APRIL 2012

MEETING

Our April meeting was held at Wellington, CO. KOA Camp ground, with 10 rigs answering roll call.  Cindy and Alvin were our hosts and did a great job.   Coffee and doughnuts were ready for us each morning.  In the evenings we played games at the meeting room, some of the games got a little loud, not sure if Alvin and Ken were cheating or just giving everyone a bad time, in any case they seems to be having a great time.   On Saturday morning we toured the Budweiser Plant, we all enjoyed the tour and our guide was very informative.

Char and Cindy were our lucky winners of the 50/50.

By the time you receive this newsletter we will have had our first clean up of the highway, we decided to have our first pickup May 5^th, which was Good Sam’s National clean up day.  Thanks to all of you that helped.

You need to make note of a couple of changes in camp locations for July and August.  We will be camping at Ft. Robinson in July, our regular camp days, 3^rd weekend of the month, July 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd.  The Lusk, (Rawhide Days) was scheduled for the weekend after 4^th of July, it was felt that not many campers would be able to attend.  The August camp and meeting will be held at Lake Minatare.  The August camp at Lake Minatare will be more convenient for members of the club, as this is the month for election of officers.  Also LeRoy and Jeannette have asked that if you are planning on camping at Lake Minatare, in August, please let them know by our May meeting, as they are going to make reservations to make sure there is enough camp sites available for those attending.

The next camp will be at Lake Ogallala, we will be camping in the middle loop again this year, if you want to reserve a camp site it will be up to each member to make their own reservations.  Bart and Doris will be our hosts for the May campout and they are planning on potluck, the meal will be at noon and the meeting to follow.

The June campout will be at Lewellen, there is 12 sites available and they have already been reserved for the club, there is also room for overflow, these sites will be first come first served.

For those of you that will be going to the State Samboree, the theme is God Bless America; dress up day will be on Saturday.

See you at the next campout.

Carolyn & Roy

It was a windy weekend but enjoyable on Saturday night we had a delicious fish fry and pot luck supper  and a bonfire and popcorn as night fell

Next month’s campout will be in Louisville,NE

Two City Sam Chapter camped together at Victorian Acres by Nebraska City on the week-end of April 20-22. On Thursday evening, we ate at a little country café with very good food and we hung around talking for a while. We journeyed there again on Friday night for a wonderful buffet that included frog legs. We had 16 people on Friday night. There was a new couple but to an emergency had to leave early. Ken Voss came down for dinner and then went back home. We came back to the club house at Victorian Acres and played 31. Enjoyed by all and Judy Fink was the grand winner take all.

Pete and Beth Thomas were unable to be in attendance as Pete’s sister-in-law unexpectedly passed away. Lorraine Killian was ill and couldn’t make it. Also, Tina Trudeau was under the weather and had to stay home. We missed all of these wonderful people.

Friday afternoon we tried to take a tour of the Mayhew Memorial, known as John Brown’s cave but the director forgot we were coming; so we had to forget the tour.

No pancakes this Friday morning, as there were not enough people that could eat them.
Saturday morning before the meeting, we enjoyed immensely little cinnamon rolls and cookies sent down with Liz Wenthe; made by Beth Thomas.

BUSINESS MEETING
Saturday, April 21st, at 10:00 a.m. Liz Wenthe, Vice President, called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer. There were 10 members plus 2 new members, Jerry and Barb Priefert, who joined our group. There were 6 rigs present, making it a total of 12 people and we had the club house for our use. Secretary and Treasurer Reports were read and approved.

OLD BUSINESS
December 6, 2012, Thursday, will be our Christmas party at Piccolo Pete’s.

Pop tabs will be due at the May meeting. Good Sams have donated over a million tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. Leonard Schwalm read correspondence of a thank you from the Bellevue Food Pantry. We donated $90.00 at our Christmas party.

NEW BUSINESS
Ray Fink gave information on the Samboree on June 7th -10th. Parking will actually begin on Monday morning for early arrivals. Ray and Judy Fink have been to 99 Samborees. Thursday night is the official opening ceremonies. The theme will be “God Bless America”. Liz Wenthe went over the proper usage of the flag and the proper apparel, such as no wearing apparel of the flag or handkerchiefs, etc. Two City Sam will be in charge of early morning coffee on Saturday and ice cream on Friday afternoon. If you pre-register on line, you pay at the door. Each couple brings one dozen cookies. Registration pays for Thursday through Saturday. Bring the pop tabs to the May meeting.

