Clarification
The “RV Products” column in the February 2023 issue included the Duo Form Thermo Shield RV Skylight Shade. Specialty Recreation Inc. is the exclusive aftermarket distributor for Duo Form and should have been listed as the contact. Specialty Recreation can be reached at www.specrec.com; (619) 593-9360.
Service Dog Courtesy
While “Service Dogs And RVing‚ (November 2022 issue) was a very nice article, it should have mentioned that service dogs are yet another reason dog owners should not allow their pet to approach another dog or dogs without having permission from the person with that/those dogs.
Both of my dogs are service dogs and are trained to ignore other dogs. They did that fabulously until they had been attacked 14 times by off-leash dogs; 13 of those incidents were at RV parks!
It does not matter whether the approaching dog is friendly; service dogs cannot do their work if constantly interfered with by uncontrolled, generally off-leash dogs.
― Janet Noble, F485084
Livingston, Texas
Pickleball Courts
In the December 2022 issue, Larry Dodd wrote an article on pickleball. I have wintered for 15 years at Palm Creek Resort and Residences. The article had two errors related to courts at the resort. First, the 32 pickleball courts were not created from 16 tennis courts. They were created on vacant land. Second, he says that one tennis court can be converted to two pickleball courts. Prior to the creation of the 32-court site, the Palm Creek pickleball club had 12 pickleball courts on three tennis courts. That is a conversion of four pickleball courts to one tennis court. The 12 courts were converted back to three tennis courts when the 32-court site was opened.
― Neida Perrie, F403762
Green Cove Springs, Florida
About Sharing The Road
“Sharing The Road‚ in the January 2023 issue was a good article with a lot of valuable info, but I have something for the truckers to consider. I appreciate that you have a challenging job, but when I am following at a safe distance and moving with the flow, don’t tailgate to intimidate me out of your way; it doesn’t make the 15 cars in front of me go any faster.
When going uphill and the left lane is marked “No Trucks This Lane,” don’t pull into the left lane doing 45 in a 70 zone because a more heavily loaded truck is moving slowly in the right lane.
Finally, on a flat, straight road, don’t take five minutes to very, very slowly creep past the other semi going µ-mile per hour slower than you are. Please show us the same respect and consideration you ask for.
― Bob Garrott, F465623
Crossville, Tennessee
Need For New And Younger Members
By way of a brief introduction, I am only two years into my weekend-warrior RV life and a relatively new member of FMCA. I mention this because I don’t have the many years and experiences of so many FMCA members.
I am writing today to share how pleased I was to read your “FMCA Update‚ column on pages 6 and 7 of the December 2022 issue of Family RVing. In my limited experiences within FMCA and my local chapter, it seems that every gathering is made up of retirees who are 70-plus years old. There aren’t many people like my family ˛ still working, possibly with one or more children.
Retirees are the backbone of the organization, but reaching out to newer and/or younger RVers will be crucial to the continued success of FMCA and its chapters. How can that be achieved?
Maybe more activities that better suit those still working ˛ held over weekends, shorter duration, closer to home.
Kid-friendly excursions or activities at the campground ˛ doesn’t need to replace what people already enjoy; just augment with these newer types of social activities, such as bike rides, visits to local attractions, community-style campfires (not just potluck dinners). New ideas = new members.
More frequent, shorter-duration rallies so working families can attend some of them. It’s not easy to take time away from work for travel or weekday rallies and events.
Outreach using social media such as Instagram and LinkedIn ˛ not just Facebook, which doesn’t appeal to younger people.
Outreach to local affiliations such as campgrounds, RV dealerships, and mobile RV techs.
To be direct, I do not believe that any of my ideas should replace existing activities or exclude existing members who already enjoy the current format.
The RV-buying demographics suggest that more “younger‚ people have joined the RV community. If FMCA will thrive for the next generation, reaching out to younger, newer RVers may be positively consequential.
Many thanks for considering my ideas.
― Matthew Siegel, F518899
Millstone, New Jersey
We want to hear from you! Family RVing welcomes comments about articles published in the magazine or topics of interest to RV owners. Email readerswrite@fmca.com; mail to Readers Write, FMCA, 8291 Clough Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45244. Please include your name, city, and state/province. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.