Georgia Good Sam Rally - Perry, GA

The Getaways didn’t have an official camp out inMarch, but some of us decided to head out to Perry,Georgia to enjoy the Georgia Spring Rally. On Monday, Tressa & Don met up with Joe &Buddy at the Osceola Forest rest stop and caravanned into Twin Oaks Campground where they were joined byBob & Sheila. Also there were State Staffers - Tommy &Lois, Ken & Sherrie, George & Loretta, Brian & LindaWittie. After folks got set up, waked puppies and haddinner, we gathered in the club house for time to getacquainted, visiting and playing cards - Sevens andNickel - Nickel were the games of the night. Then timeto get a good night’s rest before caravanning to theRally on Tuesday. The staff from Georgia had things all set up andready for us to arrive - leading us to our various parkingspots. Turned out that Bob & Sheila along with Joe &Buddy were not parked with us - but didn’t complain asthey had lots of room and waterfront property. No offi-cial activities were planned for Tuesday, so folks spenttime getting settled, meeting up with old friends, meet-

ing new ones, exploring the fair grounds and just relax-ing. Dinner for most of the Florida contingent was atThe Swanson - a family style restaurant in Perry. On Wednesday morning D & Jim came in fromThe Pines Campground in Tifton, being parked closer tothe main activities. Trams were provided for those whochose (or needed) to ride, but we saw lots of folks en-joying walking from place to place. Once again, the daywas spent just plain enjoying - visiting with the vendorswho had set up, and signing up for various activities.The evening was topped off with a round of Samgo -with our group joining the Florida State Staffer’s table.One thing that was different from the Florida Rallieswas the Chinese Auction - where there were a bunch ofitems to ‘bid’ on, purchasing tickets to place in the ap-propriate bucket (as compared to individual chaptershaving a table to sell tickets). Besides the vendors,there were a couple of special tables - one honoring theVeterans, one for Project Linus. There were plenty ofseminars available each day - with the schedule beingposted right inside the main hall’s entrance. Thursday was a great day to wander throughthe rigs brought in by Camping World, and meet - greet

Happy BirthdayApril

Joyce Perry - 5th

Happy AnniversaryApril

Bob & Sheila Garbecki-1977Don & Tressa Dishman-1983

April 2017President Joe Mehrtens 904-910-3935Vice President Kate Deaton 904-307-2610Secretary Tressa Dishman 904-504-1031Treasurer Deb Dlugosz 904-945-2365Newsletter Editor Don Dishman 904-641-4059Newsletter Layout Tressa Dishman tressal1947@att.net

As a member of the Good Sam Club I pledge to give aid to others in need, respectnature and the environment, give back to the community and those less fortunate,treat others with dignity and respect, and to wear a smile (like Good Sam and GoodSamantha’s) and promote the pledge of the Good Sam Club to others.

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folks. Then time for another round of Samgo. In the evening, following the opening ceremonies, we were enter-tained by The Diplomats - a great gospel group. A trip ‘home’ on the tram and get ready for another day! Friday was the day for everyone to wear their Wild West outfits - Joe and Buddy looked really dashing in theirwestern apparel. Friday was also the first day they held the Ice Cream social - distributing chocolate, vanilla, or rockyroad ice cream by the pint! Sheila (and sometimes Bob, Joe & Buddy) enjoyed visiting the AKC Dog Show, which washappening at the fair grounds on the weekend of the Rally. While she didn’t get any pics for us (too busy enjoyingwatching the pups - understandable) Sheila shared that there were obedience trials as well as some agility runs. Inthe afternoon, Tressa had an opportunity to participate with Project Linus, providing lessons on how to crochet theCorner to Corner pattern for some of the ladies attending the seminar. Great fun - and the participants were very pa-tient with the first time ‘trainer’ - thanks Joan Anderson for the invite! The evening program included recognition ofout of state visitors and their Memorial Service (honoring those from Georgia chapters who had passed away). En-tertainment at the end of the day was provided by David Payton - toe tapping and the Electric Slide kind of music.

