Saturday, February 27, 2016

March 2016 Lunch and Spring 2016 Rally Agenda Summary

March 2016 Lunch will be at La Casita, 215 S Washington Ave, Livingston, TX 77351 on Friday March 11, 2016 at 1 pm.  No lunch in April 2016.

SPRING 2016 RALLY

Our Spring 2016 Rally will be in Rusk, TX at the Rusk KOA from March 31, 2016 to April 4, 2016.  The dogwoods should be at or near peak bloom and provide for nice scenery.  Our agenda includes a round trip ride on the steam locomotive powered train from Rusk to Palestine and back to Rusk on April 2, 2016 at 11 am.  We have several members who plan to take advantage of the cabins on site that are available for rent.   We will have the use of a rally room.   A summary of the agenda is currently as follows, with more details and updates available on our blog (see the post Detailed Agenda Spring 2016 Rally - Fall preview)  and repeated on our Facebook page:

Thursday, March 31, 2016
Meet and greet in Rally room at Rusk KOA with dinner at 5:30 followed by a short meeting and time for games,  puzzles, and/or visiting.

Friday, April 1, 2016
9:30 am drive to Palestine for tour of Eilenberger's and Mary of Puddin' Hill bakery followed by early lunch in Eilenberger's cafe. Afternoon free to explore Palestine or Rusk on your own
5:30 pm coals ready for bring your own meat BBQ.  Bring a side dish or dessert to share followed by games and visiting after dinner.

Saturday, April 2, 2016
Leave KOA at 9:30 am for drive to Rusk train depot for 11 am departure on Texas State Railroad steam locomotive trip.  Round trip train concludes at 3 pm.  Dinner on your own.  Games and visiting in the Rally room in the evening.

Sunday, April 3, 2016
8:30 am Pancake and Sausage breakfast cooked by the men
Following breakfast a group church visit for those interested at some local church to be chosen by the group. 
Noon meal and afternoon on your own or in small groups. 
Evening meal LEO (Let's Eat Out), location to be decided at the Rally by the group.

Monday, April 4, 2016
8 am hitch up breakfast; donuts/continental style,  bring your own coffee or beverage. Group cleanup of rally room and depart.

Making Reservations

People attending should make their own reservations with KOA and with the railroad as pervious posted. If you have not already done so you should make reservations soon.  See previous posts on the blog for more details.   KOA, ask for the rally rate with Chapter 10. Phone:   1-877-726-7245. See the blog entry titled January 2016 Lunch report and future events  for more information.  For the Texas State Railroad, book on the April 2, 2016 round trip leaving Rusk at 11 am.  Ask to be seated with the Hortons or the Borgmans if you wish to be with us on the train.  Phone: 1-877-726-7245.  See the post on the blog entry titled Texas State Railroad Spring Rally April 2, 2016 11:00 am Rusk  for more information on the railroad trip.  The blog entries are also on our Facebook page. Information on registering with Chapter 10 for the Rally will be provided in a future post and at the March lunch.

We are a friendly group and welcome any Escapees and their guests to join us at the Rally.   Check our blog or Facebook for updates on the Rally agenda.  Contact David Horton with any questions.  See email address below. 

FALL 2016 RALLY

The Fall Rally is tentatively scheduled for the last weekend in October or the first weekend in November at Red Oak Ranch in Hempstead.  Borgmans have rallied here with another group.  There is a nice rally hall and lots to do in the area, but no pool or other amenities to speak of.  Possible excursions include Peckerwood Gardens, Newman's Castle in Bellville, VegOut! Farms or Liendo Plantation.
More details will be posted as determined.

BLOG, FACEBOOK, AND PHONE MESSAGE

Our Facebook group name is Rainbow Chapter 10 of the Escapees Social Network, Inc.   That is the new official name of the Chapter. The Facebook group is a closed group.  In order to view posts you have to be a member of the group.  You can access the group by searching for the name or by clicking on the link below.  Then you can  request access to the group.  All escapees are welcome to join.
We have a recorded message that is updated with information on Chapter 10 lunches and Rallies.  Call 888-757- 7701 Then after the initial message enter 8010 to get to the Chapter 10 area.  Then press one after the next brief instruction to hear the current message.

