1

––––

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas; it’s the best time of the year!Have a Holly Jolly Christmas; it’s the best time of the year!Have a Holly Jolly Christmas; it’s the best time of the year!Have a Holly Jolly Christmas; it’s the best time of the year!

Presidents Message 1

Business Minutes 2

Social Calendar 3

Officers & contacts 3

TCI: News 4

Weekends 4

Members’ Page 6

Address Page 10

Tall Orders

taken at the Christmas Dinner

during a very brief business

meeting.

We have several activities on the

calendar that we hope will bring

everyone out to join in the fun of

the season. Events go into

January and February and we

really would like to see our

members; especially those who

don’t come out too often. Our

RCTC e-mail box has had

several requests about our club,

so we have some new prospects

that we hope will join us soon.

So come on out, your RCTC

TALL friends have been missing

you. Let get caught-up with all

that’s going on.

To everyone I wish you a most

blessed Christmas Season. Let

us bring Joy to everyone!

Rocket City Tall Club, Huntsville, Alabama An affiliate of Tall Clubs International, www.tall.org

Volume 29, Issue 12, December 2018

The Prez Sez: Laurie Peterson

www.rocketcitytallclub.com

Where did the year go? Here

we are talking about our annual

year-end events!

At the business meeting we

discussed our Christmas Dinner

that will be held at Terranova’s

Restaurant on Hwy. 72. It will

be on Sunday, December 16th at

5:30 pm. All details will be in a

flyer coming from JoAnn. Be

sure to RSVP. Rosie is heading

up the New Year’s Get-A-Way!

RCTC will be traveling to

Guntersville State Park for an

over-night stay at the Lodge. A

fun filled evening is promised;

as it was last year.

Also covered in the meeting was

acceptance of the slate of

officers for 2019-2020. The vote

for the incoming officers will be

continued page 5

2

November 14, 2018

RCTC Business Meeting Minutes

Submitted by Rosie Miller

Members Attending: Brian Miller, Rosie Miller,

Stephen Campbell, JoAnn Smith, Laurie

Peterson, John Peterson, Laura Brown, Macy

Brown and Denise Garrison.

President Laurie Peterson called to order the

business meeting at 6:00 PM. She asked for the

approval of the October minutes. They were

approved as written.

Reports

President: Laurie Peterson will go over

information in old business and new business

after the officer’s reports.

Vice-President: Stephen Campbell reported that

we will not participate in the Salvation Army

Tree this year. He was unable to make contact

with the Salvation Army for scheduling. Stephen

was happy to see folks back from their travels.

He also reported on his hurricane Michael relief

efforts in Panama City, Florida.

Secretary: Rosie Miller thanked Macy for taking

the minutes in her absence.

Treasurer: Macy Brown reported the balance in

the checking account.

Social Chairperson: JoAnn Smith reviewed

upcoming social events; Orphans Thanksgiving

at the Smith’s house, Iron Bowl game at

Denise’s. JoAnn and Denise will send out emails

with the details on these two events. The RCTC

Christmas dinner will be at Terranova’s on Dec.

16th at 5:30. Rosie told members about a New

Year’s Eve celebration at Lake Guntersville

State Park.

Editor: Laura Brown asked for articles for the

December newsletter by November 28th.

Webmaster: Brian received two inquiries from

the website email. He answered the emails and

invited the individuals to the business meeting.

The website is up to date.

RCTC Meeting Minutes: Rosie Miller

Marfan: Rosie Miller passed around the

Marfan can for donations. She will add up the

money and give it to Macy so she can mail a

check to the Marfan Foundation in December.

Historian: John Peterson shared an article

from the Huntsville Times about Alabama

having a large number of tall men in our state

as compared to the rest of the country.

TCI Correspondent: Brian reported on 2019

TCI Convention in Anaheim, California and

Pre-Convention Cruise out of San Diego.

European Convention 2019 will be in the

Netherlands.

Old Business: There has been one update on

the slate of officers for 2019/2020. Denise

Garrison has accepted the office of

Membership. President – Stephen Campbell;

Vice President – Bob Hennessee; Secretary –

Laurie Peterson; Treasurer – Macy Brown;

Membership – Denise Garrison; Social – Rosie

Miller; Editor – JoAnn Smith. These positions

will be voted on in December.

