April 2014 Volume XX, Edition 3 Chapter 156

Editor: Linda Huett

The April business meeting was held on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at Ocala North RV Park in Reddick, FL. President Bob Prudhomme, startedd the business meeting at 9:30 am with the Pledge of Allegiance and an opening prayer. Members present were Terry and Carol Bachi, Bob and Peggy Brown, Mike and Jannette DeStefano, Larry and Eva French, Ray and Eva Harris, Bob Heimgartner, Linda Huett, Hugh and Judy Jones, Fred and Jane Poole, Stephen and Beverly Powell, Bob and Paula Prudhomme, Jim and Susan Robertson, Lew

and Danna Smith, Alan and Susan Troop, Chuck and Mary Wagner, Ralph Walters and Joe and Debbie Weston.

asu

Spring Fling in North Florida

President’s Report Bob Prudhomme announced that a flyer was

available for Bob Ward’s summer fun rally June 6-

14th at Southern Palms in Eustis. The price is $99.

Secretary’s Report Minutes from the February 2014 Business Meeting

were approved as read by Linda Huett. Corrections to

the Newsletter were: 1) Carol Bachi’s March 1st

birthday was added to the Sunshine report, and 2) the

Okeechobee Samboree ends May 4th.

Wagonmaster’s Report

Treasurer’s Report Eva French submitted the Treasurer’s Report for the

period from January to April 2014.

Balance forward from January Report $2060.60

Deposits:

New Member, Card Bingo, $ 110.50

Hostess Raffle, 50/50

Deposited Petty Cash 21.74

TOTAL $ 132.24

Expenses/Checks Total $ 93.99

Balance $2098.85

Balance includes $48.48 for Florida Guide Dogs

$48.48 for Camp Boggy Creek

Bob Brown moved and Stephen Powell seconded

adopting the Treasurer’s Report. The motion passed.

Alan Troop discussed the June 6th rally at Encore

Sunshine Daytona in Ormond Beach. Rigs

requiring 30 amp service will be placed around

the hub, with rigs needing 50 amp service

dispersed throughout the campground. Six rigs

signed up during the roll call.

Alan asked members who have not hosted a rally

to sign up. He intends to have this year’s co-

hosts serve as hosts, and recent hosts serve as

co-hosts. Alan is checking out sites for future

rallies and discussed a few under consideration.

The annual Christmas party in December was

revisited. Although Sunshine Daytona is

tentatively booked, Alan wanted to make sure

everyone understood what is included in the

party at the Lazydays campground in Seffner.

The holiday party rate of $159 is for a rig with

two guests checking in on Thursday and

departing Sunday. The price includes the site for

three nights, seminars, meals, holiday sweater

party and special Christmas dinner, tree lighting

and entertainment. Alan will check if there is a

lower rate for those who arrive on Friday, and a

rate for single camper rigs.

After discussion, the group voted to move the

holiday party to Lazydays.

Florida Eagle Sams NEWSLETTER, Page 2

Volunteer Hours

770

Eagle Sams members donated 770 volunteer hours

year-to-date through March 2014.

Camp Boggy Creek Report

Florida Dog Guides Report Lew Smith reported that Florida Dog Guides

primarily provides assistance to hearing impaired

and deaf. Dogs are given 50% to hearing disabled

and 50% to veterans, many with post traumatic

stress disorder. During an average year, the

organization trains 15 to 20 dogs at a cost of $2,300

per dog. A person who requests a dog is never

turned away. Dogs are trained in the recipient’s

home by one of the 23 qualified field trainers, who

are paid $8 per hour for their services.

Good Sams chapters throughout Florida contributed

$7,350 in 2013. Last year, Eagle Sams donated

$900 to this charity. Lew recommended and it was

agreed that coins collected for the Pennies for

Pooches program would be over and above the

chapter’s annual donation. Instead of individual

canisters, Lew will bring a jug to our campouts to

collect coins.

State Report State Directors, Joe and Debbie Weston, talked

about the reasons the Palatka Samboree was

cancelled. The campground was flooded and under

water after 15-1/2 inches of rain. Many rigs from

another rally that were leaving had to be hauled out

of the mud, and the arriving Good Sams state staff

were getting stuck. Although everything was

prepaid and there would be a loss of $18,000 if the

event was cancelled, Joe said it was the only choice

for the safety and comfort of attendees.

Joe will sign off for anyone who was registered for

the cancelled Samboree so it will count toward the

Century patch. Members are asked to wear this

Samboree’s rally bar upside down.

All 380 sites at the Okeechobee Samboree are

already sold with a growing waiting list. While rigs

must be placed on sites based on their size due to

the large number of attendees, every effort will be

made to situate volunteers as close as possible.

Applications for the Fall Samboree in Eustis will be

available at the Okeechobee Samboree. Eagle

Sams members responded enthusiastically when

Joe said a country fair theme with chapter booths is

being considered instead of a parade.

