FromthePresident: HellotoourBlueBirdFamily!Firstofall,GlendaandIwouldliketowisheachandeveryoneofyouaBlessedThanksgivingandChristmas.WeenjoyedgettingtogetherattheAnnualFamilyofFriendsrallyinWaynesville,NorthCarolina.ThiswasabeautifulareaandPrideResorttreatedusroyally.AbigthankyoutoSusanandJoeCrockerforhostingagreatrally!Weweretreatedtobreakfasteachmorning,fourgreatdinners,entertainment,andevenacommemorativeDVDoftherally.TherewasalottoseeanddointheMaggieValleyandwetookadvantageoftheBlueRidgeparkwaywhileexploringthearea.LarryFieldswasonhandtowashandwaxthecoaches. Wehavespentabusysummertravelingthisgreatcountry.WejoinedfellowBirdersinCody,Wyoming

andYellowstoneNationalParkandtraveledwithafungroup.Icertainlyencouragememberstodomore“gatherings”.Itisenjoyabletogettogetherandtraveltofavoriteplacesorsomewherewehavenotbeenbefore.Itgoeswithoutsayingthatweneedrallies(orgatherings)andrallyhosts.Won’tyoupleasethinkofhostingsuchanevent?Ourmembersarealwaysreadytopitchinandhelpyou!Wehaveagreatslateofofficersandeachandeveryoneisjustaphonecallaway.Wehavetworalliesplannedsofarfornextyear,ShipshewanahostedbytheWilsonsandBransonhostedbytheCrockers.Won’tyoupleaseaddoneinyourarea?

Atourbusinessmeeting,wevotedtotrysomethingnewatthenexttwofallrallies:afeeofonly$100.00percoachandtheclubwillpickuptherestoftheexpenseforclubmembers.Wehopetoincreasemembershipandparticipationbydoingthis. Ournewofficersare:LeroyWilson-President,LarryMiller–VicePresident,CarolynDover–Treasurer,SusanCrocker–Secretary,GreggPeterson–FMCADirector,andSusanCrocker–FMCAAlternate. Onapersonalnote,GlendaandIwanttothankyouforalloftheGetWellwishes.Wearefacinghealthissuesandsureappreciatealltheprayers,loveandconcernwehavereceived. ToGodBetheGlory,

LeroyWilson,President

Sunshine Article

November 2016

Greetings from Fort Valley, Georgia! Happy Fall Ya'll!

I have been hearing some great things about the Maggie Valley Rally and the Panama City Rally. Congratulations to Maurice and Rozanne DeShazer on the recent celebration of their 56th Wedding Anniversary. A little bird told me they went out dancing!

We have heard of several people that are experiencing health problems. Please remember the following in your prayers:

Jeff Horvath is recuperateing well from a fall from his ladder which broke ribs, punctured a lung and injured his leg. Carole Ann Mickler is recovering also from a fall. After knee surgery that healed, Carole Ann fell and broke her leg.

Our President and First Lady – Leroy and Glenda Wilson have been undergoing some tests. Leroy will be having kidney surgery in the next few weeks. RayNormanAldridgerecentlysufferedastrokeandpassedaway.HeandwifeJudyattendedmanyralliesandhewillbemissed.HeisthebrotherofShirleyVance.JeffersFuneralChapelinAston,Tennessee,inchargeofarrangements.CardscanbesenttoJudyAldridge,720MilliganRoad,Afton,Tn.37616. Marge Perpich has some health problems and has recently moved to assisted living. Marge is the wife of Harry Perpich. (Michigan)

Elin Jensen has several health problems. She would like all of you to know that she cares about you. She has relocated from California to Florida to be near family. If anyone would like to contact her at her new address: 2961 Bay Street, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563

Garland Kirby had a heart attack while hiking in the mountains above Creede, Colorado. He was flown to Denver where he had a procedure. Many Blue Bird friends surrounded he and Sharon with love and support. Jack Vandenburg and Dennie James drove up to Creede and picked up Kirby’s Bird and drove it to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dan and Bobbie Jensen drove to Santa Fe, then drove the Bird to Lake City, Florida. (experienced a tow bar break on the way and Bobbie drove the car

on to Florida). Garland is feeling good now and happy to be back on home turf!

