Guidelines
The FreeWheelers chapter of RVW has a long "freewheeling" tradition consistent with our name! This means that everyone is free to make each and every outing exactly what you want it to be! You can join in for planned activities, or just hang around and chat, or read that great novel you have been wanting to finish. You can feast on our group meals and snacks, go out to local restaurants, or eat your own grub in your rig. What you do and how you do it is up to you!
We are committed to having a good time together. We provide for one another lots of options for visiting, sharing stories, learning from one another, and helping one another. To make this all work, of course we do need a few guidelines, and here the are!
Who can attend
Women 18 years of age and over are welcome to attend our functions.
For those who do not belong to RVW, you are welcome to attend two events as our guest. As much as we love the kids under 18 and men in our lives, we leave them at home ... this is a time for just us gals to get together and celebrate together our love of RVing!
Outings: What to expect and what to bring
Our events typically start on Friday evening and end at check-out time
on Sunday. Usually the event host is able to make arrangements
with the campground for those who want to arrive on Thursday and leave
on Monday; details about early arrival and late departure are included
in the description of each event.
We usually have a "meet and greet" time on Friday and share
appetizers and finger foods (often good enough for a meal!). On
Saturday morning we get together for breakfast so that everyone can 
visit
and share ideas about activities for the day. Saturday night is
typically a shared meal - the wagon hostess gives details about what
to bring for this meal in the description of the event.
Other than what you normally need for your ideal camping experience,
there are a few things to anticipate for our group activities. Always
bring your own drinks, plates and utensils; these are typically not provided. If
we are able to have a campfire everyone pitches in a bit of wood for
the fire. Bring your own chair for outside get-togethers. When
we have a clubhouse or activity room seating is typically provided.
Schedule of events
Our gatherings are generally scheduled on the first full week-end of
the month. However, when there is a major holiday we shift to the
week-end before or following the holiday. Also we sometimes need
to shift the timing based on the availability of a campground with sufficient
facilities to accomodate our group. We aim to have our schedule
of events posted at least six months ahead.
We also encourage mid-month outings, but these are not regular affairs
(yet)! From time to time a group gets together mid-month to go boon-docking,
or a small group plans an outing in a particular location that cannot
accomodate our typical sized group.
Newsletter and Email list
Our monthly newsletter is sent to all FreeWheeler members on the Yahoo
email list. You must be a member of RVW and FreeWheelers to get
the newsletter. Go to this page to join! We do not mail any
newsletters on paper; if you are not yet on email or have problems with
your email, contact someone in the chapter for assistance.
The Yahoo Email list is only used for the newsletter, registration information
for outings posted by the wagon hostess, occasional mid-month postings
related to our chapter events, and news about our members when there
is a crisis. If you have a horse to sell, news about your recent trip
to Alaska, or need someone to help you drive to Alabama, plan ahead and
send us this information to post in the newsletter. Classified
ads that are placed in the Newsletter will also be listed on this web
site in "classifieds".
Pet'Equitte
BY NAOMIE MCLEES, A FreeWheeler Furkid
Mom and I joined FreeWheelers way back in 1999, when we 
discovered
the group at Olema, shortly after Mom had bought the first RV4NAO. Our
first encounter was two large German Shepherds running free to greet
us – and a very nice lady saying, “no” – to which they immediately stopped
and politely waited for introductions. Shiloh and Tarka remain
my dearest friends (and protectors) to this day. Just like
the classic TV show’s theme song, “those were the days” …when the group
was small, everyone knew each other and all the other dogs knew each
other as well – when 10-12 people would be around the fire each night,
their pets curled quietly and contently at their feet. Even those
without pets in our FW group didn’t object because the pets were so well
mannered and under the control of their humans.
Well, this is NOW, the FreeWheelers group has grown by leaps and bounds
and some of our members have decided that their pet shouldn’t have to
follow the basic rules of good manners and common sense. We love
all the new members and the dynamics of meeting old friends and making
new friends --- human and canine, feline and others – but with the growing
group it’s now necessary to have some “Pet-Equitte” rules so that everyone
can enjoy equally our gatherings.
So here’s some hints for our human members and our animal friends – some
may sound a bit harsh but that’s sometimes what happens when just a few
push the envelope and break the rules.
First off – did you know it’s AGAINST THE LAW to allow a dog or other
domestic animal and cats (domestic or feral) to roam at large (free)
in 
any RV park? Allowing this to happen not only puts you, the
RV guest in jeopardy but also our host parks for violating the laws–
and they will probably be hesitant to invite us back if we put them in
jeopardy. Roaming “at large” means NOT being confined either to
a leash, tether or in a secure enclosure or in your RV. Even if
your canine (or feline) companion is the most well-trained in the world,
don’t walk through the RV park, to the bathrooms, or be at our FW gatherings
unless your companion is on a leash attached to you – the human.
Secondly – each RV park has its own rules regarding pets. Be sure
you’re aware of them and follow those rules. If they have a dog
area, use it! If they have a doggie “run”, that’s great and maybe
other FW pets can join yours in a leash-free romp. And, remember to always
pick up after your pet – whether when on a walk or at your campsite. My
Mom says there’s nothing worse than stepping in “poop” and makes this
awful “eeuhhhh” noise when it happens.
Third – If you’re new to the group, go slow – us old-timers like to check
out the new furry visitors to be sure that they fit in with our group.
Fourth – sometimes the nicest dogs (and cats) in the world react negatively
to the changes they encounter in RV travel. Even if they are docile
at home, they may become aggressive or protective when away from their
normal environment. Or that may just be their day-
to-day temperament
which you tolerate – but others shouldn’t have to. FW humans, if
your animal is aggressive toward others or toward humans, it’s your responsibility
to keep them under control and if necessary away from the group as a
whole. We’ve had instances where a little bitty dog has taken on
a “monster” dog and although the big guy didn’t retaliate – he could
have and the results would have been catastrophic.
If your pet is a “biter”, then make sure that he/she can’t be in a position
to bite. If this does happen, you’ll be asked to take your pet
away from the group and confine it to your site during the remainder
of the outing.
If your pet is a “barker”, do whatever you can to prevent it from barking
incessantly and disturbing others. Sometimes your pet will be fine
in the RV but will bark at every leaf and noise outside….gee, what’s
the solution to that one?
We know that we have to follow the “rule” that I’m not allowed to come
to events where there’s food being served or where the event is indoors
– sad for me but makes sense as some canines don’t have good table manners
and can get pretty disruptive – but Mom always rewards me with a treat
when she comes back from those events and reminds me that by having this
“rule”, I can still come to the other gatherings – especially the ones
at the fire at night – which I really love -- but only if I remain
on my leash at all times and with her or one of my adopted “aunties”.
Finally, don’t leave your pet outside unattended, even if he/she is in
an enclosure – remember, we’re camping and there’s a bunch of feral critters
out there at some of our sites – who might just love a morsel of your
furry friend.
And if you’re going to leave your pet in the RV (and it’s not against
the RV park rules), be sure you’ve let someone else know in the group
and that they have access to your RV, just in case! How tragic
if there was a fire or other emergency and your pet was trapped – and
you were nowhere to be found.
All and all these are simple and reasonable guidelines – which will make
everyone’s life a little easier on our FreeWheeler outings! Let’s
just follow them and the basic rule of good manners – and we can all
have a wonderful time!
See you at the next FreeWheeler gathering!