November 2003                                       The Megaphone                                              Page 4

NATIONAL CAMPERS AND HIKERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

by Dewey Smith

Hank Nathan was camping at Beaverkill, New York, in the Adirondack Mountains. He was sitting by the campfire with other campers. He said, "It would be nice to have a camping club so they could get together ever so often." The other campers thought that would be a good idea and they would
join such a club. 

So in 1949 the National Campers and Hikers club was issued a franchise for a non-profit organization. The first president was John and Dorothy Grant from New Jersey. John was a postal worker and volunteer fireman. I think Dorothy was a school teacher. These are wonderful people. I
got acquainted with them in Texas. They camped in the same campground as we did for several years. We went to the Golden Corral in Harlingen to help John celebrate his 80th birthday. I had a ball initiating Dorothy into the Turtle Club. 

The national president today is Larry Roop from Fort Wayne. His wife Vickie is District Four Director, which included Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. I have known Larry and Vickie for several years and they are great people also. About 10 years ago Dennis Campbell was
national president. He had a motor home and did not like the emblem for the club which shows a tent and campfire. He pulled a few strings to change organization to Family Campers and RV'ers founded as National Campers and Hikers. That way they did not have to get a new franchise. He then changed the emblem to include a motor home. Indiana changed our by-laws to read as
National Campers and Hikers Association, Inc/FCRV. The first Indiana president was Bill and Joan Weddle from Columbus after Indiana joined in 1964. After Bill passed away and I lost my wife, I dated Joan a couple times. But it is a long way to Columbus. Then Joan moved to Virginia. I can take a hint. 

This year the National issued 13 scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000. Indiana issued 6 scholarships for $600 each. I don't know what the other states issued. The Indiana Association collects pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. In 2001 we collected enough to pay for 80 nights for people that could not pay. Besides collecting the pull tabs our local club does several things. Last July we donated some money to the Salvation Army for the flood relief. At Christmas time we donated several hundred articles to the Elwood Food Pantry. We are hoping to double that this year. We have made arrangements with the Food Pantry to donate some money to any family that
might be burned out. My wife and I joined the organization in September 1971. I am now a Life Time member. I look forward to every campout whether local club or state to see all my family. We are THE FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. We have a State Director and he has several district directors and field directors. I was a field director for several years. Then the state has its officers such as the president etc. I am proud of my camping family and friends. I am proud of what we do. We select a Teen Queen each year and all the state queens compete at the National Campout each year.

Our local chapter The Hoosier Heartlanders received our charter at Princeton, Indiana, in April 1979. My wife and I and Oris and Norma Kleyla were there at the state campout to receive the charter. I was the first president and now am the current president. I am the only charter member
left. In April 2004 we will be celebrating our Silver Anniversary. We are planning on having a big party.

Dewey W. Smith
The Old Dewey, Monon '39