Hi ! Hope your summer has been great ! We seem to have survived that horrible hot spell and a much better outlook seems to be ahead for the fall. I would like to welcome back all those that went to Tacoma, Washington, to the Western National Meet. I had wanted to go, but maybe next time.

We have several members and family members who are seriously ill. Larry Keppel's wife, Laurice, recently had open heart surgery. She soon developed an infection and had to return to the hospital. While there, a terminal brain tumor was discovered. Their son, Steve is trying to help both Larry and Laurice to cope with the illness.

Jean Davis’ son also has a terminal brain tumor. Jean is trying to spend as much time as possible with her son.

Bill Toensing has lymphoma. The last E I got from him said he is meeting with his doctor to plan an attack on the disease. He did not take his trip back east and doesn’t know if he will be able to attend any meetings for a while.

I had previously heard from Bill Toensing on two other subjects. I promised him I would put them in this month’s Clutch Chatter:

  1. If I haven't notified you already, please change my email address to toensing@wildblue.net. You might also put this info in the next Clutch Chatter.

  2. For those of you who, because of your rural location can not get broadband service from a TV cable company or DSL from your phone company, there is an affordable 2 way satellite broadband Internet service available for those of us who are fed up with slow, slow dial-up Internet service. This new company is Wild Blue & their website is www.wildblue.com . The cost is $50 a month which is likely more pricy than your current dial up. However you should deduct from that $50 the cost of your current dial-up ISP & the extra phone line, if any, you maintain for your computer. Should you decide to subscribe to Wild Blue, please say William J Toensing at toensing@wildblue.net referred you. I will then get one month's free service for the referral. Wild Blue's phone number is (866)945-3258

One last thing is very personal. Ralph Vanderhave, Russ Broyles, and I lost our spouses within a few months of each other about two years ago. We have all hung together and moved on. It has been so kind of everyone to care about us so much.

Labor Day would have been Pat & my 41st Anniversary. I prefer to think the whole Nation is taking the day off to help us celebrate. We have know each other 49 years.