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GMCES Rally at the GMCMI Convention

Confused about the ES rally this fall and how it fits in to the GMCMI convention? Don’t be. Read on for information about the rally, convention and what to do about registering as it becomes available.

The Basics

The Fall Rally of GMC Eastern States will be September 24-26, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. To open the event ES will host a potluck dinner on Friday evening. Those attending should plan too bring at least one dish to share capable of providing eight servings. You may choose a vegetable, salad or dessert item. Meat, drinks and table service will be provided. There will be no additional fee charged for the potluck.

Saturday will start off with what has become a tradition; a pancake and sausage breakfast. Martha Songer will mix her recipe and Byron will oversee cooking. Volunteers are needed to assist with setting up, preparing the sausage and handling clean up. Following the breakfast four technical seminars will be presented.

Technical VP, Doc White, has confirmed presenters and topics for the four technical sessions. The emphasis will be upon improving the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of the GMC coach. As you are aware, there were three revisions in the systems depending on the year of manufacture. The information covered will apply to all the systems. The times and titles of the presentations are as follows.

	Time	Topic	Presenter
	9:30 am	Duracool Conversion	Emery Stora
	10:30 am	Anatomy of Dash HVAC	Ken Henderson
	11:15 am	HVAC Upgrades
		Improving Air Flow	Leigh Harrison
		Electronic Controls	Joe Ekl
	1:00 pm	Complete HVAC Replacement	Ken Henderson

Saturday night will be the catered dinner exclusively for ES members and their guests. Members may make a reservation online or complete and return the form included in the August newsletter. Cost of the dinner is $21.50 per person; an all-inclusive price. Following the dinner we’ll have our regular business session. At this meeting officers for 2011 will be elected. We’ll also take action on the proposed revisions to the Bylaws and Standing Rules as well as establish the fee for dues for the coming year. An operational budget for 2011 will also be presented.

On Sunday we’ll join with those attending the GMCMI convention in the worship experience which will be led by Dan Stuckey and the choir of volunteer singers.

Eastern States members are encouraged to arrive by Friday morning and serve as convention assistants for parking and setup of some events. If you plan to attend, be sure to wear a GMCES shirt and show your pride in membership to the others that’ll be present in advance of the Convention.

How to Register

GMCES members are to register with GMCMI (the convention administrators) and pay for the “Optional Early Nights”. If staying for the Convention, pay that fee as well when sending your registration and payment.

The Saturday night dinner will require that you make a reservation and pay separately in advance or at the door. The reservation form and amount of the dinner will be announced in the next newsletter which will be published and mailed in the first half of August. If you prefer, you may make a reservation online (return after August 10 to do so).

To download a registration form and schedule, click here.

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ES Women and the Red Hat Tea

A tradition of the GMCMI convention is to hold a Red Hat Tea for all women present at the convention. Membership in the Red Hat Society isn’t required to enjoy participating. At the Fall Convention a few women volunteers are needed to help in providing refreshments for the Red Hat Tea. If you’re willing to assist, please contact Martha Songer by email ASAP. You’ll help decide what is to be eaten and help in serving the tea. Don’t be hesitant in volunteering. And, if you’re new to ES and the whole Red Hat thing, this will be a great way to get involved and quickly meet other ladies on a more personal level.

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Chili Cookoff

Under the guidance of Kris Whisler, the Eastern States club is hosting “Hats, Boots, Bandanas, and Chili – The Great Chili Cookoff”. This “first ever” dinner and activity will be held on Monday evening, September 27, as an official part of the convention program. The potential is for 300 hungry adults to show up taste testing and judging. It won’t be a success if we don’t have more than 20 participants entering chili for the competition and to help in feeding the hungry campers.

We’ll also need a few ES non-competers to assist with other details and in setting up for the dinner/event. To sign up as a participant or to volunteer to assist contact Kris Whisler by email or call her at 317-984-3462 before September 1. Every member has the opportunity to do something for chili cookoff so decide now what you want to do and contact Kris.

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GMCES Shirts

A quantity of shirts are available for purchase with the GMCES logotype over the left chest pocket. Three styles are available now from Byron Songer. One is a mens, washed denim fabric with buttondown collar. The price is $15.00 each. The second style is a mens, luxury twill that is navy in color at $15.00 each. The style just for women is called a business casual twill. It is a fitted shirt. As with the other twill shirt, it is available in navy at $17.00. Women’s fitted style will be available in medium and large only at the rally.

All styles are available with long sleeves. Men’s styles are available in small, medium, large, and extra large. XXL and XXL sizes are available for an additional charge of $3.50.

Shirts will be available on a “first come, first served” basis at the DuQuoin rally/convention from Byron Songer on Thursday evening, Friday by appointment or following the potluck meal. Get a shirt to show your pride and be “in uniform”. To reserve a shirt, send an email to Byron today.

As a reminder, the ES Rally/MI Convention will be held in September at the home of the DuQuoin State Fair. DuQuoin is located in Southern Illinois, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri.

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Getting There

DuQuoin, Illinois is located south of Interstate 64 and west of Interstate 57. The Du Quoin State Fair is just north and east of the intersection of US 51 and Illinois 14. The property, which covers 1200 acres, includes a spacious campground, 30 miles of winding roadways, one-mile oval race track, exhibit halls, grandstand, lakes, stables, and residences of the Hayes family, original owners and developers of the attraction that was founded in the 1930s.

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