From The President – Bob Miller

    Greetings Greater Midwest Classic members:  Summer seems to be slow in getting here but I am sure it will come in with a bang soon.  Hopefully this finds all of you in good health and enjoying the spring.  We had a wonderful spring rally in Spirit Lake, Iowa masterminded by John and Pam Kragt and assisted by Jim and Anita White and Ken and Diane Lockard.
    As you know the rally was held at Cutty”s Resort Club in Okoboji, Iowa returning to the site of the spring rally held 3 years ago.  It is a great facility especially in the spring when the weather is questionable.  We had a total of 16 coaches and four couples who drove their cars and stayed at the lodge for a total of 40 people.  John did another superb job of finding interesting things to do and learn.  The morning of the 14^th was the usual business meeting, followed by a seminar presented by a representative of Winegard, the antenna people who supply motorhomes with our TV antennas and satellite dishes. His presentation covered the conversion to digital TV that will take place early next year and the evolution of the satellite dishes over the years including the latest high definition systems.  It was an excellent presentation and very timely given the mandate for digital TV next year.  In the afternoon we all went to the Iowa Lakes Community College campus in a near by town to tour their wind generator education facilities. They are one of a handful of colleges in the nation offering a curriculum in wind turbine electricity generation. They teach students everything about the new wind turbine technology we see in various farm fields across the country.  We spent some time in the classroom learning what they teach and principles of the turbines, followed by a once in a lifetime opportunity to then go outside and climb up inside of a turbine used for training at the college.  I can tell you this:  they are much larger than they appear to be when we see them in the fields.  In case you might wonder how we were able to climb all those stairs to reach the top (you climb up on the inside of the supporting column to the head on top containing all of the equipment), the training unit at the school is low to the ground, thank goodness.  It was a very educational day for all of us.  We then had dinner in one of the large banquet rooms at the lodge, and our meal was prepared and served by the chef and staff of the lodge. Following dinner we were entertained by four ladies whose singing and harmony was outstanding.  They are friends of Pam’s who sing competitively and have scored high in competition.  All in all it was a very enjoyable few days and I want to take this time to send a special thanks to John and Pam and their crew for all their effort.
    Now on to our next rally which will be held in July.  As you know this one, which is our summer rally, is going to take place within the FMCA National rally at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul.  Your Vice President, Howard Glenna, is coordinating our clubs gathering and convoying to the fairgrounds and he covers the details of this in his part in the newsletter.  What I do want to do however is encourage each of you to please plan on attending this rally if at all possible.  Most of us have never attended an FMCA rally, so this is an opportunity to experience it first hand without driving a great distance.  We will be having one of our two required annual business meetings while we are there and to qualify we have to have a quorum present at the meeting.  One of the good things is that we will be able to park together which will make it much more fun for us as a group.  The cost is only slightly more than what we paid for the spring rally and we will be able to attend all of the entertainment and dining functions which are included in the price.  The entertainment itself is quite impressive and there are always many vendors there with their newest gadget so that should be fun as well.  Personally I am looking forward to experiencing this event and I hope all of you can be there too.  Remember, if you cannot attend the total rally, you can get in on a $7.00 day pass to attend our meeting and see the sights of the rally.  This will not entitle you to see the shows or partake in the meals but is still a good value.  Either way, I hope to see you there in July.
    Lastly, my term as your President expires at the end of this year and according to our tradition, Vice President Howard Glenna will assume the presidents position effective next year.  As a result, we will need a new vice president for the next two years to continue the process.  I encourage you to please let me know if you have an interest or would consider this position, because we need people to continue to lead our great club.  My experience the last few years has been very rewarding and beneficial in that I was able to get to know you much better than I did before.  We have such interesting people in our club that is has been enjoyable for me to spend more time with you.

From Vice President - Howard Glenna, Chief Wagon Master

SUMMER RALLY, JULY 14-17 2008 @ MINNESOTA STATE FAIR GROUNDS, ST.PAUL, MN.
    This rally will be in conjunction with FMCA’S 80^th International Convention.  For this Summer Rally send your reservation to FMCA.  For our club to park together we must go into the Fair grounds as a caravan at 1:15 pm Sunday, July 13^th.  HOWARD WILL NEED TO KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO JOIN THE CARAVAN AND GO INTO THE GROUNDS WITH OUR CLUB BY June 25^TH, 2008.  PLEASE EMAIL; hglenna@pressenter.com or CALL: 715-426-5650(H) 612-747-3752(C).  Howard will have special cards for each coach in the caravan.  There will be two meeting places.  (1) Glenna’s house: W12426 832 Ave. River Falls, WI with a departure time of 11:00am.  Those that would like to come and stay at our house Saturday night are welcome.  We have room for any and all.  I will have someone here to help Saturday evening because Midge and I will be going to my 50^th class reunion.  Coffee will be available Sunday morning to get you moving.  (2)The second meeting place will be the Sunray Shopping Center off I94 in Maplewood with a departure time of 12:00 noon caravanning to the Minnesota State Fair Grounds.
    Directions to Glenna’s house: Exit #2 off I-94.  Go south on Carmichael that becomes County F approximately 8 miles to 850^th Ave. Right turn west bound (only way) to the end of 850^th (approximately 1.5 miles).  Look for dirt road to the left that says private and is 832 Ave.  We are the 2nd house on the left on 832 Ave.  Note: if you try to come from the South, remember that the Hastings Bridge is one lane with long delays.
    Directions to Sunray Shopping Center (location North West Corner of I-94 and McKnight Road in Maplewood) this is on the East side of St Paul next to the 3M complex.  Just west of the 694/494/94 intersection on east side of the Twin Cities.  If you are arriving from the East you would get off of I-94 at Mcknight.  Arriving from the West you would get off I-94 at Ruth Ave.
    We will have our Greater Midwest Classic meeting Tuesday July 15^th, 5:00 pm at the Home Improvement Building.  Remember:  Contact Howard if you are coming!!!!!!

FALL RALLY,SEPTEMBER 11-13,2008 @ AUTUMWOODS RV PARK, ROCHESTER, MN.
    Bob and Marie Mesarchik are the wagon masters and they need to be contacted with your reservation.  Phone 507-288-6899, email: mbirish@msn.com or snail mail: 2120 Lenwood Dr. SW, Rochester, MN 55902-4268.  Look up the RV Park at their Web site: www.autumnwoodsrvpark.com This is a very new park with excellent facilities and a great rate of $22.00 per night and that rate is good for one day early if you wish.  We are anticipating a campfire for the early arrivals.  Note:  NO CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED.  This is a great time of the year for the autumn color in the Rochester area.  Home of the famed Mayo Clinic and tours will be available.

CHRISTMAS PARTY NOVEMBER 15, 2008 @ STOUT ALE HOUSE, MENOMONIE, WI.
    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.  Tickets for those who would like them are only $15.00 each.  Having attended a play at this theater I have to say this is one of the nicest, most intimate theaters I have had the pleasure of attending.  Social hour will start at 5:00 pm.  The play will start at 7:30 pm.  Lucy and Larry Weidner are our wagon masters and can give us personal guided tours of the theater.

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 2008 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 the 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.

Be one of the many individuals that give of their time to keep our GMC’s and club rolling along!!!!!