We left our comfort zone about 10:00am on Tuesday morning, January 31and headed south on I-5. 36miles later we topped off the fuel tank at Corning and breezed along through Sacramento and Stockton to Manteca where we shifted over to Hwy 99 and stopped for a leisurely lunch at Ripon, then on to Fresno... um, Clovis which we reached about 4:15. We visited with my sister, brother-in-law, two of my nieces and the husband of one niece, then went to dinner with them... they paid.
Tuesday morning at 9:00am we filled the tank again and headed off again to Riverside on Hwy 99. The first few miles the visibility suffered because of the infamous tule fog, but it cleared out shortly. We hadn’t gone all that far when I spotted a familiar vehicle in the right hand lane. Bigger than life the words ‘Frank’s Towing’ were plastered on the side of the truck and there was our future son-in-law on his way to Visalia to pick up a vehicle that he was taking back to Elk Grove. So we spent a half-hour visiting with him at a roadside rest and talking on the cell phone to the stepdaughter convincing her that "yes" he really did meet up with us in the middle of nowhere.
Then it was back on the road again, south through all of those little communities along 99 and then through Bakersfield; the merge back to I-5; over the ’Grapevine’ and into ’Southern California’ where the posted speed limit is just a suggestion. We found ourselves in the wrong lane so we missed our turnoff onto I-210. I had better luck at the next exit and returned to the interchange so we could head east through Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley. We proceeded to Upland... lunch again... then to I-15 south; across I-10 to Hwy 60 east for the final run to Riverside, which we reached about 2:45pm.
That’s where the first of our misadventures began.
I parked the Mustang, went into the lobby of the Marriott and suddenly realized that our reservations were for the following day. Fortunately, the hotel was able to accommodate us, but the room would not be ready for about another 15 minutes or so. The first... well, almost the first... person I recognized and was greeted by was PIP Kay Fukushima, followed almost immediately by PIP Bill Biggs. I felt like a VIP. After greeting a few others, including our own DG, Bob Prahl, and VDG, Steve Robeson, I received the room key and went to get the car to move it to the front of the hotel.
Misadventure number two was that the Mustang wouldn’t start. We tried it in ‘Park...’ in ‘Neutral...’ We tried checking the anti-theft device. It seemed that every electrical device except the starter would work. Meanwhile we found a Bellman to gather our luggage and got it up to our room. Then the Bellman, Nacho... yes, that was his name... tried to start the car. He checked under the hood and was as likely confused as I. The next step was to call the Automobile Association. They sent a tow truck about 40 minutes later and the driver attempted all of the things that we’d tried plus a check of the battery and an attempt to jumpstart... same result. The driver then got on his radio and called for another truck which is equipped to replace the battery. Then he left. In about 45 more minutes the second driver arrived, attempted everything we’d tried and then put his more advanced battery tester on the battery and found that it was in great shape... even after numerous attempts to start the Mustang. So he decided to go under the car... after he jacked it up so he could fit. He banged on the starter hoping that it would loosen it so it would turn the engine over... that didn’t work either. By this time it was too late to call back a tow truck to take the car to a repair facility, and we had no idea where to take it anyway, so he left too.
Now I was informed that the car would have to be moved because it was in the fire lane... along with about six other vehicles... but they did say we could park it in one of the handicap parking spots. So Sharon sat in the driver’s seat and I pushed. Well I pushed in between times that I went to help her turn the steering wheel... the power steering is worthless unless the engine is running. We managed, with the assistance of one volunteer to get the car moved.
Meanwhile my friend, Nacho... we became buddies... informed me that the hotel had a auto repair shop that they used regularly, which we could have the car towed to in the morning... oh joy, more adventures with the Auto Club. Oh! Yes, I missed the first session of the Council of Governors except for a brief drop-in between sessions with Auto Club drivers.
