Michigan Good Sam . . . Members-At-Large Campout - 2019
Updated: 08/14/19
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Our annual campout was held at Covenant Hills Campgound in Otisville. This year it officially began on Thursday, August 1 through Sunday, August 4. Of course, unofficially, it ran Monday to the following Monday.
This year we had 17 RVs, 34 campers and 6 day visitors at our campout. The numbers vary year to year ... but ... the fun and fellowship we experience can not be counted. We enjoy ourselves with a large or small group.
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
The
canopy was up and waiting for more members to arrive.
The early arriving members erected the canopy. The rest of us just enjoy the protection it provides. (Photo credit: Ken)
The day began with games of croquet and ladder golf running concurrently.
Paul checking the score
on the score post someone
made to compensate for
short memories.
Did you notice the TALL ladder golf
someone shared. Wow!
Between games, the players join the
spectators to watch others play.
Jim won the croquet tournament.
Time
for the cooks to begin their work . . .
Soon, the eaters arrive to dress their hot dogs and/or brats and pickup some go-withs.
After dinner, entertainment was provided by Mick.
The choir.
Well, not really. Just attendees
arranged in rows.
Pie
irons came from everywhere for preparing dessert.
They were really used for 'pies' - apple and cherry.
(Photo credit: Ken)
Wednesday . . .
A
'free day' . . . nothing planned today.
So, while some toured the area, an impromptu Penny Bingo game kept other people from napping. Ken was the caller using huge playing cards.
Thursday . . .
Bean
Bag Baseball was finally on the schedule - a favorite game. It is hard to
believe the members waited until Thursday to play BBB.
Sherry played and was one of the scorekeepers.
(Photo Credit: Ken)
Looks like this may have been a
grand slam homerun.
Our antics were observed by a
squirrel with a long tail.
After a break for lunch, the cards came out. The Euchre games began.
One
of the tasks during the campout was for everyone to look through the many
scrapbooks and take any photographs they wanted. (Photo
Credit: Ken)
Groups of members gathered at
various locations in camp to converse.
We
have not had anything to eat for a long time. It must be time for a potluck.
The line forms for the wide selection of food provided by the cooks in the group.
Ken
seemed to be watching how much we were eating ... not so. He was patiently
waiting for an opportunity to address the group. He warned us we were going to
have a short meeting - the time had arrived.
To
our surprise, one item on his agenda was to recognize us for our service to the
chapter over the years. Specifically mentioned, was Fred's work on a new
Constitution and other issues while Fred was president and for Mary Lou's work
cleaning up and maintaining the chapter's membership roster that had ballooned to over 200
members. It was a recognition that was totally unexpected but much appreciated.
We share this recognition with the board members and chapter members who supported and helped make our efforts a success.
You may be wondering, what the white pieces of paper are on the certificate? We have a security policy on our Web site that we will not use anyone's last name nor specific area of residence. Thus, we covered the last names on the certificate.
After the potluck, Larry joined Mick entertaining us.
We think Jerry closed his eyes to
concentrate on the music.
Judy
used a car/tent camp for a couple nights. That was the first car/tent camp that we
remember being at our campout.
Jim was the caller for Penny Bingo tonight.
Bud and Paul watching from afar . . .
But, the cameraman found them.
Friday . . .
The
schedule called for a breakfast of an omelet cooked in a bag. Because it was an early
breakfast time (for us) and because of a previous bad experience with this
method of cooking eggs, we decided to sleep in. (Photo
credits: Ken)
Okay, that omelet looks better than our previous experience.
Maybe we should
have set our alarm for breakfast.
(Photo credits:
Sherry)
Conversation time . . .
We decided to go to a restaurant for fish dinners. The selected restaurant informed us that they could not handle a group of 32 people.
So,
Plan B was to go to a different restaurant, Cardinal Country Pizza in
Millington. We showed
up ten minutes early for our reservation. They were not setup for us ... but ...
quickly moved tables to seat all 32 of us. The kitchen staff did the best they
could to serve us. The meals came out over a period of more than an hour and a half.
Couples who ordered the same meal received them 15 minutes apart.
The long wait got to be 'funny' - we sat together but did not eat together. We were a patient group. It is an event we will add to our collection of memories.
The
last meals out of the kitchen were the perch dinners. The kitchen provided huge
servings of perch as a reward for the long wait. Fred watched for who
received the last meal - none other than, Ken, our chapter president.
The food was DELICIOUS. We would go back again (with a smaller group).
The two servers did a good job.
Arriving
back at camp there were hundreds of people watching a performance marking the end of
a high school band
camp week.
Fortunately, we had a parking spot deep in the campground at our campsite.
Ice cream for dessert . . .
Saturday . . .
This morning we had a pancake breakfast. Yes, we set our alarm to insure we were up and about for the pancakes and sausage.
The breakfast was enjoyed by all.
Our compliments to the 'flippers'.
Bean Bag Baseball . . .
Pause the ball game . . .
Lucy's granddaughter came with her to join us for a
couple hours.
It was nice to see Lucy again.
(Photo Credit: Ken)
Resume the game . . .
Bingo . . . This year it was not a White Elephant game. We had 'real' prizes.
Lucy was a important cog in the Chapter 52 wheel for many, many years - serving in several positions including President. She continues to serve as our chapter's 'Care and Concern' contact person. On the State level, she started a very successful collection program of food, toys and other items for the needy children and families. We donate these items to organizations in each of the towns where we hold our Michigan State Samborees. The program continues.
Ken presented her with a Certificate of Recognition for her years of work on behalf of Chapter 52. The envelope included a gift card in addition to a card signed by all members present.
Again, it has been a while since we shared a meal. Pizza anyone!
The pizza order tried to satisfy all tastes - it did.
The cost per person for the pizza
was announced. People started
paying -
until - Larry put in $100
and didn't want change - recalculate.
Thanks, Larry
All good things come to an end. Soon after the pizza dinner, some of the people got busy taking the tarp down. It is a six person job.
Penny Bingo - It feels different when you don't have a roof over your head.
The
duck on the top of a golf cart
was buzzing around all week.
Wagon rides were available in the
campground on Saturday night.
Sunday . . .
Sunday is the day most people head home. A hand-full of couples stay until Monday.
This year, instead of going to a restaurant, we used a community campfire to cook our dinner.
Conversations continued around the campfire.
Our thanks to all those who worked to make
another
successful Annual Chapter 52 Campout.
Your efforts are appreciated.