A motion was made by Dee Kendall, seconded by Ray Fink, to apply for a complimentary pass to the Samboree. We have to apply to get it. Jerry and Barb Priefert, our newest members, are planning on going. Also, Herb and Judy Leahy, also new members, want to go.

Ray Fink told us that two chapters had to close this year, as there were not enough members.

National clean-up day is May 19th and 20th. Be thinking what we can do at the Viking Lake Campout where we will be that week-end.

Liz Wenthe made a motion and Leonard Schwalm seconded, for us to make our reservations for next year here at Victorian Acres for April 26th-28th; to assure that we would have the club house. Motion passed. Our camp ground hosts gave everyone a new coffee cup.

We sang Happy Birthday to Jerry Priefert.
50/50 netted $3.50 to the club;
$3.00 to Leonard Schwalm
$2.00 to Judy Fink
$2.00 to Liz Wenthe

We filled out a game for our knowledge of Nebraska. Our pot luck supper for tonight is at 5:00. May’s meeting will be potluck. A motion for adjournment was made by Colleen Schwalm.

Respectfully Submitted;
Dee Kendall
for Beth Thomas, Secretary

And the real question would be “what didn’t we have to eat?”  After giving our thanks to God for the bountiful eats and the wonderful family of friends, we sat down to a spiral Ham dinner with sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and the most delicious salads, almost to die for.  We are just getting too good!  Everything was great as usual.  Not to mention that we had to save room for the the delicious array of desserts that were brought.  Clay & I will be enjoying some of these eats for the next couple of days.  After picking up we set up for our meeting.  Things went well.  Many things got accomplished with this meeting.  We have managed to reschedule our 2012 campouts and also starting to get things lined up for the upcoming Samboree in June.  We are going to have some fun surprises in store.  I will be canvasing the city of Grand Island to get the word out about our camping family and chapters.  My face will become almost as famous around GI as Madonna.  I guess the only thing that Madonna and I have in common is that we are both Italian.  I am a long way from her talent and her body.  But who’s keeping score – right?  Our next campout (May  2012) will be held at Prairie Oasis in Henderson.  I have contacted the owners and Mid Nebraska Sams will do some spring planting for them as well as helping them get their storm shelter in order.  As a Good Sam chapter in the Nebraska Good Sam family we are looking forward in doing our part for the Good Sam Club Cleanup Days which is being held on our campout weekend of May 19^th – 20^th.   Every little bit helps in every area.  Sometimes it just may be picking up some trash that a car going through your area has deposited.  Every BODY needs to lend a hand.  What ever your strengths are, put them to good use.  No matter how small you think it may be, a lot of little small things turn out to be Big things. So this has been our journey for this month.  We hope that you enjoyed hearing about our adventures (as small as they are).  Hope to see all of you at any of our campouts.  You are always welcome – just bring Food!         See you on the hiways and byways. 

                 I am your journeys host – Barbara Milner – Mid Nebraska Sams

MARCH MEETING

The March meeting was held on the 17^th with 13 rigs answering roll call. The host for the month was Roy & Carolyn, several of us stayed after the meeting and played games.  It was like times in the past when we would stay and have a social time of laughing and just having a great time together.

Jeannette and Roy were the winners of the 50/50.

We want to welcome Brenda and LeRoy Goodro as new members of the club.  We are looking forward to getting to know you both.  So on behalf of the club we say welcome to our Wagon Wheel Good Sam’s Club.

Al & Cindy are the host for our April meeting, potluck for the dinner at 5 o’clock, which will be at Fort Collins North Wellington KOA Camp grounds.

We are sad at the loss of one of our club members, Gene Fees pasted away on the 20^th of March, our sympathy goes out to Jeanne and her family.

