News: Montana

WIT Montana Wilderness
Local Chapter
By Fred Dahlman

It wasn't that long ago we were awaiting the arrival of spring and all of sudden, summer passed us by and dropped us into fall before we were ready.

September: What a better way to begin the Labor Day weekend than with our Canadian friends, the Alberta Wild Rose chapter of Calgary in Cardston, AB, for our annual campout.

We arrived at the Oak Creek Campground, which is located adjacent to the Remington Carriage House Museum, on Thursday and Friday. We were greeted Friday night with our hosts providing a meal which was prepared by Donna Eitzen, along with the ladies of both chapters, much to the delight of all present. As if Donna didn't have enough to do, she provided an ice cream social on Saturday afternoon with her homemade ice cream.

On Saturday afternoon, the folks at the Remington Museum furnished a wagon pulled by two fantastic draft horses to take members of both chapters on a tour of the grounds, the immediate area, and, of course, through the campground. Saturday night, the manager of the Hub
Restaurant, which is located inside the Remington Museum, provided a mouth-watering dinner. The restaurant is normally closed on the weekend, but they agreed to do a catered dinner just for our group.

In between these activities, we also managed to have both chapters cook breakfast for one another on Saturday and Sunday mornings, along with a President's Continental Breakfast on Monday morning before folks began to depart for home.

This is a weekend that the members of both chapters look forward to each year. We hope to be able to return the hospitality to our Canadian friends in 2012. In fact, it will be our Chapter's 30th birthday and we plan on making it an event to remember.

We conducted our September meeting at the Prime Cut Restaurant in Great Falls, MT, with the election of officers taking place. Joe Weiss, chairman of the nominating committee, presented the list of officers and after a call for nominations from the floor, a motion was made that a vote by acclamation be made to accept the slate as presented. This was seconded and approved by a unanimous vote of the members.

Our new officers for 2011-2012 are: Larry Kincer, President; Milt Munson, Vice President; Fred Dahlman, Secretary; and Don Luetdke, Treasurer. These officers were installed by Larry Olson, Past President.

October: Chapter members met for our monthly meeting on Oct. 15 at the Prime Cut Restaurant. We welcomed back Milt and Mary Feltch who had spent the summer months at Cape Cod where they maintain their summer home. Milt said that the wild weather experienced in the Northeast this summer didn't directly affect them as far as damage to property, but that the strong winds blew so hard that the spray from the ocean's salt water literally killed the leaves on the trees and as they fell to the ground, it left the trees looking like winter had arrived as all trees were void of leaves. This is also the month that we begin to see members of our chapter preparing for departure for warmer temperatures in the Southwest.

Also in October, the Brandts, Dahlmans, and Luedtkes traveled to Minot, ND, to join up with twenty-three other units to take part in the WIT Tour to attend Norst Hostfest held at the ND State Fairgrounds. If you haven't been to this event, it is well worth your time and money to attend and experience this event. The entertainment is outstanding; the foods and cultures can't be beat; and, ladies, the shopping is fantastic.

What a way to meet new and interesting WIT members and we thank WIT for putting this tour together and also for providing such fantastic rally hosts.

Winnebago-Itasca Travelers