Gary & Penny Farber (4659-L)
GPF3143@comcast.net

Indiana State and Chapter News

Hoosier Kountry Klub Newsletter

Issue 11 - October/November, 2008

INDIANA  RV  EXCISE  TAX

   Beginning January 1, 2010, Indiana will impose an annual license excise tax on RV’s, replacing the current property tax levied for state or local purposes. 

   Under the current personal property tax-based system, the taxes on an RV can vary depending on the local tax rate and how local assessors value the RV.  Subjecting RVs to an excise tax instead will allow RV shoppers to find out the annual tax on a new RV before they decide to buy it.  The excise tax amount will be based on the value of the RV at the time it is first offered for sale in Indiana.  The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will determine the RVs value, based on the factory-advertised delivered price, the port of entry price, or other information – and then classify it accordingly.  The amount of tax imposed will be determined using the RVs classification and age.  The excise tax is in addition to any registration fees imposed on the RV.  This is the same way our automobile excise tax is assessed.

 FAMILY MOTOR COACH ASSOCIATION

   John Weber reports that as a member of the FMCA, members receive free MEDEX services that are similar to SkyMed.   The annual dues for FMCA are only $45.00 and there is a Newmar Chapter of FMCA.  MEDEX will fly you back home and bring your RV home if you have a medical emergency very similar to the service supplied by SkyMed only you don’t have to pay anything additional for the service, just your FMCA dues.  I don’t have any further information but I’m sure you can get in touch with FMCA to learn more.  

THE STATE RALLY

   The State Rally was held Thursday, September 25th, through September 28th at Raceview Family Campground, Clermont, IN.  State Directors Gary and Penny Farber hosted a fun and informative rally.  Thursday afternoon the campers enjoyed a tour of the IMS Museum and a drive around the 500 Mile Track with a stop at the start finish line where Marv Fuller kissed the yard of bricks.  Friday included a tour of the Allison Transmission plant where the transmissions for many of our rigs are built.  Those in attendance were invited to drive large trucks on the Allison Test Track.  Gary took those interested to his son’s power paint shop where they were show how dry pain powder was applied to metal and then banked on.  An extra surprise was enjoyed when John Weber invited the campers to his home where he demonstrated his extensive train hobby.  Saturday was a free day with many going to Indianapolis for a chance to see the Circle Center Mall and eat lunch at the Farmer’s Market.  Gary and Penny hosted three dinners at the Brickyard Golf Resort and with campfires every night for fellowship and s’mores, the rally was a huge success.

   Those in attendance were:  The Aults, Farbers, Fullers, Gasts, Humphreys, Keiths, Kerseys, O’Briens, Ploessers, Walkers and Webers.  Guests were Dave & Connie Kosbab from Waterville, OH and Dave & Carol Oplinger from Rapid City, SD. 

MEMBERSHIP

   We continue to remind you that new members are always welcome. If you have a Newmar unit and have never attended a rally with us, please give us a try.  The Gasts signed up at the Region 6 rally and attended the State rally.  They said they had a very good time at both and we hope to see them next year. 

   The time for paying dues for 2009 will be coming up soon.  Reminders will sent in November but if you want to pay early, that’s OK also.  During the winter months, dues should be sent to the treasurer, Martha Willis, at 4100 N. Romero Rd., Lot 161, Tucson AZ 85705.  During the camping season you can pay your dues at any rally.

 NEWMAR KOUNTRY KLUB NEWS

   Be sure to check the Klub’s website: www.newmar kountryklub.com for Kountry Klub news.  Each of the regions has links on the site where regional and state information will be found.  The International, Regional State/Provincial as well as special events and caravans will continue. 

   The Tampa Super Show rally will again be a Buddy Rally.  The dates are January 13-18, 2009.  Information is listed on the Klub’s website noted above and registration is now open.

   The Quartzsite “Gathering in the Desert” will be held January 18-26, 2009 and the Puerto Penasco, Mexico caravan is in January also. 

   Three new special events have been scheduled for 2009.  Again, information is on the Klub’s website for the special events and the regional and state links for information about rallies in your area.

OCTOBER RALLY

   The October rally was cancelled due to a poor turn out.  If there was a reason why you didn’t sign up such as:  too late in the month; too far to drive; weather too cold, please let me know so that we can possibly make adjustments in the future.

