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Oregon Trails Chapter 9

We are the oldest Escapees Chapter in Oregon, and we try to keep our rallies as much in our area as possible so that our older members can come and join in all the fun.

We have had three great rally's at different parts of the State. The May Rally will be held at the SKP Park of Timber Valley in Sutherlin, Or. We had more than 60 people in attendance last year and managed several great excursions out to local manufacturing plants. Additionally, we enjoyed lots of games, pot luck dinners and finished up with a pizza party. All in all we had a fun time and are looking for another fine rally this coming May. The June Rally has been changed from Gaylesville reservoir to Pass Creek Park . It is located off of exit 163 on Interstate 5. This is a new park for us but we expect a great time. The last Rally at Lakeside, Oregon at the Osprey Point RV Park on Tenmile Lake is expected to be terrific. The highlight of the rally is expected to be a Dungeness Crab feast. Several of our members are going crabbing for Dungeness Crabs, weather permitting. They had good luck last year and we had two great potluck meals with hot fresh crabs. They will be back this year and do it again.

We are currently scheduling three rally's for this year. They are as follows


We will update as soon as possible 10/26/09

May 17 - 20 at 7 Feathers RV Resort at Canyonville, OR exit 99 on I-5
June
September at Ospey Point RV Park, Lakeside, OR

For more information- see the Escapees Magazine - Event Calendar, Trailer Tracks Newsletter below or contact Russ Barthlomew russb80@hotmail.com

TRAILER TRACKS
Volume Number 24 Issue Number 1 Date MAY, 2009

HISTORY

Please use your imagination: it’s 1988, you’re at a SKP rally in Cottage Grove, Or. And you hear the exciting news: “There’s a spot in Sutherlin. Big! Just right! We can get it for our park. Let’s go see!”
Eagerly you join the caravan heading south to the tiny town of Sutherlin. Not many businesses. Lots of vacancies on the dreary main street. A town that desperately needs something to invigorate it. Of coarse it’s raining. After all this is Oregon. Turn off Center street, south onto State street (A rather pretentious name for an unpaved road, don’t you think?)
You’re tire crunch on the gravel and the windshield wipers slap back and forth. The few houses are small and dreary. Meadows Park is just that, a meadow.
You wind on up the hill and around the curve to where the street ends by Site 1.
With about 10 others, you peer thru the wetness and you see ---” a muddy mess” .. A mead owed hillside, scrubby brush, a few scrubby trees, cans bottles, the let-behinds of a lovers lane. And everywhere: mud. There are hidden springs adding to the rain sluicing down the hill.
But suddenly you know, Eureka! “This is it. This will be our home for years to come.”
How did those early pioneers have the vision, the faith, to see over 200 RV’s contentedly nesting on that once miserable plot of land?
They did it. And today we are all grateful.
(Those of you who saw this barren hillside are invited to share your recollections in the future newsletters.)

EARLY PIONEERS

On April 6th I had the privilege of meeting Roy and Virginia Adams, pioneers, promoters and planner of our Park. I wasn’t able to interview them as they had to leave but I hope to get information from them by mail or tape of their recollections of the earlist days of our Park. If I do I’ll be sure to share it with you.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 Funnies from the 1st “Trailer Tracks”, May 1985
1. The lovely green stuff called legal tender: it’s tender when you have it, but when you don’t it’s tough
2. If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.

Gin and Raisins

I’m not sure how it works-if it works- but golden raisins soaked in gin is an old folk remedy for arthritis. My mother believed in it: 9 raisins every evening. On day my sister-in-law and I decided we were tired of the cantankerous old fuss-budget so we added a goodly measure of vodka to here gin/raisin bottle. Mother turned into one “Mellow Momma” that evening.

KUDOS

We do a lot of “C&C” (complaining and criticizing), it may help if we try a little “P” (Praise). Drop a note to #109 foe Kudos.
1. A big hurrah to the volunteers who helped move all of the stuff out of the card room so painting and carpeting could begin. ( If you wonder how those things get planned and done: attend Friday’s Fiendship Hour, that’s where a lot of happenings happen.)
2. George Reel with his handy, dandy paint sprayer painted the card room.

Rallies

SPRING RALLY: May 12-15

Held in Timber Valley Escapees RV Park in Sutherlin to give everyone the opportunity to attend. For those coming afar (we welcome you), plan to arrive by May 12 (earlier if you arrange for a spot). Hitch-up breakfast will be May 15.
Expect: fun, games, food and our very important Ch. Meeting.
Hosts: Russ and Jeannine Bartholomew (541-229-8935 or 480-202-9027)

JUNE RALLY
Dates: June 23,24,25 at Pass Creek Park, a beautiful wooded setting with a pond and 30 full H/U sites, also non H/U sites, new restrooms and showers, a pavilion and nearby restaurants. Pass Creek is adjacent to I-5. Take Interstate to exit 163, go West on Curtin road, turn right just past underpass.
Fees: $ 18 full H/U, $ 13 non H/U Hosts: Ron and Teresa Keenan 541-229-2011

SEPT RALLEY ON THE COAST
Dates: Sept 22-24, hitch-up breakfast Sept 25

New Location: Osprey Point RV Resort, Lakeside, Or. It’s between Reesport and Coos Bay

Directions: take 101 south of Winchester. Watch for a large “Sun Coast” map board on the right side of road ans a large “Lakeside” sign on the left. Turn left onto North Lake and go .3 miles to Osprey Point sign and a road on your right. Turn right and go into park.