We extend sincere sympathy and prayers to the following:

Larry and Beverly Dunnville recently lost Larry's mother, Mrs. Bessie Dunnville. She turned 100 last December. (Prince Edward Island, Canada)

Leroy Barnes' wife, Alice, passed away early this year. Her obituary (with a nice picture) can be viewed on Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Pontiac, Michigan. Peg Walters' husband, Glenn (Buck) Walters, Jr. passed away August 9. His obituary is on Toale Brothers Funeral Home in Sarasota, Florida. Peg and Buck have been married for 61 years and have four children and six grandchildren. Please send information that we can share with the Blue Bird Family to brendarodgers97@yahoo.com. Please indicate in subject line “Bird Tracks”. We would love to hear from YOU. Please remember to pray for our dear Country.

I wish you safe and fun travels. Much love, Brenda

WANDERLODGE DONUT WAGON by Brenda Rogers

Many of you will remember the days of the Wanderlodge Donut Wagon at the FMCA Rallies. I thought you would enjoy hearing what happened to that Blue Bird. The Donut Wagon is a 1979 Wanderlodge and was built for the purpose of cooking and serving donuts at FMCA. The donuts were actually cooked and served by a crew from the factory with the help of a lot of you. They were served out the side windows for a long time. As FMCA grew in numbers it was no longer capable of providing the needed amount of donuts. Blue Bird continued to serve the free donuts (Krispy Kreme) and coffee. Eventually the coach was painted a new light blue with donuts, coffee cups and clouds painted on the sides. The only modification to the exterior has been

to have the donuts and cups removed. The light blue paint and clouds remain and it still looks good. When Blue Bird discontinued the donut program the coach was donated to the Peach County/Fort Valley Emergency Management Program to be used as a Command Post. The donut cooker was donated to the Boy Scouts in Macon. Last week I visited with the Director of Emergency Management, Mr. Jeff Doles, and learned the following:

It is used in many emergency situations. It spent 28 days as the Georgia Search and Rescue Unit Command Center at Katrina in September 2005. It is used as a command center for searches for missing people all over Central Georgia. It was used in 2008 during the fires in Waycross, Georgia. Last month it went to Port Wentworth just outside Savannah during Hurricane Matthew for several days. It has had some modifications over the years such as a new transmission, etc. The interior has a long counter for the command post emergency equipment and is equipped with several folding cots.

The coach has been the envy of many of the emergency teams in our area and eventually it led to

Bibb County (Macon) ordering their own Blue Bird Bus to use as a Command Center. To sum up Mr. Doles' comments he said “the Wanderlodge never lets us down” and also that they estimate its “mileage totals approximately two million miles”!!

Some great memories!

.

FREEBIRD by Edwin Wingate

IMAGINEIFAGROUPOFKIDS,GROWINGUPONTHEWESTSIDEOFJACKSONVILLE,FLORIDA,WITHDREAMSOFBECOMINGRICHANDFAMOUSHADONLYKNOWNHOWASONGWOULDINFLUENCEANDCHANGETHEIRLIVESANDOTHERSFOREVER?…IFTHEYHADONLYKNOWN! Inthemiddleofthe1960’s,notoneofuscouldhaveknown…wewerejustkids!Maybeoneknew?HewasthelateRonnieVanZant.Weallplayedinsmallrockandrollbandsthroughschoollookingtobefamous.Alongcameabandnamed“TheOnePercent”.Theylaterchangedtheirnameto”LynyrdSkynyrd.”

Iwasnotsoluckytobecomerichandfamous,justextremelyluckytohaveaclosegroupoffriends!1965Seventhgradebandclass,LakeshoreJuniorHighiswherethey,“thecrew,thetechs,theroadies”astheyarecalledtoday,meet.Theywanttobedrummers,guitarplayers,songwritersandmusicians.BobBurns(Drum)becamedrummerforLynyrdSkynyrd;AllenCollins(Tuba)becameguitarandsongwriterforLynyrdSkynrd;DormanCogburn(Drum,guitar)songwriterforAliasbandandguitarforRossington-Collinsband;JoeBarns(Drum)wastechandstagemanagerforLynyrdSkynrd;PaulCarter(Drum)BassGuitar,TechandStageforLynrydSkynyrd)andmyself,TinkerWingate,(drum)tech,stageandproductionforLynyrdSkynyrdand.38Special. Asfriendswoulddo,wewantedtohelp.Inthe8thgradewebuiltalargestereoinJoeBarnsdriveway.Thespeakerswerethesizeofawashingmachine.Wehad16ofthemandtheyweredifficulttotrytocarryonstingraybicyclessomydad’sstationwagoncameintouse.ConcertP.A.systemswerenotheardofatthattime.Wesetupthesystemandranitfortheband…ifwehadonlyknown!