 2009 RALLIES

We have volunteers for the following rallies: 

May – Bob & Shirley Combs

June – Jim & Jane Walker

July – Don & Martha Ault

   Jim and Jane Walker report they have up to 15 sites reserved at the White River Campground, near Cicero, IN, for June 25, 26 and 27, 2009 leaving on the 28th.   Early arrival on Wednesday is okay.  Reservations must be made with the campground with payment of one night at $21.40.  The camping fee includes full hook-up and most have 50 amp.  We also have the use of the building for get-togethers and meals. They do not accept charge cards so reservations must be made in person or by mail.  Reservations will not be accepted until April when the campground re-opens for the 2009 camping season.  REMEMBER TO TELL THEM YOU ARE WITH THE HOOSIER KOUNTRY KLUB GROUP.  If you’re real nice to Bill and I, you can send your reservation deposit to us and we’ll take it to the campground because we live so close.  However, don’t send it until next spring. 

   Thanks to the volunteers and if anyone would like to help the hosts, please give them a call.  The location and dates for the remainder of the rallies will be announced soon.  Hope to see everyone at these rallies.

   The 2009 International Rally has been moved from Perry, Georgia to the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana on August 1st through the 8th.  Early bird parking days will be August 1st and 2nd.

   The State Rally will be in September and the Region Rally will be October 7th through the 11th in Lexington, Kentucky at the Kentucky Horse Farm.  Judy and Jim Ploesser, the Region 6 Directors reported that although this is the same place the Region Rally was held a few years ago, all of the activities would be different.  Because Bill and I attended the first Region rally at the Kentucky Horse Farm, I can tell you the area is beautiful and the campground is magnificent.  At that time of the year the trees should be in full color.  Hope you can make it. 

MEMBER NEWS

   Don Shull has been in the hospital recently.  He had his hip replaced.  They’re going to wait until next year for his knee.  Keep him and Marj in your thoughts and prayers.

   On September 24th we lost one of the original chapter two Newmar members, R. C. Everage.  RC was one of the pioneers that helped forge what is now our great Newmar Kountry Klub, He and his wife, Reva, were two term state directors, R.C. and Reva had spent five years in Haines city, Florida. Reva said that they moved back to Milan, Indiana a year ago when R.C.’s health took a turn for the worse.  She reported that she was going to stay in Milan where one of their three children lives.  For those of you that would like to communicate with Reva her address is: 290 Warn Pl., Milan, IN 47031 and their telephone number is 812-654-3236.

   Frankie Weber has been back in the hospital for further testing.  She and John attended the State Rally and it was good to see them. 

   Your secretary, Alice O’Brien is still moving around with a cane and expects to begin physical therapy in the next week or so.  The doctor promised she would be able to do anything she did before her surgery

   One of our state directors, Penny Farber, had cataract surgery recently and is doing very well.  She believes she will only need glasses for reading.

   So many of our members are getting older and no longer camping but we’d like to hear from them and know how they’re doing.  If you have information, please let us know so we can pass it along. 

   UNTIL NEXT TIME, SAFE TRAVELS.

Alice O’Brien, Secretary

   Note, I’ll publish a newsletter the first of January and then begin monthly newsletters again in March.  Be sure to watch the Klub’s web site for information and news.

Hoosier Kountry Klub Newsletter

Issue 9 - August 2008

International Rally

This was a fun event. We had twenty-two rigs in attendance. Probably the best part was that they put us back up on the lake or at least the Combs, Kerseys, and Paulus were. By this I mean they were the front row as close to the lake as you could be. Although, the Webers, O’Briens, Humphreys, Aults, Ullerys, Frickers, Thurmans, Englands, and Staubendorfs were just back a row or two off the lake. The rest of us because of disabilities or work related assignments or having driven in on their own were parked elsewhere. These included the Willis, Chalmers, Keiths, Comers and Gates who were first timers, and us. A Canadian couple, the Smiths, joined the caravan in Terre Haute, and also joined our chapter. They said they very much appreciated all the hospitality shown by everyone in our chapter. One of the other highlights was the sitting of an evening out by the lake around sunset.  What a beautiful sight. Everyone we talked with enjoyed the tours, meals, and entertainment. We were also very much surprised at the great job and how quickly the Newmar workers completed the work orders. The Ploesser’s region six get together was a huge success. Our Hoosier group with forty-four plus members in attendance was great to see, as was our meeting on Thursday. The pizza furnished by the chapter really hit the spot. We also were very pleased that all five new couples joined our chapter. We must be doing something right.

