December 2011

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  We just returned from California where we visited our daughter, son-in-law and the grandchildren.  The trip was enjoyable, but it is good to be home.

Our term as Idaho State Directors is coming to an end.  We want to thank everyone who supported us the last eight years (Four as Spudnut Chapter Officers and four as Idaho State Directors).  It has been a great experience meeting club members and making many new friends.

We would like to wish Frank & Jan Hasman well as they take over as Idaho State Directors on January 1, 2012.  We also would like to congratulate Terry Garrett as incoming President of the Spudnut Chapter and all the other officers who are extending for another year.  We will be on the sidelines for the next couple of years, and will be ready to help whenever needed.

We would encourage everyone to attend and support as many rallies as possible, not only in your region but wherever your travels take you.  You will meet a lot of new members that can become life long friends.  The Regions, States and Chapters all need your support.

We would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season.

“Keep it between the fence posts”

Keep it between the fence posts!

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)

Idaho State Directors

October 2011

The Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter, Buddy Rally was a complete success.  We were very pleased to have the NKK International Directors Jim & Wilma Weeks #9233L in attendance.  They gave us an insight on what is going on with Newmar Corp. and the Newmar Kountry Klub.  It was nice to get a first-hand report and see that everything is moving forward.

Mike & Carol Lowery #10354L brought us up-to-date on Region 2, the 2011 International Rally in Essex Junction, Vermont, and the Newfoundland Caravan.  Marilyn Rogero #16797 gave us a report on the Alaska/Yukon Caravan.

We also had two NKK members and one guest attend from Canada: Malcolm & Danielle Scott #19288, Dennis & Dianne Kolybaba #19560 and guest Ross & Mary Lyle.  It was great to have former Spudnut Officers, George & Sue Silkworth, with us for the Rally.

It was announced that Frank & Jan Hasman #17704 will be the new Idaho State Directors starting in January 2012.  Terry Garrett #18233 will be the new Spudnut Chapter President starting in January 2012.  All other Spudnut officers are extended for another term.

The Rally was a huge success from the meals, the Lake Coeur d’Alene cruise, and the Wallace Idaho Melodrama was enjoyed by all, (just ask Donna).  The homemade cinnamon rolls were enjoyed by all on the morning of departure.

We want to give a big thank you to Mike Phillips of Guarantee R.V. in Junction City, Oregon.  They helped sponsor our rally and provided our dinner at the opening gathering.  We also want to welcome Mike & Gail Phillips #19449 and Ken & Billie Lewis #16261 as new members in the Idaho Spudnut Chapter.

As our retirement nears, we have enjoyed the past 8 years as officers of the Spudnut Chapter and Idaho State Directors.  We have met numerous people and made many new friends.

“Keep it between the fence posts”

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)

Idaho State Directors

August 2011

The Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally will be held in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on August 24,25,26, with departure on the 27th.  Blackwell Island RV Resort is located on the banks of Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River. 

This will be a Buddy Rally so you may invite your non-Newmar

owner friends to attend with you.  All spaces have 30A/50A, water, sewer, cable and WiFi.

The Rally will begin at 4:00 pm in the Rally Room with a gathering.  Please bring heavy hors d’oeurves (appetizers) to share and beverage of your choice.  The rally will include 3 nights of camping, door prizes, one full breakfast by the Spudnut Chapter and two continental breakfasts (one with Donna’s homemade cinnamon Rolls).  Rally activities will include a 90-minute cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and an afternoon dinner at Cedars Floating Restaurant of Prime Rib, non-alcoholic beverage and huckleberry ice cream for dessert. You will have a free afternoon in Wallace, Idaho.  Lunch and dinner will be on your own, followed by the famous Sixth Street Melodrama in Wallace (admission is included in your rally fee).