Isetupthedrumsanddroveourtruck“OldBlue”.Onwewent,throughthebarandnightclubdaysandthefirstandsecondalbums.Astimewenton,LynyrdSkynyrdproducedtheirfirstalbum,“Pronounced”witha9:08minutesong“Freebird”,lyricsbyRonnieVanZantandMusicbyAllenCollins.Itwasaninstanthit! By1972,wewerecalled“Roadies”butitwastimeformetofindarealjob.(JacksonvilleFireRescue).IhelpedoutthebandwhenIcould.RonnieVanZant’syoungerbrother,DonnieVanZantstartedabandcalled“.38Special”andhisyoungestbrother,JohnnieVanZantstartedabandcalled“AustinNicholes”.OurpracticehouseswerenextdoortoeachotheronRiversideAvenue.SinceIcouldnotbeontheroadwithSkynyrd,Ihelpedwiththesetwonewbands.(Countrymusic’s“VanZant”).Johnniewasonly15yearsoldandplayingnightclubs.Istillconsiderbothbrotherstobemybestfriends! Thesong“Freebird”becamethe“SouthernAnthem”andwasthethirdmostplayedsongonradiostations. Tragically,onOctober20,1977,atage29,RonnieVanZantwaskilledinaplanecrashnearMcComb,MississippialongwithSteveGainesandSteve’ssister,CassieGaines.ThebandisstillflyingstrongwithJohnnieSinginghisbrother’ssongs.Astheyearshavegoneby,IhavehelpedJudy(Ronnie’swidow)withthe“FreebirdFoundation,Inc”.AcharitywhichasestablishedtheRonnieVanZant90AcreRegionalParkforthekidsofClayCountyFlorida.Inthemovie,“Freebird”Icanbeseenunloading“OldBlue”whichwasnotevenblue,itwaswhite.Icanalsobeseenstandingonastepladderputtingsuitcasesontheplane.(MaybeIam“famous”?)Itseemedthateveryonewasafraidofheightsthatday.Ironic!WhileIworkedatJacksonvilleFireRescueand15yearsatClayCountyFireRescue,Imanagedtohelpmyfriendswhohadbecomerichandfamous.Istayedwith“.38Special”withnightclubs,studios,andconcertsthrough

the1980’sandmynameappearedonfour“.38albums”andtwo“VanZant”brothersalbums. Ihadthepleasureofdoingstageandproductionfor“FirstCoastHamJamCharities”,theFloridaStateBarbequeCookoff,St.John’sCountyFairs,“TheBluesSocietyofJacksonville”charities,“J.P.HallCharityChildren’sBassTournament”,JacksonvilleFireandPoliceRiverRallyCharity,PokerRuns,“MagnoliaFestival”,“SpringFestivals”,“CountryJam”and“SpiritoftheSuwaneeMusicPark”.(It’sagreatcampground!)Ialsodidstage/productionfor“SuperBowlXXXIX”andhavebookedbandsinlocalclubsandvenues. Nowyoumayask,“Canthisoldbirdstillfly?”Iplaydrumsinlocalbandsandsomeofusoldroadiesstillliketogettogetheranddream.Asluckwouldhaveit,someofmyoldfriendswhoarerichandfamousarestillaround:Jack,Jerry,Robin,CalibCalhoun,andFloridaCoachofKissimmie,whoprovidedthetourbusthroughtheyears.Itouredwith“MarilynManson”and“Slayer”,“EvansBlue”and“Submersed”. IfIhadonlyknown…… MyPersonalReflections:Thefreedomofthiscountry,thefreedomoftheroad,thefreedomoftheR.V.Lifestyleisnotanydifferentthanwhatagroupofkidswerelookingforinthe1960’s.WeareallFreebirds! ToGoodHealth,GoodFriendsandGoodLuck!Theyareallbetterthanbeingrichandfamous.“IfIleaveheretomorrowwouldyoustillrememberme?” Ithinkso,Ronnie!Inlovingmemory. MyCoach,a1999BluebirdLXIWanderlodge,“TheBird”…“Freebird”. Edwin“Tinker”Wingate StagecoachDriver2008 “IfIhadonlyknown!”