The Christmas party is scheduled for Sunday,

December 16th at 5:30pm at Terranova’s.

Laurie added if members want to make a day

of it they could attend the afternoon

performance of the Jersey Boys show at the

VBC and then a walk through the Tinsel Trail

before going to dinner.

New Business: A motion was made for the

cost of the Christmas dinner at Terranova’s

reimbursement to attending members to be;

$20.00 for members, $10.00 for associate

members. This was approved by the members.

A motion was made to give a $20.00 credit off

the next year’s dues for out of town members

who are unable to attend the Christmas dinner

at the restaurant. This only applies to

members living outside of Madison, Morgan,

Limestone and Cullman counties. This motion

was approved by the members. continued page 5

3

;

Membership Information Women: 5’ 10” or taller in stocking feet

Men: 6’ 2” or taller in stocking feet

Age: 21 years or older

Attendance: 2-social and 1 work function

Within a 3 month period

Dues: $24.00 per year per member

$12.00 per year per associate member

TCI Founder: Kae Sumner Einfeldt

TCI President: Carolyn Goldstein

2018 Officers and Contacts President: Laurie Peterson 256-830-9331

Vice Pres: Stephen Campbell 256-683-0401

Secretary: Rosie Miller 256-683-9294

Treasurer: Macy Brown 256-721-7583

Membership: Steve Caldwell 256-542-5999

Social: JoAnn Smith 256-858-0850

Editor: Laura Brown 256-721-7583

Web Master: Brian Miller 256-683-9417

2014 Officers and Contacts

December 12, Wednesday, 6:00 pm NO BUSINESS MEETING

RCTC Social Calendar for December 2018

RCTC Christmas Dinner

Terranova Italian Restaurant - December 16th, 5:30 p.m.

1420 Paramount Dr #1, Huntsville, AL

Get in the Christmas spirit!

Attend the Jersey Boys musical at 1:00 p.m.

at the Von Braun Center -tickets $37.00-$62.00. Afterwards enjoy

a walk through the Tinsel Trail

then meet for dinner

Please RSVP to Joann Smith by Saturday, December 8th

bookends@mediacombb.net, 256-858-0850

Members attending the dinner will be given $20.00,

associate members $10.00,

and each person will be responsible for their bill

4

Date Event Club

Jan 24-27 Camp Paramount Paramount Tall Club of Chicago

Feb 15-17 Phoenix Phebruary Phiesta Central Arizona Tall Society

Jun 28-Jul 1 Pre-Convention 2019 “Get Your Cruise On”

Jul 1 - 7 TCI Convention 2019 Southern California

TCI Events Page: Brian Miller

For more information about the weekends, go to

www.tall.org and look under “Events”.

1. RCTC website has been updated. 2. No results from convention. 3. Received a request for information from a new prospect.

4. Received the following from TCI President, Carolyn Goldstein. Her information contradicts the TCI Website. (Website says convention will be in San Diego.)

“Drum roll, please. To paraphrase Horace Greeley (or John Soule) “Go west tall Men and Women!”

After receiving 28 votes from the 40 clubs in TCI, the 2019 Tall Club Convention will be in Anaheim

CA. Thanks to both committees for taking the time and effort in researching possible locations. Leta

Johnson and her team will do a great job.

5

Prez Sez: Continued from page 1

One man’s business card is trending on Twitter after a stranger asked him how tall he is. The card doesn’t have a name, but it does list the mystery man’s height as 6 feet 10 inches. According to the card, and several comments on the tweet’s thread, getting asked if you play basketball is common for people who are tall. The full card reads:

Minutes: continued from page 2

A motion was made to hold this year’s December business meeting at the December 16th Christmas party.

This motion was approved by the members.

Announcements: Laura read a Halloween card that she and Macy received from Susan Delmas. Dinner

vote was the new Baumhower’s.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 PM.

Yes, I am tall

I am 6’10’’ No, I’m not kidding. Yes, that is tall.

No, I do not play basketball. I play volleyball.

Yes, Seeing the tops of everyone’s head is weird. Yes, the weather is nice up here.

This has been a great conversation.

