From The President – Bob Miller

Greetings to all my Greater Midwest Classics friends.  It is with great sadness that I am writing this message to you today because as most of you know we lost our friend Denny Renk to his battle with cancer recently.  Denny and Sandi were courageous as they both worked hard to battle Denny’s cancer during the last couple of years and in the end he went very quickly.  He was so looking forward to going to the summer rally at the state fairgrounds when he became ill and had to go to the hospital just before the rally.  Even then, their good friends Howie and Midge were going to get him a wheel chair to participate in the rally, but as it turned out he was too weak.  He passed away about a week later on July 28^th.  Our club was well represented at his funeral and we received many comments from friends and family about how important his GMC and our club was in his life.  I know I speak for all of you in expressing our deepest sympathy to his wife Sandi.  We are hoping that she will keep and use the “BLUE GMC” and remain with us in our club.  She has the support of all of us in helping keep the coach rolling.

The summer rally in St. Paul with the FMCA convention went very well thanks to the coordination of Howie and Midge Glenna.  We had 16 coaches caravan in together and three other couples that came for our club meeting on Tuesday.  We were able to park together and with plenty of space all around us for awnings, mats, chairs, etc.. We were even featured in the first picture that FMCA showed of the convention pictures in their web magazine.  There were many seminars to go to and a large number of vendors to visit so we had plenty to do while we were there.  I was very pleased with the turnout from our club and I know others wanted to attend but had conflicts so I believe it was a good decision to participate.  We even signed up new members Paul and Denise Dahlberg who are young and very energetic about continuing to improve their GMC that they have owned for about a year.  Welcome aboard Paul and Denise, we are glad to have you as members.

My time as your president is rapidly drawing to a close, and I just want to tell all of you how much I have enjoyed it. The best part is getting to know each of you better and I must say it never ceases to amaze me how interesting our members are once you get a chance to talk with them.  Also, I am happy to report that Lucy Weidner has agreed to be our next vice president so we are on track to have our first woman president of our great club in a couple of years.  I want to thank the officers who served with me during the past two years for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the club.  I am also very confident in knowing that Howie Glenna will be an excellent president when he takes over in the fall.

We have one more rally left this year and it promises to be a good one.  Our wagon masters are Bob and Marie Mesarchik who always do such a good job with anything they are involved with.  It will be in the Rochester area and the details will be covered by Howie elsewhere in this newsletter.  I hope that all of you will be able to attend the fall rally since the next one, our spring 09 rally, seems like a long time from now.  I hope to see you in September in Rochester.

THE GREATER MIDWEST CLASSICS GMC CLUB SALUTES BOB MILLER FOR THE ENERGETIC AND VISIONARY WAY HE HAS LEAD OUR CLUB THE PAST TWO YEARS !!!!!!

From Vice President - Howard Glenna, Chief Wagon Master

FALL RALLY,SEPTEMBER 11-13,2008 @ AUTUMWOODS RV PARK, 11^th Av. SW, ROCHESTER, MN.

Bob and Marie Mesarchik are the wagon masters and they need to be contacted by August 31^st to let them know the day you are arriving.  Phone 507-261-7574(cell), email: mbirish@msn.com or snail mail: 2120 Lenwood Dr. SW, Rochester, MN 55902. Autumwoods RV Park is located 8-10 miles south of Rochester, 2 miles north of I-90 off US 63.  FROM Rochester travel south on US 63 (Broadway) to the Airport exit, (county road 16) then right, (west) 100-200 Feet then right on 11^th Av. ½ mile.  FROM I-90: exit #209 north on US 63 2 miles to the Airport exit, (County Road 16), cross over US 63 then right on 11^th Av.½ mile.   Look up the RV Park at their Web site: www.autumnwoodsrvpark.com Check in after 1pm Wednesday Sept. 10 (One day early an option). Pay (CREDIT CARDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED) when you register, $22 for 30 amp, $24 for 50 amp./day.  BOB & MARIE NEED TO KNOW WHAT DAY YOU PLAN TO ARRIVE!!  If you signed up at the FMCA Convention in St. Paul there is no need to call; we will assume your arrival will be on ‘”Thursday UNLESS WE HEAR OTHERWISE!  ACTIVITIES;  Thursday, 7pm, Ice Cream Social.  FRIDAY, 9am Depart for downtown Rochester & Mayo Clinic tour, Gonda bldg. (Transportation provided), 11:45 am, Carillon (THINK BIG BELLS), concert atop the Plummer bldg. Plus a balcony view 20 stories up in downtown Rochester. (Elevators to the 15^th floor or you can listen from blocks away.)  A Rochester tradition since 1927. Also time for browsing, 6 pm Pot Luck.  (Bring your own entrée & dish to pass):  SATURDAY: 8 am: Pancake Breakfast, (Bring cup of fruit), 9:30 am – 11:30 am Business Meeting, Technical, Gab. Group discussions, etc.; 6 pm Catered Dinner ($8.50), 8 pm Program.  Sunday, 8 am Continental Breakfast, Hug’s n’ Things.  This is a great time of the year for the autumn color in the Rochester area.  BOB & MARIE NEED TO HEAR FROM THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET RESERVED A SPOT BY AUGUST 31!!!!!.  E-Mail: mbirish@msn.com  Cell, 507/261-7574.  Address:  Marie & Bob Mesarchik, 2120 Lenwood Fr. SW, Rochester, MN. 55902.