Membership 

We think it’s important to continue to remind you that new members are always welcome. If you have a Newmar unit and have never attended a rally with us, please give us a try! 

July Rally  

This rally was held in Warsaw, IN. Our hosts were the Aults and the Ullreys, they were terrific and the tours were great. Marilyn Ullrey had a small bead craft for the ladies, enjoyed by all immensely. Martha Ault proved to be a great cook because our pitch-in dinner entrée was delicious. Good food and good friends along with terrific scenery made for a wonderful time. Our weather was warm and we had one small shower but nothing interfered with the rally. Thanks again to the Aults and Ullreys!!  

Region 6 Rally 

Jim and Judy Ploesser hosted the region rally. They had a great turnout of 42 units; we think this is great due to the gas prices. Again good food as usual with Newmar. The Haystack dinner was awesome. Matt and Pam Miller along with Mahlen and his wife came to share it with us. The tour of the Amish countryside included a Thrasher dinner at an Amish home. I believe everyone knows how well we were fed, the amount of chicken, beef, potatoes, beans, Cole slaw, dressing, gravy now wait I’m not done, also fresh baked bread, noodles are you ready? PIE not just one kind but three different pies. Believe me it was a good thing we had a bus driver, I don’t think any of us would have fit behind the wheel of our cars. Our river cruise was a real surprise and a pleasant one. Very few of us knew that Elkhart had a river with beautiful homes on it. Some of the homes were in the million-dollar range or more. It is always nice to see how others spend their money. Of course we put ours on wheels and go bye-bye!! Our weather was also good. Jim and Judy did a great job and are to be commended on the way the rally was put together. I believe everyone had a good time, I know we did!! 

Member News 

Fred and Barbara Paulus came to the dinner Saturday at the Warsaw rally. Barbara said her collarbone was on the mend and they hoped to be back camping with us soon.Marv and Donna Fuller were with us at the region rally. Donna said she had had some heart problems but her doctors had corrected them and she was feeling much better.Penny talked with Shirley Combs before Bob’s carotid artery surgery and after. She says he is doing good and looking forward to getting back with the group.We had dinner with John and Frankie Weber a few nights ago and she seemed to be doing very well. John said she has good days and not so good days. He’s hoping they can make the state.Bill O’Brien said Alice’s back surgery was a lot more extensive than the doctor’s had felt it would be. The operation was to take eight hours and took eleven and a half. She was in the intensive care unit for five days and after another sixteen was able to come home. I talked with her yesterday, the 20th, and she was still having trouble getting up and down. I told her we would hold off for a while before coming to visit. Berlin Comer told me at the International that his bout with the shingles has been very trying. He has been battling this for over two years. The plus side is Kim has been well for a good while. Now if Berlin’s doctors can just get a good fix on his problem they will be good. 

The State Rally 

When: September 25th thru 28th Where: Raceview Family Campground, Clermont, In.

Breakfasts (continental) Three

Tours: Two -IMS Track and Allison Transmission Plant 6 and Test track

Saturday will visit downtown’s Circle Centre Mall

Dinners: Three at the Brickyard Golf Resort

Camping is included in total, electric, water and dump site

Total: $245.00

Send check to Gary Farber 4954 W 15th St. Speedway, In 46224

If you have any questions call 317-248-9051 or 317 459- 0582 

October Rally

This will be hosted by Bill and Alice O’Brien and Dave and Myrna Humphrey and will take place at Little Farm on the River. This is in Rising Sun, In. which is close to the Grand Victoria Casino. Dates are 24th thru 26th. The complete info for this rally is in the June Konnection and more will be coming in the newsletter when Alice is feeling better. 

KLUB NEWS

 Barney and Barbara Barnett, International Directors of the Newmar Kountry Klub, have sent out a letter to all Klub members in which Klub changes due to the economy have been made including the reduction of the staff and the cancellation of the Konnection publication for the remainder of 2008.  Also, the 2009 International Rally will be held at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana August 1 – 8 with early parking days on August 1 and 2.  This is a change from the planned Perry Georgia location.  Hopefully, the economy will begin to recover soon and we can get back to enjoying our travels and rallies. UNTIL NEXT TIME, SAFE TRAVELS P.S.  Thanks to Penny and Gary Farber for their assistance with this Newsletter.  I’m able to sit at my computer for a short period of time each day and without their help, this may not have gotten out to you.  Thanks for your thoughts and prayers and everyday gets better. 

Alice O’Brien, Secretary