October 2017 Keystone Kourierkeystonepa.airstreamclub.net/files/2017/10/2017-October-Kourier.pdf · to show her New York City, Philadelphia, Lancaster County and “lovely”

Keystone Kourier October 2017 Page 1 of 7

October 2017

Keystone Kourier

President’s Message Hello Keystoners!

Is September really over already?

I realize that as I get older the

months and years go by faster and

faster, but this September was

exceptional. I guess that was

because Arry and I were almost full-

timers since late August, constantly

on the road with a laundry stop at

home for a couple days once in a

while. We had two weddings in Virginia, a rally scouting trip to a wolf

preserve with the Pitts, the Pennsylvania State Rally in Lebanon (PA that is),

and have just returned from the Sugarcreek, Ohio Swiss Festival Rally led by

Karen and Will Kushto. I don’t think October is going to be any less hectic.

My aunt from Nebraska is arriving today so we’ll put on our tour guide hats

to show her New York City, Philadelphia, Lancaster County and “lovely”

East Greenville. We then have Arry’s milestone birthday to celebrate (she’s

turning 39 this year just like last year) and gear up for the important

planning luncheon of the Keystone Unit at our house. But who’s

complaining? It’s great to be alive, healthy and able to get together and

travel with our Keystone friends!

Rick and Andy describe below our trip to the wolf preserve in New Jersey.

We had a great time and learned a lot about camping in the rain: try to

stay out of it. The wolves and other animals were fascinating and the

owners did a superb job educating us on these beautiful animals. I agree

with Rick and Andy that we should seriously consider a rally there next year.

In fact, there is another wolf preserve close to New York that we could also

take in while we’re there. This one was featured on one of the Sunday

morning shows recently.

Our thanks to the Central Penn unit for hosting the PA State Rally this year. The turnout was good

from our unit as described by Rick and Andy below. Visits by Peg and George Spahn, Caryle and

Vaughn Brayton, and Alan Kenney’s mom, Thelma, were special treats.

Upcoming Events

October 21

Planning luncheon at

Mergelkamp’s – 12 noon

November 1

2018 International

and Unit Dues due

(dues notice included)

November 18

Luncheon at 12 noon

coordinated by Fitzgerald’s

December 16

Christmas luncheon

coordinated by Hillegass’

at Spinnerstown Hotel

Stay Connected

Keystone on the web http://keystone.wbcci.net/

Follow us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/

groups/KeystoneUnit/

Keystone Unit #092

Region 2 - WBCCI

http://keystone.wbcci.net/

http://keystone.wbcci.net/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/KeystoneUnit/





As I mentioned, we have just returned from the Sugarcreek Swiss Festival Rally. Karen and Will did a

superb job organizing the caravan to take us there. In addition to the Kushto’s and the

Mergelkamp’s, Don and Phyllis joined from our unit as did several couples from the Delmarva unit.

Each of the Keystone

representatives were towing

with the same color red Ford

F-250 or F-350 which made

for a pretty site at the

campground parked with

our silver bullets. The rally

was one of the best we’ve

been to. It was a well-oiled machine of fun and interesting activities, outstanding entertainment, and

fascinating places to visit. The countryside of rolling hills, immaculate farmhouses, small villages and

scores of Amish horse-drawn buggies made it feel like we were in a different time and different,

serene world. Highlights included tours to two Amish one-room schools (impressive display of teaching

and learning skills in a humble environment), delicious dinner at an Amish family home, tour of a tear-

drop trailer manufacturer, a Swiss Cheese manufacturing plant, and the Warther Knife

factory/museum. I was overwhelmed by the incredible wood carvings by Ernest “Moonie” Warther,

the founder of the knife factory. Among other things he created large scale reproductions of steam

locomotives carved entirely out of wood and ivory which are breathtaking. No wonder that he was

considered one of the world’s foremost wood carvers.

As impressive as all these things were, three of the most interesting places we visited were places

which I almost passed on. After all, how interesting could trips to an Amish casket maker, a one-man,

hand-made broom maker, and a buggy manufacturer be? Let me tell you: they were fascinating!

