| 2010 Westport, WA Rally Photo by Coleen Lorance | 2010 Best of Michigan Caravan Photo by Mary Solberg | 2011 Creede National Rally Photo by Forrest Seavey |
Born Free Leap'n Lions RV ClubOur Club HistoryThe Born Free Leap'n Lions RV Club was founded by John Dodgen in 1999 as an RV Club exclusively for Born Free Motorcoach owners.
JOHN N. DODGEN John Dodgen is the Founder and President of Dodgen Industries, Inc., located in Humboldt, Iowa. The company manufactures the Born Free Motorcoach and through it’s Mobile Technologies Division also manufactures commercial vehicles. 1999The Born Free Club was formed as a FMCA Chapter during the homecoming held July 23-25 in Humboldt, IA. The officers were John Dodgen, National Director; Bob Oliff, President/Alternate National Director; Norman Kinzie, Vice-President; Doris Wolf, Secretary/Treasurer; Bebe Murray, Advisor. 2000The 1st meeting was held on April 15 -16 in Myrtle Beach, SC. President Bob Oliff introduced the new officers as follows: President, Norman Kinzie; Eastern VP, Joe and Betty Kost; Western VP, Ron and Cathy Johnson; Secretary/Treasurer, Marianne Kinzie. The next meeting was held at the FMCA National Rally in Brunswick, ME, August 18-20. 2001An Eastern Region meeting was held in Brooksville, FL at the FMCA S.E.A. Rally, February 7-10 and was hosted by Joe and Betty Kost. A Western Region meeting was held in Tucson, AZ at the Voyager Campground on Feb. 24-25 hosted by Norman Kinzie. The Born Free Motorcoach homecoming was held in Humboldt June 21-23 to celebrate John Dodgen’s 75th Birthday and was the third rally held in 2001. New officers were elected for a two (2) year term at the meeting. President, Ron Johnson; Secretary/Treasurer, Cathy Johnson; Eastern VP, Paul Wolf; Western VP, Vance Blair. A Western Region Rally was held in Sisters, OR at the Mountain Shadows RV Park on August 21st and was hosted by personnel from the Born Free Motorcoach factory. A chapter meeting was called to order by President Ron Johnson. A rally was held in College Park, MD on October 18-21 and was hosted by Eastern Region Paul and Doris Wolf. At this rally, Reggie Clay suggested we have a name for our Born Free Chapter. He suggested the Leap’n Lions and everyone in attendance liked the name and voted to have Paul and Doris contact Ron Johnson. There was an on-line vote to adopt the name. Jan Preston suggested the badge design and drew up the outline for our pins. The club’s original internet web site was started in 2001 by President Ron Johnson. 2002A Western Region Rally was held in Quartzsite, AZ on January 18-20 and was hosted by Vance and Cathy Blair and Ron and Cathy Johnson. An Eastern Region Rally was held in Myrtle Beach, SC on April 18-21 and was hosted by Paul and Doris Wolf. An Eastern Region Rally was held in Wales, MA on August 23-25 and was hosted by Roy and Sandy Wetherby. At a later event, a vote was taken by President Ron Johnson on if the club should either stay affiliated with FMCA or stand alone. Members were not renewing their FMCA memberships and therefore could not remain in the club. On November 8 we were no longer an FMCA chapter. Adamstown, PA near Lancaster was the site of an Eastern Region Rally held September 19-22 hosted by Paul and Doris Wolf. A Central Region was added in 2002 with Howard Norlin as VP. Newly elected officers for 2003-2005 were President, Ron Johnson; Secretary, Cathy Johnson; Eastern Region VP, Logan Mathis; Western Region VP, Jeff Jahraus; Central Region VP, Howard Norlin (through June 2004). A Western Region Rally was held in October 10-12 at the Albuquerque, NM Balloon Fiesta and was hosted by Gary and Loretta Richins. 2003A Western Region Rally was held in Quartzsite, AZ on January 17-19 hosted by Vance and Cathy Blair. A Western Region Rally was held in Chula Vista, CA on April 3-6 hosted by Vance and Cathy Blair. An Eastern Region Rally was held April 24-27 in Cleveland, SC and was hosted by Jim and Betty Edwards. An Eastern Region Rally was held May 20-23 in Twin Mountain, NH and was hosted by Roy and Sandy Wetherby. A Central Region Tulip Time Festival Rally was held in Holland, MI on May 7-10 hosted by Howard and Barb Norlin. A Born Free pre-rally prior to the FMCA Summer Rally held in Buffalo, NY was held on July 18-20. A Western Region Balloon Fiesta Rally was held in Albuquerque, NM on October 9-12 and was hosted by Jeff and Linda Jahraus. An Eastern Region Rally was held on October 29 thru November 3 in Umatilla, FL Rally and was hosted by Dean and Jan Preston. 