The Mexican Connection Chapter 8

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                      Spring 2010 Newsletter                 

Chapter 8 Rally Plans for January 2011

WANTED FOR MEXICAN CONNECTION CHAPTER 8: TREASURER and 2nd VICE-PRESIDENT

I am sorry to have to report that Earl Reese has found it necessary to resign as treasurer of Chapter 8, due to health reasons. By way of this post I am asking for someone in the Chapter 8 community to step forward to handle the chapter check book for the balance of Earl's one year term. This is not a difficult task, but one that is important. It will be a critical task for the 2011 Rally. Please contact me at the email address below for more information. In the meantime, please keep Earl & Nancy in your thoughts and prayers.


2ND VICE PRESIDENT

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




NEW CLUB OFFICERS 2010-2011

2010 Kino Bay Rally Photographs


2010 Rally Data Packet Mexco Travel Information that is still pertinent:
Click Here

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2010 Kino Bay Group Rally Photo





Over 200 photos available of the Kino Bay Rally Click Here





FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) prepared by Lin and Maryke Hines is now on the website. Click on the "Articles Button" above or click on the following LINK.


The new Standing Rules amended for 2009 are on the website. Click on the "button" for RULES.


New Source of information for Mexico Travel Cultural Mexico Travel.
Also visit Website.







Become A Member of Chapter 8


To become a member of Chapter 8 click on the Chapter Membership Form.

Mail the Membership Form with an email address, your name, address, #SKP number, and $8 for the first year and $6 thereafter to: Membership Chairman, Pete Petrie, P.O. Box 636, Freeport, FL. 32439.

This is his EMAIL address, should you wish to contact him.

We hope that you will become a member and enjoy the fun and excitement of RV travel in Mexico.


To return to Escapees.com/Chapter8 website click on this LINK .




WHEN IT ALL BEGAN

Mexican Connection, Chapter 8 of the Escapees RV Club, was established in 1985 in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, by a group of Escapees members who loved to winter in Mexico and felt other Escapees would enjoy visiting that country.

The purpose of Chapter 8 is to:

  • Introduce Escapees Chapter 8 Mexican Connection members to RV travel in Mexico, its scenery, traditions, food, culture and folklore.
  • Travel south of the border and give back more than the enriching experiences we gain, through charity donations and business patronization.
  • Enable Chapter 8 members to feel comfortable to return to Mexico for future rallies as well as their own road trip adventures.

    Chapter 8 publishes a quarterly newsletter along with maintaining this website and the Escapees Chapter 8 website at Escapees.com.  The Chapter also sponsors RV rallies, group trips into Mexico annually and helps with the charitable activities of the Escapees and in Mexico.  

    Chapter 8 has one official rally each year in Mexico at which time officers are elected, site selected for the next year's rally, charitable contributions are determined, and other chapter business is conducted.  Our elected officers are: President, 1st Vice President - Wagonmaster, 2nd Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  The appointed positions are: Newsletter Editor, Membership Chairman, and Historian.

    Just remember, Chapter 8 is not a commercial caravan group.  It is headed by Volunteers and we help each other in the SKP way, forming friendships that last a lifetime.  By getting involved, we gain far more than we put out.

    Cactus

    Articles. The page on Rallies provides members with up-to-date information on forthcoming rallies to be held in Mexico.  The page called Rules contains our Standing Rules and Chapter Bylaws.  



    The Bulletin Board is also a Yahoo News Group.  This is being done to help those folks without good Web connections such as those members using PocketMail.  Information can now be exchanged as individual messages to the entire membership who have joined the News Group.  There is an archive of transmittals for the News Group but you must join Yahoo Groups. So first go to Yahoo and join Yahoo Groups (it is free). Then second go below and click on the Subscribe to the News Group of Mexican Connection. (1) Join Yahoo. Then (2) click on Subscribe. Subscribe and give it a try.   You can always unsubscribe.

     



James and Anita Fickey provided information on the March 2004 Rally and can be found on ARTICLES- Copper Canyon Rally.

The beautiful photographs taken by Kent Neveu during the 2003 Mexico City Rally have been included in a 2003 Photo Gallery .

September 24, 2004 - Pedro Palma, the tour guide, has provided an article on Copper Canyon and the Tarhumara Indians

Dancer

 

 

Honesty
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