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Enjoyment of the whispering winds, the zephyrs, the airstreams of the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin areas of the United States in a recreational vehicle

40th Anniversary of the Sierra Nevada Unit 1976 – 2016

This is a series of articles published in the Sierra Nevada Unit newsletters in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the SNU. The articles were written by Diane Leipper (#772). The primary sources for articles included archival information from the SNU and personal recollections.

Articles – Sierra Nevada Unit – The Beginning -|- 2002 – A Decision Point -|- 1980 Mid-Nevada Caravan -|- The SNU and Wally’s Four Freedoms -|- Special Events -|- The SNU Enters the Electronic Age -|- SNU Kids -|- SNU Success -|- Brainstorming with Nevada State Parks -|- SNU Contributions to WBCCI -|- New Directions -|- Highlights and Achievements

Note: Published date links to that months newsletter

The Sierra Nevada Unit – the Beginning – Published January 2016

2016 is the 40th Anniversary of the Sierra Nevada Unit. The SNU has a variety of things planned to commemorate this special year. One that is immediately obvious is the newsletter. This layout and design was created by Rick to commemorate this anniversary year. Another will be the special Anniversary rally at Lassen RV park in September 2016. As was done in 2015 to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of WBCCI, the SNU newsletter will include articles and pictures related to the history, development, and special highlights of the SNU during the past 40 years.

In 2000 Frank Burnham, a charter member of the SNU wrote this for the newsletter.

It was twenty five years ago that the Sierra Nevada Unit was born by splitting the Nevada Unit at the Southern edge of Tonopah. Several of the Nevada Unit members lived in the northern part of the state and decided that for all intents and purposes it was already two Units. At that time rallies were held once month in the north and the next month in the south. The northern members seldom went south while the south members seldom came north, even as far as Tonopah. An application for a new charter was made to the International office and after a few months of planning, writing a constitution and bylaws, and selecting a charter set of officers, we were granted a charter as the Sierra Nevada Unit. Paul Estis was the first President and scoured the area for charter members.

One of the primary motivations behind the SNU section of the website has been to preserve the Unit’s history and to make it available to all members as well as others that might be interested. Although much of the history prior to 1995 has been lost, any remaining material that comes to light is added to the website. Currently the SNU history section includes links to all SNU newsletters from 1997 to the present, a list of SNU officers from 1976 to the present, links to rally schedule archives, links to annual SNU Achievements and Highlights, SNU documents, letters, newspaper psa’s, and meeting minutes and a section dedicated to the memory of SNU members and friends.

We look forward to a great year in 2016 and hope that you will join us at rallies and luncheons

Picture: Eldon Perkins, SNU President 1980 and Howard Conner, SNU President 1982

SNU Rally Sites

Since 2000 the SNU has held 108 rallies at 42 different rally sites. All of these sites were the result of various SNU members either making a suggestion from past experience or taking a drive to check out a place they had heard about or had been recommended one way or the other. Fourteen SNU members (couples & individuals) have helped find rally sites and most hosted one or more rallies at the site they recommended. These members include: Don & Mary Lou Damoth, The Leipper family (Dale & Virginia, Bryan, Diane & Anita), Roy & Bonnie Douglas, Fran Reid, Rick LaBorde, Jerry & Dyann Thornburg, Randy & Vicki Grossmann, Don & Gail Williams, Wheels & Doris Wheeler, Melissa Wong & Roman Kremenski, Gary Haskett and Gene Baleme. During these years total SNU membership has averaged close to 30 members. For it’s size, it looks like the SNU has had a pretty diverse and expansive rally experience with very good input from a large number of members. Definitely a record we can be proud of.

SNU Pet Friendly Rallies

SNU rallies have not only included Airstreams and people, they have also included a variety of pets. We’ve had birds, tortoises, cats and dogs participate in rallies. One of the advantages of the SNU’s preferred rally sites is that we don’t have to worry about pet restrictions. Our primary focus is just to make sure we clean up after our pets and that they (and their owners) respect the other rally participants. Although some SNU members aren’t pet owners, most have at least one pet and some have two or more. As you might expect, the majority of SNU pets are dogs. Most of us wouldn’t think of traveling without our pets. They enjoy the outings just as much as we do. Most of the places the SNU holds rallies provide great walking opportunities for both pets and their humans. In part, due to great pet ownership, we have never had any incidents with pets at rallies. One close call was at Sweetwater when Diane was walking her dog and came upon a rattlesnake. Another, less dangerous adventure was a rally at Scout Camp when it rained. Scout Camp is close to the Carson river and the ground is clay. When it got wet it acted like cement. When we took our dogs out for walks the clay would build up on their paws (and our shoes) to the point it was hard to walk. Needless to say, dog feet needed a pretty thorough cleaning before they were allowed back in the Airstreams.

Other animal visitors to SNU rallies include; cows at Pyramid Lake, deer at Twin Lakes, peacocks, sheep & harmless snakes at Unionville, a bear at Obsidian, baby owls at Lahontan, Alex a Belgian draft horse at Sweetwater, and an abandon dog at Scout Camp. That story has a happy ending as that dog went home with Wes and RoyLaine and is now a much loved family member. Back in the 1990’s there were some SNU members whose dogs did cause problems. One of their dogs barked incessantly and almost caused some rally participants to leave. That dog even bit one of the rally participants. These same people were not welcomed at some RV parks because of their dogs. I’m very glad to say, since then we’ve had no similar incidents and on the rare occasions where we’ve held a rally at an RV park or other place with pet restrictions, we’ve always been welcomed. The hardest part of pet ownership is that many pets, dogs and cats in particular, have a relatively short lifespan. Over the years in the SNU we have all shared in the loss of beloved pets. We have also been able to share the joy of bringing a new pet into the family and watching it grow up. Our pets are part of our family and they are part of the SNU family. Pets and people and Airstreams enjoying special places in Northern Nevada – doesn’t get much better than that.