There are many things to see and do in Wallace (an old mining town).  Silver mine tours, restaurants, the Oasis Bordello Museum and the Railroad Museum.  As you carpool to Wallace, you might want to visit The Snake Pit Restaurant, the Catalado Mission State Park (the Mission is the oldest standing building in Idaho), as well as the Silver Mountain Gondola ride in Kellogg.  The Kootenai county fair will be in progress at this time in Coeur d’ Alene.

(Reservation deadline is August 14.)

For more information, check the calendar of events in the Konnection or call: Jack or Donna Taylor  Home – 208-667-8704 or cell 208-660-2504 Email:  djtiredretired@frontier.com

“Keep it between the fence posts”

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)

May 2011

Spring is here in North Idaho.  The snow has melted away in the valley and the ice has melted on most of the lakes.  That takes care of the ice fishing for this year.

 The Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally will be held in August 24th, 25th, 26th with departure on the 27th.  The Blackwell Island Resort is a beautiful RV Park with all of the amenities for a great rally and is located on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River.  This will be a buddy rally so you may invite your non-Newmar-owner friends to attend.  We have reserved 25 spaces so we suggest you get your reservations in early.  All sites have 30A/50A power, sewer, water, cable TV and WiFi.  Bring your water pressure regulator as the RV Park has high water pressure. The Rally will begin at 4:00 p.m. with the gathering in the Rally room.  Please bring heavy hors d’oeurves (appetizers) to share and your beverage of choice.  The Rally will include 3 nights of camping, door prizes, one full-breakfast by the Spudnut Chapter, and two continental breakfasts (one with Donna’s famous Cinnamon Rolls).  The annual Spudnut Chapter meeting will be held after breakfast (with election of officers if necessary.... yes the train is running).  The Rally activities will include a 90-minute cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene with the Cruise Ship picking us up at the RV Park dock. After the Cruise, we will depart the Cruise Ship at Cedars Restaurant for an afternoon dinner of Prime Rib, non-alcoholic beverages, and huckleberry ice cream for dessert.  You will have the rest of the afternoon and evening as free time.  We have reserved the restaurant for our group and will have seating inside or outside.  We will also have an afternoon and evening in Wallace, Idaho.  Lunch and dinner are on your own followed by the famous Sixth Street Melodrama in Wallace (admission included in your rally fee).  There are many things to do and see in Wallace (an old mining town): Silver mine tours, Restaurants, the Oasis Bordello Museum, and the Railroad Museum.  As you carpool to Wallace, you might want to visit the Snake Pit Restaurant, the Catalado Mission State Park (the Mission is the oldest standing building in Idaho), as well as the Silver Mountain gondola ride in Kellogg.  The Kootenai County fair will be in progress at this time too. Please see the ad in the Konnection for more details and rally information.   Remember to keep it between the fence posts.

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)

Idaho State Directors

April 2011

Donna and I have spent the winter in North Idaho so we have had some extra time to work on the Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally.

We have reserved 25 spaces at Blackwell Island RV Resort on Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River.  Coeur d’Alene is a beautiful area in North Idaho and the resort has all of the amenities for a great rally.

We have a fun rally planned with one full breakfast by the Spudnut Chapter and two continental breakfasts, one with Donna’s famous homemade cinnamon rolls.  We also have a 90-minute lake cruise which concludes with a prime rib dinner with all the trimmings, beverage and dessert.  Also planned is an afternoon and evening in Wallace where we will attend the famous Wallace Melodrama.  Wallace is an old mining town which is rich in history.  This will also be a buddy rally so if you have RV friends who do not own a Newmar product, they can sign up and attend with you.

See our rally ad in this issue of the Konnection and the Region 2/Idaho website at www.newmarkountryklub.com.

Jack and Donna Taylor (15044)

Idaho State Directors

February 2011

We are writing this a little early to meet the Konnection deadline.  We hope that

everyone enjoyed the holiday season as much as we did here in North Idaho.  So far this winter we have had 41 inches of snow (a record). 

