2016S-conv-info - GMCMI

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>> Join Us at the GMCMI Spring Convention!

Join us as we celebrate two “Vintage Classics” – the GMC Motorhome and the Fabulous 50’s! We have planned a fun-filled, learning experience, must-go-to convention this Spring.

Check out the Convention Highlights (at right) plus the many other special items.The Fabulous 50’s and Sock Hop! Don’t forget your letter jacket, saddle shoes, poodle skirt, bowling shirt, 50’s memorabilia and your hula-hoop! Oh, men, how about that special product to slick back that hair….who will be the Fonzi look-alike? “See you there….or be square!”


>> Convention Highlights

•    15-21 hours of tech sessions
•    Early bird technical session
•    Vendors, Vendors, Vendors…
•    12-19 hours of non-technical sessions
•    Six nights of camping, Fri. through Wed. night
•    Come early for Wednesday and Thursday
•    Three ice cream socials
•    Two catered dinners
•    Two breakfasts
•    Daily Coffee Hour and Book Exchange
•    Daily Morning Drawings
•    Ladies Luncheon
•    Men’s Bean Soup and Corn Bread Bake-Off
•    GMC Parts Exchange, Craft & Flea Market
•    Open House & Car Show
•    Participate in the Sunday Worship Service choir
•    U.S. Army Aviation Museum Tour
•    The popular raffle of money, free convention fees for two, plus many more items.

PLUS….
The Fabulous 50’s Sock Hop!


>> The Ammenities

National Peanut Festival Grounds
The National Peanut Festival Grounds located in Dothan, Alabama hosts the nation’s largest peanut festival and is known as the “Peanut Capital of the World”.

Dothan is located in the southeast corner of Alabama, 30 miles west of the Georgia state line and 18 miles north of the Florida line. The grounds are conveniently located on Highway 231 South. The physical and mailing address is 5622 Highway 231 South, Dothan, Alabama 36301; Lon: 31.145934, Lat: -85.402744.

Festival Grounds Ammenities
•    Beautiful buildings and grounds
•    Paved drives throughout grounds
•    All sites have electric and city water (limited sewers available)
•    Free “Wifi Cafe”
•    Comfort stations with restrooms and showers
•    Check out the facility at www.nationalpeanutfestival.com
•    Buildings available (at no charge) for club gatherings, social gatherings, etc. Please contact Kim Weeks to reserve.
•    Golf cart rental is available. Contact Kim for more information.

Indoor & Outdoor Vendor Area at Dothan
The facilities at Dothan offers indoor space where we plan on featuring an indoor vendor area (outside vendor area will also be available). Vendors please indicate on registration form if you wish to be inside or outside. Thank you.


>> U.S. Army Aviation Museum Tour

The museum maintains a collection of more than 160 military aircraft, including one of the largest collections of military helicopters in the world. The 45 aircrafts on display represents the Army’s involvement in military aviation from the Wright Brothers and the early combat aircraft of World War I, up to highly technological machines of today.

We have made arrangements via motorcoach to the museum at Fort Rucker on Thursday, April 7 at 1:00 pm returning by 5:00 pm. The cost is $20 per person. Pre-registration is required. Please do so on the convention registration form.

All visitors to Fort Rucker, ages 16 and older, must have photo identification. State issued identification cards, military dependent or retiree cards, driver’s licenses, passports, or other official issue ID cards with photo will be accepted. Access forms will be available at Convention registration desk.


>> CPR/AED Certification & Re-certification Class

Two years ago at the Spring Convention in Montgomery, GMCMI held classes and 20 members became certified to operate the GMCMI defibrillator. Recertification is required every two years. We have made arrangements for training at Dothan. It will be held on Friday, April 8 from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. GMCMI will subsidize a portion of the fee for those who participate. To attend the class, simply check the box on the registration form and pay only $10!


>> Car Show During Open House

On Sunday, April 10 from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm GMCMI will be holding an open house and has invited Doug Blankenship & Doug Wagner from 2D’s Motorsports in Dothan, AL to participate with us. Sure to be a great time!


>> Request for Mini Technical Session Presenters

The Mini-Tech Sessions have been received with great success. They consist of 15-20 minute tech/informational sessions that feature one thing that the presenter wishes to share. What is that one thing that you may wish to share? No formal powerpoint presentation or handout required. Contact Kim for details.


