2017 Rallies:

4/21-4/23—Pine Grove, PA

5/26-5/29—Centre Hall, PA

6/16-6/18—Gilbert, PA

7/14-7/16—Lebanon, PA

8/18-8/20—Bloomsburg, PA

Rolling Rally to GEAR—9/24-

10-4—Orrstown, PA

10/4-10/8—GEAR– Lewisburg,

WV

11/3-11/5—Bethel, PA

Executive Board:

Phyllis Britz, President

Sue Cipa, Exec. VP

Wayne Dilliplaine, Treasurer

Barbara Arcati, Secretary

Bob Birett, Area VP

Linda Deardorff, Area VP

Jim Lexa, Area VP

Larry Troutman, Area VP

TIDBITS FROM PENNY April 2017 Volume 8, No. 1

Edited by Louise Birett—lbirett@comcast.net

GREETINGS FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Hello Penn Coachmen and Welcome back!

Even before Twin Grove, several Penn Coachmen started the rally season by

traveling to Chandler, AZ to participate in FMCA’s 95th International Con-

vention in March. We were well represented. Eric & I saw the Molinskys,

Newtons, Webers, Pranges, and the Costons at the rally. Thanks to Lori and

John Prange for making the Penn Coachmen entry for the Rodeo and John

Weber for bei ng the “spinner” and winning the race for another chapter! All

seemed to have had a great time.

For those of you who missed this fun packed weekend at Twin Grove, I’d like to

share the following items:

I was pleased and excited to have 4 new Penn Coachmen members and several

guests come to Twin Grove:

First Timers and new Penn Coachmen members who attended included::

Brian & Kim VanBuskirk of Kutztown, PA—Friends of John and Lori Prange.

Leroy & Christine Ditzler of Stevens, PA—Friends of Brian and Kim Van

Buskirk.

John & Judith Cox of Jamison, PA—Found Penn Coachmen on FMCA website.

Kirk & Gina Bellis of Kunkletown, PA—Folks the Klines met at FROG rally.

Guests included:

Kathy Sellers—Guest of Jack & Caroline Vliet.

Dan & Sharon Smith—Guests. Sister and brother-in-law of Terri Stoltz.

Rev. William and Cheryl Long—Guests of Klines. Conducted Sunday church ser-

vice.

Kathy Follett—Guest of Klines. Organist for Sunday church service.

Geoff & Carol McCall—Friends of Bruce and Carolyn Rhoads. Prospective new

members.

Cheryl-Daughter of Betty & Bob Fritzinger.

Bill & Karen Keiper—Guests of Ed & Karen Killian.

Darrel and Barbara Beers came for the day on Friday. It was good to see Barbara

getting around again after the long recovery from her accident last summer at

Springfield, MA.

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Those in attendance voted to explore options for a new April Rally site for next year. Stay tuned.

Members were/are encouraged to suggest new venues for Penn Coachmen Rallies. Please let Sue Cipa

know of possible campgrounds/fairgrounds that you think would be worth checking out.

Penn Coachmen will be having its 50th Anniversary in 2019. We will need to start planning for this mile-

stone and would like to have folks willing to serve on the planning committee. Please consider being part of

this event!

The Executive Board met the day before the rally. Time was spent on revising the “Rally Master Guide-

lines” and our “Standing Rules.” Proposed changes to FMCA, priorities for Penn Coachmen, and a treasur-

er’s summary were discussed.

The Grange Fairgrounds, Centre Hall Rally has a great schedule lined up with games, food, entertainment

and an auction. We will also hold our semi-annual meeting 5/26/17.

FMCA's 96th International Convention is scheduled for July 12-15, 2017—Indiana State Fairgrounds

Indianapolis, IN.

Greater Eastern Area Rally (will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary)- is scheduled for October 4-8, 2017—

State Fairgrounds of Virginia, Lewisburg, WV (Penn Coachmen will have a rolling rally to GEAR.)

