Happy Independence Day! We have added a new program to the 5th Annual Reunion in Hilton Head Island, SC. The family photo album night will feature each member’s photos of themselves, Family, Friends, Pets, Hobbies, Etc. or anything else of importance to them. Yes, this is grandparents’ night to shine! Pictures of past rallies and rally participants would also be welcomed. Susan Crocker has volunteered to assemble the digital images that each member must furnish to her by e-mail no later than Oct. 1st, 2014 The key to success is: EACH MEMBER MUST FURNISH DITIGAL IMAGES TO SUSAN BY E-MAIL. The e-mail must have the name of the Blue Bird Chapter member, an image of the Blue Bird Chapter Member, and the digital images you would like to share. Please limit your images to ten or less. Please enter “Family Photo Album” in the description line of your e-mail to Susan Crocker [email protected]. The success of this evening of fun and fellowship depends on each and every member’s participation. Rally Hosts are needed for next year. Do you have a favorite location or an interesting venue in your area that you would like to share with others? If so, please think about hosting a rally. We need rallies in order for our club to maintain it’s current level of interest to our members. If you need help, the officers are more than willing to lend a hand. If you do not feel that you want to undertake a large rally, how about a “gathering” in your area? Invite two or three Birds to join you. Remember, a rally does not have to be a big extravaganza. Merely getting together with friends is an important part of our club. Support and involvement are the keys to our success. Be Active…. Be Involved!!!

Saturday, June 28, 14 Dear Blue Bird Member, As of this 5th Reunion meeting the Officers of the Chapter have served a year past their term. The Officers have hosted five of the last eight rallies. The past three years have been fun but not without effort on their part. I would like to thank Karen James, Vice President, Garland Kirby, Treasurer, Susan Crocker, Secretary and Jon Scott, FMCA National Director. I would also like to thank Jenise Harper, past editor of Bird Tracks and Karen James, the current editor of Bird Tracks for their service. Thanks also to Neat Scott, Rozanne DeShazer, Brenda Rogers and all the committee members for years of service keeping Bird Tracks looking good and reading correctly. The nominating committee should have a new slate of officers by the Fall Business meeting. Their efforts to select a new slate of Officers is essential to the continued presence of the Blue Bird Chapter of FMCA. The chapter has been viable for thirtyseven years. I hope a few members will accept the challenge to keep the chapter moving into the future. Please contact your nominating committee: Jack Vandenberg 727 599 8941 [email protected] Karen James 303 859 3822 [email protected] Joe Crocker 386 365 7642 [email protected] Thanks also to Tom and Sandy Bay, Gardner and Judy Wright, Charlie and Peggy McKeehan and Bob and Barbara Helms rally hosts while I have been president. Currently no rallies have been planned for 2015. Again I need help to keep the chapter moving. I hope to see all of you at the fall rally. Travel Safely,

Charlie Vaughn

We need some tech tips. If you have a tidbit to share, please let us know!

Lower Alabama Rally What a week of excitement and fun! Every day was as much fun as the day before. Susan and Joe provided more fun and excitement than we could keep up with everyday. There was a breakfast and dinner almost every day. She cooked muffins, burritos, pancakes, grits and eggs for breakfast. Then there was beef roast, pork loin, ham, and many kinds of casseroles and breads. After all of the delicious meals we needed lots of walking and exercise. Susan had plans for us all day. We went to the Bellingrath Gardens, Fort Gaines, and Fort Morgan. We also visited the towns of Fairhope and Foley. What a time we had at Mr. Gene’s Beans Ice Cream Shop! We had Dutch treat lunch at Lambert’s Home of the “Throwed” Rolls. What a treat, you should have seen us catching those wonderful rolls. In fact a lot of us took about 3 or 4 rolls back to the coaches with us for another meal. Needless to say, nobody wanted any dinner that night. On Friday, some went to the U.S.S. Alabama and some went to the mall and to outlets stores. Talk about bargains and fun ... What a day! In the evenings we had Bingo, movies, and lots of fellowship. There was lots of fun for everyone. We enjoyed being with all of our friends. In attendance were Tom and Sandi Bay, Jim and Jean Cox, Joe and Susan Crocker (host couple), Ross and Carolyn Dover, Garland and Sharon Kirby, Charlie and Peggy McKeehan, Richard and Sue Ramsey, Ron and Dorinda Rueckwald, Tommy and Shirley Vance, Charlie and Martha Vaughn, and James and Linda Weatherford. I will mention one sad note before I say Happy Trails. Martha and Charlie Vaughn didn’t get to join all of the good times. Martha had a health problem and was in the hospital for 4 or 5 days. I am glad to report she is at home and feeling better these days. Now I will say Happy Trails to you!

