Family & Friends: NEAR 2011 Honors Northeast Area’s FMCA Life Members
November 2011
The 19th Annual Northeast Area Rally, held July 21-24 at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, Vermont, paid tribute to FMCA’s Northeast Area heritage. NEAR 2011, dubbed “Moonlight in Vermont,” was dedicated, with love, to the late George P. Snyder Sr., L1852, and to his wife, Pat, and their family.
On Saturday, July 23, a special recognition ceremony honoring all Northeast Area FMCA life members was held prior to evening entertainment. Northeast Motorhome Association president Paul DuBois, F296221, announced the creation of the Northeast Area Hall of Fame, which will serve as a means of honoring those who have made exceptional contributions to the Northeast Motorhome Association. George and Pat Snyder were named as the initial inductees. With many of their family members in attendance, Pat was presented with a special plaque commemorating the award. An additional plaque listing George and Pat as this year’s inductees and allowing spaces for the names of future recipients of the award was displayed for the first time.
In addition, the newly created George and Pat Snyder Memorial Award, designed to honor the person who has made the most outstanding contribution to the youth of the Northeast Area, was presented to its first recipient, Lori Lindfors, F794D. Lori has been the driving force behind the Northeast Area’s exceptional youth program for many years, and she is respected and loved by all of her “kids.”
The many Northeast Area FMCA life members who were able to attend the rally were then introduced to the audience, presented with a commemorative gift, and thanked for their long and continuing service to and support of FMCA.
This very special evening concluded with a tremendous performance by Dan Gabel and the Abletones, an 18-piece big band, featuring music of the 1930s and ’40s.
NEAR 2011 also paid tribute to our veterans. Information about the recently formed NMA Veterans’ Outreach Services, as well as other support groups, was provided at a booth in the vendor building.
Among the many other activities and attractions available to NEAR 2011 attendees were a sunset dinner cruise on Lake Champlain; morning coffee and doughnuts with entertainment by the Frustrated Maestros; crafts; an ice cream social; a motorhome rodeo; a K9 demonstration; door prizes; a hot dog roast; a chapter fair; vendors; seminars; display coaches; and much more.
The Champlain Valley Expo’s air-conditioned buildings were exceptionally popular this year, as the July heat flirted with the upper reaches of the thermometer! Despite the temperatures, a “Fun and Fitness Walk” was held to benefit Good Will–Hinckley School, and the Youth Group pounded the pavement with fundraisers to help with this project.
Thanks to the year-long efforts of the NMA board and a terrific group of volunteers, NEAR 2011 truly offered something for everyone. The rally program book undoubtedly will be considered a collector’s item by many attendees, thanks to the delightful tribute to George Snyder contributed by his daughter, Lori, F1852D, and to the “History of FMCA,” a nostalgic and thought-provoking look back at the early years of our organization, provided by Bob and Karyl Sage, L6222.
Don’t be left out next year. Plan now to come see what all the fun’s about at NEAR 2012!