2012 Central Region Fall Conference

Were you at Fall Conference, September 28 and 29? Cornbelt AMBUCS™ hosted the Regional Fall Conference this year at the Holiday Inn and Suites. The Holiday Inn and Suites was an excellent facility and the food catered by Baxter’s was outstanding. 50% of our club members attended. We hosted over 75 attendees. GREAT TURNOUT!! Our Regional Director Larry Windingland along with Al Bedell and many other Cornbelt AMBUCS™ worked to organize and coordinate this event and it was tremendous.

There were several National Officers at this conference as well. AMBUCS™ National President Kent Clingenpeel, AMBUCS™ National President-elect Jack Bellware, and AMBUCS™ National Big Hat Vice President Donna Carlton-Vish were all in attendance. Also attending this event were several past-National AMBUCS™ Presidents and past- Big Hat National President.

The Conference started with a golf outing at The Den at Fox Creek on Friday afternoon. About 16 AMBUCS™ for several chapter took part in the golf outing. The course was in good shape but it was a little windy as usual at the Den. That evening about 70 AMBUCS™ traveled to Al Bedell and Dee Frautschi’s beautiful country home for a barbeque dinner, socializing, and refreshments. Everyone had a good time and the Big Hat meeting was conducted around 7:30.

On Saturday morning we started early with breakfast and a wonderful welcome to Bloomington/Normal by Bloomington City Councilman Rob Fazzini. Larry Windingland, the Central Region Director, conducted the regional meeting followed by National news presented by the three national officers present, Kent Clingenpeel – National President, Jack Bellware – National President Elect and Donna Carlton-Vish – National Big Hat Vice President. Eric Oschwald of Springfield was elected Regional Director-elect.

With lunch, we were served a moving presentation by Karen Klein, a therapist with the local school system. She described some of her experiences with the children she works with. This was followed by presentation of two Amtrykes® to local children as well as district meetings.

After lunch, many went to a ramp-build in Bloomington. It was great fun working with AMBUCS™ from other clubs. Some of the members had never been involved in building a ramp and while others had much experience. The all were quite impressed when she rolled down the ramp before everyone left. We actually finished the ramp before dinner. Other activities were available for those choosing not to build the ramp. One of those was a presentation by Cornbelt AMBUC™ Deanna Frautschi, an expert on birds.

With dinner, we had the Big Hat Auction. We raised $2,105 with the auction, $320 in the 50/50 drawing and fines totally almost $200. We even sold the table centerpieces that were built by Dennis Strauss of Cornbelt. All the money raised go directly to the National Big Hat and will be split evenly between Ambility, Cornerstone and Scholarship funds. Larry Windingland presented the District Awards. Cornbelt won the 2012 Class 2 District awards for: