Let’s Get Together!
FMCA’s Tucson, Arizona, convention is about to start, and plans are already taking shape for the next one — set for Redmond, Oregon, this August. Mark your calendars now and join us!
Glenda and Gary Milner
National President
Gary Milner, F409834
gmilner@fmca.com
Time for a convention! We are weeks away from FMCA’s 108th International Convention and RV Expo, and we are ready! We invite you to join us in Tucson, Arizona, March 20 through 23 to enjoy fun in the sun. Glenda and I are excited to start our travel to the warm areas of the United States. This is the first winter in about 10 years that we have spent time in a cold climate.
To begin our travels, we will attend the Southeast Area Rally (SEA) in Lakeland, Florida, in February. Bill Dees; his wife, Carolyn; and the SEA officers will conduct the first FMCA rally of 2024. The venue is very nice, and the area offers a lot to see and do. Lakeland isn’t far from Plant City, which is known for the Florida Strawberry Festival in late February/early March.
Spectacular scenery awaits in the Redmond area, such as this view of Sparks Lake and the South Sister summit.
After FMCA’s 108th International Convention, we will be opening registration for the 109th in Redmond, Oregon, set to take place August 14 through 17, 2024. If you have not visited this location, you will be pleasantly surprised at the beauty of this area nestled in the Cascade Mountains. The venue is very modern, and it’s easy to navigate through the various buildings. The area has so much to offer: Pilot Butte, which is a lava dome created by an extinct volcano; Lava River Cave; High Desert Museum; Tumalo Falls; Sparks Lake; and more. Sisters, Oregon, lies about 20 miles west of Redmond and is a great little town that offers many small craft, winery, and quilt shops. It’s a great place to just shop and enjoy the view of the Three Sisters mountains.
Member-exclusive connections. In case you have not heard, FMCA has launched a new T-Mobile mobile Wi-Fi program for our members. We feel that this device will meet all your internet-related needs. Several FMCA national area vice presidents and FMCA staff members put the device through its paces to ensure that the plan offers truly unlimited data (subject to network management in congested areas after 100 GB). In addition, FMCA is now offering a “bring your own device” T-Mobile cellphone plan at a great rate for members.
The T-Mobile hotspot program joins FMCA’s other mobile internet plans, all offering great connectivity and savings for FMCA members only.
Visit FMCA.com/techconnect for more information about the Tech Connect+ plans.
FMCA ambassadors. Glenda keeps me updated on some of the funny stories that she reads from posts on Facebook. It is pretty entertaining to know that many of you experience RVing much as we do. Thank you for sharing your stories about conventions and rallies so that others can see the fun we have with each other. We members are the best ambassadors for making this organization something we can all be proud of.
Thank you for being an FMCA member. Our members are very special to us, and we hope we have the opportunity to meet and have time with many of you as we travel this great land. As always, remember, “It’s all about having fun!”
Now For The Rest Of The Story By Glenda Milner
I know some of you have experienced the challenges associated with guiding loved ones in making solid decisions when the weather presents issues. We spent two months in very cold, wet, snowy, and miserable weather in north-central Arkansas. Gary decided he wanted to carry a dessert that I had made for a celebration of life to the car. I had ASKED him to just leave it on the counter, because his footing was still not strong enough after knee surgery to navigate the wet ground. I heard the door close and ran to the door to see where he was going. What I found was him in a split position, not what you would find on a cheerleading team, and he had the platter of dessert above his head. He was yelling, “I saved it!” Of course, the strained muscles allowed him to minimize his contributions to chores at the house, and he will milk this small injury to not drive the RV for some time.
Notice Of Annual Membership Meeting
FMCA’s annual Membership Meeting will take place on August 17, 2024, during the 109th International Convention and RV Expo in Redmond, Oregon.
Convention, Membership News
An invitation to FMCA’s 2024 international conventions, plus information about the new monthly membership option.
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Smith
csmith@fmca.com
As I write this, the staff is making final preparations for FMCA’s upcoming international convention. The event will be held March 20 through 23 at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona. It’s not too late to join us! Plus, there are plenty of options for attending! You can stay on-site with your RV; buy a passport to access all the event offers but stay elsewhere; or buy a day pass to just check out indoor and outdoor vendors. For more information, please visit fmca.com/fmca-tucson-2024-learn-more, or call (800) 543-3622 and ask for the Events Department. We hope you join us for our “Fiesta Del Sol”!
We also invite you to make plans now to travel to Redmond, Oregon, for “Adventure Peaks,” FMCA’s 109th International Convention and RV Expo, set to take place August 14 through 17, 2024, at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center. FMCA hasn’t visited the Expo Center since 2014, so we’re making a long-overdue return to a wonderful facility in a spectacular setting with stunning views of the Cascade Mountains. You won’t want to miss this one! If you’ve never been to Redmond, make this the year! Registration is set to open on April 3.
Monthly membership option. In today’s economic climate, people are paying closer attention than ever to their personal budgets. That is magnified further in RVing, where there are multiple expenses that need to be accounted for. Streaming services, gyms, and other companies allow people to pay a monthly fee to access their benefits and services. FMCA is proud to now offer this payment flexibility to its members. The monthly dues option allows members to pay $5 per month via credit card to enjoy the great benefits FMCA has to offer. Payments that are smaller and more regular will help members in their budgeting process.
Monthly members will have almost identical access to benefits as annual members do. Here are the differences involved with monthly membership:
Receive the digital Family RVing magazine instead of a physical copy.
Any benefits that require an annual membership commitment, such as Roadside Rescue or Tech Connect+, are not available to monthly members.
This offer is not only for new members. Existing members who wish to convert from annual membership to monthly can do so when it’s time for their current membership to be renewed. At that point, you will be able to put a credit card on file and enjoy the low monthly fee.
FMCA has strived, and will continue to strive, to make the barrier to entry for FMCA membership as low as we can. We want as many RVers as possible to enjoy the benefits, advocacy, education, and social opportunities that come with membership in FMCA. Providing access for $5 per month is just the latest attempt to spread the joy of the association we all love!