ttfmcaralliesandmore@blogspot.com: October 2009

Joe and Pat Watts being greeted by some greeters while arriving at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center at Shawnee Oklahoma for the 36th Six-State Rally. Our Thousand Trails of Texas/FMCA Chapter was picked to volunteer to be parkers and greeters at the rally, we also worked at a few other places. We arrived on September 20th and three of our members came in one day ahead of us. Volunteers that came to Shawnee early were Smitty & Mary Helen Smith, Sam & Crystel Walker and Jimmie and Joan Watson. Volunteers that came on the 20th were Richard & Helen Barnes, Nolan & Willie Blank, Melvin & Helen Carlton, Ronal & Lenell Dunn, Randle & Connie Farrar, Joe & Marie Golleher, Larry & Dianna Huff, Charles & Sara Smith, Joe & Pat Watts, Donna Carpenter and Tommy & Olga Wood. We also had other members that came in a day or two later: Paul & Myra Chevalier, Barbara Spade and Terry & Lynn Griner. Other members that were at the rally were Michael & Judy Wade (vendors), Tony & Geri Innocenti, (Immediate Past President) and Fred Kennedy (SRA President).

First day we got to Shawnee we were invited to a get together for cake and ice cream to celebrate Mary Helen's birthday, being that she was 110. Jimmie thinks she looks good for
her age and we agree. It was on Sunday and the Cowboys were playing so Jimmie decided to cheer for the team. I do believe the Cowboys lost but we gained by celebrating and doing what we do best, eat. We had a good time socializing with everybody.

Fred & Lou Kennedy and some of their friends came over to socialize with us and have some cake and ice cream.

We had a good time.

Happy Birthday young lady!!!

It looks like what somebody else was caught doing. Can you guess?

Fred is doing what he likes to do best.

We were all parked together.

Here are some of the greeters, hard at work.

The follow me golf carts and their drivers were hard at work also.

They are taking a break from all the hard work and they are also taking turns holding the pole.

Is he trying to stop somebody, that was his job?

This is the Expo, where the rally took place in Shawnee.

This was Bob, one of our bosses, I guess.

Joan was in training and Jimmie went for the ride to be sure that she trained well.

I guess she learned it all, she's pretty sure of herself but Jimmie said according to him, she failed the training.

All these guys are waiting for coaches to come along. The first couple of days were pretty slow because the coaches weren't supposed to start coming until Tuesday and Wednesday.

I guess we're still celebrating at Jimmie.

The desserts were great.

Today it got pretty cool. Larry and Tommy were parkers. They did a good job parking lots of coaches today. I think there were over 300 coaches. I had to take them some hot chocolate to warm them up.

Here comes another bunch.

At the end of the day, another meal. Randle and Connie treated us to halibut that she caught when they were in Alaska. Their freezer was runneth over and who else to help them with their problem but their friends. Everybody brought lots of trimmings and it was all real good. Thanks Randle and Connie.

We enjoyed it all and now we'll relax a little.

Nothing going on at this time. Waiting!!!!

How about these water boys!!!!

Everybody seems to be waiting for work. They were coming slowly at the beginning but there were times that it really did get hectic.

I guess Joan's doing okay. Marie and Mary Helen don't seem to be worried.

Some more people waiting for work.

At the end of this day we had a dinner for the volunteers. It was pretty good. We had pork and/or fried chicken.

Another day!!! I believe today is Wednesday so it'll be pretty busy again.

Unhooking their tow cars.

They all went through with no problem.

Water boys went all over the place making sure that everybody had plenty to drink.

All these are greeters. They are waving and greeting everybody that drove in.

Here are some more parkers at another location. Not too busy at this time.

Barbara Spade came in on Wednesday and we made sure that she parked with our group. Tommy and Larry came over from their location to park her with us because she hadn't joined our chapter yet when she made her reservations.

At the end of the day we planned to have sandwiches at our place. It just makes it a lot of fun to get together and not have to cook a whole meal. We always have plenty to eat and enjoy each others company.

I set up the computer outside in case somebody wanted to see the blog.

Tonite we got entertained by by Indian Dancers Kevin Connywerdy, Zack Morris and Steve Littleman. The Homesteaders also entertained.

This is another entertainer that belongs to the Seminole tribe. He played different kinds of music with different kind of flutes.

Seeing to it that everything is going well.

Joan is supposed to be working and there are no stores in the middle of the road so what is she doing with her purse???

The greeters were stationed at different parts of the roadways.

Water Boys taking a break.

Happy at the end of their shift.

More greeters.

Waiting for coaches to come in. They sure waited a long time.

More greeters!!!

Working the door prize station. We had three of our members win prizes: Chuck & Sara, Paul & Myra and Barbara Spade.

This people were at the red hat luncheon. They are checking their numbers and also getting some 50-50 tickets.

Yummy!!! Three o'clock ice cream. It wasn't the small size either. Pretty good but not as good as Blue Bell.

Even the workers got to eat on the job.

Fred and Lou making the rounds.

Joan is tired of sitting.

What happened??? I guess she's still tired of sitting. Things happen!!!!!

Checking out the wares. Do you know how it works Joe????

Jimmie is spending some of his money and Sam is trying to find out how much!!!!

Is Paul giving you some kind of advice????

What could Jimmie and Tommy be planning????????

Terry & Lynn Griner also making the rounds.

Looks like these people are getting ready for something.

Yep, they were. Time for ding-ding again. Today Joe and Pat Watts are treating us to lasagna. We had plenty of food and desserts. Everybody enjoyed themselves. What a life!!!

Everybody still eating.

Tommy is still playing or tearing up his toys??????

There were some old tractors displayed.

They had a tractor pull during the day.

Lots of people watched the tractor pull.

Tommy got some windshield wipers installed from one of our members that was a vendor, Michael Wade. He also got a chip on the windshield repaired.

This time Sam & Crystel treated us to grilled hot links. We had all the trimmings to go with it. Lots of food and relaxing before we go to our last entertainment of the rally. We enjoyed every bit of it.