>> Non-Technical Portion of the Convention

“Vintage Are We” Ladies Luncheon & Cake Decorating Session
The Ladies of the GMC Sunshine Statesmen invite you to join them for the a Ladies Luncheon “Vintage Are We” on Monday at 11:30 am. Please dress in your favorite 1950’s outfit and join us for lunch and fun. You might want to brush up on your 1950’s fun facts and music so you can be the trivia winner.

Also, bring your creative ideas and cake decorating products and join the Ladies of the GMC Sunshine Statesmen in a cake decorating session on Sunday morning. The cakes will be the dessert for the Ladies Luncheon on Monday. Please do plan to join us!

“Let’s Keep Moving” with Elise Miller
Join me if you would like to get some exercise, based on the Silver Sneaker format. Enjoy moving to the music of  the 50’s and 60’s. No floor exercises involved. If you wish to utilize hand weights, please do bring them.

Blankets & Crafts
The blankets are easy to do. You don’t even have to sew! Just bring one yard of plain fleece and one yard of printed fleece and your scissors. The blankets are donated to local charities. And what can I say about the crafts? This is always a fun time and it’s amazing what we make and how proud we are when we are done. If any of you ladies have a special craft you would like to share, please let Kim know.

Non-Tech Sessions
We have a couple of sessions open, just in case you have an idea or session you would wish to lead, please contact Kim.

GMC Part Exchange, Craft & Flea Market
Bring those no longer needed items to sell! Also, we enjoy seeing and purchasing those lovely things you make.

Book Exchange & Bookworms
Remember to bring your books, tapes and dvds for the Book Exchange held each morning. Also, bring your favorite book and share it at the “Bookworms and their Diet” session. A list will be provided of all books shared following the session.

Call for Crockpots
Tom and Marilyn Phipps have offered to prepare breakfast casseroles on Monday morning but are in need of 31 crockpots. If you have one in your coach or can bring one, please do indicate so on the registration form. Thank you!

Corn Break Cook-off!
On Monday, Dan Meyer will be making his Famous Bean Soup for the men and conducting a Corn Bread Cookoff! If you wish to compete in the cookoff, please indicate so on the registration form. You will be contacted with further information.

Pineblock Derby
Get those GMC’s ready for the GMCMI Pineblock Derby! For GMCMI Pineblock Derby Rules go to www.gmcmi.com/gmcmi-pineblock-derby/. Basic kits are available for $12.00 plus $7.00 for shipping from Ray Swartzendruber at (574-457-3564) or Jim Kanomata/Applied GMC at (800-752-7502). Kits will also be available at the convention.


>> Area Information

Landmark Park
The 135-acre park was built to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of southeast Alabama’s Wiregrass region. The 1890’s living history farm allows visitors to observe a variety of farm animals, such as sheep, mules, cows, chickens, goats and pigs. It also features a collection of historic structures, including an old farmhouse, a smokehouse, a cane mill and syrup shed.

Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
The site has 50 acres of cultivated gardens, nature trails and undeveloped, wooded landscape in southeast Alabama. The botanical gardens seek to preserve the native plants of the area in an attractive balance with traditional botanical garden elements.

Peanuts Around Town
An array of theatrically attired 4-foot-tall fiberglass peanuts are located throughout the city of Dothan. As an ongoing fundraiser for the Downtown Group, businesses all over Dothan purchase the fiberglass shell and decorate it however they choose.

The Murals of the Wiregrass
An ongoing outdoor art project, features 22 murals painted on downtown buildings by nationally and internationally acclaimed artists. Depicting the history of the Wiregrass, the murals range in subject matter from “DeSoto’s Journey Throughout the Wiregrass Region” and “Salute to the Peanut Industry” to “Fort Rucker” and “Wiregrass Music.”

George Washington Carver Interpretive Museum
The museum commemorates the life and legacy of Dr. George Washington Carver and provides a comprehensive look into the historical influences of African-Americans in science, space exploration, the military and other areas. Hailed as an agricultural genius, Dr. Carver developed more than 300 uses for the peanut, more than 100 for the sweet potato, and many others for the soybean – including soybean plastic for car parts.

Downtown Dothan
Porter Hardware is the oldest continually operating hardware store in Alabama in its original location. Opened in 1889, the store remains virtually unaltered inside and out and maintains a large inventory of hardware and hard-to-find items.

For antique lovers, Dothan also boasts more than 10 different shopping venues downtown and along Ross Clark Circle. Each offers a plethora of treasure-hunting experiences.


>> Tentative Schedule

We solicit your input and participating in completing this schedule! Please do check the website for additional information at www.gmcmi.com under “Latest News”. See you there!

