Unit Caravan U-410, better known as the THLU

Balloon Fiesta Caravan, rolled through West

Texas and New Mexico September 28 to Octo-

ber 12, 2014 in route to the 43rd annual Albu-

querque Balloon Fiesta, “Spirit of the Winds”.

26 rigs were led by our energetic and informa-

tive leaders Harvey and Gail Craig. Partici-

pants included Ed and Chere Addicks, Jim and

B. Bailey, Wendy Barber and Tammy Patter-

son, Tom and Jean Beebe, Marty and Cindy

Berdan, Stanley and Cinda Brooks, Ken and

Julie Callahan, Myron and Kathryn Fischer,

Windy and Shirley Fleming, C.C. and Carla

Gartman, Paul and Cecilia Gulick, John and

Kay Irwin, Julie Jordan and Stephanie Sobotik,

Mike Lovell and Colin Melton, Gary and Marilyn

McClanahan, H.V. and Pat Martin, Jimmy and

Marque Mooney, John and Sherry Parten, Lu-

ther, Alice, Jeremy Price and Claire Vestal,

Robert and Diane Richards, Richard Roucloux

and Bill Booker, Ed and Shirley Sherwood, Rick

and Debbie Trimble, Richard and Janet Turner

and Jim and Melinda Wasson.

We met at South Llano River State Park in

Junction and then went on to Balmorhea State

Park in Toyahvale where many of us enjoyed

the clear, cool waters of the largest spring-fed

swimming pool in the world. Next stop was

Carlsbad, NM for visits to Carlsbad Caverns

and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State

Park. We arrived at Balloon Fiesta Park on

Thursday. Harvey had secured prime parking

spots for us in close proximity to the launch

field. On Friday we were joined by about 175

other Airstreams while we were out and about

touring Old Town, The Balloon Museum, San-

dia Peak Tram and various restaurants.

Balloon Fiesta Caravan and Rally was Awesome !

November

2014

Rally updates 2,10

11

Birthdays/Anniversaries 3

Caravan pictures 4-9

Camper Clinic ad 13

Presidents Message 14

Inside this issue:

Unit Luncheon

Next luncheon: No-

vember 4, 2014.

Mimi’s , Bee Cave,

TX

Meet between 12:30

to 12:45; eat around

1:00pm

Call Marty if you need

more information at

512-913-9011

Saturday morning the real fun began with

Dawn Patrol at 6am and Mass Ascension at

7am. We were literally right on the launch

field or under more than 500 balloons flying

overhead. What a sight! After our usual

happy hour we closed the day with a bal-

loon glow and fireworks.

Sunday morning’s launch was cancelled due

to the wind, but the evening’s balloon glow

was spectacular. Monday and Tuesday

mornings we were surprised by two more

mass ascensions. Ed and Chere Addicks

even took a flight on Monday morning and

took some great pictures.

Tuesday we moved up I-25 to Santa Fe.

(Continued on page 3)

Harvey and Gail Craig

Caravan Leaders

2

RALLY UPDATES

“Hello, Goodbye” Installation Rally, November 13-16, Victoria, TX

Join the fun at our Installation Rally to be held this year at one of our sponsor’s, the Victoria Coleto Creek

Lake KOA in Victoria, TX. Come support our next President Grady Ferry and his team! This will be a no-host rally

with one catered meal on Saturday night, one pot luck dinner, and a dutch treat dinner. The installation ceremony

dress will be “business casual”.

The following people are signed up for this rally: Addicks, Beebe, Berdan, Dowdy, Ferry, M. Fischer, Fleming,

Haddox, Hazen, Heinold, Irwin, Kachilla, Lovelace, McClanahan, Mooney, Parten, Selking, Spruell, Steele/Page,

Turner, Trimble, Wasson, Wetterschneider, Zeringue.

Two spots are open for this rally-call Marty if interested in attending.

The rally schedule is included on page 10.

