Our 2nd Vice President has recently resigned and had been planning an El Fuerte/Copper Canyon 2012 Rally. The rally will not occur without a 2nd VP transitioning into the Wagonmaster for 2012. I am asking someone in the Chapter 8 community to step forward to handle the planning of a 2012 Rally. As 2nd Vice President you have the option to choose a Rally location with approval of the board and general membership at the 2011 Rally. You do not have to stay with the previously proposed El Fuerte/Copper Canyon location. Please contact me at the email address below or any board member for more information.

Ed Biller
President
Mexican Connection
prezbiller@yahoo.com

IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL IN MEXICO This question has been asked recently by many people, especially in light of the current and increasing physical violence along the border and within Mexico. Chapter 8 The Mexican Connection wants to be clear that neither Chapter 8 nor the Escapees RV Club provides any liability coverage, and everyone traveling into Mexico must provide their own insurance for travel and medical and emergency evacuation coverage. The decision made by any members to travel in Mexico implies that those members assume all risks to themselves and their equipment. This has always been the policy of Chapter 8 The Mexican Connection.

There is risk to traveling in Mexico, as there is risk in traveling anywhere. The question is, how much risk? And is it a level of risk you are comfortable in assuming? Your individual comfort level is the key. Some travelers are comfortable in assuming more risk than others. At the beginning of Rally registration and through the pre-Rally, Chapter 8 strives do a good job in laying out its travel plans, in as much detail as folks require, so that folks can make their own decision to go or not to go. But all participants and Chapter 8 representatives need to be careful because no one in Chapter 8 has the power to "guarantee" or offer "assurances" to any fellow traveler that they will be safe and comfortable. To make the trek into Mexico is a decision each traveler must make for themselves.

When planning rallys, the Wagonmaster is always thinking safety and comfort. Our very important planning guidelines include the following. We never travel at night or for long periods during the day where folks might become fatigued. We always travel in groups of 7-9 rigs. If someone has trouble, the group stays together until the problem is solved. You are not left alone to deal with it. We always avoid city congestion by going around, whenever possible. Where we do encounter congestion on our routes we can often arrange a police escort. We take the major toll roads versus the two lane country roads. The campgrounds where we stay provide security. Generally, Chapter 8 can only estimate the anticipated risks that fellow Escapees traveling into Mexico will encounter

It is important to remember that travel in Mexico with RV's is different than in the USA. We travel toll roads or major highways, if available, but there are many roads we travel in Mexico that are narrow and without shoulders. Some areas do not easily accommodate the now typical 40 ft rigs, whether its on the roads or RV parks. Driving hazards along the highways commonly include serious topes (speed bumps), donkey carts, bicyclists and pedestrians, low hanging wires, absent or confusing signage, border or immigration or agricultural checkpoints, no ultra low sulfur diesel, etc, etc. Discussion of these things occur at the pre Rally.

The Mexican Connection Rally begins at the pre Rally in the USA and always ends in Mexico. There is no planned return trip out for attendees. The Wagonmaster encourages and provides signup opportunities at both the pre-rally and during the rally for people to arrange with each other to travel together straight back to the states, or if they choose, to travel farther into Mexico. We strongly encourage that these groups be made up of 3 or more rigs to travel together. This decision again is based on each person's degree of experience in traveling in Mexico and their personal level of comfort with the current experience of the people they will be traveling with.

The Board

Treasurer's Report May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010

2010 Kino Bay Rally Photographs