We dropped in on two hospitality rooms: one hosted by ID Bill Crawford and ID Candidate Dana Biggs where we caught up with a lot of Lions friends and made some new ones, including International 2nd VP candidate, Dennis Tichenor; the other hosted by candidate for International 2nd VP, Al Brandel, where we saw almost everyone from the first hospitality room. Then to dinner at the hotel restaurant where we saw still more old friends. Before returning to our room we went back to the Brandel hospitality which had reconvened.
Misadventure number three paled by comparison. We put in an order for room service to bring coffee, pastries, juice and fruit at 7:00am. All was well with that, except for the coffee pot being empty. A brief call to room service rectified the situation within minutes.
Next on the agenda was the Mustang and the mystery of the balky starter. Have I mentioned that I had remained calm during this entire crisis? It seems everyone else, other than the lovely Sharon, was more worried than us. While waiting for the first tow truck, she had found a ‘lucky penny’ and had determined that everything would work out... even if we had to replace the vehicle or had to call ‘Frank’s Towing’ to bring us home.
I talked to my friend, Nacho, who called the repair shop which informed us they could deal with the problem immediately. We called the Auto Club... again... and they sent another truck... and a third driver who, as a ‘Ford’ man, attempted all of the fixes previously tried before hooking up and towing the Mustang to the garage. We arrived at the garage at 8:50am and I told the service writer about the problem and attempted fixes. He assured me that they would have an answer before noon. They had a fellow drive me back to the Marriott where I managed to sit in on part of the Council of Governors to hear the Constitution & Bylaws, Budget & Finance and the Leadership Committee reports... what fun!!! By that time it was a little after 11:00am so I called the repair shop, who informed me that the Mustang was repaired... talk about a ’LUCKY PENNY...’ no new car... no ride in a tow truck from Riverside to Anderson (612miles). The problem was with the anti-theft device which had gone bad. They were able to bypass it and informed me that since the Mustang is 12 years old and has over 130,000 miles, it is unlikely that anyone would want to take it anyway. The entire repair job was covered by the diagnostic fee, which was also a relief. My really good friend, Nacho, drove me over to the garage, then waited so that I could follow him back to the hotel. As long as I was out and about, I filled the tank again.
I will digress for a moment to mention that I was able to remain unperturbed throughout this entire episode because I kept remembering that had the car pulled its little stunt anywhere but at the hotel, we’d have really been stuck with no place to stay and with nobody that we knew to support us. It’s little things like that which help to maintain a good attitude. If I have learned nothing else, it is that my attitude is the only thing over which I really have any control.
There was another Council session in the afternoon, but it’s kind of a blur... meaning I forget what was discussed. That was followed by more hospitality and socializing. Sharon and I then walked two block over to the Mission Inn for an unforgettable meal at one of the more outstanding restaurants we have ever visited.
There might have been a late hospitality room, but we just visited in the Marriott’s lobby for awhile and then retired.
Friday morning we decided to forego room service and I just went to the Starbuck’s in the lobby for coffees and pastry to take back to the room. At 8:30 the Convention activities commenced with an outstanding Leadership presentation by PID Mick Barrus which ran until 11:30am, but seemed much shorter because he is such a great presenter. Lunch, with the exception of the speaker, was forgettable... maybe that had something to do with the excellent meal the night before? At 1:30 convention activities restarted with the ‘Trial of a Lion.’ This was a skit presided over by PIP Judge Brian Stevenson, with plaintiff’s attorney PIP Bill Biggs and defense attorney ID Bill Crawford. The short version is that some very dry, almost boring, information was presented in a manner which was humorous and entertaining, as well as informative. There were also seminars for Cabinet Secretary/Treasurers; Campaign Sight First II; Membership Development: Retention, Orientation, Development; Public Relations; Lions Project for Canine Companions for Independence; City of Hope and two Special Seminars: one by PIP Brian Stevenson, ’Lions Clubs International After 100 years,’ and PIP Bill Biggs, ‘What’s Right, What’s Wrong, and What Do We Do About It!’ An Open Forum with IP Ashok Mehta followed. Needless to say there was no way to attend all of the seminars... or to even list them all here.