Christmas Rally, December 4-7, Montgomery, TX

All 37 slots are reserved for the Christmas Rally, but contact Marty to be on the

standby list, as we usually have last minute cancellations. Hosts Willard and Linda

Fischer, Robert and Diane Richards, Janet and Richard Turner and Steve and Ginger

Zeringue are planning a great rally. CONTACT: Marty Berdan, 512-913-9011 or mar-

tin.berdan@gmail.com

The following people are signed up for this rally: Addicks, Arneson, Beebe, Berdan,

Blanchards, Booker/Roucloux, Brooks, Capps, Craig, Ferry, M Fischer, W Fischer, Flem-

ing, Gartman, Haddaway, Harkey, Hazen, Irwin, Jordan/Sobotik, Kachilla, Latham, Love-

lace, Lovell/Melton, Mayton, McClanahan, McGill, Mitchell, Mooney, Parten, Richards,

Roper, Shepard, Spruel, Stephens, Turner, Wetterschneider, Zeringue.

PARTICIPANTS PLEASE NOTE: Call the KOA to pay your deposit no later than Novem-

ber 4th. Phone: 936-582-1200

The rally schedule and reminders are included on pages 11 and 12.

3

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Birthdays

11-2 Vickie Courtney

11-2 Glen Hieshima

11-3 Dave Sharbo

11-4 Ken Callahan

11-4 Frank Rising

11-6 Gail Craig

11-6 Julie Jordan

11-8 Rosemary Leach

11-10 Miranda Lambert

11-11 Marty Berdan

11-11 Raisin Schwerdfeger

11-16 Cynthia Hempel

11-17 Mary Herrold

11-18 Wendi Prater

11-18 Byron Wright

11-19 Howard Duff

11-19 Karen Sharbo

11-20 Jim Schwerdfeger

11-23 Kathy Blanchard

11-25 John Tetzlaff

11-26 Ron Harner

11-27 Jim Riggio

11-27 Ed Sherwood

11-28 Johnny Shelly

11-28 John Sheridan

11-29 Myrtle Bell

11-30 Pati Mayton

11-30 Billy Myers

Caravan cont’d We explored the Santa Fe Plaza, Loretto Chapel, Cathedral Basilica,

artists studios, shops, Falls colors of the Aspens near Santa Fe Ski area, and the ambiance of

this majestic region. We toured El Santuario de Chimayo, ate at the famous Rancho De Chi-

mayo, and shopped at Ortega Weavers. Our scrumptious farewell dinner was held at Vanessie

of Santa Fe. We enjoyed outstanding food and service followed by the piano bar entertainment

of Esther Hana.

Our final stop was Bottomless Lake State Park and Roswell, NM. We toured the UFO museum,

Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art and the Roswell Museum and Art Center.

All of us who were on the caravan want to thank Harvey and Gail for a superb two weeks ! The

Balloon Fiesta was truly an unforgettable, spectacular event made even more enjoyable by our

parking spot. It was definitely a “bucket list” item for Cindy and me, and we want to do it again

in the near future! Harvey and Gail, thanks so much for a job well done!

Anniversaries

11-1 Tommy and Treasea Morris

11-4 Johnny and Erlene Shelly

11-5 Steve and Ginger Zeringue

11-6 Humberto and Mickey Reyes

11-18 Andy Trumble and Wendi Prater

11-23 Billy and Lynn Walker

11-26 Jim and Melinda Wasson

11-29 John and Sherry Parten

4

Thanks for the memories….

Cecilia and Paul Gulick

Stanley,

Cinda and

Buddy

Brooks

Marilyn and Gary McClanahan

Kathryn and Myron

Fischer

Windy and Shirley Fleming John and Kay Irwin

Carla and CC Gartman

Julie and Ken Callahan

All member photos

by

Marque Mooney

5

...and more memories

Marque and Jimmy Mooney Richard Roucloux and Bill Booker

Tammy Patterson and Wendy Barber

Alice and Luther Price with grand daughter Claire Vestal

Diane and Robert Richards

Stephanie Sobotik and Julie Jordan

6

Colin Melton presented to

Harvey a special thank you

gift

Debbie and Rick Trimble

Janet and Richard

Turner

Melinda and Jim Wasson Shirley and Ed Sherwood

Jean and Tom Beebe

Pat and H.V. Martin

7

Colin Melton

Mike Lovell

Marty and Cindy Berdan

Jim and B. Bailey

John and Sherry Parten

Ed and Chere Addicks

B. Bailey entertained us for

happy hour

8

Up, Up and Away

With almost six hundred balloons everyone had their favorites and it was hard to

choose just one. You get the scale of how enormous they are with Shirley Flem-

ing and Marilyn McClanahan posing by Beagle Maximus. There were balloons

from all over the world since this is the best and largest festival of its kind. If you

haven’t been, put it on your bucket list. Of course the best way to go is in your

Airstream and be parked close to all the action. You will not be disappointed.

