DOGWOOD SAMS
September 2009
Dogwood Good Sams visited Wales West RV Park in September and it definitely won’t be our last visit. The
campground takes its name from the Welsh-made narrow gauge steam engine which pulls a train around the
extensive park three times daily. Of course, we had to take a ride on the open air railway and we also got a tour
of the “party barn” in the woods at the back of the property where Halloween, Christmas, and Easter family
activities are held each year. Nine rigs traveled to the Ronald McDonald House in July to deliver pull tabs. We
broke our previous record with 90 pounds of tabs collected this year.
Carolyn Kranz represented Dogwood Good Sams at a special party given by the USO in July to celebrate USO’s
20 years at the airport and to recognize all the volunteers and supporting organizations who help make their
services possible. The first weekend of September found four rigs at the Bagdad Cemetery for clean up
activities. With lawn mowers, weed eaters, pruners, rakes, and trash bags we cleaned a large portion of the
historic area of the cemetery. Seven rigs made the trip to Talladega, AL, to attend the Alabama Fall Samboree.
We enjoyed a tour of the Blue Bell Ice Cream plant – especially the complimentary ice cream.
October 2009
Ten Dogwood Good Sams member rigs and one visitor were represented at our October campout and meeting
at the Farmers Opry in Chumuckla, FL. Most of our group attended the Heritage Festival in Munson on
Saturday and enjoyed old-time wood stove cooking, syrup making, a whiskey still, and a variety of exhibits of
heritage crafts. Jackie Blake made a birthday cake to honor all members having birthdays in the past three
months.
Six rigs attended the Tennessee and Mississippi Fall Samborees and three made it to the Louisiana Samboree.
We brought home wins in Washer Toss, Hand & Foot, golf, arts & crafts, and beanbag baseball. We wore our
pirate costumes in Mississippi and captured the entire Tennessee group holding them ransom until their SD,
Terry Minger, crowed like a rooster three times from the stage. We also managed to “acquire” the treasure
chest on display beside the pirate ship decoration. Return of the chest was included with release of our
hostages.
LAKE EOLA SAMS
September 2009
This was our first camp out for the Fall Season. We had 9 rigs at the camp out at Blueberry Hill RV Resort at
Bushnell. Our campout was one of the best we have had in a long time. Everyone totally enjoyed themselves.
Everyone enjoyed Wine and Cheese Tasting, Thursday evening followed by cards & dominoes. When Friday
morning came around, so did everyone else going to the Hoelscher coach for a bacon & egg breakfast. Later in
the morning several of the men went to aide Earl with his coach step problem which was partially resolved by
placing a hydraulic jack under the step so the steps could be used without incident. Most of the gang went to the
Rec. Hall, for fun, fellowship and excitement playing table games. Friday evening all were stuffed at the Old
World Restaurant in Floral City, and as usual there was a lot of fellowship between all. Saturday morning
brought all to share Pot Luck Breakfast Goodies at the rec. hall, hosted by Hoelscher’s and Durrance’s. Yes! We
also had Grits & Cheese Grits plus those yummy sausages. The Rec. hall was shared with three other clubs at
the same time. After breakfast and thing were cleaned up, our club President Earl Howe called the meeting to
Order where all went well. Howard and Roxie Ferguson drove in for the 9:30 meeting. We elected Charles
Hoelscher as President, Morris Durrance as Vice President and reelected Judy Stewart as Secretary and Bob
Tobin as Treasurer, all by acclamation. We had 3 visiting rigs this month. Mike (one of the visitors) won the
50/50. The Ferguson’s attended the meeting, even though they did not campout with the club. During the
meeting Howard Ferguson, resigned as the Internet Web. Master and Roxie Ferguson resigned as the author of
the News Letter. Don Harper graciously Volunteered to be the Web Master, and Paul said he would try to publish
the News Letter. The rest of the day was filled with fun and games. Most everyone adjourned to their coaches
until time for dinner which was pot luck. The meat dishes were Roast Pork and Roast Beef (very tender and
delicious) with great deserts. After the cleanup we all resumed the fun and games. Several played “Pass the
Trash” with a new twist, when you lost out from the first game Chris started another “Past the Trash” game at the
next table. Everyone seamed to enjoy the arrangement as they did not have to sit around until the original game
ended. Sunday morning brought all to the Rec. Hall again for the farewell breakfast and a Hardy Good By to all
until October. Before we left Sunday, we had a pot luck breakfast. Like to thank the Hoelscher's and Durrance's
for the week-end. We need some more (different) crafts or games. The old ones are getting stale.
