Monday June 30, 2008

 

 

Okay, I Think I’ve Recovered!

To say I was exhausted this evening by 5:00 is an understatement.  (After supper, I slept for two hours!) 

It’s not only from several busy days in a row, but today is the end of TFC’s fiscal year, and I knew the International Office would appreciate having all the deposits in the bank before the close of the banking day – so I purposed to do it – and had them ready for Cerwin to take to Marietta by 9:00 a.m.  That meant a short night last night.  Special thanks to Cerwin for helping, and to Angie Moses for doing the auction report and deposit.

That feels so good.  I’ve never had every deposit ready the day after the Rally weekend.

 

~~~

 

Now on to Saturday’s Rally

 

An Early Morning Walk-around

 

After distributing cash boxes and taking care of a few last-minute details, I walked around the fairgrounds to see what was going on.  By this point my job is basically over and everyone else’s begins.

 

 

 

The main entrance.  I love the fairground’s new Holstein trash cans.

 

 

This will be a busy day for Rose Gehman (left) as she mans the evening meal ticket and information table.  She answers a lot of questions and sells many tickets.  She and her husband, Gene, are Rally Coordinators.

The others in the photo are, left to right:  Earl Eby (Evening Cleanup Coordinator – along with his wife Joyce), Chaplain Jake Wise, and his son Jesse.

 

 

Just as I was ready to leave this area when I heard some good-natured teasing.  Earl Eby (left) and Jesse Wise (right) just watched and laughed as Randy Sauder (center left) “scolded” Jake for “messing up” his registration system.  I think Jake must have chosen a registration form that was out of order.    You could tell that these guys are good friends. 

Notice Rally Coordinator Gene Gehman, in the background, scanning the fairgrounds.

 

 

I expected to find some hardworking guys in North Hall (where the auction and evening concert would be held), however, they were playing a game!  This is our son Jere (Auction Coordinator) with helpers Matthew Patches and our grandson Nathan.

 

 

Our grandson Josh (foreground), Jere, and Nathan.

 

 

They were rolling masking tape rolls down the center aisle!  Cousins Josh and Jordan in the foreground and Jere and Nathan in the back.

 

 

Now they are competing to see whose roll touches Josh first! 

They were waiting for the stage (flatbed truck) to arrive before they could finish taping the aisles, which help everyone know where to place their lawn chairs.

 

 

Randy and Karen Sauder (Truck Judging Coordinators) always choose beautiful trophies for contestants and drivers.

 

 

 

 

There was already a good supply of Theme Baskets waiting for the auction.

 

 

Southeast Hall was quiet – with four rows of empty tables – waiting for the evening meal when 1,100 people will pick up their meal in a matter of fifteen minutes.

 

 

East Hall was also quiet, as toys waited for eager young buyers at the 2:30 p.m. Childrens’ Auction.

 

 

Nancy Martin (wife of Parade Coordinator, Nelson Martin) looking through the many flowers donated by Esbenshade’s Greenhouses, Lititz, PA.

 

 

Vendors were busy setting up in West Hall.  The race car simulator was ready for an occupant – so I took a seat – however, it was not quite ready for racing.  We understand this was a popular place during the day.

 

 

Gene Gehman (front right) needed some young helpers and found willing workers in our grandsons and Matthew Patches (friend of our grandson, Josh).

 

 

Randy Sauder’s Freightliner.  He’s another one of my favorite truck drivers. 

His parking spot sets the pattern for the next drivers – as they pull into line next to him.

 

 

Cerwin (right) and a driver from Rigidply assemble the banner before hoisting it above the entrance driveway.

 

 

 

As I approached the end of the driveway – to find a good picture-taking spot – another of my favorite drivers, Will Stoner, was arriving.

 

 

 

I located more pictures of Will’s truck  – 1984 GMC General – taken during the parade.

 

 

 

 

 

Another of my favorite drivers, Will’s dad Geff, was right behind him in his 1960 B-61 Mack.

 

~~~

 

I finally located a spot for my lawn chair – with the sun on my back and my camera aimed toward Evergreen Road – waiting for early arrivals.