2004A Western Region Rally was held in Quartzsite, AZ on January 16-19 hosted by Jeff and Linda Jahraus. A Born Free get-together was held in Brooksville, FL on February 3-8. It was held at the same time as the FMCA S.E.A. Rally and was hosted by Logan and Andie Mathis. An Eastern Region Rally was held in College Park, MD on April 29 thru May 2 at Cherry Hill Park and was hosted by Logan and Andie Mathis. In April, President Ron Johnson resigned, due to health problems. Cathy Johnson also resigned as the club’s Secretary/Treasurer. In May, Howard Norlin volunteered to finish the term as acting President until June 2005. Mary Findlay became acting Secretary/Treasurer. Bill Lyon then became the new Central Region VP. An Easter Region Rally was held June 10-13 in Mystic, CT and was hosted by Mel and Connie Wilbur. Approximately two months later the Central Region was split into a new NC Region with Don Cannistraro serving as VP and a new SC Region with existing VP Bill Lyon serving that region. A Western Region Rally was held in Durango. CO on September 7-11 hosted by Jeff and Linda Jahraus. A St. Ignace/Mackinac Island, MI Central Region Rally was held September 15-18 hosted by Howard and Barb Norlin. Acting President Howard Norlin proposed at this meeting that the club bylaws be changed to divide the club into 6 regions to replace the previous 3 regions (Eastern, Central, and Western). This proposal was sent to the membership for vote with a voting deadline of November 5th and it passed. Also at this meeting, six Regional VP positions were established with the following six members being appointed into these acting positions at that time:
In November, Don Cannistraro resigned from the NC Region VP position due to health problems. This position then stood vacant until February 2005. 2005A Quartzsite, AZ Rally was held January 21-24 and was hosted by Jeff and Linda Jahraus. A Born Free get-together was held in Brooksville, FL on February 1-5 at the same time as the FMCA S.E.A. Rally and was hosted by Logan and Andie Mathis. In February, Pat Dittmer of Ellison Bay, WI 54210 took over the NC Region Vice-President position. A Holland, MI Tulip Time NC Region Rally was held on May 11-15 hosted by Barb and Howard Norlin. A Door County, WI Rally was held on July 14-16 hosted by Dick and Pat Dittmer. A Maine Yankee NE Region Rally was held in Newfield, ME on September 9-11 hosted by George and Sue Boley. A Canadian Maritime Caravan began July 15 running for 33 days starting in Ellsworth, ME. The Sleep’n Lions Overnight Parking Host List was initiated in March. The club’s first National Rally was held October 12-16 and was hosted by the South Central Region. It was held in Branson, MO with Ed and Judith Leswig organizing the event. They also hosted the Pre-Rally at Eureka Springs, AR on October 10-12. Election of new club officers for years 2006 & 2007 also took place in Branson as follows:
In mid August, the club’s new website (www.bornfreervclub.org) went online with phase one, the discussion board, thanks to Mary Findlay and Mel Wilbur. In September, Bill Hemme accepted the task of co-ordinating phase two which was up and running by early December 2005. 2006A Quartzsite, AZ SW Region Rally was held again this year on January 20-23 and again was hosted by Jeff and Linda Jahraus. A Born Free Get-Together at the Brooksville, FL FMCA Rally was held again this year on February 1-5 and was hosted again by Logan and Andie Mathis A Holland, MI Tulip Time NC Region Rally was held again this year on May 9-14 and again was hosted by Barb and Howard Norlin. A NC Region Iowa Rally before Homecoming was held June 19-21 at the Webster County Fairgrounds near Fort Dodge, IA. This event was hosted by Bill and Marilyn Hemme and was attended by a total of 78 Born Free coaches. The Born Free factory’s Homecoming event celebrating company president John Dodgen’s 80th birthday was held June 22-25 on the factory grounds in Humboldt, IA. An Alaska or Bust