Shaping FMCA’s Future
Work continues to ensure that FMCA remains a fun, successful organization that is driven by, and meets the needs of, its membership.
National President
Jon Walker, F268778
jwalker@fmca.com
As this issue of the magazine is being put together, Sondra and I are heading across the country, traveling from the Western Area Rally in California back to our home in southern Michigan. We aren’t planning to stay there too long before we head to the warmth of the Sunshine State and the Southeast Area Rally in Lakeland. We love living where we do, but it’s also nice to escape the winter temperatures and the snow and ice. And the great part about it is the opportunity to spend time with our FMCA member friends in the process.
Not long after the Southeast Area Rally, we’ll be setting our sights on Perry, Georgia, and FMCA’s “Peachy In Perry” convention, set for March 13 through 16 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. We’re looking forward to enjoying some Southern hospitality and to seeing many of you there.
One thing that will be happening in Perry is an informational session presented by FMCA’s Member Engagement Committee. They’ll be sharing results from the recent survey they conducted to gather information from FMCA members as they make plans to help shape the association’s future.
I’ve invited the Member Engagement Committee members to share some of their progress and their thoughts in this month’s column. Their work is vital to my vision of a more member-driven FMCA, so please take time to read this information and to contribute to this effort in any way you can.
Update From The Member Engagement Committee
Thank you for taking the time to participate in FMCA’s 2018 Member Engagement Survey. What a great response! Over 2,500 members shared their concerns, expectations, ideas, and wishes for the future of FMCA. You have given our committee much to absorb as we look into such topics as communications, technology, organizational structure, and more.
What we are learning, to no one’s surprise, is that the world is changing, and so is our membership. As we strive to shape a future for FMCA that is more member-driven, we need to make sure the ideals and values that made us a fun, successful organization in the past continue to be relevant to new generations of RVers. This is why your participation in the survey was important, because information drives processes.
Your committee is now engaged in the process of analyzing, summarizing, and categorizing your input into actionable themes from which strategies and plans can bring forth the changes you envision. These results will be shared by FMCA president Jon Walker in a summary presentation during his President’s Forum in Perry, Georgia, on Friday, March 15 (9:00 a.m., Reaves Arena), and then in greater detail in Minot, North Dakota, this summer.
In Perry, the Member Engagement Committee also will host an informational session — “Member Engagement Survey: What Members Told Us” — to share the results of the survey on Saturday, March 16, at 2:30 p.m. in Seminar 2.
The survey is just the first phase of a process that we believe will help President Walker achieve his vision of FMCA being a more member-driven organization. One of the tasks Jon presented to our committee early on was to assist with the challenge FMCA has in recruiting volunteers to fill various roles where certain skills and experience would be helpful, especially when it comes to operational policies and procedures. Part of that challenge becomes: (1) How do we learn who has experience in the areas we’re looking for; (2) How are we reaching out to members who have the “right stuff”; and (3) How can we encourage them to serve on project teams, committees, and in leadership positions?
It’s a fact that volunteers are critical to our future. FMCA has a small, dedicated staff, but they can’t do it all. It takes hundreds of volunteers each year to keep the organization operating, from serving in leadership positions and as committee members to volunteering at rallies and events. That said, the information gathered from the survey will help us to greater enhance future volunteer opportunities across the organization, making the social component of your FMCA membership more meaningful. Also, as a result of the survey, many of you generously offered your talents and expressed a willingness to serve; thanks, and you will be hearing more from us soon.
Jon also challenged our committee to remain forward-thinking. One factor that will be critical for FMCA’s future is to consider how the organization is responsive to the needs of all its members. This includes not only those members who got us to where we are today, but the “yet to be” members who will become our future membership base. This means better understanding the ever-changing needs of our members, who are becoming increasingly more diverse in age (younger), their categories of RVs (towables and motorized), their expectations (benefits), their limitations (time, finances), and their priorities (young families, employment demands), not to mention the rapidly changing landscape of the economy, technology, and social norms.
So, again, the survey results provide a foundation and baseline on how we can respond to and fulfill expectations, from benefits to communications, and providing our members a voice (a seat at the table).
Finally, Jon mentioned in previous communications that if we want to continue enjoying the many ways we benefit from membership, it’s important for us to explore ways to evolve the culture of our organization into a more member-driven model that can sustain us and help us grow, long into the future. To that end, our committee is driven by the belief that the more our members become involved in all aspects of FMCA, the more it will remain relevant and of value to us all, so we can continue to enjoy doing what we love . . . and that’s the bottom line!
Thanks for your participation. Please stay tuned.
Membership Engagement Committee: Ken Carpenter, Tim Gerrity, Tony Trimarco, and Terry Whaley
Seeking Cover-Worthy Photos
Send us your photographs and memories.
Chris Smith, FMCA Executive Director
Executive Director
Chris Smith
csmith@fmca.com
Have you ever taken a photo of your RV — or someone else’s — in a drop-dead-gorgeous spot and thought to yourself, “Wow! This should be on the cover of a magazine.” Well, that notion could become reality. We want to showcase member-supplied photos on the cover of Family RVing. We’re starting this month with a photo taken by Jesse Ingram, F485755, during family travels in Baja, Mexico. Another great example is the cover photo supplied by Jerome Braga, F477684, for the May 2018 issue when we unveiled the new name and new design for FMCA’s magazine.
