Canopener 2015

[Protagonist]

Never mind complaints about structure, or rebuttals of complaints. I'm still geting behind this "name tags on the forehead" idea. Since we all want people to talk to our faces and not our chests (unless our chests are very impressive, which mine isn't) putting the name tags right above our eyes will help to make sure people look at us when they talk to us!

[karenjude]

Must be working if people keep attending and it keeps growing!

[Luckyducks]

Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi

If memory serves me, wasn't one reason we started forum rallyies was that the WBCCI rallies were too structured and complicated. Are we getting away from simplicity and closer to what we were trying to avoid? Jim

Jim,

The Canopener is not too structured or complicated. In fact, there are no rules nor are there any rally fees! Attendance at any of the events is totally voluntary and of the events, the potlucks and open house are the mainstay events of most rallies. The other events at the Canopener are fun things like entertainment, hiking in the woods with a ranger, playing in a cornhole board tournament, etc. Everything is optional! Very simple.

Maybe you're talking about the fact that we plan the rally and that we have volunteers helping to run it. With 103 trailers/mohos currently RSVP'd and approximately 206 people coming, you need to have some organization. One of the things that makes this rally fun is that are always many volunteers who help in different ways. An example is the generosity Chuck displays by maintaining the map. As someone who has been to 8 Canopeners in a row, I appreciate having a map with the names printed on it. That way, when wandering around meeting new people, I don't have to write down names and sites. I could give other examples also but the volunteers are the ones who put in their personal time and resources to make this rally fun.

The bottomline is we must be doing something right because more and more people come to the Canopener each year. I think this is the largest AirForums rally in the United States.

Russ

[Sky]

Early snow again this year, hope we can get out New Years day. Can you find the Airstream?

[Florida 55]

Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi

I have owned several AS and I know structure when I see it. The fact that I riled some feathers proves there is structure and order. I'm not saying that is bad, I'm saying that it seems as things get larger and better organized, we are approaching too much of a club identity. As far as WBCCI rallies go, no one in the club is forced to attend. If the fact that I no longer own an AS but have been welcome here is I problem, I can go away. Interesting that the biggest complainer to my comment was the biggest complainer about Falluminum. Me thinks I no longer need to deal with the few on this forum who think they can intimidate. Jim

For the benefit of my Canopener friends, who did not attend Falluminum, I'd like to set the record straight because there seems to have been a misinterpretation of my remarks in post #400 of the Falluminum 2014 thread. The post begins , "Thanks to Alan and everyone involved for making this rally a great event." Hardly a complaint about the rally.

In that post I went on to describe an unfortunate situation we experienced when the campground allowed a large 5th wheel trailer to block egress from our campsite resulting in a two hour delay in our Sunday morning departure. Neither security, the campground manager, nor the owner of the offending 5th wheel would take any action so we could tow our rig out of our campsite. Furthermore the manager rudely hung up the telephone on my wife when she called Monday during business hours to express our disappointment. Yes I did describe an unacceptable experience with the campground in my post. No, I did not complain about Falluminum.

I want to make sure our Airstream friends know Susan and I enjoyed the Falluminum rally and greatly appreciate the work of Alan and the other volunteer organizers.

[Roadtoaster]

Originally Posted by Sky

Early snow again this year, hope we can get out New Years day. Can you find the Airstream?

Attachment 226810

Dale or Susie, great picture!

[xrvr]

I apologize to any and all that I may have offended. Peace to all, have a great life. Jim

[Alumitater]

Originally Posted by Sky

Early snow again this year, hope we can get out New Years day. Can you find the Airstream?

Attachment 226810

What a fantastic photo! Thanks for sharing it.

[Protagonist]

1. Thursday, January 8 Chili and Dessert at Clubhouse (4:30pm):

Alumitater: Chili and garnishes (grated cheese, jalapeño peppers, etc)
Protagonist: Rice
Firedog: Cornbread
2ColliesCan: Maker's Mark Bourbon Chili
BassCan: Julie's Can Opener Chili
Al and Missy: Chicken/White Bean Chili
AirHeadsRUs: Chili (I know, not very descriptive but I save all my creativity for Bloody Saturday...)
GWTFLO:Rob and Patti: Cream cheese pound cake
Silver Peanut: Chili and crackers
Paddledipper: Basic Chili & Fritos
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Too Hot to Handle Chili, and sweet cornbread
To Gulls: Chili and southern cornbread
Moonkitty: Rum cake
Rivetng: Cub Scouts..........(brownies with nuts)
Remax Gal: Dump Cake
knunut: Healthy Green Salad
Luckyducks: Strawberry Toffee Trifle


