balloon fiesta caravan and rally was awesome - dnkk.com · balloon fiesta caravan, ... carlsbad, nm...
TRANSCRIPT
Unit Caravan U-410, better known as the THLU
Balloon Fiesta Caravan, rolled through West
Texas and New Mexico September 28 to Octo-
ber 12, 2014 in route to the 43rd annual Albu-
querque Balloon Fiesta, “Spirit of the Winds”.
26 rigs were led by our energetic and informa-
tive leaders Harvey and Gail Craig. Partici-
pants included Ed and Chere Addicks, Jim and
B. Bailey, Wendy Barber and Tammy Patter-
son, Tom and Jean Beebe, Marty and Cindy
Berdan, Stanley and Cinda Brooks, Ken and
Julie Callahan, Myron and Kathryn Fischer,
Windy and Shirley Fleming, C.C. and Carla
Gartman, Paul and Cecilia Gulick, John and
Kay Irwin, Julie Jordan and Stephanie Sobotik,
Mike Lovell and Colin Melton, Gary and Marilyn
McClanahan, H.V. and Pat Martin, Jimmy and
Marque Mooney, John and Sherry Parten, Lu-
ther, Alice, Jeremy Price and Claire Vestal,
Robert and Diane Richards, Richard Roucloux
and Bill Booker, Ed and Shirley Sherwood, Rick
and Debbie Trimble, Richard and Janet Turner
and Jim and Melinda Wasson.
We met at South Llano River State Park in
Junction and then went on to Balmorhea State
Park in Toyahvale where many of us enjoyed
the clear, cool waters of the largest spring-fed
swimming pool in the world. Next stop was
Carlsbad, NM for visits to Carlsbad Caverns
and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State
Park. We arrived at Balloon Fiesta Park on
Thursday. Harvey had secured prime parking
spots for us in close proximity to the launch
field. On Friday we were joined by about 175
other Airstreams while we were out and about
touring Old Town, The Balloon Museum, San-
dia Peak Tram and various restaurants.
Balloon Fiesta Caravan and Rally was Awesome !
November
2014
Rally updates 2,10
11
Birthdays/Anniversaries 3
Caravan pictures 4-9
Camper Clinic ad 13
Presidents Message 14
Inside this issue:
Unit Luncheon
Next luncheon: No-
vember 4, 2014.
Mimi’s , Bee Cave,
TX
Meet between 12:30
to 12:45; eat around
1:00pm
Call Marty if you need
more information at
512-913-9011
Saturday morning the real fun began with
Dawn Patrol at 6am and Mass Ascension at
7am. We were literally right on the launch
field or under more than 500 balloons flying
overhead. What a sight! After our usual
happy hour we closed the day with a bal-
loon glow and fireworks.
Sunday morning’s launch was cancelled due
to the wind, but the evening’s balloon glow
was spectacular. Monday and Tuesday
mornings we were surprised by two more
mass ascensions. Ed and Chere Addicks
even took a flight on Monday morning and
took some great pictures.
Tuesday we moved up I-25 to Santa Fe.
(Continued on page 3)
Harvey and Gail Craig
Caravan Leaders
2
RALLY UPDATES
“Hello, Goodbye” Installation Rally, November 13-16, Victoria, TX
Join the fun at our Installation Rally to be held this year at one of our sponsor’s, the Victoria Coleto Creek
Lake KOA in Victoria, TX. Come support our next President Grady Ferry and his team! This will be a no-host rally
with one catered meal on Saturday night, one pot luck dinner, and a dutch treat dinner. The installation ceremony
dress will be “business casual”.
The following people are signed up for this rally: Addicks, Beebe, Berdan, Dowdy, Ferry, M. Fischer, Fleming,
Haddox, Hazen, Heinold, Irwin, Kachilla, Lovelace, McClanahan, Mooney, Parten, Selking, Spruell, Steele/Page,
Turner, Trimble, Wasson, Wetterschneider, Zeringue.
Two spots are open for this rally-call Marty if interested in attending.
The rally schedule is included on page 10.
