By the time you receive this Azimuth, the 2006 HUMMER Homecoming will just be a fond memory. I know that I am having "HUMMER let down" now that everyone has packed up and gone home.
Homecoming was a great success. As an all volunteer club, we certainly could not have even begun the task without the help from AM General and GM. Thank you to each and everyone that had a part in the Homecoming. Your hundreds of hours of work and dedication did not go unnoticed.
During the Homecoming we ran 3 classes for the HOPE trail endorsement, one on Thesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. Red Cross also offered their classes for First aid, CPR, and AED on those days. All total we added approximately 45 new HOPE members to the roster.
I would like to personally congratulate those HUMMER Club members that made tome to complete all of their HOPE requirements during the Homecoming. Your commitment to public service is to be commended.
Thursday, the HOPE classes had some dignitaries from the American Red Cross attending to better understand the HUMMER owner. Part of their experience was an off road drive on the woods trails at the Test Track and a loop through the infield obstacle course. They were amazed by the ability of our vehicles. They left with a respect for the commitment HUMMER ownser have made to community service and vowed to help promote the HOPE program throughout their organization.
If you were not able to make it to Homecoming. The HUMMER Club has events scheduled at Drummond Island on the UP of Michigan, and at Moab, UT. These events will offer HOPE Trail Endorsement classes. Sign up early as there will be limited space for these classes.
My office will be processing all of the Homecoming HOPE paperwork in the next 30 days and sending them to the Red Cross for processing. If you have any questions about the status of your application, please call the Red Cross at 574-234-0191 and ask for Paul. You can also e-mail him at <a href="mailto:hope@stjoe-redcross.org">home@stjoe-redcross.org</a> if you have not signed up for the HOPE program. All HOPE registrations start with the Red Cross in South Bend, Indiana.
I would like to thank our HUMMER friend from down under, John Bramich. John came all the way from Australia to attend the home comming and I put him to work talking about his experiences providing relief during the Cyclone Larry event in Australia. Thank you John for sharing your valuable experiences with us. If anyone would like to contact John, you can reach home at jb at hummerexpeditions.net.au.
In closing, I again would like to thank all the HUMMER owners that I had a chance to visit with. Thank you for sharing you stories and comments with me. I received a lot of good suggestions for the HOPE program that we are working on. Thanks again for the helpful tipes.
For those of you that are thinking about the HOPE program, now is the time to join in. We are open to all models of the HUMMER, and have important tasks for each of the three models.
Tip of the Day
Check your fire extinguisher for service and change your flashlight batteries in your truck each Spring and Fall to ensure that they will work when called upon. Also a pair of Tyvek coveralls does not take up any space and are perfect to keep you from getting dirty changing a flat tire.
Remember "it's all about being prepared."