2. Saturday, January 10 Dinner on Wild Oak Lane (5:30pm):

Alumitater: Conecuh County sausage and beans
Protagonist: Beef stew with red wine gravy
Firedog: Garden Salad
2ColliesCan: Thanksgiving Day Casserole
BassCan: fudge brownies
Al and Missy: Baked Beans
AirHeadsRUs: Something Fabulous (see note above....)
GWTFLO: Rob and Patti: Pasta salad
Silver Peanut: Brunswick stew
Paddledipper: Asian Chicken & Cabbage Salad
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Enchilada Pie
To Gulls: Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Moonkitty: Something yummy
Rivetng: Jambalaya
Remax Gal: I think I'll wait until closer to time and see what's needed.
GloryBound: Penne Pasta /sun dried tomatoes
knunut: Bar-B-Q Meatballs
Luckyducks: Sweet and Spicy Meatballs


3. Sunday, January 11 Breakfast at Clubhouse (9am):

Alumitater: TBA
Firedog: Hash Brown Potatoes
2ColliesCan: Mini Bloody Mary Bar
BassCan: fruit tray
Silver Peanut: Grits and country ham
Paddledipper: Shrimp & Grits
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
To Gulls: Nassau Grits
Moonkitty: Breakfast Casserole
Rivetng: Mimosas
Remax Gal: Breakfast Casserole
GWTFLO: something sweet. Muffins or cinnamon rolls
Al and Missy: Green Eggs and Ham aka Scrambled Eggs with Bacon and Green Onions
knunut: Oatmeal and Fruit Muesli
Luckyducks: One Gallon of Orange Juice and Cups
__________________________________________________ ____________
Dropping out of the Sunday Breakfast potluck. An adjustment to my diabetic meal plan has me eating very little for breakfast every day. My morning blood glucose has been consistently higher than it should be, and I'm trying to get it under better control.

[Captain Hank]

1. Thursday, January 8 Chili and Dessert at Clubhouse (4:30pm):

Alumitater: Chili and garnishes (grated cheese, jalapeño peppers, etc)
Protagonist: Rice
Firedog: Cornbread
2ColliesCan: Maker's Mark Bourbon Chili
BassCan: Julie's Can Opener Chili
Al and Missy: Chicken/White Bean Chili
AirHeadsRUs: Chili (I know, not very descriptive but I save all my creativity for Bloody Saturday...)
GWTFLO:Rob and Patti: Cream cheese pound cake
Silver Peanut: Chili and crackers
Paddledipper: Basic Chili & Fritos
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Too Hot to Handle Chili, and sweet cornbread
To Gulls: Chili and southern cornbread
Moonkitty: Rum cake
Rivetng: Cub Scouts..........(brownies with nuts)
Remax Gal: Dump Cake
knunut: Healthy Green Salad
Luckyducks: Strawberry Toffee Trifle
Captain Hank: Chli


2. Saturday, January 10 Dinner on Wild Oak Lane (5:30pm):

Alumitater: Conecuh County sausage and beans
Protagonist: Beef stew with red wine gravy
Firedog: Garden Salad
2ColliesCan: Thanksgiving Day Casserole
BassCan: fudge brownies
Al and Missy: Baked Beans
AirHeadsRUs: Something Fabulous (see note above....)
GWTFLO: Rob and Patti: Pasta salad
Silver Peanut: Brunswick stew
Paddledipper: Asian Chicken & Cabbage Salad
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Enchilada Pie
To Gulls: Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Moonkitty: Something yummy
Rivetng: Jambalaya
Remax Gal: I think I'll wait until closer to time and see what's needed.
GloryBound: Penne Pasta /sun dried tomatoes
knunut: Bar-B-Q Meatballs
Luckyducks: Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
Captain Hank: Ham


3. Sunday, January 11 Breakfast at Clubhouse (9am):

Alumitater: TBA
Firedog: Hash Brown Potatoes
2ColliesCan: Mini Bloody Mary Bar
BassCan: fruit tray
Silver Peanut: Grits and country ham
Paddledipper: Shrimp & Grits
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
To Gulls: Nassau Grits
Moonkitty: Breakfast Casserole
Rivetng: Mimosas
Remax Gal: Breakfast Casserole
GWTFLO: something sweet. Muffins or cinnamon rolls
Al and Missy: Green Eggs and Ham aka Scrambled Eggs with Bacon and Green Onions
knunut: Oatmeal and Fruit Muesli
Luckyducks: One Gallon of Orange Juice and Cups

[Rivetng]

The bottomline is we must be doing something right because more and more people come to the Canopener each year. I think this is the largest AirForums rally in the United States.

