Our History
By Deb Fair
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New Travel Club was born in 1985

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  In 1985, a  group  of Gulf Stream owner's gathered in Punta  Gorda, Florida. Their mission was to determine the feasibility and interest in  forming  a national  Gulf Stream Travel Club.  In 987,  their hard work paid off with the formation of the present International RV Club.  The first rally was  held in Orlando,  Florida in February of 1987.  The function of this first  gathering was to elect officers and adopt a constitution and by-laws.  Over 150 members  attended this kickoff.  Julia & Charles LaSata held the second rally in Mackinaw City.  Word got out, as over 300 rigs were in  attendance.  Two more rallies were held which were very successful, then it was time for the local chapters to be formed.  Julia  & Charles  LaSata hosted the first Michigan rally in October, 1989 in Grand Haven,  Michigan at the Yogi Bear Park. Officers were elected.  Presidents Julia & Charles LaSata, Vice-Presidents Harriet & Duane Pincumbe and Secretary/Treasurer Jean & Ed McMahon.  15 RV's showed up.  The  founding members besides those mentioned were Dorothy & James Brown,  Sally & Robert  Rodgers,  Lee & Les Antcliff,  Janet & Clifton Helms, Arlene & Maynard Weaver,  Joyce & Ken Bailey,  Josie & Don  Hill,  Betty & Maynard Martin, Lauren & Patrick Flick, Janet & Robert Silver, Mary & Ed Meyer, Jan & Jim Mallette.  

Sept. 05

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As of this writing,  September of 2005, we still have two couples from that original group and they are Mary & Ed Meyer and Joyce & Ken Bailey.   Neither couple has ever missed a rally!  Our name comes from the first rally, where it was said that we overloaded our circuits & fuses,  along with our RV's and our tummies!  Some things never change! As a result, Kenny Bailey proposed that our club name become "The Overloaders".   It was quickly voted on and accepted.   Michigan was later added to our name.  We then needed a logo & Julia LaSata asked Don Palczynski (he & Suzanne had joined our club at the second rally) to design a logo.  He designed a couple different ones from which the club voted a winner.  It had a circle with our state  profile and an overloaded RV in the center. Then, he had Gulf-streamers & Overloaders written around the outside edge.  It says it all!  Our club colors are blue & white.Julia & Charles submitted our by-laws to the International Club office for approval on Oct. 21, 1989.  They were reviewed & approved. 

It's Official

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The Michigan chapter was now official & would be known as the Michigan Overloaders on Nov. 1, 1989.  We became chapter number seven.  The first rallies were held on Friday through Sunday and were kept very simple.  A donation was taken for coffee &  snacks,  and pot lucks were the norm.  Entertainment was simple,  a roaring campfire, and good conversation,  Euchre tournaments, cards, Domino's and Sequence.  Our club news first appeared in the Main Stream in February 1991 issue.   It was announced that our next rally would be held at Whiskey Creek on May 31 and the cost would be $50.  Also that would be hosting a Tri- State rally in October 1991 at a cost of $60.  In September 0f 1992 the club elected Joyce & Ken  Bailey as Presidents, Brian & Joan Broadburg as Vice Presidents and Don & Suzanne Palczynski as Secretary/treasurer.  Soon many members began coming into the rallies a day early. 


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It was decided in 1994 that the rallies would be extended by one day.  They now take place Thursday through Sunday starting with the Hartford rally.  Well,  guess what?  Many of us are now coming in a day early once again.  That year we also sponsored the Great Lakes Regional Rally and Joan & Brian Broadberg were elected  Presidents, while Dianne & Rodger Broadberg were elected Vice Presidents and Don & Suzanne remained Secretary/treasure. When asked as to how the club has changed over the years,  the biggest comments have been that it has become larger, more organized and has a whole lot more equipment for the hosts to lug around.  We now use rally fees for coffee,  meats,  breakfast rolls etc.  It's up to each host to plan what   they're comfortable with as far as organizing & reflecting their own personality.  We now often have a  catered meal or we go out to dinner at a place of the host's choosing.  We also arrange outings in the area we're visiting, however the overwhelming favorite is a potluck.  Hosts always look for a clubhouse now where we can gather in case of bad weather and to prepare meals.  We always have people bringing extra griddles for when the boys do their pancake Breakfast.Some of our  evening  activities have been several types of card games like bingo & joker and variations of brown bag games, a talent show, scavenger hunts, pass the ace and occasional campfire.   

May 94

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We also have crafts for the ladies & horse-shoes for the men.  We have had 2 Tri-State rallies that at times have had well over 30 rigs in attendance.  They were held in the fall of 91 and in 92 at Turtle Creek in Union City and hosted by Joyce & Ken Bailey.  Kenny has since reported that the campground has now become a  "clothing optional".  He thinks we should return.  Not in this lifetime Ken!  There are just some things that are better not seen!  In May of 94 we officially became "The Fun Bunch" according to the "Main Stream".  In May of 1995 Suzanne & Don Palczynski planned the Great Lakes Regional Rally in Saugatuck which the Overloaders  hosted.  International wanted us to promote some regional rallies, so we complied.  There were over 40 rigs in attendance from many different areas and it was very successful. Over the years we had stayed in camp-grounds a lot but with the rise in prices we looked for alternative  solutions. 

