Northern California Starcraft Camper Club - The History Page
The year was 1989, the month was October, the newsletter editor was Peggy Amrine, and Diane Davis was our President.
Carol Dailey had suffered a cerebral accident and had finally returned to the Sacramento area, taking up residence at the American River Hospital in Carmichael. Carol was busy re-learning to walk and care for herself and her family.
Our newest members during that preceding summer were Greg & Carolyn Dais (pronounced just like Davis, only leave out the ‘v’) and their family. By the end of 1989, Dave & Carol Strait, Scott & Kathy Creason and Leo & Rae Ann Dixon had also joined our Starcraft family.
West Coast Rally Badges were offered for sale through A&J Engraving with chevrons available for every year . . . 1977 to present.
Our October campout was being held October 13-15, 1989, at Thousand Trails in Morgan Hill with the Woodwards and Parks as wagonmasters.
Our turkey campout was scheduled for November 3-5 in Turlock and the cost was $30 for the weekend, hosted by the Vernons.
The Valley Starcrafters hosted the West Coast Rally August 6-11, 1989, at Campland-On-The-Bay in San Diego with Bob & Sally Barton acting as Rally Chairpersons. Thirty-three Starcraft families attended, representing chapters in Texas, Northern California, Southern California and British Columbia. Bill & Vivian Dobyns sent the campground office and rally chairpersons into a tailspin . . . they arrived with a brand new Starcraft hardside to surprise everyone . . . only problem was the site assigned to them for the rally fit their small tent trailer!!! What a surprise!
Larry & Sherry Branham of the International office paid a visit to the rally to encourage everyone to participate in the 1990 International Rally, being planned for Cherry Hills Campground in Kaysville, Utah. To the surprise of all, John & Jan Rinaudo were appointed co-chairpersons for the Utah rally.
"The rally was not without hilarity. That was offered when the rally participants gathered at Pinnacle Peak’s Restaurant in Santee for a wonderful western style dinner. Calamity Jane was our waitress and several Northern Californians and Valley Starcrafters kept us entertained throughout the entire evening. The dress was definitely casual and the traditional tie cutting ceremony was performed on the rally tie that Stu Blair wore to the restaurant for just that reason. This evening gave real meaning to the phrase . . . FOOD FIGHT! And would you believe that one of San Francisco’s FINEST was right in the middle of the entire INCIDENT?"
Valley Starcrafters provided such activities as beach volleyball, horseshoes, the inflatable craft race, and the catamaran challenge. Northern California placed very well in every event!
"The rally was not without mishaps. Tire problems plagued the Craft, Vernon and Davis families of Northern California. The Combs’ tow vehicle caught fire on the way to the rally and repairs cost $500. Cathy Duprey took a tumble over her daughter, Kim, breaking several bones in her foot. She enjoyed the rally from a sitting position, leaving poor Tom to tend to the children and to do all the women’s work. Jill Wright took sick on their four-day trip down from Surrey, British Columbia, and was diagnosed with possible pneumonia or bronchitis and was forced to fly home with their youngest son, Jeremy, leaving husband Bob to enjoy the rally with sons James and Jeffrey and then bring the trailer home. James celebrated his 12th birthday at the rally and enjoyed his birthday cake with the Starcraft family." (We were to learn later that Jill DID NOT have a good trip home. She had left for home very ill, not thinking about any ID for Jeremy. She was stopped at immigration, trying to prove she was the parent of this blond child . . . Jill has dark hair. Fortunately, she located his insurance card in her purse and she was finally able to make it home!)
The rally concluded with a joint North/South version of Kangaroo Court. Judge Robbie Bean (Bob Barton) and Sheriff Mike Blair of the Valley Starcrafters and Judge Kathy Verderber and Sheriff Nancy Godfrey all presided. Between the two sets of court officers NOT MUCH leniency was apparent! BJ Poor of the Texas Chapter offered the most original alibi for his offenses and was immediately excused to the delight of all present.
The President’s campout was held at the Placer County Fairgrounds in Roseville over the Labor Day Weekend. Thirty-seven families gathered that weekend, including the Langdons from CVL RV of Rancho Cordova. A complete re-write of our by-laws was voted in, article by article, during the business meeting. Diane Davis thanked everyone for cooperating and giving people a chance to have a say during the discussion time at the by-law vote. The democratic process worked well that weekend.
