VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION

VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION

of the

CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY

KENOSHA -WAUKEGAN CHAPTER PICNIC

July 8, 2007

Submitted by Dan Sylvester, President – Kenosha-Waukegan Chapter

It was a little after 10:00 am when wee arrived at Area C in Van Patten Woods. Frank Metallo was already there putting up his bulletin boards of the past years events. We moved the picnic tables into position and covered them with plastic. Not just any plastic- green and yellow plastic. We then set out the door and raffle prizes and prepared the serving tables. We were ready to start well ahead of schedule so we all took a test can of beer out of the cooler to make sure it was ready to be served.

The guests began to arrive, we registered them, sold raffle tickets and we socialized until 2:00 pm. We had quite a few new faces this year. John Deutsch, Charlie Jenkins, and Jim Zorbas, all former conductors, (John won't be "former" until next February), Bill Rowe, the former Traveling Engineer down at CPT, and ticket agent Dan Eldridge. In all we had 24 members and 41 guests for a total of 65. General Secretary Treasure Dewayne Steifvater was on hand and he signed up a few new members and got everyone caught up on their dues. Former General Presidents, Bob Guhr and Rod Ewert were also in attendance.

We socialized until 2:00 pm at which time Gordon Geil, an American Legion Chaplin, gave a word of thanks for the meal we were about to serve. The main course, fried chicken and Italian sausage were provided by the chapter along with the drinks (beer, soda, water, wine, and coffee). Each member brought something to share. All in all, it was quite a feast, a real "No Man's Land" for dieters.

At 3:00 pm, we called the business meeting to order. There was no "Old Business" so we went on to "New Business." It was decided to change the date of the 2008 Picnic to the third Sunday in July. This was done because Yvonne and I always seem to find ourselves "Over Extended" with things to do around Independence Day and the weekends on either side of it. Moving the picnic back one week gives us a little more breathing room. When it came to the election of officers there were no offers to take over so it's still Yvonne and me along with Dick Moseler as VP. With that out of the way, we closed the meeting and went on with the drawings for the door and raffle prizes. Each member received a door prize. These were mostly railroad related items. Some C&NW and some UP. The UP items were leftover from last year. It is our understanding the UP no longer will supply us with things for our gatherings as they only choose to support their employee clubs.

Some of the items in our raffle this year were a C&NW "400" step stool made by Dick Moseler. A "Mini Keg" (1.33 gallons) of Heineken Beer donated by Rodi's Liquor of Waukegan. Some C&NW sweat and t-shirts along with two door mats, one with a caboose and the words "All Aboard", one with a steam locomotive and the word "Welcome." Once all the "Loot" was gone, we announced all were welcome to stay as our permit was good until sundown. While many had to leave because of the distance they had to drive home, many did stay. We played music, told "Cinder Stories" and emptied the coolers of there contents. There wasn't much left to take home.

All in all, I'd say a good time was had by all as there were a lot of us left at sundown. Thanks to all those that stayed and helped with the clean-up. Hope to see even more new faces next year. Mark it down - Sunday, July 20, 2008.

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Posted: 07/17/07