The casket maker showed us how his simple, but elegant wooden caskets are made. More

importantly, he described many aspects of Amish life and customs, as well as what happens at

death. The buggy manufacturer showed us the workmanship that goes into building the various

types of buggies used every day by these friendly, hardworking people. Watching an Amish

gentleman make a simple, straw broom on ancient equipment in his small workshop was a moving

experience. His enthusiasm was contagious to the point where I couldn’t wait to buy one of his

simple masterpieces and stood in line to have him autograph the broom handle. He’s a symbol of so

much that represents what it means to be Amish: a dignified, simple lifestyle where hard work,

dedication and creativity enable them to create the high quality items needed for daily life. And by

working together, helping each other, and maintaining a strong faith in God, they have created a

community that flourishes almost as if in a bubble, isolated from the complex, often chaotic world

that the rest of us live in.

In addition to the rally events, we attended the Swiss Festival activities which included contests for

best Swiss costume, best float, and decorated animals. We saw the world’s largest cuckoo clock,

marching bands, parades and old cars. Of course, one of the best parts of the festivities was the

large number of carnival food stands. How do you decide whether to eat pulled pork, BBQ chicken,


fried cheese, Stromboli, fried fish, apple fritters, cotton candy etc. etc.? Solution: You graze all day!

This was small town Americana at its best! A great experience!

Yes, the Sugarcreek trip left me with unforgettable memories made even more poignant by the fact

that we were following my parents’ footsteps when they went on the same rally 30 years ago. I

expect we’ll be going back next year and I encourage all of you to do the same.

Don’t forget to come to our house at noon on October 21 for an important planning meeting and

fun get together. Bring a dish and stories to share.

Happy travels.

Howard Mergelkamp

55TH Annual WBCCI Swiss Festival National

Rally Keystone/Delmarva Caravan

to Sugarcreek, Ohio

September 21 – October 1, 2017

By Karen and Will Kushto

We just returned from another fantastic Swiss Festival Rally. Our combined Keystone/Delmarva

Caravan members were: leaders Will & Karen Kushto (K) and Malcolm & Sue Comstock (D);

Howard & Arry Mergelkamp (K); Don & Phyllis Harrington (K); Bob & Laurie Pullman (D); Chuck &

Maggie Helwig (D); Bruce & Bonnie Purcell(D); and Phil & Fay Cruchley (D).On our journey, we

stopped at Fox Den Acres in New Stanton, PA where we celebrated Don’s birthday & devoured

his cake. Caravan parking on Friday (free night) put us in the beautiful Winklepleck Grove (rally

electric/water & a pump out) with 130 Airstreams and allowed for extra time to explore the rolling

hills of Tuscarawas County, with its Amish & Swiss heritage. A visit to Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen was a

tasty intro to Amish cooking. Over the next week, our days were filled with eating & numerous


tours: cheese factories; Amish schools &

farms; leather, boot, buggy, casket,

brooms & woodcafting; the Schoenbrunn

Village (Moravian missionaries & Lenape

Indians); Warther Ship & Train Museums

with buttons & knives; Homestead

Furniture; and the Pleasant Valley

Teardrop Trailers. In the town of

Sugarcreek, the Swiss Village Bulk Store

(samples were yummy), Brick Wall History

Sculpture (look for the Airstream), Alpine

Hills Historical Museum & World’s Largest

Cuckoo Clock were “must sees”. Children

& families from two Amish schools joined us

for the traditional “Day in the Park” with a

flea market/craft show, homemade apple

butter & bake sale, lunch for the kids & golf cart

rides, putt-putt ice cream, buggy rides for us,

and a golf tournament (Will placed second!).

Nightly entertainment, door prizes, hospitality &

fellowship insured something for all: Cambridge

City/WBCCI Band; Memory Road; Old Time

Music Company; Zach Shelton & 64 to Grayson;

and the Joey Tomsick Orchestra. So much to

do, so little time! One of many reasons for return

trips to Sugarcreek.

The rally culminated in two days at the Swiss

Festival in Sugarcreek with its numerous food

vendors, wine & cheese tasting, polka

bands/dancing, rides & games, Alpine horn

playing and two parades. Airstreamers were

judges at the Children’s Parade on Friday. The

WBCCI float won First Place on Saturday.

CONGRATS!

Many thanks to the volunteers who worked so

hard to make this event possible.

