Winter Newsletter 2012

From the Seat of the President

January 17, 2012

Dale Schwantes
ds.schwantes@gmail.com
(920)210-6744

Hello everyone,
The most recent of our club events has been the toy show. After several years of having our toy show at the Beaver Dam Mall, due to renovations and remodeling there we were required to make a change. Thanks to the efforts of Les McCullough we were able to hold our annual toy show at the Rock River Intermediate School, Waupun, WI, in conjunction with the Waupun FFA and their FFA Alumni. The FFA very graciously assisted our membership with setting up and taking down the tables in exchange for the privilege of selling refreshments to raise funds for their organization. Many of our own club members also helped with the setup and takedown. Thanks to all who participated!

Although the toy show was moved to Waupun with very little prior notice, there was a very good turnout. The school gym was so filled with toys and crafts that we spilled out into the halls with even more crafts and displays. Our board members reported good comments made by venders and buyers alike. We were so pleased with results that we agreed to contract with them again for next year. If you missed out on this last show, you will not want to miss out on next December’s toy show. Mark your calendars for December 8 & 9, 2012.

Despite our water drainage and legal issues, the club is still moving on. The club is finding ways of generating income. One way is by donating scrap iron and batteries. If you have any scrap iron or batteries laying around and getting in your way, please bring them over to the side of the club shop, or call Marion Reisetter at (920)387-4193 cell (920)210-8908 to have your scrap picked up at your convenience. We will give you a receipt to use for a tax deduction in exchange for your donations!Curtiss Mueller will haul the stuff to the scrap yard for us. Several loads have been hauled in already and the current scrap price makes this a profitable project. The income we have generated thus far is allowing our treasurer, Jim Richardson, to continue to pay our expenses and the Wednesday crew to continue with a few projects.  Recent projects include a snow blower, an IH corn binder, a milk machine vacuum pump, new wooden benches and tables are being repaired. Although there are more projects on our list, unfortunately we can only get those less costly projects done. Please consider helping us out in any way that you are able. We thank you for your support.

During this year the club will also be sponsoring several brat fries with Ballweg Implement at their Beaver Dam location. Marion Reisetter coordinated this fund raiser for us for the first time last fall and it worked out very well for us. All supplies are furnished by Ballweg Implement. All the club has to do is furnish people to grill, serve and sell brats. We have only done this once so far, and it proved to be a rather good fund raiser for us. Good enough to want to do this two more times. We will keep you informed as to the dates when they are booked.

We are having a garden tractor raffle. This year’s feature is IH, so we will be raffling a cub cadet garden tractor (Grand prize), a peddle tractor, and a1/16 scale toy tractor. Bob Riegle and Dave Bradley own cub cadets of their own and are working on it so it can be ready to take to other shows and places to display. The board members and several others feel that there is more wide spread interest in a garden tractor than in a larger tractor. Most people can accommodate the size of a garden tractor in a shed or garage, while more room is needed for a larger tractor. More women are apt to drive a garden tractor. Most women do not want to drive a larger tractor. If this is true, we should be able to sell enough tickets to make a profit, and keep the women happy too! In addition, a garden tractor is small enough to fit on most trailers, lighter, and easier for many to maneuver.

If you are going to a show and would like to take the cub cadet with you to set up a raffle station, please contact a board member or the Wed. crew leaders to help you. Of course, you are always welcome to help sell tickets even if you do not take the tractor to an event! Call any board member for tickets the whole year through!

We have begun a new year with a new Board of Directors. I would like to thank our out-going board members, Russ Sponem and Ade Weisensel for their fine years of dedicated service. I would like to thank Connie Kraemer for her very many years of service as our secretary and thank her for her continuing service as a current member of our board. Without dedicated members such as these fine people, our club could not function.

Finally, we are always looking for anyone who would like something to do! If you would like to start a project, serve on a committee or run for office, please see the roster in this newsletter and give any one of us a call or an email.

Respectfully submitted
Dale Schwantes
Club President

NEWS FROM THE SHOP

Winter projects progress as the weather cools off. Work has started on restoration of our 1936 Klauer Sno-Go. The engine is running and the blower works. The transmissions (yes, two, one four speed and one two speed) need to be checked and the hydraulic system freed up. Then a new wood cab frame has to be constructed.