Click here for our Chapter blog. 

115 Rainbow Drive #1532
Livingston, Texas  77399

Include your name or names for a couple,  phone number,  email address, mailing address and SKP#.

Make checks payable to: SKP Chapter 10.

E-mail genejensen88@gmail.com our President, Gene Jensen.
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Detailed Agenda Spring 2016 Rally - Fall preview

As posted by Stephanie Borgman on our Facebook page on Feb 26, 2026.  

Hello to all our Chapter 10 Friends!  Sorry to be so late getting more complete info about the upcoming rally posted.  We are getting ready for a long trip to California right after Rusk and have been having a lot of med and dental appointments.  Three crowns done and I have one more to go!

Hope you have made your KOA reservations.  I'll double check, but I believe March 23 is the last date to reserve at rally rates and ensure a space with our group.  After that any unreserved spaces are released back to KOA so Chapter 10 will not be held responsible for them.

If you haven't already ordered your train tickets I advise that you do so right away.  We are riding on Saturday, April 2, roundtrip from Rusk to Palestine.  The train often sells out and we will be there during the last weekend of the Dogwood Festival in Palestine.  I don't want anyone to be disappointed.

Here's the schedule.  Please remember that sometimes things happen requiring changes to be made.  Your patience and understanding is always appreciated.
Thursday, March 31
Arrive at Rusk KOA.  Meet and greet in the rally room.  Borgmans will have tamale pie and a pot of taco soup ready for dinner at 5:30 pm.  Feel free to bring chips, veggies, cheese or whatever else you want to share to complete the meal.  After dinner we will have a short meeting to get started and then have time for games, puzzles or visiting.
Friday, April 1
Leave KOA at 9:30 am to drive to Palestine for tour of Eilenberger's and Mary of Puddin' Hill bakery.  After the short tour we will have an early lunch in Eilenberger's cafe.  You may want to pick up some of their wonderful baked goods for later.
After lunch you have the afternoon free to explore Palestine or Rusk, drive the country roads, or whatever you enjoy.  The Borgmans will be driving over to Jacksonville to the basket factory store since it is not open on the weekend.
At 5:30 pm we'll try to have the coals ready for our bring your own meat BBQ.  Please sign up for a side dish or a dessert to round out the meal.  After dinner we'll have a quick time out to go and attend to the furry friends before we settle down for an evening of fun and games.
Saturday, April 2
Leave KOA at 9:30 am to drive to Rusk depot of Texas State Railroad.  All seats are assigned and tickets picked up at the depot.  It is requested that passengers be there an hour early to facilitate a relaxed experience boarding the train.  The train leaves at 11 am and returns at 3 pm.  The trip is about an hour and a half each direction with an hour layover in Palestine for lunch.  You may order a box lunch or bring your own.
After the train ride make your own dinner plans.  There are a few restaurants in Rusk, but you may want to eat in or explore some of the neighboring towns and eat wherever you find yourself.  The rally room will be available for a continuation of fun and games.
Sunday, April 3
Plan on pancakes and sausage at 8:30 am for the Men's Breakfast.  Chapter 10 provides the basic meal, but the men may want to add fruit or juice, etc.
Church as a group for those that want to participate.  At the Spring Rally some members attended a church in Columbus where they were greeted warmly and made very welcome.  Rusk has many churches to choose from and we can make that choice on Friday or Saturday at the rally.
Lunch is on your own.  Those going to church may want to eat together afterwards (or not).
This might be a great afternoon to drive down to Alto to visit Caddo Indian Mounds State Historic Site and on to Grapeland to Mission Tejas State Park.
For supper how about a LEO (Let's Eat Out)?  Depending on the size of the group we may need to carpool to Palestine or Jacksonville, as I am told that there are no restaurants in Rusk that can accommodate a large group.
Monday, April 4
Donuts will be available in the rally room at 8:00 am for the hitch up breakfast continental style.  Bring your own cup of coffee or other beverage as we have hugs and safe travels.  Your help in making sure that the rally room is clean and neat as we will have found is welcome.

