Sam-O-Gram

Sam-O-Gram

FALL ISSUE 2011

FROM THE DIRECTOR

The 2011 Samboree (our fortieth) is history. I would like to thank everyone who attended and all of you who worked so hard to make it a great time…Thank You so very much. And I would like to add a special thanks to Don and Helen Woodard, our Sambassadors, for dropping everything and driving 1500 miles to be with us when Dave and Patty Morgen could not make it at the last minute. Our 2012 theme is Island Paradise, so dig out those leis and grass skirts, hammocks and palm trees, we’re going to the south seas. We just need to put in a request for south seas weather.

Yup, it’s getting cooler and many of our friends are starting to think about heading south for the winter. Judie and I are planning to stay here for most of the winter and visit with those who are left for some friendship and what else?...food. We did get a surprise the other day that Good Sam Directors will again be meeting in Las Vegas in January 2012.

This is all due to the changes which are being made in the Good Sam Organization.

It is our prayer we can leave Elgin and make it to Vegas and back without two or three feet of snow blocking our way. We know the route and where to stay and where NOT to stay. I am sure when we return there will be things a plenty to talk about.

Our 2012 challenge will be to increase membership. RV sales, though off slightly are still selling lots of units. We need to put our heads together and bring these people into Good Sam and into chapters. Some of these folks will fit nicely into existing chapters which need new members desperately and for others we can start new chapters. Remember back to when you joined your chapter, you were young with young children and looking for a way for the family to spend some quality down time without breaking the bank, the same applies to day. We need to guide these young campers into forming chapters of their own. There are almost nine thousand Good Sam members in Illinois with only three hundred and twenty chapter members. We have a huge field to work with.

We attended the Michigan fall Samboree in Otisville, Michigan at the Covenant Hills Campground. What a setting, trees everywhere, good gravel roads, quiet and peaceful. We had full hookup with thirty and fifty amp power. There were two hundred and forty eight rigs attending. We were very happy to receive so many compliments on our Samboree, that makes us feel like Illinois Good Sam is on the right track.

Dates to keep in mind:

1st Rally March 22 – 25 2012 Phoenix AZ.

1st State meeting April 27 – 29 2012 Henry, IL. Host Il. Milit. Vets

2nd Rally June 21 – 24 2012 Louisville, KY.

2nd State meeting July 13 – 15 2012 Mahomet, IL. Host Chamco Sams

Illinois Samboree August 31 – Sept. 5 Henry, IL.

3rd State meeting October 5 – 7 2012 ? Host ?

3rd Rally November 2- 4 2012 Daytona, FL.

Jim and Judie, Your Illinois State Directors

OPEN STAFF POSITIONS

Illinois Good Sam is in need of several staff positions to be filled. If you are interested in one of the positions please contact Jim Or Judie Frcka, Illinois State Director at 847-644-2709 or 847-840-2003. By email at jnjrvnuts@gmail.com.

CHAPLAIN

PATCH PACKER

PUBLICITY/WEBBMASTER

SECRETARY

WAGON MASTER

CHAPTER NEWS

BUREAU VALLEY SAMS

BY ROSEMARY EGAN

We have had a great camping year, lots of fun and companionship. In August our campout was at Giant River, Potosi, WI and September at Thomson Causeway, Thomson, IL. We have had several visitors and hope they will join us as members for next year.

We had a great time at the Samboree and hope we can get more to go next year.

The summer went fast, sorry it’s almost over!

ILLINOIS MILITARY VETERANS

BY STEVIE SESSION

THE MILITARY VETERAN'S CHAPTER POSTED THE FLAG AT THE SAMBREE AND RETRIEVED THEM. WE ALSO HAD A MEETING, AND WE DONATED SOME MONEY TO THE DISABLE VETERANS.WE ARE GOING TO HOST THE APRIL STATE BUSINESS MEETING ON APRIL 27, 28, 29, 2012 AT HENRY. WE WILL HAVE A CHAPTER MEETING THERE. WE ALSO SERVED SATURDAY'S BREAKFAST AT THE SAMBOREE, I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO HELPED SERVE THE BREAKFAST AND POST THE FLAG'S. I HOPE THAT ALL OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE ABLE CAN ATTEND THE STATE MEETING.

