Rally e-newsletter 8.01
May 7, 2008

RA 'n da UP
June 19-22, 2008

Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI

Those that have ridden the Upper Peninsula of Michigan will tell you the ride is diverse and very interesting. It may not be the most challenging, but boring, it is not.

The RA visits this fascinating region for its 36 th Annual Rally. And it doesn’t get any better than the Keweenaw Peninsula. Houghton is the gateway to the peninsula and as you cross the draw bridge from Houghton to Hancock, leave the town of Hancock, the population becomes sparse. A sad reminder of the days when copper mining was king and the local copper mine employed hundreds at its peak.

The copper mine was also the force that shaped a unique local culture. Waves of immigrants came to the region to work the mines: Finns, Germans & Italians, with the Finns being the largest portion of the workforce. That strong Scandinavian influence remains today and can be seen in the names of towns, streets, food (we’ll get to pasties later) and sounds: close your eyes and listen to the locals talk. For a moment you’d swear you crossed the pond to Scandinavia.

The RA will hold its rally on the campus of Michigan Technological University. A first for the RA as it seeks to offer diverse and interesting rally sites. MTU was established in 1885 with the purpose to provide top notch mining engineers and quickly became known for its mining engineer programs. But as the mines relocated or closed, MTU broadened its focus and became a well known engineering school along with other programs including business. MTU alums can be found in a number of places as diverse as nuclear power and even remain in the mining fields. I’ve been surprised at the number of folks who have written to say they are MTU grads and are “coming home” to attend the rally.

The site is compact and will save your feet some steps. Camping, facilities, food, entertainment and seminars are all within easy walks. There are three tent camping areas: all in the same area, but at different levels. The base level area will be designated as “Group Camping”. If clubs want to set up and establish encampments, there is room to spread out a bit. This field is normally used for football practice. The next two camping areas are used as soccer fields and climb in a bit of elevation with the highest field having a great view of the university, surrounding forest, Houghton’s drawbridge and the beautiful blue waters of the Keweenaw Bay of Lake Superior.

No shower trailers this year (thank God!). MTU has excellent facilities in both the Gates Tennis Center (GTC) and the Sports and Recreation Complex. Both buildings have locker rooms with more than ample showers, toilets, sinks, etc. All camping areas will have porta potties conveniently located. Dry RV camping will be available in the main parking lot as you enter the rally site and will be designated as such. Those that choose to dry camp will also be within easy distances to the two main buildings. One main requirement for those that dry camp: if you bring your generators, they must be turned off at 11:00pm. Folks with totally self-contained RVs or trailers can camp at the Cross Country Skiing area. There are no facilities at this site. If you want full hookups, the Hancock City RV Park can facilitate you and you are within an easy mile of the rally site. For information on the Hancock Park, check out the "Lodging" link.

Special needs folks have a special area set aside with electricity. If you need one of these sites, contact Jeff Gehler.

Enter the way back machine to your college days and make a reservation for a Dorm Room. MTU has set aside a block of dorm rooms for the rally and these can be reserved at the same address listed under “Lodging”. A direct link is provide to make these reservations.

Seminar rooms and the cyber café are located on the second floor of the Recreational Complex. Two formal classrooms and the balcony of the SDC Woods Gym will be used as seminar rooms.

The social center for the rally is the Gates Tennis Center. The GTC will house Registration (in the main lobby), food service, Beer Garden, Entertainment and the general information/Volunteer booth.

Rally pre-registration is open both on-line and by snail mail. Additionally, the ERC course will be conducted Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the rally. Sign up on-line or on paper. Each class is limited to twelve so sign up ASAP if you intend to take the class.

On Saturday night of the rally, we will have a pasty dinner. Pasties are truly a UP tradition and came from miners of yore. These tasty pastries (try saying that ten times quickly) were made for miners to take with them for lunch and were compact and kept well. Dinners are just $5 each and a something to try. Just ask any local!

More information is coming but if you have questions please e-mail: rallyinfo@bmwra.org!

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