Monday, November 19, 2012

Oklahoma Fall Samboree - 2013

The Fall Samboree of the Oklahoma Good Sam Club will be held October 17 - 20, 2013, at Will Rogers Downs, 20900 S. 4200 Road, Claremore, Oklahoma  74019.  The theme will be “Once Upon a Time.”  Registration is now open!  A registration form may be obtained at http://oklahomagoodsams.com/documents/Fall2013RegistrationForm.pdf  Your completed registration form and fee may be mailed to Kristi Davis, 2320 N.E. 18th, Moore, OK  73160, or contact Kristi at (405) 615-4018 for more information. 

Fall Samboree 2012

The Oklahoma Good Sam Club held its Fall Samboree at “Will Rogers Downs” in Claremore, Oklahoma, October 18 – 21, 2012, with a total of 189 RVs in attendance. 
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The theme for the Fall Samboree was “By the Sea,” which was beautifully reflected in the stage backdrop provided by Oklahoma Good Sam chapter, “The Modern Wagoneers.”  Retired artist and Modern Wagoneer, Frank Fowler, designed the scene, while members of the chapter assisted in the painting. 
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The above photographs depict the progression of the stage preparation.  Frank Fowler and chapter members ready the backdrop for the Samboree (top left). Modern Wagoneers hanging the backdrop in the Event Center at Will Rogers Downs (top center).  Completed stage with lighthouse (top right and lower left), which was built and donated by chapter member, Jonathan Bonanno (lower center).  The lighthouse was eventually raffled and won by Gary Davis (lower right).
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Oklahoma State Staff arrived the Sunday before the Samboree began to receive their assignments . . . .
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The 2012 Fall Samboree included vendor exhibits with many interesting items. 
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Susan Magill (Modern Wagoneers) shows off her new Oklahoma earrings (lower left), while other attendees display door prizes given by vendors. . . .
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Samboree sponsor, Tulsa RV Sales, brought a large outdoor display of recreational vehicles!
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Our sponsor even provided the staff with use of an onsite office . . . .
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We wish to thank all of our sponsors for their support!
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As Oklahoma Good Sam chapters and out-of-state attendees arrived onsite, the Fall Samboree began to get underway . . . .
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Newcomers!

Good Sams always welcome “1st Timers,” and the Oklahoma State Staff tries to make their first Samboree experience memorable.  This Samboree had forty-three (43) “First Timers” in attendance.  A big Oklahoma welcome to all those who came!  Bill Harris, Oklahoma Assistant State Director (Southwest Region), addresses the “1st Timers” during the Fall Samboree (lower right).
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Not so “Newcomers!”

Margaret Clark (lower left), 89 years young, welcomes the “1st Timers.”  Margaret still travels in her RV and has attended more than 70 Samborees alone since 1998.  Dan and Ann Raper (lower right), of the “Sim-R-On Sams,” have made 178 Samborees during their career as Oklahoma Good Sam members!
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Welcome Neighbors!

The Oklahoma Good Sam Club appreciates the support it receives at its Samborees from neighboring states.  Oklahoma is in Good Sam Region IV, along with Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas, but we also have visitors from states as far away as New Mexico, Illinois, and Wisconsin  . . . .
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Crafts!

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Games!  Games!  Games!

Some of the most looked-forward-to activities at all Samborees are the games – Indoor and Outdoor!
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Music & Dance

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Denny Wade (above left), of the Southern Oklahoma Sams, warms up for the “Jam Session.”  Attendees were also treated to scheduled nightly entertainment.  Chuck King & Dave Thomas, a.k.a. “Soup Bone” (lower left), perform original songs and Chuck’s impersonation of Willie Nelson.  Maria Rose and Danny Oakley perform duets and country classics (lower center), while the “Kings of Music” dance band perform classics from the “Big Band” era.
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Oklahoma State Director, Bettye and Edward Franz, on the dance floor (lower left), while Ann Fowler (Modern Wagoneers) shows off her pole-dancing skills (lower center).  Denny and Pat Wade “cut a rug” (lower right).
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Susan Scholl, OGS Secretary, gave line dance lessons throughout the Samboree . . . ,
while others treated the crowd to a little “flat foot!”

 

Cake & Ice Cream, Anyone?

