By Charlie Adcock, F311374
September 2015
Hello, My Fellow FMCA Family.
I almost completely missed writing this month’s column. It seems as though I just finished writing one. My, how time does fly when you are having fun.
As I write this, we are about to head to Madison, Wisconsin, for FMCA’s 92nd Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase. The timing of this article is a little tricky, since that event will be happening just as this issue of the magazine goes to the printer. So, I’m hoping that by the time you read this, I will have been officially re-elected for a second two-year term as FMCA national president. Meanwhile, I thought I’d share what I’ve been up to lately.
Since my last column, Gloria and I got to spend three weeks up in Petoskey, Michigan, on our lot at Hearthside Grove. We both needed the downtime. I walked a lot, ate a lot, and spent a lot of time sleeping. What a relaxing three weeks!
We then returned to Elkhart, Indiana, to the home of FMCA national vice president Jon Walker and his wife, Sondra. We spent the Fourth of July with their family and enjoyed a wonderful celebration. The fireworks were beautiful.
On July 5, Jon, Sondra, Gloria, and I headed out for Essex Junction, Vermont, to attend the Northeast Area Rally. We arrived on July 6 after stopping over one night in Syracuse, New York, at the New York State Fairgrounds.
While at the New York State Fairgrounds, we were able to meet with Gary Kerr, facility manager. He briefed us on all the renovations about to take place there. When they finish, it will be a state-of-the-art facility. FMCA had hoped to host a Family Reunion there in 2016, but those plans had to be put on hold because of the renovations. So, we will keep this facility in mind for a future event — perhaps 2020. Meanwhile, our thanks to Gary for his hospitality.
We arrived in beautiful Essex Junction late in the afternoon on July 6 and were warmly greeted by Tom Ziobrowski, national vice president, Northeast Area, and his staff. I don’t know how they managed to pack so much stuff into a four-day rally. One of the highlights for me was the Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise on Lake Champlain. On the dinner cruise, the guests become part of the murder mystery show. Most of the “actors” came from our FMCA family. They did a good job, and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Another highlight was a pig roast. Of course, they didn’t roast the pig on-site. It was catered, and it was cooked to perfection along with the rest of the meal. The rally offered lots of seminars; lots of show coaches; and, best of all, the camaraderie of visiting with our friends in the Northeast Area.
We left Essex Junction on July 12 and drove to West Springfield, Massachusetts, to visit the Eastern States Exposition. Most local people refer to it as the “Big E.” On the morning of July 13, we met up with FMCA executive director Jerry Yeatts; FMCA show decorator Jim Rosenberg, from Hale Northeastern; Tom Ziobrowski; and Northeast Area vice president Lou Snow. We all spent the day with Greg Chiecko, director of sales, and Gillian Palmer, business development coordinator. They were great hosts, and by the end of the day we all had fallen in love with the “Big E.” FMCA is hoping to host a Family Reunion there next summer. That would certainly be a destination rally, because there are so many things to do and see in our wonderful northeastern United States. This area holds so much history related to the beginning of our great country.
We left West Springfield on July 14 and landed back in Elkhart, Indiana, en route to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, where Jon and I plan to attend the Coaches for Christ chapter prerally in advance of the Madison Family Reunion.
While in Elkhart waiting to go to The Dells, Jon and I decided to prove to David Kessler, national vice president, International Area, that we could still water-ski. While I was waiting for Jon to arrive at his lake house so that I could get the photo proof of us waterskiing, I got impatient. So, I decided it was time to get in the water and ski. Jon’s daughter, Susanne, agreed to drive the boat and pull me on the skis. I got the life jacket on and, with Susanne’s help, I finally got the skis on. She tightened the ski rope and, with a nod from me, applied the power to the boat. “Let ’er rip!”
If you recall, in the April 2015 issue I wrote about driving a NASCAR race car, and my conclusion was, “I think 69 years old may be too old to be driving a race car.” With that in mind, I think, for me at least, waterskiing at 69 years of age may be in the same category. Before I could get completely out of the water, I had a terrible leg cramp. I had to give up on the waterskiing, and my leg is still sore. What we do to our bodies to prove a point.
At the time I am writing this, we are about two weeks away from the Reunion in Madison, and the excitement is starting to build. As I complete my first two years of service to you, the members, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your prayers, moral support, and most of all your confidence in me and allowing me the privilege of serving you as your president. I am hoping to have the opportunity to work for you the next two years, and I will give it everything I’ve got.
Gloria reminded me the other day that we have been home only three weeks since December 26, 2014. I think she may be getting homesick. One thing that might help is that Megan, our 15-year-old granddaughter, is coming to Madison and also going to Petoskey with us after the Reunion before she returns to Searcy, Arkansas, to start school.
By this time next month, we will have completed the annual Governing Board Meeting, so we should have news from the meeting to report on. I will close for now and continue massaging my leg cramp.
Remember, “It is all about having fun!”