Words & Thoughts from the President

[dezolde]

Thanks Mike!

Anxious to see what might be possible to do this year.

Jerry

[Bruce DeAngelis]

2020 schedule

Hi All,

I hope everybody had a very Merry Christmas, and Santa Claus was good to you all!

In a few days we’ll start the new year, and that means the 2020 NTBA events season! I know a lot of you have been waiting for the list, so you can start making plans. It will take Lee a few days to post the registration list on the website, and the hotel information will be available as soon as the event hosts post their phone numbers. It again promises to be a fun season with added new locations. Here we go!!

February. New Zealand T Bucket Nationals, Christchurch, NZ Feb. 5-8

April. Crawfish and Cruisin’ Fun Run, Gulfport, MS. Apr. 23-25

May. Top of Texas Fun Run, Nazareth, TX. May, 1-2
Missouri Elephant Rock Fun Run, Desoto, MO. May 7-9

June. NTBA Nationals. Townsend, TN. June 10-13.

July. Presidents Fun Run, Boerne, TX. Jul. 9-11
North Star State Fun Run, Rochester, MN. Jul. 30-1

September. Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach, MO. Sept. 10-12
Lobsta Fun Run, South Portland, Maine. Sept. 17-19
Razor T’s Regional Fun Run, Mountain Home, AR.
Sept. 24-26

November. Arizona T’s Fun Run, Tucson, AZ. Nov. 12-14.

I look forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces and meeting many new bucketheads in 2020. And I wish everybody a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Bruce DeAngelis
NTBA President

[Arleen Peters]

Bruce,
Please check your PM.
Arleen

[Lugnut]

Tuned in.

WHO IS COOTER?

[Bruce DeAngelis]

Note from the President

Hi All,
Today kicks off the 2020 schedule with the New Zealand Nationals in Christchurch, NZ. Our NZ chapter with Danny and Julie Mulrooney are putting on a great event. Send pictures Danny! Also, our NTBA secretary Chris Ward and his wife Shari are there.
Our US schedule will start up in April with the Crawfish and Cruisin’ Run hosted by David and Keri Eckhardt, the 23rd-25th. All the events are listed on announcements on the top left side of Facebook, and under events on the website nationaltbucketalliance.com
Nationals in Townsend, Tennessee are coming along great. All the runs are planned. A side note on the runs, we’re making a run to The Tail of the Dragon and back on Wednesday. Do not worry if you don’t get there Wednesday! We go back through it again on Friday, so everybody has the opportunity to run it at least once, if not twice. I will post all runs and schedules well ahead of the event.
I’ve also been reading about some of you guys may not have your buckets done, but would like to attend anyway. We’re going to need 2-3 Shag Wagon (rescue) drivers to go along on the runs. Good way to be involved, If interested let us know.
Bruce DeAngelis
NTBA President

[Bruce DeAngelis]

A Note From The President, on Presidents Day!

With that being today, what a great opportunity to promote my fun run, The Presidents Fun Run in Boerne Texas, July 9-11. (no folks I’m not making this up)
Boerne (pronounced “Burney) is a small town 30 miles north of San Antonio, in the Texas hill country, just short distances away from Fredericksburg and Kerrville. We will enjoy cruising through the scenic wine country, vast landscapes passing numerous ranches and many small quaint western towns. We’ll also see former President Johnson’s LBJ ranch, called the “Texas White House” back in the day. Were going to a very unique private car collection (no 69 Camaro’s here!), eat at a hay barn and a 1940’s nostalgia airport. We’ll have a glass of wine at a “wine garage” with a tour of muscle cars, and a beer at a classic German beer garden (hot pretzels). A bbq cook out, and best of all, being able to enjoy the charm of Main Street, Boerne. There’s lots of Antique stores, small shops, restaurants, beer gardens, ( more beer gardens?) and a store with all kinds of memorabilia, including a “Bobs Big Boy” out front. On Saturday there will be an arts festival in the Main Street Park, and each night we’ll go for ice cream at the 50’s style drive in.
The hotel is the Fairfield Inn and Suites, and the room includes breakfast. However each morning, early before the drivers meeting, we will go for breakfast at a couple of cafes down Main Street. So call and get your room reserved (remember to tell them NTBA for the discount). Those of you coming in an RV, I will get that information to you separately.
So get ready to have some fun Y’all
TEE-HAA!
Bruce DeAngelis

[Bruce DeAngelis]

