South Florida Winnie-Gators

SEPTEMBER 2008  OUTING REPORT

By Marlene Sholtes

 Our September campout, the first of the season after a summer recess, took place at Tropical Palms, Kissimmee, in the heart of Disney.  We had 20 member and four guest rigs in attendance.  During happy hour on Thursday, the outer bands of Hurricane Ike soaked us, but we were protected in the campground hall enjoying our new-found drink from Iowa called “Apple Pie” prepared by Damaris Travers and Marlene Sholtes.  A group ventured out to a nearby Italian restaurant, Pacino’s.  There are so many restaurants in the area, it is hard to choose which one to go to!

We welcomed many guests this weekend.  Rick & Becky Bunn’s grandson, Cole, and their daughter, Kelly, and her friend and his daughters joined us for dinner Friday evening.  Dan & Linda Tuzzolo invited Linda’s parents, John & Louise Maenner; Dan’s sister Barbara and her husband Randy VonMosch,; Dan & Linda’s son Bobby, and his wife Kristina and their baby Miley; and Dan & Linda’s friends, Jim & Gloria Copenhaver.  The DeSepio’s friends, Val & Ilona Osinski, former members also attended.

We spent the day visiting with old and new friends, catching up on the news since we last saw each other in June. At our happy hour, Marijo Bierie & Mo Shaughnessy, Raffle-Babes-In-Training, sold tickets for the 50/50 Raffle.  The winners were Jim Copenhaver, George Shaughnessy and Joan Heath.  For dinner, Bob & Joan Gill prepared a tasty Taco Salad for everyone.  There were 24 players for Chase the Ace who had a spirited game.  Marge Shaughnessy and Sylvia Smith were tied so they decided to split the prize.  Good move!

Saturday’s breakfast of French Toast and Sausages was prepared by Rick Bunn, W.C. Herndon, George Shaughnessy and Joe Sholtes.  Of course, Charlie Travers is always up bright and early each morning preparing coffee for everyone.  Lee Macdonald & Sylvia Smith held a craft class and soda-can spinners were crafted by a group of crafty ladies.

At Saturday’s Happy Hour, we were visited by the “Mickey Babes”, Becky Bunn & Damaris Travers, working their magic selling tickets for the many raffle prizes.  They certainly work very hard.  Our dinner consisted of London Broil (marinated for many hours with Becky Bunn’s Secret Receipe) Baked Potato and a table ladened with salads and veggies prepared by the members and guests  It was quite a sight to see so many guys outside grilling these succulent steaks which arrived prepared from rare to well done, simultaneously.  Manning the grills were John Bierie, Rick Bunn, Jim Copenhaver, Bill DeSepio, Marcel Drapeau, Bob Gill and George Shaughnessy.  The meal was topped off with Apple Pie and Ice Cream (keeping with the theme of our Apple Pie drink at happy hour).  The evening was left open so that we could visit nearby Old Town where they parade old cars around.

After Sunday morning breakfast, we had our monthly meeting, and welcomed and voted in guests who visited for the second time, Randy & Barbara VonMosch.  We then said our good-byes until we meet next month.

                                          
                                        Silvia Peacock with her soda-can spinner.

                            
                                    Soda-can Spinner Ladies from left to right:
Frankie Morgan, Lynn DeSepio, Alice Webb, Ilona Osinski, Helen Herndon, Sylvia Smith, Silvia Peacock and Lee Macdonald