Christmas Rally, December 4-7, Montgomery, TX
All 37 slots are reserved for the Christmas Rally, but contact Marty to be on the
standby list, as we usually have last minute cancellations. Hosts Willard and Linda
Fischer, Robert and Diane Richards, Janet and Richard Turner and Steve and Ginger
Zeringue are planning a great rally. CONTACT: Marty Berdan, 512-913-9011 or mar-
The following people are signed up for this rally: Addicks, Arneson, Beebe, Berdan,
Blanchards, Booker/Roucloux, Brooks, Capps, Craig, Ferry, M Fischer, W Fischer, Flem-
ing, Gartman, Haddaway, Harkey, Hazen, Irwin, Jordan/Sobotik, Kachilla, Latham, Love-
lace, Lovell/Melton, Mayton, McClanahan, McGill, Mitchell, Mooney, Parten, Richards,
Roper, Shepard, Spruel, Stephens, Turner, Wetterschneider, Zeringue.
PARTICIPANTS PLEASE NOTE: Call the KOA to pay your deposit no later than Novem-
ber 4th. Phone: 936-582-1200
The rally schedule and reminders are included on pages 11 and 12.
3
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
Birthdays
11-2 Vickie Courtney
11-2 Glen Hieshima
11-3 Dave Sharbo
11-4 Ken Callahan
11-4 Frank Rising
11-6 Gail Craig
11-6 Julie Jordan
11-8 Rosemary Leach
11-10 Miranda Lambert
11-11 Marty Berdan
11-11 Raisin Schwerdfeger
11-16 Cynthia Hempel
11-17 Mary Herrold
11-18 Wendi Prater
11-18 Byron Wright
11-19 Howard Duff
11-19 Karen Sharbo
11-20 Jim Schwerdfeger
11-23 Kathy Blanchard
11-25 John Tetzlaff
11-26 Ron Harner
11-27 Jim Riggio
11-27 Ed Sherwood
11-28 Johnny Shelly
11-28 John Sheridan
11-29 Myrtle Bell
11-30 Pati Mayton
11-30 Billy Myers
Caravan cont’d We explored the Santa Fe Plaza, Loretto Chapel, Cathedral Basilica,
artists studios, shops, Falls colors of the Aspens near Santa Fe Ski area, and the ambiance of
this majestic region. We toured El Santuario de Chimayo, ate at the famous Rancho De Chi-
mayo, and shopped at Ortega Weavers. Our scrumptious farewell dinner was held at Vanessie
of Santa Fe. We enjoyed outstanding food and service followed by the piano bar entertainment
of Esther Hana.
Our final stop was Bottomless Lake State Park and Roswell, NM. We toured the UFO museum,
Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art and the Roswell Museum and Art Center.
All of us who were on the caravan want to thank Harvey and Gail for a superb two weeks ! The
Balloon Fiesta was truly an unforgettable, spectacular event made even more enjoyable by our
parking spot. It was definitely a “bucket list” item for Cindy and me, and we want to do it again
in the near future! Harvey and Gail, thanks so much for a job well done!
Anniversaries
11-1 Tommy and Treasea Morris
11-4 Johnny and Erlene Shelly
11-5 Steve and Ginger Zeringue
11-6 Humberto and Mickey Reyes
11-18 Andy Trumble and Wendi Prater
11-23 Billy and Lynn Walker
11-26 Jim and Melinda Wasson
11-29 John and Sherry Parten
4
Thanks for the memories….
Cecilia and Paul Gulick
Stanley,
Cinda and
Buddy
Brooks
Marilyn and Gary McClanahan
Kathryn and Myron
Fischer
Windy and Shirley Fleming John and Kay Irwin
Carla and CC Gartman
Julie and Ken Callahan
All member photos
by
Marque Mooney
5
...and more memories
Marque and Jimmy Mooney Richard Roucloux and Bill Booker
Tammy Patterson and Wendy Barber
Alice and Luther Price with grand daughter Claire Vestal
Diane and Robert Richards
Stephanie Sobotik and Julie Jordan
6
Colin Melton presented to
Harvey a special thank you
gift
Debbie and Rick Trimble
Janet and Richard
Turner
Melinda and Jim Wasson Shirley and Ed Sherwood
Jean and Tom Beebe
Pat and H.V. Martin
7
Colin Melton
Mike Lovell
Marty and Cindy Berdan
Jim and B. Bailey
John and Sherry Parten
Ed and Chere Addicks
B. Bailey entertained us for
happy hour
8
Up, Up and Away
With almost six hundred balloons everyone had their favorites and it was hard to
choose just one. You get the scale of how enormous they are with Shirley Flem-
ing and Marilyn McClanahan posing by Beagle Maximus. There were balloons
from all over the world since this is the best and largest festival of its kind. If you
haven’t been, put it on your bucket list. Of course the best way to go is in your
Airstream and be parked close to all the action. You will not be disappointed.
