COUNTRY UNIT The Bluebonnet - Texas Hill Country Unit #104

ISSUE
President
03
Andrea, Austin,
4834
email:
[email protected]
February, 2013
First Vice
President
Second Vice
President
ALMOST MONTHLY
NEWSLETTER OF
TEXAS HILL
COUNTRY UNIT
The Bluebonnet
Joe 6168
this issue
Gayle 6168
President’s Corner P.1
Treasurer
Zephyr 8105
Recording
Secretary
Andi 11291
Birthdays& Anniversaries P.3
January Rally P.4
Sunshine Report P.6
Corresponding Mary Ann
2013
Officers
Secretary
5097 and
Caravan P 7
Liz 4426
President Gayle
1 Year
Dan 8105
Director Ketchum
First Vice
1 Year
President
Sheryl
Jim 8761
Director
Wylie
Second2 Year
Vice
Director
President Shannon
2 Year Wylie
Ronnie 9760
Director Zephyr
Treasurer
Marek
Recording
Secretary Andi
Gilliland
Corresponding
Secretary Mary Ann
Bunke
1 Year Director Dan Marek
1 Year Director Don Croft
2 Year Director Susan
Booker
2 Year Director Lynette
Croft
Past President Joe Long
Email: [email protected]
Questionnaire P 9
Editor: Shannon Wylie
President’s Corner
Happy New Year to all!
Hopefully everyone is healthy. If you
haven’t had your flu immunization,
there is still time. This is a very bad flu
season and the shot does help. Your
next best action to take is frequent
handwashing.
We have a caravan leaving June
17 for the IBT and the Hobo Rally; if
you are interested in joining this
group, give Doug Wylie a call.
Departure is from Top of the Hill RV in
Boerne, TX. Safe travels to all on this
adventure.
We have lost 2 Past First Ladies
this month. Mary Hendricks died
January 5. Mary died quietly following
Lou’s singing hymns to her.
Mary was born in Oklahoma
City, OK; she married Lou in Muskogee,
OK. Mary received a BS degree in
home economics from Oklahoma
Baptist University and was an avid
seamstress with a variety of machines.
Mary served as a pastor’s wife and she
was also a pianist and sang in chapel
and church choirs. Mary was First Lady
1
of THCU in 1990.
Belle Brock died January 15.
Belle was First Lady of THCU in 1982; Ed
she was preceded in death by her
husband Howell. Mary Jo Burton,
Belle’s daughter, reports that Belle
fell and with other complications she
died peacefully.
Our prayers and sympathy go
out to the Hendricks and Brock
families.
It was at Mary Hendricks’
memorial service that I was
introduced to Arlyn Merrill. Some of
you will remember that Arlyn was
President in 1981; the first THCU
female president. I enjoyed my visit
with Arlyn and she spoke briefly
about several of her travels with her
husband. One was touring Alaska
when there were no paved roads and
pea gravel was 2” diameter. Arlyn
states she appreciates having owned
an Airstream and being able to travel
the United States and several
provinces in Canada.
Continued page 3
January Rally
Fun
February
Health Themes
American Heart Month
Women’s Heart Week (1-7)
Cardiac Rehabilitation Week
(11-17)
Child Passenger Safety Week
(11-17)
2
Continued from pg. 1
at Schobel’s Restaurant in New Braunfels, TX. An evite was sent early January and many of you have
responded. Feel free to wear your Rodeo duds. “Happy Trails Until We Meet Again!” Gayle
FEBRUARY
ANNIVERSARIES
FEBRUARY
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS
3
3
21
24
27
Barry McNair
John Gartman
Judy Opphile
Don Bell
Bea Kaiser
What is a Birthday?
It’s knowing you’re
“somebody special” today and
waiting to see what the hours
bring your way,
Forgetting the things that
you don’t like to do and
doing the things that seem
pleasant to you…
It’s enjoying those marvelous
little surprises that come from
all over, in all shapes and
sizes—a phone call or letter
that brings you delight,
warm wishes and greetings
from morning till night—it’s
making a wish as you blow
candles out—a real
celebration to be happy about.
HAPPY
VALENTINE
DAY
13 Barney & Wanda Snell
27 Henry & Olajoe Behrens
Two Hearts,
Two Lives
Together
Congraatulations
As you celebrate the dayyou
joined your lives
And hearts in love.
