Stay Up To Date With FMCA
One of the best ways to take advantage of your FMCA membership is to be informed about the benefits you receive, including ongoing changes.
National President
Rett Porter, F369084
rporter@fmca.com
Several times recently I have been asked about the 10-year rule for transporting RVs under the FMCAssist Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance Program. That has really surprised me. There is no 10-year rule. For about three or four months in 2017, Seven Corners, which was our facilitator for the program at the time, did not want to transport RVs over 10 years of age. The professional drivers Seven Corners was using told the company reps that the vehicles were not safe to drive long distances. FMCA countered that concern with the fact that the maintenance condition of the RV is more important than the age. A 2-year-old RV in poor condition could be more of a liability than a well-maintained 30-year-old RV.
The bottom line is that there is no age restriction imposed by Chubb, the current insurer for FMCAssist, on an RV being transported by the professional drivers for a vehicle return under the FMCAssist plan. Remember, the policy also allows you the option of having a friend or family member return your RV, with FMCAssist paying for their transportation to retrieve the vehicle and to drive or tow it home.
When FMCA created FMCAssist, it was designed to be a significant benefit for our members, and it also developed into a recruiting tool. Chubb, the current insurance company for FMCAssist, renewed our policy on October 1, 2022, and included three features that to my knowledge aren’t provided by other medical evacuation and repatriation policies and were not part of the previous program with Seven Corners. Those three features are as follows: 1. Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), 2. Emergency Room Cash Benefit, and 3. Emergency Cash Benefit.
If your family has an accident that results in circumstances such as the loss of a limb or death, you may qualify for an accidental death and dismemberment payment of up to $5,000. If you get hurt or sick and go to the emergency room or urgent care, then FMCAssist will cover up to $250 of that emergency room bill, with a maximum of $500 in a 12-month period. If you break down on a trip and the repairs to your RV require that you stay in a hotel, then FMCAssist’s Emergency Cash Benefit will cover your hotel expenses and meals up to $250 per day for a maximum of three days, two times in a 12-month period; maximum benefit of $1,500.
Remember that you must be more than 75 miles from your permanent residence for these coverages to be active, and full-timers are always considered to be 75 miles from home.
FMCAssist is a great benefit for our members, but it’s also a great topic to talk about with potential members. I have given you several good reasons why you should promote FMCA membership. These are coverages that all RVers should have when they are out on the road.
When you get a new member to join FMCA, be sure they add your name and membership number to the spot on the form that asks how they learned about FMCA. As the recruiting member, you will receive a $10 voucher to use on dues, rally fees, or purchases from the FMCA Store online or at conventions. You will also be credited with recruiting the member, and once you reach 10 members, you will receive a pin. Pins are awarded to those who recruit 10, 50, 100, and 200 members.
At FMCA International Conventions and RV Expos, an Executive Board member makes a presentation about FMCA member benefits. It is updated each time to include the most recent changes to current benefits and information about new benefits. Regardless of how long you’ve been a member, attend the FMCA Member Benefits seminar to learn and receive updates regarding the benefits. Benefits continually change, and being up to date is the only way you can take maximum advantage of all that FMCA offers. Then share your knowledge with your fellow members, because unless they have attended the latest benefits seminar, they won’t have the most current information, and you will be a knowledgeable source for them.
FMCA’s 107th International Convention and RV Expo in Gillette, Wyoming, August 23 through 26, 2023, will provide the next opportunity to attend the FMCA Member Benefits seminar. This will also be my last event as your FMCA national president. I would love to have all of you join us there.
In addition, a Governing Board meeting will take place during the convention. At that meeting, an election will be held for the four nationally elected officers. Each of those positions is contested. Come have a great time and welcome the new national officers who will be leading FMCA for the next two years.
Safe travels, and we will see you soon.
Celebrating Sixty!
Since 1963, FMCA has been providing benefits to members and hosting gatherings that have resulted in countless hours of fun for RV owners and innumerable friendships.
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Smith
csmith@fmca.com
In late August, FMCA members will gather in Gillette, Wyoming, to participate in a tradition that has its roots in a get-together that took place 60 years ago this month. In July 1963, 26 families traveled to Maine in their “house cars‚ to view a solar eclipse and discuss the benefits of forming an organization for like-minded travelers. FMCA was born during that meeting, and the fledgling organization’s first official convention took place the following summer.
Flash forward to today, and FMCA is about to host convention number 107, and we’re calling it “Celebrating Sixty‚ in honor of the association’s milestone anniversary year. It’s heartwarming to think about the fun and friendships that have blossomed during those 60 years.
We’re looking at the past and the near future in this issue of the magazine. Learn a bit about FMCA’s history in the article that begins on page 60. And immediately following that, read about what to expect during the “Celebrating Sixty‚ convention August 23 through 26 in Wyoming. It’s not too late to join us!
Speaking of milestones, one of FMCA’s earliest members and most ardent supporters is turning 100 this month. Get to know Genny Jennings, L26, in the Family Matters column that starts on page 80.
FMCA members can save 10 cents per gallon on up to 20 gallons of gasoline or diesel fuel via FMCA’s Circle K partnership.
One thing FMCA has strived to help members with for 60 years is saving money. And during times of economic uncertainty, every penny counts. One of the largest expenses for RV owners is fuel. Elevated fuel costs since March 2022 have added to an already large expense. For years, FMCA has tried to find a fuel discount program for members. It has proven to be much more difficult than originally thought. However, FMCA has succeeded in negotiating a fuel discount with Circle K. The discount, which is 10 cents off per gallon, can be used for both diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline at Circle K’s 3,600 participating locations in the United States.
The process to gain access to the Circle K fuel discount is simple:
Go to www.fmca.com/fuel-discounts. You must have an online account with FMCA and be logged in to view the page.
On that page, you will find a link to the Circle K website where you can request a coupon.
You must enter your cell phone number. The coupon will be sent via text to the number you provide. The coupon is valid for five days after it is requested.
Once the coupon is redeemed, you have 5 minutes to go inside the Circle K station, prepay for the fuel, and have the 10-cent discount applied.
Members can request one coupon per day, and there currently is a 20-gallon limit per coupon redemption.
Did you know that FMCA has over 1,100 commercial members? These commercial member companies cover all areas of the RV industry ˛ RV manufacturers, RV dealers, RV service facilities, campgrounds, RV component manufacturers and suppliers, and numerous other categories. Many of them provide discounts to FMCA members.
The quickest way to locate these companies that provide products and services to RVers is on the FMCA RV Marketplace (www.fmca.com/rvmarketplace). It supplies information about hundreds of different types of FMCA commercial-member companies organized into 17 main categories. An easy-to-use search function makes it possible to find vendors by product or service, company name, keyword, and location.
When you click on a listing, it provides you with a phone number, physical address, and email address for the company. It also supplies a link to the company website and notes the discount ˛ if any ˛ the company extends to FMCA members.
FMCA membership brings with it a host of great benefits, including discounts and connections such as the ones described here. To learn more, visit FMCA.com.
I hope to see you in Gillette, Wyoming, next month! We’re planning to have a groovy time!
Until then, enjoy the journey.
Contact An FMCA National Chaplain
Chaplains Connection Line: (833) 458-0778
Email: chaplains@fmca.com
The mission of FMCA is to bring together RV owners who share similar interests in congenial traveling, recreation, and social activities in order to preserve and perpetuate the traditional ideals and spirit of friendly and wholesome family fellowship as manifested by the founders of FMCA.