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VOLUME XLIV, ISSUE 6
MARCH 2015
NORVA NEWS
President’s Message (March 2015)
Lew Brodsky
I recently spent hours trying to get a piece of broken telephone equipment replaced by the phone company.
You know the drill, because no doubt you’ve had similar experiences when you contact almost any “customer
service” department. First, you dial the toll-free number (why do we still use the word, “dial”…nobody has a
telephone with a dial any more!). Almost always, a disembodied recorded voice answers “Press 1” for this;
“Press 2” for that, etc. Therefore, Suggestion #1: Immediately press “0” in an attempt to bypass the annoying
automated “menu” and speak to a real person. But you know what comes next: the person who answers your
call may or may not be physically located in this country, and he or she may or may not speak understandable
American English. We have “overseas outsourcing” to
thank for that. But what really gets my goat is how often
the representative you reach has been poorly trained and
knows very little about the company’s products and services! So, Suggestion #2: Immediately ask to speak with a
supervisor. Even then, chances are only 50/50 that the crisis of the day will be resolved.
For example, during my recent call to the phone company,
the supervisor agreed to send me replacement equipment.
Great, I thought…until he e-mailed an “order confirmation” to me later that day. The package was “on its way,”
it said. That was a good thing. But there was a mistake,
Lew & Cathy in Alaska’s Denali National Park and that was not so good. According to the e-mail, the
new equipment was sent to “Mario Escobar.” I have no idea who Mario is, and he certainly doesn’t live at my
address. Also, the contact phone number given to the shipping company was not mine (it was probably
Mario’s). The Lord only knows if I will ever receive this package. Where’s Mario? Perhaps He can help me
find Mario!
This experience and countless others like it got me to thinking how difficult it is for people to communicate
their wants and needs in the 21st Century, or get satisfactory results on the first try. You would think communications and life would be much easier in today’s world, with laptops, IPhones, GPS, satellites, instant messaging, Internet, and Skype, not to mention automobile dashboards that display enough information to satisfy
a NASA astronaut. However, the very speed and complexity of this constantly evolving technology can become a frustrating barrier, especially to folks who grew up in much simpler times. It’s difficult to keep pace
when technology prods life to move at an ever-accelerating rate.
My dear wife, shares my frustration. Cathy suggests we write to AARP, the association that advocates for
people 50 and older. Aging baby boomers, she says, should lobby for regulation of all customer service call
centers. Let them keep their impersonal, automated answering systems, but after the
greeting message, the very first menu choice all callers should hear is, “If you are at
least 50 years old, please Press ‘1’ now.” By pressing that magic button, any selfidentifying “older customer” would instantly be connected to a real, live, knowledgeable person who speaks very understandable English, has superb diction, enunciates
slowly and distinctly, takes the time necessary to ensure the caller fully understands
answers to all questions, cheerfully explains things, with the end result being the customer is fully satisfied and no mistakes are made on either end of the conversation!
Alas, this is probably too much to ask. But wouldn’t it be nice?
PAGE 2
NORVA NEWS
NORVA Officers
Lew Brodsky, President
703-451-0122
[email protected]
Bill Williamson, 1st President
540-778-1823
[email protected]
Dick Arnold, 2n Vice President
540-582-5261
[email protected]
Jane Quinn, Secretary
540-825-7785
[email protected]
David Baker, Treasurer
703-250-3028
[email protected]
Lloyd Ulrich,
Membership Director
703-724-3954
[email protected]
Super Bowl Rally 2015
Edgar Simmons
Everything about this rally was super!
Cecil and Della Hoosier opened their home and arms to 19 NORVA members. Those in attendance were Lew and Cathy Brodsky, Bruce and
Danette Campbell, Glenn and Michelle Cruickshank, Ed and Beth Jones,
Kevin and Jane Quinn, Edgar and Kathy Simmons, Lloyd and Elaine Ulrich, Bill Williamson and Eric and Norma Colby.
First Cecil had some special picture on his computer that were unique. It is
unreal what can happen in one's driveway. Oooh Cecil!
