This chapter’s growth is fueled by members’ love of the RV lifestyle.
By Mark Whitmore, F450319
May 2020
Thirty years — holy cow! How can that be? But it’s true. Overland Trailblazers West became a chartered chapter of FMCA in 1989.
This rapidly growing group has developed into a rather unusual chapter. Unlike many FMCA chapters, it has no specific geographical boundaries, nor does it focus on a special interest or cater to a particular brand of RV. Some OTBW members own large diesel pushers and others own towable RVs. If you are an OTBW member, you have RVing friends in Canada, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, as well as a few states farther east, including Florida. The one thing we all share is a love of the RV lifestyle.
Because we are so geographically diverse, we gather for only one general membership meeting each year. And since OTBW is assigned to FMCA’s Western Area, that meeting is held at the annual Western Area Rally, which always is in January in Indio, California.
The chapter usually has two major rallies a year, and each is pretty special. Great rallies have taken place in many states and venues. Our first rally of 2019, called “Southern Arizona Odyssey,” drew 50 RVs to Tucson, Arizona, for eight days that were packed with entertaining and educational experiences. Later that year, our Canadian members organized a memorable get-together in Calgary, Alberta, where we enjoyed the Calgary Stampede, billed as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” For our annual meeting in Indio, members arrived in about 65 RVs, with most sharing a common camping area. While in Indio, we found time to attend the opening of the polo season at the famous Empire Polo Club.
During the Indio rally, OTBW members filled many volunteer roles. Members worked at the FMCA store; helped our chapter win a trophy in the rally parade; hosted many of the chapter’s social functions; and assisted during the chapter’s barbecue dinner, which fed more than 150 members.
Over the past five years, OTBW membership has more than doubled to well over 100 member families. Just as important, membership participation also has increased. And, we have expanded our social media presence with a new Facebook page. On Facebook, you can find us at Overland Trailblazers West / FMCA Chapter.
By belonging to both FMCA and the Overland Trailblazers West, our members are part of a great RVing family. We love RVing and we are willing to help each other. And past chapter presidents, such as Charlie Corbett, Russ Hill, and Bonnie Turri, to name just a few, continue to offer support. It all contributes to the chapter’s success. For more information about Overland Trailblazers West, contact chapter president Mark Whitmore (email whitfarms@gmail.com; 509-334-9761).