A Reluctant Camper
PGI Road Runners RV Club
Bob & Karen Intress
(505-4021), klintress@aol.com
September, 2010
After five years as members of the Road Runners of PGI, Bob and Karen Intress are taking the helm as co-presidents. They have hosted trips to Disney World and attended as many of the organized trips as possible.
Active in the PGI Civic Association since moving here in 1998, Karen has served as Desk Volunteer Coordinator and continues to volunteer at the PGICA desk. They are both members of the Isles Girls and Guys and previously belonged to the Newcomers and the Seafarers Boating Club. They enjoy boating on their 24’ Hurricane deck boat, cruise travel and RV’ing as often as possible.
When they got their first motorhome in 1996, Karen was a reluctant camper but after the first trip she had the RV packed and ready to go at every opportunity. Their third and current motorhome is a Winnebago Vectra 40’ diesel pusher.
They have taken RV trips from coast to coast, border to border and consider The West, Yellowstone National Park, Cody, Wyoming, and the Dakotas as most interesting. (It’s hard to narrow down.) Claiming he “failed retirement”, Bob went back to work and is currently employed as Program Manager of Health Sciences at Southwest Florida College in Port Charlotte. Due to his teaching and administrative duties, their travels are temporarily limited to brief trips around Florida, however next summer they plan to hit the road again.
Even after moving to PGI, Bob commuted to Indianapolis until his complete retirement in 2005. He is the founder and was the CEO of Physicians Partners Group, a nationwide company managing physician practices which grew from one to over 70 physicians and 400 employees.
Bob’s professional life began as a surgical technologist. When he joined the military he became a medic in the Navy/Marines in Viet Nam in 1969. Following this he completed a BS and MA in Medical Administration and later a PHD at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Central Michigan University. All the while, he continued serving in the Army National Guard, retiring after twenty years with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Medical Services.
Karen was an Executive Assistant in corporate banking with National City Bank. She also earned a certificate from a travel school and held a real estate license in Indiana. Her hobbies include Mah Jongg, painting, sewing, knitting and enjoying the newest member of the family, Winnie who is a seven year old Parson Jack Russell. They got her from the Animal Welfare League a few months ago and say “She is wonderful!”
The next meeting of the Road Runners Club will be Thursday, October 14 at 7 p.m