April 2013

The registration process is in full steam. Emails received from GLAMA chapter presidents suggest a very strong effort to encourage participation from their members. Also, wouldn’t it be grand to have your chapter recognized at the rally for the highest percentage of chapter members attending the rally. In addition you’ll have a great time at a reasonable cost. The process is as simple as clicking on the REGISTER NOW link on the right panel of this webpage.

The rally fee includes four nights of camping (Sept. 18 to 21) with 30-amp power and water hookups (bring extra hose to connect). Full hookups — with 50-amp electric and water and sewer — are available for an additional fee. You also have three nights of entertainment, one breakfast, two coffee hours, seminars, commercial exhibits, new motorhomes, vendor displays, Ladies Tea ($3 per person), and special late-hour tours of the RV/MH Heritage Hall of Fame. Plus: Golf Outing (additional fee) includes cart and lunch.

As part of the entertainment planned for rally attendees’ enjoyment the Frustrated Maestros will perform on Wednesday night in conjunction with the featured performers that evening. The Maestros have also been asked to perform during the coffee and donuts hour, Thursday and Friday mornings, at the ice cream social and the "all you can eat pancake breakfast" on Saturday morning. These volunteer musicians come with a plethora of songs to make you want to sing, dance or just tap you feet. Their colorful attire and entertaining characters that make up the Maestros further enhance the musical experience.

To help educate and inform attendees the Rally Planning Committee has arranged for several seminars related to RV lifestyle such as how to perform CPR, when and how to use a defibrillator, how to safely travel with pets and what to expect when you call 911. An audiologist is planning to provide sessions on hearing and how it relates to motor homing and travel. These are all pertinent topics we all want to be well informed about. Once at the rally your schedule book will provide the times and locations for each of these important seminars.

Remember, early arrivals are admitted to the Holding Area on Tuesday, September 17 ONLY! Setup crews, requested to arrive either Sunday or Monday, September 15 or 16, should bring a copy of that communication to be authorized to enter before Tuesday. If not part of the setup crew arrivals prior to Tuesday, September 17 should seek campgrounds in the surrounding area of Goshen Indiana. Some campgrounds to consider:

The Elkhart Campground off I-80/I-90 north of Elkhart Indiana. The campground is an FMCA commercial member offering a 10% discount for FMCA members according to their website. http://www.elkhartcampground.com/

Eby’s Pines RV Park & Campground

14583 State Road 120
Bristol, IN 46507

(574) 848-4583 phone

http://www.ebyspines.com/

To the south

Columbus Woods-N-Waters
Phone : 800-799-3928
The campground is an FMCA commercial member offering a 10% discount for FMCA members according to FMCA.

Cummins Employees Recreation Assn
Columbus, IN 47203 Phone : 888-733-2372
Phone : (888) 733-2372
Web :  www.ceraland.org
Email : ceraland@ceraland.org

Timberline Valley RV Resort 10% discount

http://www.timberlinecampground.com/index.html

http://www.timberlinecampground.com/index.html

 

Elkhart Co. / Middlebury Exit KOA

52867 State Route 13

Middlebury, IN 46540

South Bend / Elkhart North KOA

50707 Princess Way

Granger, IN 46530

March 2013

RVer’s, and those wanting to learn more about the FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) way of life. It’s time to take action. On your mark, get set, GO REGISTER!!! for  GLAMARAMA 2013, the Great Lakes Area Motor Coach Association (GLAMA) area rally. Yes, I did say register! You can now register through the FMCA.COM website or, for your convenience, just click on the REGISTER NOW!! link on the right panel of this webpage. Where and when is this grand event you ask? The rally takes place at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen Indiana from Wednesday through noon Sunday, September 18 through 22, 2013. Early arrivals are welcome on Tuesday, September 17 for an additional fee.

What’s the big deal? How about three nights of quality entertainment? We start with Wednesday evening with Daniel Clark “the Singing Trooper.” On Friday night Serah Getto entertains and on Saturday night Harbor Lights, an Acapella Doo Wop singing group performs. All this is led by the professional master of ceremonies, Dane Bailey. Each of their websites is listed below for your ease of review. What else will you get? Coach displays, vendor booths, seminars on numerous topics, crafts, one breakfast, an ice cream social and two coffee and donuts hours. Also, a ladies tea is offered for an additional fee. How about joining in a golf outing for an additional fee which includes a cart and lunch?

What else you might ask? Four nights of camping with unlimited 30 amp electric and water. A limited quantity of 50 amp electric with full hookup is available for an additional fee. If you don’t want electric and water provided at campsite then select FULL GENERATOR PARKING at a reduced rate. Parking with chapter friends is always preferred. The commitment is to try and accomplish that where possible. Of course, coming in as a caravan as early as Tuesday morning best assures that outcome. Also, you will be able to park your tow vehicle next to your RV. This will be especially advantageous for those who have mobility issues. Attendees will be able to drive on designated routes to park near event buildings. Handicap carts are also planned to assist those needing transport to various locations on the Fairground.

But wait! I left out Thursday! No entertainment was planned in order to promote an opportunity for chapters and other groups to spend quality time together. Either spend the time around the rv campsites or visit local attractions, some available both day and evening. The following are some area attractions:

·         RV Museum and Hall of Fame is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  Late hours, though, have been arranged for Thursday evening so rally attendees, spending time with old and new friends can visit the museum.  

·         Shipshewana Flea Market is open every Tuesday & Wednesday from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

·         New World Arts located at 211 S. Main St, Goshen is presenting the play “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett.  It is being held from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM daily from Friday, Sept 13 through Saturday, Sept 21st.  There is a $10 admission fee. 