2002 – A Decision Point – Published February 2016

In 2002 the SNU went through some major changes. The Unit had begun to stagnate, holding lunches rather than rallies and recycling a small group of people on the board. Although some changes started in the late 1990’s when a couple of new members provided the motivation to schedule a few rallies, the big changes came later. In 2002 some newer members were elected to the board. They brought new ideas and initiated a few changes. Not all the long time members supported these changes and chose to retire. Also, by that time many of the members were no longer able to tow their trailer or participate in activities. These and other factors brought the SNU to a decision point. Although it was later learned that Region and WBCCI leaders were aware of some of the problems the SNU was dealing with, for the most part they chose to ignore us. The only suggestions we got were either to fold the unit or merge with another unit. For a variety of reasons neither of these options appealed to the remaining 3 active members. Those members, Don & Mary Lou Damoth, Fred & Ann Hersey and Bryan & Diane Leipper decided they liked camping together and they liked the places that Northern Nevada provides for rallies and camping. They made the decision to keep going and see what happens. After making this choice, the next decision was to get back to basics. This means focusing on what we thought WBCCI was all about as outlined in The Wally Byam Creed and the Four Freedoms. To focus on camping and to hopefully enthuse and encourage others to join us. The next step was to review and revise. This included taking a look at the bylaws and determining ways to make them better fit the needs of a smaller unit while still adhering to WBCCI policy. It also included looking at rallies and how to make them most effectively fit the resources of the SNU and unique opportunities provided in the SNU’s territory while meeting the needs and interests of rally participants. Promotion played a key role in the revitalization of the SNU. With so few people to carry out tasks, it was determined that in addition to holding rallies, the ongoing publication of the newsletter and putting public service announcements (PSA) in local papers were where we needed to concentrate our efforts. The PSA’s were directly responsible for many new members to the SNU, some of whom are still members. The PSA’s increased awareness and led to other benefits including a feature article in the Reno Gazette and articles in other newspapers. Our open door policy for visitors to rallies and our decision to never cancel a rally regardless of how few participated also proved worthwhile. We frequently had unexpected visitors show up with or without their Airstream. Again, this effort directly led to some people joining the SNU and again, some are still active members.

Those 3 members decided early on that it was up to the SNU to decide it’s own fate and to take the steps necessary to change it’s future. They went about creating that future and within a few short years the SNU began growing and expanding. The change was apparently unexpected in some circles as most units in similar situation just folded. What was going on with the SNU impressed Region 12 President, Jim Emlinger. He wrote an article for a Region 12 newsletter published in 2005. An interesting statement Jim made in his article was that he credits the SNU with being the inspiration for developing tools to assist other Units. Jim says “ What makes this even more interesting is that today there are now tools available to do the things that they (the SNU) had to create themselves. These tools consist of the Merit Award program, media guide and adopt-a-dealer program.” To this day, the SNU has led the way in a variety of of new an innovative techniques that have been beneficial not only to the SNU but to other units and even WBCCI.

We can all be proud of the legacy of the SNU. Even today, we can be proud of the fact that we are all part of assisting the SNU to decide it’s own fate and continue to develop it’s future. Check the website to read Jim’s article and learn more about the development of the SNU

pictures: top, Fred & Ann Hersey and MaryLou & Don Damoth – Bottom, 2003 Rally at Boca Rest. Milan & Eloise Wight and Fred Hersey in the center of the picture

1980 Mid-Nevada Caravan – Published March 2016

One of the few things that still exists of the SNU prior to 1995 is a photo album of a 1980 Caravan of Mid-Nevada. This was an official rally sanctioned by WBCCI. Although I haven’t found any documents or photos of other caravans, it seems that this was the third official caravan carried out by the SNU. The 1980 rally started in the parking lot of the Water Hole in Fallon Nevada on August 17, 1980. Five rigs participated. The comments in the photo gallery and in this article come from the album which includes a written review of the rally. The comments and review were written by Charles Hopping who served as SNU president in 1984. The rally ended at the Cantaloupe Festival in Fallon on August 29, 1980. Charles says that before the caravan several friends of various caravan participants made comments as to why they were going into the hot desert during the hottest month of the year. Charles says only one afternoon did the temp get to a the low 90’s, that tow vehicle air conditioners were rarely used and that blankets were needed every night.

The leader of the caravan was First VP, Howard Conner. It was Howard that established the Caravan travel attitude. This attitude was “to see as much as possible of the central and mid Eastern part of Nevada; no iron clad itinerary; each day we would all discuss and formulate a general plan for the next day, and even this could change if we deemed. The scheme was to relax and enjoy. This we all did!” Sounds a lot like the way the SNU still operates to this day. It also looks like the SNU’s willingness to help others with mechanical difficulties or other things at rallies or on caravans is a trait that has always been a part of the SNU. Howard was the resident mechanic on the 1980 caravan. He apparently efficiently dealt with a variety of mechanical and plumbing problems. The kitty fee for this rally was $35 per participant. This covered overnight expenses – two nights in a Nevada State Park at $1.50 per night per rig and one night in a commercial campground at Baker. The rest of the overnight spots were free. The kitty also seems to have covered most of the meals. Charles says his tow vehicle traveled 1285 miles from Reno and back, used 137.4 gallons of gas at a cost of $168.62 an average of 9.4 MPG. He says his biggest expense was for two cases of Heart of Gold melons. The caravan headed east from Fallon on Hwy 50. After a lunch stop at Rock Creek ruins, they stopped for the night at Scotts Summit. Other places visited on this caravan included Austin, Eureka, Ward Charcoal Ovens State park, a smelter at McGill, Kennecott mining near Ely, Baker and Lehman Caves, Pioche and Echo Lake, Cathedral Gorge, Kershaw-Ryan, Caliente, and Manhattan.