Hope to see you all at Centre Hall May26 th and bring a friend.

Phyllis Britz

RECAP OF APRIL 2017 RALLY AT TWIN PINES CAMPGROUND

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The winter is over. The first rally for 2017 is in the books. For some of us, we just got our coaches out for the

first time in 2017. For others, they are returning from a place with warmer weather.

The weekend was a challenge for the hosts because we found out on Tuesday before the rally that the

campground had made a mistake and rented the lodge for Saturday. They agreed to let us use the lodge for our

activities on Friday and Sunday. We were lucky to have a local church rent us their social hall. It goes to show

how important it is for Rally Masters to have a great group of hosts to help. They set up, take down, and clean

every day. Nell and I want to thank everyone who helped. We could not have done it without a great group of

hosts.

Enough of that! The weekend was a little wet, but a good time was had by all. A lot of friends were reunited af-

ter a long winter.

The food was plentiful and delicious. Friday evening there were 20 crock pots filled with soup. No one had an

excuse to go away hungry. We ended the evening with bingo. Some people won a lot, some of us not at all.

Saturday’s breakfast was held in the ice cream shop. We had our normal light Sunday menu on Saturday morn-

ing, and had the pancakes and sausages on Sunday morning because of the mix-up with the lodge.

Saturday evening dinner and entertainment was held nearby. As usual Buddy’s Log Cabin prepared ham, turkey,

and all the trimmings. Great food! T.J. Fitzpatrick supplied the entertainment. His Elvis songs, and songs from

other artists, were enjoyed by all.

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Games on Saturday included a mini golf tournament. It was a lot of fun, but forgive me because I forgot to

write down who won. After lunch, we had a scavenger hunt. The rain kept the number of participants down to

about 7 people on each team. The men decided to take on the ladies. The ladies got everything on the list, and

defeated the men badly. After that, Sue Cipa organized a few games with jelly beans, which, because of the

rain, was held in the ice cream shop. It is amazing how much fun you can have with jelly beans, plus you can

A good time was had thanks to a great group of hosts. If you have not signed up to help at a rally, please do.

You will be surprised at how much fun it can be. Hope to see you all at a rally soon. TRAVEL SAFE

Glenn and Nell Kline

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ADVENTURES OF JIM STRUNK AND MARTHA LLOYD

GOING SOUTH FOR THE WINTER

In December 2016, we left home to go south for the winter. We use Highway 81-5.

We got to the Maryland state line and were talking about “what we forgot” when I yelled out “oh my

God.”

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.We were 100 miles from home. “We had to go back. I forgot my checkbook and cash. They were on

the desk!

We found a Cracker Barrel where we parked the RV.

When we went to use the tow car, the battery was down low in charge. Thankfully, I had the proper

equipment to overcome that situation.

A day later, we were on the road again!

Stopped for gas.

Then I couldn't get back into the RV because the door latch was broken! Luckily, Martha was inside.

She unlocked a window and two guys put me through it. However, I twisted my back going through!

The two guys led us to a campground where a “tech” stayed. He came through the window and drilled

out the latch. Then we had to find a latch!

Two days later, and we were on the road again.

Finally, we got to our destination—the Youth Camp RV Park.

Martha was not feeling well. Took her to the emergency room. She was having a stroke, so a hospital

stay and therapy was necessary. All is better now!

Arrived home in April 2017. THANK THE LORD FOR LITTLE THINGS!

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A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR. The foregoing article is what I am looking for to spice up the Newslet-

ter. Although I am so very sorry about Jim and Martha’s trials and tribulations, the article was enjoyable

and brought a smile to my face because it wasn’t us their problems were happening to.

Please follow Jim’s lead, and submit any “tid bits” you might have to share with the membership.

Thank you Jim!

While I am at it, I want to personally thank all of you who have been kind enough to write up articles

about the various rallies. It’s a difficult job, but you all have done it so well.

Thank you all volunteers!