By Carolyn Pierce Dover

by Rozanne Deshazer Baked Coconut Shrimp:  ¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes  ¾ cup whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs  ¼ cup whole-wheat flour  3 egg whites  1 teaspoon coconut extract  8 ounces large shrimp, peeled and deveined  Salt and pepper to taste  8 ounce can unsweetened crushed pineapple crushed in juice  1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce, find this in the Oriental section at your grocery store Directions: Baked Coconut Shrimp: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread out the coconut on the baking sheet and bake about 7 minutes or until a pale golden brown. Stir occasionally during the baking. Remove from oven and completely cool. In a small mixing bowl combine 3 tablespoons of the toasted coconut with panko crumbs. Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and set aside. Place the flour on a plate or in a shallow dish. In a medium bowl whisk the eggs whites and coconut extract until it is extremely foamy but not holding stiff peaks. Dredge the shrimp in the flour, completely covering, shaking off all extra. Add the shrimp to the egg whites and toss to coat completely. Add the shrimp a few at a time to the panko crumbs, make sure each shrimp is completely covered and coated. Place the breaded shrimp on the wire racks and season Place in the oven and bake until golden, crispy and cooked all the way through, about 8 minutes. After they are done baking, sprinkle remaining toasted coconut over the shrimp. Serve with pineapple puree. Pineapple Puree: In a blender, puree the pineapple with the juice and the chili sauce until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Mancakes (A hearty way to start a Blue Bird kind of day!) Original recipe makes 6 servings

8 ounces bacon, chopped 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour ¾ cup cornmeal 1 tablespoon baking powder ¾ tsp. salt 1 pinch ground black pepper 1 tsp vegetable oil

1 1/3 cups milk 2 ounces grated sharp Cheddar cheese 2 large eggs - beaten 2 tablespoons melted butter 1 tablespoon sugar 1 cup warm maple syrup 1 tsp chipotle chili powder 1 tsp butter

Directions 1. Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes; remove from heat. Stir green onions into bacon and saute in hot fat until slightly softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer bacon mixture to a strainer to drain, retaining drippings. 2. Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a large bowl. Add drained bacon mixture, milk, Cheddar cheese, eggs, melted butter, and sugar to flour mixture; whisk until batter is smooth. Let batter rest for 10 minutes. 3. Combine maple syrup and chipotle chili powder together in a small bowl; whisk until chili powder is completely dissolved. 4. Heat 1 teaspoon bacon drippings, 1 teaspoon oil, and 1 teaspoon butter on a griddle over medium-high heat. Drop batter by 1/4-cupful onto the griddle and cook until bubbles form and the edges are dry, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the other side, 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter. Transfer pancakes to plate and top with maple syrup.

Welcome New Members! James (Alvin) Moss from Tulsa, Oklahoma John McPherson & Ethel Sawyer from Yorktown, Virginia Wayne & Janice Urwin Hansen from Live Oak, Florida John Berkey Dobbin from Madiera Beach, Florida

Schedule of Events 5th Annual Family of Friends Reunion Hilton Head Island, SC All meeting and meals at HHI Motor Coach Resort Club House, second floor. (Exterior stairs at either end of building. Handicap accessible by lift)  Tuesday Oct.28, 2014 3-5 pm Registration 6-7 pm Soup & Salad Introductions afterwards  Wednesday Oct.29th Free Day to explore Area 7 pm Family of Friends photo Album (New Event) Snacks provided, BYOB  Thursday Oct. 30th 8-9 am Full Breakfast 10-11:30 Business Chapter meeting Afternoon free 6 pm –until Pizza and Bingo, BYOB  Friday Oct. 31st Free day to explore 6 pm Dinner, Low Country Boil  Saturday, Nov 1st Free day to explore 6 pm Dinner, followed by Chuck Hancock and Terry Beene—Country/Western/ Gospel  Sunday, Nov 2nd Departure. Travel safely!

