Hello All,

Our season kicked off as usual Memorial Day weekend in Greenfield, Mass but the weather did not co-operate. Entertainment was held indoors throughout the weekend period as was most of the weekend activities. Our volunteer blood drive was held on Saturday morning and resulted in the colection of 25 units of blood for this worthwhile cause, thank you. Our annual business meeting was held in Greenfield on Sunday afternoon with the main topic being the upcoming election of our National President

Dave Buker was asked to cast our Chapter vote for the A&W team. Please find Anne's minutes of the meeting further in this newsletter. Monday morning the sun finally came out for the presenting of the colors and closing ceremonies. In June it was off to the Good Sam National rally in Syracuse, NY. Met up with Charlie, Anne and Bob and Nancy Heck and headed West towards mid-State NY. Then the rains came! Fortunately we had scheduled for an early entry date and upon arrival we were parked almost immediatly on the racetrack oval. Later arrivals were not so lucky as the rains soaked the grassy areas and off-site parking became the norm. The Good Sam team found it necessary to provide an on-site towing service throughout the rally period for those stuck in the mud. When things got rolling it was quite a show and there was much to do. A huge indoor facility provided cover for well over 100 vendors and display coaches were everywhere around the perimeters.

Entertainment, well just mention the name Reba and you get the message. It certainly was a great rally and a good time was had by all despite the weather. Several of our Chapter members made the trip out to Syracuse for this rally and rumor has it that one couple even bought a new coach! I will keep you guessing on that one. Lucille and I made our annual treck out to the Cape for the fourth of July weekend period for a two week stay

Again the rains came for a couple of days but once that cleared up we checked out the flea markets and the Cape in general, had a great time. Our NEA Cape Codders sister Chapter held their annual rally at Scusset beach this same weekend period and entertained a very special guest. Our newly elected National President Charlie Adcock was in attendance. I was able to spend some time with Charlie and much was discussed concerning the NEA during the hour and a half meeting. He assured me that he will do everything in his power to get the NEA back on its feet and running again.

He knows that we are here and he is commited to help us out. Thanks Charlie. Just returned from the URI balloon festival after another great weekend. Ten Mass Minutemen coaches and other family members were in attendance. The balloons had to be tied down for all of the weekend period due to the winds but the vendors and food displays/competition were in full swing. A twenty minute fireworks display highlighted the weekend on Saturday evening.

Thanks to Karen (Mahoney) and Russel Bertrand for their help in hosting this annual event. Looking ahead it is hard to believe but the month of August is just over the horizon. Lucille and I will be off to the great State of Maine for a couple of weeks and hope to meet up with good friends at the multy-Chapter FMCA rally in Wells. Of course lobster and steamers will be on the menu. Please continue to check out our website for updated information and rally registration forms. Lucille and I are working on having another rally at the Dunroamin country club in Hardwick that will include a catered meal and a day of golf, tentative date of Oct 4th,5th,6th. Columbus Day weekend we are planning to visit our good neighbors in the North, the Green Mountain Chapter, for the Tunbridge rally.