PRAIRIE STATE SAMS

BY WANDA CURBY

It was sooo HOT at Prairie Pines Campground, Rantoul where the Prairie State Sams held the July campout/meeting hosted by Dennis & Sue Janssen. 17 units camped for the weekend which included one guest family. Members welcomed new members Bob Valach & Marilyn Ballard. Three other members drove in for the pot luck supper and meeting. During the weekend members enjoyed meals out, the Farm Show, Gordyville USA Flea Market, farmers market and most of all, the water park!

14 units camped at the Aug. campout/meeting at Illini St. Pk., Marseilles, hosted by Larry & Milly Laux and one couple drove in for the pot luck supper and meeting. During the weekend members ate out, toured the Reddick Mansion, downtown murals, farmers market and the Boy Scout Museum all in Ottawa. Cupcakes and ice cream followed the pot luck supper and business meeting to celebrate Dick Skelly’s 75th birthday after which members watched a Dogs for the Deaf training film.

8 units attended the Illinois Samboree where members popped pop corn and served ice cream and our President Gerald Hebert did an Elvis impersonation. We were so proud when PSS member Dick Skelly won the Bud Guymon award; when Pres. Gerald Hebert and Prairie State Sam’s Campout for Charity Chairman Harold Copas were presented flags from Dogs for the Deaf for earning both the State Top Dog and Honor Chapter Awards; and also for our chapter receiving our 35 yr. ribbon.

15 units, which included one guest unit, attended the Sept. campout/meeting held at Prophetstown St. Pk., Lafayette, IN where after a pot luck breakfast and meeting members took a trolley tour of Lafayette. Throughout the weekend members attended the farmers market, the Battle Ground Monument & Museum, Wolf Park and the German Fest.

ROCK VALLEY SAMS

BY JOHN A. WILSON

Our Chapter celebrated it's 40th anniversary at this year's Illinous Good Sam Samboree. Six rigs were identified with windshield placards.

Chapter Flags were displayed along with the large banner shown above. Standing beside it is Elsie Watson, a Charter

member of the Chapter, that was formed in July of 1971. A sizable display of the Chapter's history and charities was

set up inside the Commercial Building, for attendees to view. Chapter members wore Good Sam colors with a 40 year pin

made especially for this year's anniversary. On Sunday evening, after a brief Chapter history was read aloud, a special

recognition was made to Elsie for her forty years of dedicate service to this Chapter.

Several Chapter members voluntered for various duties, during and at the close of another successful Samboree. See you

all in 2012.

SAMS PRAIRIELANDERS

BY RONELL STOVALL

The Sams Prairielanders chapter of the Illinois Good Sam Club met together Friday, September the 9th through the 11th in the Macon County Conservation District, Friends Creek Conservation Area campground, near Cisco, IL. Friday evening began with much needed rainfall, and then the weather gave way to partially sunny skies and cooling temperatures for one of the most beautiful and comfortable campouts of the season.

On Saturday, the camp was filled with fellowship, games, and a warm, inviting fire followed by an evening potluck meal that featured a teriyaki pork loin, favorite side dishes provided by the best homemaking chefs in central Illinois, and concluded with homemade ice-cream complemented with apple pie, peach cobbler, and a moist, grandma's own home recipe for pineapple upside-down cake. Twenty-one members were present for the evening meal and for the business meeting that followed.Attending the evening potluck from a distance of two or three-hundred yards were three turkey buzzards, sitting high atop a tall, bare lone dead tree. No doubt the prying buzzards presbyopic vision enabled them to discern the most miniscule movement, or lack thereof, far below. From this point forward, our eating, laughter, and visiting became even more animated and exaggerated than ever before.

As an aside, some of the more experienced campers conducted a mini-workshop for one of the newer members in the proper procedures and methods for the winterization of their camping unit. This author was the grateful recipient of that mini-workshop and, as experience proves a faithful and confident teacher, accepts the responsibility for passing this information and assistance on as the need arises.

Sunday dawned with beautiful blue skies as everyone gathered for breakfast to join in prayer commemorating the 10th anniversary of the chaotic and tragic events of 9/11. The life of everyone present here this weekend was permanently and unalterably changed on that day. Our freedom to meet together as a diverse group of people with a common goal of like-minded fellowship is a testimony to the courage, strength, resilience, and dignity of America