Joe reported that only Samborees in California,

Florida and Texas are fully solvent. Other states are

barely breaking even or financially in the hole.

Good Sams Corporation no longer insures golf carts

at Samborees. Joe announced that there will be a

golf cart shuttle at the three Florida Samborees

because he secured a liability policy through Essex

and Lloyd’s of London. This policy only covers

rental golf carts. Individual rentals and privately

owned golf carts are not covered by the policy.

New Business There was a discussion of how the chapter raises

funds for operating costs and charities. Coin

containers for both of the chapter’s charities will be

at all of our future rallies.

Eagle Sams members signed up for the

Okeechobee Samboree may caravan on Tuesday to

earn a Caravan patch. Bob Prudhomme asked Bob

and Peggy Brown to stage the caravan and

coordinate the arrival time at the campground.

Peggy Brown read CEO June Clark’s article from

the Boggy Creek newsletter.

New members, Carol and Terry Bachi, joined at the February 2014 rally at Southern Palms.

Florida Eagle Sams NEWSLETTER, Page 3

April Friendship Rally Highlights The April Friendship Rally was held April 4-6, 2014,

at Ocala North RV Park in Reddick, FL, just south of

Gainesville. The weather was perfect for spring

camping with lovely green views everywhere we

looked at this park filled with large trees.

Rally hosts were Jane and Fred Poole and Eva and

Larry French.

Sixteen rigs were present: Bachi, Brown,

DeStefano, French, Harris, Heimgartner, Huett,

Jones, Poole, Powell, Prudhomme, Robertson,

Smith, Troop, Wagner and Walters. Drive-over:

Debbie and Joe Weston.

The rally began at 6:00 pm Friday evening with a

hearty potluck and many desserts, followed by four

rounds of Card Bingo. Winners were: 1st game –

Danna Smith $7; 2nd game – Jim Robertson $7; 3rd

game – Paula Prudhomme $7; and 4th game –

Peggy Brown $14. A total of $21 was earned for

chapter charities.

The group divided into four teams to compete in “A

Minute to Win It” Friday evening. Fred Poole kept

time as four teams competed in one minute

challenges. The first challenge was to blow plastic

drinking cups off the table with air from a balloon

they had to inflate. The next challenge was

performed one-handed and involved picking up

metal nuts with a chopstick. The final challenge of

removing a coin from nylon knee high stockings

was also one-handed. Team #2 won loaves of

delicious, homemade banana bread for completing

all three challenges in the least amount of time.

Hot coffee was ready when everyone arrived at

8:00 am Saturday morning for a sausage and

“make your own pancakes” breakfast.

Members took a break before gathering at 1:30 pm

for shuffleboard. After fierce competition, a tie was

called between two teams -- Eva Harris and Chuck

Wagner, and Alan and Susan Troop.

Sunshine Report

Birthdays

Susan Robertson 4/4

Lee Getsee 4/12

Bob Prudhomme 4/12

Julie Batchelder 4/25

Rich McGough 5/10

Mary Wagner 5/15

Tom O’Daniel 5/18

Anniversaries

Earl and Earlene Bradley-Foran 4/1

Fred and Jane Poole 4/27

Bob & Pegy Brown 5/2

Ray and Eva Harris 5/26

Ted & Julie Batchelder 5/28

The group drove to Sams Seafood in Ocala on

Saturday for a 5:00 pm dinner. After dinner,

everyone returned to the Clubhouse for rowdy

games of “I Need It”.

Bob Heimgartner won $31 in the 50/50 raffle.

Eva Harris took home the clever hostess gift,

a basket of soup mixes and soup bowls.

The April rally ended after a continental

breakfast Sunday morning.

Florida Eagle Sams NEWSLETTER, Page 4

The April rally was all about the money! Pictured above left: Larry French caught checking his wallet for more money. Above middle photograph: Bob Heimgartner shows his 50/50 winnings. Pictured right: Jannette DeStefano expertly deals cards during Card Bingo.

2014-15 Florida Eagle Sams Officers

President Bob Prudhomme 407-699-9571

Vice-President Stephen Powell 321-363-6618

Treasurer Eva French 407-782-0532

Wagonmaster Alan Troop 407-323-4046

Secretary Linda Huett 407-791-702

Florida Eagle Sams Friendship Rally

June 6-8, 2014

Encore Sunshine Daytona

1701 North U.S. 1

Ormond Beach, FL

386-672-3045

Hosts: Susan and Alan Troop

Co-Host: Linda Huett

Friday

6:00 pm Potluck

7:15 pm Business Meeting

8:15 pm Card Bingo

Saturday

8:00 am Breakfast

10:00 am Miniature Golf

5:00 pm Dinner at campground clubhouse

Bring meat to grill; sides provided

Sunday

8:30 am Continental Breakfast and Goodbyes

Above: Eva and Ray Harris and Susan Robertson.

Below: Competitors listening carefully to challenge instructions.

Pictured above: Peggy Brown counts her Card Bingo winnings as Bob Brown explains how he intends to spend the money.