Sierra Ramblers chapter members returned to the site of the chapter’s origins for an anniversary celebration.
By Carole Hazeltine, F376336, and Wayne Thomas, F395373
July 2021
Each April, we hold an anniversary rally at the Shasta District Fair and Event Center in Anderson, California, where our chapter was formed. This year was extra special, not just because we finally had a chance to be together after having to cancel too many rallies over the past year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also because it was a celebration of our 30th year as a chapter.
Our rally was slightly modified to accommodate the COVID-19 guidelines, as we were not allowed to gather inside a building; so, activities were held outdoors. In spite of the wind, which made it pretty cool at times, we had fun. Of course, we had doughnuts every morning, offered a tie-dyed T-shirt craft, played games, enjoyed some good meals, and were able to catch up with one another.
As always, we held a chapter meeting, with new officers beginning their term of service. James McDaniel, the Western Area’s northern VP, was in attendance to present our chapter with a 30-year certificate and a check from FMCA to celebrate this milestone.
We were especially happy to be able to celebrate this year with our beloved member of 28 years, Alice Bernard. In April 2018, Alice and her late husband, Bud, were presented with lifetime chapter memberships in recognition of all their hard work over the years. They were very instrumental in making our chapter what it is today, almost from the beginning.
In 1991 a group of motorhome owners decided to form a new FMCA chapter. Using a list of FMCA members who didn’t belong to any of the existing chapters, they sent invitations to those who lived in northern California to attend an outing in Anderson on April 5 of that year.
Approximately 25 couples signed up at the meeting, and a new chapter was formed. It was decided the chapter would hold a rally six times a year, and — after numerous proposals were put forth — the name Sierra Ramblers was chosen. The logo took a little longer to develop, but it was finally presented and accepted at the third rally later that year. The chapter has grown from the original group of 25 RVs to approximately 77 RVs today.
In 1992, it was decided that chapter members would wear red jackets. Jackets with the Sierra Ramblers logo on them were created, and those red jackets are still worn by our members today.
In addition to holding our own rallies, the Sierra Ramblers act as greeters at the annual Western Area Rally in Indio, California, every January. We enjoy this volunteer responsibility. Chapter members first acted as greeters at FMCA’s international convention in Pomona, California, in 1993.
Our chapter rallies started as weekend outings and have evolved over time to four-day (occasionally five-day) events. Most of our rallies are held in northern California locations such as Chico, Jackson, Lodi, Calistoga, Bodega Bay, Oroville, and many more. We have also held rallies in Brookings, Oregon, for the Kite Festival; Eureka, California, for the Kinetic Races; Laguna Seca Raceway for sports car races; and Grants Pass, Oregon, where we rode jet boats on the Rogue River. Our annual Christmas rally has been in Woodland, California, for a number of years, where we donate canned food to the Yolo Food Bank and toys to the U.S. Marines Corps Toys for Tots program. We typically have between 25 and 30 RVs at each outing, and we have a great time, with plenty of fun and laughter.
You are always welcome to come join in on our fun. We would love for you to visit us. Check out our website, www.sierraramblers.com, for more information about our activities, as well as a membership application. The cost to join and first-year dues are $30; annual dues thereafter are $15. We’d love for you to attend a rally as our guest and see what you think! For more information, contact membership chair Roberta Thomas at (707) 584-7397; grammatee@pacbell.net.