AYellowstoneGathering

LateJulyandearlyAugustfoundagroupofBlueBirdsenjoyingagatheringinWyomingandMontana.ThegroupmetinCody,WyomingatthePonderosa

CampgroundonJuly30andcarpooledtoaChuckwagonbarbequeanddinnershow.Followingtheshow,everyoneenjoyedtherodeoinCody.SundaymorningfoundLarryandBettyMillerleadingagrouptotheBadlands.RossDoverwasbusycollectingrockswhileeveryoneelseenjoyedsnacksandapicniclunch.OnMonday,August1thegroupmetatthecampgroundofficeandboardedatrolleythattouredCody.WelearnedalotaboutthehistoryofsuchauniqueWesterntown.LeroyandGlendaWilsonfoundagreatrestaurantandeveroneenjoyedthefare.TuesdayfoundeveryoneenjoyingthehugeBuffaloBillMuseumandculturalcenter.(Again,wefoundagreatplacetoeat!)ThosestayingatthePonderosawere:Tommy&ShirleyVance,Carolyn&RossDover,Jimmy&JeanCox,Tom&SandiBay,DennieandKarenJames,GlendaandLeroyWilsonandLarry&BettyMiller,andWayne&EllaSnead. OnWednesday,wecaravanedthroughYellowstoneNationalParktoWestYellowstone,MontanawherewestayedattheGrizzlyRVPark.DennieandKarenJameshadbigpotsofchili(bothporkandchicken)towelcomehungrytravelers.JimandLynneOlds,Jim,Tammy,Taylor&HaileyJames,Bob&StephanieHaven,andVickieSutakjoinedusatGrizzlyRV.ThursdayfoundeveryoneoutBuffalohunting.(thatis,takingpicturesinandaroundYellowstone).OldFaithfulandtheotherYellowstoneattractionskepteveryonebusysightseeingforthenextcoupleofdays.TheGrizzlyandWolfDiscoverycenterwasrightnexttothecampgroundandallenjoyedvisitingthere. OnFriday,August5,afteradayofsightseeing,everyonecarpooledtotheParadeRestGuestRanchwhereweboardedhaywagonsandwentupinthehillsforacookoutandsingalong.GarthOldsandhiswifecamedownfromMontanatojoinus.Thesteakswerebigandthechickenwasjuicy! SaturdayandSundayfoundeveryonebackoutintotheParkandshoppingdowntownWestYellowstone.OnSundaymorning,wehad“CowboyChurch”atthecampground.AnotherdayofsightseeingbroughteveryonebacktothecampgroundwhereasurprisebirthdaypartyawaitedTommyandShirleyVance.Yummyhamburgersandhotdogswerethefareaswellasabigbirthdaycake. Mondaywasafreeday,(moreshoppingandmoresightseeing).ThateveningeveryoneattendedthePlaymilltheaterinWestYellowstoneforaproductionof“SevenBridesforSevenBrothers.” OnMonday,someheadedtowardshomewithastopinDenvertovisitwiththeDeShazers.OthersheadedontoGlacierNationalPark.JayandSharonZeiglerinvitedeveroneovertotheirbeautifulmountainhomeforacookoutwhichincludedplentyoffoodandlaughter. AfterenjoyingtheviewsofFlatheadLakeanddiscoveringfreshFlatheadCherries,weheadedovertotheBlackHillsofSouthDakota.WestoppedinBillings,MontanaandhadlunchwithLynneOld’ssonandhisfamily.(stilleatinggreatfood!) WestayedatElkMountaincampgroundinSpearfish,SouthDakota.MountRushmoreandthesurroundingareakeptusbusyforseveraldays.(andwefoundgreatplacestoeatalongtheway). Seehoweasyitistoenjoya“gathering”?Nofuss,justfun!

MinutesofGeneralBusinessMeeting

BlueBirdChapterofFMCA

FamilyofFriends

Thursday,October13,2016

8:00p.m. LeroyWilson,President,calledtheannualmeetingoftheBlueBirdChapterofFMCAFamilyofFriendstoorder.Becausetherewere20membershipcoachespresentatthemeeting,aquorumwasmet. Themembershiphonoredournationwiththe

pledgeofallegiance.JoeCrockeropenedthemeetingwithprayer. SusanCrocker,Secretary,readtheminutesfromthelastbusinessmeeting.FollowingamotionbyRalphThiele,asecondbyHarneyDavey,andaunanimousapprovalbythemembership,theminuteswereapproved. CarolynDover,Treasurer,presentedthefinancialreportfortheclub.ThisfinancialstatementdoesnotincludethecostoftheAnnualFamilyofFriendsReunionRally.Acopyofthereportisattached.FollowingamotionbyJoeCrocker,asecondbyBobCostin,andaunanimousapprovalbythemembership,thefinancialreportwasapproved. GregPeterson,FMCADirector,gavehisreport.FMCAmembershipisdown.Hereportedtotheclubthat,eventhoughFMCAisprovidingMedicalEmergencyInsuranceaspartofitsmembershipdues,FMCAisexperiencingproblemswiththeinsurancecarrierfollowingthroughwiththeircommitmentwhencalleduponforaMedicalEmergency.FMCApresidentisawareoftheproblemsandhasaddressedthiswiththeprovider,buttheissuehasnotreallyimproved. OldBusiness: TheRevisedRallyHandbookwaspresentedto