Happy Anniversary
Enjoy your Special Day!!
3
Cherish the time you
have and the memories
you share…being
friends with someone
is not an opportunity
but a sweet
responsibility.
Author Unknown
January Rally:
S’mores Western
Children’s Days/
Buddy Rally/
business meeting
Another great rally! Folks
started arriving around noon and this
continued to mid-afternoon. The
greeters, beside Gayle and Joe, were
the deer who hung very close hoping to
have continual open feeding hours.
Folks in attendance were Dan
and Zephyr Marek; Warner and Gail
Hord; Dick and Nancy Westley, who
drove back and forth daily; Frank and
Julia Wagner, friends enroute to IBT;
Eldon and JoAnn St. Clair; Gordon and
Janice Dahlmann and Joe Long and
Gayle Ketchum. Arriving Saturday
afternoon and staying for dinner were
Winston and Catherine O’Neal, Barry
and Andrea McNair and Marvin and
Lebby Crane.
Pets in attendance were Bo
Marek, Molly and Buddy Hord, Missy
Dahlmann and Oreo and Wanda
Ketchum.
Thursday dinner was soup with
peach cobbler and Blue Bell ice cream
for dessert; of course, this was served
around the campfire. Then we all
proceeded to the Activity Building for
the Jam; where our own Joe Long was
the steel guitar player. Games followed.
Friday morning line-up was 9:30
am for departure to Bandera, TX. Once
we survived the “foggy weather” our
first stop was the Frontier Times
Museum which was built in 1933 by
frontier journalist-historian J. Marvin
Hunter. The appearance of the building
was very misleading; it looked like one
room, but there were at least 4 rooms-relics of the Old West, Western Art,
400+ bells from India, collections from
South American to include a shrunken
pigmy head, “Cowboy Capital”
collections.
I even found a wall dedicated to
my cousin, Buddy Groff, a noted calf
roper from the 1950s. Dan found a
Continuously operating
honky-tonk in Texas.
Interestingly, you have
to navigate the stairs
down and back-up.
They do have
antique stores and
there is a great “Shoe
Biz” store where
everything was either
50% or 75% off.
Several of us
Returned in ret
time to have tea;
others had nap time.
collection of barb-wire which enabled
community
resource
We had
our business
him to identify, from the 1880’s, some
and
attract
researchers
meeting and the revised
barb-wire he has.
all parts
thea
constitutionfrom
passed.
THCUofhas
O.S.T. (Old Spanish Trail)
country—including
new constitution and it will be our
restaurant was established on Main
own
Phil Lanasa.
forwarded to
WBCCI
for final
Street in 1921 and moved across the
Jim
and I even
street to its present location in 1923. It approval.
made
trip at
to the attic
Social
houra was
burned in 1933 but the O.S.T. continued
where
we
had
campsite around the firepita and
operations in a nearby location until
of theFrito
“state
followed by view/tour
a wiener roast,
the present rock
of
the
art”
constant,
building was
temperature and
constructed
present
rockthat same
humidity controlled art
year.
storage room.
We thought we
2011 was the 100th
would get there early,
celebration of the
but the restaurant was
construction of this
crowded when we
particular building.
arrived. We were
Bob Payne,
seated very shortly and
tour director and
were presently
Board of Directors, was
surprised
Cabeza
dewhen
Vaca,our
who lived with them for
then asked to tell us
food arrived
several
yearspromptly
after he was shipwrecked,
the story of “You Can’t
as ordered.
and had
a bloody standoff with the pirate
do that Dan Moody”.
Additional
Jean Lafitte
(he was the aggressor) when
This was the trial of the
sight-seeing
included
a
the
Island was
first colonized.
Chili pie andcountry,
S’mores.at that time,
drive past
Thethe
cultured
and debonair
Drive
1890 Courthouse
involving
theat the
Games resumed
privateer
Jean
Lafitte established
designed by
B.F.Trester,
Jr. Work the
was
Activity building--another serious
was eventually
forcedon
colony
of
Galveston
started
byCampeche
Ed. Braden
and
Son of San
42 game and a table of
to leave and
(burning
his by E.