The kitchen counter was overflowing with food and the dining room table
was laden with more food. Isn't the food more important than the commercials or the game??? The fellowship was most important. Thanks to everyone for bringing all the delicious eats.
What more can be said about an exciting Super Bowl game between the
Seattle Seahawks (24) and the New England Patriots (28). Everyone
seemed to enjoy this incredible event even if they didn't favor one side or
the other. In additions to super bowl decorations, Beth Jones even wore
patriot earrings symbolizing the theme of their Revolutionary War Caravan in 2016.
A fun time was had by all!
Cathy Brodsky & Beth Jones Della Hoosier,
Newsletter Editor
540-937-3527
[email protected]
Kathy Simmons,
Legislative Director
540-421-3045
[email protected]
Cecil Hoosier, Storekeeper
540-937-3527
[email protected]
Bill Williamson, Eric Colby, Lloyd & Elaine
Ulrich
Ed Jones, Parliamentarian
703-780-6597
[email protected]
Dick Arnold Past President
540-582-5261
[email protected]
Della Hoosier, Kathy & Edgar Simmons; Norma Colby. Right Lew Brodsky, Ed Jones & Cecil Hoosier PAGE 3 VOLUME XLIV, ISSUE 6
Top Left.
Jane & Kevin Quinn; Kathy Simmons
Top Right
Michelle Cruickshank, Kathy Simmons and
Elaine Ulrich
Bottom Left
Kevin Quinn, Lew & Cathy Brodsky,
Bruce Campbell, Michelle Cruickshank,
Beth Jones, Danette Campbell, Edgar Simmons, Kathy Simmons and Jane Quinn
PAGE 4 NORVA NEWS
Travels With Dick and Jane - Part III Traveling the Carolinas
May 3 - May 14, 2015
The Region 3 Rally is in Ladson, SC (Charleston) this year. It will end on Sunday, May 3. We will leave
from there and go to Columbia (Lexington), SC (capital of SC). We will be staying next to one of the largest
flea markets in South Carolina, the Barnyard Flea Market. We will have dinner in a family restaurant. On
Monday we will visit the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. That afternoon you will be free to visit
the capital, the Riverbanks Zoo, or the Fort Jackson Museum.
Tuesday we will move to the Spartanburg/Gaffney KOA to tour the Freightliner and BMW plants nearby. We
will also have a tour of the Cow Pens Revolutionary War battle site. We will pass the Kings Mountain Revolutionary War site when we leave Friday. You can tour this on your own as there is parking for rigs.
Friday we travel to Charlotte (Concord), N.C. We will tour the nearby Hendrick Motor Sports Museum. You
can choose from many other activities: Carolina's Aviation Museum, Billy Graham Library, NASCAR Hall
of Fame, etc. Sunday we will have a Sunday Brunch in honor of Mother's Day and then leave for Greensboro.
On the way, we will stop at the Salisbury Transportation Museum. We can have a train ride and see the shops
that are still working rebuilding steam engines.
Sunday we arrive in Greensboro. Monday is a free day. Tuesday morning we will tour the Guilford Courthouse Revolutionary War site, then leave for Raleigh where we will stay at the State Fairgrounds. We will
have a tour of Capital City Custom - an Airstream refinisher several of our members have visited. There are
many other places to visit - the capital building, wonderful Farmers Market, Museums of Art, History, Natural
Science, etc.
As usual we will have several dinners, Driver's Meetings with coffees or ice creams weather permitting. The
cost for the caravan is $700.00. The caravan will end Wednesday night and you leave Thursday unless you
want to stay longer. NORVA CARAVAN
TRAVELING WITH DICK AND JANE
Copilot
Driver
Address
WBCCI #
Phone# Home
Cell
Email
Airstream length
License #
Tow/toad Vehicle
License #
We will not be home for mail until the end of March, so we need full payment by March 27.
We need to know how many will go, so please email if you are planning to go with us.
Email Jane at: [email protected]
VOLUME
XLIV, ISSUE 6 PAGE 5
NORVA Members
Where are they?