Caravan was held July 20 – Aug 28 run by Tracks to Adventure with George and Sue Boley acting as tailgunners. A NE Region Dutchess County, New York Rally was held August 24-27 during the Dutchess County Fair and was hosted by Bob and Winnie Markarian. A SC Region San Juan, Colorado Rally was held August 25-30 at the Ouray, CO KOA Campgrounds and was hosted by Bill and Mary Lyon. A Best of Michigan Caravan covering both the upper and lower peninsulas of the state was held September 7-28 and was hosted by Howard and Barb Norlin. A NW Region Washington State Eastern Cascade Rally was held September 13-17 at the Pine Village KOA Park near Leavenworth, WA and was hosted by Pat and Jack Herber. A SC Region Albuquerque, New Mexico Balloon Fiesta Rally was held October 11-15 on the Balloon Fiesta grounds and was hosted by Gary and Loretta Richins. 2007Two thousand and seven brought the sixth annual Quartzsite, AZ rally on January 18-21. This desert odyssey gathered 44 Leap’n Lions to share chili and campfire conversations. Hosts were Jeff and Linda Jahraus. On January 22, club members went on the Mexico Copper Canyon Caravan. This 26 day trip was organized by Pat and Dick Dittmer, who took 18 coaches with them. Next the club gathered at Umatilla, FL on February 22-25 for a Riverboat Rally. Eighty-two members showed up, with others waiting for a vacancy. The riverboat was sunk by a tornado two weeks before the rally, but hosts George and Sue Boley pulled a rabbit out of the hat and found an excellent replacement. This rally produced our first white elephant auction with the proceeds going to charity. We next turned our attention to California, where hosts Bob and Carol Newby put on the Pasco Robles Rally in the heart of wine country. It was attended by 30 ralliers on April 11-14. This rally was so well received; it is planned again for 2008. On May 31-June 3, thirty-seven people attended Ron & Bobbie Warmbier’s rally in Port Republic, NJ. Attendees enjoyed free time to explore the many attractions of the Jersey Shore and in the evening were entertained by a great music group, The Pine Barons. Not long after, on June 9-11, the club attended the Amana Colonies Rally in Iowa, hosted by Craig and Vickie Ditsworth. There were several interesting tours that the 47 attendees enjoyed. As with most of our rallies, Dodgen Industries provided a great meal. In the meantime, 20 Born Free coaches were getting ready for the club’s second caravan to Newfoundland and Labrador, organized by George and Sue Boley. Caravaners boarded the ferry on August 11th for a 28 day journey back in time. On the way to Newfoundland, many members stopped in New Brunswick at the Miramichi Music Festival Rally, hosted by Gary and Hope Keighley. There were 38 Leap’n Lions there to enjoy a weekend of Arcadian music and hospitality from Aug. 5-9. In Gunnison, Colorado the cry was heard "gentlemen start your engines" as the second annual jeep rally headed for the narrow mountain trails. It was August 20-25 when hosts Bill and Mary Lyon gathered their team of 34 dare devils together. We traveled further west to attend the Lewis and Clark Rally in Astoria, Oregon, hosted by Jack and Pat Herber and assisted by Coleen Lorance. There were many tours associated with this September 12-16 rally. Once again, the Born Free factory hosted a great banquet for the 32 club members who attended. Meanwhile, Howard and Barbara Norlin were hosting "The Best of Michigan Caravan". This 22 day tour started September 6 and took in much of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, highlighting such places as Henry Ford’s Museum, Holland’s Dutch Village and Mackinaw Island. Last year (2006) a new position was added to the club, with the appointment of George Boley as our first Rally/Caravan Coordinator. George’s job is to make sure at least one rally is planned for each of the six national regions and to organize outside vendor caravans for the Leap’n Lion members. Under George’s guidance, 2007 saw our first rally/caravan survey. The club ended the 2007 year at our National Rally in Nashville, TN, where Logan and Andie Mathis hosted 145 ralliers. There the Born Free factory debuted their newly designed 2008 model coaches with much fanfare. The rally included the Grand Old Opry and Riverboat shows, nightly entertainment, and one of the club’s popular technical seminars. At this September 19-23 national rally, club officers were elected/reelected as follows. Officers:
