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2020 WCR Schedule
2020 West Coast Rally
Monday June 15 - Monday June 22
Ambassador RV Resort
Arrivals – Check in at campground
Open day for arrival of rally attendees. Check in at park. Pick up name tags and T-shirts. Pay rally fee. Receive paper copy of rally schedule.
4:00 pm – Happy hour
Gather at group sight (BYOB) for introductions, meet and greet and socializing.
9:00 am – 10:30 am – Seminar – RV Batteries presented by Chad Heiser
Considerations and components for an RV battery bank. I will discuss the current battery technologies along with the pros and cons of each type. I will cover charging, discharging, wiring, sizing and monitoring of an RV battery bank. There will also be specific information on various battery banks I have installed.
10:30 am – 10:45 am – Break
10:45 am – 12:15 am – Seminar – Inverter installations presented by Chad Heiser
Considerations and components for an RV inverter installation. I will discuss all aspects of inverter installations including: basic electrical calculations, sizing, wiring considerations, charging, inverter types and recommendations, battery monitoring and finally a phased approach to the installation. There will also be specific information on various systems I have installed.
12:15 pm – 1:45 pm – Lunch break
1:45 pm – 3:15 pm – Seminar – Solar installations presented by Chad Heiser
Considerations and components for an RV solar installation. I will discuss all aspects of solar installations including: basic electrical calculations, panel types and array sizing, wiring considerations, charge controller types and recommendations, monitoring and finally installation considerations. There will also be specific information on various systems I have installed.
3:15 pm – 3:30 pm – Break
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – RV Fire Suppression by Aaron Jones
Aaron is a rally attendee and a representative for Proteng. Proteng provides life saving fire suppression systems for RV’s, cars, trucks, aerospace, and the list goes on and on. Arron will discuss RV fire suppression and the systems available from Proteng. Aaron will also be available for free, no obligation assessments if anyone is interested in the products.
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm – Dinner time
Everyone is free to retreat to their RV’s or gather as desired for dinner.
6:30 pm – ??:?? pm – Happy hour
Everyone is encouraged to congregate at the group site for socializing, storytelling, or whatever may come.
9:00 am – 10:30 am – Seminar – YouTube and You – Jim Stockman and Aaron Jones
Jim and Aaron are both YouTube content providers with their own channels. Jim and his wife Kellie have a YouTube channel called Suite Travels and Aaron and his wife Tina have a YouTube channel called JonesN2Travel. They both provide content related to fulltime living in their RV’s and other RV lifestyle related issues. They will discuss how to document your travels and share memories with family and friends while on the road through Social Media and YouTube.
10:30 am – 10:45 am – Break
10:45 am – 12:15 am – Seminar – WiFi Ranger presentation – Jim Owsley
Jim is the VP of Marketing and Communication for WiFi Ranger. WiFi Ranger is a local (Idaho) company that produces WiFi and LTE Capture devices allowing RVers to connect to distant WiFi networks and LTE signals and create local area networks in their RV’s. From their website:
Stay Online Almost Anywhere.
Wifi Ranger helps make the Internet better for Rvers.
It starts with being able to reach otherwise weak WiFi or Cellualr signals when traveling.
It’s why we come to work everyday with a passion for blending hardware & software that delivers… for YOU.
12:15 pm – 1:45 pm – Lunch break
1:45 pm – 3:15 pm – Seminar – Firearms for Beginners – Chad Heiser
This is intended for novice or inexperienced firearms users to teach some basic firearms skills in preparation for the firearms day on Thursday. This class is intended for the novice or beginner but is open to anyone.
3:15 pm – 3:30 pm – Break
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Seminar – Firearms Safety and Personal Protection – Chad Heiser
This presentation will cover firearms safety considerations, personal safety considerations and self-defense. This presentation will not cover individual state laws and is not intended to be state specific, but more of a general overview of the topics.
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm – Dinner time
Everyone is free to retreat to their RV’s or gather as desired for dinner.