 

The IHC corn binder donated last year is in need of a complete rebuild. The crew working on this project was surprised by the condition of the castings and the ease of disassembly.

Now everyone who worked on the teardown needs to be on hand for the reassembly.

Some progress has also been made on the large Buckeye engine. The bent connecting rod has been removed and the piston and sleeve removed. This engine may end up being a static display as many hours of work would be needed to restore this engine to working order.

A note from our Treasurer $$$$$
The Toy Show was a success with two sunny days and a great turnout of vendors, farm displays, and buyers. The Waupun site worked well and we had great help from the FFA.

Total show receipts were fantastic with 722 people paying admission and 3 advertising passes.
This was a very succesful show for a new location.
Jim Richardson, Treasurer

A note from our Secretary          

Greetings to one and all:

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year! For those who may not have not heard, I am the newly elected Secretary of the Power Club. My name is Sue Bintzler. I am married and I have 3 wonderful children, one of whom was married this past July and one who will be married this coming August. (Yes, she planned it to land right in between two tractor shows YEAH!). I live just outside of Lomira, WI on the Bintzler Homestead Farm which has been in the family since some time in the 1800’s. I work full time at Marlin Technologies, in addition to which I have 5 part time jobs. I am an EMT IV Technician for both the Theresa Ambulance Service and the Mayville Ambulance Service.

I can usually be found in the club’s kitchen the week before the show and during the show. Please stop in to say "Hi" and introduce yourself. I love to meet new people. I do have some big shoes to fill and I will need the help of everyone to be very patient with me during this transition. I would like to thank Connie for all the years she has served as secretary of our club. She and I were talking about it the other day and she thinks she has been doing this since we were first at the Beaver Dam fairgrounds (about 18 years!). That is a long time and many changes have taken place since. So please give a great big THANK YOU to Connie when you see her for her many dedicated years as secretary of our club’s board of directors.

The Board sat down and put some figures together and discovered that it costs the club over $1000 each year to send out this newsletter by snail mail. Because we would like to save money where we can we are asking everyone who has an email address to please send it to me, Sue Bintzler at bintzler@gmail.com so that we can begin sending our newsletter to you digitally. (No need to concern yourself about privacy. We will NEVER share your information with anyone!) Please, just email me a "HI" with your name, it will give me your email address. THANK YOU for your help!

For those who have no access to a computer, no worries. We will still send you a newsletter in the snail mail, but we are asking that you notify us by phone call (920) 386-2565 or mail with your request. Everyone’s cooperation will be greatly appreciated for this will save the club some money.
I want to thank everyone for all their hard work and dedication to the club. It is our club and we need to take pride in what the club has become. We have a great thing going! PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO GET THOSE EMAIL ADDRESSES TO ME!
Your Secretary,
Sue Bintzler

  A note from the Wednesday Crew

Hello Guys and Gals!

This is a quick note to say “Thanks!” to all who have helped out at the Show Grounds throughout the year. I think things went quite smoothly before, during and after the show last year, but there is always room for improvement. So, as an old board member, I ask you to contact me at lmmccullough@att.net or Les McCullough, 812 East Franklin Street, Waupun, WI 53963 if you have any questions or concerns and I will be happy to take them to the board for you (though, of course, you are most welcome to contact any of them yourself as well).  

We have gained a few new members to help with our regular Wednesday Crew and that is great! More help spreads out the work for all of us and makes everything that much more fun to do. Remember, there are only 26 more work days until our next show! Come on out and help the rest of us if you can!

Thanks Again!

Les

NEWS FROM THE WOMEN’S COMMITTEE

Quilt donated by Joan Weisensel & Connie DePover

The Women's Committee would like to thank Joan Weisensel and Connie DePover for their donations of three absolutely beautiful hand sewn quilts for our first annual silent auction fund raiser during last year’s show. These two women have graciously agreed to provide us with quilts again this coming year in an effort to raise funds for the restoration of our school house. Their exquisite work is something to behold! If you missed your chance to bid on the quilts last year, be sure to visit the school house this coming year to place your bids! A nice amount was raised last year by the silent auction. Thank you to all who donated items and to all who bid!