Wednesday | April 6 | Pre-convention
1:00 pm    Early GMCMI Arrival & Registration

Thursday | April 7 | Pre-convention
7:30 am    Coffee Hour – Coffee and Donuts
9:00 am    Early GMCMI Arrival & Registration
1:00 pm    Bus Tour to U.S. Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker – pre-registration required
5:30 pm    Board Meeting
7:30 pm    Ice Cream Social
8:15 pm    Bingo

Friday | April 8
7:30 am   Coffee Hour – Donuts, Waffles, Bagels & English Muffins
8:00 am   CPR Training – pre-registration required
9:00 am   GMCMI Arrival & Registration
3:15 pm   First Timers Meeting – All Members Welcome
4:30 pm   Craft Coordinators’ Meeting
5:15 pm   Welcome Meeting
6:30 pm   Catered Meal/Entertainment

Saturday | April 9
7:30 am    Coffee Hour – Donuts, Waffles, Bagels, English Muffins, Oatmeal, Juice & Fruit
7:30 am    Book Exchange
8:30 am    Announcements/Daily Drawings
9:00 am    Morning Tech Sessions
9:00 am    Morning Non-Tech Sessions
1:00 pm    Afternoon Tech Sessions
1:00 pm    Afternoon Non-Tech Sessions
5:30 pm    GMC Sunshine Statesmen Get-Together
7:30 pm    Choir Practice for Sunday Worship Service

Sunday | April 10
7:30 am    Coffee Hour – Donuts, Waffles, Bagels, English Muffins, Oatmeal, Juice & Fruit
7:30 am    Pancakes & Sausage served by theGMC Sunshine Statesmen
7:30 am    Book Exchange
8:30 am    Announcements/Daily Drawings
9:00 am    Worship Service
10:00 am  “Celebration of Life” for Helen Mueller Organized by Rob Mueller. Rob extends an invitation to all registrants to attend. GMCMI only provides a place for the Celebration.
10:30 am  Morning Tech Sessions
10:30 am  Morning Non-Tech Sessions
1:00 pm    GMC Parts Exchange, Craft & Flea Market
3:00 pm    GMC Motorhome Open House Tour/Car Show
5:30 pm    GMC Classics Get-Together
7:30 pm    Ice Cream Social
8:15 pm    Chicken Foot

Monday | April 11
7:30 am    Coffee Hour – Donuts, Waffles, Bagels, English Muffins, Oatmeal, Juice & Fruit
7:30 am    Breakfast Casserole by Tom & Marilyn Phipps and friends
7:30 am    Book Exchange
7:30 am    Pineblock Derby Weigh-in
8:30 am    Announcements/Daily Drawings
9:00 am    Morning Tech Sessions
9:00 am    Morning Non-Tech Sessions
11:30 am   “Vintage We Are” (Ladies Luncheon) hosted by the Ladies of the GMC Sunshine Statesmen
12:00 pm  Dan Meyer’s Famous Bean Soup and Corn Bread Cookoff
1:00 pm    Afternoon Tech Sessions
3:15 pm    Afternoon Non-Tech Sessions
7:30 pm    Ice Cream Social
8:15 pm    Pineblock Derby Races

Tuesday | April 12 | Back to the 50’s Sock Hop!
7:30 am    Coffee Hour – Donuts, Waffles, Bagels, English Muffins, Oatmeal, Juice & Fruit
7:30 am    Book Exchange
8:30 am    Announcements/Daily Drawings
9:00 am    Morning Tech Sessions
9:00 am    Morning Non-Tech Sessions
1:00 pm    GMC Motorhome Open House Tour
3:00 pm    Sock Hop Dance Lessons
4:15 pm    GMCMI Regional Member Meetings
5:30 pm    Catered Meal/Sock Hop & Entertainment

Wednesday | April 13
7:30 am    Coffee Hour – Donuts, Waffles, Bagels, English Muffins, Oatmeal, Juice & Fruit
7:30 am    Book Exchange
8:30 am    Announcements/Daily Drawings
9:00 am    Morning Tech Sessions
9:00 am    Morning Non-Tech Sessions
10:15 am  Membership Meeting, Awards, GMCMI Raffle (luncheon to follow Membership Meeting)
1:30 pm    Vendor Meeting
2:30 pm    GMCMI Board Meeting

Thursday | April 14
11:00 am    Campground Checkout – Convention Ends – Have A Safe Trip Home!


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