The Citizen-39Th Annual Reunion, 2000-09-06, Page 28PAGEA-8. THE CITIZEN. WEDNESDAY^SEPTEMBER 6. 2000.
500 sites spoken for by mid-August
Continued from page A- 7
years later, here we are shutting down the
business for a day and a half to work tliereand
away from it many times helping to prepare."
The change started in 1978 when Gary’s
father gave him a 1948 John Deere B tractor
on the condition that he put it in the show.
"After that we started to get the kids involved,
too." says Chris.
It was when their family was quite young
that Chris fell into the job she still does today.
"I would go stand at the road to help get the
campers moved into the grounds and onto the
sites. There were about 250 then. It was men
tioned that pre-registration for the sites would
be a good idea but they needed someone will
ing to answer the phone. I thought. ‘What can
it hurt?' and put my name in."
As it is with much of the Thresher Reunion,
the monumental success has made even that
seemingly simple task much bigger today. By
mid-August this year 500 sites were already
reserved. The remaining 400-500 would
begin coming in as early as the Sunday before
the Reunion.
"Last year if we'd gotten another 15
campers, we'd have been looking for another
field,” says Chris. "This year we plotted out
where we could put extra and also what we’ll
do if it rains too much. Several years ago it
had rained the whole week before. It was a
nightmare. Everyone got stuck and they just
kept coming and coming."
By the Sunday of Labour Day weekend
Chris and her team are on the grounds making
sure the campers get settled and understand
the rules. They remain there through the week
as troubleshooters, repair people and messen
gers.
Chris recalls fondly some of the interesting
situations which have occured over the years.
"An elderly woman, who had driven down the
401 with her car and trailer asked us if we
could park it on the site for her. It turned out
she had never driven, pulling the trailer
before."
Another camper made fresh bread which
she delivered !o the volunteers.
On the down side they have had to deal with
emergencies and in one case a volunteer had
to drive a couple to the hospital and wait until
they were ready to return.
More difficult yet have been the occasions
when the volunteers have had to pass on
notices of a loved one’s death. “One year we
delivered five.”
Though her long association with the show
demonstrates her enjoyment, Chris admits
that the job can be draining. “There's a lot of
running, we don't always get time to eat. But
by Sunday when we can wind down it’s all
been worth it. Ninety-nine per cent of the
campers want you sit down and rest.
She also admits that working on the camp
ing aspect of the show has kept her involved.
"If I wasn't doing this there wouldn't be any
reason to be involved so long.”
For his part, Gary tends to the com roast
which is done on a steam engine and will be
helping Chris with the camping this year now
that his executive duties are complete.
The kids, they say, like to help as much as
they can. The youngest- two boys help their
father at the grounds, and Chris says have her
“spiel down pat".
“They know as much about the Thresher's
as anyone else."
This lure to be involved happens because of
the element of enjoyment that's part of the
show, even for its busy volunteers. “People
are really good and those we work with are
exceptional," says Chris. “This show is well
organized which makes it easy to get many
things done.”
HIGH STEPPING
Dancers demonstrated their talent at
the step dancing competition held each
year on the Sunday afternoon of the
Reunion.
Welcome to the 39th
ANNUAL THRESHER REUNION
Have a great weekend!
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