Buelton, CA Flying Flags Resort, March 19-23

                                    FLYING FLAGS RALLY  MARCH 2017

Hello fellow Rockers! We had a wonderful rally in Buellton last week.  The afternoon started with a Chili Festival that the RV park was hosting. There was a wide variety of chilis to taste. Along with different beers and wines to taste to your hearts content (or until you fell over). 

The rally began with a Happy Hour gathering, where everyone caught up on the latest news.  On Monday, after a leisurely continental breakfast and lots of talking, everyone headed to Jalama Beach. The ride was gorgeous! Green, green hills and some wild flowers were starting to bloom. After a delicious lunch, we all walked the beach. Although it was gloomy out, it didn’t seem to matter. Penny (Smith’s new puppy), had her first beach experience and loved it. After a heavy hors d’oeuvre happy hour that evening, everyone retired early.  

Tuesday we had a “make your own omelet bar ” where you put your ingredients in baggies for boiling. Then there was a member meeting. Linda had a cute, fun craft for the ladies.  Then the day was free to do what you wanted. Some went to Solvang, while others drove the country side. Some simply rested.  Six of us went to check out a brewery/restaurant for dinner on Wednesday evening. Of course we had to try the beer, then made reservations for 12 on Wednesday.  Dinner that night was a hosted Carne Asada and Pollo dinner with potluck sides and desserts. Man, everything was good. What else would you expect with RWW! After dinner we were entertained with a video of Bev playing the piano. She was amazing!!! She’s a concert pianist for those who don’t know. Wow! Afterwards we played several games of LRC, which were “all” won by the Chelelets. Linda  could hardly walk home because of all the quarters in her pockets. 

Wednesday was biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs and sausage.  A free day after breakfast.  We all went to dinner that evening and had a wonderful time. The food was great and company even better. We stayed for several hours just jabbering and laughing! Thursday was a leftover continental breakfast. Everyone packed and said their goodbyes and all departed.  We would like to thank Mary Lee and Steve for all their support. 

Thank you from your rally hosts, Ramona and Nick, and Mary Lee and Steve. 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT  

Buellton was a great rally.  We missed those of you who couldn’t make it.  The weather was beautiful most of the time, but we did have some rain. It cleared up in time to BBQ the meat for the potluck dinner. We had some great food and conversations with lots of laughs.  As usual for Rockwood, a good time was had by all.  It was good seeing some old friends and the usual suspects.  Let’s think about having some more rallies.  As well as recruiting new members.  That’s the only way RWW can stay alive. 

MINUTES BUELLTON 3-21-2017 

The meeting was brought to order by our President Nick Escamilla at 10:00am, who led us in The Pledge of ALLEGIANCE.   

 Members in attendance were: Debbie & Greg Murrell, Linda & Gerry Chetelat, Linda & Rich Strobel, Mary Lee & Steve Smith, & Ramona & Nick Escamilla. Associate members were : Bev & Bill Proett & Sandy & Bill Vargo. 

Treasurer’s Report : balance of $3843.84  Linda C moved to accept report & Greg seconded. Greg suggested we use some of the money for a dinner for the group. Everyone agreed, but there was no motion. 

Old Business:  Minutes from last meeting were approved. Linda C moved to accept & Steve seconded. 

National Director’s Report:  Nick reported from the FMCA Rally in Chandler, AZ. Only 4% of motorhomes bought today join FMCA.  Charlie Adcock talked about allowing towables, other RV’s not motorhomes, to join FMCA. The membership is getting lower every year and in order to keep FMCA operating, we need new members. There will be a vote at the Indianapolis rally whether to allow towables or not. Each chapter has one vote.  Mary Lee moved to allow towables & Linda S seconded.  Nick ask for a vote for  & against. It was unanimous to accept towables. 

Rally Schedule :  August – Rich is going to Tetons for total solar eclipse & told group about it. 

