The Mexican Connection Chapter 8

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The 2012 Daily Rally Agenda Click here.

Winter Newsletter is available CLICK HERE


The Mexican Connection Chapter 8 Pot Luck, Jan. 24th at 3pm.
Please bring your chairs, your plates and utensils and a dish for yourselves,
and 3 others. This will be a full meal, not just snacks please.
Gather between 3 and 3:30, have introductions, and pull our chairs together and talk as a group starting about 4PM.

4 PM Topics for discussion:
Travel in Mexico, the upcoming rally, general questions.
Filling officer positions.
Why we do charity.

5 PM dinner.

Jim Ponder and Ed Biller will circulate among the groups during the meal. We have enough dry wood for a great bon-fire. Please stay and spend time with friends.

SOFT DRINKS WILL BE PROVIDED BY CHAPTER 8, HARD DRINKS BYOB.

We will meet at the same location where the Escapees Happy Hours are held and where we met last year for the Chapter 8 gathering. This location is on the south side of Dome Rock Road E on the east side of town, on the south side of Interstate I-10. The approximate GPS coordinates are N33° 40.10’ W114° 9.86’. It is directly under the power lines crossing the interstate and heading south into the desert.

The meeting area is available for camping on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning after the leaders of the Escapee’s happy hour have moved to different locations. Jim and Ed Biller will arrive on Monday the 23rd. You would be welcome to camp there, and they would enjoy the company of Mexican Connection friends for a few days.

Please send us an email or call to let us know if you can arrive early to help set up, have a table or cooler we can borrow for the afternoon and evening, or have any other questions. All borrowed items will all be returned the evening of the potluck. Contact us at 919-606-1156 or by email at pondermexico@gmail.com.
Cynthia and Jim Ponder, President Chapter 8.

The 2012 Rally to Puerto Penasco February 7 to February 20, 2012

There are three open MC8 Board Positions to be filled at the Rally: 3rd Vice President, Membership Chairman, and Webmaster Design Assistant (requires knowledge of Html and CMS Joomla). Click here.

The Rally itinerary consists of two PDF files, a registration file and a medical form with the itinerary for the rally: a total of 10 pages which you will need to print. More rally details and events are available inside the two packets.

1. 2012 Rally Registration Form (4 pages)

          2. 2012 Rally Medical Form and Info Packet. (6 pages)

Rally 2012 I'm Going. Are you?

Alphabetical Listing: Find your friends in the list.
Update 1/26/12 Rally Tally 61


01. Abernethy, Tom & Deborah,
02. Arends, Gerald & Helene,
03. Arnold, Peter, & Anne-Marie,
04. Beck, Don & Donna,
05. Bertoldi, Thomas & Susan,
06. Biller, Jan & Ed,
07. Boles, Charlie & Dawn,
08. Bronson, Kyra & Richard,
09. Brown, Larry & Orene,
10. Bufty, Steve & Donna Patten,
11. Bullock, Robert & Ethel Eveatt,
12. Busick, Don & Mary,
13. Byrd, Charles,
14. Cardona, Ed & Annise Miller,
15. Cook, David(Bud) & Joyce,
16. Cox, Myra,
17. Darnell, Penny & Loretta Walsh,
18. Dauster, Jackie,
19. Dawley, Lew & Marilyn,
20. DeArmond, Jack & Sherrie,
21. Deckard, Diane,
22. Dolan, Dannie & Beverly,
23. Dolan, Randy,
24. Dotson, Ellie & Alan,
25. Duncan, Sharon,
26. Edge, Genny,
27. Gair, Jim & Gay Burdison,
28. Gerber, Richard & Jane,
29. Goll, Fred & Barbara,
30. Guerrea, Mel & Katherine,
31. Hada, Kaz, & Jackie
32. Hankins, Don,
33. Heaver, Roger & Barbara,
34. Hines, Lin, & Maryke,
35. Hinman, Frank & Marlene,
36. Huckabone, Bruce & Delores,
37. Hughes, Trevor & Verna,
38. Lauter, Barbara,
39. Layman, Walt,
40. Leonard, Edward,
41. Liggett, John & JoAnn,
42. Lindstrom, John & Pam,
43. Lyons, James & Marilyn,
44. McAnena, Pete, & Sara Blackwood,
45. Melton, Joy,
46. Melville, Paul,
47. Miller, Chris & Mae Bell,
48. Miller, Don & Bernice,
49. Milner, Joe & Caryl Mutti,
50. Nikoloff, Jim & Sharon
51. Olson, Kenneth & Louise,
52. Ponder, Jim & Cynthia,
53. Price, Paul & Judy,
54. Schaffer, Charlie & Sue,
55. Sidwell, Cecil & Phyllis,
56. Sortor, Ron & Janet,
57. Stevens, Jim & Ann,
58. Tarkin, Ken & Joan,
59. Todd, Michael & Diana,
60. Willingham, Joe & Scarlett,
61. Wright, Joe & Nikki,
62. Young, George & Sue,


Attention to all persons going on the rally to Puerto Penasco: Daily Agenda Click Dolan Agenda

Rally fees can be paid by Pay Pal. To pay by Pay Pal a "Buy Now" Pay Pal button will be displayed for you to pay your 2012 Rally Fees. Instructions will be given to assist you in registering a new Pay Pal account or by entering your Pay Pal ID, which is your email address and your Pay Pal password. You will be able to pay by Credit Card, Debit Card, or by Bank Routing.

