Wisconsin Good Sam Club 
Words from the Director

Thank you for inquiring about Wisconsin Good Sam Chapters. At the present time we have twenty-four Chapters across the State. Each Chapter, although different in what they do each month, do have a common goal of helping each other and their fellow campers. Each Chapter enjoys doing many different things each month at their regular outings. Some like to travel to different areas and do sight seeing & tours, others like to relax around a camp fire or play cards. All have different agendas each month, so go and visit a couple of different Chapters. We also have some Special Chapters in the State. They are as follows:  “Second Chance Sams” chapter; these are persons who are grateful for being given a second chance in life for various reasons. They meet at the Samboree each year and have a National get together also. The “S.O.V.E.” (Special Olympic Volunteer Escort) Chapter; meets in the spring and the fall of the year as a group. They are dedicated to assisting Special Olympics by escorting the Law Enforcement Run and a few other projects in the State where they are needed for Special Olympics. We also have the “Wisingles”; this is a chapter of single persons who help each other. Even though they have lost a spouse along the way (or never been married) they enjoy camping and want to continue on with their lives in a most enjoyable atmosphere, among friends. 

On our Website, you will find a roster of all the Chapters in the State along with a list of the State Staff. Please feel free to contact any one of them for information regarding their Chapter and where they are meeting next. They all travel, so if you don’t see one listed in your town still give one of them a call. I’m sure several of them cross your path each month. If you are interested in starting a chapter in your home town please call either one of the Assistant State Directors or myself and we would be glad to help you get one started. 

I would like to, at this time, invite you to our annual Wisconsin State Samboree. The next one will be held on June 18–21, 2009 at the Polk County Fairgrounds in St. Croix Falls, WI.. We have nightly entertainment and during the day we have seminars, games. crafts and of course a hospitality area with coffee and cookies. Please see the pre-registration form on the Home page of this Website for details. There is something going on all the time. We also have Youth Directors who plans special activities for the youth attending.  We also have four district camp outs a year. We call them Jumbos. They are hosted by the Assistant Directors and are just a large campout, a good way for the chapters to inter-mix with each other and a new comer to get acquainted. A complete schedule of State events can be found on the WI State Samboree and Jumbos page. Come join us. 

I’m hoping that this Web site has given you a little insight as to the camaraderie that comes from belonging to a chapter. Please come and join us either at a Samboree, Jumbo or at a chapter meeting. 

Many of you may not know much about “The Goossens” I thought this would be a good place to tell you a little about us.

Dave and I have been married for 44 years and have three married daughters and seven grandchildren. Dave was a dairy farmer until 1980. I worked on and off as a CNA at our local hospital and as a factory worker. 

Dave went on to become a machinist, an occupation he enjoyed until he retired in July of 2005. I, on the other hand, went on to night school and earned an AA degree in Supervisor’s Management. During this period of my life I was in Production and Inventory Control. I retired in 2007 as the Information Technician and Warehouse Supervisor of Amery Technical Products, Inc. in our hometown of Amery. 

In the early 1980’s we began camping with our friends Marge and Gary Hover. We joined Good Sam Club in 1986 as members-at-large and remained members-at-large until we were invited by our friends Dave and JoAnn Johnson to join the Apple River Drifters in fall of 1996.

 I have served two terms as Chapter Secretary and Dave has just finished his second term as Chapter President. We have learned much about camping, helping others, and of course playing bean bag baseball. The old saying “Love, Laugh and be Happy” describes the many feelings we have for the Apple River Drifters and Wisconsin Good Sam members we have met though the years.

I am finishing my second 2 year term as Director and I have set a short-term goal to make our Samboree the best one yet. I have a longer-term goal to start at least one more new chapter before my term ends in December. The only way these goals will be met is with the help of all of you.

 I look forward to meeting and talking with each of you. I want to hear your comments about our organization and how to involve all to the degree they are able to participate.

 Do not hesitate to call, write or e-mail me with questions or suggestions. My home phone is 715-268-2560, cell phone number is 715-491-2574, my e-mail is dgoossen@amerytel.net and our Blog site is http://travelinggoossen.blogspot.com (please do not send anything but text messages as it takes a long time to download.) and our address is 853 138th Street; Amery, WI 54001.

Have fun camping this season and Think Wisconsin Samboree,

Jean Goossen
Wisconsin State Director