TIDBITS FROM PENNY June 2016 Volume 7, No. 2 Edited by Louise Birett

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1 TIDBITS FROM PENNY June 2016 Volume 7, No. 2 Edited by Louise Birett lbirett@comcast.net GREETINGS FROM OUR ACTING PRESIDENT - JUNE 2016 Executive Board: Ron Becker, President Phyllis Britz, Exec. V.P. Bill Freed, Treasurer Barbara Arcati, Secretary Carol Becker, Area VP Jim Lexa, Area VP Wayne Dilliplaine, Area VP Larry Troutman, Area VP 2016 Rallies: 4/15-4/17 Pine Grove, PA 5/ Centre Hall, PA 6/17-6/19 Gilbert, PA 7/15-7/17 Lebanon, PA 8/19-8/21 Bloomsburg, PA 9/23-9/25 Orrstown, PA 10/5-10/9 GEAR, Lewisburg, WV 11/4-11/6-Bethel, PA The West End Fairgrounds delivered a great setting for our 3 rd rally of the year. There was lots of sunshine, laughter, fellowship and of course FOOD. Diane and Bill Freed as rally masters, and their team of hosts, did an outstanding job. Some news that I d like to share from the rally: It s official. Penny has a new adopted family. Sally Thomas, Walter Sattazhn and Marian Imboden have embraced being Penny s new caregivers. Congratulations!!! Penn Coachmen s new trailer has now been to its second rally. I am pleased to say that several members have volunteered to tow it to and from our rallies. Reminder to those who are considering helping to tow the trailer, the Board approved payment of $50 one way (or $100 round trip) and payment for early camping dates if the rally masters need the trailer early. The nominating committee is working hard to develop a slate of officers for next year. I strongly encourage folks to consider running for office. The Chapter needs your talents. Reminder: GEAR will be October 5-9, 2016 at the State Fairgrounds of West Virginia in Lewisburg. Penn Coachmen are generally signing up for 50 amp service to park together. If you plan to attend and want to volunteer, you need to designate this when you register. Penn Coachmen are encouraged to volunteer as this provides early entry to the Fairgrounds. Penn Coachmen chair three GEAR Committees: Ron Lee and Karl Deardorff chair Facilities, Ron & Carol Becker chair the FMCA Store and John Breisch chairs Security. Interest has been expressed to have a Rolling Rally from the Sunbury Rally to Lewisburg. Some members are looking into making this happen, so... Stay tuned!

2 Again a reminder that FMCA s 94th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase will be held August 3 through 6, 2016, in West Springfield, Mass. Several Penn Coachmen are planning to go. Thanks to everyone for your ongoing support. I hope to see you at one of our upcoming rallies and bring a friend. Phyllis Britz 2

3 PLANS FOR THOSE GOING TO FMCA FAMILY REUNION IN WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA After kicking around a lot of information, here is where we are. 1. Because FMCA is expecting lots of coaches, the Parking Committee does not want to be overwhelmed so people will be assigned arrival dates in the registration packages that should have been mailed out. 2. Volunteers are to arrive on Sunday, July 31, because there is a meeting scheduled for Monday. They will have 30 AMP electric available immediately. 3. If you want to be parked as a group, we have to arrive together. Therefore. I have made the decision that we should arrive at the Big E Fairground at around NOON on Sunday, July 31st. 4. There is a rather small Holding Area that we can use to wait for someone separated by lights or traffic. So we will request the holding area to make sure we have everyone in our group before we asked to be parked. Keep in mind that this is a very small lot and we may be forced out if a member is late. 5. In addition to the V for volunteer signs, I will prepare numbered signs for everyone to show we are a Penn Coachmen group. 1 of 10; 2 of 10; etc. 6. If you did not originally volunteer or do not receive your V sign in your packet, you could make a quick call to and tell them you want to volunteer driving Trams. No matter what you are told, please stay in our group. I have been assured that you will not be kicked out if you arrive as part of the group. 7. Louise and I have researched campgrounds near West Springfield MA and found quite a few with 35 miles of the event. We have selected: Northampton/Springfield KOA, 133 South Road, Westhampton, MA Pull Thru with 50/30 and W & S are $62.31 per night 70 Pull Thru with 50/30 and W & S are $59.31 per night I did not get a price for 30/20 Pull Thru with W & S, but they are available as well as the usual back-in sites 8. Louise and I have made reservations arriving Fri 7/29 and leaving Sun 7/ Since Google says we are only 22 miles away, I think that if we leave by 11:00 AM on Sunday we should be able to cover the 22 miles in an hour. 10. If you do not join us at the KOA and plan instead to arrive at the Holding Area by Noon Sunday, please let me know so we can mail you your Penn Coachmen caravan number to post in your windshield. 11. Please make your own reservations and I would not wait too long as we many may need to hole up for a day or two before they can Arrive on Monday or Tuesday. 3