I have receiver more information for our April meeting, LeRoy Schreiner has finalized the plans for the Budweiser plant tour, it will be at 10:00 Saturday, April 21^st, it will take approximately One and half hours.  If your name isn’t on the list, you need to let the Schreiner’s know by April 15^th if you will be attending, as they need an accurate account of how many will be there—Boot’s, Feagler’s, Austin’s, Adamson’s, Case’s, Banghart’s, Char and Don, and the Petersons.  Their phone number is 307-532-3660.  To get to the KOA campground you need to take exit 281 (Owl Canyon Rd) on I25 south from Cheyenne, turn left across the interstate and go a short distance.  If you are planning to use the campground water, they do have high water pressure.  Also, if you were charged $35.00 for one night, he will make adjustments when you arrive, the charge should have been $31.73.

We hope everyone had the best Easter possible and we are looking forward to seeing you at the April meeting.

Roy & Carolyn

Gene L. Fees, 84, of Gering, died Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. His memorial service will be held at 2 P.M. Monday, M a r c h 26, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff with Pastor Dan Anderson officiating. Inurnment will  follow in Sunset Memorial Park in Scottsbluff with military honors provided by the United States Navy. A memorial has been established in care of the family. Tributes of sympathy may left at www.dugankramer.com. Gene was born Oct. 3, 1927, at Scottsbluff, to Frank and Edna (Ingwerson) Fees. He grew up in Scottsbluff and attended the Scottsbluff High School. Gene left high school early to join the United States Navy, where he served from March 1946 to February 1948. He later earned his GED. On March 4, 1951, Gene married Jeanne Hemp at St. Joseph, Mo. They made their home in Scottsbluff and Gering, where he loved to do carpentry and owned and operated Fees Construction. They retired in 1990 and moved to Apache Junction, Arizona in 1993 and lived there until returning to Gering in 2004. Gene was a lifetime member of the VFW and Military Order of the Cootie, and a member of  the American Legion. He enjoyed traveling, golf and square dancing. He also enjoyed camping with the Good Sam Clubs, Wagon Wheel Sams and Wildcat Hill Sams. Survivors include his wife Jeanne of 61 years; son, Michael (Anita) Fees of Gering; grandchildren, Dawn Graves and Dave Fees both of Gering; great grandchildren, Michael Jr. (Pesha) Graves, Scott Graves, Christian Fees, and Kaitlyn Fees; and great-great grandchildren, Chase Graves , and Michael Graves III. Preceding Gene i n death were his parents; brother, John Fees; sisters, Opal Kenzy and Ardis Long; son, Gene Jr.; daughter, Patricia Ann; and grandson, Scott Fees.

Gene will be missed by all the members of both Clubs. Our prayers go out to his family

Meeting was called to order with treasurers report given by Larry Hintz

Jan Rishoi collected camping fees for Branched Oak in September

Birthdays and anniversaries were honored

Bonnie Brachle invited the club to West Point on June 23rd to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversarie

We were given an update for the Samboree and can make reservations online on by the old tried and true method of filling out and mailing it in

We all ate to much and enjoyed the evening but looking forward to our campout next month

March, 2012                                                                                                                    Volume 3, Issue 2

Cat’s Den Chronicle

Monthly Newsletter of the Wildcat Hills Good Sam’s Club

Around the Campfire                   Jim  & Linda Vance, Editors

LET’S GO CAMPING.  With all this warm weather that’s about all Linda and I have been thinking about. Day Light Savings has finally arrived and it’s nice to be able to get out and work on getting things ready for this summer in the evening.

We are real excited about the first campout of the season.  Our Chapter has decided to join in with Wagon Wheel Sams the weekend of April 20 – 22 and tour the Budweiser plant in Ft Collins, Co.  The plan is to stay at the KOA Fort Collins North in Wellington.  The Budweiser plant is just a few miles south off I –25 at exit 271 Mountain Vista Drive.  Char and Jeanette have extended an invitation to join them for the carry in supper.   I don’t know the tour plan at this time but I would think it will be Saturday morning.  The tours start at 10:00am and last about 1 ½ hours.  They start every 30 to 40 minutes. I will get the word out as soon as I find out more.

Fort Collins North/Wellington KOA is located at 4821 E County Rd 70, Wellington, Co.  That’s off I-25 exit 281 Owl Canyon Rd.  For reservation and info their phone is 1-800-562-8142.  For information on the Budweiser plant tours go to their website at www.budweisertours.com.   You’ll find everything you ever wanted to know there.