TCI & Rocket City Tall Club support the following philanthropy;

The National Marfan Foundation, www.marfan.org

Nominations for 2019 and 2020

President – Stephen Campbell

Vice President – Bob Hennessee

Secretary – Laurie Peterson

Treasurer – Macy Brown

Membership – Denise Garrison

Social – Rosie Miller

Editor – JoAnn Smith

6

Iron Bowl Football Pool by Macy Brown

As best I can decipher, 12 or 13 people participated in the Iron Bowl Football Pool during the party at

Denise’s on 24 November 2018. Denise’s daughter, Selena, and to-be son-in-law, Anthony, were the big

winners with Anthony winning two quarters and Selena one. Our own Laurie Peterson won the other

quarter but donated her winnings to MARFANS. MARFANS was the largest overall winner with a total

of $13.00 being donated. Since we have already made our yearly donation to MARFANS, I will put it in

the bank for next year’s donation. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Thanksgiving Orphan Dinner By Laurie Peterson

OVER THE RIVER

Over the river and through the woods,

To Joann's house we go;

The GPS knows the way to carry us there,

Through (the) wide harvested fields!

Over the river and through the woods,

Oh, how the sun did shine!

It made us smile for we were to dine!

As over the ground we go.

Over the river and through the woods,

To have a first rate turkey buffet;

Oh, hear our praise for a wonderful day.

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Thank you Joann and Jeff for hosting the RCTC Orphan’s Thanksgivings Day Dinner. Everyone contributed in some way to make this a scrumptious meal. The menu was extensive with plenty for all; some even took goody bags home with them. We sat around and talked for a good bit. Everyone had travel stories to share. Everyone had a pet story to tell; be it either a cat or dog. One thing was sure – everyone enjoyed the lovely afternoon. Orphans or not, we were family today! Picture on page 7:

MEMBERS’ PAGES

7

Operation BBQ Relief Volunteering By Stephen Campbell

I spent October 19-23, 2018 volunteering after hurricane Michael in Panama City Beach with

Operation BBQ Relief. OBR was started by some competition BBQ cooks after a tornado hit Joplin, Mo. in

2011. “Providing hope, compassion and friendship to those who have lost everything in disasters one hot

bbq meal at a time”. It is a 501c charity. They deploy to natural disasters providing free hot BBQ meals to

those whose lives that have been affected. Including fires in Gatlinburg and California, floods in Houston,

N. Carolina, hurricanes and tornadoes. I had been following them knowing it was a good group and

donating, wanting to go volunteer.

When hurricane Michael hit Florida and OBR deployed to Tallahassee and Panama City Beach

(PCB) I started making plans to go and volunteer. Tuesday I went online and signed up for Friday 2-8,

Saturday 6a-8p, Sunday 6-2 planning to come home and make it to work Monday. I also took the safe

server class and got my certificate. I also put in to be off work Friday and Monday. Wednesday on

Facebook, OBR was asking for more volunteers, I told them at work if I was needed longer that I would be

back to work on Thursday. I was committed to go, I got my deployment orders to work the days and times

I requested. I loaded my Motor home with clothes, food and drinks for a week. Not knowing what to

expect. Website said they had bunks to sleep and would feed you, but... l wanted to be prepared. I topped

off the water tank in motor home (MH), checked the propane, generator, air conditioner, and made sure

the holding tanks were empty. Was going to top off gasoline when I crossed into Florida. I wanted my bed,

hot shower and AC. I left Thursday afternoon after eating supper with Andrea, I did not want to get up

early and rush on Friday. I stopped at a rest area to sleep for the night north of Montgomery and slept

well, until the trucks beside me woke up and left. Then trucks started pulling in and staying 5 min and

leaving again. Oh well, it was a cheap place to sleep. After a cup of yogurt, was on the road again.

I crossed interstate 10 and started seeing a few trees blown over and blue traps on roofs. In PCB, I

headed to beach road to see how much damage there was. Some hotels were open with police staying

there. Others had renovation crews there and others were closed. The ones open had no sign, fences

down, canopy gone, debris was piled on side of road. Power lines were still on the street you had to drive

over. Some business and restaurants were open, others had roofs blown off. I saw vacationers unloading

and getting ready to enjoy their weekend at the beach. I walked down to the water to get my feet wet and

sand between my toes. It was nice. A few people were swimming and having a good time. The further

east I went the worse the damage.

