Didn’t get moving too early today. But when I finally decided to get up, Jim fixed me one of his wonderful omelet and bacon bagels. What a great way to start the day.
Got our laundry done. Always a good thing to have that done for another couple of weeks.
Our group is slowly dispersing to all parts of the West and Mid-West. Jim and Jan left Saturday morning. Polly and Vern leave Sunday morning. I think the rest of us are here until Tuesday.
We wanted to have a goodbye dinner and everybody thought Humphrey’s sounded like a great place to go. So back to Hump’s for us. Had a fun time, a great waiter (Paul) and everybody liked their dinners. I didn’t get any pictures this time, so just use your imagination and picture 10 of us and the trouble we can cause.
I would like to address the comment made by Sam & Donna on my last post. Sam told about going to a Samboree and how rudely they were treated. Jim and I had the same experience at a Samboree (a Good Sam Chapter Rally) and vowed never, ever to go again. I have found Escapees to be a much friendlier group of people. But it’s also hard to meet people at an Escapade if you’re a newbie.
You need to be willing to step out of your comfort zone and start a conversation with someone who looks interesting. Not an easy thing for most of us to do. You will see groups of people sitting out and think that they don’t want anybody else to join them. But that’s not true. At least not with the groups I’ve run into. I can be very outgoing – even though it doesn’t come naturally for me. So I just introduce myself and usually have a great response.
I tried that at the Samboree and it went over like a lead balloon so it was a long time before I got brave enough to try again. One of the best things ever did come out of the Samboree – that’s where we met our really good friends, Jan and Bill. They are parked next to us here at Escapade and we make sure we see them on the road several times throughout the year.
At our first Escapade we came away with one very special friend, Paul. At our second Escapade we arranged a get together with all of our Class of 2009 attendees. The Class of 2009 is made up of those of us who are Escapees who hit the road in 2009. From there, the people we’ve met and become friends with has grown with each year we’re on the road.
So when you attend a Rally, try to put yourself out there a little bit. You just might be surprised at the results. Except maybe at a Samboree. I hope I haven’t offended anyone who really enjoys Samboree’s. Maybe those folks could make a better effort at welcoming newbies to their group.
we were wondering about the rally and if you were a 'newbie' that arrived on your own how it would be..you clarified it well!!..bring on the class of 2014!
ReplyDeleteI agree the Escapees are a friendly group. We attended last year's Escapade and met many new folks. Better than a few other rallies we have gone too.
ReplyDeleteI saw pictures of a Samboree in RV Times magazine and the people all looked like they had sticks up their bums.
ReplyDeleteSome groups are just user un-friendly for some reason. They like their little circle and just don't want things to change...their loss I always think. I think I mention there is an escapees just down the road from us..or at least that what I think it is.
ReplyDeleteThat's good advice, Sandie.
ReplyDeleteSounds like good advice.
ReplyDeleteNever been to a Samboree or an Escapade. It's always hard to step out of your comfort area. We went to an Escapees function with about ten other folks. None of us thought they were overly friendly either. Who knows ... people surprise us. You never know when you're going to meet the "keepers".
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely not a rally person but it was interesting just to read a bit about them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info.
We have never been to a rally, but I can see where some people might be overcome. Other than attending some seminars, why would people go if not to make some connections? I guess...to each his own but I know just meeting up with 14 strangers two years ago has lead to awesome friendships...just like you two! We hope we can meet up with everyone this next year even if we aren't all in one place at one time. Enjoy the ride and you ARE a very outgoing, welcoming, warm person. Love ya!
ReplyDeleteKelly and I tried one rally with a Canadian Club many years ago and we felt sooooooo uncomfortable. We may not be the most outgoing couple in the RV world but we are never rude to anyone. We were truly two fish out of water in that group and beat a hasty retreat back to our travel trailer vowing we would not be doing that again.....and we haven't!!
ReplyDeleteI think every large organization has groups within it and some are more welcoming than others. The Escapees have the graduating classes and the Birds of a Feather groups. They tend to welcome newcomers better than most groups because they are already made up of the most outgoing members. Plus some Escapee parks have welcoming committees that come out to great each new arrival which can help you get connected right away. Maybe because so many Escapees are fulltimers who realize all their new friendships will have to be developed somewhere along the way.
ReplyDeleteBeing a solo RVer, I'm not very enthusiastic about going to a Rally, but I'd love to take some of the classes, so I probably will if I'll ever be in the area of one that's planned. I would do what I want that is offered, and if the people aren't friendly, I'd spend the rest of my time with Katie in The Palms.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought any group that wanted to expand it's membership should have a group of people whose job it is to welcome new folks and check on them, invite them to some of the social things. Introduce them to people, and make them feel included.