We have been working on the Idaho/Spudnut Chapter Rally for this year.  It will be held at Blackwell Island RV Resort in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  It is located on Lake Coeur d’Alene where it meets the Spokane River.  It is a beautiful spot and the resort has all of the amenities for a great rally.  This will be a buddy rally, so if you have RV friends who do not own a Newmar product they can attend with you.  It will be held on August 24th, 25th, 26th, and depart on the 27th.  All sites have complete hookups with 30/50 amps, water, sewer and free WiFi.  Activities include door prizes, three nights of camping, a Cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene, a Prime Rib dinner at the Cedars Floating Restaurant, and an afternoon in Wallace Idaho, including the famous Melodrama.  Optional activities available include golf, shopping, antique shops, and the Kootenai County Fair will be in progress.  There will also be free shuttle bus service to the Coeur d’Alene Casino in Worley.  The boat for the Lake Cruise will pick us up at the Blackwell RV Resort dock so we will not have any travel or parking problems.  The rally will also include one full breakfast by the Spudnut Chapter and two continental breakfasts, one with Donna’s yummy homemade Cinnamon rolls. 

0ur rally ad will appear in the April & May Konnection’s, however additional information is currently available on the Region 2/Idaho Klub website at www.newmarkountryklub.com

"Keep it Between the Fence Posts"

November 2010

As the rally season comes to a close here in the Northwest, Donna and I want to express our appreciation and thanks to Barney and Barbara for their extreme dedication for the
past seven years as our International Directors.  We wish them well during their retirement and hope to see them somewhere down the road.  As always, they did a great job on this year’s International Rally in Goshen.  The seminars were excellent and the Newmar factory tour was very educational and showed us how well our coaches are built. All the new improvements and the new overhead crane were something to see.  We enjoyed our dinner at an Amish home and were eager to learn about their customs. We also enjoyed the Studebaker National Museum and the RV Hall of Fame.  The countryside was beautiful.

After the International Rally, we headed west and visited with family and friends in Wisconsin and then on to the Region 2 Rally in Glacier National Park.  Mike and Carol always have a great rally and this one was one of the best.  The area is beautiful and the trip up the road to the sun and the boat cruise were spectacular.

The dates have been set for the 2011 joint Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally for August 24, 25, 26, departing on the 27th at Blackwell Island RV Resort in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (Wallace Melodrama and more...).  Watch the Konnection for further information.

We have a new email address:  djtiredretired@frontier.com

Keep it between the fence posts!

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)

Idaho State Directors

September 2010

We hope everyone is enjoying this summer rally season.  This year’s Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally was held at the Boise Meridian RV Resort in Boise, Idaho.  There were fifteen rigs and everyone enjoyed the tour of the newly remodeled Idaho State Capitol building.  It has been beautifully remodeled and a lot of history was explained during the guided tour.  We also took the trolley tour through historic Boise.  It was very informative about the history of the old homes and the downtown area.

Everyone enjoyed the meals prepared and served by Mr. Ron Lundquist and the RV Resort Staff; they did an excellent job serving three breakfasts and a steak dinner.  Everyone departed on Sunday morning after a continental breakfast and Donna’s home made Cinnamon Rolls.

We look forward to attending the Montana State/Big Sky Chapter Rally in Polson, Montana.  Then on to Goshen for the International Rally; hope to see everyone there.  (That is if we can get past Rapid City this year!)  We will stop in Glacier on the way home for the Region 2 Rally.  Enjoy the season.  

Keep it between the fence posts!

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)
Idaho State Directors

April 2010

Happy Easter to Everyone.