Antonio
completed
manipulation players.
town behindlocal
him),
and
Huffmeyer,
merchant
and
Saturday morning the
Galveston
asStone
we On
know
started.
our
own
until lunch
contractor.
for
the
building
folks
met
at the Activity Building
it was
founded
by
where
we again
wentand
to Walburg,
was
quarried
locally
laid by but
Michel
Menard
and
this
time
to Dale’s
for fried catfish lunch to pay rally fees and to try a game
itinerant
Russian
stonemasons.
of bean bag baseball. It was the
Samuel Another
May
Williams,
specials
and hamburgers.
stop was The Silver
amongconstructed
others.
Again nap time
so weIt were
Dollar
in 1901.
was ready men against the women—a tight
match; just ask the men. Next a
so
we
for athe
lateAnd
night.
We
the
first
Fox
Hole
andattended
later Arkey
startedSilver
Thursday’s
tour
“Always
Patsy
Cline”
the Palace quick lunch and nap and back to
Blue’s
Dollar.
Itshow
is theatoldest
continue the baseball game. This
at the Rosenberg
Theatre
in Georgetown.
If you
4
won were
2nd inestablished.
each of
time new teams
Library. Henry endowed his adopted
entrepreneurs
st
their
divisions
We barely completed the 1entered
Rosenberg,
a Swiss churches, a
city
with fountains,
January Rally…continued
MORE FUN
inning when the game was
interrupted by the players
wandering off to the ice cream
social. Did I mention there was ice
cream bingo before lunch? Well,
several played, but JoAnn walked
away the winner with 5
certificates for ice cream; she did
share her winnings. Thank you
JoAnn. The game was close, but
the “Red team” won.
The game also pushed the
Happy Hour at the campsite, but
we had it and rushed up to the
Top of the Trail Café for dinner.
Twenty meals were served and a
lot of visiting took place. Everyone
was compatible; new friends were
made and old friendships
renewed. Once all were sated and
time flew, some had to say
goodbye; next the two tables of 42
and manipulation resumed for the
big play-off.
Sunday morning there
were more good-byes and
promises to get together again. So
until the next time….Safe travels
and don’t forget the February
Rodeo luncheon. Gayle
Gail Hord, Eldon and JoAnn St. Clair
Barry McNair, Frank Wagner, Dick
Westley, Julia Wagner, JoAnn St.Clair,
Below: Turkeys seen by Joe
www.wbregion9.org
www.wbcci.org
5
JoAnn St. Clair, Gordon & Janice
Dahlmann & Kathryn O’Neal
Andrea McNair, Warner Hord, Winston
O’Neal & Gail Hord
http://thcu.wbcci.net
Sunshine Report
PRAYER FOR
FEBRUARY
Zephyr Marek’s wrist and hand continues to improve,
but movement is still limited.
Raisin Schwerdfeger continues to have problems with
her back/leg.
Marvin and Lebby Crane have both had some type of
back surgery this past year, but they are getting around well
and without pain.
Sympathy and Prayers
Heavenly Father, source of all
love, You gave me love in Your
Son, Jesus Christ. He taught me
love by His life and death: help
me to imitate the Divine
example.
Mary Hendricks died January 5;
Belle Brock died January 15.
If you know of a member who needs to have prayers or congratulations
extended, please call Mary Ann Bunke or Gayle.
Community Service Report
Let me reflect Your love in my
family, with friends and
associates. Let me forgive
quickly when hurt; be gentle
when angry.
Grant me peace in Your love,
knowing that my quest for love
will find fulfillment only when I
rest in Thee.
Remember to save your pull tabs and bring them to the
unit rallies. Joe and I will be taking them to International; at
this time, I have 7 pounds of pull tabs.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
“The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail.
Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for.”
--Louis L’Amour
6 6
5
TEXAS PROUD
We Texans may disagree about some things—say, Aggies or
Longhorns—but get us around a pot of homemade chili, the state
dish, and we’ll all agree that there’s nothing better.
WEST Texas and Southeastern New Mexico Caravan Itinerary!!
1. Assemble in Fort Stockton on Saturday, April 6, 2013. Explore area sights such as Monahan’s
Sandhills State Park, Odessa Oil Museum or Midland Air Museum.
2. Leave Fort Stockton on Monday, April 8 to arrive in Fort Davis. Explore area and enjoy McDonald
Observatory Star Party and also dine at an old-fashioned drug store.
3. Leave Fort Davis on Wednesday, April 10 to arrive in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Explore the area and
take a tour of Carlsbad Caverns or enjoy the Pecos River Park.