8

I found the closed Kmart parking lot that was going to be my home for the next 5 days. It was at

the corner of Thomas Dr. and 98 before going over the bridge. Each morning and afternoon they said it

took an hour to cross the bridge with backed up traffic. The county had a dusk to dawn curfew and a boil

water warning. The Kmart sign was gone, a trailer truck that was parked on the side of the lot was

turned over, trees beside the lot were blown over. A street light pole was dangling on a traffic signal pole.

Fences were blown over. This is as far east as I went. People I talked to said east of here it was worse

than a war zone.

OBR headquarters in PCB was a tent city, some large some small, with trailer trucks used as

storage. At least 6 were refrigerated, 1full of bagged ice, tanker trucks with water, travel trailers as

offices, a mobile infirmary, Salvation Army trucks and tents giving out meals and other necessities. I

parked next to where police had some sleeping trailers and a police shower trailer. There were camping

tents that volunteers were using in this area also.

12:30 Friday, Lets do this!!

I found where to get signed in and received my armband for the day and a T-shirt that we wrote our name

on and where we were from. Was told to go to the “Protein tent” to see if needed there, if not go to “sides

tent”. In protein, they were unloading sausages, 1640 to be exact (I later learned that the sausages are

the “go to” fast meat when they get an extra order or the large meat doesn’t turn out as many servings as

was planned). We packed them in cambro boxes that are reusable styrofoam coolers with tight fitting lids

that we line with a heat resistance bag. 200 servings per box, label protein on sides. We do everything by

200 serving. 5 boxes per layer 1,000 serving per layer, Protein on pallet, sides on another pallet taken to

loading area.

The Salvation Army (SA) is doing most of the distribution at this deployment. They have TSA

trucks from all over the south east. When they pull in the lot, a FEMA truck fills them with fuel, then

they get bottled water, diapers, pet food, other needed items. Then clam shells, eating utensils, bread,

then to us. Where they received the # of meals they ordered the night before 1,200, 800, 400 etc. they also

received canned fruit. Then to their designated spot to put on plate and serve the people in need.

I talked to a SA worker as we were loading her truck who told me she never would have thought

she would get blisters/calluses from dipping and serving food to those in need. I think that is when it hit

me that this is what I am down here for, to serve over 28,000 people in need per day. We cook it, they

serve it. But some are getting the “1 hot bbq meal”. That could be the only meal they get that day, or the

only hot meal.

One of our volunteers was at the grocery store getting supplies. A little girl and her sister came up

and grabbed his leg and both started hugging his legs hollering at their mother. “Mommy this is the man

that has been feeding us all week” (he had an OBR shirt on). They all had a good cry! This is why I

decided to stay 2 more days.

Friday afternoon we took 75 butts off the cooker and processed and packed these in 30 minutes.

Friday night we had a butt rubbing party. We put 7,500lbs of butts on the cookers in 1hr and 45min. I

unboxed most of the butts with my pocket knife. (I later learned where the razor knifes were). I put the

butts on table, someone cut open plastic, passed to next person who took out of plastic, next person

rubbed spice on butt, next person carried to pit, next person loaded pit. In the protein tent there were 8

pits that would hold 80 butts each when they were all full. We then carried them to another cooker that

could hold 350 butts. It was the largest made by that manufacturer. Most we put on this cooker was 210.

I was very tired after that and left at 9:30. I had turned on generator and AC around 6 in afternoon to

conserve fuel. When I got to MH it felt very good, I turned on water heater when I got back to conserve

propane, hot shower felt great.

Saturday 6am. We unloaded the butts we had put on the night before and put in coolers to hold till

they were processed. The processing was 2 lines. I took the butts out of the cooler and placed on table,

passed to person who took out bone, passed to person who tore butt apart, who passed to put in electric

chopper and out to pan, passed to put sauce on meat, passed to hand mix in sauce, passed to weigh (50lbs

= 200 serving) put in CAMBRO box, put on pallet. A well run system, to do 27,000 servings in 3 hours. We

ate breakfast when finished, sausage and egg burrito, canned pear, orange juice.

