From Tucson To Lincoln
FMCA’s convention in Tucson, Arizona, will be part of FMCA history by the time you read this, and plans are taking shape for our “Golden Getaway” in Lincoln, Nebraska.
By Rett Porter, F369084
National President
rporter@fmca.com
During the Southeast Area Rally in February, Rett met longtime member Nancy Watts, F96, and her daughter, Leslie Goree, F96D.
Where were you in 1963? Some of you reading this column weren’t even born then. In October of that year, Nancy Watts joined FMCA, becoming member number F96. Claire and I had the privilege to meet Nancy and her daughter, Leslie Goree, at the Southeast Area Rally in February. Leslie joined FMCA in 2022, opting to use the family membership number and becoming F96D; the “D” stands for “daughter.” Nancy and Leslie were attending the rally in Lakeland, Florida, and, like all of us, having fun. I took the opportunity to pose for a picture with them. I hope we will see them at many more FMCA events.
Time For Tucson
As I write this column, Claire and I are at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona, awaiting the arrivals of attendees for FMCA’s 104th International Convention and RV Expo. Across from where our motorhome is parked, workers are laying down carpet in the out-door exhibit area, where more than 150 display RVs will be open for inspection. The excitement is building. The RV Driving School has been busy, and the RV Basics classes have begun.
The RV Driving School and RV Basics are put on just prior to FMCA conventions as educational opportunities and benefits to our members. FMCA doesn’t make a profit on these courses. It costs FMCA money to present them, but we do this to help our members be the smartest and safest RV owners on the road.
If you have wanted to learn to drive your RV but don’t want your spouse or significant other teaching you, then we highly recommend the RV Driving School courses to take the pressure off and allow you to enjoy the fun of getting behind the wheel. The RV Basics classes help with the fundamentals of owning and operating an RV and are good for those new to the lifestyle or wanting to brush up on their knowledge.
One thing Claire and I are looking forward to in Tucson is the Chapter Block Party event. FMCA first tried this during the convention in Perry, Georgia, in March 2019, and it was very successful and lots of fun. So, we’re pleased to be offering this opportunity again. We’re anticipating another great time with many chapters planning to participate.
If you are wondering what goes on at a Chapter Block Party, the answer is “almost anything.” The goal is for chapters to meet and greet potential new members for their chapters, so each of them hosts a party within a party, and you’ll witness good times being had by all.
The owners of more than 1,500 RVs are registered for the Tucson convention, even after we lost several registrants who canceled because of the high cost of fuel. I look at it this way: When you factor in the cost of hotels and flights, RV travel
is still a better value and a great way of life. You don’t have to deal with airports or sleep in a hotel bed at night, and, if you choose to, you can cut costs by eating in your RV and not at restaurants.
Of the RVs registered for the Tucson event, more than 500 belong to members attending their first FMCA convention. The fun of socializing with everyone at a convention is wonderful. It provides a great opportunity to tell “true stories” of life on the road and to make lifelong friends among neighbors you had never met before. This is the life: enjoying being outdoors, wonderful weather, terrific entertainment, vendors with everything you didn’t know you needed, informative seminars, etc.
Let’s Meet In Lincoln
As we moved into March, fuel costs were soaring, and this prompted many of us to reconsider where we travel. Others have noted that they are moving ahead with their plans regardless.
After the initial increases, prices seem to have settled, and rumors say we may see prices slowly decline. We hope that’s true, because we don’t want anything to discourage you from joining us in Lincoln, Nebraska, for FMCA’s 105th International
Convention and RV Expo, August 24 through 27, 2022, at the Lancaster Event Center. You’re all invited! This facility has plenty of electrical hookups, so if you add electricity to your registration, you won’t need to worry about running a generator.
FMCA’s Governing Board meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 24, during the Lincoln convention, and we also will have our Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, August 27.
