Meetings, Membership, And More
It’s a new travel season for the Milners, opening up countless opportunities for fun and fellowship in the company of other FMCA members.
Glenda and Gary Milner
National President
Gary Milner, F409834
gmilner@fmca.com
Hello, everyone. By the time you read this, FMCA’s 108th International Convention & RV Expo, “Fiesta Del Sol,” will already be part of history. But it’s still a month away as I write this, and Glenda and I are en route to Tucson. It is so rewarding to see how many of you will be attending the event. We have added several new seminars to this convention: “Yes, She Should And Can,” a motivational session for women drivers; “FMCA January Family RVing Magazine Overview‚” and “FMCA Website Overview.” These seminars will also be presented during FMCA’s convention in Redmond, Oregon, this August.
We started our 2024 travels with a trip to the Southeast Area Rally in Lakeland, Florida, in February. Bill Dees, national vice president, Southeast Area; his wife, Carolyn; and the area’s board made a huge impression on the attendees. The owners of the 397 registered RVs were afforded a 45-car Corvette show, a cornhole tournament, and many additional seminars in an already active schedule. We encourage you to add this rally to your bucket list and join the fun. It did not disappoint.
Glenda and I also visited chapters during our travels in February. We were fortunate to attend the 50th anniversary rally of the Sun Wheelers chapter in Georgia. What an exciting time for chapters that reach this milestone.
Many FMCA areas are accepting registrations now for their spring and summer 2024 rallies: INTO (International) Area, Muskogee, Oklahoma, May 17-21; Great Lakes Area, Greenville, Ohio, June 5-9; Northeast Area, Frankfort, New York, July 10-13; and Midwest Area, Amana, Iowa, July 24-27. As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities for everyone to attend an FMCA event. In addition to international conventions and area rallies, members can join the fun at chapter rallies throughout the year. Visit fmca.com/fmca-events to view the FMCA Rallies Calendar.
As noted above, FMCA will host its 109th International Convention and RV Expo in Redmond, Oregon, August 14-17. The theme is “Adventure Peaks.” If you have not visited the Northwest area of America, this is your chance! The scenery in and around Redmond is breathtaking. The high-desert climate is conducive to the outdoor activities we have planned. Please consider joining us!
We need FMCA national directors to sign up when Redmond registration opens on April 3 to ensure a quorum is obtained for the Governing Board meeting set to take place on August 14. I encourage chapter presidents to be sure your national director plans to participate in the Governing Board meeting, or elect a temporary delegate to represent your chapter.
Member benefits notes. Please be sure to check out the latest offerings in the FMCA Tech Connect+ program. The new additions come from a collaboration with T-Mobile and include a great deal on a 5G mobile hotspot. Read about the program at fmca.com/techconnect.
Another new development is the opportunity to sign up to pay your FMCA dues on a monthly basis by placing a credit card on file. With this convenient new option, members won’t have to worry about forgetting to renew and missing out on benefits.
And we’re adding a new membership category called Pathfinders. The goal is to connect with individuals who are not yet RV owners and help them learn about the lifestyle — including how to pick the best RV for their needs — via FMCA’s educational resources. If you know someone who fits into this category, encourage them to join FMCA as a Pathfinder. The dues and benefits are the same with a couple of exceptions. They won’t receive a membership plate, since they don’t yet own an RV; they won’t be able to hold office or vote; and they’ll receive only the digital edition of Family RVing magazine.
FMCA has created a video that highlights what we are about, as well as the benefits and discounts afforded each member. It has been posted on YouTube — youtube.com/watch?v=oPiUaPG3CgY — and can serve as a recruiting tool. Share the video on social media and with RV owners you meet who haven’t discovered the benefits of belonging to FMCA.
Remember, it’s all about having fun!
Now For The Rest Of The Story By Glenda Milner
Even though I find it hard not to poke fun at my husband in this space, this month I wanted to share with you the blessings we’ve received while on the road again this year. Gary and I love to be with our fellow members — especially at their chapter gatherings. While at the Southeast Area Rally, we visited several chapters at their block parties. This type of intimate setting allows us to really get to know and spend time with members. We get to share stories and good times. There is no greater joy than that! We are so very blessed to be a part of this amazing organization. I thank God every day that he allows us these opportunities. If you are not a member of a chapter, please consider joining one. You will make lifelong friends who truly become part of your family. We are members of 21 chapters and love every single one of these groups.
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.
Help Grow The Association You Love!
FMCA needs the assistance of its membership to ensure the continued success of the best RV owners organization to be found.
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Smith
csmith@fmca.com
In my eight years as CEO, I have written about this subject several times. The success and growth of FMCA depends on the active participation and engagement of its members, including their efforts in recruiting new members. The importance of members recruiting members for FMCA cannot be stressed enough in terms of how it contributes to the overall strength and sustainability of the organization. There are no better salespeople to bring in new members than our wonderful current members!
New members make the FMCA community stronger. Each brings their unique RVing perspective to the group, which makes everyone better. As RV enthusiasts come together, they create bonds with other members that I have seen lead to lasting friendships and camaraderie. That is why we call ourselves “Your RVing Family.”
Having more members also increases our negotiating power when seeking out new benefits. FMCA offers the best benefits in the RV association world because of our “power in numbers.” This leads to each individual receiving more value for their dues.
FMCA relies on membership dues to cover various expenses, such as for organizing events, producing a monthly magazine, providing the FMCAssist Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance Program, and much more. Recruiting new members helps to fund these member benefits and contributes to the financial sustainability of the organization.
FMCA provides tools to make recruiting easier. Here is a quick rundown of what’s available:
- Affiliate program: FMCA can provide an affiliate link customized for each member. Share your customized link with others, and if they join via the link, you earn $10 for each new join.
- Share the Love of FMCA: Members can instantly have a QR code generated to show to potential new members. The code takes the recruitee to a join page with the referrer’s membership number automatically populated. Members can also have a link to the join page sent by text or email to the person they are recruiting. Members will receive an additional year of membership added on at no cost for the first person they recruit! After the first new member, each additional member will earn you a referral coupon worth $10.
- Give the Gift of Membership: Members can purchase a membership on behalf of a fellow RVer who does not belong to FMCA.
- Resources: Member enrollment forms, member benefit guides, and member benefit brochures are available online for quick printing or downloading.
For more information about member recruitment, please visit fmca.com/recruit and fmca.com/fmca-affiliate.