Southern Alberta Drifters

By CHERIE ILG HAAS
Production Assistant

Three days of snow, followed by melting and flooding, may discourage even the most determined RVers from enjoying a rally — but it doesn't stop the Southern Alberta Drifters. They encountered just this situation shortly before their first scheduled rally this year. Within 12 hours of the start of the rally, a drier campground was found, and 18 out of 21 members still came to have a great time. This sort of determination surely reflects chapter members' resolve to enjoy each other's company.

The Southern Alberta Drifters chapter was chartered in August 2002 and holds rallies in and around southern Alberta, Canada. It is open to all FMCA members in good standing, and currently has approximately 40 active member families, most of whom live in that area.

Dave Wylie, F267410, chapter president, said that a variety of rally themes and activities are being tried to get a feel for what members like to do. For example, this year the chapter held a "poker rally." Members split up into small groups and were given directions to a secret location that they found by following simple directions and driving separately, two minutes apart, to checkpoints. Participants were given a playing card at the beginning of the trip, at each of the three checkpoints, and at the destination. Once everyone reached the final location, the member with the best poker hand won $30. Dave said that this wasn't a race, but just a fun way to pass an hour and a half on a Saturday afternoon. The secret location for this rally turned out to be the Pasu Sheep Farm, where members enjoyed coffee, desserts, and shopping.

Other fun rally themes on the chapter's calendar include "Steak and Lobster," "Caribbean," and "50s and 60s Doo-Wop." Another is the "No Host" or "Camping Only Weekend," which is very casual as far as planning is concerned. Members meet at a campground and are on their own to enjoy the weekend with few, if any, chapter activities planned. Fellowship is the main entertainment for these weekends.

Bus races are popular events at Southern Alberta Drifters rallies. The miniature buses are made of wood and painted to resemble motorhomes. After setting the buses up at the starting line, members roll dice to see how far each bus will go, and they place bets to make it a little more interesting. "You'd think they were betting thousands from all the noise," Dave said, but he noted that quarters are actually the most common wager.

The chapter has an appointed "sheriff," but he wasn't elected to keep the peace at bus races. Joe Bourget, F144002, charges members small fines of 25 to 50 cents for misdemeanors such as not wearing the chapter badge or parking crooked at a rally. Members also may be charged for spending too much time cleaning their motorhome or for not spending enough time relaxing, or even for having the fate of a double digit in their FMCA number. Dave said that during the course of a weekend, Joe collects anywhere from $5 to $15, which goes into the chapter's funds.

By keeping the get-togethers varied and offering fun activities, Dave said, "We're trying to get a very high attendance rate at rallies." At a typical rally, members meet on a Friday evening and eat dinner while socializing. The next day they participate in games like bocce ball or card tournaments. "Impromptu musical interludes" are sometimes provided by whoever happens to bring an instrument. The rallies are kept within approximately a two-hour drive from Calgary. The camping season in southern Alberta is only about four or five months long, but chapter members meet every couple of months throughout the year.

Chapter dues are $10 per year plus a $20 registration fee for the first year. For more information about the Southern Alberta Drifters, contact FMCA's Chapter Services Department at (800) 543-3622.