26 May 2022 - Day Two of the Rally & Hawaiian Potluck Night

 26 May

Day two of the Rally is upon us.  We started with a continental breakfast in the main hall followed by a "Product Feedback Forum" hosted by Ab Saleh and Jeremiah Dumka, both Alliance General Manager.  Ally's has the opportunity to provide direct feedback to those who manage the product lines and can influence change.  Ab was actually the first Alliance representative we met at the RV show at the Des Moines Fairgrounds back in February 2020.  Ab personally spent at least a couple hour with us and answered every question we had.  If that had not gone well we would have walked.  Instead we bought one of the very first Alliance RV's built and have never been sorry of that decision.

After the product feedback Doreen headed over to the craft building and I sat in on a technical session on plumbing and water systems.  After that I attended a session on Starlink satellite Internet for RVs.  Starlink is a game changer.  Per Wikipedia, "Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, providing satellite Internet access coverage to 32 countries where its use has been licensed. It aims for global coverage. Starlink started launching satellites in 2019."  It has really gained popularity in the RV world and they are developing a future mobile-based Starlink system that will track going down the road.  Because of the equipment and recurring costs, Starlink is not for us but the information was interesting.

Starlink presentation by Lance and Charles (Photo credit Mike Ellis)

After lunch I attended the Dexter Axle and Brakes presentation.  They provided valuable maintenance information about our running gear, suspension components and brakes.  

At 1800 hrs we attended a Hawaiian Potluck in the main hall. The Alliance co-owners Ryan and Coley Brady along with Bill Martin opened the event!

Ryan Brady and Bill Martin on stage

More drawing prize were given away and two birthdays were recognized!

Ally's brought their favorite dishes and there was enough food to feed a brigade! 

Setting up the potluck area

The dining area with appropriate decorations

Our table

Mike and Donna Pizzi at the dessert table with Donna's awesome cheese cake!

Tables were called and Ally's feasted like there was no tomorrow!

The dinner was awesome and afterwards we headed outside to participate in a group photo before the sun went down.

A drone operated by Steve Lidy was used to take an aerial photo

A ground photo until the aerial photo is available

After the photo we re-entered the hall and enjoyed libations and a live band featuring Sara Raymond, an Alliance employee!  

Sara and her band performing

Rachel Ellis and Donna Walker

Dr George Walker, our Alliance RV Owner's Group founder sharing a bourbon

George and Donna Walker cutting the rug

Awesome picture of an awesome family

Jim and Kelli Bonacci and their beautiful daughter Gabriolla

Having a blast!

Sippmg a little W. L. Weller special reserve bourbon.  Life is good!

Pam and Phil Lau showing us how it is done!

Everyone having a great time!

During the band playing we looked over the silent auction items and there are some friendly bidding competitions going on for sure!  The bidding goes on until 4pm Friday.  We;ve bid on a couple different bourbon baskets and an Alliance cutting board.  Our son-in-law and Alliance owner Keith Ervin from Oak Creek Wisconsin even called in a bid and it is greatly appreciated.  It is all for a good cause.

"We've Got Your Back" signed by Alliance leadership on the back of an Alliance lawn chair!

A bourbon basket with laser etched glasses and decanter

A bourbon trail tour for 7 couple 

Another bourbon basket with one of Doreen's embroidered towels

That's it for today.  Tomorrow the Rally will conclude but it will be a full day.  Stay tuned for the finale!