Progress Report
FMCA’s new national president shares information about recent happenings.
National President
Rett Porter, F369084
rporter@fmca.com
After one month being in office as national president, I am happy to report that FMCA is making progress. We are addressing several issues to help our members, and we are moving in the right direction.
Medical advisor. One of those issues is COVID. Our attorney suggested that FMCA hire a medical advisor. I contacted Lee Ann Ernst, R.N. and coordinator of the St. Elizabeth Infectious Disease Response Team in Northern Kentucky. Lee Ann worked 15 hours a day in March, April, May, and June 2020 on the frontlines of COVID-19 care at the Fort Thomas hospital, the epicenter of novel coronavirus pandemic care in Northern Kentucky. She will be advising FMCA on questions concerning our COVID protocols for the FMCA office and initially for FMCA conventions and area rallies. We look forward to working with Lee Ann to ensure the safety of our staff and members.
New FMCA members receive a plate bearing their unique membership number.
Membership plates. The FMCA oval on the back or front of an RV is a symbol of our organization that we have pride in displaying. Over the years we have had different suppliers of our oval, and FMCA has changed from metal to plastic and even to vinyl cling-ons. After we changed suppliers the last time, we have had several complaints that the plastic ovals are deteriorating in the weather. Wanting to maintain a good image, we are changing the oval to a harder plastic oval with numbers being inserted in a recessed trough in the center of the oval. We are anticipating that this will solve our issues on the ovals. Please let us know if you have issues with your oval by sending an email to Aaron White, director of membership, at awhite@fmca.com.
During the Midwest Area Rally, Rett Porter joined the Frustrated Maestros chorus.
Frustrated Maestros. If you attended the Midwest Area Rally in August in Manchester, Iowa, you may have seen me singing with the Frustrated Maestros. I had a very enjoyable time. The Frustrated Maestros are always looking for those members with dormant talents to play instruments or sing. If you still have that instrument from your high school days or when you were in the rock band, then it is time to dust it off and join the fun. If you sing with the radio or enjoy karaoke, then come join the Frustrated Maestros.
DEF issue. FMCA also has a serious side, and addressing the DEF issue that many members are having with the Cummins diesel engine is a serious issue. Our Governmental and Legislative Affairs Committee is working on this topic. We have received several emails asking FMCA to get involved in encouraging either Cummins to make changes or to get legislation changed to help motorhome owners who could be stranded due to derating of their engine. As we gain more information on this issue, we will keep our members informed.
Safe travels, and I look forward to seeing you at the next FMCA event.
Health Benefit, Other News
FMCA has a new partner that offers individualized health insurance plans for members in the United States, their families, and their employees.
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Smith
csmith@fmca.com
Back in April, FMCA announced a new membership health insurance benefit partner: LIG Solutions, a division of Lighthouse Insurance Group. The company is based in Cleveland, Ohio; was established in 2009; and, to date, has distributed more than 1.2 million insurance policies. With LIG Solutions being licensed in all 50 states, they make a great fit for FMCA.
The partnership allows our members access to the following coverages culled from nationally recognized companies: major medical; Medicare options (not affiliated with the U.S. government or federal Medicare program); short-term health plans; vision; dental; critical care coverage; disability; life; and additional supplemental health and wellness options. Coverages are available for everyone from the self-employed to retirees, as well as business owners looking for coverage for employees.
LIG Solutions also offers a national pharmacy program that provides set pricing on most medications; is a monthly membership plan — not a discount/savings card or insurance; and provides access to licensed pharmacists.
We have had many testimonials since the rollout, but one has stuck with me. Members wrote to indicate that they were able to save $860 per month on their health insurance with a plan sourced for them by LIG Solutions.
It is great to know that FMCA membership, and the benefits that come along with it, are helping our members’ finances, as well as giving them peace of mind so they can focus on enjoying the RV lifestyle.
If you are interested in receiving a quote from LIG Solutions, you can call (866) 229-9888 or visit www.LIGmembers.com/FMCA. It doesn’t hurt to request a quote.
FMCA Campground and commemorative brick program. FMCA continues to make improvements to its member-only campground at the Round Bottom Road office in Cincinnati. A dog park was added last year, for instance. This was accomplished with donations from individual members and chapters.
A related initiative we have started is a commemorative brick program. Members have an opportunity to make their mark on FMCA history by purchasing a brick with their name and membership number on it. The bricks will be used to pave the entrance to the dog park and to create a pathway to Lake Barber, a city-owned property with a walking path adjacent to the FMCA campground. Individual members and chapters are welcome to purchase a brick to support this effort. Bricks cost $50 each and can be ordered at www.shopfmca.com.
Sunsets + Saguaros. Right around the time you receive this magazine, registration will open for FMCA’s 104th International Convention and RV Expo, set to take place at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona, March 23 through 26, 2022. Registration begins on September 23, and information appears starting on page 66 of this issue.
In Tucson, FMCA will offer the normal schedule of activities that make our events so successful. Among them are seminars, indoor exhibits, RV displays, games, an ice cream social, daytime and evening entertainment, and much more. Please plan on joining us for another fun and exciting event!
Contact An FMCA National Chaplain
Chaplains Connection Line: (833) 458-0778
Email: chaplains@fmca.com
The mission of FMCA is to bring together RV owners who share similar interests in congenial traveling, recreation, and social activities in order to preserve and perpetuate the traditional ideals and spirit of friendly and wholesome family fellowship as manifested by the founders of FMCA.