4 REQUEST FROM THE EDITOR: In order to make forthcoming newsletters interesting, I would like to request your help by sending me any of the following throughout the year at lbirett@comcast.net: Vacation tidbits or advice Seeking items to purchase or items for sale Family news such as births, deaths, illnesses, prayer concerns, accomplishments, etc. Favorite recipes Motor home repair/upkeep advice Interesting stories or vignettes Out of the way places you have found to be of interest Special anniversary celebrations Members and former Penn Coachmen who are ill, have had surgery, or have passed away Hobbies or craft how-tos Poems, stories, vignettes New camping gear/equipment you have learned about and where to purchase them Special camping experiences Funny pet stories Funny grandchildren stories or sayings Life on the road Interesting people you have met along the way Nature encounters Photos taken at rallies ******************************************************************************* THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS Bill Rollins - Chronic back pain. Betty Moyer - Chronic neck pain. Joe Veneziale - Chronic leg pain and kidney failure. Ed Molinsky - Cancer treatments. Bill Freed - Cancer treatments. Bill Pascoe - Cancer treatments. Stan Seyfried - Cancer treatments. Ron Becker - Cancer treatments. Roz Newman - Cancer treatments. Harold Yarnell - Passed away. Karl Stoltz - Cancer treatments. ****************************************************************** Those known to be celebrating a birthday during June and July 2016: June 4 Priscilla Swetland July 2 Jim Lothert June 5 Bernie Gilbert July 5 Andrea Lee June 12 Shirley Lothert June 13 Nancy Breisch June 25 Jack Shaak Darrell Beers Joseph Borell Ron Buckley June? Dan Cocca 4

5 Who Was Haym Solomon? Read this fascinating history of the $1 bill to know about Haym Solomon. On the rear of the One Dollar bill, you will see two circles. Together, they comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal.. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved. If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid. Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the west or decided what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the Capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin 's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything. 'IN GOD WE TRUST' is printed on this currency. The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, 'God has favored our undertaking.' The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, 'a new order has begun.' At the base of the pyramid is the Roman numeral for 1776.(MDCCLXXVI). If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States. It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery, and is the centerpiece of most heroes' monuments. Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States, and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean. The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: First, the eagle is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above it. Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England. Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own. At the top of that shield there is a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation. In the Eagle's beak you will read, 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' meaning, 'from many - one.' Above the Eagle, we have the thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one. Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows. An (untrue) old-fashioned belief says that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief. You will almost never see a room numbered or any hotels with a 13th floor. But think about this: America, which relies on God (not a number) to direct and lead, boldly chose: 13 original colonies, 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 13 stripes on our flag, 13 steps on the pyramid, 13 letters in 'Annuit Coeptis', 13 letters in ' E Pluribus Unum,' 13 stars above the eagle, 13 bars on that shield, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 fruits, and if you look closely, 13 arrows. And finally, notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the right-hand circle. You will see that they are arranged as a Star of David. This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Haym Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army. Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself, but he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result. Few people know it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions...then died a pauper. Haym Solomon gave $25 million to save the Continental Army, money that was sorely needed to help realize America s --our-- freedom and independence from England. 5