I talked to Kathy of Keep Scottsbluff/Gering Beautiful the other day.  She has a meeting around the first of April and said we will probably get a section of highway to clean up.  We both agree that although the grant is not as much as it was in past years, it is a win/win situation for everyone involved.

Last on the list, we have attached the latest member list with updated addresses and phone numbers.

Hope to see you in Colorado next month.  I’m ready for some of Bart’s pancakes.

March Meeting     Dot called the meeting to order at 5:50pm on Saturday, March 10^th.   We had four rigs answer roll call and Jim read the minutes from the February meeting.  Jim Gave the Treasurer’s report with no expense for the month and it was approved.

Dot passed around a sympathy card for us to sign for Jeanne and Tom Molina.  Jeanne’s Dad passed away and we are sending them a card.

Jim presented the idea that we join Wagon Wheel Sam’s for their April campout.  We voted to join them and tour the Budweiser Plant in Fort Collins.   He will get more details and let everyone know the plan.

New Business  -  Jim talked to Kathy at Keep Scottsbluff/Gering Beautiful about participating in the highway clean-up program.  We will get a slot if one is available after the previous participants get their places.  Jim said he should hear from her before March 22^nd.  We all agreed and did the Yea and Nay thing.  Yeas got the win.

At the adjourning of the meeting Jim commented that without Gary there we took care of more business in less time.  Don’t understand that.

Happy Birthday and Anniversary

No Birthdays this month

Anniversaries

Gene and Jeanne Fees  -  March 4^th

See you all at the Bud Plant next month.

Happy Trails,  Jim & Linda

The Kendall’s are leaving on Friday for a trip to Branson and seeing some friends along the way. Tina Trudeau leaves in two weeks for Europe with her granddaughter’s competition group. We wish “Happy traveling” to all of you and have a safe return to us.

Leonard Schwalm had an accident last Wednesday and is in a rib brace. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Our next meeting will be our kick off for the summer camping. We will be at Victorian Acres in Nebraska City on April 20-22.We are looking forward to another year of adventure in camping with the club.

Blessing;
Beth Thomas
Secretary
3-16-2012

The viewing will be Friday afternoon at the Evangelical Free Church in Ord.  Services are Saturday, March 17th at 10:30am at the Evangelical Free Church in Ord.  Our chapter sends our Sympathies and Prayers to the entire Moyer Family.

For those not planning to attend the services there will be our monthly outing in Hastings.

Meeting will be held at 11:30am, Saturday, March 17th @ The Garden Cafe on Osborne St. in Hastings.

The Milners journey is about to come to an end.  We are in Pahrump, Nevada at the moment attending the Nevada State Samboree.  Things are going well and the weather has been beautiful.  Today they are expecting some rain.  The winds are up right now.  So for the day, we will stay close to the coach and soon we will start looking for a 4 day window to head home to Nebraska.  Home Sweet Home.  Can hardly wait.  Really missed the homestead this trip.

We just wanted to give you all an update on our members and our journey across the country.  I am still waiting to hear from the folks that our down in the Texas area.  I know they will have many stories about the “big one” that got away.

Update:  The Garden Cafe in Hastings was the place of choice for members to get together this past Saturday.  Lee Stone submitted an idea for a project that our chapter can work on this summer to help the hospital pediatric wards.  More to come in later months.  We are gearing up for the June Samboree.  After attending the Nevada Samboree in Pahrump,Nevada, I am convinced that we have one of the best Samboree’s in the country.  I know that Carla & Doug are passionate about our Samboree and will be sure that we will not be disappointed with this years Samboree.  Well I think that this will be the last post for this month.  Next meeting will be at the Milner’s home on April 21st at 11:30am.  Anyone wishing to come and visit in on our get together is most welcome.  It will be a potluck affair.  Bring your favorite dish and enjoy fun, fellowship, and love.  See you all very soon.  The winter is coming to an end and we are all looking for the spring buds and warm weather.  Get those coaches out and de-winterize them.  Welcome Spring……warm  our hearts.

I am your journeys host…..Barbara Milner