There was another Hospitality that was nearly impossible to get near, though we managed somehow. Then another forgettable convention meal with the presentation of some awards, a speech by the International President and some very loud music which precluded any conversation.
It was quite convenient staying at the Marriott because the Convention Center in Riverside is just across a wide courtyard so it takes only a minute or so to venture back and forth. There is also a great amount of covered parking for those who do have to drive. This last week covered parking was not really necessary since the days were sunny and warm with the temperature reaching 80° on Friday afternoon. After dinner on Friday I am quite certain that there was at least one hospitality. However Sharon and I were ready to crash so we went to our room after saying good night to others in the hotel lobby.
Saturday morning was the opening ceremony with the Presentation of Flags featuring the chorus from the L.A. New Millennium Lions Club, the All Forces Honor Guard from Riverside National Cemetery and the flag presenters from the Boy Scouts of America (Inland Empire Council) & the current Vice District Governors. This was followed by the Business Session where we were welcomed by the City of Riverside and various committee reports were made, immediately followed by a brief memorial service remembering Lions Leaders who passed during the previous year. Lunch followed... again forgettable... but the speaker, PIP Judge Brian Stevenson more than made up for that. There were district caucuses where ballot issues were discussed, followed by more seminars until 4:30pm. We went back to the lobby of the Marriott to visit some more and kill time until the Governor’s Banquet at 7:00. That meal was a little better and was followed by the ‘Academy Awards.’ There were some really bad ... I mean BAD... jokes and then some of the best entertainment heard at a convention in a long time. Then back again to the hotel... and bed.
Bright and early Sunday we were up. Sharon to pack and I went to vote on two constitutional items, two by-laws changes and on the matter of whether or not Nevada should form a separate single district. The voting was well organized and I was back to the room in less than 15 minutes. We finished packing, loaded our luggage into the elevator and moved it to the car. Then we drove the Mustang to the Convention Center parking structure and checked out of the hotel (yes, in that order). It was time to eat again. Another one that could be overlooked. The speaker, David Bush’s topic after breakfast was: "Sustaining success. How to Create A Legacy That Inspires Others." It was inspiring and just long enough. When he was finished we left to hit the road again. We had determined that the outcome of the election would be the same whether we were there or not.
We drove north back the same we came, deciding to stop at Fresno because it was about time for the Super Bowl to start.
The misadventures started again. No sooner did we check into the motel and get to the room, when the smoke alarm started squealing... no, screeching. We were able to get it to stop by leaving the door to the outside open. The handyman from the motel came and replaced the smoke alarm. After the football game dinner at Denny’s was at least as good as the convention meals... cheaper, too. Back to our room for which Sharon has a much better description of than I. Sometime during the night somewhere in the neighborhood somebody’s car phone went off... you know the kind of phone that sounds the car horn when there’s an incoming call? Then, at 3:30am some other guests at the motel set off their car alarm which took them about three minutes to figure out how to turn it off. The last time I looked at the clock before falling asleep again it was 4:45. Back on the road after filling the fuel tank. The tule fog was again present but visibility was not nearly as impaired. Traffic wasn’t a problem because we were headed in the opposite direction of a large majority of the commuters. There were no delays so we arrived at the south side of Sacramento to have lunch with Sharon’s daughter... the one who didn’t at first believe that Frank actually saw us near Visalia. Then back on the road home where we arrived with no further adventures at about 2:40pm some 1227 miles round-trip.
So you can see from this report that nothing important happened... just an overall great time that we would repeat, even knowing what we know now. Oh! All of the measures on the ballot passed. Nevada can go its own way provided that the Lions Club International Board of Directors approves.
I would be remiss if I didn’t report that I saw Lion Milt Hicks busily taking photographs throughout the entire week and I probably have more pictures of him than he has of me. We also met three Lions from 4-C1 we'd never met before and who were attending their first... ever... convention.