2012 Florida State Rally

[SilverCabin]

Registrations are now being accepted for the 2012 Florida State Rally. A write up on the rally appears on page 20 of the October 2011 Blue Beret, and a sign-up coupon is on page 57. The Blue Beret is available on-line: blueberet

Randy

[RickDavis]

Mine should be arriving right about now

[SilverCabin]

Originally Posted by RickDavis

Mine should be arriving right about now

Got it a day or two ago. Receipt is in the mail to you now.

Randy

[SilverCabin]

Here's the write-up from the Blue Beret:

The economy may not be great, but I know where you can get an excellent buy for you hard earned dollars. It is the Florida State Rally In Sarasota. For a low rally fee, you will get six days and five nights of fun in the beautiful city of Sarasota. With its warm climate and great activities, it is a marvelous place to visit in February. Never any snow to shovel or ice to slip on. If you register before January 1, 2012, the fee for two people in an Airstream is $195.00, a $10.00 increase over our 2011 fee. One person in an Airstream Is $145.00 Be sure to register early! The price goes up after January 1 to $220.00 for two and $170.00 for one in an Airstream. Another reason for registering early- before January 1 is that your name will be put into a drawing for a free registration. That’s right, if you win the drawing, you get all your registration fee back.

This year the theme is "New Friends and Old." The colors will be Silver and Gold. Remember the saying, “Make new friends and keep the old. The first are silver and the others are gold." The Florida State Rally is my favorite place to meet old friends. These are the friends that have been made over a period of forty one years of attending rallies, going on caravans, and hosting rallies. With the large number of Airstreamers coming to Florida State, this is a great time to see old friends and talk about shared experiences. Every year you have the opportunity to meet new friends. They may be someone you meet at coffee and donuts, a seminar or at the evening entertainment show.

There is a full schedule of activities for Florida State in 2012. The morning starts with coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts, Yum! Next you have your choice of attending seminars, Line dancing, doing crafts with Barbara, playing indoor games or holey board, enjoying a sewing class with Loretta or touring the Sarasota area. You may enjoy eating lunch or dinner at one of the nearby Amish restaurants. Their food is plentiful and delicious. You may spend an afternoon at the fashion show, pet show or hobby and craft show. Evenings start with paid entertainment, door prizes and then ice cream. Betty does an excellent job of providing the rally with professional entertainers. After the evening program, you can play bingo or participate in ballroom dancing.

Saturday morning is our famous flea market. Bring items to sell. The tables are free. Many people sell Airstream parts.

Be sure to attend the Vintage Airstream open house on Saturday. The Vintage owners are friendly and eager to share ideas for restoring your Airstream.

Camping World will be at the rally with their parts store and their repairmen to fix any problem you have. Other vendors will be selling products Airstream owners might want. Sunset Chevrolet, Buick, GMC will have GM vehicles on display. They do an excellent seminar on towing.

Our charity beneficiary will be All Faiths Food Bank. With the economy the way it is, more people are turning to food banks to provide for their families.

See you in Sarasota in February. You will have fun.

[SilverCabin]

This was written by another member of the rally staff, startrekker2001:

The Rally starts on Tuesday February 14, 2012 and ends on Sunday February 19, 2012. The theme this year is "New
Friends and Old" and the colors are Silver and Gold. Here is a heads-up on what goes on at the rally.

Tuesday is the "arrival day" with registration in the Mini Building at 9am to 11am, and again at 1pm to 4pm. Opening ceremonies are conducted in Robarts Arena after the 7:00pm announcements.

Wednesday thru Saturday coffee and donuts are served in the Mini Building from 7:30am to 9:15am.

Wednesday is loaded with seminars at various venues; including:

• First Timers Welcome, Membership seminar, and Vendor's seminars. Registration is from 1:30pm to 4:00pm in the Robarts Arena, professional entertainment in Robarts Arena after the 7:00pm announcements.

Thursday has Vendor's Seminars, Ham Radio seminar, Choir Practice (be sure to sign up for the Choir), Line Dancing, Bridge Tourney, Joker Tourney, indoor games, evening bingo, an Arts and Crafts workshop, a Sewing Seminar and more. Professional entertainment starts in Robarts Arena after the 7:00pm announcements.

Friday has more Vendor and subject specific seminars like Motorcoach and Computer. If you are a golfer, there is a Golf Tourney that leaves the grounds at 8:00am. Be sure to sign up at registration. The Hobby and Arts show starts at 8:00am with Judging starting at 8:30am. Professional entertainment starts in Robarts Arena after the 7:00pm announcements followed by door prizes and ice cream.

Bingo starts at 9:00pm. Last year there was a winner at every Bingo game.

Saturday is a very busy day.

• The Flea Market opens at 9:00am and runs until 11:00am.
• The Vintage Airstream Club hosts an Open House from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
• The Florida State Rally Blood Drive runs from 1:30pm to 5:00pm.
• The Pet Show runs from 2:00 to 4:00pm
• The Airstream Rally Theme Decoration Contest judging starts at 3:00pm
• Seating for the Roast Beef Dinner commences at 5:30pm for Handicapped Airstreamers and at 5:45 for everyone else.
• The evening is topped off with professional entertainment in Robarts Arena after the 7:00pm announcements followed by door prizes and ice cream.

Sunday we have a non-denominational church service and Retirement of the Colors.
You may dump your holding tanks as you leave the grounds. There will be folks there to assist you.