Balloons for
Young and
old alike
First
morning a
landing by
the Berdan
trailer
9
A perfect morning
watching launches
with Harvey and Gail
Craig
Spectacular shows in
the evening with
music and lights
dancing in the
balloons.
10
“Hello, Goodbye” Installation Rally- November 13-16, 2014 at Victoria Coleto Creek Lake KOA, 500 Coleto Park
Rd, Victoria, TX 77905
This is a NO-HOST RALLY. All campers must pre-register with the RV park at 361-582-0222 or 800-562-9394.
All site fees will be paid directly to the RV park at check-in.
Contact: Marty Berdan, 512-913-9011 or [email protected]
Wed 11/12: All Day Early arrivals welcome. Notify KOA ahead of time.
Thu 11/13: All Day Arrival and parking. Park office will assign spaces.
4:30 pm Happy Hour in clubhouse. A-H bring snacks. BYO beverage
Plan your Friday and Saturday adventures.
5:45 pm Dutch treat dinner on your own or eat in trailer
7:00 pm Bonfire and s’mores, weather permitting
Fri 11/14: 7:30 am Coffee ready in clubhouse
8-9am Breakfast snacks: bread, muffins, etc
All Day EXPLORE VICTORIA-TX
Information regarding things to do in the area will be provided.
4:30 pm Happy Hour in clubhouse. J-Z bring snacks. BYO beverage
5:45 pm Pot luck. Bring your favorite entrée, salad, veggies, or desserts
7:00 pm BINGO with Marque Mooney
8:00 pm Bonfire and s’mores, weather permitting
Sat 11/15: 7:30 am Coffee ready
8-9am Breakfast snacks
9:00am Pay rally fee to Jean Beebe
All Day Explore the area
5:45 pm Catered Dinner- pork tenderloin, German potatoes, green beans,
Salad, rolls, tea
7:00 pm Installation of Officers Ceremony followed by Reception
Sun 11-16: 9:00 am Devotional
Have a safe trip home. See you at the Christmas Rally!
Poster by Marque
11
THLU Christmas Rally and Charity Auction
December 4-7, 2014
Lake Conroe/Houston North KOA
19785 Highway 105 West, Montgomery, TX 77356
936-582-1200 / www.koa.com/campgrounds/lake-conroe/
*BRING TABLE SERVICE & BEVERAGE TO ALL MEALS (except Sat. dinner)*
Wed, Dec. 3 Hosts arrive: Diane & Robert Richards, Ginger & Steve Zeringue, Linda & Willard Fischer, Janet
& Richard Turner
Thur, Dec. 4
12:00p Parking – upon arrival please check-in at the park front office & pay for your parking ($28.00/
night, check-in after 12:00p)
4:30-5:30p Happy hour, bring beverage and snack of your choice
5:30-6:30p Potluck Dinner - German theme, bring a dish to share (hosts to provide bratwurst & buns)
7:00p Chinese gift exchange-coordinated by Peggy & Phil Spruell
Fri, Dec. 5
7:30 a Coffee in rally room
8:00 -9:00a Breakfast – eggs, sausage, toast & juice
10:00a-4:00p Lunch on your own - decorate your RV for judging Saturday
Skeet/Pistol Range trip (see reminder/things to bring to rally – headcount needed by Nov. 15,
email Steven Zeringue at [email protected]
4:30-5:30p Happy hour, bring beverage and snack of your choice
5:30-6:30p Dutch treat dinner – carpool to Ransom’s Steakhouse & Saloon with entertainment (hosts will
provide directions)
7:00p Local entertainment/theater play house - Dutch treat (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the
Crighton Theater in Conroe, order your tickets at www.crightontheater.org.)