Address: 1505 N. Lake Rd. Lakeside, Or.97449 Phone: 541-759-2801
E-mail: osprey@iceinternet.com

Hosts: Helen & Gene Schrader (541-459-3768 cell 209-210-8013)

You are responsible for making your own reservations for all rallies. Contact the hosts for more information. Also find information on chapter voicemail 888-757-7701 ext-8009

Chapter 9 Dues

Guess how much Chapter 9
Dues were in 1989?
$5.00
Guess how much Chapter 9
Dues are in 2009?
$5.00
Now that’s a bargain. What is? For a couple for a full year for $5.00

What do you get for your money?
1. You’re supporting the chapter that made this beautiful Park possible. Without Chapter 9 there would be no Timber valley.
2. You help support three great rallies each year. Chapter 9 plans and sponsors these rallies. At one time, rallies were the life blood of SKPs groups. Now they’re just plain fun.
3. You get this terrific newsletter. Well, Terrific aside, the newsletter is Part of your dues.
4. Besides, we just like to have your fellowship and participation.

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You can turn your life around. If you used to be miserable and depressed, you can now become depressed and miserable.

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HUGS FROM HOME

Our “adopt a troop” project is a hopping success. We’ve sent 6 boxes of baked goods and 6 boxes of Easter candy. You can see pictures and the email we received from the troops in Iraq in the clubhouse. A few less positive folks want to know why we didn’t adopt an Oregon troop. Well hang in there, we may be able to adopt a second troop, this one from Oregon (if that really matter!) who will be in Afghanistan (and that does really matter!) Your response has been so generous that we may be able to spread a little joy around Afghanistan.

Have You Seen

Our newly painted and carpeted card room? An eager beaver bunch of volunteers moved everything out of the card room (yes, all those cupboards) and taped and covered doors, windows etc. George Reel and his trusty paint sprayer, spent parts of two days painting the ceiling and walls. (I wonder what that would have cost the park if hired out?) Be sure to see our beautiful new carpet: does anyone know, how long the last carpet lasted? Was it the original one? If so, maybe we can look forward to 20 years with this one. (unless we get board with the color!)

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Instead of complaining that the rose bush has thorns \, be happy that the thorn bush has roses. (German Proverb)

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Choosing to see the best in people doesn’t cost you a thing.

ACTIVITIES

Have you ever tried to catalogue all the activities that go on in the park? I’m going to try and welcome your additions and corrections.
POOL, no, we don’t want to see all of you in thongs and bikinis! It’s the pool Tables we’re talking about:
Ladies pool on Mon. and Wed. 10 am til 12 noon,
Men’s pool every am (except Sun) 12 noon to ?
Evening pool whenever

LINE DANCING on Mon. and Wed 10 am to 11am

GAMES on Mon. and Thur. (and sometimes Sat.) 6:30 pm til winners declared. Games include Hand and Foot and Pegs and Jokers. Other games are welcome. First Mon. of the month games are preceded by a potluck. All are welcome.

BONGO on Wed at 7 pm

Po-Ke-No Sun. Tues, Fri. at 6:30 pm

CRAFTS: Thur. aft at 1 pm. Come do you thing or join others in quilting or other projects.


Wagon Master’s Musings
by Joan Larson


The September “Rally-On-The-Coast” held the 22nd to 25th provided a number of fun activities for the 47 people who were there. Not everybody chose every activity but a good time was had by those who took part in the Mexican Train Tournament the first evening. On Wednesday teams were chosen by each person matching their puzzle piece with others and then the teams were each given instructions to go make a horse (stick provided) and get ready for the races. We wagered dimes on six uniquely different horses named Lucky, Daws, Sea Biscuit, Sutherlin Slew, Old Grey Mare and Rosie. The races were lively. We had a fun afternoon of Bunco, which was enjoyed by the many who played. Helen Schrader treated us all to a Sing-a-long and a “Name That Tune” competition during friendship hour playing oh-so-familiar tunes from way back when, dating some! On Thursday following the chapter business meeting where new officers were elected, we regrouped in teams and competed to find out “How well do you know Oregon?” A planned Ladder Golf Tournament fizzled when a big gust of wind came up and foiled the course. We ate, as is usually the case at rallies, starting with get acquainted Cheese & Crackers, dips and other goodies at the first Friendship meeting. Wednesday morning was breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and juice. That evening we had a salad potluck accompanied by forty fresh caught crabs brought in by the illustrious “crabbing crew” headed by Jerry Hatch and Nick Palmer who provided the boats that went out into the bay. Thursday morning started with a breakfast potluck and in the evening we had dinner out at Bedrock’s On The Bay in Winchester. Our Hitch-up goodies on Friday Morning were yummy donuts from the famous “Sugar Shack” in Reedsport. Coffee and iced tea were “on” all through the rally. There was a very successful silent auction of a couple of tables full of donated items that brought in a whopping $162.50. That, along with the $104 made by the chapter in the daily 10-20-30 drawings more than covered expenses for this rally. Many thanks to all who attended and to Gene & Helen Schrader and Jerdis & Joan Larson for hosting this fun rally.


Now............we need to plan for next year! How about YOU stepping forward to volunteer to host one of the rallies in 2010. Our rallies are traditionally held in May, June and September. If you know of a great place to go and/or would like to get something organized, please contact Joan Larson, 541-817-7983. Plenty of help is available

Upcoming Rallies and Events

Chapter Voice Mail Information: 888-757-7701 ext. 8009

We have Breakfast's or luncheons on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at various locations. Please check the voice mail or the Officers for location. We invite ALL Escapees, or future Escapees, to our luncheons and rallies. On November 11 it will be a 9 AM breakfast at Abby's Pizza on Central in Sutherlin Ya'll come!!!

Chapter Officers

For more information, please contact:

E-Mail: Joan Larson
Phone: Ron Keenan at 541-643-9229

Mailing address:
Ron keenan
800 S. State St. #169
Sutherlin, Oregon 97479

Chapter Photo Gallery