In his closing comments, Howard says “Finally, you members who couldn’t come along missed a lot of fun and great companionship. Pleasantly warm days and wonderful cool nights, The great Mid-Nevada mountain ranges and fabulous valleys. Nevada ghost towns and important history. A wonderful inexpensive Holiday”

The SNU and Wally’s Four Freedoms – Published April 2016

Note: This was written in 2004. These concepts were instrumental in the growth of the SNU. They continue to guide the unit to this day. Check the website for the full article.

Wally Byam, Developer of the Airstream travel trailer and founder of the Wally Byam Caravan Club, International defined the Airstream experience in terms of four basic freedoms. These are freedom from arrangements, freedom from the problems of age, freedom to discover and to know, and freedom for fun. In response to an article in the March 2004 issue of the Blue Beret, the Sierra Nevada Unit, was prompted to describe these concepts as they are enjoyed by our members. The four freedoms listed in the article were essentially the concepts we all agreed were worth our efforts to rebuild the Unit.

Freedom from arrangements - The SNU is in the unique position of having lots of wide open space for Unit gatherings. Although we may have to reserve a site, we are usually free to park where we want and how we want. Since our membership prefers dry camping or minimal facilities, we have more options and are not dependent on high price campgrounds or RV parks. The open parking available to the SNU also means that we never have to turn away anyone, even if they haven't registered for the rally.

One of the primary assets of the Airstream that Wally Byam promoted was that it is self contained and can have all the comforts of home independent of provided services. The SNU follows that example on most of our outings. We also have a flexible rally schedule and side trips, activities, and tours, are optional. The SNU provides a list of possibilities available for each rally but arrangements are made by the individuals not the SNU. This enables members the freedom to make their own arrangements, to come when they can, for as long as they can, and participate or not participate as they choose.

Freedom from the problems of age - We have had all ages from toddlers to octogenarians participate in our activities. Because of our flexible schedule working families, those with school age children, and retired adults all fit in and enjoy participation as it suits them. Because of our simple needs, flexibility, and the availability of low cost camping sites, we can keep costs to a minimum thus encouraging anyone young or old to participate even if they have limited resources. The flexibility of SNU outings can accommodate almost anyone regardless of any restrictions or limitations in abilities.

Freedom to discover and to know - Northern Nevada has lots of great history and geological points of interest. Our rally schedule is planned around something of interest to our membership. For instance our May (2004) rally is planned to coincide with the Civil War re-enactment at Fort Churchill and our October rally is near the historic Bower's Mansion. No matter where we are there are places to explore and opportunities for hiking, biking, tours, or other activities

Freedom for fun – This is the basis for our gatherings and for our desire to continue as a Unit. The great places we have available for SNU gatherings, the enjoyment of each others company, the sharing of tales and experiences, the sharing of new memories and adventures, and the excitement of encouraging and including new members in the Airstream experience. No wonder we are thankful we made the decision to keep going, to do what we can to rebuild the SNU and make it successful.

Special Events – Published May 2016

The SNU has participated in a variety of special events and activities the last 20 years. These include unique rally activities, community service projects, and some promotional events. This article describes five samples of these special events.

Trailer Park Troubadours - In September 2004 The SNU was contacted by The Trailer Park Troubadours. They are a popular musical group with the RV crowd. They have performed at WBCCI events as well as in other venues. The Troubadours were having a concert in Reno at Bartley Ranch Regional Park and were looking for an Airstream to use as a backdrop for the event. SNU member Rich Jaggard and wife Judy, have a 1961 Bambi. Rich was available and willing to participate. Rich had to use his expertise when it came to squeezing the Bambi through the door and onto the stage but he made it. The Bambi made a perfect backdrop for the concert. It generated a lot of attention among the concert goers. Rich was given special acknowledgment by the Troubadours.

Open House – In 2006 and 2007, the SNU participated in three open house events for the short lived Airstream dealer, Mountain Family RV. It was a great promotional opportunity for the SNU as well as for Airstreams. Diane set up a nice display table with information and handouts about the SNU. We had flyers in all of the Airstreams. The SNU photo albums were also available for browsing. Randy & Vicki had Airstream shaped cookies using the special cookie cutter Wes had made. Jerry did a short seminar and was available to answer questions on Airstream maintenance and repair. We displayed the SNU diorama that Randy & Vicki had made. All of us were there to answer questions, tell stories, and offer our real life Airstream experiences with potential buyers. SNU members were directly responsible for at least two definite sales of Airstreams. It was a lot of fun for all of us.

Friends of Inyo – In 2007, After several years of rallies at Obsidian, we thought it would be a good idea to show our appreciation for this special spot in some way. Rick contacted the Friends of Inyo and coordinated a work party during the SNU rally. SNU members spent an afternoon working with the Friends of Inyo to clean up debris and campfire rings, rebuild a rock barrier across a road not open to traffic and assist with other chores. By all accounts it was a fun and successful effort.

Lyon County Fly-In – This idea was proposed by Wheels in 2009 and enthusiastically embraced by everyone. We parked our Airstreams right off the air strip so we had easy access to all the events and activities. It was a perfect place for the SNU to be visible to all event participants, some of whom stopped by to visit. We helped the event planners with a variety of tasks including filling up goodie bags for the pilots and setting up tables and tents. Our primary job though was helping with the pancake breakfast. Everyone chipped in, cooking, serving, acting as cashier, or running errands. When we weren’t working we got to visit the booths, take in the activities, watch the hot air balloons or watch Western gunfight re-inactments. Gene and Carmen got really adventurous and took a ride in a WWII AT6!