Balloons for

Young and

old alike

First

morning a

landing by

the Berdan

trailer

9

A perfect morning

watching launches

with Harvey and Gail

Craig

Spectacular shows in

the evening with

music and lights

dancing in the

balloons.

10

“Hello, Goodbye” Installation Rally- November 13-16, 2014 at Victoria Coleto Creek Lake KOA, 500 Coleto Park

Rd, Victoria, TX 77905

This is a NO-HOST RALLY. All campers must pre-register with the RV park at 361-582-0222 or 800-562-9394.

All site fees will be paid directly to the RV park at check-in.

Contact: Marty Berdan, 512-913-9011 or martin.berdan@gmail.com

Wed 11/12: All Day Early arrivals welcome. Notify KOA ahead of time.

Thu 11/13: All Day Arrival and parking. Park office will assign spaces.

4:30 pm Happy Hour in clubhouse. A-H bring snacks. BYO beverage

Plan your Friday and Saturday adventures.

5:45 pm Dutch treat dinner on your own or eat in trailer

7:00 pm Bonfire and s’mores, weather permitting

Fri 11/14: 7:30 am Coffee ready in clubhouse

8-9am Breakfast snacks: bread, muffins, etc

All Day EXPLORE VICTORIA-TX

Information regarding things to do in the area will be provided.

4:30 pm Happy Hour in clubhouse. J-Z bring snacks. BYO beverage

5:45 pm Pot luck. Bring your favorite entrée, salad, veggies, or desserts

7:00 pm BINGO with Marque Mooney

8:00 pm Bonfire and s’mores, weather permitting

Sat 11/15: 7:30 am Coffee ready

8-9am Breakfast snacks

9:00am Pay rally fee to Jean Beebe

All Day Explore the area

5:45 pm Catered Dinner- pork tenderloin, German potatoes, green beans,

Salad, rolls, tea

7:00 pm Installation of Officers Ceremony followed by Reception

Sun 11-16: 9:00 am Devotional

Have a safe trip home. See you at the Christmas Rally!

Poster by Marque

11

THLU Christmas Rally and Charity Auction

December 4-7, 2014

Lake Conroe/Houston North KOA

19785 Highway 105 West, Montgomery, TX 77356

936-582-1200 / www.koa.com/campgrounds/lake-conroe/

*BRING TABLE SERVICE & BEVERAGE TO ALL MEALS (except Sat. dinner)*

Wed, Dec. 3 Hosts arrive: Diane & Robert Richards, Ginger & Steve Zeringue, Linda & Willard Fischer, Janet

& Richard Turner

Thur, Dec. 4

12:00p Parking – upon arrival please check-in at the park front office & pay for your parking ($28.00/

night, check-in after 12:00p)

4:30-5:30p Happy hour, bring beverage and snack of your choice

5:30-6:30p Potluck Dinner - German theme, bring a dish to share (hosts to provide bratwurst & buns)

7:00p Chinese gift exchange-coordinated by Peggy & Phil Spruell

Fri, Dec. 5

7:30 a Coffee in rally room

8:00 -9:00a Breakfast – eggs, sausage, toast & juice

10:00a-4:00p Lunch on your own - decorate your RV for judging Saturday

Skeet/Pistol Range trip (see reminder/things to bring to rally – headcount needed by Nov. 15,

email Steven Zeringue at zeringue3@msn.com

4:30-5:30p Happy hour, bring beverage and snack of your choice

5:30-6:30p Dutch treat dinner – carpool to Ransom’s Steakhouse & Saloon with entertainment (hosts will

provide directions)

7:00p Local entertainment/theater play house - Dutch treat (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the

Crighton Theater in Conroe, order your tickets at www.crightontheater.org.)