The “Clean Air Sams” and "Southern Oklahoma Sams" conducted the cake walk, while the “Modern Wagoneers” distributed the ice cream . . . .
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Nightly Door Prizes!

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In Memoriam

In memory of our past members, a Sunday worship and memorial service was provided by Oklahoma Good Sam Club Chaplin, Bob Ostermaier.
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In Honor of Our Veterans

The Oklahoma Fall Samboree charity was the “Folds of Honor Foundation,” which provides scholarships and other assistance to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or disabled in service to our country.  Anita Ward (below center) displays the quilt she made for the Oklahoma Veterans raffle.
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Seminars and Craft & Swap Meet

Attending a Samboree seminar is an excellent way to learn about specific things of interest.  Vendors demonstrate their products, while other experts and Good Sam members discuss hobbies, crafts, or even RVing.  The Craft & Swap Meet is a great way to dispose of unwanted items, or find bargains on RV accessories, books, or other items . . . .  
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The “RV Doctor,” answers questions about RV systems and operation (above left).  Wayne McComb, Director of the JM Davis Gun Collection in Claremore, addresses the Red Hat Society of the Oklahoma Good Sams providing an interesting history of Claremore and Rogers County (above center).  The Craft & Swap Meet met with a large turnout (above right). 

Parade of Chapters!

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Awards & Recognition

The Oklahoma Good Sam “Chapter of the Year” is determined by submission of its Scrapbook.  Three submissions were presented at the Fall Samboree for consideration, including “Oklahoma Red Bird Sams” (1st Place), the “Oklahoma #1 Chiefs Sams,” and the “Northeast Red Hat Samanthas.”
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Other awards were presented to chapters and members for recognition of various achievements . . . .
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Business Meeting

Three very important issues were presented at the Fall Committee Meeting.  The matters were placed on the meeting agenda in advance and given to the state chapters for consideration: 
First, whether the current cap on the Director’s annual mileage allowance for the Region IV Samboree circuit should be increased from $2,000 to $2,500? 
Second, and submitted by “Frontier Sams” chapter, whether the Oklahoma State Good Sam Club go to a one (1) Oklahoma State Samboree schedule each fall in Shawnee?  Because of declining attendance, high fuel prices, aging samboree attendees, and increasing samboree costs, all Region IV directors previously agreed that now is the time for all Region IV clubs to make such a change.  Shawnee is proposed as the proper location for the once per year Oklahoma Fall Samboree because it is centrally located, capable of supporting state samborees in Oklahoma, and can provide all necessary full hookups.  Because the Claremore Samboree site’s contract does not expire until the fall of 2013, the 2013 Spring Samboree in Shawnee, and the 2013 Fall Samboree in Claremore, will go on as scheduled.  The one (1) Oklahoma State Samboree schedule will commence with the Fall Samboree in Shawnee in 2014.  With only one samboree, there would be reduced expenses for administrative costs, printing, supplies, and costs for the State Director making the Region IV circuit.  Furthermore, a one samboree schedule will reduce the entertainment cost and/or increase the opportunity to provide better entertainment, and overall, a better samboree. 
Third, Director Franz requested that the Samboree fees increase as follows: (a) Early parking increase from $16.00 to $19.00 per night.  (b) Samboree fee increase from $66.00 to $69.00, and the vendor booth fee increase from $60.00 to $65.00.
A vote was taken at the Fall Committee Meeting and all three issues were approved.  Below, Oklahoma State Director, Bettye Franz, addresses the attendees to the Fall Committee Meeting.
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Pet Parade!

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Costume Parade

One of the highlights of an Oklahoma Good Sam Club Samboree is the Costume Parade.  Although some were more outrageous than others, the contestants of this Samboree kept with the Samboree theme, “By the Sea.” 
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The Oklahoma Good Sam Club hopes you enjoyed viewing our pictorial of the Fall 2012 Samboree.  To join in the fun, visit this site again in the future, join an Oklahoma Good Sam Chapter, or contact State Director, Bettye and Edward Franz, Email: bfranz2920@aol.com, Phone: (918) 970-6205

 

The Oklahoma Good Sam State Staff would like to thank and acknowledge Don Deweese (Western Prairie Sams) for his photo contribution to this site!