South Lake Tahoe Anniversary Rally – Randy & Vicki hosted this special rally celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the SNU in 2011. The highlights of this rally were a visit to the nearby museum and a dinner cruise on the M.S. Dixie. The museum showcased the history of the area and includes a rustic cabin set up as it would have been in the early 1900’s. The M.S, Dixie cruise included an excellent meal, entertainment, and of course, a cruise around the north end of Lake Tahoe. It was neat to view the lights of South Lake and other communities from the deck of the boat. The rally also included traditional SNU campfires, shared meals and morning coffee.

Cantaloupe Festival – Jerry & Dyann hosted SNU rallies at the 2012 and 2013 Cantaloupe Festival in Fallon. Little did we know at the time, but it was later discovered that the SNU had held previous rallies at the Cantaloupe Festival including one in 1980. The 2012 rally included celebrating Jessielynn’s 1st Birthday with a pink flamingo extravaganza put on by Jessielynn’s grandparent’s Dean & Shelly. Both rallies provided opportunities to enjoy the junior rodeo, visit fair booths, enjoy a variety of entertainments and of course, fill up on Hearts of Gold cantaloupes and other fresh produce.

The SNU Enters the Electronic Age - Published May 2016

According to SNU newsletters and personal remembrances, the SNU began to make it’s way into the electronics age in the late 1990’s. In the September 1999 newsletter, SNU President, Frank Burnham wrote that “Bryan Leipper has volunteered his e-mail address for use of the club in recruiting new members, and is also contributing to the establishment and purification of a WBCCI website”. What Frank meant by “purification of a WBCCI website” is unknown. In April 2000 newsletter, Frank Burnham mentions that he now has email capabilities. It wasn’t until about 2001 that SNU officers began being listed with an email address. Electronic communications among members was still very limited. In the November 2002 newsletter, Don Damoth includes the first mention of a website. He says “Check out the Unit webpage that Bryan Leipper has done SierraNevadaAirstreams.org.” To be clear, what Bryan had set up was a website focusing on the general RV’ing experience in the Great Basin area. Sections of that website were dedicated to exploring the areas and camping possibilities in and near Northern Nevada as well as preserving and sharing the Airstream history of our family and others. A portion of this website was donated for use by the SNU. That section has become a repository for all things past and present, related to the Sierra Nevada Unit. In the December 2002 newsletter, Don Damoth, provided this introduction to the SNU section of the website.

Do you wonder what is on the schedule for the Unit in 2003? Do you know who the Unit Officers are for 2003? Are you interested in finding out more about some of the locations planned for Unit rallies? Do you have a trailer or other Airstream related items that you wish to sell or purchase? Do you want to find out more about the region the Sierra Nevada Unit calls home?
If you want to find the answers to these questions as well as other information of interest to Airstreams in Northern Nevada check out the Unit webiste SierraNevadaAirstreams.org. This is currently supported by Bryan and Diane Leipper (WBCCI #772). The goal is to enhance communications among current Sierra Nevada Unit members as well as others interested in Airstream RV’ing. Your input and ideas are always welcome. If you have pictures, tidbits, information, or resources you would like to see included on the web site please feel free to contact us at hq@sierranevadaairstreams.org

To this day, the answers to those questions and so much more, can be found by exploring the website. As Don said in 2002, “your input and ideas are always welcome” If you browse through the website you will clearly see that over the years, many SNU members as well as others have contributed photos, stories, articles and other materials. There are even contributions from friends in Canada, Australia and England. The website is continually evolving and expanding.

From 2002 on, things began to develop rapidly. With the acquisition of the domain name came the potential for email addresses specifically for use of the SNU. Communications via email became more and more common. The website became the “go to” place for current information on rallies and other topics related to the SNU. With Don Damoth as editor, more work related to the newsletter was done electronically. Don and MaryLou traveled a lot and email helped them stay in touch and work on the newsletter wherever they happened to be. It was in part due to the Damoth’s traveling that the newsletter solidified into a four page document with selective use of pictures and other graphics that was distributed via an email with a link to the website. This enabled the Damoth’s and other members to access the newsletter without being bogged down by a large attached file when they might be dealing with slow or spotty internet connections. In 2008 The SNU dropped sending newsletters via USPS and went strictly with the online and email system.

The website has also acted as a testbed, a place to try new ideas and new capabilities. Early on, guidelines or Op Notes, were written describing basic philosophy behind the SNU’s use of internet and web based communications. These Op Notes outlined the foundations of who, what, why, and how on which the use of these communications tools were built. The following is a list of some of the various technological efforts in which the SNU was either first or one of the first to use in the promotion and management of a Unit.

The premise behind the SNUs use of internet technologies is, and always has been, to keep it simple, cost effective, and easy to use and maintain by any member of the Unit. With this goal in mind, open source software is used. Html and Adobe PDF files which are commonly available compromise the bulk of the content of the website. No special or proprietary web application programs are used. Things have changed considerably since 2002. The principles the SNU used to establish it’s technological foundation enables it to change and evolve over time. It gives the SNU the potential to incorporate new ideas and tools as they are developed. Take some time, browse through the website, there is all kinds of information, stories, photos and other material to explore. As always, your comments, ideas, and contributions are always welcome.