The 1989 holidays were fast approaching. Diane & Bill Davis were preparing to host the annual Christmas party at their home in Roseville. Reservations were beginning to come in for the camp-inn, scheduled for January 13, 1990 at Carmel Valley Inn.
The year was 1984, the month was August, the place was American River Resort in Coloma (across the river from Coloma Resort) and the wagonmasters were Bob & Carol Dailey. The campground and facilities were beautiful when Bob and Carol first booked it for a club function, and ever since it has un-affectionately been known as "THE PITS." The weather was HOT, HOT, HOT and there was no cooling off at night. The club members spent their time sitting in their lawn chairs IN THE RIVER or sitting on the rock throwing water at each other. Anything to cool off!
Saturday evening the potluck was an Italian theme in honor of the club president's birthday. Stanley Albertson was master of ceremonies for a surprise roast of the Prez. Stanley, being the sentimental gentleman that he was, began crying and sobbing during the reading of the script, making the delivery all the funnier. We were rolling in the aisles with laughter. The script was written by the First Lady and the president's mother, who was also present at the campout that weekend. Nothing was sacred!
JOHN RAYMOND RINAUDO was born August 6, 1946, at Mills Hospital, San Mateo.
He was run out of town at the young age of six (6) weeks old . . . his parents moved him to Sonoma and he grew up down the street from the Sebastiani Winery. His dad was a rural postman.
He went to St. Francis Catholic School and served as an altar boy for four years.
His favorite television shows as a child were Hop-a-long Cassidy, Lone Ranger, and Zorro.
During his high school years, John was a real lover. He was a frequent visitor to the local "lovers lane". One night he and a date felt they were being watched, looked up to see a cow staring through the car window at them.
He actually RAN OUT OF GAS on lovers lane! He had to call his mother at 1:30 am to bring him a gallon of gas so he could get his girlfriend home.
He played varsity football as a fullback. In his senior year, his high school football career was cut short . . . not by an injury as with ordinary players . . . he caught the "kissing disease" . . . MONO!!!
He graduated from Sonoma High School in June of 1964. From there he went on to Santa Rosa Junior College.
John met his wife, Jan, during the summer of 1965 . . . his brother Dan introduced them. Their meeting and blind date was such a memorable occasion that Jan didn't see him again until she ran into him in the hallway at college in September. To add insult to injury, he couldn't remember her name!
He ran around with a rowdy bunch of guys who loved playing pranks like:
This same bunch of guys started camping at Lake Tahoe after high school graduation and were able to pass as 21 in the casinos. It was during one of these trips that John's car received an unusual dent. It seems John figured that the shortest distance between two points was a straight line. The fact that there was a log in the way didn't deter him in the slightest. He just drove OVER it!!! And his '55 Ford lived to see another day despite John.
John entered the Air Force on December 6, 1966. Jan was working for the FBI at the time and typed some of the investigative reports for his security clearance.
John and Jan talked of marriage; however, John told her that she would no longer be able to continue her work with the FBI, as his uncle Munic was a "CARD CARRYING" mob member and he carried his "tommy gun" around in a violin case. Jan was working on the anti-racketeering squad at the time and actually believed John, as he had never met his uncle who lived in Oakland.
John actually proposed by telephone and they were married on August 26, 1967, in Sonoma, by the same priest who married his parents 22 years previously. John didn't believe in hiding his car during the wedding. Who would touch it? RIGHT! Well, his cousins did. They attempted to wire the horn to the brakes, but didn't know about an extra battery in the trunk which ran his tape deck system. The cousins ran 12 volts through a 6 volt system and burned up the wiring in the car. In the meantime, his LOVING brother painted obscene remarks all over the car. John and Jan were thankfully forced to use John's mother's car for their honeymoon. John's '55 Ford was towed to his mother's home and his brothers set out to immediately wash all the remarks off the car.
John and Jan lived in San Bernardino after their marriage. John found their first apartment. He thought it was glorious after military life in the barracks. He failed to notice a few SMALL flaws:
BUT Jan got EVEN! Jan made John his first breakfast . . . not bride's biscuits, but brides pancakes. John accidentally dropped one and it fell through the floor and knocked unconscious their neighbor living below!
