Celebrities Were Early Adopters of RVs
In 1931, Mae West’s Paramount Studios contract included a chauffeur-driven “house car” for the star to relax in while filming movies. In the early 1940s, aviation pioneers Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, needed someplace quiet where they could write, so Henry Ford let them use a 1935 house trailer he owned that was equipped with electricity, a stove, an icebox, a bathroom and other “modern” amenities. And in the ’60s and ’70s, TV reporter Charles Kuralt famously crisscrossed the country in a motorhome while filming his popular “On the Road” features for CBS News.
RVIA Centennial Celebration June 7, 2010 at RV/MH Hall of Fame
Early Tourist Camps (Campgrounds) in North Dakota
RV Centennial Celebration at RV Motorhome Hall of Fame and Museum
Article Submitted to WIT Club News
|
NODAK FLICKERTAILS MAY 14-16, 2010 Submitted in June 1, 2010 Regent, North Dakota NODAK FLICKERTAILS STATE CLUB By Helen Evans The first campout of the North Dakota State club, Nodak Flickertails, was the best weekend ever. Eighteen members found their way to Regent, North Dakota. We did not have snow or rain and the sunshine was not too hot. We arrived Friday afternoon. The hosts for the weekend were John and Cathy Hilley and John and Helen Evans. Shortly after supper, the artist of the metal sculptures in Regent, Gary Greff, stopped in to welcome us to his home turf. Saturday morning after the pancake breakfast, we were treated to tours of four of six museums buildings. The four buildings are filled with amazing heritage artifacts that took us back in time. However, our guide, Don Wagendorf, was extremely knowledgeable of all the artifacts and was able to answer many of our questions. There were so many things in the museums that writing about them would be impossible. There were old time farm machinery, a doctor’s office, the drug store, grocery store, a country church, country one-room school, military memorabilia, also German/Hungarian and Norwegian Heritage and one-of-a- kind Native American artifacts and hundreds of things worth remembering. After lunch, we caravanned to The Enchanted Highway the entranceway to Regent, ND to get a close-up look of the metal sculptures. The Enchanted Highway is truly a unique traveling experience featuring the world's largest metal sculptures produced by artist Gary Greff. Just before you enter the entryway, of Interstate 94, Exit 72 there stands a one-of- a-kind humongous metal sculpture name “Geese in Flight.” It is in the Guinness World Book of Records as the largest scrap metal sculpture in the world, and was erected in 2001. It weighs over 75 ton, the sunray is 156 feet long, 110 feet tall, and the largest goose has a wingspan of 30 feet. At one time, Gary Greff was a school teacher and principle before building sculptures. You have to see the all of his massive sculptures including the “Tin Family” built from farm equipments. In the evening, we gathered at the Saloon in town for dinner. We were shown a few bar tricks; one was how to get $1.00 to stick to the ceiling and there were many dollars on the ceiling. After supper, we went to the Enchanted Highway Gift Shop that Gary opened for us for ice cream, to purchase a few souvenirs, and to pay for the weekend camping. Sunday morning we held our business meeting with discussions on what to do at GNR, which also included how to promote the State of North Dakota. President Leier also told us that the club received a letter of congratulations from WIT General Manager, Doug Formanek and a 10-year patch celebrating the club’s 10th Anniversary. The patch has already been sewed onto the flag by Chris Hesse. A group picture was taken of the first weekend campers. It does not seem like it has been 10 years since the club had been formed. Congratulations to all! |
WIT Nodak Flickertails - SD Ringnecks - Rushmore Winnies Medora Campout Meal Plans
WIT Nodak Flickertails Donates $50 to Enchanted Highway Spider Sculpture
WIT Nodak Flickertails Group Picture at Regent
Centennial Videos
WIT Nodak Flickertails Meeting Minutes 5-16-2010
NODAK FLICKERTAILS
MINUTES OF MEETING
REGENT, ND
MAY 16, 2010
President Adam Leiercalled the meeting to order. A totalof 18 members were in attendance at the first campout of the 2010 campingseason.
Adam read an email from Colleen and Al Belyea requestingcontinued prayers for their grandson.