A Note from the President,
Hi All,
Some of you have been asking about the NATS Townsend schedule. We have a tentative runs schedule that should stay pretty close, but keep in mind, some things may change. When you check in at registration, you’ll receive a packet with the final schedule in it.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday runs are pretty firm. Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday shorter runs can be mixed and matched however you want to do them. At this time those runs will be “self guided” short runs close to Townsend. However a few of the guys may lead them informally during different times of the day. This will allow all of you to shop and visit Townsend and the surrounding towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Especially for some who get there Wednesday or Thursday.
Remember, we will have a “kick off” dinner and party on Wednesday night, and a “send off” party on Saturday. The general membership meeting will be Saturday morning.
One more side note, if you don’t get there Wednesday for The Tail of The Dragon run, we will be going through there again on Friday, so you won’t miss it. This is just the runs schedule.
Monday: Cade’s Cove 47 miles
Tuesday: Wears Valley Loop. 45 miles
Wednesday: Tail Of The Dragon. 99.3 miles
Thursday: Cherokee Clingmans Dome. 126 miles
Friday: Cherokee Skyway/US 411 Loop. 133 miles
Saturday: Roaring Fork. 56 miles
All distances are round trip miles, and yes there will be sufficient gas stops.
Shortly we will have registration open hours, and also a nightly fun and games activities schedule.
It will be here before we know it!

Bruce DeAngelis
NTBA President

[Bruce DeAngelis]

A Note From The President

Hi Folks,
As the days are ticking away and we’re creeping up on the 2020 NTBA season, some of you are starting to ask about events and NATS. As of right now we’re on a very solid “wait and see”. Like we all know, tomorrow brings changes, and so does the next day.
I’ve been reading about this virus and how some folks are blowing it off as a hoax, and others saying it’s going full blown and everybody will get it. Well, the only thing we know for sure, is we don’t know! I personally accept it as real, but more importantly, as the NTBA President I have to accept it as real! There is a large percentage of our members over 60 years old. A lot in good health, some with issues. As time goes on, whatever decision we make about NATS or any other event, will be based entirely on the safety of ALL our members and family. Believe me, I’m the last person that wants to see an event canceled. I’m still working on the agenda for Tennessee, So, we’ll see how it goes, and take it day by day.
The good news is the NTBA is not going anywhere! We’re still going to put on events, we’re still going to put on NATS, we’re still going to cruise for ice cream! So, if we have to rearrange, or postpone, or cancel something, that’s OK! We’ll just pick up where we left off, when we can. I want us to go to NATS feeling completely safe and comfortable. We want to shake hands and hug each other without any worries.
For us retired people the self quarantine, and social distancing is no big deal. I realize it can be tough on a lot of you both in the working world and for daily commitments and responsibilities. Hopefully it all makes a difference and speeds up the process of neutralizing this stuff. And, that we’re cruising in our buckets together again soon.

Bruce DeAngelis
NTBA President

[Bruce Pickett]

A Note From The President

Hi Folks,
As the days are ticking away and we’re creeping up on the 2020 NTBA season, some of you are starting to ask about events and NATS. As of right now we’re on a very solid “wait and see”. Like we all know, tomorrow brings changes, and so does the next day.
I’ve been reading about this virus and how some folks are blowing it off as a hoax, and others saying it’s going full blown and everybody will get it. Well, the only thing we know for sure, is we don’t know! I personally accept it as real, but more importantly, as the NTBA President I have to accept it as real! There is a large percentage of our members over 60 years old. A lot in good health, some with issues. As time goes on, whatever decision we make about NATS or any other event, will be based entirely on the safety of ALL our members and family. Believe me, I’m the last person that wants to see an event canceled. I’m still working on the agenda for Tennessee, So, we’ll see how it goes, and take it day by day.
The good news is the NTBA is not going anywhere! We’re still going to put on events, we’re still going to put on NATS, we’re still going to cruise for ice cream! So, if we have to rearrange, or postpone, or cancel something, that’s OK! We’ll just pick up where we left off, when we can. I want us to go to NATS feeling completely safe and comfortable. We want to shake hands and hug each other without any worries.
For us retired people the self quarantine, and social distancing is no big deal. I realize it can be tough on a lot of you both in the working world and for daily commitments and responsibilities. Hopefully it all makes a difference and speeds up the process of neutralizing this stuff. And, that we’re cruising in our buckets together again soon.

Bruce DeAngelis
NTBA President

If by chance there will be any changes/cancellations or whatever, can you let us know far enough in advance to get our deposits back or if they will be able to use them at the changed dates? Some Hotel/Motels might not be able to withstand this time with layoffs and such and close before the dates specified.

[Bruce DeAngelis]

Yes Bruce Pickett, we will definitely let everyone know ahead of time for hotel cancellations. Right now the two weeks ahead of the events seems to be a good reference point.
Bruce