themembershipforavote.TheExecutiveCommitteehadmadetherecommendationthatthewords“RallyintheValley”beretainedinthehandbookwhereitwaspreviouslymentionedandthatthetitleFamilyofFriendswouldbeusedinthehandbook.Theclubwillalsopaythecampingfeeforthehostsfortheannualfamilyreunion,atraditionalrally,andarollingrally.Theclubwillnotpaycampingfeeforarallyclassifiedasa“gathering”.FollowingamotionbyGregPeterson,asecondbyHarneyDavey,andaunanimousapprovalbythemembership,theRevisedRallyHandbookwaspassedwiththerecommendedchanges. CharlieVaughnaddressedtheclub’sBy-LawchangesthatneededtobemadefortheclubtobeincompliancewithFMCA.Theclubhasalreadyvotedonthechanges,butCharliejustneededfortheclubtoknowthatthechangeshavebeenmadeandthereviseddocumentwillbesenttoFMCA. NewBusiness: Becausetheclubhasahealthybankaccount,theExecutiveBoardhasproposedthattheAnnualFamilyReunionrallyfeenotexceed$100forFamilyofFriendsmembersforaperiodoftwoyears.Thiswillhopefullyencouragepeoplewhohavenotattendedarallyrecentlytoattendoneandtoencouragepeople

tojoinourclub.Theclubwillpaycostoftherallythatexceeds$100percoach.Thiswillbeaddressedagainatthe2018FamilyofFriendsRally. Tworalliesthatarebeingplannedfor2017areShipshewanahostedbytheWilsonsandBransonhostedbytheCrockers.Informationabouttheserallieswillbepostedonthewebsite. Therewasdiscussionregardingwaystoincreasetheclub’smembershipandwaystoencourageformermemberstobecomeinvolvedintheclubagain.Somesuggestionsincludedpostcards,emails,andphonecalls.Theofficerswillworkonthis. CharlieVaughn,nominatingcommitteerepresentative,presentedtheslateofofficersforthenexttwoyears.Thefollowingproposalwasmade: President—LeroyWilson

Vice-President—LarryMiller

Secretary—SusanCrocker

Treasurer—CarolynDover

FMCADirector—GregPeterson

FMCAAlternate—SusanCrocker

Thefloorwasopenedforothernominations.Therewerenone.BobCostinmadeamotionthattheslateofofficersbeaccepted.FollowingasecondbyHarneyDaveyandaunanimousvotebythemembership,theofficerswereapproved. FollowingamotionbyJudiPeterson,asecond

byRalphThiele,andaunanimousapprovalbythemembership,themeetingwasadjourned. Respectfullysubmitted, LeroyWilson,President

SusanCrocker,Secretary

CookingisfortheBirdsbyRozanneDeShazer

SWISS CHEESE CHICKEN & STUFFING Swiss cheese chicken and stuffing bake is an all-in-one casserole; nothing else is needed to make the meal complete. Watch the video tutorial above to see this one in action. Ingredients - 5 skinless and boneless chicken breasts - 5 slices of Swiss cheese (you can also try with Pepper jack, Monterey...) - 1 can of cream of onion soup - 1/4 cup (60 ml) of white wine (you can substitute for milk if you prefer) - stuffing mix (we recommend garlic and herbs, but you can use the plain one as well) - 1/4 cup (50 gr.) of butter - Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat your oven to 350 F (175 C). Grease a casserole dish and season your chicken breasts. 2. In a mixing bowl, mix the white wine (or the milk) with the can of cream

of onion soup. Add a couple of spoonfuls of the soup and wine mixture to the casserole and spread it. Arrange your chicken breasts and cover each one of them with a slice of the cheese. 3. Pour the rest of the soup and wine mixture over the chicken and the cheese. 4. Pour the stuffing mix over the casserole and sprinkle it with the butter. 5. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 10-15 more minutes or until golden brown. TIP: If you're going to freeze this casserole, it's better not to add the stuffing and add it whenever you're going to eat it. That way the bread won't get soggy while it thaws. In any case, serve over rice or with a side of steamed green beans.

The 2017 Family of Friends “Rally in the Valley”

will be held somewhere south of Perry, Ga. In the

week of November 1-7, 2017. Remember the

Date. More news to follow.