October 2009
This was a very nice camp out and the Sun Coast R.V. Park was great. The Clubhouse is outstanding with a
fully equipped kitchen with individual lighting, counters with stools. The layout of the showers, restrooms could
not have been better designed. Half of the restrooms were equipped for handicap which was very nice and easy
to maneuver around in. Most of the rigs were Early Birds coming in on Wednesday. That afternoon was “on
your on” but a few went to the clubhouse for greetings and games with dinner being on your own. Friday
morning Charlie Hoelscher and Bill Catron prepared a fantastic breakfast at the Hoelscher coach, even though it
was drizzling rain. The rain wasn’t bad enough to force us to the clubhouse. Breakfast and the cleanup
completed, most of the gang went site seeing, shopping or just browsing around the area. That afternoon most
of the crew gathered at the clubhouse for fun & games. About 3 PM we all enjoyed the wine and cheese “Happy
Hour” before the convoy started for our trek to the restaurant for dinner. The host’s Harpers & Stewarts made a
great choice in the selection of Mimi’s restaurant on Hwy 200 the next exit up on I 75. Our hosts did a great job
of decorating the clubhouse with a Halloween theme and gifts for all after dinner Saturday. Upon returning from
the restaurant Friday evening we gathered for games and fun. A new game was played, “C.L.R.” (Center, Left.
Right) for the first time as a club game, it turned out to be a good, fun game. Other members played “Pass the
Trash”, Wizard and Dominoes. An interesting event took place Friday evening when Chris Catron came into the
clubhouse, asking everyone if anyone had seen her Cell Phone. Everyone answered “NO” leaving Chris to
ponder the Mystery of the lost phone. Several people made suggestions as to where she should look to solve
the mystery. The Editor was officially threatened if any mention of the mystery was publisher in this media.
However with me trying to be a good reported, I would be amiss if I did not report these important facts.
Saturday morning after our Official Chapter meeting Chris came back to the group, informing everyone that the
Mystery had been solved. The cell phone was found (of all places) in the Microwave oven. Now from this point I
will let your imagination take over. During our dinner meal the park manager/owner and wife came into the club
house carrying a box covered with tinfoil, they approached Chris presenting the box to her. Chris opened the
box and there lying in the box was a cell phone. Chris is a great sport as numerous members harassed her
during the rest of our campout. During fun and games on Saturday Morris came in asking if anyone had seen
his “Favorite Ball Cap”. Morris had looked almost everywhere to no avail. I’m sure he was thinking that someone
might be pulling a prank on him. After a few discussions Morris went back to their coach, checking behind the
couch as someone suggested that may be the cat had knocked it off of the couch and it had fallen behind it.
Sure enough there was the cap and again Morris was happy with his “Favorite Ball Cap”. After Saturday’s
breakfast and every thing had been cleaned up, Charles and Morris went around selling Raffle Tickets for the
50/50 drawing. Earl Howe informed all present that from this time forward, all ticket sales would be 6 tickets for
$5.00, and with that change we are hopeful more tickets would be sold. The Chapter, President Earl Howe
called the meeting to Order, Bill Catron gave the benediction followed by the pledge to our American flag. where
all went well. Two of the three coaches which visited last month joined us and were voted into the club by
acclamation. The new members are Leo & Linda Woodward, Chuck & Fran Blanchet, and again we send a
“Very Hardy Welcome” to all four of our new members.
SASSY SAMS, CHAPTER #163
September 2009
The September campout was held at Ocala Sun RV Resort. We were the only ones there! In fact, the
campground had been closed all summer and we were the first campers to come in to start off the fall camping
season. We had a good turnout for that Labor Day weekend: 15 member rigs. 3 drive-ins and 2 associate
members. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast on Friday morning with bacon, eggs and pancakes cooked to
perfection by Gene Gullett and Karen Rideout. They assured us this will be a regular “thing” from now on.
