Winter got you down?  Well it’s only 30 more days till it is officially spring!!!  How’s that for a lot of hope?  I hope your 2010 is going smoothly and that the winter isn’t dragging on too long for you. 

I am looking forward to our first outing of the year on the last weekend of April (23^rd, 24^th, 25^th) to the museums in Northern Indiana in or near Shipshewana, Elkhart and South Bend.   Plans are nearly completed for the weekend so mark your calendar.  We will be visiting two car museums and an RV motorhome museum!!  Draft Itinerary is below. If interested, please go to the following web site and fill in a little information so we have an idea who is coming to what events.  

Go to:  http://www.greatlakesvolvoclub.org/rsvp.htm 

Thanks Paul Fletcher, Webmaster, extraordinaire, for keeping us up to date and preparing the above survey registration.

We are just about to complete the overall plans for the VCOA National Event at the Gilmore Car Museum in Mid August.  The budget is set, the hotel chosen and the events of the weekend are set.  Soon we will have a flyer detailing the weekend activities, costs and how to pre register.  Please note that it is very important that you are current with your VCOA membership as it is a requirement to participate.  If you are not a member you can join when you register.  The registration will take place online or by mail.  Watch for all the information soon at our website www.greatlakesvolvoclub.org .

Speaking of the National event, we will need lots of volunteers to make the event a success so please consider giving of a few hours of your time to help with both the tasks needed before the weekend and those needed at the event.  The best way to do that is attend the planning session at the next monthly meeting on March 16 at Clara’s Restaurant in Lansing starting at 5:30 pm.  The snow should be gone by then (I hope, I hope) and I would like to invite you all to come visit with your Volvo friends. 

Tim Cox, president

Great Lakes Chapter,

Volvo Club of America

PS: I’m including recent newsletter from the Canadian Volvo Club. They put on a GREAT show this July.   Regards, David Irvine, Chapter Secretary.

Friday, April 23^rd  afternoon/evening

·       Arrive Shipshewana, stay @ Country Inn Suites. Has continental breakfast.  Average room rate, two persons, approx. $99.00.  1175 N. Van Buren St. Reservations 1-800-596-2375

·        If you are looking for something a little closer to the museum, you may want to consider:

·        Amish Country Inn – just across the parking lot from the museum (260- 768-7688)

·        Farmstead Inn – just north of the museum (260-768-4595)

·       These two hotels and the museum are about a mile south of Shipshewana.  All three of these facilities are lovely.

·       Dinner @ Bluegate restaurant.  105 E. Middlebury St.  Hours…7am – 8pm

Saturday, April 24^th

·       Meet @ Hostetler Hudson museum……9am.  Guided tour.

·       Lunch @ Das Dutchman Essenhaus……12:30 – 1:30

·       Then, on to Elkhart for the R-V, Motorhome museum  (Open 9am – 5pm, closed  Sunday)

·       Drive to South Bend  (5pm)

·       Dinner @ Sunny Italy Café……5:30 or so.  (Opens at 4:30 on Sat.)

·       Stay @ either Marriott or Holiday Inn.  Both have continental breakfast and comparable rates.  $126-129 – 2 persons.

Sunday, April 25^th

·       Breakfast @ motel

·       Business meeting / socializing  (Not much going on in town until noon, and Chocolate factory / café not open on Sunday)

·       Lunch – Tippecanoe Place.  (Former Studebaker Mansion) 11am. 

·       Do Studebaker museum – opens @ noon on Sundays – guided tour.

·       Fond farewells – 5pm or so.

Note: advanced registrations/reservations for motels & restaurants recommended.

Thanks to John and Nancy Northup, Treasurers, for coordinating the above weekend!