SNU Kids - Published June 2016

The SNU has watched several kids and grandkids grow up. It’s always great to have kids at our rallies and we have enjoyed being part of their lives. Some of the kids include Rich & Judy Jaggard’s kids Jenny & Brian. Jerry & Dyann Thornburg’s grandkids Cole & Sidney and niece Taylor. Don & Gail Williams niece, Lauren and grandson Brandon. Rick & Jeanne LaBorde’s son Guy. Brian & Jeni Root’s kids Nick, Erika & Sidney. Dean & Shelly’s granddaughter, JessiLynn. Mike & Cindy’s grandkids. Victor & Bobbi’s son William. Gene & Carmen’s grandkids whose names I’ve never been able to get straight. All of these kids have attended SNU rallies, some have been frequent rally participants. We have also had several families with kids come to our rallies as guests. Some memories of these kids that stick in my mind include Brian’s violin concerts at Kingston and Hat Creek and Jenny’s parrot at Boca Springs. Cole & Sidney taking turns conducting the train at Portola. Brandon & Guy having a great time at Obsidian. Nick given fishing lessons at Kingston by Rich Jaggard. Nick also played guitar for us at a Christmas party at the Damoth’s. Erika has written two poems about her Airstreaming experiences, one of which was published in an issue of the Blue Beret. Then there was Jessilynn’s first birthday at the 2012 Cantaloupe Festival rally. Shelly went all out with a pink flamingo theme. Hopefully we have given all the kids that have come to SNU rallies a glimpse of what Airstreaming is all about and provided them with some good memories. Maybe one of these days, a few might become Airstreamers themselves. Check out the photo galleries of SNU kids on the website.

SNU Success – Published June 2016

There are many reasons for the success of the SNU. Primary among them are the principles it chose to use as guidelines when it went through a transition and rebuilding process in 2002. Among the many successes of the SNU are:

We are grateful to all SNU members, those who have been active participants and those not so active but who continue to support the SNU year after year. Once again, Jerry’s statement ”It’s the Airstreams that bring us together but it’s the people who keep us together” best describes the SNU

Brainstorming with Nevada State Parks – Published July 2016

Some of the comments in this article are from the November 2005 SNU Newsletter – The SNU had written a letter to Nevada State Parks in 2004 regarding the development of RV group sites at some Nevada State Parks. In particular we talked about Dayton State Park, having just had a rally there. For a lot of reasons, this park would make an ideal site for group RV activities. There was a perfect location just behind the already established group picnic area that would have required minimal development. There are also several possibilities for group RV sites within the Ft Churchill area. Currently Scout Camp at Ft Churchill is the only group RV site. That is primarily for horse groups although the SNU has held several great rallies there and we’ll be going there for our October 2016 rally.

It was in part due to the 2004 letter that Larry Chapen the Landscape Architect with the Nevada Division of State Parks came to the SNU Rally at Davis Creek to talk with us about some proposed changes to the Valley of Fire Park. Larry brought a copy of the preliminary plans for a class A section at the park. When he left two hours later, he had an entire overlay page full of suggestions and ideas. Some were basic and some were more innovative. You can read more about these ideas in the November 2005 SNU Newsletter. As it turned out, Larry had some pretty unique resources for this input. Not only was he able to tap the lifelong camping and RV experiences of all the SNU members present, he received input from Wes Warn who had owned an RV park and Anita Leipper who had just spent the summer being a camp host in several Oregon State Parks. We never did find out what happened with those plans and ideas but if even a few of them were implemented, Valley of Fire would definitely benefit. Dayton seems to have chosen to beef up its trail system and add signage over developing a group area. Scout Camp at Ft Churchill is still the only group RV area. There are other areas in the Ft Churchill complex that could easily be developed into a group RV site but there seems to be no plans anytime in the near future. There are other Nevada State Parks with a group RV area. Three of them are Rye Patch, Washoe Lake and Lahontan. The SNU has held rallies at all three of these sites. Rye Patch has a designated group area. The group area at Washoe Lake State Park is primarily for tent campers but it worked fine for the SNU for a March or April rally. Lahontan is primarily dispersed camping which is great for groups. The advantages of Lahontan are that we don’t have to reserve the site and we don’t have to pay a group site fee. This fits much better with the SNU flexible rally style. Maybe it’s time for the SNU to contact NV State Parks again. Maybe it’s time to see if there are any plans in the pipeline that would be of interest to the SNU. Maybe it’s time for the SNU to share it’s thoughts and ideas again. Maybe this would be a good project for 2017.

Picture – visitors center at Valley of Fire

SNU Contributions to WBCCI - Published July 2016

Over the years, the SNU hasn’t just paid dues to WBCCI, it has contributed to the parent organization in many ways. A few of these contributions are listed here.

As a Unit

Individual members

New Directions – Published August 2016

The following is from a report of a WBCCI Committee Published January 14, 2009. In reading the suggestions written about Units you will notice that the SNU could have provided inspiration for this report. Many are concepts the SNU created for itself in 2002. When the SNU was struggling, we had to figure out for ourselves what we needed to do to turn things around. We took it upon ourselves to remove barriers. We minimized structure. Rather than be a “cookie cutter” Unit, we focused on who we were, the area we live in and the preferences of the members and potential members in our area to provide direction for the type of Unit we should be. Over the years we have successfully implemented many new and innovative ideas. We have kept accurate records of all aspects of membership including recruiting methods, tenure and participation. The SNU has provided a successful model. Although it has received some recognition, it seems that change, although often encouraged in WBCCI committees and by some individuals, is very difficult to accept and implement. The SNU didn’t wait for change to be handed down, it went about creating change for itself.

From: New Directions – A compilation of proposals put together by the WBCCI 2020 Long Range Planning Committee

Unit, Regions, Caravans

Focus on the Units, Remove Barriers – The Unit is the heart of WBCCI. The focus of Region and International leadership should be on the Units...identify the kind of help needed by struggling Units, provide assistance when the Unit needs are identified, help identify prospective members, identify what successful Units are doing to get and keep members, assist smaller Units in planning and executing rallies/caravans that then make it easier for smaller Units to recruit officers and encourage joint rallies between smaller Units.