2015
Morocco
February
Paul & Cynthia Pearce
Africa Trip
February21- March 8
Edgar & Kathy Simmons
Cecil & Della Hoosier
AluminaFlamingo
February 24-March 2
Lloyd & Elaine Ulrich
Dick & Jane Arnold
Ralph & Louise Uttech
AARP Safety Driving Course
April 10-12
The April rally will be at Shenandoah Hills Campground, 110 Campground
Lane, Madison, VA 22727; coordinates N38.35305, W78.28139; phone 540948-4186. Directions from Sperryville take route 522 south to route231, turn
right and proceed 10 miles to junction of route 29. Proceed through this junction 1.4 miles to campground on right.
I have reserved 10 camping sites with a $50 deposit and the meeting building
for$35 which allows us to use it for the entire weekend. Each camping unit
needs to make their own reservation by calling the campground on either 540
948 4186 or 800 321 4186. Water, sewer, electrical (30 amps) sites range in
price from $43 to49 and 50 camp sites start at $49. Good Sam and group discounts are available. I suggest a rally fee of $15 per person.
Florida State Rally
February
Lloyd & Elaine Ulrich
Dick & Jane Arnold
Paul & Cynthia Pearce
(Maybe)
Cajun Country
March 10-25
Jim & Edie Caldwell
International Rally
June 26-July 4
Paul & Cynthia Pearce
Cecil & Della Hoosier
Ed & Beth Jones
Lew Brodsky & Paisley
Eric Colby, Bill Williamson, Lloyd Ulrich, Bruce and Danette Campbell Canadian rocky
Mountains Caravan
August 11—September 3
Kevin and Jane Quinn
Rocky Mountain High
USA Caravan
September 8— 28
Kevin and Jane Quinn
NORVA Directory Corrections
Correction to Ed & Beth Jones Zip Code. It should be 22309 instead of 22307
The schedule in the back of the Directory: July Rally is July 11-16 instead of
July 24-26
PAGE 6
NORVA NEWS
March Rally at Chesapeake Beach
March 14 Luncheon
Reservations are made for the March 14 luncheon at Traders Steak Seafood & Ale; 8132 Bayside Road,
Chesapeake Beach, MD 30732; coordinates N38.69407, W76.53477; phone 410-257-6126. Directions from
the D.C. area are take Woodrow Wilson bridge (95/495) into Maryland. Exit I-495 at exit 11 onto Route 4
(Penn. Ave.) east to Route 260 (Chesapeake Beach Rd) to the intersection with Route 261( Bayside Rd) turn
right and then into Parking lot on right. Driving time from WW bridge is about 30 minutes. Reservation made
for 16 to 20 people ( 8 to 10 units) at 1:00pm. Price for meal is:
Call Bill Williams if you are going to the luncheon. 540-778-1823
MARCH Rally
Lew Brodsky
Too cold to camp?
NORVA’s March Rally will be a lunch meeting at a bayside restaurant in Maryland. First Vice President Bill
Williamson has arranged for us to meet at Traders Seafood Steak and Ale, a family-owned restaurant overlooking the Chesapeake Bay at 8132 Bayside Road in Chesapeake Beach. The scheduled meeting time is 1:00
p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
Although this rally does not officially include any camping on that March weekend, some of our members
have indicated they might like to camp, if the weather cooperates. So here is the plan. NORVA President
Lew Brodsky will check the weather forecast for Chesapeake Beach and vicinity on/about March 6th. If the
weekend forecast for March 13-15 looks promising (i.e., not too cold; not too wet; no chance of snow), Lew
will contact the Solomons Island Navy Recreation Center at Solomons, MD, to see if sites are available for the
Friday and Saturday nights of the rally weekend. The Navy Recreation facility is on the banks of the Patuxent
River, about 55 miles southeast of Washington, DC, on Maryland Route 2. It is 32 miles south of Chesapeake
Beach. It has sites with full hook-ups and sites with water and electric only. Camping costs are somewhere
between $22 and $40 per night, depending upon the services at the site occupied. Only military members or
military retirees can reserve and pay for sites (and the first night’s fee is non- refundable), so checks would
have to be made out to Lew if and when the reservations are made.
