Summer Adventures Ahead
For many RVers, summer is prime travel season. For FMCA members in particular, journeys include chapter and area rallies, and an international convention.
Glenda and Gary Milner
National President
Gary Milner
gmilner@fmca.com
Summer is in full swing, and the temperatures are rising. This is my favorite time of year. That was true even when I was in the military and stationed in Phoenix, Arizona. Dry heat is different from heat accompanied by humidity, but either way, I do enjoy shorts weather versus the alternative!
Chapter Anniversary
Glenda and I had the honor of attending the Lincoln Landers chapter’s 50th anniversary rally in DuQuoin, Illinois. We love celebrating with chapters that reach this milestone. Chapter president Greg Xanders and his board did an amazing job honoring past members. Through a huge paper timeline, they acknowledged all the past rallies and chapter officers. It was interesting seeing all the places where they gathered to enjoy each other’s company. I have said many times, chapters are the backbone of FMCA and a great way to meet lifelong friends. This was the first chapter we joined with FMCA, and it was so rewarding to present them their 50th anniversary certificate.
New Chapter And Area Positions
The Long-Range Planning Committee developed a great idea for a new chapter position within FMCA, and a new position on the area level, and the Executive Board recently approved the concepts as options for chapters and areas. It is suggested that chapters have a dedicated chapter membership coordinator. That person(s) would lead the effort to seek new members for their chapter as well as for FMCA. Another suggestion is that area presidents select a person(s) to serve as area chapter developer to assist in the creation of new chapters within their geographical area. FMCA offers a chapter formation toolkit for that purpose.
Recruiting is easy with face-to-face contact with a person interested in the RV lifestyle. We meet prospective members at RV shows, campgrounds, and even at the fuel pump. FMCA benefits and discount programs sell themselves. FMCA is a member-owned organization, and you can help grow the size and strength of the association by helping us add more members.
Don’t forget about FMCA’s “Share The Love‚ program, which rewards members for their recruitment efforts. Members can earn a free year of membership for the first new member they recruit. To learn more, visit FMCA.com/share.
Budget Preparations
By the time you read this article, the FMCA Executive Board will have completed the fiscal year 2025 FMCA budget and approved it for submission to the Governing Board in August at the 109th International Convention & RV Expo Presented By Beaver Coach Sales in Redmond, Oregon. This year’s budget presented FMCA’s Finance Committee, staff, and Executive Board with some tough challenges due to financial shortfalls during the current fiscal year. I assure you that those involved in preparing the budget had membership in mind when dealing with all the important decisions. This organization is owned by its members, and we are privileged to work for you.
“Adventure Peaks” Convention
Plans are being finalized for the upcoming convention in Redmond. Our current estimate is that 700 RVs will be in attendance. We’d love to exceed that number, of course. We also need 138 Governing Board voting members to have a quorum for the Governing Board meeting that will take place on August 14. If you are a chapter officer, please seek a voting member to represent your chapter at the meeting. We must establish a quorum to conduct important FMCA business.
Benefits And Discounts
I want to thank Harry Hentschel, chairman of the Member Services Committee, and all committee members for their hard work seeking benefits and discounts for our members. They are always looking for new member benefit ideas from members. It is an honor to work with this committee, and all our committees searching for ways to make this lifestyle easier and more enjoyable for us all.
Hope to see you down the road. Wave when you pass us by. And remember, it’s all about having fun!
Now For The Rest Of The Story By Glenda Milner
There is not another organization as enjoyable as FMCA. We just attended the INTO (International Area) Rally in Oklahoma. It was so enjoyable because we were all parked close together and had so many happy hours entertaining each other with our RV stories (and everyone knows we have plenty!). Gary and I also enjoyed sharing some time with our chapter members. They are like family to us because of the many times we are together. If you are not part of a chapter, I highly recommend you join one, two, or many (we are members of 21 chapters) and enjoy making lifelong memories with your new friends. Until we meet again, safe travels.
FMCA’s Commercial Member Family
In addition to RVing families, FMCA’s membership base includes campgrounds, RV repair facilities, RV and component manufacturers, service providers, and more.
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Smith
csmith@fmca.com
While you’re recruiting new members to FMCA, don’t forget to spread the word to the companies you encounter during your travels. Have you enjoyed a stay at a campground you think other FMCA members should know about? Have you done business with an RV dealer, repair facility, or service organization that merits attention? Encourage them to become FMCA commercial members. If they join and mention that you referred them, this will count toward the members you have recruited, the same as family members you recruit. And remember, recruiting has its rewards! Members can earn a free year of membership for the first new member they recruit, and then $10 reward certificates for each subsequent recruitment. A commercial membership enrollment form and other information about member recruitment appears on the “Spread The Word‚ menu at FMCA.com.
FMCA’s commercial members support the association through their membership dues, with rates the same as family-member dues; through advertising in Family RVing magazine and on FMCA.com; and by exhibiting at FMCA international conventions. If you cannot attend one of FMCA’s conventions to meet vendors in person, there is a great online tool that allows you to shop digitally: the FMCA RV Marketplace. The goal of the FMCA RV Marketplace is to provide RVers with a one-stop-shopping experience for all their RV-related needs. It lists all FMCA commercial members and features information about these companies, allowing them to showcase their offerings for RV families. This is FMCA’s way of creating our own online shopping outlet for members. FMCA members selling and buying products from other FMCA members ˛ now that’s keeping it in the family!
Exposure in the FMCA RV Marketplace is a very nice benefit for FMCA commercial members. All commercial members receive a basic listing as part of their membership dues. The basic listing includes company name, contact information, and a link to the company’s website. By purchasing an enhanced listing, companies can increase the value of their online presence. The enhanced listing allows them to add a description, a list of products, a logo, and more.
Family members can view product offerings, and commercial members can provide exclusive discounts via the descriptions. Head to www.fmca.com/marketplace to see for yourself!