RIV Report?

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

Hi Rich:

The RATS you mention was the 3rd time the get together was to happen in
2005. The first 2 were to extend the time there, actually use it to "wind
down" a day or 3. Ernie, Bim Burt and I, along with John S. and some others
did the first 2. This was to extend time with Brenda and Ernie before they
headed to Fla to visit Ernie's Mom. 2003 and 2004 were held "after" RIV.
2004 was the year Ernie blew a front air bag at the Fairgrounds and limped
to RATS where we change it out in under 45 minutes.

The Time you mention came up just after a report of the price of RIV going
from what?$250.00 or 300. to $500. in one jump and ppl balked that was in 2005

The first one, really, was done by e-mails then talked about at the pre
stage and some word spread here and there that we were going across the
street for a couple of days. The second one was broader in scope and
Randy, John, Bruce, Ron and Shirley, "a bunch" showed up and we had a ball.

Then it got BIG!!!!!! And John and others started doing the pre planning
and so forth as it is now, so all would be on the same page.

Yes there was mention of a "protest" gathering at the same time as RIV but
even that, I believe, was only talked about and RATS was still after RIV.

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
Duncan, Oklahoma

At 07:39 PM 11/6/2008 +0000, you wrote:
>Wow,
>
>How time changes things. While I have never attended a RATS rally, I
>have attended many RITV's and have been hanging around the
>Wanderlodge forums for years. Unless the posts have been purged, they
>will show that the first mention of a RATS rally was to "beat the
>system" and offer an alternative to paying the new higher cost to
>attend the RITV. There was even talk of "sneaking" into the
>fairgrounds to attend seminars. That is what turned me off about
>attending then. But things do change for the better. The reason for
>the RATS has become a continuation of camaraderie and is a great
>idea. But lets not cloud history unless you are sure all of the
>original posts are gone from everywhere.
>
>Rich D. '99LXi43'
>
>
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ronmarabito2002"
> wrote:
> >
> > Ernie: It might be handy to have a link on our menu that goes to a
> > definitions file saying what an event is and how it came to pass.
> > This could include RATS, RIV, Quartzsite, etc.. Everyone could then
> > be privy to the true information.
> >
> > R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ernest Ekberg"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > John- you are correct. Although the RATS idea came from my
>clouded
> > > brain, it was the collaborative effort of quite a few individuals
> > > that made the first and subsequent RATS rallies the success they
>are.
> > > I am flattered that the idea has continued and flourished. If our
> > > business we as it was at that firts RATS- Brenda and I would have
> > > been able to attend. Thanks ERnie Ekberg- 83PT40 in Texas
> > >
> > > "John Stiles"wrote:
> > > >
> > > > This is incorrect. The first RATS was simply to extend our
>time
> > > > together after RITV. Ernie, myself, Ralph, Bruce and perhaps
> > > another
> > > > or two discussED meeting after the RITV. This was done via e-
>mails
> > > > initially then Ernie put the idea to the group existing at the
> > > > time. This was done in large part because the consensus was
>that
> > > 4-
> > > > busy days at RITV did not really give enough time for some of
>us.
> > > In
> > > > addition for those such as Ernie traveling all the way from
>Texas,
> > > 4-
> > > > days almost didn't justify the trip. RATS was not about
>money,
> > > RITV
> > > > or anything else but just some owners wanting to spend more
>time.
> > > >
> > > > > > > Gregory OConnor wrote: Rats was set up as a
>$
> > > > > > > alternative to the big buck cost of the official Perry
>thing
> > > to
> > > > > > > serve the folks that were not in the million dollar bus
> > > market
> > > > > > > anyway, just wanted good times and fellowship.
> > > >
> > > > WRONG!
> > > >
> > > > Its this constant rumoring of the origin of RATS which has
>caused
> > > > such turmoil over the years. If you didn't help organize it, or
> > > were
> > > > not even there please don't present opinion as fact. Ernie,
>Ralph,
> > > > how about speaking up and lets please put a stop to the
>constant
> > > > misinformationi about RATS!
> > > >
> > > > John
> > > > 1980 33FC
> > > > "My Navion"
> > > > And yes I was at the 1st RATS, helped organize and did more
>than my
> > > > share in helping put away the grub.....
> > > >