Northern Illinois Airstream Club

Carligs, Dixons, Jaminsons, and Morrisons  met for lunch at Rusty Bellies to renew friendships and discuss old rally/caravan times, and news about old timers from NIU.  Here is the link to Rusty’s website:Click here

                                     Photo clickable for more detail.

Sixteen NIU members (including 5 past NIU presidents), and alumni attended the luncheon.  Weather was good and we had a variety of interesting dishes brought by our members.  Later, we had a nice tour of the Garden Club area.  Attending were:  Carligs, Dixons, Jamisons, Johnsons, J. Matkovichs, R. Matkovichs, Schwarzs, and Stuarts.

We wish to thank Jim and Bobbie Matkovich for hosting the event again this year.

We have scheduled another luncheon at Tarpon Springs  later in March.

Despite the ferrous blizzard,  29 members attended a festive Christmas Dinner at Houlihan’s Restaurant in Geneva, IL.

Local dues are $10, plus $65 for the International.  Two ways to pay: ONLINE (at WBCCI.org) or BY MAIL
Make $75 the check out to: Northern Illinois Unit of WBCCI

Make sure you update your contact data, so we can keep in touch.

These pictures are clickable for closer viewing.
Lee County 4-H Fairgrounds – Ten members brought their rigs out for a perfect fall weekend.  Saturday, five more couples visited us.  Saturday business meeting, members voted to rename our club ” Northern Illinois Airstream Club”.  To make it official, the International’s IBT and Thor must approve the change at their Jan. 2017 meeting. (NOTE:Thor has put a hold on all name changes having “Airstream” in their name. (Unresolved as of 4/10/17)   Bob Whitesell (Region 5 1st vice president, and NIU member) installed our new officers. Thanks to our outgoing and incoming officers for their volunteered service.

After just baptizing his new truck on the WBCCI Revolutionary War  Caravan, Warren Dutton brought his new 2016 Chevy 250HD 4WD diesel truck for a visit. All the men had to fawn over it in the parking lot.

Dinner was served at 6:30 PM.  Afterwards; using a Smartphone (with unlimited data), married to Club’s video projector (through a laptop) we watched our Chicago Cubs clinch the National Baseball Championship.  After all these years of waiting, it was great!

Peter’s pictures of the rally are on Northern Illinois Facebook: click here

Membership – Ten 2015 couples did not renew their memberships for 2016.  During 2016, eleven new couples joined (or transferred their WBCCI memberships) to NIU.  As of 6/1/16, we had 55 memberships

October Newsletter link:  Click here

Weight Distribution Demo Safety Video- Link:  Click here

Airstream Travel Dreams on National Geographic:  Click here

Nine NIU couples  attended the rally.  Total attendance – about 40 trailer/motorhomes.  Peter Schwarz’s pictures on NIU Facebook: Click here   Arnie (Region 5 President) conducted a fun rally with lots of activities.  Link Region 5 website.  Click here

The NIU Executive Board met and proposed to change our local club’s name to  “Airstream Club of Northern Illinois”.  New flags would need to be purchased. (now on hold)  Peter and Judy continued on to the Sugar Creek rally in Ohio.

Eleven couples attended.  Weather, food, and conversations were good.  We learned a little about brewing at our tour of Lena Brewery.   Sat. dinner was at the Rafters Restaurant.  The club grill was put to good use for Sat. breakfast and Fri. evening grilling.  Peter Schwarz’s photos on the NIU FaceBook page: Click here

Five NIU couples attended.  670 rigs attended the rally on the WV State Fairgrounds, on high ground.   The area is picturesque rolling Appalachian hill and valley country.  Despite the torrential rain and flash flooding, the International proceeded almost normally.   Many members toured the area and attractions which remained open.  Due to the flooding, some tours had to be canceled.  The club and attendees contributed $40,000 for local flood relief.

Gardners and Dixons were parked on a crushed stone parking area, which was only minorly affected by the 10 inches of rain in 4 hours.  (We are in the middle of this picture.)  Campsites on grass became soft.  We lost power and water for 24 hours and had a boil water order in effect for 3 days.

The IBT approved a new club logo design adding the words “Rallies” and “Airstream”, reflecting the dual nature of the club (touring and social) and the exclusive relationship with Airstream products, and dropped the word “International”. The first European Chapter was celebrated.

NIU attendees: Carligs, Dixons, Gardners, Schwarzs, and Stuarts  (Norma performed a featured Oboe solo with the WBCCI Band.)

Link to the Lewisburg Rally website:  Click here

Lots of pictures and write ups on the WBCCI Lewisburg Facebook page  Click here

Lewisburg pictures on the NIU Facebook page  Click here

Ten NIU couples, plus 1 couple from the Wisconsin unit attended.  One “buddy” brought his large (non-Airstream) motorhome. Several other NIU members and families stopped by for a Sat. visit. The weather and the food were excellent.  The Club grill was put to good use. More details in NIU June newsletter.  Click here