The Fall Rally is tentatively scheduled for the last weekend in October or the first weekend in November at Red Oak Ranch in Hempstead.  Borgmans have rallied here with another group.  There is a nice rally hall and lots to do in the area, but no pool or other amenities to speak of.  Possible excursions include Peckerwood Gardens, Newman's Castle in Bellville, VegOut! Farms or Liendo Plantation.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!
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Monday, February 8, 2016

Texas State Railroad Spring Rally April 2, 2016 11:00 am Rusk

Here is the latest information on the train ride for the Spring Rally that I got from Stephanie Borgman this morning. 
David Horton 
Chapter 10 Communications and Vice-President 
dhorton2@aol.com 

 The reservations schedule for 2016 has finally been posted.  I have made reservations for Ray and myself.  We will be departing from the RUSK depot on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 11:00 am.  Our reservations are for Standard Class-Adult and are costing $32 each.  These are upholstered seats in an enclosed car with windows that can be opened, but no air-conditioning.  Other accommodations include an open car with no shelter from rain or sun or an enclosed and air-conditioned car with table seating.
Currently there are no individual discount fares available.  Usually they have AAA, AARP and others but those have not been set yet.  There are also no provisions to order box lunches yet.  Ray and I are planning to bring a small cooler with us.

I am pasting on the Notes: section from my confirmation email.  They suggest arriving 45 minutes early to pick up tickets and get boarded.  We will depart at 11 am from Rusk "pulled with a historic steam engine."  Return time is 3 pm.  The trip is 1.5 hours each direction with a 1 hour lunch layover at the Palestine depot "for a total 4-hour experience."

Reservations can be made by telephone at 877-726-7245.  If you want seats near us you can tell the agent or if other groups want to form in the other classes of service that is fine.  We cannot make a group reservation without committing for a block of tickets and paying with one check or credit card which is not an option for Chapter 10.  That would be more money than the treasury can support.  You can also make reservations online at http://www.texasstaterr.com/ride/piney-woods-train-excursions/.

Now I can get the weekend schedule finished.


Welcome Aboard!

We are thrilled you will be joining us and we look forward to providing you with important information about your Texas State Railroad train ride.

Ticketing:

Will my tickets be mailed to me?

We do not mail our tickets. All tickets should be picked up at the Will Call window at the train depot the same day of the event, no earlier than 1 ½ hours prior to departure.

If I would like to purchase additional tickets or what if I have made an error on my reservation?

Please contact our central reservation department to add additional tickets to your existing reservation to ensure that everyone in your party is seated together. If you have made an error please call us immediate to have the mistake corrected.

Is seating reserved?

Yes, all seating is reserved. If you would like to sit with another party and did not make a reservation together please contact our central reservation department to link your reservation together. Reserved seating cannot be modified the day of your train ride. If you require further assistance contact our central reservation department at 1-877-726-7245.

Getting Ready:

What should we wear to the event?

Sturdy shoes with closed toes are best for train safety. (No open-toed shoes, sandals, or flip flops)

What should we bring?

This is a memory you'll want to save so we suggest bringing a camera with a flash if you are riding an evening train due to the lighting conditions. During boarding guests will be outdoors so dress for the weather. Have your reservation number or confirmation email to present to the Will Call clerks.

Getting Here:

What is the address to the Rusk Depot?

Texas State Railroad, Rusk Depot, Park Road 76 Rusk, TX 75785

What are the driving directions?

From Jacksonville on Hwy. 69 South, turn right at FM 2972 (corner with the Rusk ETMC). Go 0.3 miles before turning left on FM 343. Continue 1.25 miles to the flashing traffic signal and turn right on Hwy 84 West. Go 1.7 Miles to Park Road 76 for 0.4 miles to reach the Rusk Texas State Railroad Depot.
From Lufkin and Alto on Hwy 69 North, turn left on FM 343. Go 3 miles to the flashing traffic signal at the intersection with Hwy 84. Turn left on Hwy 84 West an go 1.7 miles to Park Road 76 on left. Continue down Park Road 76 for 0.4 miles to reach the Rusk Texas State Railroad Depot. 
From Mount Enterprise Hwy 84 West, to the stoplight at the Hwy 69 Junction, go straight through the stoplight for 0.4 miles on Henderson St. At the stop sign, turn right on W.6th St. (turns into Hwy 84 W) and go 2.9 miles to Park Road 76 on left. Travel down Park Road 76 for 0.4 miles to reach the Rusk Texas State Railroad Depot. 
From Palestine on Loop 256 turn on Hwy 84 East (towards Rusk). Continue on Hwy 84 east for 29 miles to Park Road 76 on the right. Travel down Park Road 76 for 0.4 miles to reach the Rusk Texas State Railroad Depot.