Preview of Hilton Head We are in for a wonderful experience this fall at the Blue Bird Family of Friends Reunion Rally starting October 28th to November 2nd. We were greeted at the resort by gracious hosts who provided us with a package of information about the area and escorted us to our site. The resort is charming with a canopy of old live oaks complete with Spanish moss and lovely landscaping. The hard surface lots are roomy with vegetation between the neighbors providing privacy. Tennis courts and shuffleboard courts next to a clubhouse and swimming pool promise loads of activities. The clubhouse has a library of books and dvds in a pleasant lounging area. The laundry is spacious and inviting. You can watch a movie while you do your laundry. Upstairs is the large meeting room complete with a fully stocked kitchen. In our packet of information was a book listing 101 things to do on the island and near the island. For the bicycle enthusiast there are 50 miles of protected trails that go all over the island. Water sports abound as do charter fishing, dinner cruises, educational and nature cruises, and parasailing. History buffs will enjoy the Coastal Discovery Museum, Daufuskie Island and the Gullah culture, the historic forts, and Freedman’s Village. There are golf courses everywhere. For the adventurous, horseback riding, water skiing, and two zip lines are close by. Shoppers! There are TWO Tanger Outlets plus many charming local shops. Some years ago, Charlie and I went to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum off I-95 at exit 102 near Savannah. Men who were actually in the Mighty Eighth lead visitors through the museum and provide their own experiences that help the visitor to relive those times with them. It was a profound and moving experience and one I would recommend to anyone. One night during the rally, we will be served a Low Country Boil for dinner. If you have not had this tasty meal, you are in for a delicious surprise. Hilton Head Island is beautiful and charming making it a delightful place to visit. The schedule for the fall rally leaves lots of time for sightseeing and exploring. Everyone come to the fall rally! It promises to be a wonderful time for all! Hilton Head Island Motor Coach Resort 133 Arrow Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 http://www.hhimotorcoachresort.com Club house parking is available for an additional $3.75 plus 11% on the $3.75 additional fee. I recommend these sites for handicap persons if they want to pay the extra. There is a one person lift near the stairs at the club house. First floor provides laundry, sitting room, library, bath with showers. Smaller bathroom on second floor No golf carts are allowed, however, handicap scooters are permitted. Must call early for any preferred parking, such as handicap or buddy parking. Please refer to HHI website for wood side parking areas in green and clubhouse parking in yellow. Lake lots will not be used. Cable TV and Wi-Fi available at each site. 50 amp, water and sewer hook-ups at each site. The area is too wooded for satellite reception.

Larry’s Mobile Wash will be permitted to service the rally. There is an available repairman for emergency RV repairs. All towed vehicles must be unhooked prior to being escorted to the site. Attendees should arrive prior to 5 pm. After 5 pm, arrivals will stay in the holding area overnight unless previous arrangements are made with the resort. Resort requires escort for parking due to complicated road system. The resort will provide an information packet about the resort and the area to each coach on arrival. Tennis and shuffleboard courts are available on a first come basis at the resort. Bicycles are encouraged island wide--50 miles of protected trails. The swimming pool and hot tub are open until November first. Golf courses are everywhere! The cost of the Rally is $ 175.00 payable to: Treasurer, Blue Bird Chapter of FMCA 3590 Round Bottom Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45244 The cost of the campground is $ 52.73 nightly for a Woodside Lot Tax is included. Group Parking as much as possible. Buddy parking arranged by resort with advanced notice. Attendees must make their own reservations.

Greetings from Fort Valley, Georgia – the Peach State! We have just completed a very successful Peach Festival in Fort Valley and still hold the title of cooking the World's Largest Peach Cobbler! We send our very best birthday wishes to Mr. Albert L. (Buddy) Luce as he celebrates his 92nd birthday this month. To those of you that are new in the Blue Bird Chapter, Mr. Buddy's father was the founder of Blue Bird. We were sad to learn that Thomas Scroggs of Hampton, Georgia, passed away on June 24. Many of you will remember Thomas and Linda and their visits to the Bird's Nest and their attendance at rallies. They were long time members of the Blue Bird Chapter. He is survived by Linda, his wife of 50 years, a son, Kevin Scroggs and a daughter, Keisha Scroggs Holbrook and eleven grandchildren. Thomas and Linda have owned and operated funeral homes for many years. We send our deepest sympathy to Linda and family. Please remember Tommy Vance in your prayers. Tommy had ankle replacement surgery on June 27. His surgery went well, and we wish him a speedy and complete recovery. Bob Coates is undergoing chemo at this time and we send our prayers and best wishes to him. John Smith recently had a health scare which prevented him and Sheila Ciampi from attending the rally in Durango, Colorado. Get well John!

We send our love and best wishes to Ralph Fullenwider as he underwent heart surgery. Tim Scully has recently had a stay in the hospital and he needs our continued prayers. I will be undergoing surgery myself on July 31.

I would sincerely appreciate your prayers on my behalf.

