Winter 2015 - Nevada Good Sam

NEVADA GOOD SAMS
SILVER LOG
WINTER 2015
Dear Nevada Good Samers,
Here is the Winter 2015 Silver Log for your information and enjoyment.
I would like to thank the seven chapters who provided information for
this issue. Hopefully the remaining five chapters will join us next time.
Joan Coppage
State Editor
Dear Nevada Good Sam Members:
Bill and I are working hard getting ready for the March Samboree in Pahrump. We are
going to have lots of new and different things happening plus lots of our regular games
and events. Bring all your friends and come to the Nevada Treasure RV Resort in
Pahrump for a good time March 11 through 14.
We have enjoyed reading through all the responses to the questionnaire that was
distributed at the Winnemucca Rally in September. Thank you to everyone who took
the time to respond. We are going to try many of the ideas that were submitted at
future rallies, starting with the March Rally in Pahrump. We’ll be glad to hear your
feedback to see how you like the changes.
We are planning to have some evening entertainment with a no-host bar and we hope
everyone will plan to check that out and stay and visit in the evenings. We will have
something new for the main meal and ask that you bring a dessert and your drink.
We are having good response to the two tours that we are offering for early birds on
Tuesday, March 10th. We hope everyone enjoys the brothel and the winery – only in
Nevada!!
At Nevada Treasures we will be having a vendor who will weigh your rig at your
campsite for a fee; something else different for this Samboree.
One additional thing we are going to try is a cooking event with a different food group
or cooking style each Samboree. We plan to collect the winning recipes and put
together a cookbook. We want to kick this off with some Dutch oven cooking (any type
of food). So bring your best recipe and share it with the crowd.
We are also starting to plan the Fall Samboree in Winnemucca in September. The dates
will be September 24 through 27, 2015. The theme will be “Tailgate Party”. The cooking
event will be your favorite tailgating dip or appetizer.
Bill and I look forward to seeing all of you at Nevada Treasures in Pahrump in March.
Dana Elmer, Nevada State Director
Cell: 702-274-7719
Our email address is: [email protected]
Copper Hills Sams
Chapter Activities
July-December 2014
JULY
In July the Copper Hills Sams had a very enjoyable campout at Eagle Lake which is
located northwest of Susanville, CA. This scenic federal campground is well situated
close to the lake providing boating, fishing and water activities. Our group also enjoyed
the walking and biking trail located along the lake. The Trail Bosses made reservations
in early January, and we were able to have campsites in close proximity to each other.
Water, bathrooms, fire pits, and tables were available. We had 13 rigs attend and spent
our time visiting, eating, and playing many spirited games. At the end of the weekend,
many of us had practiced and improved our Bean Bag Baseball skills.
AUGUST
In August we camped at the RV park at Topaz Lake. The amenities are nice, but many in
our chapter found it a bit too “urban” for a campout. That didn’t stop us from enjoying
our usual potlucks, board and card playing, horseshoe and bean bag tournaments, or
having dinner at the nearby casino!
SEPTEMBER
With only five rigs able to attend the fall rally in Winnemucca, the chapter members
who attended were kept very busy playing in tournament games, helping drive the
shuttle, participating in the theme parade as gold miners (with RVs!), preparing for the
salsa challenge, and running the carnival booth that featured our wheel of fortune.
Spin the Copper Hills’ wheel
for the opportunity to win a
State of Nevada sesquicentennial medallion.
At the Fall Rally
OCTOBER
We celebrated fall with our own Pumpkin Palooza. Numerous activities, including
Washers and Zilch tournaments, bean bag baseball, and making fabric pumpkins, kept
everyone busy--if they wanted to be. Our food events challenged everyone to prepare
one pumpkin dish (other than pumpkin pie). We enjoyed roasted pumpkin salad,
pumpkin raviolis, pumpkin chili, and pumpkin bread for a few of the innovative and tasty
dishes.
Making fabric pumpkins
for table decorations
NOVEMBER
In November, we were treated to a luncheon at the home of one of our members. The 27
members present enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship and excellent food. Our old officers were
re-elected, and many plans were made and shared for the upcoming year.
