Northern Illinois

All the Constitutional Amendments were approved including: 1. The Vision and Mission statement (developed by the 20/20 committee) into the International Constitution. 2. Allow units, who can not get any of their regular members to attend the International, to select an affiliate member (who belongs to another unit in their region) to cast their vote for them at the International delegates’ meeting.

For the two positions on the International Nominating Committee: Leo Garvey received 86 votes, Don McKelvay received 80 votes and Roy B Bernd received 6 votes.

The rest of the International offices were uncontested and therefore votes for those offices were unnecessary.

Seventeen die-hard members came through driving rains to attend. Small group conversations centered about the upcoming camping season, the state of the economy, and how it is affecting the RV industry. Monaco, the country’s 4th largest RV manufacturer, declared bankruptcy this week. Fleetwood pulled out of the making travel trailers 3/12/09. This month, the Blue Beret reported Airstream lost 5 dealerships. Thor loaned Camping World $10 million and now some Camping World’s will be approved by Airstream to do some repairs.

Picturesque White Pines Lodge and Log Cabin Village were built as a CCC project during the last great 30’s depression. Torrents of water, causing rapids in the river ford near the park entrance, prevented us from exploring most of the park.