Diners are asked to bring something to go towards the breakfast – a dozen eggs, a box of pancake mix, a bottle
of syrup, a half-gallon of orange juice, etc. Linda Clark showed some of chemo caps (more than 30) she knitted
over the summer to donate to the Cancer Center at the University of Florida’s Shands Hospital for women
undergoing chemotherapy. We didn’t play too long at our outdoor games as the weather was still quite hot and
humid, but the newly remodeled clubhouse was cool, spacious and comfortable.
October 2009
In October we went to Sandy Oaks Campground in Beverly Hills. We finished stuffing the plastic canvas pockets
we made for the Samboree with a card noting “Compliments of Sassy Sams” (many thanks to Evie and Patti for
stamping the cards for us and stuffing nearly 100 pockets by themselves!). We gave Bob and Reba, who
stopped by, over 400 pockets to put in the registrations bags. Any extras we have will be available to give away
at our Chinese Auction table. Linda Clark, Patti Peirce, Karen Rideout, Roseann Lange, Diana Bowman, Judy
Pissott, Sandy Tomson and others spent a good part of the day on both Thursday and Friday baking dog
biscuits….plain, chicken-flavored, beef-flavored, bacon, peanut butter and liver. They bagged them 3 or 6 to a
bad, depending on size. The biscuits will be sold (for donation to the Florida Guide Dogs for the Deaf) at the
upcoming Samboree. Linda reports they made 120 bags of biscuits to sell. The campground owner even
stopped by to make a purchase of several bags for her dogs. On Saturday night we enjoyed a chicken/steak
barbecue. We are anxiously waiting for our November campout – not only for the Thanksgiving dinner, but this
year, Andrea is again hosting a Mystery Dinner on Friday night.
SUNSET RAMBLERS
September 2009
The September campout was held Labor Day weekend along with the North Florida Lifetime Sams campout at
Grand Lake RV Resort in Orange Lake, FL. We had 4 rigs present for the Sunset Ramblers. Friday night we all
enjoyed a spaghetti dinner. Everyone had plenty to eat and enjoyed the fellowship time. The conversation
flowed all evening with everyone enjoying talking in the air conditioning out of the bugs. Saturday morning we all
had a wonderful breakfast. We enjoyed the day catching up with all of our lifetime friends. Our state directors
Bob and Reba joined in for the North Florida Lifetime meeting and then we all went out to supper for a great
meal of seafood. That evening we gathered in the building to avoid the mosquitoes and had a good time
visiting. Sunday afternoon we learned a new game called Nickels and enjoyed the game and the conversations.
We gathered for supper and enjoyed grilling our meat and sharing a potluck side dish. Later that evening we
played more Nickels and had a great time laughing and visiting. Monday morning brought the packing and
going home. As always the time together was too short.
October 2009
The October campout was held at the Stephen Foster State Park in White Springs, Florida. We had 7 rigs in
attendance. We enjoyed the quilt show being held in the park. We worked on our project for the goodie bags
for the upcoming Samboree at Wekiva Falls. We voted in new members at our meeting and received our slate
of officers for the upcoming November election. Several members worked on different repair projects with the
help of others and their various talents. Other members enjoyed the Yankees and Gators play. We had a
great supper Friday night provided by one of our members and Saturday night we had a delicious Oktoberfest
potluck. The week after the campout Roy Ravn passed away. We will miss him greatly. Our thoughts and
prayers go to his beloved friend Ann and his family.
TRAIL BLAZING SAMS
September 2009
Our first campout after the summer break was held at Bay Bayou RV Resort in Tampa September 24-26th. We
had 13 rigs, 1 drive-in and 1 guest in attendance. Several of our members had extended their trips and were
not expected back until the middle of October. In addition we had a few members absence due to illnesses.
Bay Bayou Resort is a very nice place to hold a campout during the off months. Unfortunately, like so many
other places, during the busy season, they just can't accommodate rallies. Once everyone settled in, we sat
around and heard about all the great places our members travelled to. We have 24 rigs in our chapter and at
last count 18 of them criss-crossed their way throughout the United States and Canada. Our host/hostess, Ron
and Sandy Mercer provided for our weekend food and activities. What a great job they did and we were all very
grateful. Our business meeting was held Saturday morning where we discussed the many issues and projects
our chapter is involved in. The Nominating Committee presented the slate of officers to the membership.
This slate as well as any other nominations will be voted on at the October Meeting which will be held October
23-24th at Tropical Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Florida.