We generally have two tours scheduled.

• The Jewish Synagogue and Museum Tour on Thursday at 9:45am and
• the All Faiths Food Bank Tour on Thursday at 1:30pm.

Sarasota has many attractions. If you wish to extend your stay in Sarasota, you can make arrangements to stay Sunday night at the Fairgrounds at a reduced rate or find an RV site at one of the many campgrounds in the Sarasota area. These arrangements must be made on your own.

You will receive a rally booklet with all of the specifics as you enter the fairgrounds.

The rally staff wishes you a safe journey to the rally and in all of your travels.

[SilverCabin]

...and in case you need it, here's the registration form.

[SilverCabin]

Please go to the Calendar for February 2012. Click on the link for the Florida State Rally and RSVP if you are coming (or not). Maybe we can have a forums get-together there.

Randy

[Janet H]

Randy - there is an ad running now which may be a good help - lemme know if you need changes.

[SilverCabin]

That looks good. Thanks.

Randy

[crazeevw]

Hi, I've tried reading through the Blue Beret online, and unable to determine location of the Florida State Rally, except that it's in Sarasota. Possible for someone to provide a location address for the Rally?
Thanks, Derek Wilkins

[crazeevw]

oops, sorry for my previous post. I now see that Rally is at Sarasota Fairgrounds. Is it possible to come for weekend only?
Thanks, Derek

[SilverCabin]

Originally Posted by crazeevw

oops, sorry for my previous post. I now see that Rally is at Sarasota Fairgrounds. Is it possible to come for weekend only?
Thanks, Derek

Derek,

Yes there is a weekend only rate. I would recommend you get there early on Friday (Friday morning if possible) to have the best weekend experience. That way all the vendors will be open for business and there will be some seminars you can attend on Friday that may not be offered on Saturday. A few vendors stay open on Saturday, but most don't want to compete with the flea market.

Randy

[crazeevw]

Vacation picks at work start next week. I'll be sure to get that weekend off from work, will do my best to arrive early on Friday. One question though, are pets allowed? I have a 17lb Westie, very friendly. I understand that I may have to park in a 'Pets Only' section.
Thanks, Derek Wilkins

PS-Any idea what the weekend only rate would be?

[crazeevw]

Interesting what looking for yourself can do for you. $80 for single adult for weekend only. I didn't see anything listed about pet policy for the Rally. Anyone out there know?
Thanks, Derek

[SilverCabin]

Pets are welcome to the Rally. In fact, we have a very well attended, great pet show on Saturday afternoon. Last year was standing room only in one of the livestock arenas. Please bring your pets.

Also there is no pet only section. At least there hasn't been since 2008.

Randy

[crazeevw]

Good to know! "Bentley" is part of the family. Great little Westie, full of personality, LOVES everyone and hardly barks. I'm gonna sign up for Rally as soon as I get to my computer. Thanks, Derek

[rlewis]

Hi All,
We are coming down from central NY, by way of Phila. and plan to come by 81, 64 & 95 to Jacksonville (avoiding mountains & DC, I hope). We will stop to visit ol' roommate near Gainesville, then to Sarasota. We have a brand new Sport 22' and this is our first real trip, other than picking it up in NJ and visiting the wonderful NJ folks at their rally at Jersey Shore Airstream Haven. We hope to stay at military RV parks along the way...any suggestions?

After the Sarasota Rally we will head down to the Everglades, Sigbee in Key West and then Marathon Coast Guard Base before we start back north in the end of March....any more suggestions? Not sure if we should head north through central FL on 27 and stay in FL State Parks, or will it take forever?

We are making state park reservations now and they seem to be filling up; like I said it is our first time.

Hope my check for registration made it OK...best, Robbie (Cazenovia, NY)

[c_lewis77]

I wont be able to make it to the rally, but I will be on the way to Ft. Wilderness taking my 4yo to Disney for the first time; maybe I will see some of you on the road!

rlewis:
there are some great stops in coastal GA on your way down that are nice. In my area, coastal GA rv resort is right off the interstate at exit 29. jekyll island is about 10 minutes off the same exit. crooked river state park is around exit 1 or 2 in GA off 95.
Watch that stretch from jacksonville to gainesville, the police love for you to "donate" to their departments! LOL! Just for reference, Gainesville is 2.5 hours from I95/exit 29 in GA

[rlewis]

hi C Lewis77,
Thanks for the information and we will watch our speed; actually we are so new and super careful that we will more likely be pulled over for going too slow. Hope for good weather! best from snowy NY where it happens to still be warm (50), but we expect it to turn to winter any minute.

[SilverCabin]

Originally Posted by rlewis

Hi All,
We hope to stay at military RV parks along the way...any suggestions?

Not sure if we should head north through central FL on 27 and stay in FL State Parks, or will it take forever?

Hope my check for registration made it OK...best, Robbie (Cazenovia, NY)

Hi Robbie,

Checkout this site for Military Campgrounds, I use this all the time: U.S. Military Campgrounds and RV Parks

US-27 is a nice drive but can be a little busy in Central FL. You will find FL roads a little more busy this time of year because the "snowbirds" are all here for the winter.

Lastly, your check did make it, but you used the coupon for the 2011 rally. The rate this year is $10.00 more. Your receipt will be waiting for you at the gate, and they will collect the additional $10.00 you will owe.

Stop by and say hi when you get settled. I'll be parked right across from the restrooms.

Randy