We’ve had great participation since we began asking members to submit photos for the “Rear View” column, and now members will have an opportunity to see their photos printed on a larger “canvas.” We do want to make sure an RV is included somewhere in the photo; it doesn’t have to be the main focus, but we need to stay true to our mission of showcasing the RV lifestyle. We’d also welcome photos of people in the scene with the RV, enjoying activities or simply relaxing.
We won’t be able to publish all of the photos that we receive, of course, and the competition will be stiff, since we have only 12 covers available each year. So, we’re looking for you to hit us with your best shot. For those chosen, we’ll be rewarding the photographer with a check for $250 in appreciation.
Before submitting a photo, please check the guidelines included in the box on page 10.
Get your learning on. In July 2018, we launched the FMCA University Library online. The Library is where you can go to find a vast array of technical and lifestyle articles to enhance your RV adventures and debug problems encountered along the way. Now, we’re excited to announce the addition of the FMCA University Curriculum. Put the knowledge you’ve gained to the test as you take quizzes for various articles. Level up as quizzes are completed, while earning badges, certificates, and rewards along the way. The Curriculum will continue to grow, so there are always new tips to learn. Visit www.fmca.com/fmcauniversity to start achieving.
Membership vote results. Thanks to those of you who sent in a ballot for FMCA’s recent membership vote regarding changes to the Constitution. Both of the initiatives passed.
The first proposal involved a change to eliminate a sentence in the Constitution stating that no member was entitled to a refund of dues or initiation fees paid to FMCA. The rationale for removing this was to allow the staff and the Executive Board the flexibility of refunding dues under certain circumstances. The idea was that it would be better to control the issue of refunds via the Bylaws or the policies and procedures in the Member and Volunteer Handbook. This proposal passed with 1,010 “yes” votes and 33 “no” votes.
The second proposal involved a change to allow electronic voting. During the 2017 membership vote related to changes to the Articles of Incorporation and Constitution, FMCA received numerous requests regarding the ability to vote online. This was not possible given the language in the Constitution at that time, so a proposed change was brought forth. This proposal passed with 1,020 “yes” votes and 19 “no” votes, thereby providing the flexibility of online voting for future Constitution changes.
It’s not too late to be “Peachy in Perry.” If you haven’t already registered for FMCA’s 99th International Convention and RV Expo, set for March 13 through 16 in Georgia, there is still time. You can register online, by phone, or by mail until March 6. After that date, you can still attend. Simply register on-site when you arrive at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. Hope to see you there!
On tap: “Minot Magic — 100 Times The Fun.” Registration for FMCA’s August 14 through 17, 2019, event in Minot, North Dakota, is now open. We’re planning a special celebration to commemorate the fact that FMCA will be hosting its 100th convention. We’ll be sharing more plans soon. Meanwhile, visit FMCA.com to register online, or use the registration form that appears elsewhere in this magazine to sign up via mail, fax, or phone.
We’re also asking members to help us as we take a trip down Convention Memory Lane. We’re preparing a commemorative program for the Minot celebration, and we’d like to include special memories and photos from members who have been with us on the journey.
Please send memories and photos to 100@fmca.com or mail them to FMCA, c/o Convention 100, 8291 Clough Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45244.
Keep in mind that we’ll need high-resolution images in order for photos to reproduce well in print. That means images shouldn’t be downsized for emailing and, in technical terms, they need to be approximately 4×6 inches in size and at least 300 dpi. If you’re not sure your photos meet those qualifications, send them along and let us take a look. If you have prints you’d like to mail to us, know that we’ll return them to you once we’ve finished.
Until I see you in Perry, or communicate with you via these pages next month, enjoy the journey!
Family RVing Cover Photo Guidelines
Calling all FMCA photographers! Do you have a striking original photo you’d like to see featured on the cover of Family RVing magazine? We’d like to see it, too. But before you send it in, consider these criteria:
Vertical-format photos. Please keep in mind that vertical shots are required for the cover. A photo in a horizontal format may work only if our artists can crop it and reconfigure it as a vertical image.
Composition. Take a look at a Family RVing cover. Inspect how the photo is used. Will your photo work with the magazine nameplate placed across the top and the white mailing label in the bottom left corner? Will there be room for a few lines of text?
Include an RV. What else? The RV can be featured front and center, or parked in the background. One or more RVs are fine. (If they’re not yours, please make sure you have permission to photograph them.) Suggested subjects: campground scenes, nature/wildlife backdrops, interesting attractions/activities discovered while RVing, people and/or pets (candid shots preferred). For photos that include people, please obtain written permission from them, or their parent or guardian in the case of children. Please avoid snapshot-type photos.
Resolution, photo size, format. High-resolution digital images are required for a cover-worthy photo. Minimum requirements: a resolution of 300 dpi; 1800 pixels by 2700 pixels; photo size 6 inches by 9 inches. Generally, photo file size of 14MB or larger.
Email your photo(s). Send to editor@fmca.com. Send each in a separate email. For files greater than 25MB, please call. Provide the photographer’s name, basic information about the photo, and your contact information. We will confirm receipt. Original images only, please.
Questions? Contact the Family RVing magazine staff at (800) 543-3622, extension 228 or 235; or email editor@fmca.com.