DECEMBER
Gracious members of the chapter hosted our annual Christmas party at their home in
Minden. The “over-the –top” decorations set a festive mood for the 23 members
attending. Everyone contributed to a potluck featuring “heavy” appetizers. After
eating, our members visited or played Mexican Train and Left, Right, Center. Instead of a
gift exchange, we each donated to our chapter’s charity fund. In February 2015, the
chapter will select a recipient. This party provided the Copper Hills Sams a great way to
end 2014 and look ahead to 2015.
Las Vegas Good Sam Chapter:
Winter 2014 Report
Like 2013, The LVGS ended 2014 with a Christmas Party at the Wine Ridge Resort in Pahrump
Nevada. We collected Toys For Tots for the second year. The park provides many amenities
and rates as well as a great staff, which make it an ideal place to spend the holiday.
Again this year we wandered afield to find good camping and this year we explored Leeds RV
Park in Leeds UT, Spacious sites and lots of shade made for a great experience.
Another addition to our favorite campsites is Pine Valley Recreation Area in the Dixie National
Forest UT. Pleasant and helpful Hosts and the woodland and lakeside setting makes this one
exceptional.
We created, within our treasury, a fund for donations to the favorite charity in lieu of flowers as
requested by the family of deceased members. This fund allows the Treasurer to act without
waiting for a meeting and a vote of members.
Our chapter has continued to increase our presence at the State Rally, and we are beginning to be
the team to beat at several events.
This September we demonstrated our flexibility when an unusual rain washed out portions of
I-15. We had planned to camp at Hurricane UT but were forced to change the venue to a
location south of the big hole in the road. So we retured to Nevada Treasure in Parump.
Bill and Dana Elmer were chosen State King and Queen at the Fall Rally in recognition of years
of hard work. Also, our own Dana Elmer was elected as State Director this year. She has some
good ideas which she hopes will receive a good reception, and is looking for more.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Richard Wellington, Wagonmaster, LVGS
Over The Hump Travelers
Spending a wonderful time at Wine Ridge RV Park in Pahrump, NV
The chapter had a relaxing stay at Wine Ridge RV Park in Pahrump, Nevada after coming home from the
Nevada State (Northern) Samboree Rally with the “Spirit Flag”. This was a first.
Wine Ridge has 2 pools, and spas, a great club house with
kitchen and they even have a catered evening meal on
Wednesday’s . But you have to sign up by Tuesday. This is a
winery so tasting room and sales are on site. We played
washers, tossed a few horse shoes and enjoyed the
sunshine. The sites are accommodating for larger rigs. A
very nice and relaxing stay.
Wine Ridge RV Resort 3800 Winery Rd. Phone 775-751-7819 Call for daily rates.
WWW.wineridgervresort.com
November 12, 13, 14, 15 2014 Over The Hump Travelers
Chapter 4th annual Chili cook off and more at the Riverside Resort & Casino RV Park in Laughlin, NV.
It was time to heat things up with 8 entries in the Chili cook off. Big Jack was our 2014 winner. We also
had an Italian nigh t. Great food.
Some members went to Oatman, AZ to see how to parallel park in their town. Also a group of us even
took in a show and watched Toni Orlando. Quite a few memories came out of that show.
The RV park was large enough to accommodate large groups and had shuttle service from the park to
the resort/Casino (pretty much door to door). Lots to do and see from boat rides to Davis Dam to
shopping in the outlet mall. Of course there are the casinos with lots of entertainment. We will return.
Riverside Resort and Casino Laughlin, NV www.riversideresort.com 1-800-227-3849
PAHRUMP DUST DEVILS, WINTER 2015
The Pahrump Dust Devils are a chapter of the Nevada Good
Sam Organization (http://nevadagoodsam.com/) and chartered
by the International Good Sam Recreational Vehicle Club
(http://www.goodsamclub.com/).
We are located in Pahrump, Nevada, about 65 miles northwest
of Las Vegas, Nevada. We have a membership of 30 rigs. Our
chapter received the Nevada Good Sam Chapter Charter in
March 1985.
We plan a camp-out each month except during the summer
months. See a list of camp-outs on the Camp-Out Schedule
page on the website below. At each camp-out we play a lot of
games including Horseshoes, Cribbage, Washers. Ladder Golf
and Mexican Train. We also eat too much good food and we
include a Chapter meeting at each outing. Visit our website at:
https://sites.google.com/site/pahrumpdevils/.