If you haven't paid your MEMBERSHIP DUES for 2011 or 2012, you can pay those as well. Just follow the instructions. Rally fees will be first then the DUES.

Pay Pal will walk you through the steps to get an account if you don't have a personal Pay Pal account, otherwise enter your email address and your Pay Pal password, when you enter the Pay Pal website.

NOW to get started, put the total amount Line A-H in the "White box" below. This is the bottom line on page 4 of the registrration page.
You are now ready to click on the "Buy Now" button, which will redirect you to the Pay Pal website. Remember to go the box in the upper left and check that the amount you entered is shown. You haven't paid yet. You are just getting started.

Total Rally Cost Line A-H US Dollars
  



Thank you for joining us on the Puerto Penasco Rally to Mexico. We are going to have a great time.

You must send in your RALLY PAPER WORK to the Wagonmaster to complete your participation. Read the paperwork carefully. The Rally can accept approximately 80RV's for reserved spaces.



Are your Chapter 8 membership dues up to date.

Annual Chapter 8 dues expired April 1, 2011. Pay today with Pay Pal by clicking below. Dues are $6 per year. If you want to pay multiple years, multiply the six by the number of years: (Your membership expiration date will change to one year from the date you pay.)
1y= 6, 2yr= 12, 3yr= 18, 5yr= 30

Click Here to renew dues.


You can also mail a check to the Membership Chairman: Don Busick. If you would rather mail your personal check to the Membership Chair, here is the 2011 Membership Form, and on it is the address of the Membership Chair, and the address is listed below. The fee to renew or join is $6.00.

Don M. Busick Membership
102 Rainbow Dr. #298
Livingston, TX 77399-1002





The Fall Newsletter by Jan Biller is available Click here


Here is some information put together by RVers in the Lake Chapala area and passed on to us by Ron Zunk. I think you will find it interesting. They are in two pdf files which you can download.

"The laws pertain to Jalisco state, Puerto Vallarta, and the Federal police. Very helpful. The form for the police to fill out can be used anywhere in Mexico. Someone told me they pulled this out and the cop immediately backed off, I never personally used it yet. I act dumb and say no and give them my Mexican drivers license which seems to make a difference. Here are the files; Mexican Traffic Laws
Police Tickets Form

"I'd like to mention the motorcycle cop who is demanding bribes in Ajijic and Chapala area. He hangs out by the Walmart intersection and is very aggressive. The Chapala web forum has a couple of discussions about this guy. He is a state cop so complaining to the Mayor does no good. If anyone from this years rally is headed this way, warn them. Mexico now has an online site where you can file a complaint against the police, the web address is listed in the attachment.

CHAPTER 8 RALLY IN QUARTZSITE ARIZONA NEW 2011 BOARD OFFICERS.


When writing an article for the Newsletter remember to introduce yourselves and the position you hold and what your ideas are for the chapter. We have a lot of new blood in Mexican Connection and everyone needs to know who we all are.

Pictures are nice too (identify them as to who took them, where they are, or any people in the photo)

If you are Wagonmasters in the coming years, please remind us of where the rally is going and keep us up to date on your rally.

Please put articles in an attachment to your e-mail. If you can't do that then just e-mail it to me.

      Our newsletters come out:
       March 27
       June 30
       Sept. 30
       Dec. 31

       I will be asking for articles for the upcoming newsletters in a timely manner as I will be sending them to put on the Mexican Connection website.

   I have also been playing around with the newsletter format. I would ask all of you if there is something you really would like to see in the newsletter. Do we want to make the rally updates one of the first things you see as was suggested to me? I am also toying with the idea of putting an index to what is in the newsletter on the front page with page numbers. Then I would make the newsletter heading and logo a little smaller. If you make suggestions that doesn't mean we will absolutely do it that way but I am willing to take a look at it and play around with it to see what makes sense and if it is doable. We don't have to follow the last couple years. We can have our own updated version.


IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL IN MEXICO

This question was discussed at the Quartzsite Rally 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 RULES "button" at the top of the front page..


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



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 led 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. 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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