Affinity Group's "THE RALLY" is Fantastic!!!

TIPS AND PROMOS WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK –(When my Extra Busy world returns to some format of normal.)
I have many points, tips, hints and much more I received by email last week that has not yet been reported. We are on another adventurous week of explorations as well. Please drop back 23 March for a complete report.

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Issue 11 Newsy Portion

Diary published weekly since 2001
Read this Diary in a different version Here


WOW!!!! What a gathering this Good Sam Rally/G2C/Camping World/Motorhome & Trailer Life (Affinity Group) is! It is overflowing with things to do. I owe everyone an apology because I am late posting this week’s blurb – as a result it will be a condensed version. I promise to catch up next Saturday. The many tips and hints I have to share will still be passed on – but I ask you to wait till the 22nd. My days are simply not long enough this weekend to enjoy the fun and work a full day as well.
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RALLY HIGHLIGHTS

We checked into the outstanding Perry Nat'l Fairgrounds & Agricenter on Thursday to camp in an electric site – Seminar presenters receive this type of accommodation as a Thank You from Good Sam – a ‘Welcome’ touch. Although trolleys run regularly, we are parked about ¼ mile from all the festivities – good exercise. This is such an awesome venue to participate in a rally. All buildings are in a circle and the RV’s (trailers, 5ths, and MH’s) are parked like a giant wagon wheel around the ‘HUB’. We have been to Perry about 6 times with FMCA – it has always been a success – the facilities are superior. In the early days many attendees were parked in a mud hole after a week of rain, but Perry has added MEGA upgrades and now it is one of the best facilities found anywhere. Thankfully, this week the major tornados/storms missed us completely as they tragically concentrated on Atlanta.

I present my RV TRAVEL TO CANADA PPT SEMINAR 3-times during the rally – the rooms are top notch. We were shocked to see over 300 attendees at my Thursday presentation – I ran out of handouts big time. Today I was prepared. However attendance at many of the Sunday seminars was lower and I only had 200 very attentive attendees at this one.

(Note - at this gather, I print my own handouts and there was no economical copy shop within miles - .16 cents each is high. I love my new printer but its expensive tiny cartridges were costing me a fortune. Yesterday I learned how-to print in black/draft level and how-to refill my black ink cartridges – as yet I haven’t learned to fill colour vials very well. As a result, my first coloured batch of 200 handouts were pricey - by printing with black refilled cartridges, I spent much less than pennies per double side of quality copies. If any of you are in the same boat, just go into the colour portion of the ‘print properties’ – change it to print ‘black only’ in ‘draft’ mode. I still need a colour cartridge in the printer but I am not using the ink – MEGA cost saving for all regular stuff.)
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ENTERTAINMENT & ACTIVITIES

‘Good Sam’, ‘Motorhome & Trailer Life’, ‘Camping World’ and ‘Coast to Coast’ - affiliates of the AFFINITY GROUP joined forces to put on this successful comprehensive gathering. There were even many seminars and events on THURSDAY – before the rally even began. Each of the four ‘Sponsors’ hosted their special day offering numerous ‘FREE STUFF’. FRIDAY was ‘Publication Day’ hosted by Motorhome & Trailer Life with numerous give-aways; SATURDAY was ‘Match-N-Win Day’ (we all received numbers to wear on our badges in our goodie bags and if you found your match, you won a hat or tote bag. Then all matches were put into a draw for the big prizes from Camping World).

SUNDAY the fun continued when Coast to Coast hosted ‘Casino Royale’ complete with complimentary chips and mega games at an abundance of tables – again attendees took home a lot of ‘Free Stuff’. Events continued throughout each day. On MONDAY Good Sam Club Day features ‘Carnival Day’ with a good old-fashioned ‘cook-out’. Free game tickets wee part of the Goodie Bags. Winners can bid on prizes at the Auction later in the day with their winning tickets. Special draw & events in honour of ‘Life Members’ will be featured. Each of these special events is a daylong activity to keep everyone interested.

There is also four-1.5 hour seminars taking place in 10 outstanding seminar rooms each day, plus craft classes, dog shows, dance contest, golf tournaments, optional bus tours plus over 1200 exhibit booths inside (Toy Stores) and several thousand outside exhibit spaces featuring repair services, new/used RV’s for sale and more. (Some exhibitors do use more than one site). SATURDAY’S ‘Ladies Social’ highlighted ‘Macon’s 1800 Club Dancers’– great show. Youth Activities kept young RVers busy – event lists continue.

NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT featured, ‘The Vogues Quartet’ on THURSDAY; ‘Bobby Vinton’ put on a fantastic show on FRIDAY as a substitute for Frankie Valli who could not make it; ‘Rickie Skaggs’ entertained with Bluegrass Music tonight SUNDAY; MONDAY night Jaimie Roberts – one of Walt Disney’s top performers closes the rally.

The ‘Ultimate Event at the Rally’ was SATURDAYS ‘PROM NIGHT’ – complete with ‘Prom King and Prom Queen’ and performances by the ‘Dance Finalists’. Yes many attendees even donned their finest evening attire (Tux/Beaded Dresses etc.). A mega number of attendees registered to help ‘Break A Record’ presently held by 450 couples in Venezuela as THE MOST DANCERS ON THE FLOOR AT ONE TIME. At this rally 1180 COUPLES (still unofficial) danced the ‘Fox-Trot’ for 5 minutes and 55 seconds for a new record – John and I also participated in this fun event. The organization to put this event in motion was an awesome feat – but also very successful. All dancers will receive a copy of the group of us on the floor. Memorable night for sure! Entertainment and music for ‘Prom Night’ was ‘Michael Andrews Big Band’. All in all, this rally has been one we’ll not soon forget.
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FINAL THOUGHTS

Early Tuesday morning we are on our way to the ‘Three Flags RV Park’ (RPI/C2C Membership Park) in Wildwood, Florida to spend a week near my sister Nancy and hubby Bud at Red Barn RV Park in Bushnell. I am writing this Diary late Sunday night so the above will be the only topic I’ll address this week. I do need a little time to play at these events. I’ll try to get a blurb out on time next Saturday. Take care all and travel safe. P&J