The first Beaver Dam meeting was held on May 28, 1962. Shirley recalls that, 14 families attended the meeting and by June ─ membership increased to 18. Dues were a mere 25 cents per family.

Shirley, husband Ray and sons, Robert and Larry, camped quite often. Friends and cousins of the boys were always welcome. Shirley says she’d take anyone camping that she could round up. In fact, the more the merrier was the norm. Usually, the North Milwaukee Nomads, Madison Blue Blazers and the Beaver Dam chapters would camp together. Shirley adds, that it was normal to have 70 families camping together!

Shirley, Ray, Neil Butchart and others spent hours in her basement stuffing envelopes for promotional mailings. Their hard work paid off, as in May 1965 WCA had a record membership of 1,300 families. Shirley would also help her sister, Ellie Allen [Dan Allen’s mother], and Carl Creadwell work on The Camper’s Embers. At that time printing was much different than it is now, and it was quite a challenge for the volunteers to prepare and print over a thousand copies of The Camper’s Embers.

The Beaver Dam Chapter hosted the first Mid-winter Ball, which was held at the Armory in Beaver Dam. The menu ─ free beer, hot beef sandwiches, and cake. The registration fee ─ $1.50 per person! The fee also included door prizes valued at $100. Shirley also recalls a later time when Dale Coyier asked, what the group could do to liven things up at future Mid-winter Balls? The group didn’t let Dale down! Instead of an evening affair, the Mid-winter Ball now included afternoon activities, the famous Casino Night, and an overnight stay!

Shirley also served as WCA membership secretary at the same time that her friend Virginia Wikel was Treasurer. They worked together in this capacity for about 12 years and had a blast! Shirley has many wonderful memories of her years in WCA and is willing to share these stories.

Shirley is now a member of the Hartford Y-Knots, along with her nephew Dan Allen and his family. Dan recalls that each summer from the time he and his cousins turned five years old until they were 15, Shirley took them on vacation. The traveled throughout the western states, but always stopped in Golden, Colorado to visit relatives. Dan remembers calling his Mom from out West. In those days the telephone connections weren’t so good and I had to shout to be heard above the crackling in the lines. Thanks to Aunt Shirley, I have been to every state west of Wisconsin and Canada.

The above photo was taken at the August 2002 Campvention, when Shirley received her 40-year WCA membership certificate. Shirley still enjoys camping and attends an occasional Campvention and WCA function. If you see Shirley at an outing, please stop and say hello!

First presented in the March/April issue of The Camper's Embers, WCA's official bi-monthly publication.

Introducing Lillian and Maurice Price, who this year will celebrate 40 years as members of WCA. Maurice recalls that, in 1964 Catherine and Forest Block recruited them into the Madison Capital City Camper’s chapter. The Prices joined WCA at the June Campvention, which was held at the Evergreen Campground in Wildwood. Registration fees were $2.25 per family! At that time, Madison Capital City had about 100 families in the chapter.

Shortly after they became members, the Madison chapter hosted a Mid-Winter Ball. Lillian and Maurice became involved in the organization and helped wherever they could. The Mid-winter ball was held at the Momona Grove Community Center and the evening was most memorable! The temperatures dived to 30° below zero and everything from water pipes to automobiles froze. A very challenging evening for all concerned!

In 1968 Lillian and Maurice joined the Portage Yellow Thunder Ramblers, and once again the Prices became active in their chapter. In 1971 Portage hosted the June Campvention at Veteran’s Park in Portage. The Prices were instrumental in organizing the Campvention and with the help of the chapter hosted a very successful Campvention. That year, 426 units with 1,588 people attended Campvention. The Portage members served beer, soda, hot dogs, candy, and ice cream from the concession stand. Lillian recalls that, it was exceptionally hot on Saturday, and they ran out of everything! For all of their hard work, the chapter made a profit of $217. Entertainment for the weekend included square dancing plus two dance bands. The cost of the adult band was $85.00, and the teen band was a mere $25.00!

Maurice’s organizational skills were put to work again in 1993 with the planning of Portage Yellow Thunder Rambler’s 25th anniversary. Former members were invited at and celebration was held at Camp Dakota near Portage. Lillian and Maurice are still very active in their chapter, where Maurice is serving his 35th year as Delegate. Lillian was chapter secretary for about ten years. They both attend the Board of Director Meetings and unless they are out of town participate in the bowling events, Spring Fling (formerly Delegates Dinner), and Campventions.