This will be FMCA’s first-ever convention in Nebraska. Adding this event to your summer travel plans would make it an excellent launching point for exploring this part of the Midwest. Lincoln is the capital of Nebraska and has much to offer visitors. It’s also a vibrant college town, home of the University of Nebraska. It is filled with museums, restaurants, shopping options, and other attractions. For information about what to see and do in the city, visit www.lincoln.org. To learn more about what the state of Nebraska has to offer travelers, check out www.visitnebraska.com. Register now and make plans to join us!
Travel safely, and we’ll see you down the road.
Second Chances, New Opportunities
FMCA is enjoying some do-overs this year with events that had to be canceled in 2020, and is continuing to offer new benefits to enhance the RV lifestyle.
By Chris Smith
Chief Executive Officer
csmith@fmca.com
As I write this, FMCA’s 104th International Convention and RV Expo in Tucson, Arizona, is less than a week away. After the disappointment of having to cancel the 2020 event scheduled for Tucson just a couple of weeks before the start date, it’s exciting to see “Sunsets + Saguaros” come to fruition.
FMCA also is getting a second chance to gather in Lincoln, Nebraska, this summer after that event had to be canceled in 2020 as well. We’re calling this convention our “Golden Getaway,” and members are sure to be buzzing about it. Why? Because it will be loads of fun, and educational, too. And you’ll be seeing some honeybees in the artwork used to promote the event. The honeybee — a hardworking, social insect — is the official state insect of Nebraska.
Another reason for the buzz is that FMCA has never hosted a convention in Nebraska. We’ll be adding the Cornhusker State to the list for the first time this summer. The gathering will take place at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, August 24 through 27. I would encourage everyone to attend and help us make FMCA history. The registration form appears online and on page 61 of this issue.
New Atlas
The new “FMCA North American Road Atlas and Travel Guide” is now available. We are pleased to introduce this 11th edition of the atlas, which is by far the most popular item offered in the FMCA Store. The new edition now includes Petro Stopping Centers and TA TravelCenters of America locations, in addition to Pilot Flying J Travel Plaza and Love’s Travel Center locations. It also directs RVers to hundreds of campgrounds, among them FMCA commercial member campgrounds and big-rig-friendly facilities. And it pinpoints Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations.
The sturdy plastic spiral binding and large type make it user friendly. The atlas is available online for $17 plus shipping and handling and will be sold at area rallies and conventions.
New Member Benefits
FMCA has launched several new benefits in the past few months.
Members now receive a discount for the SoftStartRV, a device that temporarily reduces the load and torque in the electric current rush of an RV air conditioner motor during startup. This reduces stress on the motor and the entire electrical network, which helps to extend system life. And it also will allow owners of RVs with 30-amp electricity to run two air conditioners simultaneously. That could come in handy as we enter the heat of summer.
FMCA also entered into a partnership with Medjet, which provides air medical transport and travel security. Special FMCA member-only pricing is offered on both their MedjetAssist and MedjetHorizon products. One notable thing about the program is that it transports members to their hospital of choice rather than to the nearest appropriate facility.
Another new partnership provides members some engaging, unusual places to stay. Harvest Hosts is a network of more than 2,700 wineries, breweries, distilleries, farms, museums, and other attractions that welcome members for a one-night stay. Options are available in all the lower 48 states, plus Alaska, Canada, and Baja California. No camping fees are charged, but guests are asked to support the business in some way in exchange for the dry-camping RV spot. FMCA members who are new to the program receive a discounted rate on the annual Harvest Hosts membership cost.
Boondockers Welcome, now a sister company of Harvest Hosts, also is offering FMCA members who are new to their program a discounted membership. It provides access to the Boondockers Welcome network of more than 2,900 host locations on private property throughout the United States and Canada.
To learn more about these benefits and others, visit www.fmca.com/fmcarvclubbenefits.
So, honey (see what I did there?), make like a bee and get busy and register for FMCA’s 105th International Convention and RV Expo. We’re looking forward to having you join the RV hive in Nebraska! Until then, enjoy the journey.