Appointed Positions:
2008Even though gasoline fluctuated to over four dollars a gallon this year, interest in our club’s rallies remained strong. The club hosted over 400 ralliers during the year, a testimonial to all our rally hosts, many of whom have developed a strong following. We would also be remiss if we didn’t thank Dodgen Industries for sponsoring so many banquets at our rallies. There is not another RV club that receives the kind of factory support that we do. We started out the year at Quartzsite, Arizona at our seventh annual desert campout. On January 18-21, hosts Jeff and Linda Jahraus served hot chili to forty-one ralliers under a cold night sky around a campfire. From here we traveled east...... To the next extreme, where we found ourselves camped out in Florida at the February FMCA rally. There Logan and Andie Mathis hosted seventeen coaches. This group also partook of chili, but a much different type. The temperatures may have dipped, but not the group’s enthusiasm. Once again we headed west where...... On April 11-14, spring blooms early in the California wine country. For the second year club members migrated to the Paso Robles Rally. There hosts Bob and Carol Newby led a wine tasting and fine dining tour for forty-two followers with like palates. Meanwhile back...... In the dairy country of Pennsylvania, on May 12-15, thirty-six Born Freers met with hosts Gary and Hope Keighley at Intercourse, to take in the Amish community. Yes, it rained the first day, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the friends that had gathered there. The highlight was a home cooked meal at an Amish farmhouse. Leaving the farmland we traveled to...... The shores of Lake Erie. There on June 5-8, hosts Ron and Mary Bash had made arrangements to ferry us all out to the old world charm of Put-in-Bay Island and later treated us to a private concert by a talented harpist. Our annual meeting was also held at this rally. There being no new business, it was adjourned. While fifty-one of us were enjoying Ohio...... Others were congregating at Renfro Valley to the south. This rally was hosted by Karen and Jim Burt for all to enjoy Kentucky’s Country Music Capital. Held June 12-15th, eighteen folks attended. In the meantime...... George and Sue Boley were putting the finishing touches on a new concept, the Lake Winnipesaukee, NH seven-day "rolling rally". This September 8-14 rally took in three camping sites and many of the Lakes Region’s attractions. The maximum reservations (50) filled up quickly leaving forty-eight people on a waiting list. While some of us were having fun in the northeast, those in the northwest were attending...... The Island Odyssey Rally in Washington, hosted by Coleen and Murray Lorance. It was September 10th when thirty-nine Leap’n Lions greeted old friends on Whidbey Island, part of the San Juan chain. Ferry rides, quaint shops and golf were only a part of what they had come for and none were disappointed. While this rally was at sea level the next one was anything but, as the club ventured to...... Colorado, where longer than anyone can remember, club member and professional off road guide Mike Barmettler, along with rally hosts Bill and Mary Lyon, led a jeep caravan across the mountains of Breckenridge. Believe it or not, thirty-one white knucklers showed up on September 18th to try their four wheeling skills. While these hardy folks enjoyed the mountains, others preferred the flatter land of...... Prince Edward Island, on which Gary and Hope Keighley hosted forty-five ralliers at the International Seafood Festival on September 18-22. Bus and boat tours, chowder fests and Arcadian music were but a sampling of the fun we had. While the sun was starting to set early in the Canadian Maritimes, it was still bringing warm days on the west coast where the last rally of the year was taking place at...... Oakhurst, California. This rally organized by Bob Newby, Joanne Ledbetter and Erlaine Gregory hosted twenty-six members on October 6-10. Included was a Born Free caravan to Yosemite Valley and a steam train ride through the mountains. Sadly this rally ended the Leap’n Lions season, after which many of us put our Born Frees to sleep until next year. But, we shall all be forever young as long as we have something to look forward to. SEE YOU IN 2009! Officers and Committees:
