have done and let us know. We want our peers to be well aware of our fun and wonderful unit.

Next stop is Madison. We hope to see many of you there. Once more, peace and God Bless.

Art and Doris Meier,
President and First Lady

Gordon and Carol White are leading a five night caravan immediately following the Region Rally to Bardstown, KY and Henderson, KY. Lincoln sites in Harrodsburg, Springfield, and Hodgenville, KY will be visited along with My Old Kentucky Home State Park, museums, distilleries and a meal at Talbot’s Tavern, operating on the square in Bardstown since approximately 1779. We will also visit Audubon State Park in Henderson, KY. Estimated kitty fee is $165.00 for two and $130.00 for one. Please contact the Whites if you will participate in this caravan.