Despite all, John survived and Jan learned to cook!
Christina was born December, 1969, in Okinawa while John was still in the Air Force. Lisa came along in March, 1973, after three years of civilian life.
John became the proud owner of his Starcraft trailer in January, 1978. But the trailer didn't stay new for long. Within 30 minutes, he broke two tail lights, one side reflector, bent the rear bumper, dented the front of the trailer under the bunks, tore off the electrical outlet and bent the door knob. WHAT WAS HE DOING? He was backing the trailer into its new home on the side of the house!!!
John and Jan's first campout was in April, 1978, at Cotillion Gardens in Felton. The brought along a friend of theirs named Mary and her daughter. The entire weekend was very confusing for club members . . . no one could figure out which of the women was his wife. Some thought one was the wife and the other the girlfriend and that he had the perfect set up going!!!
Despite all the years of warning, you all elected him president last September. TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM!!!
By the way, Gramps says John also makes great ITALIAN COFFEE!!!
The January-February, 1972 issue of CHATTER notified Starcraft RV owners of the organizing of a California chapter of the Starcraft Camper Club. In Fremont, CA, Orvil and Jerry Price spent the months of January and February preparing a mailing to 290 registered Starcraft RV owners in the State of California.
While investigating prospective members through registration cards, the Prices discovered a group of non-registered Starcraft owners camping under the name of the Concord Starcraft Club. Through a March, 1972 newsletter, an invitation was issued for all interested Starcraft owners to join the Concord Club at their March 24-26 campout at Caswell State Park in Ripon, CA. Eight families responded to the invitation and spent a wonderful weekend getting acquainted and learning of the benefits of club camping from the six families of the Concord Starcraft Club. These eight families became the charter members of what is today the Northern California Starcraft Camper Club. It only seem proper to list the names of these pioneers : Jim & Mena Jackson, Lee & Joan Rabeneau, Orvil & Jerry Price, Bob & Dottie Johnson, Raleigh & Dottie Wentworth, Al & Lorraine Holt, Paul & Nada Wallace, and Tom & Eileen Brown.
Several other campouts were planned during the spring of 1972 with the Concord Starcraft Club. There were some rules of that club that were bothersome to these eight new families, so they decided to form their own club since they enjoyed each other's company so much.
Organizational meetings were held in Fremont, CA, and plans were set in motion for a Memorial Day weekend at Three Rivers KOA near Lemon Grove. Twenty-seven units attended this first campout and it was a busy weekend. By-laws were written and approved by those attending. An election of temporary officers was held and campouts were planned for Santa Cruz (June), Shingle Springs (July), Dillion Beach (September), and Bothe-Napa State Park (October).
Plans were set in motion for the first state rally to be held over Labor Day weekend, 1972, at Camper Village in Goshen, CA. This first state rally was chaired by Jim Jackson and 22 units attended: 11 from the north and 11 from the south. Permanent officers were elected for the 1972-1973 camping season. That weekend the first White Elephant auction was held and has continued to the present to be our club's major fund raiser of the year. The cost of the State Rally was an unbelievable $3.50 per night.
Our 1972-1973 officers were: State President Orvil Price, Northern California Vice President Jim Jackson, Southern California Vice President Arnold Seegers of Stanton, Secretary / Treasurer Joan Rabeneau. During 1973, two directors were added to the board of officers for the purpose of incorporation: Bob Johnson and Carl Griffin. Carl was a lawyer and every year he would auction off his services for the writing of a Will as the last item for bid at the White Elephant auction. This practice continued through the early 1980's until he retired and moved to Oregon.
The camping season for 1973 included seven campouts from March through October with the second annual state rally held over the Labor Day weekend at Merced River Campground with 32 units in attendance, 19 from the north and 13 from the south. The election of officers for 1974 was held and Chris Miler of Southern California became State President, Lee Rabeneau was elected Vice President of Northern California (actually the president for the northern chapter) and Joan Rabeneau was re-elected Secretary / Treasurer.