****************************************************************************

For those of you planning to attend the rally at Centre Hall on Memorial Day Weekend, don’t forget to bring

inexpensive gifts for playing Crazy Bingo.

Also, please consider bringing any items that you are willing to have auctioned off. Proceeds will benefit

the upcoming 50th anniversary celebration of Penn Coachmen. For anyone who donates an item that sells

for $30 or more, said donor will have the option of receiving 30% of that sale.

Don’t forget to bring a potluck dish to the brunch on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.

REMINDER ABOUT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND RALLY

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Hobbies or craft how-tos

Poems, stories, vignettes

New camping gear/equipment you have learned about and where to purchase them

Special camping experiences

Funny pet stories

Funny grandchildren stories or sayings

Life on the road

Interesting people you have met along the way

Nature encounters

Photos taken at rallies

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Bill Rollins - Chronic back pain.

Betty Moyer - Chronic neck pain.

Bob Moyer - Recovering from multiple stents in

heart.

Bill Freed - Cancer treatments.

Bill Pascoe - Cancer treatments.

Stan Seyfried - Cancer treatments.

Roz Newman - Cancer treatments.

Barbara Beers - Multiple leg and foot breaks due to

fall in Springfield, MA.

Faye Anderson - Broken hip due to fall at GEAR.

Sally Thomas - Cancer treatments.

Jim Lexa - Inoperable hip pain.

Dick Strain - Passed away. R.I.P.

Larry Troutman - Congestive Heart Failure.

Former President Bill Katz - Cancer treatments.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

REQUEST FROM THE EDITOR:

In order to make forthcoming newsletters interesting, I would

like to request your help by sending me any of the following

throughout the year at lbirett@comcast.net:

Vacation tidbits or advice

Seeking items to purchase or items for sale

Family news such as births, deaths, illnesses, prayer concerns, accomplishments, etc.

Favorite recipes

Motor home repair/upkeep advice

Interesting stories or vignettes

Out of the way places you have found to be of interest

******************************************************************************

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June 4 Priscilla Swetland

June 5 Bernie Gilbert

June 12 Shirley Lothert

June 13 Nancy Breisch

May 4 Larry Troutman

May 7 Terri Stolt

May 8 Bob Birett

May 9 Carol Becker

May 9 Carol Kendour

May 11 Clark Van Buskirk

May 13 Maryanna Hall

May 16 Jim Strunk

May 17 Carol Seyfried

May 21 Stan Seyfried

May 22 Ron Lee

May 26 Jim Lexa

May 28 Linda Deardorff

NOTE TO OUR NEW MEMBERS:

Please provide the editor with your

birthday(s) - lbirett@comcast.net.

Thank you.

THOSE KNOWN TO BE CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY BETWEEN

MAY AND JUNE 2017

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Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich

landing face down on a floor are directly correlated to the newness and

cost of the carpet or rug.

Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a prod-

uct that you really like, they will stop making it OR the store will stop

selling it!

The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your

boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

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Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.

A soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

I know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid. He says he can stop any time.

How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it.

I stayed up all night to see where the sun went. Then it dawned on me.

I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I can't put it down.

Why were the Indians here first ? They had reservations.

Energizer bunny arrested. Charged with battery.

I didn't like my beard at first. Then it grew on me.

How do you make holy water? Boil the hell out of it!

Did you hear about the cross eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils?

When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble.

What does a clock do when it's hungry ? It goes back four seconds.

I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me!

Broken pencils are pointless.

I tried to catch some fog. I mist.

What do you call a dinosaur with a extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus.

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

I used to be a banker, but then I lost interest.

I dropped out of communism class because of lousy Marx.

All the toilets in New York's police stations have been stolen. Police have nothing to go on.

I got a job at a bakery because I kneaded dough.

Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes.

Velcro - what a rip off!

Cartoonist found dead in home. Details are sketchy.

Venison for dinner? Oh deer!

I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.