6:30 pm – ??:?? pm – Happy hour
Everyone is encouraged to congregate at the group site for socializing, storytelling, or whatever may come.
9:00 am – 9:30 am – Mandatory Range Safety Meeting – Chad Heiser & John Snell
This meeting is required attendance for all people who wish to go to the range for the day. We will cover basic range safety and the rules for the day.
9:30 am – 10:00 am – Break
Take a break and gather your equipment to head out to the range. Bring food and drink you would like for lunch as there are no food services at the range. Chairs would also be advisable.
10:00 am – 10:30 am – Travel to the range
We have the Homedale Rod & Gun Club reserved for the day just for our group. The range is located at 9576 US Highway 95 Marsing, ID 83639. We will caravan out to the range together.
10:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Shooting
This is intended to be a fun outing for both experienced and inexperienced/novice shooters. Please bring your own firearms and ammunition to be used at the range. If you do not you’re your own forearms, but would like to participate, contact me and we can discuss options. I will provide some targets and stands, but if you have some you would like to bring and use/share that would be very helpful as well. I will have some additional help to provide individualized shooting instruction for anyone who would like it as well. Obviously, firearms can be dangerous, and we want everyone to be safe, so we will implement safety rules and instructions, but this event is a participate at your own risk event. People are free to leave whenever they wish, but we have the range reserved for the day.
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Elks Lodge Happy Hour and Dinner
The Caldwell Elks Lodge has agreed to host our group for dinner and no host cocktails (thanks to Dave Schonhardt for coordinating this). Dinner will be at 6:00 pm, but the bar opens at 4:00 pm, so we can arrive any time after that. I have a list of attendees and their dinner choices that I will confirm with everyone in person at the rally on arrival day. The dinner choices will are steak, salmon or vegetarian, with all the fixings. Due to local issues, the dinner has been moved from the Boise Elks Lodge to the Caldwell Elks Lodge. The Caldwell lodge is larger and can accommodate our group even with the local restrictions on table spacing. This change has affected the cost though. The final cost will be $32.15 per person for dinner (drinks are not included). This fee has been paid ahead of time by Dave and we will individually reimburse him. The Caldwell Elks Lodge is located at 1015 N Kimball Ave, Caldwell, ID 83605.
9:00 am – 9:45 am – Seminar – Firearms Cleaning and Maintenance – John Snell & Chad Heiser
We will provide instruction on the proper cleaning and maintenance of your firearms after spending the previous day at the range. Individuals are encouraged to bring their own firearms and cleaning kits to the seminar to participate.
9:45 am – 10:00 am – Break
10:00 am – 5:00 pm – Wine Tasting Tour
I have hired All Aboard Fun Bus to take 42 rally attendees on a wine tour of the local wineries. The tour company will pick us up at the RV Park at 10:00 am for check in and we will hit the road around 10:30 am. Due to local restrictions on group sizes at the wineries, our group will be divided up between three vehicles (of 18, 12 & 12). The vehicles will all go to the same wineries, but they will go in a different order to keep the group sizes down at the locations. The wine tour fee is $69.00 per person. (It is slightly higher because local tasting fees have gone up and to accommodate extra tour vehicles and drivers). The payment can be made by cash or check in person the day of the tour or ahead of time via credit card or Venmo. If you want to pay ahead of time, speak with me (Chad Heiser) to get the information. I have a list of confirmed attendees.
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm – Dinner time
Everyone is free to retreat to their RV’s or gather as desired for dinner.
6:30 pm – ??:?? pm – Happy hour
Everyone is encouraged to congregate at the group site for socializing, storytelling, or whatever may come.
9:00 am – 10:30 am – Seminar – Digital Media and Photography – Bob Trim
Bob Trim is a retired university professor specializing in all thing’s digital media, digital video and digital photography. As a Fulbright Scholar, Bob travelled the world teaching. Bob has agreed to give a presentation to our group on digital media and photography. Bob will discuss getting better photographs from your cell phone and how to handle them in a photo editing program. This will include which camera apps to use (other than the stock camera app), additional gear to help shoot better photos and which photo software to use.
10:30 am – 10:45 am – Break
10:45 am – 12:15 am – Seminar – Electrical Safety with you in mind – Dave Schonhardt
Dave will provide a class demonstration and lecture regarding electrical safety. Dave is a retired electrician and encourages class input and questions.
12:15 pm – 2:00 pm – Lunch break
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Painting Party – Michelle Brotzman of The Angry Easel Paint Parties LLC
The painting party will be led by a local artist and is open to anyone willing to have a good time. No artistic talent is necessary. This will be the fourth year we have offered the art project and it has gained popularity each time. The artist will provide all the materials necessary, all you need to do is show up and have fun. There is a $20.00 fee payable to the artist to cover the materials and her time. The artist will guide participants through the process of creating a personalized painting.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Solar walk through led by Chad Heiser
I will walk anyone interested through my actual solar installation on my rig. I will discuss the specifics of my installation, what I like and what I would do differently today. I also encourage any other attendees to open their rigs and show others what they have, what they like and what they dislike about their systems. There will be at least one other rig at the rally that has a complete package of components that I have installed as well (hopefully its owner will be willing to share 😉).
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm – Potluck Dinner
Everyone is encouraged to bring a dish to share with the group. The WCR potluck dinner is wide open and meant to be a fun gathering (much like our rally in general). I do not assign out specific dishes or types of dishes to anyone. Whatever you wish to bring, and share will be gladly accepted. I know there are a lot of good cooks out there and I look forward to sampling your creations. We will have further discussions about this our first night at the park as a group.
6:30 pm – ??:?? pm – Happy hour
Everyone is encouraged to congregate at the group site for socializing, storytelling, or whatever may come.
9:00 am – 10:30 am – Seminar – Driving your RV/HDT Safely – Glyn Carson
Glyn has been a commercial driver since 1974. He drove limousines and busses for entertainers while living in Nashville, TN and after moving to Alaska in 1997 he worked for the Highway Department plowing snow on the Alaskan Ice Road to Prudehoe Bay. He also drove the Alaskan Ice Road and on the frozen ocean. He is a certified Class-A CDL instructor and has taught RVers to drive their rigs safely since 2013. He has also presented safe driving seminars at Escapees Boot Camp. Glyn is also available for private lessons if so desired. Contact Glyn directly if you would like to discuss this or schedule something around the rally time. twolanedrivingtips@hotmail.com
10:30 am – 10:45 am – Break
10:45 am – 12:15 am – Seminar – Instapot Cooking – Lindsey Reinig
Lindsey is a professionally trained chef and an Instapot aficionado. Lindsey will demonstrate the electric pressure cooker (Instapot). The seminar will involve preparing a meal with samples and recipes to take home.
12:15 pm – 1:45 pm – Lunch break
1:45 pm – 3:15 pm – Seminar – Essential Oils – Sheri Lynton
Sheri will present information about essential oils, their benefits and uses.
3:15 pm – 3:30 pm – Break
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Seminar – Trailer Tester Build – Chad Heiser
Participants will be led through the process of building their own trailer testers. These testers will plug into a trailer 7 pin umbilical cord and allow the user to test all the basic functions of the trailer’s umbilical cord, including all light functions (running, brake and blinkers) and brake functions. All supplies will be provided at the seminar. There will be a cost associated with this seminar. The cost is yet to be determined as I have not yet purchased the necessary supplies.
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm – Dinner time
Everyone is free to retreat to their RV’s or gather as desired for dinner.
6:30 pm – ??:?? pm – Happy hour
Everyone is encouraged to congregate at the group site for socializing, storytelling, or whatever may come.
Departure day. Goodbye to all. See you next year.
2020 WCR Photos
Courtesy of Chad Heiser
Courtesy of Dave Hooker
Courtesy of Sondra Kahanamoku
2020 Rally Location
Ambassador RV Resort
Featuring 85 foot pull-thrus and classy facilities, Ambassador is located near Idaho’s wine country and convenient to the Boise metro area: the perfect home base for all your activities.