Handknitted afghan donated by Carolyn Dehler

     

Quilt donated by Joan Weisensel & Connie DePover

Quilt donated by Joan Weisensel & Connie DePover

   

Hand-quilted tea cloth donated by Bernice Frank

 

Hand quilted tea cloth donated by Bernice Frank

Hand crocheted doily donated by Sue Schwantes

Now that we have a working website, the women’s committee would like to publish recipes from you in each of our online newsletters. If you have a recipe to share, please email it to

Michelle Zahn at thesoaplady@sbcglobal.net  

Summer Newsletter 2011

Newsletter July, 2011

From the Seat of the President

by Dale Schwantes

ds.schwantes@att.net

(920)210-6744

Hello everyone,

It seems that for some time we were caught somewhere between Winter and Spring, but we can throw that out the window now. As of lately, that is since Memorial Day, summer has jumped in and taken over full throttle with heat and humidity. I’m not complaining though, I’m happy with what we have been given, and not the weather that the people down south were given.

Out at the Showgrounds the crops are planted and the haying season has begun. The crop land has been sectioned into three parcels. Beginning this year, some land has been sown down into hay or cover crops. Later, if the timing is right, this area will be used for extra parking during the show. Next year another section will be planted into more hay or cover crops for even more parking. The fields will keep rotating to always allow for extra parking and possibly some plowing or other field demonstrations.

The Wednesday Crew has been quite busy. They now have a Waukesha engine running and mounted on a cart. This unit will be used in our sawmill. They have another Waukesha engine mounted on a tiller. This engine is also running, but the tiller needs a little more attention.

The kitchen is being updated with a commercial range hood to draw off excess heat and smoke created from the griddles. We need to keep the HEAT out of the kitchen. A walk-in cooler and freezer are being installed in the new kitchen addition. (We truly are taking the heat out of the kitchen.) These units should be big enough to hold the food and drinks that are ordered for the show. We still have a refrigerated trailer for back-up. Keep your fingers crossed that we don’t need it!

The school house is coming along closer to completion. A new roof is on and some areas have been jacked back up into place so the building is getting straightened and squared up again. The siding and windows also need to be worked on. There is plenty of scraping and painting to be done. If you would like to help with the school house please contact

Michelle Zahn (920)386-2565 or Pete Dehler at (920)387-4135.
There are still plenty of projects out at our showgrounds to be worked on. Jim Richardson has a list of projects that are waiting to be done. If you prefer not to take on any projects on your own, Darrell Pollesch will be happy to guide you to other tasks that need to be completed. Wednesdays are work days, but you are welcome to come out to the grounds on any day, including weekends. Please volunteer some of your time to help us all prepare for the show. We are getting closer to show time.

Respectfully submitted,

Dale Schwantes

Club President

Please contact one of the Board or Chair members if you have an interest in volunteering for any of our committees. 

•  Wednesday Crew - Foremen Darrell Pollesch (920)928-2392 and Les McCullough (920)324-0916
• Policies and Procedures - co-chairs Bill Brehmer (920)474-7309 and Les McCullough (920)324-0916 - Bill and Les would like to see three more members to help out with this project.
• News Letter - Looking for volunteers - Currently being done by Connie Kraemer (920)386-2577 & Michelle Zahn (920)386-2565
• Odd Ball (2011 Feature) - Chair Marion Reisetter (920)387-4193
• Women’s Center Committee - Chair Michelle Zahn (920)386-2565
• Women’s Center Restoration - Foreman Pete Dehler (920)387-4135
• The Darn Dam - Chair Darrell Pollesch (920)928-2392

A note from our secretary:

Here it is 5:00 in the morning and I am trying to get the day going. It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day! My days have been quite full for some reason this year. I don’t have much to say to you at present except to say that the Show is only three weeks away and there is so much to do!

I have a some T-shirts (not too many, but a few). I’d like to get the supply down (so please stop in and pick up a few for the whole family!).

I would like to have some help in the office again this year during the Show. The help I have had in the past has always been wonderful and I am sure that whoever volunteers this year will be as well. Come give me an hour or two during the Show. We always have a good time working together in the office and the help is very much appreciated!

