American Coach Association
South Central Chapter Rally
Kerrville, TX Buckhorn Lake Resort July 2016
The official date to start this rally was Tuesday July 12 but Jackie and I arrived on Sunday as well as did several other members. The President and his lady, Allen and Vicki Meek were all set up with chapter signs clearly on display.
Buckhorn Lake RV Resort placed our members near each other. Throughout the week you could always find a group of friends outside visiting. We weren’t about to let a little southern heat stop us from having a good time. The sun was surely shining while the steady brisk breeze, along with some shade, really helped to cool us off. The clean swimming pools and fishing creek were helpful too!
Monday night we gathered our lawn chairs in the shade between coaches and the guys grilled meat while the gals filled the tables with goodies.
Tuesday Jackie and I went exploring in Kerrville and to check out the Museum of Western Art. We got set up for the group to tour it on Friday. Lunch by the Guadeloupe River at Billy Gene’s was delicious.
As it seems to be the norm, several of the guys were working on repair projects on their coaches. Yikes! Some even had air conditioning issues!!!
That evening Allen welcomed everyone in the rally room,
then we had a big pot luck supper.
Kitty Nicholson and her “covey” of ladies had the room all decked out in red, white and blue to show our support of our veterans and troops.
Wednesday began our days of delicious breakfast cooked by the guys. Biscuits, toast, bacon, sausage, gravy along with eggs cooked to order by our own chef: Robin Fagala.
At 1:30 we met back at the rally room for our special presentation of $10,000 to Veterans Assistance Dogs of Texas. It is a non-profit organization that trains and donates service dogs to Disabled American Veterans with mental and/or mobility disabilities. The director taught us all about how the program works.
We took a big group photo outside. We sure looked patriotic in our red white and blue outfits! We all smiled as we met “our” dog, Onyx.
We were also impressed with the brown dog named Suzie, an assistance dog who was brought to the presentation by her owner. This was an excellent example of a trained assistance dog. It was unbelievable to witnessed Suzie and her owner leave in a vintage Triumph 750cc motorcycle with Suzie in the side car complete with bright red goggles and wearing a unique seat belt.
That evening most of our group ate at Café on the Ridge.
The landscaping was colorful and amazing but the most memorable aspect for me was the chicken coup!!!! No kidding. It was all handmade from wood and so uniquely designed.
There was even a covered, protected walkway for them to go from the roost to a big aviary.
Thursday the guys cooked a big hot breakfast for all of us again. They really do go to a lot of trouble to do this special gesture for all of us. Hats off to Robin Fagala for coordinating, shopping, storing, and hauling all the equipment necessary to do this!!!
This morning President Allen Meek conducted our official chapter business meeting. There was enthusiastic conversation regarding how we can successfully influence other ACA chapters to donate their excess funds to worthy non-profit organizations.
The ladies went on a special field trip coordinated by Kitty Nicholson to the Kerrville Kroc Community Center. This state-of-the-art facility is run by the Salvation Army. I was surprised to learn that it is a strong Christian organization. The center fills the needs of all ages from child care to senior activities and all financial situations. It had a huge gym, teen game rooms, child care rooms, meeting rooms, a lovely chapel, a small prayer room, a coffee shop, big kitchen, and a swimming pool plus more. Joan Kroc, widow of Mc Donald’s founder: Ray Kroc, donated over a billion dollars which has resulted in over 27 centers thus far throughout the United States. Communities must follow a strict application process including raising matching funds through charitable donations. Kerrville is the only center in Texas. After our tour of this amazing place the ladies went to the nearby Salvation Army store to shop and show our support.
Thursday evening everyone brought their steaks to grill and once again the men outdid themselves with a splendid meal. People brought dishes to share.
Betty and Tony Todd made their ‘famous’pinacolades.
We celebrated a special birthday milestone for Greta Askins, one of our chapter’s hardest workers.
Friday morning was yet another hot breakfast in the rally room with the addition of homemade waffles by Jerry Askins.
Seventeen members caravanned to tour the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville.
We were especially impressed with the floor made of small mesquite squares and Saltillo tile hand made in Mexico. The building boasts 27 barrel vaulted ceilings that were made using no nail or timbers. Each brick was hand made in a special method to cause it to be lightweight. The curved ceiling was created one brick at a time before the other walls were added. This method goes back 6000 years focusing on the amazing qualities of the form – the arch.
There was a sculpture artist working in his studio on the grounds. Bronze sculptures begin with the work in clay. Large sections of the piece are built by putting clay on a Styrofoam aperture. This is the first time I had heard of using oil based clay with the advantage that it does not dry out.
He showed us a red clay sculpture of a longhorn that was about a foot long. He told us that next spring this will be a life size bronze sculpture on the Riverwalk in Pueblo Colorado.
After a brief gathering in the rally room for happy hour, we left for supper at Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurant.
The food was delicious !!
We had a big room almost to ourselves.
I thought they did a great job of handling such a group of about forty people.
Saturday morning we had pastries and coffee and said our good-byes. We will meet again in Hot Spring Arkansas October 17-22. The Christmas rally is yet to be determined.
The meeting room was cleared and cleaned by rally fairies and we left more great memories behind.
ONYX
Beth Collins,
Historian: South Central Chapter of American Coach Association
July, 2016 email: