Dogwood 30th Anniversary Rally

1996 ~ FRVA Dogwood Chapter ~ 2026

Hello Dogwood Family, hope all is well.

 

We are pleased to announce that the Dogwood 30th Anniversary Rally is now official. It will be held  Thursday July 23 through Sunday July 26, 2026 at Rockahock Campground in Lanexa, VA. This is the initial announcement and more information will be forthcoming as plans are made.

 

Tentative hosts at this time include:

Jim and Susan Buelow

Paul Cummings

Ed and Jean Herbert

Connie and Ed Tilman

Jack and Mary Warren

 

We have reserved 32 sites along with the rally pavilion. Rates are as follows:

 

Standard site:    3 nights  $206 + tax

                           weekly   $342 + tax

 

Premium site:   3 nights   $236 + tax

                         weekly     $396 + tax

 

Deluxe site:      3 nights   $266 + tax     

                         weekly     $450 + tax

 

A 10% discount is available to active/retired military and First Responders. 

 

NOTE: very important. Do not call and make your reservations yet. I will inform you when to do so.

 

What I and the campground need at this time is whether or not you wish to stay longer than 3 days. If you desire to come in before the 23rd or stay after the 26th, or stay for a week, I and the campground need to know that for site reservation purposes.

 

If you plan on attending only 3 days, no need to respond to this email. If you plan on staying longer, simply send me a short note indicating your intentions. Once we have that information, I will notify all members when it is OK to make your reservations.

 

We look forward to seeing you at the 30th anniversary celebration, so please plan on attending and get ready for a lot of "FUN, FOOD, and FRIENDSHIP".

 

If applicable, please respond to this email NLT February 22, 2026.

 

Send to:

jandsbuelow@aol.com

 

Thank you and Safe Travels,

Jim Buelow

757 876-7399

 

 

Dogwood-Penn Coachmen Co-Rally in Luray VA

First Call for the Dogwood-Penn Coachmen Co-Rally August 10-14, 2026

Hey Dogwood and Penn Coachmen – this is first call for signups to our upcoming co-rally.

 

Dates: August 10-14, 2026. 

Place: Spacious Skies/Shenandoah Views Campground, Luray, VA 

3402 Kimball Rd.

Luray, VA 22835

540-743-7222

 

Spacious Skies/Shenandoah Views ...

Click Here For Rally Details and Registration Form

Eastern Area Meeting Notes - Jan 15, 2026

Dogwood Christmas Rally 2025 - Summary

Christmas Rally 2025 Summary

 

 

The Christmas Rally was a huge success!!  Why?  Because we all got together and we ate too much, laughed too hard and hugged too tight!!  But that is how we Dogwooders Roll!

We had a group come in on Wednesday, so we went to a delicious restaurant on the lake and had a great time!!  Thursday everyone brought delicious appetizers to share, which was a great kick start to the Rally!  Friday morning we woke up to an inch of snow on the ground, but it did not put a damper on the fun!! Friday night an Italian dinner was provided by the hosts, followed by  a Raffle drawing, and a fun game of Left, Right and Center!!  

 

Eggs By Berkley

Saturday morning a full breakfast was provided by the hosts including Berkley’s famous eggs to order!  Followed by a business meeting.

Saturday the hosts provided a ham dinner, followed by Connie Tilman officiating our traditional Yankee Gift Exchange.  A lot of laughter and memories were made. 

Connie - Time for Yankee Swap

We wrapped up our Rally with a continental breakfast Sunday morning.

 

We had a great team work together to provide the Rally:  The Hills, Kuikens and Warrens! 

 

It was a lot of fun pulling it together, now it’s someone else's turn.

 

Looking forward to next year!!

 

Your Hosts,

 

Rob & Donna

Henry & Patty

Jack & Mary

Click here for the Rally Photo Album

Christmas Rally - 2025

Mr. B’s 2026 Spring Music Spectacular

Hello Dogwood! This is first call for the upcoming Mr. B’s Bluegrass Spring Music Spectacular on April 30 – May 2, 2026. Like last year, it will be held at Mr. B’s Event Park in Woodford, VA – on the west side of old Route 1 just north of the Ladysmith exit off I-95. Ms. Billie Sue Goff (Event Director and good friend of the club) has set aside 10 spots for us – all together. If more sign up, that’s fine, you just might not be right next door to us. But that’s OK because the campground is easily crossed in minutes from wherever you get parked. The directions and signup sheet will be out on the Dogwood Blog site.

   

Jean and I are hosting again for the brunch, but we will need a co-host. The music schedule, like last year, is: Music Starts at noon and goes without a dinner break to 10 pm. So we are starting to put together the brunch plans. At this point, on Wednesday evening (for you early arrivers) we will be doing a potluck supper; Jean and I will bring fried chicken for all. Feel free to bring an appetizer, sides or dessert to go with it.  

 

Brunches for the next three days will start around 9:30 am and will include all the good food and drinks we are known for. So if you haven’t already, please call Ms. Billie Sue Goff at 757-660-8904 and get your reservation in for the festival. Make sure you tell her you are with Dogwood. See the Dogwood Blog Site for details, show list and directions – we hope to see you there! 

 

Ed & Jean Herbert 

540-760-4181  

2026 Mr B's Flyer - Front

2026 Mr B's Flyer - Back

Care Person Update – Tom Spiezio

Tom Spiezio passed away this morning, January 11, 2026.

Tom & Carolyn Spiezio

Hello Everyone,  

 

Sadly, we share the news that Dogwood member Tom Spiezio passed away peacefully this morning, January 11, following his courageous, 9-month battle with cancer. Tom and Carolyn have been Dogwood members since 2022.  

A wish of Tom's was to go back to Florida, and his doctors said he could go for a short time. On Monday Jan 5th, they flew down from Delaware. His health took a turn for the worse and he was placed in hospice (Hospice House in Lacanto, FL, not far from Crystal River) on Friday Jan 9th. His brothers live down near Fort Myers and I understand that both were there, on Friday at least.

Thank you to Donna Hill for passing on this sad news.

 

Our condolences to Carolyn and the Spiezio family.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers for strength and comfort. 

 

 

Sincerely, 

Nanette Meyer, Care Person
FRVA Dogwood Chapter

Happy New Year Dogwood!!

President’s Message – Nov/Dec 2025

Hey Dogwood –

 

It is winter in Fredericksburg! OK, not exactly yet but pretty dang close – the air is crisp, clear and fogs up your glasses on the exhale. We love it! So get out there and enjoy the cold! (sorry to you Florida folks) We had a great Christmas Rally and our (excellent) hosts – Kuikens, Hills, & Warrens – did an outstanding job for us at Rockahock Campground. Business was conducted and we got our membership roll aligned with FRVA, and our financial audit passed muster. And the fact that we held an “official” meeting means that we met all of our FRVA chapter requirements for the year. You might shrug and say, “Ah, so what?”, but this is a big deal. In the past year about six Eastern Area chapters didn’t or couldn’t do this and had to close up shop. So we have 52 “F” members and are going strong – great for us!

 

OK, so what’s ahead for 2026? Well, the tentative schedule of rallies will be posted shortly and I remember about six or seven events being penciled in. I can tell you that Jean and I will be hosting two rallies next year – the Mr. B’s Spring Bluegrass Festival in early May and the Joint Rally with Penn Coachmen in August. Details to follow. Then there’s the FRVA rallies in Perry. GA, and Sedalia. MO.

 

I want to thank you, each and everyone; you have made this club something that people want to be part of – you have made us very successful.

 

Merry Christmas and have a great New Year.

Safe Travels –

Ed & Jean

 

  

Ed Herbert, President

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

 

  

Secretary’s Report – Nov/Dec 2025

Dogwood Chapter Business Meeting Minutes

 

December 6, 2025

 

Members present: Alexander, Allen, Bingham, Bragg, Buchanan, Buelow, Cummings, Davis, Dudziak, Green, Herbert, Hill, Kuiken, Kuppert, Meyer, Nixon, Owen, Robison, Tenney, Tilman, Torrence, and Warren

 

1. Call to Order: President, Ed Herbert called the meeting to order at 10:30 AM with a welcome and thanks to the rally hosts, Kuikens, Hills, and Tennys for the good food and fellowship.

2. Minutes: ...

….  Continue Reading 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Lou Dudziak, Secretary

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

Treasurer’s Report – Nov/Dec 2025

Treasury balance is $$4166.62 as of 12/6/2025.

And a Reminder - 2026 Dogwood dues are now due in the amount of $15.00/coach.

 

Please mail them to me at:

 

Sonia Kuppert

FRVA Dogwood Chapter Treasurer

6113 Providence Court

Fredericksburg, VA  22407

 

Please make checks payable to FMCA Dogwood Chapter.

 

 

Sonia Kuppert, Treasurer

FRVA, Dogwood Chapter

 

VP Membership Update – Nov/Dec 2025

 

Hello Dogwood family,

 

We hope that all is well as we prepare and celebrate Christmas.

 

As we close out the year, I just want to thank all of you for your support during the past year. Our membership remains steady and it is great to see newer members, along with the old, stepping up to support our great chapter.

 

On behalf of Susan and I, we wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Happy New Year.

 

And remember, never miss an opportunity to meet new friends and invite them to join Dogwood.

 

Regards and SAFE travels,

 

Jim Buelow, VP Membership

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

Care Person Update – Nov/Dec 2025

Hello Dogwood Friends…

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

November

Y  Steve Sohles - Steve had 2 cardiac arrests at the end of Oct and had an ICD unit, a pacemaker/defibrillator, implanted on Monday, November 10. He went home on Wednesday, the 12th and is recovering slowly but surely, as he is asking for ice cream…Cherry Nut to be exact!! From Publix!! 😅 Also glad to hear his sense of humor has made a good recurrence! He has a long road to go, but with prayers and encouragement, he will do well. Sent a get-well card.

Y  Larry Sherrow - He had gall bladder surgery the last week of Oct and is doing well. Clarissa was also sick in Oct but is much better. Sent a joint get-well card.

Y  Jim Spain - His sister passes away after a long illness on Nov 20th. Set a sympathy card. 

 

December

Y  Jim Hunter - He was having problems with kidney stones so had to cancel going to the Christmas Rally. Sent a get-well card.

Y  Dale Robison - She is having some health issues that started on their trip out West. She also didn’t attend the Christmas Rally so she could rest, and during the Rally, Robi reported that she was starting to feel better, so staying home was the right choice! Sent a get-well card.

Y  Patty & Henry Kuiken - Both got sick on the last day of the Christmas Rally. I guess that goes to show how hard they worked to help the rally be successful! Sent a joint get-well card.

Y  From Carolyn Spiezio on Dec 18: 

"Update on Tom

FINALLY, we got a good MRI. He's had an MRI every month since this all started last April. This is the first time it's showed no growth in the multiple tumors. If everything goes well after his Chemo next week, Drs said we can take a short trip to visit friends & family in Florida. So we are going to try soon

Thank u for all the continued prayers, calls & cards. This was the best Christmas gift of all."

 

Thank you to all who reached out to keep me informed of these events. Please continue to let me know whenever you hear of our members being ill, having surgery, losing a loved one (even a pet) or just not doing well for whatever reason at ndmeyer3@icloud.com or text me at 757-813-0828.

 

Sincerely,

Nanette Meyer, Care Person
FRVA Dogwood Chapter 

  

Safety Article – Nov/Dec 2025

What if I were to convey that saving water was part of the aggregate topic of “safety”?  If you’re not buying the idea, keep reading as I try my best to convince you.  My topic this session revolves around our RV fresh water tank, and to a lesser degree, the grey water tank.  I must add another qualification to my idea:  This concept applies best when dry-camping.

 

Dry camping for more than a day or so may distress these tanks (or distress the rig owner):  Any fresh water used in the rig does indeed find its way into  …. 

….  Continue Reading

THINK

SAFETY

EVERYDAY!

 

Wishing everyone safe travels.

Robi Robison, Safety Chairman
FRVA Dogwood Chapter

   

  

Celebrating Dogwood Birthdays and Anniversaries – Dec 2025/Jan 2026

We would like to help you celebrate your annual milestones.  Please send your dates (just the month is fine) to FMCADogwood@gmail.com so we can include you on those special months.  🥳

Happy Thanksgiving!