Saturday was Military Hat and State Shirt day - with folks wearing their various chapter shirts. Afterenjoying a sausage biscuit, Tressa was joined by several of the ‘seminar ladies’ to learn more about the C2Cpattern. The second round of the Ice Cream social was held - some of use substituted ice cream for lunch -LOL. Then it was time for the final round of Samgo. For dinner, the McDades enjoyed the catered mealprovided by ‘The Yoders’ while Don & Tressa and Sheila & Bob gathered at Joe & Buddy’s rig to enjoy some‘dogs’ - too windy to use the grill, Bob did a great job using the griddle. Then it was time for the Saturdaynight activities where the military vets were recognized and the representative from the VA Medical Centermade a presentation before the entertainment - provided by Carly Burrus - began. The evening - and therally - ended with drawings for ‘left over’ door prizes, the Chinese Auction drawings, and a winner beingchosen from the receipt box. Sunday morning and we all headed out - mostly on our own. The only bad news we had was a blowout of the front right tire of the Garbecki’s rig - about an hour out from the Lake City RV Resort where theywere headed for the night. Sheila did a great job keeping the rig under control, and after a good numberof hours waiting, they finally made it.

Top Row: Joe & Buddy and Don & Tressa - rigs at Twin Oaks; Bob & Sheila - rig at Twin Oaks; Missy - trying to sneak a sip ofDaddy’s ‘beverage’. Bottom Row: Missy - checking out the little shoes sitting on a little bench - during one of her walks atTwin Oaks; The Swanson in Downtown Perry; Two rigs - all alone - but with waterfront property and lots of room... And closerto the activities.

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Top Row: Don & Tressa cutting up with one of the vendors, Great Outdoors RVResort; Tressa with door prize - tumblers; the end of a beautiful day - sunset over theFairgrounds in Perry. Middle Row: Joe & Buddy visited the Museum of Aviation;inside the museum (Joe is down there somewhere); Joe & Buddy in their Wild Westoutfits (looking good!) Left: The Electric Slide - Tressa giving a try - fun dancing!

A Trip To Suwannee River Rendezvous

When no official Chapter camp out was scheduled in March, Getaways Kate & Nate, Linda & Frank,Judy & Bob and Joyce & Ed decided to check out a place new to all of us at Suwannee River Rendezvousin Mayo. The trip over took longer than planned when Ed & Joyce had a blow out on their 5th wheel.

Thankfully Ed was able to safely get off the road and only minor damage to their rig. Bob & Judy and Nate & Katestopped to check on their travel buddies. Ed & Joyce had a spare and found a mobile tech who had them back on theroad in less than 2 hours. Linda & Frank also had an issue with their RV and thought it might end their trip, but thank-fully a RV service they had used before had them back on the road in a couple of hours. We all safely arrived at oursites and settled in. That evening Linda, Judy & Kate decided to try their luck at Bingo, but Lady Luck was not theirs that night. Judy &Bob's daughter, Susan came for a couple of days and decided to enter the campgrounds Pigeon Race. She picked#48 (Buck). Gave him a good luck kiss and he won! The following Friday, Linda, Kate & Joyce went to Bingo andJoyce & Kate won! A few of our hardier souls decided to check out Convict Springs. Brrr! All of us enjoyed the heat-ed pool, hot tub and conversation spa. A couple of us lost track of time enjoying each other's company and got ourfirst of the season sunburn. We all took little day trips to quaint Mayo and other neighboring towns. The camp-ground was invaded by Pirates the 2nd weekend. They held a parade around the campground and we participatedwith them in a duck race. Silly Fun!We all agreed we look forward to going back and some of us actually going down the Suwannee River.

Submitted by Kate Deaton

Picture of “Pigeon Limo” - Trailer that carried the racing pigeons.

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GETAWAY SAMS 2017 CAMPOUT SCHEDULE (Early Bird Dates)MONTH/DATES HOSTS LOCATION

Apr. (25) 26-30* Spring Good Sam Rally Kathy/Paul Newton Okeechobee KOA, Okeechobee, FLMay (25) 26-28 Jim/D McDade & Ed/Joyce Perry Walkabout, Woodbine, GA 912-729-4110June (22) 23-25 Host NeededJuly (27) 28-30 Harriet Hair/Joe Mehrtens/ TBA Buddy WilliamsonAug. (24) 25-27 Frank/Linda Diegel & Ocala North, Reddick, Florida Bob/Sandra McKinley 352-591-1723Sept. 1-4 North Florida Lifetime Sams^ Wild Frontier, Ocala Labor Day Weekend Campout 352-3540Sept. (21) 22-24 Sharon/Pam Bundy TBAOct. (26) 27-29 Don/Tressa Dishman & Wilderness RV Park, Ocala Nate/Kate Deaton 352-625-1122Nov. (14) 15-19 Fall Good Sam Rally Jyn/John Fortson Southern Palms RV Resort, Eustis, FLDec. 28 2017 – Jan. 2, 2018** Sheila & Bob Garbecki/Deb Dlugosz Lake City RV Resort, Lake City Florida Chapter Officers will be responsible for the New Year’s Eve Party.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND NOTIFY HOST OF YOUR PLANS TO ATTEND.^ Hosted by NFLS, all are invited to attend camp out, Lifetime Members will have a meeting during the camp out. Please let Tressa know if you planto attend.* Program will be available on line at www.goodsams-florida.org approximately one week in advance of Rally. All attendees at Samborees areasked to participate in planning/hosting a day of activities (meals, meetings, etc.). ** Dates of camp out adjusted at a chapter meeting.