In March, we visited family in Long Beach, CA.  We spent a week in El Centro with high school friends, then on to Las Vegas for few days, and then to Boise.  We met with the folks at the Boise/Meridian RV Resort to put the final touches on the Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally set for June 23,24,25,26, departing on the 27th.  We will have four nights of camping with full hook-ups (50A), pool, spa, exercise room, cable and Wi-Fi.  We will have four breakfasts and two dinners.  (One breakfast with Donna's home-made cinnamon rolls.)  Activities will include a trolley tour of Boise and a guided tour of the newly- remodeled State Capital building.  There will also be many more activities during your free time.  See the Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter ad for further details.  For information, call Jack or Donna Taylor 208-667-8704 home or cell phone 208-660-2504 or email: djtiredretired@verizon.net

"Keep it Between the Fence Posts"

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)
Idaho State Directors

February 2010

We hope everyone enjoyed a Merry Christmas, and we wish everyone a “Happy and Prosperous New Year”

We have been working with the Spudnut Chapter President to finish the planning of the 2010 Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally.  The Rally will be June 23, 24, 25, 26 and depart on June 27.  We have reserved 25 spaces at the Boise/Meridian RV Park in Meridian, Idaho.  This is a very nice RV Resort with a spacious club house and a full kitchen (which we will have full use of during the rally).  Four nights of camping with full hookups, 50amp, pool, spa, exercise room and WiFi.  We will have 4 breakfasts, and two dinners.  A trolley tour of Boise is planned with a tour of the newly remodeled State Capitol Building.  Many optional activities will be available during free time.  (Please see more details in our ad in this issue of the Konnection)

"Keep it Between the Fence Posts"

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)
Idaho State Directors

December 2009

"Happy Holidays from North Idaho"

Donna and I made a trip down to Cascade, Idaho, and meet with the new Spudnut Chapter Officers.  Then we all traveled south to the Boise area to plan next year’s Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally.  The dates will be June 23,24,25,26, 2010; held

at the Boise Meridian RV Park in Meridian, Idaho.  This is a Good Sam Club RV facility with a large kitchen and club house (which we will have use of the entire rally).  Activities are being planned and more information will follow.   We hope more members from the southern part of the state will be able to attend.  This follows our policy of rotating the location of our rallies from north Idaho one year and south Idaho the next. If you have any questions, you can call us at 208-667-8704 or 208-660-2504 (cell#).

Remember to sign up for the Konnection to keep you up on all Kountry Klub activities.

"Keep it Between the Fence Posts"

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)
Idaho State Directors

October 2009

The summer season is slipping away and we have been very busy attending rallies in the Northwest.  We attended the Region 2 Rally in Cody, Wyoming, hosted by Mike & Carol Lowery (10354L).  It was a lot of fun and was highlighted by a two-day pass at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.  The trolley tour and the street gun-fight were a big hit.  Mike & Carol hosted a great rally.

We then headed for Goshen to the International Rally but our auto-park brake failed just outside of Cody.  We were able to limp along to the Workhorse dealer in Rapid City, S.D. There we waited in the KOA campground for 12 days, waiting for parts from Workhorse. They finally had them shipped overnight from the manufacturer but it was too late for us to get to Goshen for the Rally.  While stranded in Rapid City, we did take advantage of the sights there, touring Custer St. Park (Buffalo galore), Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore and the Presidents Walk in downtown Rapid City.  We then headed back to Coeur d'Alene to work out the final details on the Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally.

We attended the Oregon State/Pioneer Chapter Rally in Newport, Oregon, hosted by Ross & Marie Turney (15097), Oregon St. Directors, and Curt & Jean Bresee (13102) President, Oregon Pioneers.  We had a good time; however, I think we overdosed on fresh seafood while we were there.
 
We returned to Coeur d'Alene and hosted the Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally with the help of the Spudnuts President and Treasurer, Jim & Joanne Franklin (16479).  We had a lot of help from the Spudnut Officers and members.  Thanks again to the Spudnut Officers for preparing and serving a wonderful "Spudnut Breakfast".  So many people stepped forward and helped; we don't want to leave anyone out, so "Thank You".  All the food and the boat cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene were well received.
 
Next week we will be headed to Long Beach, Washington, to attend the Washington State Rally and of course more seafood.
 
We would like to thank Tony & Linda Horner (18291) for traveling with us on our way to International and giving us so much support in our troubled times.
 
