Barney & Barbara Barnett
International Directors
Newmar Kountry Klub

From the Desk of Barney & Barbara Barnett:

Greetings and Happy Thanksgiving. In an effort to keep everyone abreast of what is happening in the Newmar Kountry Klub we will be writing our monthly article here and updating it more often if the information warrants. We encourage you to check the "News" section of the web-site frequently for the latest in what's going on.

At our recent Board of Directors Meeting, it was unanimously agreed that we need to continually communicate with all Klub members in as many ways as possible until the "Konnection" returns. Yes, the "Konnection" will return at a future date, but in a somewhat different format.

What will happen immediately is: we will make maximum use of the web-site. It will become your "on-line "Konnection". We highly encourage all of you who have access to pass along information to those of our members who do not. For those members who do not have internet access, we will mail an abbreviated information update, which we will create in-house and mail, probably on a quarterly basis.

Our future plans call for an on-line version of the "Konnection" for those with internet access and a printed copy will be mailed to those who do not have internet access. We do not know when we will be able to resume printing at this time.

For the present, we will continue to post all Klub news and activities on our web-site. The first quarterly update will be mailed in January 2009. We are asking all Region, State/Provincial Directors, and Chapter Officers to spread the word at all rallies and luncheons and in as many chapter newsletters as possible. Please help us keep our non e-mail members in the loop about Special Events and Chapter functions.

Annual Renewals: We also want to remind members whose dues expire in December 2008 to renew their membership so they can continue to enjoy the many rallies, Special Events, and luncheons scheduled for the next few months.

Special Events: Speaking of the next couple of months, we have the Tampa RV Super Show, and we will have Service presence. Also, "The Gathering in the Desert" as well as Puerto Penasco all coming up in January. We have two new caravans this year, "The Heart of Texas" in the Spring as well as "Newfoundland" in July. We are booking for those now as well as the "Alaska Caravan", so things are quite busy.

Member-at-Large Election: We also need to remind everyone that the Member-At-Large election will be held this Summer. If you are interested in running for this position, you will need to submit your Letter of Intent to the Kountry Klub Office by close of business March 13th. We also need your Letter to the open membership so it can be published on-line as well as in the April and June mailing for those who do not have internet. Remember also you will have the opportunity to address those attending the International Rally. If you are unable to attend, you may have someone stand in for you. Our current Member-At-Large is Jim Hagedon who was appointed to fulfill the term of the late Jeanne Fallen.

Rgion 5 Directors Vacancy: Doug and Linda Randolph had graciously agreed to extend their term as we were going to Perry, GA in 2009. However, since we are now going to Goshen they will be stepping down at the end of the year. Doug and Linda are our longest serving Region Directors at 6 years. There is no way one can put into words how much we appreciate their hard work and efforts over the past years. We have had many good times together and they will be sorely missed.

If you are interested in applying for Region 5 Directors vacancy, please submit your resume to the Klub Office, Attn: International Director. If you intend to apply, you will need to do so no later than February 20, 2009. The new Directors will be selected and appointed effective March 1, 2009.

The Newmar Coporation Executives believe the measures they have taken to temporarily scale back will enable them and the Kountry Klub to weather this current crisis. We support them in their decisions and in their belief that we will survive. If we all stay together, we'll all make it through.