9

Even though I had heat resistant gloves on, my fingers were wrinkled from the moisture that had

collected in the tips and very tender almost blisters. Handling that much hot meat was so rough at times

we had to put our hands in a bucket of ice water to cool them down enough to keep working. My fingers

stayed tender for 3 more days. I learned to find another job and or take a break. This was the routine

most days, put butts or loins on at night take off in morning and process. Sunday night we made BBQ

spaghetti. We boiled elbow macaroni that night (they use what they have). Monday morning we put

macaroni in box, BBQ sauce, tomato sauce, cheese, bbq pork or turkey put in pan and cooked. Poured in

box for 200 servings made enough for 26,000 servings. One morning we made a rice dish. Minute rice in

box, gal. can of whole kernel corn, gal. can of pinto beans, nacho cheese, chili meat, boiling water, stir.

Sealed in box.

The sides tent I learned had somewhat easier jobs. Would unload pallets of green beans, corn,

yams, English peas in assembly line. From pallet, to table, to can opener (was mechanical that one pull of

handle would knock top down into can and be opened) to out of opener, to table, to drain, to back on

another pallet to be cooked the next morning. Salvation Army had loaned their 40’ portable kitchen

trailer for OBR to use. Tuesday morning I ended up in there. It had 3 tilt skillets that would hold 40

gallons each. 3 of us working did 18,000 servings of corn and green beans. Unloaded cans from pallet to

table, took off lids, poured in skillet, 2lbs of butter, salt, pepper, cook to temperature, Unload to CAMBRO

box, seal label 200 serving, load again we did this in 2.5 hours. Sides supposed to be easier....

I was conserving fuel best I could in MH just running generator at night, for the AC when I was

there, but looked at gas gauge Sunday and was getting close to where generator would not run. Since I

was staying longer, I found a place where I could move MH and plug into a generator they were using.

Asked one of the full time crew about it and explained why. He told me to find the FEMA fuel truck the

next morning and get him to fill me up, I did so I could keep AC on.

They fed us good. We had a “camp cook” and his wife, that cooked us 3 hot meals each day (no

bbq). Red beans and rice, jambalaya, sausage, bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy, low country boil, Ruben or

chicken salad sandwich. We always had fresh fruit available. A volunteer from the Carolinas had brought

down his ice cream truck that was always open to go in and help ourselves. We had snacks of chips, nuts,

jerky, Slim Jim’s, trail mix, water and Gatorade.

There were volunteers from all over the country and Canada. New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,

Kansas, Missouri, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, south Florida and locals. Some were

on vacation and knew of the need and wanted to help. When asking the locals if they had any damage,

most said a few shingles, fence down, limbs, trees down, shed, not much we’re ok. I want to help these

people who don’t have anything. Talked to a couple from Canada who come down every month of October.

His wife was sitting on the beach crying knowing these people lost everything and wanted to help. A

school teacher had been there every day volunteering. She found this because she didn’t want to run a

chainsaw or pull limbs to help.

This experience has had an impact on me as a person. I did not see the major damage in person

but knowing we were serving over 30,000 meals a day and seeing photos and talking to those that did it is

hard to imagine. Knowing that many of our neighbors are in need of a hot meal is overwhelming. I was

there just 5 days (wish it could have been more). I helped with over 90,000 meals. It is terrible that the

media has forgotten and moved on to other stories. The people of Florida need a lot more help. It will be

years if ever for some to get back to normal. Thank you for your prayers and your donations to OBR they

still need volunteers and donations. Thank you to Andrea for taking care of everything at home so I could

go. I plan on being at the next OBR deployment if needed. When we said goodbyes to our fellow

volunteers, we said we hoped to see them again but maybe it would not be at a natural disaster with

OBR. If there is a natural disaster OBR will be there feeding those in need.

OBR finished up the deployment in Florida on November 12, 2018

808,220 meals after Hurricane Michael

1,160,828 year to date in 2018

2,912,520 since OBR inception in 2011

They went to Chico, California during the fires and served over 5,000 meals.

1 Hot BBQ meal served over 2.9 million times.

10

I’m Not Tall…

I’m Vertically

Gifted

2001

Rocket City Tall Club

398 Clydebank Dr.

Madison, AL 35758