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Fresh off the District Board Meeting last night, President Monroe welcomed us to Tequila Willys.  Randy VerBurg led us in the Pledge and Bruce Haveman prayed for us all. 

Steve Davis told us a little more about the Oktoberfest that will be held September 26 and 27 at John Ball Park.  The event will benefit Kids Food Basket and KFB will have an information booth there from noon-7:00 PM (or later if we can get volunteers- hint hint) and are looking for people to tell attendees the KFB story.  Beer and German food will be available so I can’t imagine we’ll have too much trouble finding people to sign up.  Steve will try to have a sign up sheet next week.  Also in connection with Oktoberfest, the Edelweiss Club of Grand Rapids in hosting a “Pre-Oktoberfest Barley Hop” on September 20.  This will go from 6:00 PM till Midnight.  6 bars will be participating in the Hop.  The Barley Hop Express will be running continuously to each of the 6 bars.  It will cost you $10 to buy a wrist band to ride the bus and all proceeds will go to Kids Food Basket.  It looks like we will be getting a group of Walker AMBUCS together to partake in this event.  Rachel Nicks told us she has done these before (duh) and they are a lot of fun!

Another Oktoberfest will be held October 3-4, 2008 in Dayton Ohio.  This is the AMBUCS Regional fall Convention.  Full registration is ONLY $65 and the Big Hat Breakfast is only $20.  Rooms are available at a special rate of only $94/night but only if you register by September 4.  Please mail your reservations and checks to Mark Koogler, Liberty Savings Bank, 215 North Main Street, Centerville, OH 45459.  If you have any questions you can email him at Mark.Koogler@LibertySavingsBank.com or call him at 937-438-0012.  Let’s get a great group of Walker AMBUCS to Dayton!

Phil Bennett finally presented Don Owen with his winnings from the last Card drawing.  Now don’t go off and spend it in one place, Don.  Don let us know that he ran into a Charter Member of our group last night while he was dining at one of Grand Rapids finer restaurants.  Jack (Silver) Fettig sends his greetings to us all.  The rumor is that Jack and Beth may actually be moving back to Grand Rapids so we expect to see a lot more of both of them!

This weekend (as in Saturday and Sunday) a group of Walker AMBUCS will be traveling to Bitely to attend and volunteer at the Camp Bob Rodeo.  Help is needed from 4:00-8:00 PM both days (8-29-08 and 8-30-08).  If we show a good amount of support there is a strong chance that we can become their charity for next year.  They are anticipating crowds of 5000 to attend.  This could become a BIG FUND RAISER for us.  If you need more information, please contact Rachel Nicks at 791-6862. 

Next Thursday, September 4, 2008, we have been invited to attend a Brown Bag Lunch Meeting at St. Mary’s Hospital, hosted by Indian Trails Camp and VSA-Art of Michigan.  West Michigan advocates, service providers and non profit agencies that provide services for individuals with disabilities have been invited.  To RSVP or for more information, email Mark Ecklesdafer (marke@indiantrailscamp.org) or Michele Suchovsky (vsagr@iserv.net).  For more information on VSA Arts, visit their website at www.vsami.org.

Make sure you have September 10 on your calendar for the Anderson Brother’s Steamatic Golf Outing.  As you may remember, we will be the recipient of the Funds raised.  There will be an opportunity for a few of us to attend to help out.  Thank you to Karen Nilsson, Phil Bennett, Paul VerHoef and Aaron Hartzler for volunteering to help!  Anyone else ready to step up and  help?

Indian Trails Camp is looking for a new Facility Manager.  If you know of anyone who might be interested, please have them contact Mark at ITC- 677-5251 or marke@indiantrailscamp.org.

Phil Bennett announced our Texas Hold Em tournament held last week raised $4230.  Thank YOU to Phil and everyone else who volunteered to work at the Tournament. 

It may be a bit early to start planning but we have Texas Hold Em tournaments scheduled for January 22-25, 2009 and March 19-22, 2009.  Much discussion was held about holding another one before the end of 2008.  More information will be coming very soon!

Rachel Nicks, Service committee chair let us know she is talking with the City about us maybe taking over the Arts & Crafts fair that is usually held each year.  We have done the food booth for it the past couple of years and we usually make around $2000.  We have an opportunity to take over the entire event and that number could easily double.  She will bring us more information next week! 

Steve Monroe has 3 Big Hat Raffle tickets left in his greedy little hands (he picked them up at the District Board Meeting last night).  Any one of them could be yours for only $100.  Remember you have a 1 in 500 chance to win 5 nights lodging for 4 Adults at the Fabulous Atlantis Resort in Nassau, the Bahamas.   Round trip Airfare from any major Hub in the US and $1000 spending cash will also be provided for the winners.  This is a value well over $10,000.  This is a case where there really are only a very limited number of tickets available.  Call Steve at 774-9290 or email him at steve@ibs401k.com to get yours today!   

At the District meeting, Sheldon Cole (Kenowa Chapter) was elected District Secretary Treasurer, Dennis Engels (also from the Kenowa Chapter) was chosen to be our District Visibility chairman and our very own Penny Schuiling became the new District Ambility Chair person!  The Grand Rapids Chapter is working on a new club in Indian River, MI.  If you know of anyone in that area, please let Steve Monroe know so he can pass the names on to our friends at the Grand Rapids Chapter.   Grand Rapids is also holding their annual “Oodles of Noodles” on October 9.  This is always a fun evening and a great way to show our support for our friends in the GR Chapter.  Plan now to attend, more information will be coming soon!

Sarge Mishelle Becker decided in honor of Labor Day, anyone who could answer her Labor Day themed questions would be fine free- so you know we all paid!  Nick Grinzinger, no longer the Youngest Walker AMBUC won the $5 and Ed Voss, who hasn’t won since he was 93, pulled out a Jack of Spades.  Just an idea Mishelle, but how about anyone who can tell who the “Thought of the week” can be attributed to should be fine free? 

Happy September Birthdays to: Phil Bennett (9-28)

2008-09 COMMITTEES
Your committees have been set for the new fiscal year. Each member of our club has been appointed to one of four committees Friendship, Fun, Information and Service.

The committee chairs should plan a meeting soon to review committee goals with their members. For 2008-09 the Walker AMBUCS goals are as follows:

40 club members (6 new members and 95% retention) 
$60,000 fundraising
60 AmTrykes
$30,000 to ITC

I will plan on attending each of the committees first scheduled meetings, please let me know when they are or if you have questions about how to get started.

Thank you for your support. Let’s have another great year!

Steve Monroe
President, Walker AMBUCS

UP COMING EVENTS
August 30/31, 2008                    Camp Bob Rodeo
September 4, 2008                     Networking lunch at St. Mary’s Hospital
September 10, 2008                   Anderson Brothers Steamatic Golf Outing
September 20, 2008                   Pre Oktoberfest Pub Crawl
September 26-27, 2008             Oktoberfest at John Ball Park
October 3-4, 2008                      Mid States Regional Convention, Dayton, OH
October 9, 2008                         Oodles of  Noodles
January 22-25, 2009                  Texas Hold Em Tournament
March 19-22, 2009                     Texas Hold Em Tournament

Why don’t YOU come to Tequila Willy’s next week?

Thought of the week

If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.