Please remember to send us news that we can share with the Chapter membership. Maurice and Rozanne DeShazer have been busy attending grandchildren’s graduations and are now on their way to Alaska. Safe travels! We would love to hear about everyone’s adventures as they travel this wonderful country of ours. Best wishes to all of you for safe and fun travels this summer. Warmest regards, Brenda

By Sharon Kirby

Did you know that Manuka honey is a powerful way to handle external MRSA and Staph infections? I have written earlier about getting a publication downloaded to your computer from www. Staph-Infection-Resources.com. I want to again encourage you to get this information from Michelle and Les Moore’s company Embrace Health, Inc. In this publication, you can learn about Manuka honey. I will quote from the publication, “Researchers at the University of Walkato in New Zealand have found that Manuka honey’s antibacterial activity stops the growth of MRSA bacteria. They have shown that Manuka honey has no adverse effects on healthy tissue and can be safely inserted into wound cavities and sinuses to clear infection.” This publication also tells you when shopping for Manuka honey to get certified, and raw honey with a UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) of 10 or higher and MGO (Methylglyoxal-the antibacterial agent) of 100 or higher. Manuka honey from New Zealand and Australia are often readily available. There are some precautions, which you will learn from the publication, such as you may have an allergic reaction if you are allergic to bee stings or bee products, and diabetics have to consider the sugar content of honey, which is about 30% glucose. Also remember that babies one year old or less should not ingest honey because of the risk of botulism. I have premium organic, raw Manuka Honey 15+ from New Zealand. It was imported by The Wild Bee, P.O. Box 19544, Greensboro, NC 27419 I have used it in my tea as a sweetener, but have never used it on an open wound because I haven’t had any, but I do carry the honey with me when we travel!!! In this publication, you will also learn about other natural ways to fight MRSA and Staph infections, such as essential oils, Jarrah Honey, bee propolis, colloidal silver, grapefruit seed extract, goldenseal, aloevera, calendula, etc. It is a wealth of information and worth every penny if you are looking for ways to fight infections!!! I hope I have piqued your interest in this material and that you will order it soon! You will not regret it!!

We met in beautiful Durango on Sunday, June 1, and were welcomed with fun gift bags containing not only lots of goodies but also authentic train whistles. We had a welcome dinner at the historic Strater Hotel in downtown, built in 1887. The hotel is home to the world’s largest collection of American Victorian Walnut Antiques and the Louis L’Amour room. We ate in the Mahogany room where we could choose from Rocky Mountain trout, Colorado grown prime rib, chicken or a mushroom and cheese ravioli. Talk about Handcrafted Flavors of the West! Dessert was strawberry shortcake or homemade pie. Yummy! Monday, was our “history and heritage day” as we traveled back in time on the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge. We had lunch in the mining town of Silverton and enjoyed the old west flavor of the town. The train ride was an adventure in itself as we looked out the windows and straight down into the canyon below and the rushing river. The scenery was breathtaking! Tuesday was a free day to visit historic downtown Durango. Downtown is a national registered historic district boasting historic hotels, award winning restaurants, fabulous art galleries and museums and eclectic shopping. While there, we visited the original Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory store, toured the Honeyville Farm, and experienced wine tasting at Fox Fire Farm,( the Southwest’s premier certified organic farm). Some went to one of the four exceptional breweries in Durango, while others toured the Grand Motorcar and Piano Collection. We had pizza at the campground and enjoyed an evening of games and plenty of laughter. Jon and Neat Scott provided fun games for the evening. Wednesday was our Native American Country day. We went to Mesa Verde National Park and took a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years. We visited the Anasazi Heritage Center, a museum of the Puebloan culture and other native cultures in the Four Corners region. Mike and Carolyn Lien took a drive to the Four Corners, the only place in the United States where you can stand in four states at once. Wednesday evening saw Jim and Jean Thompson and Rose Fitzsimmons enjoying a Pro Rodeo at the Fairgrounds. (Everyone else was too tired after climbing through the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde!) Thursday was our outdoor adventure day. Under those blue Colorado skies, Some visited Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort and braved the Alpine Slide, scenic chairlift ride, zip line, climbing wall, rope course and bungee trampoline. An alternate day trip was a visit to the Sky Ute Cultural Center in Ignacio and the Sky Ute Casino. Thursday evening we enjoyed a Steak dinner and show at the Bar D Chuckwagon Dinner Show. We had our choice of Chicken, Roast Beef and Chicken or Rib Eye Steak. The music was great and everyone had a fun evening outdoors under the stars. Friday morning we had a farewell breakfast at the campground as everyone prepared to bid farewell to Colorado and ride off into the sunset.

Hang a bundle of chalk in the closet to keep everything fresh and dry. The chalk absorbs excess moisture - a thrifty alternative to an electric dehumidifier!