Barb Eddings - Former charter member, Barb Eddings passed away on March 18, in Georgia. Family members are inthe process of planning a memorial service, tentatively scheduled for May 13. More information will be provided at alater date.

Two First Place Ribbons! Encouraged by her trainer, Sheila entered Missy in her first Rally Classcompetition. Although ‘Mommy’ was concerned about what she perceived as a cou-ple of ‘boo-boos’ , Missy finished in first place and won 2 beautiful blue ribbons. Wayto go Missy! Plans are in the works to enter her in additional rallies - we know shewill do well!

Susan Roche completed the 40th Jacksonville River Run - her statement “16:46 a mile 9.3 miles per-fect weather” sounds about right. Susan enjoys swimming and running - and enters runs and/or mara-thons on a regular basis - most of them for charities. Well done, Susan!

“Thank You” - Getaway Sams have a number of projects going at this time - collections for various charities - whichare greatly appreciated. We recently received a letter of appreciation from Carol Harrison, Development Directorof Ronald McDonald House and one from Michael Carey, Assistant Chief, Voluntary Services, VA Medical Center,Lake City . This is shared to encourage you to continue to save up the tab tops, medicine bottles, and plastic capsto be distributed to the appropriate charity. Also, don’t forget (for our seamstresses) to sew up those neck pil-lows, lap robes, and other comfort items, for our monthly visit to the center in Lake City.

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GETAWAY SAMS

May Campout (Early Bird 25th) 26th-28th

Walkabout RV Resort, 742 Old Still Rd, Woodbine, GA. (exit 7 off I 95N)$25.00 nightly rally rate

ASAP, RESERVATIONS (912) 729-4110 CUT OFF DATE: Before end of April

PLEASE RSVP Host: Jim & “D” McDadeJim cell: (904) 540-0940 or D cell: (904) 501-5569

CoHost: Joyce & Ed Perry: (904) 613-0010Please bring table ware & drinks to all meals

Early Bird 25th Thursday 5:30 Ham steaks, potato salad, baked beans, desserts (NO SIDES requested) 7:00 “What’s in your Kitchen” (Game) 3-$10 cash prizes awarded Card Bingo (bring 6 quarters)

Friday 26th 8:30 Breakfast, omelet in a mug, biscuits & gravy, yogurt parfaits, juice, coffee

bring a microwaveable mug (NO SIDES requested)10:00 SPECIAL VET RECOGNITION: Wear your colors/or cover. Bring picture(s) of you,

family member(s) or friend(s) in uniform. Sing along to “GOD Bless the USA” A special table will be set up to also honor our MIA/POWs. Lunch on your own 1:30 Off to the Gator Races (Bring 6 dimes) 4:30 Caravan to Millhouse Steakhouse, Kingsland, GA (Exit 3 off I 95N) 7:00 SYN (Screw Your Neighbor) Bring 1 dime, 2 nickels, 3 pennies Other table games & socializing

Saturday 27th

8:30 Breakfast casserole, French Toast, juice, coffee (NO SIDES requested)Business meeting after breakfast cleanup

(If no business meeting, a craft project with “D” will be offered)4:00 Linner (lunch/dinner), Taco Bar w/fixins, Mexican Rice, Refried beans,

ice cream novelties (NO SIDES requested) 5:15 Caravan to Woodbine Opry, corner of 2nd St. & Camden Ave. (Old Woodbine HS) FREE ADMISSION, Country/western music, dancing. Program starts at 7:00 (limited seating). Snack room offers Coffee, tea, sodas, popcorn & candies. Raffle tickets sold for cakes, etc., Proceeds to help with operating costs.

Sunday 8:30 Devotion (Sharon Bundy) or “D” Enjoy relaxing for the rest of the day then get ready for a cookout - Hot Dogs and fixings - pleasebring appropriate sides and, if you have them, your grills! Contact Joyce Perry for additional information.

TRAVEL SAFELY to HOME, SEE YA, GOD BLESS THE USA