SHARING CHRIST'S JOY IN ILLINOIS

NOMADS annual meeting was a little low in attendance this year with only 53 rigs. If your name is missing from the list I hope to see you next year.
 

Du Quoin fairgrounds was big and very nice.

This building had three rooms where we had all our meeting and activities.

Jim Posz welcomed everyone on Sunday morning.

The theme for the meeting was Sharing Christ's Joy in Illinois. 

Aden Wertz had the sermon on Sunday morning. JOY Jesus- Others -Youself

The choir sang.

Sunday evening was the Memorial Service.

Louie Lyon had a very nice service. 46 NOMADS had passed away since our last annual meeting in 2023.

Two of them we had worked with and gotten to know. Gary Melvin

and Paul Hope. We miss seeing them and their wives at annual meetings.

Every morning this group led us in singing for 1/2 hour. They were accompanied by the harmonica.

This is the mission project we support from the area. It helps those who might become homeless or are homeless with items and knowledge.  

Bill has the funeral home in town and it started with them putting our a small blessing box that people could take items from. Many NOMADS donated  hats, gloves, blankets, toiletries and diapers.  Plus   over $1000.00 was donated to give to them. 

Betty and Jim Posz did a great job a chairs for this annual meeting.

Jack Small and Bill Block. Jack made sure we could hear it all and Bill had all the information on the screen. They did a great job.

Each morning there was a business meeting, with one of the board members giving a report.

Everyone was encouraged to become a board member.

A new committee to help with giving and the assisting with the Every Member Campaign. 

Kevin Culver updated us on the Disaster Rebuilds NOMADS have been working on this year.

Disaster projects for the fall of 2023 that could use more workers.

A big part of the annual meeting is the auction. We bring the items,then bid on the items. All the money is used to help give grants to agencies that need a little help to get materials or park our RV to accomplish the project. 

We were on the auction committee this year, The system they have made it very easy and efficient to take each item, have it at a table and then to find it and gather them to give to the highest bidder. Thank heavens for the computer program and those who did all the typing in of each item and the table it where it was located. 

There was a lot of items donated, more then last year and less people this year.

The Country Cupboard was full of games, puzzles and many other items. You can just make a donation for the thing you want from the table. 

More auction items.

Bidding on the item you wanted started on Tuesday at noon. 

We bid on a few things but kept our eye on a flag pole and a Rumba which we are now the proud owners of.  The bidding ended at two, the cards for each item were collected and the person's name and amount to be paid was put into the computer. Tuesday evening the committee had a pizza dinner and then began gathering the items.  We took a yellow sheet with a person's name on it and the list of items they had gotten. Beside each item was the table number so you knew where to find it and put the item in a bag, which we had written their bid number on. The next day everyone  went to the pick-up table gave their bid number. We had two sheets with all the items and their amounts they bid and the total. They paid the total (often rounding up) and a runner went and got the bag(s) that had their bid number on and gave it to them.  It was amazing never knew how they did this before. What a system.

After the silent auction the live auction began. Eddie and Wayne were back to auctioneer. They always keeps it going. 

Some item that were chosen for the live auction. Between the silent and the live auction over $43,000.00 was raised!

We had a bountiful pot luck dinner on Wednesday night.

This was the entertainment for the night.

The Texans were  great quartet with lots of good music.

This small person could really sing and enjoyed a little fun.

Thursday some members were recognized for their service. Gene and Carolyn have done 102 projects.

Sara Donaldson will soon be 90 and is still driving her RV and doing projects. She is a force to be reckoned with.

Larry gave the Project Coordinator report.

Louie gave the Sunshine Report and said how important it is to keep in contact with those who have losed a love one, not just for a short while but for awhile. Send a card or call and let them know you are thinking of them and just checking in. 

Jack recognized the members of the board who were leaving after their 4 years of service. Katy Phelps 

and Charlotte Tincher. They did a great job on membership and promotions.

Jack handing the chair position over to Mariel Lynch.

Glad to go and glad to start.

The board for 2024

How many do you know?

Barb presented a skit for next year's annual meeting.

It is in Texas but don't think these horses are going to get them there.

Come, help and make it a BIG annual meeting. Let's double the number of attendees next year.

Full hook-up with 30 and 50 amps.

The choir entertained us after a catered meal on Thurday night.

Their accompliment sounded so pretty.

We left Friday morning and got around Nashville and Chattanooga before stopping for the night. Saturday we headed to Atlanta. We were told it was best to go through at 11:00, We got there at 10:30 Saturday morning and had no problem, easier then Chattanooga. 

So we had a good trip back to Florida from the annual meeting, No more RV problems, no major traffic jams, and good weather. Two months away and ready to be home.