Peter Lebeck Chapter #1866

An Update from our Humbug, Al "Quackster" Price, XNGH
--- KISS --- Keep it short, stupid. So Stupid should keep it short.

Words to live by My Brothers,

This year has kept me busy. Being Humbug is not for the faint of heart and I don't recommend it unless you are willing to put in the work. It's 10% Glory, 90% Elbows, and a whole lot of knee pads in between.

The year's activities started with Friday night dinner, February 3, 2023, at the Broken Yolk Café, the night before our 2023 Widders' Ball. Then on to Saturday's Widders' Ball at the Homewood Suites!

I consider that two good times in a row! Thanks to everyone, especially my Widder, Jayne, and Ptimbo's Widder, Judi Gillespie, for all their help with the Ball. To Dale "Top" Turner for his help with Friday night's dinner, and much thanks again to XNGH Jim Bailey for his generosity in lending us his facilities, at the Broken Yolk and at the Homewood, at no cost to the chapter.

Though I'd like to blame the weather, the Chapter turnout for the Whiskey Flat Days Parade in Kernville was disappointing. Only two Clampers, besides myself, and one Widder, showed up to march in the parade -- so we drove it in my Jeep instead. The barbeque at XXNGH Charles Toppings' house had to be cancelled. Due to the poor turn out, we don't plan on scheduling any more Whiskey Flat "marches" in the near future.

The Spring Doin's was held once again at Camp Hamilton Veterans' Memorial Park. Like PXL, Camp Hamilton is a 501(c)(3) charity, though specifically dedicated to the memory of those who have served in our armed forces. The Brethren pitched-in with their individual donations and volunteer labor that allowed us to buy, assemble and dedicate three more picnic tables to the park.

Following our Spring Doin's, I attend ECV's Grand Council in May at Sonora, California. I reported on the Chapter's activities, all went well.

The Dates for the Fall Doin's are all set. A big thank you to XXNGH Mark "Pokey" Crawford, who was able to book us back into the Fort Tejon campground for Thursday, September 21 through Sunday, September 24, 2023. Please note my Brothers that Thursday is for the "set-up crew." If you show up on Thursday, you will be expected to pitch-in and help set up the cook shack, pop-ups, etc. --- NO EXCEPTIONS.

We were planning on holding the Road's End plaque rededication that same weekend, but the plaque site is north of Kernville in Tulare County, and it is a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive one-way from Ft. Tejon. So the plaquing will be held separately at 11 am, on Saturday, Sept. 16th instead. Come join us if you can! No festivities, just the re-plaquing ceremony. Take the road on the far east side of Kernville --- about 15 miles north on Mountain Highway 99/Sierra Highway. The plaque site is at the turnout 0.8 miles past McNally's Store/lodges and Burger stand on Mountain 99.

Our Annual business meeting is scheduled for Saturday, November 4, 2023, at our regular place, the La Sierra Mexican Restaurant (and Clamper Watering Hole) in Frazier Park. Our Meeting will begin as usual at 10 am. We hope to get in for breakfast at 8 am. We will keep you posted as to the agenda and if there are any changes, as the weather can be iffy in November.

On the good news side, we replaced our worn-out cook shack pop-ups with industrial grade pop-ups similar to those used at trade shows. This is our third generation of weather protection, and these awnings are even emblazoned with the PXL Rondelle. XXNGH Mark "Pokey" Crawford and XNGH Dale "Top" Turner researched the pop-ups which were funded through your donations to "Feed the Bear." So thanks to these Brothers and to everyone who has supported us through our volunteer fund.

Our chapter actually survived without much shade for many years. XNGHs Gene Duncker and Joe Zsot donated the sturdy "tarp and pipe" canopies in 1986, which served us well until we retired them and which were good enough to donate to the Copper Queen outpost in Yerington, Nevada to help the Brothers there assemble a proper kit. Those canopies were replaced by a generous donation from XNGH Jim Bailey in 2015, who saw the benefit of having something lightweight, that would require fewer men to set up. After a number of years of good service, we have finally retired those, as well.

Here's another problem. As much as we would rather cook our meats on charcoal, too many Clampsites no longer tolerate open flames due to drought conditions - including Fort Tejon. But again thanks to the Bear Fund, we have just purchased a new propane gas barbeque -- to be used for the first time at our Fall Doin's! Think of it as our Barbeque to the Stars. Thank you XXXNGH Ptomaine Timbo Gillespie, for helping us out once again as our Clamp Chef, and for taking the bull by the horns in suggesting, picking out, then ordering our new barbeque.

My Brothers, on a serious note, Ptimbo has only stepped in temporarily as our Clamp Chef to help us out this year --- but we need a permanent replacement for him, so he can at least try to enjoy his recent retirement! Please let me or any of your other officers know if you are interested in helping us out as Clamp Chef.

Though it's hard to believe that this Clamp year is almost over, we still have a lot of Clamping to do! Come on up to Fort Tejon, then join us at the Road's End plaque rededication on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 11 am. Please carpool if you can as parking is limited. If you're not plaquing, you're not Clamping. See you there!

XNGH Al 'The Quackster' Price, PXL #1866
    Noble Grand Humbug 2023
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