4. Leave Carlsbad on Friday, April 12 to arrive at Ruidoso, New Mexico. Enjoy the fresh mountain air
and the tall pines. There are several tourist attractions and places to eat.
5. April 15 the caravan ends at Ruidoso and each trailer can return home at its own agenda.
Cost is $230 campsite fees.
$12per person Star Party at McDonald’s Observatory
$6 per person for the tour at Carlsbad Caverns
Any Questions: Contact Don Croft @ [email protected] or 817-939-3949
We need to get an idea how many will be attending; so let Don hear from you.
7
2013
RALLY SCHEDULE 2013
DATE
Feb. 2
Mar. 4-10
Apr. 6-15
May 2-5
June TBD
June 27-July 4
Aug. TBA
Sept. 11-15
Oct. 3-7
Nov. 7-10
TITLE
ADDRESS
Rodeo Luncheon
TBD
Steppin’ Out….Region 9 Richard M. Borchard
Rally
Regional Fairgrounds
Robstown, TX
West Texas/Eastern New Junction, TX
Mexico Caravan
Dutch Oven
Turkey Roost Group
Cooking/Buddy Rally
Campground—
Located at Cedar Ridge
Park Belton Lake Corps of
Engineer Belton, TX
76513-6522
Caravan to WBCCI
TBD
International Rally
WBCCI International
South Dakota Fairgrounds
Huron, South Dakota
Fall Kick-Off Luncheon TBD
Cowtown with
Cowtown RV Park
Class/Business Mtg.
7000 I 20 East @ Exit 418
Aledo,TX 76008
888-441-7878
Vintage Rally
J.B. Wells Park & Arena
Gonzalez, TX
Installation
Rally/Veterans
Day/Thanksgiving
Rally
Lone Star RV Park
7009 S. I-35
Austin, TX 78744
512-444-6322
Os
8
HOSTS
1.Joe & Gayle
Region 9 Officers
1.Don & Lynette
1.Ronnie & Andi
2.Doug & Sheryl
1.Doug & Sheryl
International
Officers
1.Joe & Gayle
1.Don & Lynette
2.Dan & Zephyr
1.Vintage Sponsors
2.THLU
1.Joan Ermis
2.Dan & Zephyr
QUESTIONNAIRE
Your Leadership team is sincerely interested in your thoughts about how THCU is doing.
Although we get to talk to some of you during the year, we’d like to take this opportunity to request feedback
from ALL unit members using a standardized format. We are sending you this short questionnaire in the hope
that you will share your candid thoughts about how we’re doing from your perspective.
GENERAL
1. How many THCU/WBCCI activities do you usually attend per year?
Unit Rallies______________________________ Region Rally_________________________________
Luncheons_______________________________ International Rally____________________________
2. How long have you been a member of WBCCI?______________________________________________
RALLY QUESTIONS
Very Important
Not Important
3. How important is geographical location for a Rally?
5
4
3
2
1
4.
How important are full hoop-ups?
5
4
3
2
1
5.
How important are water and electric hoops-up?
5
4
3
2
1
6. How important is Rally price to you?
5
4
3
2
1
7. What is your “optimum” price per night for a Rally?
5
4
3
2
1
8. How far are you willing to drive to attend a Unit Rally?
5
4
3
2
1
9. Do you have any recommendations for future Rally sites? ______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
10. Do you have a preference for Rallies at State/Government Parks vs. Commercial RV Parks? ___________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
11. Do you prefer host-prepared, catered, or potluck meals?________________________________________
12. Are scheduled activities (other than Happy Hour and meals) important to you? ______________________
If so, what do you recommend? ___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
13. Are you willing to coordinate and/or work at Special Event Fiesta Rally? __________________________
Continue page 10
9
WE NEED YOUR THOUGHTS:
14. How important is a Unit caravan to you and THCU? __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
15. What do you see as the future of THCU? ____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
16. Are you willing to serve as a Unit Officer? ______________________If not, why? __________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
17. What recommendations do you have to improve your experience with THCU? ______________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
Signature (optional)
Upon completion, please return to Andi Gilliland via mail, email at [email protected] or in person
before March 15, 2013. Thank you for your help and response.
NOTE: A special thank you to Marque Mooney and the THLU Officers for the idea and use of their
questionnaire.
texas
hill country unit
15251 Miller Rd
St. Hedwig, TX 78152
www.thcu.wbcci.net
[email protected]
10