Adam thanked our Camp hosts, the Hilleys and the Evans, for the wonderful pancakes, sausage, eggs, muffins, etc. Thanks also to Judy and Adam for the coffee.
Minutes of theprevious meeting, 9-13-09, were read by Ed with additions noted; theNelsons will also be co-hosts of the June Medora campout; and, Cathy H. notedthat the theme of GNR is “Hollywood Legends.”Motion to accept the minutes made by John H, seconded by John E, motioncarried.
Treasurer reported thatthe white elephant sale (at 9-13-09 campout) brought in $286.50 and membershipdues from Vern & Doris Jewett brought our balance to $2,028.13. DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 2010. Motion to accept Treasurer’s Report made byDuane, seconded by Vern, motion carried.
Outstanding bills:Cathy presented a bill for $38.34 for a plant for Ron Deck when he washospitalized. (Ron thanked everyone forthe plant). At the last Septembermeeting, a motion was made to give camp hosts $50 for putting on theircampout. John H. had a question – “dothey have to submit a bill or does the treasurer automatically send the$50?” It was agreed that thetreasurer can send the money without having a bill.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Report from the Nominatingcommittee: (Helen, Joyce and Tony)
Helen stated, “Those who are in office should stay in officeanother year!”
Those officers are:
President -Adam Leier
Vice Pres -Eleanore DeMers
Secretary -Donna Grunett
Treasurer -Mark Collins
GNR Activities -Cathy gave an update on Hollywood Legends and discussed having a ND theme anddressing up. We should respond by emailto Kathy with ideas, to be refined at the June meeting.
ND Tourism - Edreported they have not done anything with ND tourism, will talk to Myron. Adam didn’t think ND had published their RVcamping guide.
OLD BUSINESS:
Adam received information from WIT regarding decliningmembership. WIT has sent out brochuresto all new Winnebago owners in the last 5 years and sent information to theclub presidents. Judy has sentmembership information also to these folks as well as letting the membersknow. We should make an effort tocontact these folks, invite them to GNR, and have them park in our ND row. Cathy offered to do this.
NEW BUSINESS:
Youth organization at GNR is asking for a donation. Motion to give the same as last year ($50.00)was made by Helen, seconded by Karen, motion carried.
GNR - Ed said heapplied for a $500 grant from ND tourism but was declined. Hazen CVB will kick in money for the purchaseof Krause brats, made in a long ring so they can be cut and served appetizerstyle with toothpicks. We need to takepictures of our set up, the serving and the people in line and they willreimburse up to $200. We will also haveavailable Hazen area brochures. Thereis the possibility of the Hazen Krause’s Super Value, along with their Washburnand Garrison stores, of sponsoring future tourism – Ed will continue lookinginto that.
Discussed other handouts, Dakota Growers mac and cheese boxes, and possiblysunseeds. Giant has a new plant in theWahpeton area that Ralph can, perhaps, contact.Also, Barb offer to contact the
Club Excellence Award- This will be our 10th year, Adam has the application to befilled out, Donna will sign Vice President Eleanore’s name. This was agreeable to everyone.
Club shirt -Everyone was agreeable to ordering a club shirt. John H will check out prices,logo and set up charges to come from club treasury.
By-Law changes -John H will talk to Tony.
Medora Campout -We have 16 couples from our club plus the two SD groups. We will pay
Adam and Judy for our first night’s camping of either $26 or$27, depending on the number of reservations.All other nights, plus if you want cable TV, will be paid directly tothe campground. We will serve a welcomesupper on Thursday (a signup sheet for salads, baked beans, etc, has beencirculated) and breakfast on Friday and Saturday (pancakes, eggs, sausage, andfruit.) will be provided by your camp hosts.Ed made a motion to increase Medora campout request to $100. Seconded byJohn H, motion carried. Hosts areLeiers, Rustads, Grunetts and Nelsons.Discussed having “happy hour” with light snacks.
Having no other business at this time, meeting wasadjourned.
Respectfully submitted by Donna Grunett
Addendum to minutes - Adam has talked to SD WIT groups; theywanted to provide something, decided on Sunday AM continental breakfast.
Look forward toseeing you all soon!