Sat, Dec. 6

7:30 a Coffee in rally room

8:00 -9:30a Pancake breakfast (sausage, juice, coffee and all the pancakes you can eat) hosted by the RV Park

- $5 per person (Dutch treat, to be collected by the unit treasurer) there is a 20 person minimum &

15 day advance notice so call or email Marty Berdan by Nov 15 for reservations

10:00a-10:30a Pay RV Park breakfast & any rally fees to treasurer

10:30a-4:00p Lunch on your own - on your own sightseeing, RV decorations judged

12

2:00p Auction set-up, bring your items to the rally room

4:00-5:00p Happy hour, bring beverage and snack of your choice

5:00-6:00p Dinner – Catered by The Black Walnut restaurant

6:30-9:30p Christmas Auction – auctioneer Jim Latham

Sun, Dec. 7

8:30a Devotions / bring your own coffee (check-out 11:00a)

***Please RSVP with the number of people/Airstreams including any guests attending the rally & number of people wanting to at-

tend the Saturday RV Park breakfast by Nov. 15 to:

Marty Berdan (512) 913-9011 or martin.berdan@gmail.com

***Please RSVP for the target shooting range trip by Nov. 15 to:

Steven Zeringue (936) 273-4524 or zeringue3@msn.com

Reminder of Things to Bring to the Christmas Rally:

1. Chinese Gift Exchange, bring one wrapped gift ($5 - $10 suggested) per person for Thursday evening. This is an annual event at the THLU Christmas Rally that always ensures a lot of laughs and stealing of gifts. Numbers will be drawn and the friendly exchange of gifts will begin. More details will be provided upon arrival at the Rally.

2. Bring auction items to donate for our annual auction Saturday evening. Sixty percent from this auction will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and the other forty percent will go into the operation funds of THLU.

3. Christmas decorations for your RV, judging will be done on Saturday afternoon. 4. Christmas card exchange with those attending the Rally. Hosts will provide bags

with names attending the rally 5. Set-ups and drinks for all meals except our Christmas catered dinner Saturday night

before the auction. 6. For Dutch treat target shooting trip bring your own guns or rent a shotgun for $20.00.

The cost for skeet is about $10 plus shells, sporting clay $26 plus shells, and the pis-tol range is $10/hour.

7. Wednesday, December 3rd

– If you are coming to the Rally early, you must call the RV Park for availability.

13

Please patronize our advertisers!

14

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

As the saying goes “time flies when you are having fun” and this year has certainly gone by

quickly. On November 15th my year as THLU President will come to a close. As I reflect back

on this year I am very proud about what our club has accomplished.

We continue to be a dynamic, active, diverse and fun loving group which truly embodies what

the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI) stands for. We held six unit rallies, at-

tended the Balloon Fiesta Rally, and actively supported the Region 9 and International Rallies.

We held six unit luncheons in the Austin area and one at the Region rally. We sponsored a

very successful unit caravan to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. We supported local charities at

our unit rallies. We continued to support the Wounded Warrior project with proceeds from our

Christmas auction. We published 10 newsletters. Membership continues to be strong with 114

regular and 15 affiliate members.

I use the word “we” because all of this is a team effort and I have been supported by an out-

standing team.

I thank all of the unit officers for their hard work: Grady Ferry, Cindy Berdan, Lin Brinkman, Jean

Beebe, Jimmy Mooney, Tom Beebe, Marque Mooney, Harvey Craig and Ilene Wetterschneider.

The committee chairs have made my job a lot easier and I thank all of them: Myron Fischer,

Mike Lovell, Janet Latham, Ardell Mayton, Kathy Kachilla, Kay Fisher-Irwin, Jim Haddaway,

Fred Hazen, Harvey Craig, Pati Mayton, Judy Hazen, Stuart Wetterschneider, John Irwin,

Kathryn Fischer, and Darrell Kachilla.

Another huge thank you goes out to everyone who has hosted a rally this year. I really appreci-

ate you facilitating the fun and fellowship of our rallies.

I owe a special thanks to my wife Cindy for her total support and commitment to helping me

plan the year. The Beatle’s based theme “Here, There and Everywhere” was her idea and she

is the reason that the newsletters look so good.

Thank you all for the honor and privilege of serving as your President this past year! I look for-

ward to seeing all of you down the road.