Sat, Dec. 6
7:30 a Coffee in rally room
8:00 -9:30a Pancake breakfast (sausage, juice, coffee and all the pancakes you can eat) hosted by the RV Park
- $5 per person (Dutch treat, to be collected by the unit treasurer) there is a 20 person minimum &
15 day advance notice so call or email Marty Berdan by Nov 15 for reservations
10:00a-10:30a Pay RV Park breakfast & any rally fees to treasurer
10:30a-4:00p Lunch on your own - on your own sightseeing, RV decorations judged
12
2:00p Auction set-up, bring your items to the rally room
4:00-5:00p Happy hour, bring beverage and snack of your choice
5:00-6:00p Dinner – Catered by The Black Walnut restaurant
6:30-9:30p Christmas Auction – auctioneer Jim Latham
Sun, Dec. 7
8:30a Devotions / bring your own coffee (check-out 11:00a)
***Please RSVP with the number of people/Airstreams including any guests attending the rally & number of people wanting to at-
tend the Saturday RV Park breakfast by Nov. 15 to:
Marty Berdan (512) 913-9011 or [email protected]
***Please RSVP for the target shooting range trip by Nov. 15 to:
Steven Zeringue (936) 273-4524 or [email protected]
Reminder of Things to Bring to the Christmas Rally:
1. Chinese Gift Exchange, bring one wrapped gift ($5 - $10 suggested) per person for Thursday evening. This is an annual event at the THLU Christmas Rally that always ensures a lot of laughs and stealing of gifts. Numbers will be drawn and the friendly exchange of gifts will begin. More details will be provided upon arrival at the Rally.
2. Bring auction items to donate for our annual auction Saturday evening. Sixty percent from this auction will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and the other forty percent will go into the operation funds of THLU.
3. Christmas decorations for your RV, judging will be done on Saturday afternoon. 4. Christmas card exchange with those attending the Rally. Hosts will provide bags
with names attending the rally 5. Set-ups and drinks for all meals except our Christmas catered dinner Saturday night
before the auction. 6. For Dutch treat target shooting trip bring your own guns or rent a shotgun for $20.00.
The cost for skeet is about $10 plus shells, sporting clay $26 plus shells, and the pis-tol range is $10/hour.
7. Wednesday, December 3rd
– If you are coming to the Rally early, you must call the RV Park for availability.
13
Please patronize our advertisers!
14
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
As the saying goes “time flies when you are having fun” and this year has certainly gone by
quickly. On November 15th my year as THLU President will come to a close. As I reflect back
on this year I am very proud about what our club has accomplished.
We continue to be a dynamic, active, diverse and fun loving group which truly embodies what
the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI) stands for. We held six unit rallies, at-
tended the Balloon Fiesta Rally, and actively supported the Region 9 and International Rallies.
We held six unit luncheons in the Austin area and one at the Region rally. We sponsored a
very successful unit caravan to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. We supported local charities at
our unit rallies. We continued to support the Wounded Warrior project with proceeds from our
Christmas auction. We published 10 newsletters. Membership continues to be strong with 114
regular and 15 affiliate members.
I use the word “we” because all of this is a team effort and I have been supported by an out-
standing team.
I thank all of the unit officers for their hard work: Grady Ferry, Cindy Berdan, Lin Brinkman, Jean
Beebe, Jimmy Mooney, Tom Beebe, Marque Mooney, Harvey Craig and Ilene Wetterschneider.
The committee chairs have made my job a lot easier and I thank all of them: Myron Fischer,
Mike Lovell, Janet Latham, Ardell Mayton, Kathy Kachilla, Kay Fisher-Irwin, Jim Haddaway,
Fred Hazen, Harvey Craig, Pati Mayton, Judy Hazen, Stuart Wetterschneider, John Irwin,
Kathryn Fischer, and Darrell Kachilla.
Another huge thank you goes out to everyone who has hosted a rally this year. I really appreci-
ate you facilitating the fun and fellowship of our rallies.
I owe a special thanks to my wife Cindy for her total support and commitment to helping me
plan the year. The Beatle’s based theme “Here, There and Everywhere” was her idea and she
is the reason that the newsletters look so good.
Thank you all for the honor and privilege of serving as your President this past year! I look for-
ward to seeing all of you down the road.