1998

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In 1998 we held our rally for the first time at a fairgrounds.  We found it to be more affordable with adequate accommodations, so have been using them with more frequency lately.  In September 01 another election of officers was held in South Haven & the following officers were elected.  Presidents Rex & Donna Ferguson, Vice Presidents Bob & Deb Fair and Sec./Trea. Don & Suzanne Palzcynski.  As of 2002, we have 35 couples in the club with 6 original members still with us.  They are Joyce & Ken Bailey, Mary & Ed Meyer having NEVER MISSED a rally.   Don & Josie Hill are also original members of the club.

May 04

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May 2004 our club continues to grow.  We have lost Josie Hill,  one of our original members.  Don & Suzanne Palzcynski are moving to Florida so our new officers will be Presidents Bob & Deb Fair, Vice Presidents Jim & Marlene Forgrave and Sec./Trea. Steve & Sindy Gradowski.  They will  take over at the fall 2004 rally in Holland.  Marlene Forgrave is busy taking pictures for a membership directory we are putting together & will be ready soon.   May 2005 - The  new officers have been working hard to effect positive changes & we want to especially thank Jim Forgrave who has given a lot of his time to develop a web site for the club and spends countless hours  keeping  it  current for us.  They also made the Club Membership Directory which they keep current and have developed a small clothing line  called XStreamwear  for our club.   Deb Fair has set up an account for mass emails for quick notifications to all members.  Steve Gradowski came up with the idea for our updated logo with the Mackinaw Bridge in the background and it really looks great as  letterheads on our docu-ments like the directory.  Steve & Sindy have been busy writing articles for the Main Stream & staying in contact with the  office  plus  keeping all information current.  Sindy also makes sure our hosts receive the names & address labels of new International Club members so we may invite them to our rallies while Barb Smith keeps our club addresses & labels updated and sends them out to the current hosts.  We've had a need for some time now for an information guide for rally hosts and Deb Fair has formulated one & makes sure that all  the  new host volunteers get a copy and is there for them if they have questions.  Yes, we have all been busy.  Our membership now has 41 couples and we average 20 - 25 rigs that show up for each rally. In May 2006 the club re-elected the current officers, Presidents Bob & Deb Fair, Vice Pres. Jim  & Marlene Forgrave,  Secretary/ Treasurers  Steve & Sindy Gradowski.  We have now collected  55  lbs. of pull tabs for the chapter challenge at the Back Home Rally with the money raised from the pull tabs going to a sick kids  charity.   Nightly campfires remain the most popular activity.

Sept 06

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We returned to Canada in Sept. 2006 with our hosts, the Hoogstra's &  Garrett's.  We had a lot of rain & ended up having many RV's  towed out from their s In May 2006 the  club re-elected the current officers,  Presidents Bob & Den Fair, Vice Pres. Jim  & Marlene Forgrave, Secretary/ Treasurers  Steve & Sindy  Gradowski.  We have now collected  55  lbs. of pull tabs for the chapter challenge at the Back Home Rally with the money raised from  the  pull  tabs going to a sick kids  charity.   Nightly campfires remain the most popular activity.  We returned to Canada in Sept. 2006 with our hosts, the Hoogstra's &  Garrett's.  We had a lot of rain & ended up having many RV's  towed out from their sites.  We had many things to do there like a winery tour & we used the theme of the 50's.  Our hosts did a wonderful job of decorating and we had a great 50's dance on Saturday night. Sept. 2007 we voted to discontinue door prizes as a standard practice as they have been harder  &  harder to come by lately so it just wasn't worth the trouble.  Our hosts had a crazy hat contest with a twist.  Members were told on Thursday night to make a hat only from things they had in their RVs & bring them  for  judging on Saturday night.  My, how the club got creative!   We all had a lot of laughs & will do it again sometime.  Ed & Mary Meyer  who have  been  long time charter members announced that they were retiring from the club because of health reasons.  We'll miss them a lot!!  May 2008 - It was voted that we keep the current officers for a third term.  Presidents Bob & Deb  Fair, Vice Pres. Jim & Marlene  Forgrave,  Sec./Treasurers  Steve & Sindy Gradowski.  The price of gas, $3.97 and diesel, $4.59 is impacting the club.September 2008 - We voted to keep the annual dues at $5.  However, the rally fee may be raised asdetermined by the rally hosts to cover their costs.  ites.  We had many things to do there like a winery tour & we used the theme of the 50's.  Our hosts did a wonderful job of decorating and we had a great 50's dance on Saturday night.ept. 2007 we voted to discontinue door prizes as a standard practice as they have been harder & harder to come by lately so it just wasn't worth the trouble.  Our hosts had a crazy hat  contest with a twist.  Members were told on Thursday night to make a hat only from things they had in their RVs & bring them  for  judging on Saturday night.  My, how the club got creative!   We all had a lot of laughs & will do it again sometime.  Ed & Mary Meyer  who have been long time charter members announced that they were retiring from the club because of health reasons.  We'll miss them a lot!!May 2008 - It was voted that we keep the current officers for a third term.  Presidents Bob & Deb  Fair, Vice Pres. Jim & Marlene  Forgrave,  Sec./Treasurers  Steve & Sindy Gradowski.  The price of gas, $3.97 and diesel, $4.59 is impacting the club.September 2008 - We voted to keep the annual dues at $5.  However, the rally fee may be raised as determined by the rally hosts to cover their costs.  

May 27 2009 - We now have 32 couples & still get good turnouts at our rallies.