The Women’s Committee has been hard at it restoring our new school house, though the outside of the building has taken priority for this year. The inside will likely have to wait for another year before it gets attention. We’ll just have to use it this year as it is. I hear there are three beautifully handmade quilts donated as raffle items for funds for our school house. We must thank Connie Depover and Joan Weisensel for this wonderful gift!

Please come to the Show Meeting Sunday, July 31, 2011 at 2:30pm.

This is when and where we determine who can do what and where during our annual Show. Over the past few years we have lost a few dedicated members who have worked very hard for the success of our club. I believe we can count on everyone to put in just a few hours during the Show to help out with the different things going on. I think all members can take a little time away from our toys to help. That way no one has to spend three straight days with all work and no play!

Well, it is time for me to go to work, so I must say goodbye for now and I hope to see you all in my office registering for the Show (but first I hope to see you at the Show meeting Sunday, July 31 at 2:30). If you can’t make it to the Show meeting, please give a call to either Marion Reisetter (920)210-8908 or Jim Richardson (920)319-1773 to volunteer a little of your time. Do it today!

Connie Kraemer, Club Secretary

A note from our treasurer:

Dear members,

Just a short $ report to let you know what has happened in the last few months. We made a major effort to clean up items that the board felt would not be repairable for display purposes or use as parts in other projects. At the time scrap prices were quite high and, through the generous help of a member who deals in scrap metals, we were able to bring in about $6,000. This move has kept us from borrowing more bank money and also cleaned up our fence line. We are now concentrating on finishing the kitchen addition and ventilation system, and the women’s center. There are still many projects that are low cost but we need labor to complete before the show. All help is welcome.

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Richardson, Treasurer

Wish List

• One Firestone straight bar 13 X 28 tire for the club’s Allis-Chalmers WC. One of the existing tires has a LARGE tear along the sidewall and into the center of the tread. We would like to have this fixed and running for the show. Contact any board member if you have one or two of these tires available in fair to good condition.
• We are in need of an experienced mason. Anybody out there know someone? We would like to have a stone wall around the base of our school house. We’ll provide materials.
• Looking for a wooden silo and a small barn.
•  We would like to have more information about our windmill, which was made in Waupun, WI. Anyone know something about it?
• We are looking for refrigeration units for our walk-in coolers.

* Notice *

If you have an article and/or pictures you would like to share with everyone via this newsletter, please e-mail them, along with appropriate captions, to Michelle Zahn, thesoaplady@sbcglobal.net

Winter Newsletter 2011

From the Seat of the President
by Dale Schwantes
ds.schwantes@att.net
(920)210-6744

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year!

This note comes to you from the same seat, but with a new driver. Dale Schwantes is now behind the wheel and is trying to steer your club in the right direction.

The show grounds have taken on a new look with the addition of our new Women’s Center. This is the school house that has been moved from Jefferson to its new home at our club grounds. Many new ideas and displays are in the works to be featured during our upcoming show. This will be another attraction to spark interest for the attendees.

Pete Dehler has graciously accepted the Women’s Committee’s appointment as foreman of the restoration of the Women’s Center Building. He is now waiting for some better weather so that the roof can be replaced. Thus far the tarps have been keeping the elements from getting inside the building. Most materials are on hand to complete the restoration. Please call Pete at (920)387-4135 to offer a hand with the completion of this project.

The ongoing issue of the Darn Dam still plagues us. Darrell Pollesch is Chairman of The Darn Dam Committee and he is representing the club. Darrell has been continuously going to meetings to try to resolve the water issues for us and for our neighbors. Plans have been made and changed several times with new starting points. We need to keep our hopes up that this issue can be resolved for the good of the whole neighborhood!

Lately the weather has been another issue for us. Although the Toy Show was a success on Saturday, Sunday was canceled due to a snow storm. The snow seems to be overwhelming at times. The Wednesday crew has to plow snow away before they can work. Maybe they need to rest awhile and hit it hard when the weather is better. Les McCullough and Darrell Pollesch co-chair the Wednesday Work crew so please contact one or both of them if you can help with projects on the grounds.

These are a few committees that have been changed or newly formed. Please contact one of the Board or Chair members if you have an interest in volunteering for any of our committees.