Highlights and Achievements – Published September 2016

Since 2003, I have put together an annual list of Highlights and Achievements for the SNU. It is a lot of fun going through those lists and remembering how far the SNU has come since it re-grouped in 2002, the great things we have done and the successes we have enjoyed. Here are some excerpts from those lists. To view all the lists check the SNU history section of the website.

2003- Scheduled rallies for weekends and close enough to encourage working stiffs with families to attend. Restructured the organization to better reflect the size and style of the group.

2004 - Increased the number of rallies to six for the year. Wrote a letter and sent promotional materials to all RV dealers within our territory and to all major news outlets.

2005 - We began a partnership with the new Nevada Airstream Dealer. Participated in their Kick-Off event, requested and received support for the Unit newsletter from this dealer and received a donation for the Unit 30th Anniversary celebration. The dealer also brought new Airstreams to two different SNU rallies which gave rally participants an opportunity to check them out

2006 - We celebrated our 30th Anniversary with a special luncheon in February. The highlight was a diorama of an SNU rally created by SNU members, Randy & Vicki. This diorama was also displayed at the WBCCI International Rally in Salem OR. The SNU has increased it's use of current technologies to encourage participation from all members. We have initiated systems to pay dues and rally fees on-line, we utilized an on-line voting system to gain input in the development of the rally schedule and we utilized on-line voting for various policy issues such as the proposed WBCCI name change.

2007 - SNU membership continued to grow. The Unit gained 10 new members in 2007 and ended the year with a total of 29 members. The task of getting public service announcements in local media changed hands and the SNU's new media relations person has begun getting the rallies posted in the on-line Reno Gazette calendar of events complete with pictures. He has also begun establishing relationship with key people in several media outlets.

2008 - The first SNU supported Death Valley rally was held in November of 2008. The rally included a guest from the Four Corners Unit. SNU members continue seeking out other Airstream owners, telling them about the SNU and asking about their Airstream experiences. Guests and visitors are always welcome at our rallies and meetings. The SNU had guests at several rallies in 2008. Two potential members participated in the Pyramid Lake rally. Airstreamers from the Sacramento area participated in the rally at Portola. Potential members from Gardnerville participated in the Sweetwater rally. Members from the Monterey Bay California Unit participated in the Obsidian Dome rally and members from the Golden West Unit stopped for a day visit at Obsidian.

2009 - Fun is a standard part of any SNU activity. To ensure we were properly attired, Melissa set up an SNU account on CafePress so we could order t-shirts and other SNU logo items. We got SNU aprons to wear while volunteering at the Airshow. We even got a special Red Neck President Apron, for Jerry. Other activities included a crockpot potluck at our Weed Heights rally, waffle breakfast at Petersen Ranch, popcorn cooked over the campfire at Obsidian, and a roast cooked over a spit on the campfire at Mason Valley. We added a few new pink flamingos to the flock including some neat pink flamingo candles that Jeni had been saving just for a rally. We admired Doris's special pink umbrella that goes along with the flamingos. Doris also treated us to a serenade with her guitar at Obsidian. Dyann, who prefers trees at the rally site, was given an inflatable palm tree along with a glittery hanging palm tree to provide her shade at rally sites with no trees. Wheels got some nice SNU stickers printed that we can put on our Airstreams. Bryan and Jerry don't let a little snow interrupt their morning coffee as demonstrated at Boca in April. Randy and Vicki updated and added to the SNU diorama which was on display at the Airshow

2010 - The SNU was featured on the October issue of the WBCCI member magazine. The pictures used on the cover were taken by various SNU members at several different rallies. Two SNU members participated in WBCCI Caravans. For one, it was their first Caravan.

2011 - The SNU held a special rally at Campground by the Lake in South Lake Tahoe to commemorate it's 35th Anniversary. Rally participants enjoyed a very informative tour of the Lake Tahoe Heritage museum as well as visiting other Lake Tahoe attractions on their own. The highlight was the 3 hour dinner cruise on the M.S. Dixie.

2012 - A highlight of 2012 was the rally in Fallon at the Cantaloupe Festival. Eight SNU members attended. In addition to enjoying the Festival and the Junior Rodeo, SNU members Dean and Shelly Fischer had a special pink flamingo first birthday party for their granddaughter, Jessilynn.

2013 - Two new options were added to the SNU communications network. Rick LaBorde set up a facebook page for the SNU. Don Williams set up the SNU rallies and lunches on the Region 12 Master Calendar. The SNU always welcomes fellow Airstreamers and potential Airstreamers to our rallies. In 2013 we had guests at Obsidian, Rocky Point, Ft Sage, and Green Creek. Most were from other WBCCI Units including The New England Unit, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, NorCal and El Camino

2014 - Rally highlights for 2014 included: March at Lahontan – corned beef & cabbage dinner April at Boca Rest – Randy's first kite flying experiment, May at Rocky Point – A Civil Air Patrol plane took a photo of the rally from the air June at Sweetwater– This was the 3rd SNU field day rally. Bryan made several contacts on his mobile ham station, Jerry tested out his new propane oven July at Weed Heights – trips to town & visits to the museum, August at Obsidian – special Friday and Saturday breakfasts including quiches & Randy's waffles, celebrated Bobbi's birthday September at Crocker – a wet weekend provided an opportunity to deal with drizzle & rain also a visit from Shelly & Jessilynn, October at Ft Churchill – beautiful fall weather, hikes to the river, the ruins of the fort and the museum.

