Stardate 2009.204 - Illinois Picnic

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Wendy came up on Wednesday night for her reservation in the presidents room. We then left for the airport at 5:30 AM for an easy drive to the Airport. - had breakfast and boarded the plane for St. Louis. We were picked up by Susie and drove to her home where we met her husband Chris and headed out to Okawville and the Senate gathering. We stopped on the way and they treated us to dinner at a local restaurant which served way to much food. we resumed our drive to Okawville we found that the freeway had been transformed into a parking lot. Indications from a trucker was that there had been a bad accident and the road was closed indefinitely. We were detoured off the Freeway and took the scenic route through the rural communities.

We arrived safely at our destination and checked into the McAwin Mansion Bed & Breakfast where we were met by the owners Denny and Julie and shown our rooms. We dropped off our luggage and Susie and Chris drove us over to the Hospitality hotel. We had a great time meeting the early arrivals until time to head back to the B&B and a bit of sleep. President Gary offered to drive us but as it was only a couple of blocks Wendy and I decided that the walk would be good for us so off we went.

We had a chance to look over the B&B and it is quite quaint. My room was the Presidents Room - filled with political memorabilia (Joe A would go crazy). Wendy's room was the Pink Room or Princess (Go Figure), with many old decorations. I still have my nagging cough and even though I took some drugs I slept restlessly

Friday, July 24, 2009

Awake at 7:30 (5:30 my time) showered and dressed. Wendy was already up and had coffee made. We chatted for a while then Wendy went up to shower and dress for the days activities. Off to the headquarters hotel around 10:30 where we joined many of the attendees gathered on the hotel porch. We visited until 12:30 then all loaded into vehicles for a trip to the "Castle". We drove quite a way over back country roads before coming upon the Castle. This is one mans obsession to reconstruct a Civil War Fort from stones he removes from old house foundations and basements where the structure is being destroyed. He is doing this all by himself although he is either quite old or has way too many miles on him. Within the walls of the fort are many old buildings made of logs and/or hewn timbers that he has dismantled at the original site, marked each board and reassembled them within the walls of the fort. One of these buildings is an old one room house as would have been built by early settlers. It had a loft for children - one bed and a fireplace. There were many displays of old tools as would have been used by the early settlers - the scary thing is that i recognize and know the uses of most of them. There was also one building that contained scale models of buildings that existed in the town many years ago. He has perhaps one of the most extensive collections of Indian artifacts that I have ever seen. From Arrow heads, spear points to stone tools and cooking utensils.

We left the Castle and drove to the "Blue Room". I have heard about this special "attraction" and surely was not going to miss seeing it. It is a pretty dilapidated building that houses a bar and grill. I had a couple of Beers and ordered a BLT from the Grill which was very good. I am told that the Grill is one of the cleanest in the area. We returned to Okawville and the B&B to change shirts for the evenings festivities. Denny and Julie were sitting on the porch so Wendy and I sat and chatted with them until it was time to walk over to the hotel. They had dinner in the Hospitality room with pulled pork sandwiches and all the trimmings that accompany such a meal. Met with Admin. VP Mike concerning the Mentors publication and meeting issues. I also had the opportunity to spend some time with the first US JCI President Jim O'Connell and two past Illinois Presidents from that same era before heading back to the B&B for the night.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Denny and Julie served a great breakfast which we shared with Doug and Vicky Dempsey who is also residing at the B&B as well as Lea Ann Smith who shares a room with Wendy.

Back to the hotel at 11:15 for transportation to the Jaycee building and "BAR BURGERS". We had lunch and some free time until the meeting time of 3PM. Many folks took the opportunity to go shopping while others hit the Blue Room once again. Many of us remained and spent some time chatting and having a few cocktails, of course.

The meeting began with JDO "Crowning" me with a Gold and Jeweled head decoration. Then the serious stuff began with outgoing president Stephanie Pittenger and her year end awards and comments. Then there was the "Changing of the Shirts" which signaled the beginning of the new administration under incoming president Gary Hongsermeier. I had the honor of inducting their officers prior to Gary conducted the business of his new board. I then had the opportunity to address the members and make some special presentations.

I presented Ohio president Marilyn Jones with her presidential rank Pips and "communicator" pin as I did not make the Pig Roast and could not give them to her then. I presented a presidential pin to Susie and Chris for their service of transportation to/from the airport, JDO and Bev Olsen for local transportation, and of course to incoming president Gary his Pip and Pin as well as my special Flag display set.

I received a gift of an Illinois shirt as well as an Illinois Senate travel mug. Doug Dempsey presented me with his Region 5 shirt and a notebook with the region 5 logo. I presented him with his presidential communicator pin.

We returned to the hotel in time for the formal dinner. Wendy won the raffle for a 1.75 liter bottle of Jack Daniels but since we were flying she gave it to John Price who will bring it to Pittsburgh. After more hospitality back to the B&B for some sleep.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Awoke and packed before going downstairs for breakfast and our goodbye's to Denny and Julie, Vicky and Doug and Lea Ann. We walked to the hotel where we met Larry Ferguson and his wife for our ride back to the Airport. We arrived with 3 hours before our flight but the plane was further delayed. Ahhh, the joys of travel - does Joe's black cloud now follow me??. Since we now have a scheduled departure of 5:20 we have a new connection in Phoenix at 8:35 which will put us in at 10:30 and plenty of time to catch the BART back home.

When we arrived in Phoenix Wendy noticed that our original flight was still there so we boarded and arrived in Oakland at our originally scheduled time. Wendy's bag was already there so she was off for home while I waited until my bag was unloaded and arrived home 18 hours after waking up in Illinois.

Thanks to all the Illinois Senators that treated us so well during our visit.