Russ

Well said Howie, Chuck, and Russ,

As an example to the laid back atmosphere of Canopener, for the last 3 years a couple of dear friends of mine have attended Canopener by renting a cabin and sharing in the fellowship. They've never owned an RV, let alone an Airstream, but hope to one day be able to afford one. They don't follow the blog and they don't need nametags, but they enjoy the conversations and the open house, and contribute to the potluck because they just like sharing time with like minded people.

Jeff

[HowieE]

Jeff

As I mentioned in my post that the first pot luck was held outdoors and in the dark. I was standing with Steve, the originator of the Can Opener, as the line was coming to and end and asked his if he recognized those at the end of the line. He didn't. That set the tone of acceptance and I hope it never changes.

[HowieE]

A reminder. Please supply a utensil with your contribution and a label if not self explanatory. Both will serve to move the line and insure those of us that are at the front of the line will not be held up when going for seconds.

1. Thursday, January 8 Chili and Dessert at Clubhouse (4:30pm):

Alumitater: Chili and garnishes (grated cheese, jalapeño peppers, etc)
Protagonist: Rice
Firedog: Cornbread
2ColliesCan: Maker's Mark Bourbon Chili
BassCan: Julie's Can Opener Chili
Al and Missy: Chicken/White Bean Chili
AirHeadsRUs: Chili (I know, not very descriptive but I save all my creativity for Bloody Saturday...)
GWTFLO:Rob and Patti: Cream cheese pound cake
Silver Peanut: Chili and crackers
Paddledipper: Basic Chili & Fritos
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Too Hot to Handle Chili, and sweet cornbread
To Gulls: Chili and southern cornbread
Moonkitty: Rum cake
Rivetng: Cub Scouts..........(brownies with nuts)
Remax Gal: Dump Cake
knunut: Healthy Green Salad
Luckyducks: Strawberry Toffee Trifle
Captain Hank: Chli


2. Saturday, January 10 Dinner on Wild Oak Lane (5:30pm):

Alumitater: Conecuh County sausage and beans
Protagonist: Beef stew with red wine gravy
Firedog: Garden Salad
2ColliesCan: Thanksgiving Day Casserole
BassCan: fudge brownies
Al and Missy: Baked Beans
AirHeadsRUs: Something Fabulous (see note above....)
GWTFLO: Rob and Patti: Pasta salad
Silver Peanut: Brunswick stew
Paddledipper: Asian Chicken & Cabbage Salad
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Enchilada Pie
To Gulls: Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Moonkitty: Something yummy
Rivetng: Jambalaya
Remax Gal: I think I'll wait until closer to time and see what's needed.
GloryBound: Penne Pasta /sun dried tomatoes
knunut: Bar-B-Q Meatballs
Luckyducks: Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
Captain Hank: Ham


3. Sunday, January 11 Breakfast at Clubhouse (9am):

Alumitater: TBA
Firedog: Hash Brown Potatoes
2ColliesCan: Mini Bloody Mary Bar
BassCan: fruit tray
Silver Peanut: Grits and country ham
Paddledipper: Shrimp & Grits
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
To Gulls: Nassau Grits
Moonkitty: Breakfast Casserole
Rivetng: Mimosas
Remax Gal: Breakfast Casserole
GWTFLO: something sweet. Muffins or cinnamon rolls
Al and Missy: Green Eggs and Ham aka Scrambled Eggs with Bacon and Green Onions
knunut: Oatmeal and Fruit Muesli
Luckyducks: One Gallon of Orange Juice and Cups

[tvketchum]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

__________________________________________________ ____________
Dropping out of the Sunday Breakfast potluck. An adjustment to my diabetic meal plan has me eating very little for breakfast every day. My morning blood glucose has been consistently higher than it should be, and I'm trying to get it under better control.

just because you have problems is no reason for the rest of us to suffer.......

Seriously, being diabetic myself, I can understand. Hope you do join us for coffee and BS......

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by tvketchum

just because you have problems is no reason for the rest of us to suffer.......

Seriously, being diabetic myself, I can understand. Hope you do join us for coffee and BS......

Yeah, I'll hang out, shoot the breeze, and watch you guys eat your fill.

But my goal is to one day be the world's oldest living diabetic, which means sometimes depriving myself in order to keep by glucose under control. Just in case they ever come up with a real cure, I want to live long enough to take advantage of it!

There is promising research in the use of stem cells extracted from bone marrow and injected into the pancreas. They've extracted human stem cells and injected them into diabetic mice, and lo and behold, the human stem cells made mouse pancreas cells! But even though over 50% of the diabetic mice were cured, a whopping 25% of the mice developed pancreatic cancer, which is too high a failure rate to proceed to human testing just yet. Though I think that if you use a person's own marrow stem cells, the chances of adverse reactions should be virtually nonexistent.