                               October – Dates TBA  Bakersfield MacAfee’s  

                               November Dates TBA Santee Lakes Kotan’s 

                              January  19-22,2018  Blue Grass Festival, Blythe, CA 

                              January  21-29, 2018 Quartzsite, AZ 

Everyone attending going to Blue Grass next year except Chetelat’s. 

 New Business :  Rich told us about Total Solar Eclipse in August. Best place to see is Grand Tetons National Park.  

Nick & I guaranteed 10 sites, but we only had 7, so park wanted payment for 1st night of 10 sites. We will have shortfall of 1 night. Nick asked for club to pay the 1 night shortfall. Steve moved to have club pay 1 night shortfall & Linda C seconded. Nick also told us that the park changed their policy of 10 sites minimum to receive discount to 20 total nights for discount. So we were able to receive site discount. 

Meeting was adjourned at 10:35. 

Quartzsite, AZ Rally Jan, 2017

MINUTES QUARTZSITE 1/26/2017

Meeting was called to order at 10:08 am by our new President, Nick Escamilla, who led us in the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Members in attendance were Nita & Mac MacAfee, Debbie & Greg Murrell , Linda & Gerry Chetelat, Linda & Rich Strobel, Bernie & Carol Juliar, Ramona & Nick Escamilla and guests, Beverly & Bill Proett, Sharon & Tony Balanca and Landa & Bob Townson.

We thanked Debbie & Greg for putting together this great rally.
The minutes from the last meeting were written in the last newsletter. Greg moved to approve them
and it was seconded by Bernie.
There was no Treasurer’s report.
There was no National Director’s report.
Old business: Greg had RWW business cards for us to pass out in hopes of getting interest in new
potential members. We are very close to the cutting off point to remain a chapter of FMCA.

Rally schedule: March 19-23 Buellton, CA Escamilla’s & Smith’s
October Dates TBD MacAfee’s
November Dates TBD Santee Lakes Kotan’s
We could use some fill In dates between March & October !

New Business: FMCA notified me that a husband and wife could not be Director and Alternate
Director (Paulette and Dennis). Greg volunteered to be the Alternate Director. It was agreed upon by the group and Ramona moved to approve Greg and it was seconded by Linda S.
Linda C made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Rich. The meeting was
adjourned at 10:22am.



Quartzsite Rally Report
January 23 to 29, 2017

The Chetelats and the Murrells arrived one day early and “claimed” an area for the group
around an existing fire pit. We were able to park in the same area as the last few years. Most
of the others arrived the next day. They drove in from Yuma, Blythe and Phoenix, since most
had not come directly from their homes (Strobels, McAfees, Juliars, Proett/Hall, Escamillas,
Nick’s sister and husband Bob and Landa Townson, and Nick’s friends Tony and Sharon
Bellanca. The weather was windy, cold and rainy as it was during one of the several winter
storms that we had been having.

We were supposed to have heavy appetizers that first night but they were delayed due to the
weather. It never really rained that day in Quartzsite, however it “spritzed” late afternoon and
early evening and remained cold and windy. The weather continued to improve each day with
sunny skies and gradual warming. Not many people were running around in shorts. Those that
got out early with their warm coffee cups in the mornings were wearing warm jackets. Of course
the fireside “chats” still occurred each night.

The members were going out for shopping, gawking and exploring all week. No major
purchases were observed. The RV Show was busy. It seemed like there were fewer people
and vendors. Driving past the RV parks we saw quite a few empty spaces.
We ate well with heavy appetizers, potluck dinner and out for breakfast and dinner during the
week. There were quite a few January birthdays of members in attendance and some absent
that we celebrated at a Mexican Cafe one evening. A few ladies made a craft with Linda
Chetelat. We walked away with a frame to hold earrings!

This annual Rockwood outing is primitive but the open space, great campfires and camaraderie
are hard to beat, once a year.

See you next year in Quartzsite??!!