2009On January 16 -19, Jeff & Linda Jahraus hosted the Quartzite, Arizona rally. As usual the add-2-it chili was a big hit with all attending. The Brooksville, Florida rally in conjunction with the Southeast Area FMCA rally February 3-8, hosted by Logan and Andie Mathis also gave everyone a chance to check out the new Born Free Coaches along with the entertainment and vendor displays at the FMCA rally. The San Luis Obispo, CA rally, April 27 through May 1, was hosted by Bob & Carol Newby. John Dodgen and Jim Downing attended and put on a pork and chicken BBQ which was enjoyed by all. June 3 - 7 made Wallowa, WA home base for another great rally hosted by Coleen & Murray Lorance. The spectacular scenery was matched by the program provided by the hosts. Karen & Jim Birt hosted a return to Renfro Valley, KY June 11 - 14 which once again proved to be an excellent choice as everyone enjoyed the music along with catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. June 18 - 21 brought 165 happy Born Free owners to Ft. Dodge, IA for the clubs 3rd biannual national rally. The hosts, Mitzi & Bob Scott, outdid themselves in organizing and conducting a rally that had something for everyone to enjoy. Following the Sunday morning catered breakfast most all attendees traveled about 20 miles to Humboldt for the factory homecoming and birthday party for John Dodgen. The Molsbee's, LeRoy and Lois chose the Chipmunk Crossing RV Park in West Plains, MO for their June 12 - 15 rally. Along with the other highlights the group was entertained by an Ozark mountain blue grass group that had everyone tapping their toes with the music. Quebec City, Quebec, Canada was the destination for the 2009 Les Grande Feux (International fireworks competition) rally August 10 - 13 hosted by Gary and Hope Keighley. A luxury coach tour of the city plus a cruise on the St. Lawrence River was topped off by reserved seating at the fireworks competition between 5 countries, a pyrotechnic spectacular. A repeat of George and Sue Boley's rolling rally in New Hampshire Sept. 14 - 20, was again quickly filled. It started with everyone meeting in the parking lot of a local church followed by a delicious supper put on by the church youth group. Other highlights included visiting a steamboat meet, a tour of The Castle in The Clouds and a scenic train ride which included a turkey dinner as it rolled through the countryside. On October 15 - 18, Bob and Carol Newby hosted the final club rally for 2009 in Oceano, CA. Everyone enjoyed the Melodrama show and the BBQ dinner. As one member stated "it was our first rally and we enjoyed every minute of it" 2010The Brooksville Florida FMCA convention rally hosted by Logan and Andie Mathis, was once again the kick-off for the 2010 calendar which totaled 12 rallies. Next up was the Florida “Deja Vu” rally in Umatilla which as always was another super time hosted by Sue & George Boley. May featured two rallies, the first being the Amish Country rally hosted by Gary and Hope Keighley, followed by the Gettysburg Battlefield rally with hosts Ron and Bobbie Warmbier. Ron and Mary Bash hosted the June Rock & Roll rally in Ohio which took everyone to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Cedar Point Amusement Park. August was a busy month with four great rallies starting with the Folk Harbor Rally in Nova Scotia hosted by Gary and Hope Keighley and the Newfoundland Ferry Crossing rally also hosted by the Keighley's. Next in line was the Newfoundland Twillingate Village rally hosted by George and Sue Boley and the Black Hills South Dakota rally with hosts Bill and Rosella Meier. Co-hosts Don and Bev Bedard & Bill and Nancy MacLean started the September rallies with their Lake Tahoe Rally. Back on the east coast Gary and Hope Keighley hosted the Fall In North Conway rally and to finalize a busy 2010 Coleen and Murray Lorance hosted the Washington state Discover Westport rally. |