2015- The SNU held rallies in three new locations and luncheons at two new places in 2015. Rally Sites - Prosser Family Campground, Lassen RV Park, and Glass Creek Campground. Luncheon venues – Shang Hai & the Plaza Hotel. The SNU had 40 members in 2015. This was the highest membership total since at least 1995. In addition to the 40 full members, the SNU had 4 affiliate members.

The SNU 40th Anniversary Rally Review – Published October 2016

The SNU at Lahontan- Published November 2016

Over the years, the SNU has held ten rallies at Lahontan, all in the spring or fall. The summer at Lahontan can become a zoo as well as hot and buggy, so we like to go when it’s peaceful and quiet. In the SNU November 1997 newsletter, Marge Grosch, SNU President and newsletter editor wrote about the fall rally at Lahontan. These are her comments.

Our Lake Lahontan Rally is now history. We have been going to Airstream Rallies since 1975 and none has been as gratifying as this one. As strange as it may seem, due to the makeup of the unit, many have not pulled their trailers to a Sierra Nevada Unit Rally in five years. This in itself was special, however the real icing on the cake came when two perspective members came and looked us and our trailers over and decided to join WBCCI. We have not been able to touch the ground since.
There was yet another occurrence that added to the enjoyment of the event and that was the maiden voyage of the Paul’s new/old Bambi trailer, yes, this was the first outing for them in their bundle of joy since it’s purchase. If our reading of their experience is correct, we will see much more of them and their bundle of joy down the road. Pete Rinne who had not pulled his unit for some time, talking of further travels which is great. The group had so much fun they want to do it again.

I remember Pete’s Airstream from this rally. It was a mess. The awning was falling off and the inside needed work. Never the less, he hitched up, came to the rally and got enthused for more rallies and travel. That’s what it’s all about.

Sierra Nevada Newsletters - Published December 2016

The SNU has always considered the newsletter as our primary communication and promotional effort. In addition, the newsletter is the vehicle by which most SNU business is shared with members and it serves as the official record for SNU business. SNU newsletter archives only go back to about 1997. The newsletters prior to then along with most other records from the SNU have been lost. In the early years, the newsletters were usually one page. The primary topics were a review of the most recent activity, a notice about the next upcoming activity, and an update on the health, birthdays, and anniversaries of SNU members. Around 2003 the newsletters went through a lot of changes.

They began to include articles of interest such as the physics of RV’s, winterizing, and travel tips. Newsletters were often two to four pages. It was around 2003 that the SNU first began to distribute the newsletter via email. That year also included the first publication of an SNU promotion as part of the newsletter. In 2006 the SNU codified its basic principles regarding the newsletter as part of the SNU Op Notes. One decision was that the standard newsletter format would be kept to four pages with webpage links to additional information and pictures as needed. Another decision was that newsletter content would focus on things related to the SNU, SNU members, Airstreams, and RV and camping topics. That filler such as jokes and unrelated clip art would be used sparingly but preferably not at all. After 2006 the newsletters began to include more articles written by various SNU members. Except for some missing issues, all of the SNU newsletters from 1997 to the present can be found on the website. Also on the website is a listing of additional experts from the newsletters. The following are a few examples from SNU newsletters from 1997 to 2002. The names after the date indicate the newsletter editor or the author.

1997 July, Marge Grosch – The proposal of accepting RV’s other than Airstream models for WBCCI membership was emphatically rejected by all delegates. It is obvious that there is near unanimous opposition to this proposal through WBCCI Units. The IBT committee will study other possibilities for increasing membership.

1997 October, Marge Grosch – Another occurrence that added to the enjoyment of the event (rally at Lahontan) was the maiden voyage of the Paul’s new/old Bambi trailer. Yes, this was their first outing for them in the bundle of joy since its purchase.

1997 December, Marge Grosch – Our Installation meeting was well attended. Gusts included David Hunter, Region 12 President and his First Lady, Billie. David Hunter installed the (incoming SNU) officers, It was especially nice to have our Region officers present at this time. For several of our members who haven’t been able to get to the Region or International get-to-gethers this gave them a chance to enjoy the pageantry to a small degree which prevails at a higher level.

1998 November, Marge Grosch – The Region 12 Rally in Hanford was a fun rally with three from our Unit. Burnham’s, Leipper’s, & Grosch’s. The highlight was on Thursday when Burt Byam drove to Bakersfield and picked up Helen Byam Schwamborn and she joined us for lunch.

1999 April, Steve & Frank Burnham – The meal situation (for the rally at Washoe Lake State Park ) is that three breakfasts will be completely furnished, three dinners will have the entrée furnished. Lunches are unprogrammed. There is no parking fee and we will figure out what the rally fee will be after we hear from you all.

1999 September, Steve & Frank Burnham – The rally at Ft Churchill was a quiet, relaxed weekend. Five trailers came for the three day weekend. Everyone who came with a trailer helped with the food, The Leipper’s made coffee, Marge and Beverly cooked vegetables and made salads, Burnhams did breakfasts and cooked the entrées, Virginia & Diane did the bacon & sausages Marge scrambled the eggs supplied by Diane’s chickens and most impressive was Virginia’s gorgeous birthday cake for the September birthday celebrations.

1999 December, Steve & Frank Burnham – The next meeting will be the annual Christmas party at the Burnhams. Please bring a gift costing between $5.00 and $10.00 Men bring a gift marked “man” and ladies bring a gift marked “woman” to put under the Christmas Tree. Burnhams will prepare the food and each person will be assessed their share of the cost.

2000 March, Steve & Frank Burnham – We noticed in the morning’s paper that Harlan “Scoop” Johnson passed away. He was a charter member of the SNU. Scoop was a native Nevadan born in Dayton in 1909.