Until next time: Keep it between the fence posts!

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)
Idaho State Directors

August 2009

The rally season is well underway in Region 2.  A great time was had by all at the Evergreen Aires Rally in June at the Toppenish Yakima Indian Nations RV Park.  It was planned to be a kickback rally with plenty of good food.  It was a great start for the
Rally season.

 
As we prepare this article, we are packing the rig and will be leaving for the Region 2 Rally in Cody, Wyoming.  The Lowery's have a great Rally planned and we are looking forward to all the activities.  We will then head east and attend the International Rally in Goshen, Indiana.  We are looking forward to all the activities and we plan to sightsee in the Amish countryside.  After the Rally, we will head west and attend the joint Oregon State and Pioneer Chapter Rally in Newport, Oregon.  Newport is a great place with excellent seafood.  Then back home for the joint Idaho State and Spudnut Chapter Rally at the Blackwell Island RV resort on the Spokane River and Lake Coeur d'Alene in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on August 26th to 28th.  (See Calendar of Events for additional details.)
We will then go to the Washington State Rally in Long Beach, Washington.  It will be a fun-filled summer. 

June 2009

Greetings from Idaho. It is finally spring and the warmer weather is welcome.  Plans for the Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally set for August 26,27,28th are almost complete.  The rally will be held at the Blackwell Island RV Resort which offers free cable TV and Wi-Fi.  The resort has great rally facilities and we are looking forward to a great rally.  It will be at least a 10 lb. rally (BBQ Chicken and Baby Back Ribs, home-made “Taylormade” ice cream, Donna's old fashioned cinnamon rolls, and more!).  We will have a 90-minute scenic cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene. We will also have a book exchange and door prizes.  We will also have some free time for the many activities around the Coeur d'Alene area.  Reservations due by August 10, 2009.  (Please see more details in our ad in this issue of the Konnection.)

Please remember to pay for the subscription for the Konnection
Newsletter.  It is $15.00 for 6 issues and you can subscribe on-line or mail to the Kountry Klub.

If you have any questions please give a call at:  Home phone 208.667.8704 - cell phone 208.660.2504 or e-mail  djtiredretired@verizon.net  Look forward to seeing you this summer, safe travels and "Keep it between the Fence Posts"

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)

May 2009

Spring is finally here. We are starting to see some green grass here in North Idaho.  We had an all-time record snowfall this year so we will have full lakes and rivers this summer.

The Idaho State and Spudnut Chapter Rally planning is almost complete.  We are waiting for confirmation from Dennis Dillon RV in Boise on what extent they can be involved in these hard economic times.  We are planning a full rally at Blackwell RV Resort on Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River.  This is a premier resort with all the amenities for a super successful rally.  There will be 2 Continental Breakfasts (one with Homemade Cinnamon Rolls), 1 Full Breakfast prepared and served by the Spudnut Chapter, and 2 Full Dinners (1 with our Homemade Ice Cream).

There will also be a 90-minute Scenic Boat Cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene and many optional activities (the Kootenai County Fair will be ongoing during this time).  If there is enough interest, we can play golf at the Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Course.  There will be plenty of free time to walk the world’s longest floating boardwalk at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, shop in downtown Coeur d’Alene and antique shops.  A tour of the Buck Knife Factory is available to sign up for when you check in on August 26th. (Please see more details in our ad in this issue of the Konnection)

Remember to keep it between the fence posts.

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)

Idaho State Directors

April 2009

We have just returned from a road trip without the RV - we had a record snowfall this winter and it is still in the shop all tucked away for the winter.  We went to California to visit family and friends, and then headed to Cathedral City, Indio, El Centro, Yuma, Las Vegas, Twin Falls and home.  Met up with some Newmar friends along the way and had some good visits.

We did stop in Boise and met the new Sales Manager at Dennis Dillon RV, Shain Gordon.  He is very supportive of Newmars and would like us to send him an email with
information about the Rally in August.  They may be able to help out with a dinner and display some new models.  We will also work on some tech support for minor repairs on attendee’s rigs.