The 1974 camping season brought some changes. A February campout was added to the calendar and Lee and Joan Rabeneau hosted a weeklong campout during July at the Tahoe Valley Campground, South Lake Tahoe, CA. Members were allowed to bring along friends or family members with Brand X RVs and this proved to be a popular event for many years. The final Lake Tahoe campout was held in July, 1984.
Part 2 follows.
The January, 1975 newsletter reported more changes ahead for this very young club. CARL GRIFFIN of the Northern California Chapter was the State President; HANK HETRICK was our Vice President and MAROLYN HETRICK was the Secretary / Treasurer. No sooner had the elections taken place ad the Hetricks learned they were being transferred to Great Lakes, Illinois. The Hetrick family wagonmastered the February, 1975 campout at the Cloverdale KOA. During a general business meeting at that campout, Nick and Judy West of Los Banos were elected the new Vice President and Secretary / Treasurer.
The Northern California chapter had grown to 60 families and already Southern California had three chapters. The Northern Chapter petitioned the Starcraft National for two separate charters for California. Due to the 500 mile distance between Northern and Southern areas, the clubs had a unique problem in trying to coordinate and communicate and it had become obviously too far to travel for a weekend campout. The idea of a State Rally every year to elect a state-wide President to satisfy the national by-laws was just not practical for our club.
Another major change in the Club occurred during the 1975 Labor Day weekend. Our club amended its by-laws to include a new type of member: ASSOCIATES! Many of our Charter members were anxious to upgrade their Starcraft tent trailers and nothing in the hardside line was available for sale in California. Our members began to find hardsides of other brands to suit their needs; however, they were reluctant to leave the Club. The solution . . . ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP! The following rules were voted into place and these continue to the present: "An ASSOCIATE MEMBER is a previous Starcraft recreational vehicle owner and dues paying member of the California Starcraft Camper Club, Northern Chapter. An ASSOCIATE surrenders his / her privilege of voting or holding club offices. And ASSOCIATE may be a wagonmaster if he / she desires. If an ASSOCIATE fails to pay his / her dues during a calendar year, the membership is dropped and the ASSOCIATE cannot rejoin the club again without purchasing another Starcraft unit." Our first ASSOCIATE members were TOM & EILEEN BROWN.
Something UNUSUAL happened during the camping year 1976. The Northern California chapter attempted to split into two sections; the Bay area group camping on the third weekend of the month and the Sacramento - San Joaquin group camping the first weekend of the month. This attempted split failed miserable; the splitting of friendships and camping buddies was better in theory than it was in practice. To this day, any question of splitting the club will be met with bitter resistance.
During 1976 our officers were Nick West, President; Bob Johnson, Vice President; and Judy West, Secretary / Treasurer. Note that the concept of a State President was dropped. As you read the officers, do you notice anything missing? How about the newsletter editor? Well, from the beginning each chapter had its own newsletter and our President or Secretary / Treasurer handled that job as well. The concept of a separate newsletter editor, whether appointed or elected, is still years a way.
During 1977, we amended our by-laws to include DIRECTORS, being the immediate two past Presidents. Contact with our Southern California area was lost completely; however, we had been acting as independent clubs for some time. California Starcrafters were able to caravan and participate in their first International Rally held in Fredricksburg, Texas. Seven families from our chapter attended.
No sooner had the caravan returned from the International in Texas, and it was time to head to the FIRST West Coast Rally held August 11-14th at Oakwood Lake in Manteca, California. Starcraft sent out seven display units of the 1978 product line for viewing at the West Coast Rally.
Hard work by our membership paid off and our second successful West Coast Rally was held at Casini Ranch on the Russian River, Duncan Mills, California, during the Summer of 1978.
Also during 1978, we lost one of our Charter Members, JIM JACKSON, during the Memorial Day weekend campout. Stan Albertson built our first flag pole so we could fly our club flags at campouts. Our club patch of our Miner 49er and the club flag of the same design also appeared during 1978.
Our 1977 and 1978 board consisted of JUDY WEST, President (our first female President); MARTY KOOISTRA, Vice President; PAT & DICK GILL, Secretary / Treasurer; NICK WEST and CARL GRIFFIN, Directors.
Look for Part 3 still to come!
This page last changed July 06, 2003