Arrival and Parking:

What parking is available and what is the cost?

There is ample parking at the Rusk depot. We have a designated area for disabled parking, please follow parking lot signage. You must display the proper badge visible on your vehicle.

When should we arrive for the event?

Please arrive 45 minutes prior to your trip. This will ensure proper time to find parking and pick up your tickets.

Reservation Policies:

What is the cancellation and refund policy?

If for some reason you wish to cancel your reservation, please call 1-877-726-7245 at least 48 hours before the date of your trip. If a cancellation is made more than 48 hours prior to departure a full refund will be given. There are no refunds given if a cancellation is made within 48 hours of departure, however you may opt to reschedule for a later date. There are no refunds for pre-order meals cancelled the day of the ride and meals ordered for the rescheduled date will be charged an additional fee. There are no refunds issued for Special Event Trains. Please prepare for road and traffic conditions! The Texas State Railroad is not liable for road closures or delays. This event will run no matter the weather. In the event the train is unable to operate you will be notified by the telephone numbers provided on you reservation immediately,

Other:

Will there be Souvenirs and gifts?

Our Gift Shop is filled with clothing, pins, hats, toys and other souvenirs and will be open for business. It is located at the Palestine Depot. Make sure to stop by and shop for gifts and memorabilia from your ride.

Food Allergies?

We recommend that you please take a moment to review the entrée selected. If a member of your party has a food allergy, we recommend that you contact the central reservations department immediately so that it can be addressed. If it is brought to the attention on the day of the event we might not be able to accommodate or provide the same dish as initially ordered.

ADA Accessibility?

Yes, We have limited wheelchair accessible seating. Please call our central reservation department to make special arrangements for mobility impaired passengers in wheelchairs or needing special assistance.

Do you notify customers for changes with equipment, schedule, and or prices?

We make every effort to contact customers if we know in advance that we will not be running with a steam engine. Schedule, fares, menus, locomotive engines, and equipment are subject to change without notice.

Customer Service:

How to contact Customer Service?

You can reach our Customer Service Representatives by calling 1-877-726-7245. Representatives are available 7 days a week from 7 am to 7 pm CST. Make the correct selections for the Texas State Railroad. Alternatively, you can reach us by email at customerservice@premierrails.com

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:


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Annual Hotdog feed and Auction this Friday Feb 12, 2016

Chapter 10 will be having our annual hot dog feed and auction at noon this Friday (12 February, 2016) at the Activity Center ( at the Rainbow's End Park, Livingston, Texas ).

MENU 

Hotdogs
Condiments: Mustard, Relish, Onions,
  and Ketchup
Potato Salad
Cookies
Water, Ice Tea, Coffee


$5 per person or free to Chapter 10 members.  All escapees can join or renew their membership to Chapter 10 for $5 per person or per couple.   Annual dues are $5.

Auction to follow lunch.   If you have items to donate you can drop them off at the Activity Center anytime after 11 am.  Proceeds to Chapter 10 treasury which usually end up being donated to CARE.


For information on the Spring Rally starting Thursday, March 31, 2016 visit our Facebook page or our Blog.  Our Wagonmasters,  the Borgmans are still monitoring the railroad website to determine the schedule for our planned train trip.


Click here for our blog:

escapeeschapter10.blogspot.com

Spring Rally 

Note:  The information on the Spring Rally is in the blog post titled:

January 2016 Lunch report and future events


David Horton
Chapter 10 Communications
  and Vice-President
dhorton2@aol.com
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