Put next year’s rally on your calendar:

September 22-30, 2018!


September 2017: PA State Rally, Lebanon, Pa. The State rally this year was nicely hosted by the Central Penn unit at the Lebanon Area Fairgrounds. There were 16 units in attendance, from Central Penn, Al-Mon-O, Keystone, the PA unit and Region 2 president Mark Hammer and his wife Debbie. Participating from Keystone were Sue and Jody Dietz, Alan Kenney, Arry and Howard Mergelkamp and Andy and Rick Pitts. Although no formal activities had been planned, our group of course had Happy Hours (welcoming back CP’s Norm Fable – the ‘fireguy’ from our Shady Grove rally and his wife Karen).

We were treated with day-visits from Peg and George Spahn, and Caryle and Vaughn Brayton – as well as a special time with Thelma Kenney, arguably Keystone’s most experienced Airstreamer. What fun to share and compare Airstream stories!

Drone photo courtesy of Ken Landvater, Central Penn


Keystone Kamping

In search of a potential rally site, the Pitts’ and Mergelkamp’s

headed to Camp Taylor, just off route 80 in New Jersey at the

Delaware Water Gap. The big draw is the Lakota Wolf Preserve

right on the premises. The wonderful, inexpensive, wolf tour

showcases 3 different wolf packs (Artic, Timber and British

Columbian), a den of foxes and 2 cute bobcats all presented in

detail by preserve owners Jim Stein and Becky Mace.

Sites at the campground were in a nice location for a rally, e/w

service with an onsite dump station. There were several local

restaurants in the area (we hit Hunter’s Lodge – who would figure

a great seafood meal!, and Jagerstein Biergarten – the Best of the

Wurst!). Nice access to Delaware Water Gap and great NJ gas

prices! This could be a great rally site for 2018!

2017 Officers

President

Howard Mergelkamp

1st Vice President

Rick Pitts

2nd Vice President

Open

Treasurer

Alan Kenney

Recording Secretary

Arry Mergelkamp

1 Year Trustee

Peg Spahn

1 Year Trustee

Andy Pitts

2 Year Trustee

Phyllis Harrington

2 Year Trustee

Karen Kushto

Legislative

Jody Dietz

Membership

Don Harrington

Sunshine

Peg Spahn

Unit Supplies

Karen Kushto

Historian

Caryle Brayton

Kourier

Andy Pitts

Rick Pitts


Membership News.........................

It's that time of year again to renew our memberships for 2018. A number of you have already renewed with me or thru WBCCI.org for 2018. Thanks!

The 2018 membership will be mailed in the next couple of weeks, and when you receive them you may:

Mail your renewal form back to me with a check for $80.00 which includes $65.00 international dues and $15.00 unit dues, made out to Keystone Pennsylvania Unit. Mail to: WBCCI Keystone Penna. Unit, Alan Kenney, Treasurer, P.O.Box 124, Kutztown, PA 19530

You do not have to wait for your form to be mailed to you, just go to WBCCI.org and pay on the internet. WBCCI will send me a copy of your receipt. This is the fastest way to renew and will save you and the Unit postage.

Remember, that all paid members to WBCCI by November 1, 2017 will be listed in the International Dictionary in January 2018.

I look forward to seeing and hearing from all our membership in the next few months and if you have any questions, please call at 610-823-1215 or write to the address above.

Safe Travels,

Alan Kenney, Treasurer

Sunshine Report

Cindy Yerk and Barb Hillegass are both doing well following their recent surgical and medical issues.

Please send sunshine advices to Peg Spahn at [email protected]

Happy Birthday to:

Oct 2 Melissa Hancock

Oct 11 Sue Dietz

Oct 13 Claire Vogt

Nov 3 Cindy Yerk

Nov 15 Karen Kushto

Nov 28 Joanne Michael

Happy Anniversary to:

Oct 6 Jeff/Joanne Michael

Oct 12 Linda Ramsey/Tim Bell

http://wbcci.org/

http://wbcci.org/

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

October 2017 Keystone Kourierkeystonepa.airstreamclub.net/files/2017/10/2017-October-Kourier.pdf · to show her New York City, Philadelphia, Lancaster County and “lovely”