Gulf Breeze News

Promote Your Page Too

Splash! Magazine

Promote Your Page Too

Poll

Do you support the proposed Master Plan for Pensacola Beach

Yes, I'm all for it

Yes, but it needs some tweaking

No, it's too expensive

No, leave the beach alone.

View results

Traveling clubs take to the road

From left, Treasurer, Don Redd; President, John Waller, Secretary, Carol Waller; and Vice President, Bill Simmons. There are clubs that meet monthly at least ten months of the year, almost never in the same place and sometimes not even in the same state. These are Recreational Vehicle (RV) Camping Clubs. They plan caravan trips, campground gettogethers and often have their own club newsletter, historian, "Sunshine Chairman," "Wagon Masters" and sheriffs. A variety of camping and RV travel clubs for individual interests are available to join, usually for very small club dues of around $20 a year.

The Gulf Coasters are a group of campers who meet at a predetermined camp ground each month and enjoy the outdoor atmosphere and actually enjoy the business meeting that takes place during the rally. The officers are: The Gulf Coasters are a Chapter of the Family Motor Home Association. The chapter was planned in 1985 at a J.C. Penny meeting room. The first rally was held at Gulf Pines R.V. Park. At this rally a board was selected. The chapter meets once a month for a weekend at different camp grounds. The Gulf Coasters have not only the officers but a Wagon Master, sheriff and deputy sheriff, newsletter editor, historian, Sunshine Chairman, director and alternate director who acts as liaison to the Family Motor Home Association.

The Wagon Master is Bill Simmons who is also Vice- President and his duties are to make sure people sign up for their turn at being Hosts and to find places and campgrounds for rallies. The sheriff is Don Saddler and the deputy sheriff is Mickey Merchant. The sheriff and his deputy have a fun time fining people who don't wear their name tag or whose cell phone goes off in the middle of the meeting. The monies they collect in a fine are used for the Christmas rally.

The newsletter editor is Linda Simmons and the historian and Sunshine Chairman is Audre Hughes. The liaison director is Ralph Cox and the alternate director is Don Hughes.

Each rally has hosts who have selected the meeting place and who have planned activities and the meals. The hosts can either buy and prepare the food or select a place to dine out. The members of this chapter come from all over the Gulf Coast hence the name. Many Gulf Coasters come from the Gulf Breeze area.

The October rally began on Friday night. The hosts were Dick and Alice Davis and Joan Daniel all of Gulf Breeze. The hosts planned and prepared the club's 18th annual fish fry for the entire group on Friday night and prepared breakfast on Saturday morning. Saturday evening was a potluck dinner and Sunday everyone brought a covered dish for a brunch. Saturday following breakfast there was a formal meeting of the club or chapter with an agenda like any other club.

Anyone who owns a motor home and is an active member of the Family Motor Home Association can apply to join. The Gulf Coasters just celebrated their 20th anniversary in June 2005 at the South Wind Campgrounds in Alabama. The chapter still has seven active charter members: Dick and Alice Davis, Lou Haynes, Don and Audre Hughes and Jim and Johnnie Strawbridge. If you are interested in joining this group contact John Waller at (251) 961-3084.

Experienced campers know the many benefits of the different types of camping, campground and RV clubs. Some offer their members discounts for a variety of camping and RVing related products and services while other camping and RV clubs are purely social. Clubs may be local to the individual state or nationwide travel clubs for owners of your particular RV brand. At social clubs called camping groups, members share tips and experiences with camping and have a lot fun doing it.