We want to keep our fellow member Jake Salm in our prayers.  He and his wife Jan were on their way from Winterhaven, CA to Puyallup, WA and on the 24th of Feb, while they were in Bakersfield, he was admitted to Heart Hospital with a heart attack.  Both of their sons flew down from Washington and were with Jan during the surgery.  Recently we spoke with Jan and she said Jake is resting and doing well; and she said “thanks for all the support she is receiving from her Newmar Friends.”

We encourage our fellow Spudnuts to use the Yahoo Groups Spudnut page to post information about your travels and anything you wish to share.

Please remember to send in your subscription of $15.00 to receive the Konnection so they can continue publication.  Additional information is listed in your Konnection publication.

The Idaho State/Spudnut Chapter Rally plans should be completed by next month.  We will then have the cost per rig and applications will be available.  The rally will be August 26, 27, and 28th at Blackwell Island RV Park in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Remember to keep it between the fence posts.

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)

Idaho State Directors

9/9/08 Update

We are in Clarkston, Washington at the Region 2 Rally, what a great time. Just want to let our fellow Spudnuts know that we have three new members:

Norm & Sue Kelln #12194
Tony & Linda Horner #18291
Terry Litfin & Linda Monks #18377

We want to welcome our new members to the Spudnuts. ;o)

Thank you, Donna & Jack Taylor

****************************************

AUGUST 2008 KONNECTION ARTICLE

Hello from beautiful North Idaho. As we prepare this article for the NKK Website. I am still recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery. My progress and Cardiac Rehab have been going very well. I should be back up to full speed in a few weeks. I want to thank all of our Newmar family for all of their thoughts and prayers during this time.

It was a very tough decision for Donna and I, but the doctor advised us to postpone the Idaho State Rally for one year. He thought it would be too much stress during my recovery. We have worked with the owners of Blackwell Island RV Resort and have rescheduled the rally for August 26, 27, 28, 2009. We have reserved 25 spaces for the rally and are planning the same activities that we had scheduled for 2008.

We have been in contact with Jim Arens Sales manager of Dennis Dillon RV in Boise, and they will support the rally by sponsoring the Welcome Dinner and bringing some new model coaches for display.

Blackwell RV Resort has set aside an area for their display near the center of the park. Jim Arens also plans to bring along a tech to make minor repairs and adjustments to Newmar Motor homes and 5th Wheels. I know that this service is very much appreciated by Klub Members. It is a good opportunity for some of us who live a long way from Newmar service. We will meet the people from the Jamison Hotel and the Melodrama in Wallace, Idaho to reschedule those events. They were very understanding when we had to cancel for 2008. They have given us their complete support to reschedule this event for 2009.

We are planning for the boat cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene along with most of the same activities. We are also working on some door prizes that will be of interest to everyone.

We also want to thank Region 2 Directors Mike and Carol Lowery (10354-L) and all of the Idaho Spudnuts for their support during this time.

We were able to attend the joint rally of the Montana Big Sky & Idaho Spudnuts in Polson, Montana. We were not able to drive our motorhome, so we went as a “Orphans”. Thanks to Gary and Daisy Groves (16323) we were able to stay in the honeymoon suite at the Lazy Wheels Park. We had a great time, good food and enjoyed the tour of Flathead Lake. The Big Sky and Spudnuts Chapters did a great job. Thanks Jim & Joanne Franklin, Pres. Spudnuts Chapters and Gary & Daisy Groves, Pres. Big Sky Chapter.

We hope everyone who attended the International Rally in DuQuoin had a good time; we are looking forward to Perry, GA. next year.  Donna and I will be attending the Washington State Rally in Clarkston, Washington and we look forward to seeing our Newmar friends at that time.  Hope to see you there.

Take care and Happy Trails.

Jack & Donna Taylor (15044)

Idaho State Directors