By Charlie Adcock, F311374
FMCA National President
March 2016
Hello, My Fellow FMCA Family. Is it just me or is 2016 already slipping away from us too fast? In my February column, I mentioned that Gloria and I were on our way to Indio, California, to attend the Western Area Rally. We have just completed that event. Western Area members should be very proud of themselves. They had 975 motorhomes in attendance at the rally, lots of wonderful vendors, and plenty of show coaches to browse through. They had wonderful entertainment, starting with the Frustrated Maestros at morning coffee hour and continuing through the evening entertainment.
We did have some rain, but it finally stopped long enough for us to enjoy a great parade. Rain also forced the Overland Trailblazers chapter to postpone their barbecue chicken and rib dinner from Wednesday to Friday evening, but, boy, was it worth the wait — it was finger-lickin’ good!
Gloria and I left Indio and had a few days to kill, so we went down to Yuma, Arizona, with some friends, Dwane and Janet Trannum, so that Gloria could have her permanent eyebrows retouched. Girls, I’m telling you, this sure speeds things up if you are in a hurry to take off in the morning. I’ve thought about some tattoos for myself, but I think I will stick with the temporary ones that you can wash off when you are tired of them.
As I am writing this, we are planning for our next stop to be at the big Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show in Arizona in January. We’ll spend a couple of weeks in Quartzsite. I’ve decided to go stand in the FMCA booth and greet as many FMCA members (and prospective members) as I can. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting and greeting many of you there.
While in Quartzsite, Gloria and I have been invited to join the 4-Wheelers chapter and take a ride with them. That will be a new experience for us. Also while there, we plan to visit the Beaver Ambassadors chapter out in the desert one evening. Those Beavers really rock in the desert!
Moving forward, please note that it is not too late to register for the next big Family Reunion in Perry, Georgia. This will be FMCA’s 93rd Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase, and it is scheduled for March 17 through 20, 2016. If you haven’t checked out the entertainment lineup for this event, you should. On Friday night, March 18, comedian Lee Marvin Adams will be performing. I have attended one of his shows in the past, and he is one of the very best performers I’ve had the opportunity to listen to. Lee’s comedy is clean and family-oriented, and he will keep you in stitches.
On Saturday night, March 19, we will have the pleasure of listening to three great country artists, Mark Chesnutt, Lorrie Morgan, and Joe Diffie. I don’t think any one of these three needs an introduction from me. All of them are wonderful entertainers. I am really excited to be able to see all three on stage at one time, singing their hits and sharing their stories.
Finally, on Sunday night, March 20, we will have the pleasure of listening to Pamela G & Jackie B. These ladies are from Mountain View, Arkansas (my stompin’ grounds!). They play instruments such as the mountain dulcimer, guitar, spoons, and the piano. But if you think they play only mountain music, you are in for a treat. They are very diverse and perform a variety of musical numbers.
If this entertainment lineup doesn’t get you excited, then the promise of lots of indoor vendors, all types of seminars, and plenty of show motorhomes, plus the opportunity to reconnect with all of your friends, should be more than reason enough to convince you to head for Perry, Georgia, in March. We have been to this venue several times, and it is one of the best host sites available to us. I hope to see all of you there.
Looking a bit farther down the road, our summer Reunion will be held August 3 through 6, 2016, at the Eastern States Exposition, home of the BIG E, located in West Springfield, Massachusetts. I will have to say this about West Springfield: It rightfully can be called a destination rally. This part of the country offers an endless variety of things to do and see.
Plans are already starting to come together for this event. Just to give you a little teaser for what is to come, we have the famous Texas Tenors returning to the FMCA stage. As you may remember, this is one of my wife’s favorite acts, since they managed to get her on stage as part of one of their previous performances. We also have The Dave & Daphne Show from Nashville on the schedule; they are always well-received. Ayla Brown, a country singer who is well-known in the Northeast, and finished in the top 16 on season five of the television show “American Idol,” also will be joining us. This young lady comes to us highly recommended, and we are excited to see her perform.
And looking even farther down the road, while Gloria and I are enjoying this winter out in the Southwest, we will be making a site visit to a new venue in Arizona in preparation for the winter 2017 Family Reunion.
Well, I have completely run out of anything more to say, if you can believe that. I need to get some rest and recharge. I wish each of you safe and happy travels. Don’t forget to pray for those in harm’s way. And, remember, “It’s all about having fun!”