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PRESIDENT’S PONDERINGS BY Ron Strawhacker
The Holiday
Rambler International Pre-rally in Fremont, Ohio at the Sandusky County
Fairgrounds is now another memory in the HRI chapter. The pre-rally started out with some big challenges and hurdles:
- ONLY 27 coaches (budgeted for minimum 40).
- No dealer coaches.
- No Monaco
technician support (Used All 4 One Service technician)
- No Monaco
support or representation at rally.
- No outside vendor sponsorship of events/socials
But now for
the GOOD NEWS: For those who attended we had lots of activities planned and we immensely enjoyed the smaller group which allowed
us to get to know better old and new friends. We still had our social hours, margarita party, root beer floats, tours, and
several seminars from members. For those who arrived early, 8 couples went on a tour of Putin
Island in Sandusky, Ohio and some went to the Sprint Car races and Truck races at the fairgrounds. The parking
area was clean and level and everyone received electricity and water. The building for meals and activities was HUGE and with
just 54 people -- we really could spread out.
Thanks again
to Brenda Asbury; the ladies did not have to COOK. Brenda was able to find John Zimmerman, the owner of Ole Zims’s Wagon
Shed (who doubles as the County Fire Chief as his first job). His staff fed our small group with a Midwest
variety of meals, on time, HOT, and of course in generous quantities. By request
for some of the late risers, we extended breakfast from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM and this seemed to be a success for the later risers.
THANK
YOU to all the volunteers that help out (parking, cleaning up, setting up tables & chairs, volunteering to drive,
running errands, serving margaritas and ice cream floats, etc). Thank you for the people who gave of their time to give us
entertaining and special seminars. Last but not least a special thank you to Brenda & Larry Asbury for
Co-hosting this rally.
TOUR –
“Jaws with Paws” We had a unique special tour for
the HRI group to see this nationally known canine training center. Jack spent 28 years as a police officer in Fremont, Ohio many with his several K9 dogs. After retirement
he started his own facility to train law enforcement dog handlers and canine dogs for police work (drugs, bomb sniffing, and
crowd control). We were amazed at the intensity and intelligence of a police
dog. Most of his dogs come from Germany
and are bred specifically for traits normally found in the German Sheppard breed. We all came away with a new understanding
and appreciation of the roles the dogs play in finding drugs and bombs, while at the same time maintaining their role as family
pets.
The state
of Ohio holds the distinguished honor of having the most men as Presidents of the United States of America. Our HRI group was able
to get a special guided tour as a group of the Rutherford B. Hayes 19th President’s home
and museum in Spiegel Grove (an area in Fremont, Ohio).
For a President that most of us knew little of, we found out what a remarkable man and person he was to serve his state of
Ohio for many years and his country as President for 4 years.
This remarkable home which he started in 1873 and completed additions in 1889, has 11 bedrooms and outstanding woodwork and
furnishings from the original family (which lived there for 4 generations). We were fortunate to see a special exhibit on
loan of 1st Lady Gowns going back to Martha Washington the First Lady.
Many HRI members
have pets that we travel with and are part of our family. We were fortunate to have Dale & Joanne Blewett and
their grand daughter, Anne Paquette with us. Joanne has extensive training and experience with showing their Dalmatians
at shows and they put on two seminars at NO CHARGE for all the dog owners. It included basic pet training 101 and beginning
training for shows which includes jumps, tables, long covered shoots, weaving barricades. They also had with them all the
equipment to show and tell. They were kind enough to set up the equipment after the seminars in the parking area for all to
use. What a treat to see the dogs work. Thank you Blewett family for all the time spent with the HRI owners.
BUSINESS MEETING
SUMMARIZED:
- We lost money on Macon, GA, Pre-rally (lack of coaches)
- We will lose money on the Fremont,
OH, Pre-rally (lack of coaches)
- People would like technicians, parts truck and dealers. We asked All-4-One Service to
represent techs and they charged $65 an hour.
- HRI trying to E-mail as much as possible to cut costs.
- We have lots of members but are not attracting enough people to Pre-rallies.
- We are in need of a volunteer to serve as Secretary
for HRI
- Navistar trying to encourage all Monaco
brands to have one Pre-rally to get the numbers up. Navistar indicated they would be more receptive to technicians and a parts
truck, and dealers if it made economic sense (more coaches at Pre-rally).
- A motion was made, seconded, and passed that HRI officers explore possibilities of having
a Monaco Pre-rally that included all Monaco
produced motor homes as full members.
ADDENDUM:
Ron Strawhacker, President of HRI, has been approached and received written communications from Don Wyatt, President
Monaco International. Monaco has changed their bylaws and inviting
all FMCA chapters of Monaco motor homes
to join the Monaco International chapter. Further discussions are on going and details will be forth coming soon. In the meantime,
Holiday Rambler International has canceled the reservations for the Albuquerque,
NM Pre-rally and our deposit for facilities is being refunded. More information
to Holiday Rambler International “paid up dues” members will be available within 3 weeks of this mailing. In the
meantime, you can check out the Monaco International website monacointernationalrvclub.com
