The Lake George NorthEast Jamboree in New York was last week – August 24-28, 2016 – at the Lake George Escape Campground. About 70 truck campers gathered for the event. This was definitely not a typical rally being that there was a murder mystery, a potluck of pies, and two BINGOs.
Above: Truck campers at Lake George Escape Campground, New York
Mike Tassinari, aka Mikeee, and Joe and Marianne Zecca did a fantastic job of organizing the activities, even hiring a bus so that the rally participants could explore the nearby town of Lake George.
Above: Pie Night at Lake George Rally, photo taken by Karen Parsons
Wednesday night started the rally with a potluck of pies. From blackberry to apple, several tables were filled with delicious desserts.
Above: Hanging out with friends, photo taken by Maggie Karam
After conversations and pie, a meet and greet campfire was started.
Above: Campfire meet and greet, photo taken by Maggie Karam
Thursday was registration and a Torklift All-Terrain Landing gear demonstration. Around noon, many participants boarded a charter bus and went into Lake George for a tour of the lake on the Minne-Ha-Ha paddle wheel boat, and a tour of Fort William Henry. The night ended with fireworks over the lake.
The Lake George Bus
The Minne-Ha-Ha paddle boat
Gus and Marcia in Lake George
Aboard the Minne-Ha-Ha
Ft William Henry in Lake George, NY
Fort William Henry Tour
On Friday, the murder mystery actors got up early to attend a meeting about the event that night. Joe Zecca gave us instructions on what to do and we had a chance to meet the fellow actors.
Above: Decorating the Deadwood Saloon, photo taken by Gus Postreich
After the meeting, several rally attendees showed up to decorate the hall. At 10:30am there was a BINGO with raffle tickets as prizes.
Above: Mikeee making hot dogs for the group, photo taken by Maggie Karam
At 5:00pm hot dogs and beans were served for dinner, followed by a beer and wine tasting at the Deadwood Saloon, the scene of the murder mystery.
Above: Deadwood Saloon Cast, photo taken by Gordon White
Rally attendees were surrounded with the twenty actors and actresses. Harry Highstakes, Billy the Bartender, Poker Alice, and many others shared some interesting information about their characters.
Building the set for Deadwood Saloon
Building the set for Deadwood Saloon
The Browers
Gary and Cinda Whistler with Maxwell
Mikeeee in jail
Henrietta High Stakes and Gus
The Bandido Twins, Black Barbara, and Sally Starr
Jesse Wales and Taffy Garrette in jail
Elizabeth Money, Minnie Money, and Montgomery Money
Billy the Bartender and Poker Alice
The French Trapper and Sally Starr, Saloon Girl
Gambling Jack and Anna Belle
Clay Coldwell, the Gambler
Black Barbara and Marcia
Sheriff Sam
Mikeee also handed out the newspaper sharing vital information about each character. There was a jail, a saloon bar, and signs to really make you a part of the Deadwood Saloon.
Mitch Maverick – Traveling Businessman is killed and Marshal Dalton is taking care of the situation
Fur Trapper and Montgomery Money, Land Investor
Harry Highstakes, Saloon owner
Doug Colfer’s character, Mitch Maverick, was murdered, and Joe Packard’s character, Montgomery Money, was the murderer. It was an exciting night of pure entertainment.
Above: Left-Right-Center game, photo taken by Gus Postreich
Saturday started with a Torklift Wobble-Stopper demonstration followed by the Left-Right-Center game. Mikeee led a Newbie Seminar that was very informative.
Above: BINGO under the tent, photo taken by Gus Postreich
At 3:00pm was the second BINGO of the rally; ice cream BINGO.
Above: Buffet dinner, photo taken by Kathy Stolica
Dinner that night was a buffet with many appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. After dinner, the Zeccas were presented with a gift for being the WagonMasters and Mikeee received a plaque from the northeast group.
Mikeee Tassinari and Marianne Zecca
Mikeee Tassinari accepting his gift
Wagonmasters, Joe and Marianne Zecca, receiving a gift
After that was one of the grandest raffle tables ever seen at a rally. Marianne made about 20 different baskets with themes like Italian, Mexican, wine, bath, and Christmas. She even had some wrapped mystery prize boxes.
Above: Cheryl and Carl, photo taken by Kathy Stolica
Above: Farewell breakfast on Sunday, photo taken by Gus Postreich
Sunday was the farewell breakfast with coffee, sausage, eggs, french toast, and more!
