By Larry & Dorothea Troutman, F204685
March 2015
The Lebanon Valley Expo Center & Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was the setting for the Penn Coachmen chapter’s 45th anniversary rally July 17-20, 2014. Seventy-six members attended. Ron and Carol Becker served as rally masters.
The rally began with an excellent light meal followed by entertainment by the Penn Coachmen Players. The cast participated in a delightful presentation of “How Well Do You Know Your Spouse?” and included four couples who have been married a combined 221 years. In addition, John Breisch, Penn Coachmen’s national director, installed Wayne Dilliplaine as an area vice president of the chapter. The first day ended with a large group of enthusiastic card players in fierce competition.
Day two began with a tour of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey. Retired state policemen led the tour and described the academy’s challenging physical and educational requirements.
After some free time, the rally hosts treated us to an outstanding picnic supper. Honored guests included John Reynolds, FMCA national vice president, Eastern Area, and his wife, Jayne; Tom Hoffmeier, northern regional vice president of the Eastern Area Motorhome Association, and his wife, Helen; and Ron and Rosemary Bradley, FMCA members from Delaware. We also were honored to be joined by Andrew and Teri Peterson, Norma Moss, and Ellis and Gwen Brown.
Ron Becker, Penn Coachmen president, accepted the chapter’s 45th anniversary certificate and check from FMCA, which was presented by John Reynolds. The evening ended with Crazy Bingo.
Saturday began with an excellent breakfast; then Penn Coachmen members had a free day to tour, shop for bargains, visit antiques stores, and make stops in Harrisburg and Quentin, including the historic Quentin Tavern. That evening, a delicious catered dinner was served, followed by entertainment from Marian and Friends, a mother-daughter ventriloquism act.
The rally ended on Sunday with a moving church service led by Louise Birett and assisted by Bob Birett, Dorothea Troutman, Nancy Breisch, and Joe Thurston. We said our good-byes and began looking forward to our next rally.