2000 June, Steve & Frank Burnham – The May rally at Washoe Lake was a huge success in spite of some not so great weather. There were six Unit trailers and one guest. It was still windy and cold Sunday morning for breakfast but there were no complaints.

2001 January, Steve Burnham – About sixteen people came to the Christmas brunch and gift exchange and had a good time. Fred Hersey did the honors as Santa Claus. The Grosch’s came complete with trailer so that they could make a fast exit afterwards and could beat the threatening snow to Washington state.

2001 March, Steve Burnham – President Dale Grosch will present the updated Unit Constitution and Bylaws for adoption at our next unit meeting. That meeting will be at the Liberty Bell restaurant and saloon on South Virginia Street. We presume that you all know about the Liberty Belle, which is run by the Fey Brothers and they are the grandsons of the inventor of the original slot machine.

2001 May, Steve Burnham – The May rally will be at Ft Churchill. The hosts are Don and MaryLou.. They will serve spaghetti dinner on Thursday. That week is National Park Cleanup Week so we have ordered trash bags so we can do our part and help clean up the park.

2001 August, Don and MaryLou Damoth – I would like to dedicate this newsletter to two of our charter members who have played a major role in the success of the Sierra Nevada Unit since it was started 25 years ago. Fran and Steve Burnham, Frank & Steve have served as unit president about 4 times each and Steve served as Secretary or Treasurer many times, The have written and published the Unit newsletter recently and many times in the past. Frank wrote the original Constitution for the Unit. Thanks from all of us for the wonderful times we have had together.

2002 September, Don and MaryLou Damoth - The August rally was in the shade of the stately pine trees of Davis Creek Park, looking across Washoe Valley. Friday happy hour many of the world’s problems and a few of our own were cussed & discussed. Saturday the pot-luck was lucky indeed as culinary delights filled the picnic table and then were decimated by the assembled appetites.

2002 October, Don and MaryLou Damoth – The September meeting was held at the home of Dale & Virginia Leipper on a beautiful summer day. The meeting was made more interesting by the roar of acrobats and air racers from the nearby Reno Air Races. Don & Mary Lou will be leaving in a couple of weeks to head south for the winter, so we will be doing the newsletter from “on the road” until April ‘03.

2002 December, Don and MaryLou Damoth – Promotional note added to the newsletters - Welcome to the Sierra Nevada Unit of WBCCI. We are a small, friendly group who enjoy sharing our enjoyment of Airstreams, and the Airstream lifestyle with others, You are invited to come to any of our meetings and if you like, to join our Unit. We predict that you will make many friends and relish the camaraderie of all our rallies, caravan, and group activities. Our members are always ready to share their advice on equipment problems and trailering knowledge. In addition to being a member of our local unit, you will be one of several thousand who make up the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (the Airstream RV Club) Fred Hersey, Unit President

Holiday Luncheon Review - Published January 2017

Our December luncheon, hosted by Brian & Jeni Root was the perfect way to wrap up 2016 and the SNU’s 40th Anniversary year. Even the weather cooperated. The SNU members and friends who helped celebrate and enjoy this luncheon included Gary & Anita, Jerry & Dyann, Eric & Terry, Diane, Wheels & Doris, Randy & Vicki, Fred and of course, Brian, Jeni, Sidney, Nick & Erika Root. We were delighted to have Eric’s Mom Penny, Jeni’s friend Jami, Sidney’s friend Jade and the Root’s neighbor John join us for the luncheon. Jami came to help Jeni out with the lunch. Jade was also helping out with the lunch. Brian & Jeni had noticed that John had an Airstream so they invited him to the lunch. John has a 1960’s era Globetrotter that he is in the process of restoring. He picked up a lot of tips and information from Jerry and other SNU members. Fred, who will be taking his 1972 Sovereign to Sierra Trailer Restoration in the spring, had a chance to talk with Jeni about their experiences. Brian & Jeni’s 1954 Cruiser was restored about two years ago by the same company. Pink flamingos and Airstreams were in evidence everywhere from decorations to the table cloth to the very special treats Jeni made for dessert. Jeni had a cute little Airstream sitting on the front porch. Diane brought her unique Christmas Airstream that has blinking lights on the tree and plays a variety of Christmas carols. Jeni made lasagna and it was accompanied by a wonderful salad with a choice of dressings and warm bread with various pesto sauces to spread on it. Everything was excellent.

And then there was dessert! Jeni had found an Airstream shape cookie cutter. She cut out windows and doors. Then she crushed Jolly Rancher and Life Saver candies and sprinkled them into the windows and doors. The candy melted when the cookies were baked and the result was beautiful colored windows which look really neat when lit from the back. Jeni had also made some flamingo and some Christmas tree cookies. Jami arranged the cookies on a platter that perfectly represented an SNU rally. Airstreams with trees in the back and flamingos in front. Jeni had gotten some special gifts so after we finished lunch Jeni, with assistance from daughter Sidney, had a drawing. Doris got one of the gifts. It was a pink flamingo table cloth. I am sure we will see that often at SNU rallies. The next drawing was Terry. She got some pink flamingo table cloth weights which I’m sure she will find very handy. The last drawing went to Eric’s Mom, Penny. She received a tea towel with a pink flamingo on it and the caption, “Be a flamingo in in flock of pigeons”. Jeni couldn’t have picked more appropriate gifts. Doris, Terry and Penny were delighted with their new flamingos. Jeni also gave the luncheon participants a sample of her Practically Perfect canning efforts. Yummy apple, plum or other jellies. The perfect ending to a great year for the SNU and a perfect Holiday Luncheon. Thank you Brian and Jeni.



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