CHRISTMAS PARTY NOVEMBER 15, 2008 @ STOUT ALE HOUSE, MENOMONIE, WI.

Lucy and Larry Weidner are our wagon masters.  After dinner we have reservations at the historic (built in 1859), very nicely restored Mabel Tainter Theater for an evening play Arsenic and Old Lace.  Lucy and Larry have attended a play at this theater and say this is one of the nicest, most intimate theaters they have had the pleasure of attending.  Dinner is at 5:00 p.m.  The play will start at 7:30 pm. 

WHEN:       Saturday, November 15^th, 2008
WHERE:    Stout Ale House, 1501 North Broadway, Menomonie, WI. 54751
TIME:         5:00 p.m.
Cost:          $16.00 for Buffet   (Stuffed Chicken Breast, Sirloin Beef Tips, Salad, Garlic Mash Potatoes, Coffee               water  -  other beverages are available at your cost)
PLEASE NOTIFY LUCY AND LARRY WEIDNER BY NOVEMBER 3^RD IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING THE DINNER:  BY EMAIL weidnerL@wwt.net or telephone: 715-235-7422

SPECIAL EVENT:  (your choice to attend)

Menomonie Theater Guild Production of Arsenic and Old Lace   7:30 p.m.

Ticket price is $15 or $14 for senior citizen or group of 20

This theater is a historic landmark for Menomonie and Wisconsin and has been recently renovated to accommodate people with disabilities.  Our community theater was instrumental in saving this theater from being made into a parking lot and this is the start of our 50^th anniversary year!  Larry and Lucy are available to give backstage tours.

Tickets will not be available to go on sale until after the September rally in Rochester.  Ticket and overnight accommodation information will be available at the September rally (we have several places right off the Interstate).  Directions to Menomonie will be in the next newsletter.

MESSAGE FROM AULT’S:  The FMCA 80^th Rally had at least 22 GMC’s and the warmer and more humid days tested us all.  Our fan ran most of the fourth night (Wednesday) as it was still and stuffy.  Thursday night was great BUT most of you left!  We do wish to thank all of you for letting us “crash” your party.  It was nice coming in as a caravan and great to meet some of your newer members as well and see all the long-time members that were able to attend the FMCA rally.

If we’re able to tolerate the hot and humid summer in the Mid-West (Minnesota to be exact) you should be able to tolerate the dry and cold in Southwestern region in the winter (Arizona or Eastern California).  If you’d entertain a dry camp rally on the desert west of Yuma, let us know.  3-4 days for under $20 and just a little petrol and you’re out of the snow!  Or come see us in Green Valley – we’re listed in FMCA”s “Stoppin’ Spots”.

Thanks again! Steve ‘n Gail Ault

Editor’s Note: I will continue to make this newsletter better with your help.  Please let me know what you would like to see in it or items I need to include.  My email is:  hasekwj@reinbeck.net , my cell phone is 319-240-2460 and my address is Jane Hasek, 606 Center Street, Reinbeck, Iowa 50669.

Midge Glenna is sunshine lady so send her the name of anyone needing a little sunshine and Midge will send them a card.  Vice President Howard Glenna is always interested in locations and ideas for rallies.  Share your ideas or volunteer to be a wagon master.  Their email is hglenna@pressenter.com

Mailing address or Email change:  Please notify Treasurer, Sandi Renk, 1116 Rushmore Drive, Burnsville, MN 55306-8604 or email:  dsrenk@msn.com.

If you know someone that wishes to join Greater Midwest Classics, membership applications can be obtained by phone, email, or US mail to President Bob Miller, Bob Drewes, or newsletter editor.

Web site:  www.gmcmidwestclassics.org has great information about our GMC club.  Visit it often and share with perspective members.  Bob Drewes has done an excellent job with our web site.  News, photos (look at the new ones from the spring rally), For Sale items, Rally’s etc..  Send Bob information for the web site:  bmdrewes@iw.net

Sweatshirts and Windbreakers can be obtained by contacting Dianne Moore at 563-332-5299.

Thank you to Norma Moses for donating the special tool to change hinge pins to the club.