There is also a commercial campground that could be used. Duncan’s Family Campground is in Lothian, MD,
off Maryland Route 408, about 15 miles northwest of Chesapeake Beach. Rates are $50 per night for 30-amp
full hook-ups. Lew will check into the possibility of staying there if the Navy sites are unavailable. If you are
interested in “de-winterizing” and camping that weekend, please send Lew an e-mail ([email protected]) as
soon as possible. He will get back in touch with you if the weather looks good and sites are available.
VOLUME XLIV, ISSUE 6 PAGE 7
Bridgewater Lawn Party Rally
July 11-16, 2015
FYI: Notice the dates for this rally. It is for 5 nights. This is a tentative schedule so that you will have some
idea of what we are going to do. If you think you can participate, let me know now so that I can do
some planning, such as reservation for the train ride and other times for activities.
No Kitty Fee. A small fee will be accessed at end of rally. Almost everything is you pay as you go.
You may come and leave the rally as you please.
Arrive at Rockingham County Fairground on Tuesday after 2:00. No need to make advance reservations. Ten
campsites have been reserved.
Parking fee is $25.00 per night. Payable on arrival. 50 amps, water and dump station.
Tuesday
5:00 meet and greet
6:00 Supper at Jessie's They are famous for their hotdogs. After supper we will go to Kline's for their ice
cream.
Wednesday
8:30 AM-Buffet breakfast at Village Inn
2:00 Tour Grand Caverns near Grottoes
4:00 Social Time
Thursday
Drive to Cass, WV. Train ride
Supper at Traditions
Friday
Waffle breakfast at the Simmons residence.
Around 10:30 we will leave to tour White Oak Lavender near Cross Keys.
Visit Lawn Party grounds, steam meet, demonstrations, antique cars, food, and music.
4:00 Social Time
6:00 Fireman's Parade on main street in Bridgewater. Take your chairs
Food is available at Lawn Party grounds. A short walk west from Main Street.
There will be an opportunity for you to volunteer to help at the Fireman’s Bingo Tent.
Saturday
Maybe a tour of the Frontier Museum in Staunton.
Visit Lawn Party grounds. Car show on the grounds
4:00 Social Time
6:00 Antique Tractor and Car Parade on main street in Bridgewater. Take your chairs.
Food is available at Lawn Party grounds.
There will be an opportunity for you to volunteer to help at the Fireman’s Bingo Tent.
NEWS LETTER EDITOR DELLA HOOSIER 3448 HOLLY SPRINGS ROAD AMISSVILLE VA 20106 www.northva.wbcci.net Www.facebook.com/groups/421841571177543/ Daylight
saving time
March 8
2015
2015 NORVA SCHEDULE
January 10
Lunch at Mount Vernon Inn
Host Ed & Beth Jones
June 26 –July 4
International Rally
Farmington New Mexico
February 1
Super Bowl Rally
Amissville VA
Host Cecil & Della Hoosier
540-937-3527
July 14-19
Bridgewater Lawn Party
Host Edgar & Kathy Simmons
March 14
Lunch at Chesapeake Beach
Traders Steak Seafood & Ale
August 3-8
Galax Special Event Rally
Region 3 Julian & Lynne Clements
April 10-12
September 11-13
Drivers Safety Course
Shenandoah Campground (old October 10-11
KOA) Host Bill Williamson
and Cecil and Della Hoosier
April 29-May 3 Region 3 Rally
Exchange Park Ladson SC
Host Matt hackney
May 4-12
NORVA Caravan
Travel with Dick and Jane Arnold-III– Carolinas
TBD
Virginia Commonwealth Rally
North 340 Campground
1125 East Side Hwy
Waynesboro, VA 22980
November13-15
Wine tasting ???????
Host Jack & Janice Hornbeck
December 5 or 6
Holiday Dinner Rally
Knight of Columbus Arlington
Host Fred and Tom Carmichael