Maurice and Lillian recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. Brother Fritz and his wife Sally, commend Lillian and Maurice for their continued support of WCA. When you see any of the Prices at a WCA function, please stop and talk with them. The Prices treasure the friendships they have made over the years and enjoy meeting new members.

First presented in the May/June issue of The Camper's Embers, WCA's official bi-monthly publication.

Young children and camping worked very well for Rosie and Gib. The first time the Schmitt family went camping, they camped in a tent. A very large tent as at that time, Gib and Rosie had nine children and the youngest was only one year old. [Ed. Note: parents of Carolyn Connolly and Jenny Feiner]

The Schmitt family traveled to Canada where they also tent camped and had a great time touring Canada. Another trip out of Wisconsin was shortly after they purchased a new motor home. They took four of their children to Idaho to visit another daughter, Patty, who was serving in the Air Corp.

Rosie and Gib joined the Wisconsin Camper’s Association at the Milwaukee RV Show in 1965. It wasn’t until the 1967 Campvention that the Schmitt’s joined the Hartford Y Knots. At the last minute they decided to go to Campvention, which was at Rubidell Campground. They took a chance and figured there would be room for them. They hooked their boat up to the station wagon and took off. Rosie said, the boat leaked and we didn’t fish, but it made a wonderful trailer! As they were driving into Rubidell, a friend from Hartford was walking up the road and invited them to camp with the Hartford group. It turned out that Gibb also knew several men from the National Guard who were also camping with Hartford.

Rosie and Gib say the best Campvention that they attended was in 1975. It was held in West Salem and hosted by the Lacrosse Chapter. Rosie remembers that, there were at least 300 campers at that Campvention and it was so much fun being next to the river.

Rosie and Gib enjoy theme Midwinter Balls the best! According the theme, each chapter dresses in costume. They particularly remember the Midwinter Ball at Muskego Beach and that they dressed as Beer Cans. The costumes were easy to make. Front and back of a beer can made on two pieces of cardboard tied together with twine or a strong rope and it slipped over your head. One year the Hartford Y Knots won the door prize. Guess what it was? A Door! The chapter had rented a bus to travel to the Midwinter Ball and they had a difficult time getting door home! At a Midwinter Ball held in Madison, Rosie and Gibb were crowned King and Queen.

For 50 years, the Schmitt’s have given their time to serve the community. Rosie and Gib were active in the Wisconsin Camper’s Association and the American Legion. Rosie received the WCA Entertainment Award for dancing on the tables, whereas she was known as the Queen of Table Dancing. Gib served as President in 1989-1991 and Rosie was Recording Secretary for four years. They are still very active in the American Legion, where Gib is currently serving as Commander of the American Legion and Rosie previously served as District President.

The Schmitt’s do not get to Campvention and campouts as often as they would like to. However, if the opportunity arises for you to meet Rosie and Gib, please do so. Rosie and Gib have had numerous good times with WCA and have made many lasting friendships and will be happy to share their memories with you.

The Murray family's camping experience started out in a small Montgomry Ward tent camper, in which Betty truthfully says, were the best times ever! Our family really enjoyed it!

The first Wisconsin Camper's Association (WCA) Campvention that the Murrays attended was at Northwoods County Park. They did not belong to a chapter, but were very impressed by how friendly everyone was. Betty recalls that she make a trip to the toilets in the middle of the night and got lost! Not to worry - the Night Patrol was on the spot. Being new to camping, I was so relieved when they took me right to our camper after telling them we were camped near a woodpile!!! [Ed. Note: The Night Patrol were WCA members]

Betty and Tom feel that they have been blessed by belonging to the Yellow Thunder Ramblers for all of these years. The campouts with Tom's fish fries, Fritz'stew, and Clara Rodger's variety of home brewed wines! Betty clearly remembers the weekend when turtle soup was on the menu. Betty recalls that,I wish I had never seen the turtle that day!

The list goes on, but as the song goes, I'm not as good as I once was - My how the years have flown" fits us to a T.