• Wednesday Crew - Foremen Darrell Pollesch (920)928-2392 and Les McCullough (920)324-0916
• Policies and Procedures - co-chairs Bill Brehmer (920)474-7309 and Les McCullough (920)324-0916 - Bill and Les would like to see three more members to help out with this project.
• News Letter - Looking for volunteers - Currently being done by Connie Kraemer (920)386-2577 & Michelle Zahn (920)386-2565
• Odd Ball (2011 Feature) - Chair Marion Reisetter (920)387-4193
• Women’s Center Committee - Chair Michelle Zahn (920)386-2565
• Women’s Center Restoration - Foreman Pete Dehler (920)387-4135
• The Darn Dam - Chair Darrell Pollesch (920)928-2392

Respectfully submitted,
Dale Schwantes, Club President

Ditch Report The committee met with two DNR personnel, Jim Congdon and Greg Farnham, at Burnett Town Hall on January 28, 2011. We discussed why the DNR was opposed to the forming of the ditch district. The DNR is charged with cleaning up the Rock River Water Basin. We came to some understanding of concerns on both sides. We are in the process of checking out a water program called CRETE at the county level. Also, Darrell met with Dennis Giese concerning his fish ponds. We have a number of loose ends hanging. We need to check out each one and get back to each other.

Thanks,

Darrell Pollesch

School House
Tuesday, December 7, 2010. The school house is prepared for moving onto its new foundation at the show grounds in Burnett. From left to right you see a member of the moving crew from Heritage Building Movers, Carolyn Dehler, Pete Dehler, two more members of the moving crew and Jim Zahn.


A note from our secretary
Happy winter!

Is everyone enjoying this wonderful white wonderland? I know that I am not. I am sorry to say that I missed the January Board Meeting because of the flu and I decided I would keep it to myself rather than spread it to the whole board.

Things seem to be scooting along pretty well out at the show grounds. I see that the Women's Center has made it to the grounds and is on its foundation. That is a good thing. If it ever quits snowing maybe we can get going on to finishing that project. I am sure it will all come together by August.

The toy show was only on Saturday this year because of a snow storm that hit late Saturday afternoon and early Sunday morning. I hope that I am the only one who missed out on buying their Christmas gifts! I had quite a few things spotted that I planned to purchase on Sunday and I had hoped to find other things for presents. I really do hate shopping!

I do hope that everyone stays safe and healthy for the rest of the winter so that we can all get together in the spring for the picnic in May and maybe a work day or two on Wednesdays if I do not have to work at my part time job.

Respectfully submitted, 

Connie Kraemer, Club Secretary

A note from our treasurer
Dear Members,

For those of you who missed the annual meeting, the show had a net profit of $36,692. We ended the fiscal year with a checkbook balance of $20,399. As of February 9, 2011 our checkbook balance is $5,263 and we owe $10,000 on our Line of Credit at the bank.

We have received $1,300 in cash donations toward moving and restoration of the School House to date. Anyone wishing to have a name placed on the donor’s plaque should contact a board member with the name for the plaque and the donation. There will also be work days, if you wish to help with restoration, when the weather allows.

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Richardson, Treasurer

Wish List

• Wanted! One Firestone straight bar 13 X 28 tire for the club’s Allis-Chalmers WC. One of the existing tires has a LARGE tear along the sidewall and into the center of the tread. We would like to have this fixed and running for the show. Contact any board member if you have one or two of these tires available in fair to good condition.
• We are in need of an experienced mason. Anybody out there know someone?
• Looking for a wooden silo, a wooden corn crib*, a small barn. (We have our corn crib! Thank you to Doug Schultz, who has donated his crib, which is located just three miles from our grounds.)
• We would like to have more information about our windmill, which was made in Waupun, WI. Anyone know something about it?
• We are looking for refrigeration units for our walk-in coolers.

Notice If you have an article and/or pictures you would like to share with everyone via this newsletter, please e-mail them, along with appropriate captions, to Michelle Zahn, thesoaplady@sbcglobal.net.

Remember!
Wednesdays are work play days at the grounds. We have a heated shop for the cold winter months and plenty of cool, breezy areas to work in for the summer months. Darrell Pollesch (920)928-2392 or (cell) (920)296-0876 and Les McCullough (920)324-0916 are our Wednesday foremen. Please call them. They will be very happy to find something for you to do! Any and all players are welcome and very much appreciated.