Northern Illinois Airstream Club

The Wendorfs hosted the rally.  Six couples came for the weekend.  Three more couples drove in for the Saturday activities.  Friday’s hour was followed by a group dinner and campfire.  Some went to the Lodge to enjoy “Music on the Veranda”.  Saturday morning: Rick and Jill served French toast, sausage, and orange juice.   During the day, we toured the museum in Utica and the Visitor Center at the lock. After Saturday’s happy hour, we had dinner at the Starved Rock Lodge.  It was too hot that evening, so we did not stick around for the music.  We got some rain during the weekend, but that did not dampen our enjoyment.  Sunday morning: the group toured the Starved Rock visitor center to learn of the legend of Starved Rock.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

These photos are clickable for full screen viewing.

NIU members attending: Cristys, Stuarts, and Dixons.  Norma Stuart played oboe in the band. Carol carried the unit flag. Dwight acted as our delegate. Roy worked on Cargo and Jerry worked on security. Delegates Meeting: Only one candidate per International office, Constitutional amendment to eliminate unnecessary roll call votes was approved.

Farmington is high desert oil service community with daytime temps. in the 90’s and  50’s at night.  This time of year, sudden wind/rain storms were a risk to awnings.   400 rigs were parked on the gravel county fairgrounds next to a horse track and casino.  Five of the seven Region 5 units had attendees.  Nationally, 90 of the 120 local units attended.  Lucky, we all had 30 amp (for our air conditioners) and plenty of water. Some  pulled out early, while others arrived late.

The Dixon’s parked with 65 Vintage Airstream Club (VAC) trailers, which has their own large tent and many activities.

We toured three Indian ruins, including Mesa Verde.  Lots of seminars, club activities and entertainment. There were the usual Illinois, Region 5, and other luncheons.

We toured oil billionaires (Bolack) private collection/museum. click here  Everything from early farm and oil equipment equipment to steam locomotive, jet fighter trainer, DC 3, Elvis Presley’s gold Cadillac, plus Jr’s two giant warehouses filled with obsolete technology items.  Tom senior’s  collection of animal mounts (that he shot or collected from around the world) required a two story building with a messine to display his full mount giraffe.

The weekend was damp, but that did not stop 8 NIU couples from enjoying eachothers company.  Friday night we did get in a campfire before the rain started. We had restaurant dinner for Saturday night.

Check the Facebook page for pictures. Click here

The three Illinois WBCCI Units rallied at Lithia Springs COE Campground near Shelbyville, IL.   Sixteen Airstreams couples attended, ( 7 from NIU, 6 from Lincolnland , and 3 from Southern).  Weather was cooperative, with only occasional light rain (which we worked around).  Ten couples rented a party pontoon boat Friday afternoon. Some members went to the Amish Craft Festival in Arthur, others enjoyed the BlueGrass Festival and other activities in Shelbyville. There were lots of friendly conversations during the happy hours and around the campfires.  Linda Hatten, from Lincolnland, cooked a pork loin for Saturday dinner.  Carl Leslie serenaded us with his ukulele around the campfire. More pictures on photos page.

Link to the Rally Schedule of events: Click here

These pictures are clickable to full size.
Great weather for the rally.  13 trailers, plus an Interstate attended, including 2 first timers.  Friday evening, the Executive Board decided to double the unit dues (from $5 to $10 per year) to cover the cost of storing and distributing the emails and Newsletters using “Constant Contact”.  The Saturday morning membership meeting confirmed the election of the International officers and approved a  proposed International Constitutional amendment.  We were unable to develop candidates for the open unit officer positions, so that election was postponed until October.  No unit officers  chose/plan to attend the Farmington, NM International rally, so Dwight Dixon will be our delegate.  Saturday afternoon, we toured the NorthWest Museum in Dixon. Here is the link  The 1908 high school building now contains exhibits of: Ronald Reagan, early pioneer history, and Indian culture.

Link to the NIU April 2015 Newsletter is on newsletter page of this website.

More pictures on NIU FaceBook:  Click Here

Eighteen of our members had a Pizza party at Lou Malnati’s in Elk Grove Village.  Attending: Long time members: Damisch, Bonnie, Kochs, Kranners, Whitesells, Mark & Brian, Mayos, Whitey, and newer members: Lannings, and newest members: Selles.  It was a good break after a long winter.

 Saturday.2:30PM – RV Show – Five NIU couples met and toured the show.   The show was a good place to dream about next summer’s travels and camping.  
After the show, 15 people went to dinner at Coopers Hawk.

Northern Illinois Unit February Newsletter on Newsletter page.

WBCCI  February 2015  National News and Views:  Click here

You can enlarge this picture by clicking on it.

January 24th– Luncheon at Houlihan’s in Illinois – Sixteen Airstreaming friends got together to enjoy some good food and conversations.  Officers and members included: Mayos, Kraners, Wendorfs, Whitesells, Kochs, Schwarzs, Nancy Laning, and Withey family.

You can enlarge this picture by clicking on it.

January 27th – Florida – Eighteen NIU members and alumni met at Travelers Rest near Dade City to enjoy a Pot Luck Luncheon and Florida weather.  Attendees: Aarups, Carligs, Dixons, Jaminsons, J. Matkovichs, R. Matkovichs, Morrisons, Stuarts, and the Wagnons. Hosted by Jim and Bobby Matkovich.

Jan. 2015 Newsletter:  Click here

–” Branson on the Road – Christmas Style”

Twenty-six members attended.  The food was good and the three piece county and western group gave a lively performance.  No weather driving problems this year.

Airstream Recall Notice : Late model Electrical Inlet Connectors:  Click here 

We had a fine fall weekend.  Ten family memberships brought their Units to celebrate Thanksgiving and Elect/Install our new officers. Saturday, we had two families drive in to visit and enjoy a meal.  Friday night, most of us attended the open mic. entertainment at the Lincoln Highways Museum in Franklin Grove. The Saturday morning business meeting elected our new officers.    Dave Mayo, our new president, presented next year’s schedule of activities. (See the Event/Rally schedule page)  Dwight detailed the causes of the “Electrocution by Airstream” that occurred June 30th this year at Amboy. He reviewed grounding procedures necessary to prevent re-occurrence and demonstrated the club’s newly purchased device to detect “hot skins”. Membership Chairman reported the International and NIU website signed up 8 new NIU members this year. Goykes, Morrisons, and Bonnie Nester have their motorhomes for sale.  Saturday our delicious  dinner had three turkeys and many side dishes supplied by our members.  Surrounding farmers were busy bringing in the harvests.   Weather was brisk. Saturday evening the temperature dropped to 29F.  Many of our retired members will be leaving for the south soon and our working members will have to winterize their units and put them away.

A number of members took pictures with their cell phones and posted them to the NIU FaceBook Wall.  Here is the link.  Click here 

Link to September/ October 2014 Newsletter  on newsletter page.