[LOGUE88]

First time user of this forum. We made a reservation at Top Sail for lot #74 several months ago. We will be in our Airstream 345 motorhome. This will be our first Canopener. Fact finding mission! This will also be our first airstream event. We are looking forward to meeting you all! The "we" stands for me (Billy) and my wife (Karen).

[rodsterinfl]

if you use the word "Czar" one more time moving forward, I'm gonna hurl!!!!

I like "padrone" myself! For our group we could say, create a title, like Riveteer or something- fun with words.

I will be glad to help but I too am new so I guess that would be like a RA or riveteer apprenticr or "buck tail" (end of rivet)

See, like Protagonist says, a Czar is not a worker but we all know a Riveteer or basher is a real worker!

[rodsterinfl]

I am just starting to catch up with this thread and looking forward to meeting all you AVATARS out there in real life! This may have been done but for those of us new, tell us about how many pot lucks to plan for, and what other things that require packing for, etc. I don't want to be a moocher but rather an contributor. I gather there are three pot licks it looks like (thanks Howie).

[Silverbee]

A reminder. Please supply a utensil with your contribution and a label if not self explanatory. Both will serve to move the line and insure those of us that are at the front of the line will not be held up when going for seconds.

1. Thursday, January 8 Chili and Dessert at Clubhouse (4:30pm):

Alumitater: Chili and garnishes (grated cheese, jalapeño peppers, etc)
Protagonist: Rice
Firedog: Cornbread
2ColliesCan: Maker's Mark Bourbon Chili
BassCan: Julie's Can Opener Chili
Al and Missy: Chicken/White Bean Chili
AirHeadsRUs: Chili (I know, not very descriptive but I save all my creativity for Bloody Saturday...)
GWTFLO:Rob and Patti: Cream cheese pound cake
Silver Peanut: Chili and crackers
Paddledipper: Basic Chili & Fritos
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Too Hot to Handle Chili, and sweet cornbread
To Gulls: Chili and southern cornbread
Moonkitty: Rum cake
Rivetng: Cub Scouts..........(brownies with nuts)
Remax Gal: Dump Cake
knunut: Healthy Green Salad
Luckyducks: Strawberry Toffee Trifle
Captain Hank: Chili
Silverbee: Rice Krispy Treats and Cheese Tray with Crackers


2. Saturday, January 10 Dinner on Wild Oak Lane (5:30pm):

Alumitater: Conecuh County sausage and beans
Protagonist: Beef stew with red wine gravy
Firedog: Garden Salad
2ColliesCan: Thanksgiving Day Casserole
BassCan: fudge brownies
Al and Missy: Baked Beans
AirHeadsRUs: Something Fabulous (see note above....)
GWTFLO: Rob and Patti: Pasta salad
Silver Peanut: Brunswick stew
Paddledipper: Asian Chicken & Cabbage Salad
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Enchilada Pie
To Gulls: Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Moonkitty: Something yummy
Rivetng: Jambalaya
Remax Gal: I think I'll wait until closer to time and see what's needed.
GloryBound: Penne Pasta /sun dried tomatoes
knunut: Bar-B-Q Meatballs
Luckyducks: Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
Captain Hank: Ham
Silverbee: Sweet Potato Casserole and Butterbeans


3. Sunday, January 11 Breakfast at Clubhouse (9am):

Alumitater: TBA
Firedog: Hash Brown Potatoes
2ColliesCan: Mini Bloody Mary Bar
BassCan: fruit tray
Silver Peanut: Grits and country ham
Paddledipper: Shrimp & Grits
TVKetchum, Tom and Vicki: Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
To Gulls: Nassau Grits
Moonkitty: Breakfast Casserole
Rivetng: Mimosas
Remax Gal: Breakfast Casserole
GWTFLO: something sweet. Muffins or cinnamon rolls
Al and Missy: Green Eggs and Ham aka Scrambled Eggs with Bacon and Green Onions
knunut: Oatmeal and Fruit Muesli
Luckyducks: One Gallon of Orange Juice and Cups
Silverbee: NC country ham and stone ground grits casserole

[Alumitater]

Originally Posted by LOGUE88

First time user of this forum. We made a reservation at Top Sail for lot #74 several months ago. We will be in our Airstream 345 motorhome. This will be our first Canopener. Fact finding mission! This will also be our first airstream event. We are looking forward to meeting you all! The "we" stands for me (Billy) and my wife (Karen).

Billy: Looking forward to meeting you and Karen. There are a number of first-timers coming, so you will be right at home. You will find Topsail to be a hard venue to beat.

As a reminder, Florida 55 put together videos for the last two Canopeners which will give you a good feel for the event. Here is a link to last years (look for post #916):
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f288...100346-66.html

Hopefully this thread will provide all the information you need, if not be sure and holler.

Tom and Robin