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2008 Fall Rally Will Be Held Cooperatively with GMC Motorhomes International

The GMCMI 2008 Fall Convention will be held at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington September 28, 2008 through October 4, 2008. Eastern States and GMCMI are working cooperatively to make it a joint venture in much the same way that GMC Western States participated in the Santa Rosa, California rally this past spring.

A registration form is available for viewing or downloading here.

The fall convention/rally will be held near the Atlantic coast and provide Eastern States members access to an enhanced rally since many vendors will be in attendance showing their wares. Harrington, where the Delaware State Fairgrounds is located, is about 15 miles south of Dover and about 15 miles west of the Atlantic shoreline. The grounds are nice and spacious with hard surface streets, modern buildings and landscaped areas. The camping has great facilities and will accommodate a rally very well. It is set up ideally for the handicapped and has a convenient area for our vendors.

The Camping Area

The Grove Camping area has electric and water hook-ups and the overflow area has electricity and water available as well. Wilderness camping can be accommodated in the nearly 300 acres of parking.

Features of Grove Camping include:

* 30 amp service; some 50 amp service available
* Water hook-ups
* Dump stations available
* Restroom and shower facilities
* Some shaded areas
* Adjacent buildings available to enhance the event
* Amenities include: restaurants, slot casino, horse track, and ice rink
* Overnight security
* ADA accessibility

Additional Information

The sites are well drained; most are gras, some are blacktop and a few are shaded. Each utility pole has a number of individual 30 amp receptacles and services a number of sites. Bring extension cords if you have some available. Similarly, bring extra water hose and “Y” connectors. The good news is that the plentiful showers are very nice and very near the camping area. The bad news is there are no sewer hookups. However, there are three, conveniently located dump stations which will be identified on the grounds map campers will receive when checking in. There is wireless internet service available by a commercial supplier for a nominal fee. Vendors will be located in a high traffic area on the edge of the campground nearest the building area for easy access by customers and browsers. The handicapped area will be located immediately south of the Dover Building and has a blacktopped surface. Rally buildings are the Dover Building, the Board Room in the Exhibit Hall, and the Comcast Kids World Building. They are very well suited for rally use and are in close proximity to each other and the campgrounds. There is also a huge, thoroughly modern, casino and horse raceway right behind the Dover and Exhibit Buildings for those of you who have a gambling streak in you.

Delaware and Vicinity

Delaware is, of course, in the heart of the historic origins of the U.S. Members with available time can spend weeks exploring all the museums and points of interest relatively close to Harrington: Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Jamestown, Williamsburg, and many others. If you're not into history the Atlantic shore and Ocean City or Atlantic City are nearby. For those of us that appreciate great scenery there is the peaceful rolling countryside with stone and split rail fences, the Shenandoah Valley and the Skyline Drive that will provide interest.

For more information on things to do in the Dover area, visit http://www.visitdover.com/ for more information and things to do. Also check out http://www.delawarestatefair.com/ for more information about the Delaware State Fairgrounds.

The Centre Ice Rink at the Delaware State Fair is a 49,000 sq. ft. facility that is open from September through April.