Bob retired after a long and varied career in teaching the social sciences, and managing computer systems, renewable energy, energy conservation programs, and disaster technology services in emergency management.
As a volunteer, he managed the Sierra Club’s National Outings Program for the Midwestfor many years. After he began his full-time RV life in 2015 he now volunteers with Habitat For Humanity, USFS, National Park Service, American Red Cross, and other Arizona non-profits.
He has work-camped throughout the US and remains a team leader for Habitat For Humanity building homes for families. His favorite work-camp experience was as a National Park Service river rafting permit inspector on the Green River within Dinosaur National Monument.
Nowadays, he and his wife Cathie travel around the US, Canada, and Mexico with their Yorkshire Terriers from their home base in Flagstaff, AZ. When not RVing in the United States they are likely traveling in Europe and South America.
Gary Hatt Co-Assistant Wagonmaster
After teaching Computer Aided Design (CAD) classes for Siemens, EDS, and McDonald Douglas for 25 years he became in July 2012 the publisher of Bus Conversion Magazine (BCM). It is a monthly, digital magazine that has been providing bus conversion “Tribal Knowledge” for 32 years and is considered the go-to resource for everything related to bus conversions.
Over the years, he has owned tents, truck campers, travel trailers, and motorhomes. In 1997 Gery bought my first bus, a 40-foot 1972 MCI MC-7 Combo. He has done most of the conversion on his RVs and buses. He had always wanted to take his bus to Mexico so he joined Chapter 8 in 2018 and has been on four trips with this group so far. Gary was the Wagonmaster for the 2023 rally to Puerto Penasco and San Felipe, and was recently asked to run the 2025 rally.
You’ll likely see Gary give bus conversion presentations at RV and Bus rallies throughout the United States.
Bill Johnson Webmaster
Bill spent six years in the Air Force learning his lifelong career in the IT world, either working on Microwave Radio, Fiber Optics, telecommunications, and programming to make systems that “can’t talk to each other”, coverse with each other.
His last 20 years were with an oil company working to integrate their diverse systems and processes which most are stranger than your average everyday company. Seven years ago, he happily retired during a slump in prices and the company was happy to pay him to do so.
Bill was a previous Chapter 8 Webmaster for four years before retaking the role again starting in September of this year.
Dory Johnson Secretary
Dory and her husband, Bill, are full-time RVers who have been traveling since Bill’s early retirement in 2015 and as vacationers since Dory’s retirement from the insurance industry in 2010.
They’ve attended three Mexican Connection rallies since 2019 and both joined the board for 3 years after their first rally: Dory as Secretary and Bill as Webmaster.
They are true Escapees groupies who, in addition to fabulous and adventure-filled Chapter 8 rallies, have attended 4 Hangouts and, in 2023, planned and hosted the Musical Roots Hangout in Alabama.
They are leaseholders at the most beautiful place in the US for Summer, Evergreen Coho SKP Park. This year, they plan to attend Escapades in Tucson and maybe even Maine in 2025.
Steve Bufty Membership Chair
Steve’s biography would not be complete without his lovely wife Donna Patten. He spent 32 years with McDonnell Douglas and retired as a “Rocket Scientist” … yea, really! Donna retired after 24 years in the Air Force as as a Colonel. Steve still calls her “Sir”. They’ve been on the road RVing full-time for 25 years before recently switching to part-time with a “vacation home” in Huntington Beach, CA. They have traveled much of North America by motorhome from deep in Mexico to the far north of Alaska and Newfoundland.
Steve has been on thirteen trips with Chapter 8, has served as Treasurer for twelve of those, and now as Chair of Membership for a 3rd year. They have also traveled much of the world without the motor-home … all 7 continents and well over 80 countries. Past years saw them actively SCUBA diving, snow & water skiing, playing racquet-ball, and sailing. At 105, they’re starting to slow down a little … kidding.
Clyde Straatmeyer Treasurer
Clyde Straatmeyer has been married to his wife Nancy for 44 years. This will be their second trip with Chapter 8, and is serving as the Chapter Treasurer. They both retired 6 years ago and have enjoyed RVing since then. They have always lived in South Dakota and currently live in the Black Hills area.
They were self employed and ran several small businesses over the years. After retirement Clyde began a career with Diebold, installing and serving ATM’s and bank equipment.
They have both a son and daughter and 1 grandson and have enjoyed wintering in the Arizona area. During the summer of 2024 theyt enjoyed a 2 month trip to Alaska covering 8,000 miles.
Kathleen Brown
Kathleen was elected as then Charity Manager in 2024, but is no longer active on the Board.
Carol Javes, Assistant Treasurer
Carol has been mostly full time in her Class B RV for four years and considers her two trips to Mexico with Chapter 8 to be major highlights.
She is retired from a career with an international software company where she worked as a project manager and business analyst. Retirement gave her the freedom to fully indulge a life-long passions for travel and animal welfare.
Carol was elected Board Secretary and then was appointed as the interim Treasurer until September.
Mexico is a wonderful country, and through Chapter 8, Carol is delighted to share how safe and fun it is to travel there and to participate in the Chapter’s charitable activities.
Phylana Ladd Wagonmaster
Phylana spent 8 years in the Marine Corps as a Military Police Officer, Drug and Alcohol Counselor, and Imagery Interpretation Specialist. She was medically discharged in 1987.
After her discharge, Phylana went to St. Ambrose University where she double majored in Computer Information Systems and Communications and Computer Network Administration. She was hired by Caterpillar in 1999, and she worked there for 17.5 years until she took an early retirement.
Phylana has volunteered with a number of organizations and groups over the years. She most enjoyed her times as the Project Leader and House Leader for three Women Build Habitat for Humanity Homes in Peoria, IL.
Upon retiring from Caterpillar, even though Phylana had never traveled in an RV, or even camped really, she sold everything she owned and went full-time on the road in a 31′ Class C Laze Daze motorhome and her three kitties.
She first went to Baja with the 2020 Chapter 8 Rally and fell in love with the people and the Baja region. Phylana was elected as the Wagonmaster for the 2021/2022 rally, however due to a family crisis she had to step down, so she never got to enjoy the fruits of her labor. She’s excited to be back and be heading down to Baja
Kathleen Allen Historian
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Nancy Hoult
Co-Assistant Wagonmaster & Community Service Manager
I joined the 2018 Chapter 8 rally in Mexico and volunteered to be on the charity committee that year. I enjoyed it so much and found working with the needy folks in Mexico as it was very rewarding and fulfilling.
The next year I was asked to be chair for charity and I accepted. As chair that year I felt it would work better if all the charity helpers got “hands-on” charity work. At a nearby elementary school, we arranged to renew their rundown playground by painting, repairing, and rebuilding the play equipment and bleachers.
Our volunteers have also painted several single-story freestanding classroom buildings at a women’s and children’s shelter. After the COVID crisis, (no rally was held that year) plans changed and I was asked again to fill in a service leadership role. Our project that year was building raised bed garden boxes for a disadvantaged children’s school and painting work at an orphanage.
In 2020 our volunteers painted the exterior of several small housing units for a senior citizens home. When we speak of community service volunteers, we really mean all willing rally members pitch in!
I was asked recently to take on a new and expanded role of Community Service Manager for the 2025 rally. I agreed to take on this challenge with the idea that someone new would volunteer with me and learn how we conduct community service activities in Mexico and fill the Community Service Manager position in 2025-26.
Dory Johnson
Nancy Hoult