10th Anniversary Celebration 
Fresno, California        April 22nd, 2006

That spring Saturday dawned overcast and threatening rain but it was a day to remember. It was a day that some of us had been planning for two years. It was a day that most of us had been anticipating all winter. It was a day that a few of us worked all morning to make just right. It was a day that many of us traveled all the way down from Oregon to be part of. It was a day that a couple of us worked in secret on for months. And it was a day that none of us will ever forget!

Show Hosts: Bill, Camille & Don Rohde

We knew that it was our day! Insulator enthusiasts from far and wide made their way to Don & Camille's north Fresno ranch to join in the celebration of the 10th Annual Rohde Ranch Insulator Round-Up. It was a day when Mike Guthrie sold so many CD123 EC&Ms that no one could keep track! It was a day when Richard Dawson bought the most wonderfully green CD158 Boston that he'd always wanted. It was a day when classic styled Gutter Tops littered Denley Bryson's table. It was a day when Glenn McAdam actually had his picture taken. It was a day to really enjoy the insulator hobby and the people who make the hobby so special. Somehow the members of Nor-Cal had been able to keep the 10th anniversary surprise a secret from the Rohde's for two years! Dale Huber first conceived the idea one evening at his home high in the Sierra mountains. He called me to get a little help with the details. I called Paul and Kathy Greaves and bade them join us. The Greaves enthusiastically joined the effort and the rest, as they say, was history. Kathy worked quietly and tirelessly for months to bring Dale's original idea into reality. We thought, what better gift could there be than to commemorate the Rohde's ten years of service to the hobby and west coast collectors with a one of a kind porcelain multipart insulator commemorative?

A unique and superb piece of artistry & 
craftsmanship by designer and builder, 
Kathy Greaves

As some of you may know, Kathy Greaves is an accomplished artisan with clay and pottery. She made the multipart minis that many of you have seen, and that some of you own, in order to secretly test glaze welding, color schemes, embossing styles, and incuse marks for the final project that would be awarded to the Rohde family. She even handed out under-glaze ink markers to those who signed the actual award in the 'secret room' at the San Jose National! Dale Huber summed it up best in his inscription on the award, "This Mud's For You!"

Awesome breakfast fixin's were out very early and a few of the overnighters were still stumblin' out of the sack when we rolled up around 7:30 am. The show was very well attended this year. Hobby enthusiasts included our honored host and hostess Don & Camille Rohde and their son Bill as well as many, many more mud and glass collectors.

Those who made it out for the celebration included Lou 'PinMan' Hall, Glenn Adkins, Bill & Lulu Harrison, Gary Michener and his daughter Mindy, Scott Prall, Dwayne Anthony, Dave Brown, Paul & Kathy Greaves, Leif Kloster, Pete Fortier, Glen McAdam, Carl Scott, Jerry Buckland, Norma & John Giudici, John Larsen from Colusa, Ben Kirsten of Big Mud fame, Mike & Cindy Guthrie (soon to be swallowed up by the great northwest,) Richard Dawson, Bill Ostrander, Dave LeForge, Tim 'I'm Havin' Another Insulator Auction' Wood, CJ Editor in Chief: Howard Banks (we know that Linda really does all the work,) and his son David Banks, Steve Marsh, 2005 National co-host: Colin Jung, Denley & Deanne Bryson, Nathan 'I Collect RR Stuff Now' Lamkey, Don & Elaine Bayes with their son Bill, and Bob McLaughlin, the newest owner of the famed McLaughlin commemorative mould.

By the way, I spoke with Bob McLaughlin at some length about his plans for the McLaughlin commemorative mould. He said that while he has not made any firm decision one way or the other concerning new production with the mould, he wants all hobby members to know that any further McLaughlin commemoratives produced in the mould will be very clearly and obviously different from the original commemoratives. He wants there to be absolutely no possibility for confusion between the two production runs. Bob also expressed his appreciation for the numerous and widely varying opinions that he continues to receive concerning the wisdom and viability of new production runs from the mould. He says that he is listening closely to everyone's opinions and weighing them carefully before making any final decision.

Carver Meade and Barbara Smith 
show up with an early morning smile

Two of the Three Amigos, 
Ron Jenkins (left) and Craig McLaurin, 
looked like they had quite a day of 
insulator browsin' & buyin'.

Paul Greaves & Denley Bryson show off Fred M. Locke multi parts M-2795

Other collectors and dealers in attendance included Mike McGuire, Curtis Randals, Gerrie Braun Sr., Bob Stafford, Oscar Dunlap, Norm James, Dale Huber, Art & Mel Huber, Larry & Alice Shumaker, Dave Cross, Steve & Janet Profera, Jack & Michelle Bevan, and Left Coast Lines' editor: Mike Doyle.

No Central San Joaquin Valley Insulator Roundup would be complete without hot, ranch style vittles. And the Rohde show was no exception. When Don clanged the triangle around noon folks were already bellyin' up to the feed trough for a delightful deep pit BBQed top sirloin feast. There were toasted garlic bread, tossed salad, ranch beans, and all sorts of soft drinks, milk, chips, dips, cookies, ice-cream deserts, nuts, brewskies, and cakes free to all club members. One thing's for sure - No one ever leaves the Rohde Ranch hungry!

After lunch, NorCal club president called all gathered to please direct their attention to the back porch area for presentations of the Tenth Anniversary Awards. Up to this point, only about three or four people actually knew what was going to happen and we succeeded in totally surprising the Rohde family with their awards. For ten years of faithful, enthusiastic, and generous service to the hobby in general and to west coast collectors from far and wide, the NorCal insulator club president, Colin Jung, presented Camille & Don Rohde with lifetime memberships to the NorCal insulator Club. Then Kathy Greaves stepped forward, said a few words and presented the Rohde's with a one of a kind hand made multipart commemorative.

From all of us in the whole insulator collecting community, we are honored and blessed to know you and to be able to number you among our friends and fellow collectors. We thank you, and wish you all of the best in the years to come. CONGRATULATIONS to Camille, Don, and Bill Rohde for ten great years of exceptional service to the hobby!

So, all you thread-heads, Listen Up: Getcher glass and mud traders into a good, sturdy box. Getcher swap lists and price guides updated. Flip open yer Crown Jewels to Coming Events and click in the Show Finder for details on the next swap meet or tailgater in your area. Dig that dusty wad of cash out-o-the Fred Locke pinhole and get all yer friends together for an insulator road trip because......

IT'S SHOWTIME!

Also, notice the cool find Jerry Buckland is showing off (from back cover).