·         Fall Harvest Days at Amish Acres in Nappanee is open daily from Sept 16^th through Oct 31^st.     While there check out the 200 scarecrows that return to the farm for their annual reunion to stand guard along the lane to the Pumpkin Patch.  Details can be found at: Event Details - Fall Harvest Days 2013  and Event Details - Scarecrow Contest and Reunion

·         Other Amish Country Events can be found at:  Events in Elkhart County, Northern Indiana

Below is the list of entertainers:

Master of Ceremonies for GLAMARAMA:

Dane Bailey

www.thesingingauctioneer.com

Wednesday Evening:

Daniel Clark “The Singing Trooper”

www.thesingingtrooper.com

Friday evening

An Evening with Sarah Getto

www.sarahgetto.com

Saturday evening

Harbor Lights - Acapella Doo Wop singing group

www.harborlightsdoowop.com

We’re looking forward to seeing all of you at the GLAMARAMA 2013 Rally in September. Let’s all share this great RV life together.

Further updates of this website are planned with additional details. Stay tuned.

February 2013

The latest information has been released regarding the GLAMARAMA 2013 Rally scheduled for the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen Indiana from Wednesday, September 18 through Sunday, September 22, 2013. We are pleased that Dane Bailey, the Singing Auctioneer, has graciously agreed to be the master of ceremonies for the rally. Check out his website www.singingauctioneer.com to learn of his extensive experience in leading events with humor, music and good clean fun.

New information regarding early arrival has also just been announced. While early arrival is from Sunday afternoon, September 15 through Tuesday, September 17, 2013 those choosing to enter the rally as a group will be authorized to enter beginning ONLY on Tuesday, the 17th. This change is warranted by the tight fairground schedule requiring that electrical wiring layout and parking layout can’t start until Monday morning.  As the rally date approaches, we will provide a list of campgrounds in the area to accommodate those groups planning on an earlier arrival to the Elkhart area. Also, early arrival camping fee at the fairground is $25 per night. Key individuals-GLAMA Executive Board, specified Parking and Security members will be requested to arrive on Sunday afternoon to begin setting up and arranging facilities. The Security and Parking chairmen, Ken Schlacht and Rick Hahn, respectively will advise which members will be authorized to arrive early and receive a waiver on parking fees. Please note that individual coaches entering the fairground early may not have water and electric available until Tuesday.

For those interested in leading a seminar or craft class please select the Seminar/Craft Presenter Form link from the right navigation bar on the rally website to access that request form. Print out the form using your browser print command, complete the request form and send it to Dick Montgomery, Seminar Chair. His contact information is included in the first paragraph of the form. We hope you will share the valuable knowledge you have gained through your years of travels with the many others who will attend the rally.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to communicate directly with Jon or any of the rally chairs. Their contact information can be found on the rally website under the GLAMA Planning Committee link. Also, in the next month we hope to have our rally website http://gla2013plng.blogspot.com/ linked with FMCA for ease in connection. We hope to see you all at the rally.

GLAMARAMA JANUARY 23

We hope the new year finds you in good health and looking forward to new opportunities to travel, learn, make new friends and share. Progress continues by the Rally Planning Committee toward the exciting time when we can all meet at the GLAMARAMA 2013 Rally at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen Indiana. The artwork for the rally book, rally buttons and rally bar is currently being selected. This same artwork will be incorporated into the registration form still under construction. YES, I Know! You want to be able to register as soon as possible. As soon as we know when it will be published notification will go out to your chapter President and National Director to share with you. We hope to include a link on this site directly to the online registration form that will be hosted on the FMCA website at www.fmca.com. The dates for the rally are Wednesday through Sunday, September 18-22, 2013 with early arrival Sunday through Tuesday, September 15-17.

For those interested in leading a seminar or craft class please select the Seminar/Craft Presenter Form link from the right navigation bar to access that request form. Print out the form using your browser print command, complete the request form and send it to Dick Montgomery, Seminar Chair. His contact information is included in the first paragraph of the form. We hope you will share the valuable knowledge you have gained through your years of travels with the many others who will attend the rally.

GLAMARAMA December 19

The Planning Committee has been working hard this month. We are making great progress in planning a successful rally.

We have determined that the base registration fee will include full 30 amp electric. Higher amperage and full hook-ups will be available on a limited number of spaces. Make sure to check back for when registration begins to take advantage of these amenities. One evening will be reserved for chapter events, promoting tour attendance, chapter dinners and other activities that allow for quality time with friends and new acquaintances. We are ahead of schedule in selecting art work for promotional materials, and official GLAMA letterhead has been designed and delivered.

We are also engaging in a push for sponsorships by sending out letters to encourage vendor participation. Sponsorships go a long way in assuring a financially successful area rally. This being the Great Lakes Area Motor Coach Association’s first annual rally, it is imperative that we collect sufficient funds. We want to avoid charging high registration fees or requesting financial assistance from FMCA for future events.

That said, other area rallies have gained support from their chapters and, in some cases, individual members through the purchase of full, half, quarter page or business card rally book advertisements. Not only is this a great way to promote your chapter and even send a goodwill message, it also will provide financial support for future activities. You might be surprised by the interest an ad can create for your GLAMA chapter.

Some of the discussions still in the development stages include tours and outings offerings. Let us know if you have any questions or comments. We are doing everything we can to make sure that everyone who attends has a wonderful time.

Make sure to mark your calendars for the GLAMARAMA 2013 Area Rally, September 18 through 22, 2013 at the Elkhart County 4H Fairground in Goshen Indiana. Early arrivals begin Sunday, September 15.

Finally, all GLAMA officers and the GLAMARAMA Planning Committee wish you and your family the happiest of holidays and a healthy, happy and prosperous new year!