Ruby Mountain Sams - Elko, NV
President: Lou Ann Badger
Winter 2015
We usually have a camp out or get together once a month, sometimes more. Last
year our camp outs were at
Golconda Summit (Great panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and old
mine sites),
Willow Creek (Fishing and relaxing by the ponds),
Rye Patch (Fishing and visiting surrounding historic sites, also had a Dutch Oven
meal including dessert),
Nephi UT (Utah Rally),
Ward Mountain (visit surrounding historic sites),
Jackpot with a side trip to Jarbidge,
Winnemucca (Nevada Northern Rally),
South Fork Reservoir (our yearly cleanup),
Rock Creek in Twin Falls
Sawtooth National Rec Area, ID.
Our group donated to the Elko Senior Center, earmarked for activities.
At Thanksgiving we had a potluck at a members house. Lots of good food.
For Christmas we entered a wreath in the local Festival of Trees in December for
auction with the proceeds donated to select charities. Then appetizers and
desserts at a members house with a white elephant gift exchange.
SWINGING SAMS
What do you get when you put together a group of fun loving people and call them
the Swinging Sams? You get...
1. ...A great July camp out in Cromberg! The Swinging Sams, and the Reno
Renegades were there together! Friday night it was one big finger food
Happy Hour. Saturday, some went to the craft fair and others played
games. Of course the pot luck was excellent that evening – and then there
was baseball!
2. ...A hot time at Eagle Lake in August! Activities included golf, getting
Shanghaied , riding bikes, mixing Margaritas, tossing horseshoes, and playing
Up Yours. We even timed it just right to attend the American Legion Post’s
annual chili cook-off! They make some hot and delicious chili up there at
Eagle Lake! The Swinging Sams traditional game of bean bag baseball
(usually won by the men) ended in a tie for the first time! We got a picture
of the whole gang!
3. ...A beautiful autumn camping weekend in Quincy! Swinging Sams
played horseshoes, made wreaths, ate breakfast for dinner,
carved pumpkins, enjoyed steak dinner, tossed Bunco dice, ate ice
cream, played cribbage, baseball, Tenzie, Up Yours, and even
enjoyed a movie called “Frozen” – including popcorn!
4. ...A November barbeque lunch served up on garbage can lids at
Famous Dave’s in Reno. What more can be said about that!
5. ...And, a wonderful holiday luncheon, complete with beautifully
decorated tables and a rip-roaring gift exchange. The Swinging
Sams were happy to contribute boxes of food to the American
Legion and Riders Post 1, who prepare meals for veterans during
the holiday season.
In 2014 the Swinging Sams celebrated their 40th anniversary as a
Chapter of the Nevada Good Sams!
We look forward to more great times in 2015! Join us!
*********************************
Vegas Hi-Rollers, Winter 2015 Report
Christmas for the Hi-Rollers was celebrated at Preferred RV in Pahrump
NV. Preferred is a members only park. However we are fortunate to have
one on our roster. Preferred has a great banquet room for our celebration
and a very pleasant staff. We became acquainted with an Army Veteran,
Master Sergeant Jim Starner who was camping near us. . Sergeant
Starner served two tours with the 82nd Airborne in Viet Nam. He is a
recipient of the Bronze Star with V for valor. Of course we invited him to
share our Christmas celebration. He related interesting stories of his
experiences and entertained us with a couple of Army marching songs. It
was a pleasure to have a real hero among our group, even though it was
just for this one evening.
We collect donations to support the Dogs for the Deaf. We hold 50/50
raffles with half going to the dogs and we also collect aluminum cans. We
are well on our way to pay for our Fifth Hearing Dog.
In May we celebrated our 35th year as a charter member of Good Sam.
This year we adopted a program whereby members volunteer to be
Wagonmaster for the month. The individual or couple who have accepted
this position decides on where we will be going, what the program and
schedule of events will be. Even down to informing the President when he
can have his meeting.
We also instituted a Sunday morning Pot Luck Breakfast. This gives
everyone the opportunity to say their good bye’s at Breakfast time without
interrupting others getting their rigs ready for departure. None of that
huggy stuff when trying to dump tanks.
These changes have instilled new life into many of our members and we
have volunteers scheduled for well into the Fall of 2015. Those who have
already served have enjoyed the experience.
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of two of our
members. Beth Sansom passed in January and Janice Peterson passed
in May. They are missed.
Respectfully Submitted
Richard S. Wellington