Gary and Glenda Milner have contributed to the success of FMCA on all levels of the association.
It’s safe to say that Gary and Glenda Milner, L409834, love FMCA and look upon their fellow members as their RV family. Last year, Gary was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and the couple had to set aside their travels as FMCA president and first lady to focus on Gary’s health. Gary resigned from his position in September. They have received an outpouring of support from fellow members.
For Glenda and Gary Milner, FMCA membership is indeed all about having fun. The couple joined the “Feelin’ Groovy Parade” during the August 2023FMCA convention in Gillette, Wyoming.
This column is dedicated to sharing information about the Milners’ contributions to FMCA and thoughts from those in the FMCA family who have worked closely with them.
Gary and Glenda know a thing or two about families. Gary was raised in a family of 19 children; he had 16 sisters and two brothers. He and Glenda have been married for 52 years and have two daughters, both of whom are public schoolteachers. They also have four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Theirs has been a life of service. Gary spent 20 years in the United States Army, retiring with the rank of major, followed by 20 years in public education. Glenda worked for the Department of Defense and retired after 17 years in public education.
Hospitalized unexpectedly, Kerry Bounds reached out to the FMCA family for help and received a visit from the Milners.
The Milners joined FMCA in 2009. In 2015, they traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, to attend their first international convention, volunteering in the Information Center. Since then, they have attended 17 conventions and 26 area rallies. They are members of 23 chapters. They traveled full-time in their RV, volunteering at all levels within FMCA.
In addition to holding the office of FMCA president from August 2023 to September 2024, Gary served as national senior vice president from 2021 to 2023, and he was the national vice president/president of the Midwest Area from 2018 to 2021. He served as Convention Committee chairman for two years and Membership/Member Services Committee chairman for three years. On the chapter level, he served as president and vice president of the Lincoln Landers chapter. At conventions, Gary presented seminars and served as a parking volunteer.
Glenda has been equally involved in FMCA activities. She has served as an advisor to the Education Committee for seven years and assisted in the creation of FMCA University and the RV Basics courses. She has volunteered at FMCA events, including presenting seminars at conventions and area rallies. She served as secretary of the Midwest Area for four years and is currently the area’s senior vice president. She was secretary for the Military Veterans chapter. She helped to form the On the Road Stitchers chapter and served as chapter president for two years; she is currently the chapter’s national director.
Memories of the Milners
By Rett and Claire Porter, L369084
FMCA Past National President
Gary Milner and Rett Porter present a certificate to Richard Taddeo for completing all FMCA University courses.
Claire and I meshed with Gary and Glenda Milner from our first meeting almost a decade ago. The four of us have so much in common. Gary and I each had long careers in the U.S. military. Glenda and Claire have been military wives for decades. Gary, Glenda, and Claire were all retired school administrators. Both couples had large Class A motorhomes. Both of us towed full-size trucks with golf carts in the beds. All four of us were from Southern states: Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
All four of us were encouraged by former FMCA national president Charlie Adcock to be more active in FMCA than just at the chapter level. All four of us love to travel across the country to attend FMCA events and chapter gatherings. All four of us are members of many chapters. All four of us hold noncommercial CDL licenses for driving our RVs, and we drive many more hours than most RVers. We traveled very well together. I don’t recall any arguments along the way, except for Glenda complaining about our RV sounding like a jet engine when we would pass them.
BUT we do have some differences. Gary served in the U.S. Army while I served in the U.S. Air Force. You may have seen some of the competitions between Glenda and Claire as they each supported different college teams: Glenda in red and white for her Arkansas Razorbacks and Claire in orange and white for her Texas Longhorns. Stuffed mascots and flags often are seen in the front windshield of our motorhomes.
One of the funniest stories about the four of us occurred at the Southeast Area Rally in Florida in 2022. The evening entertainment included hula dancers who called certain FMCA officers on stage to learn some of the dances. The next day, we discovered that Glenda had posted a video on Facebook of the dancing and pointed out to their daughters how well her husband was dancing — only the video was of Rett. We had great fun teasing her about not recognizing her own husband after 50 years of marriage.
Gary and I have presented innumerable seminars — that both of us military guys continue to call “briefings,” even with our wives reminding us to refer to them as “seminars” — about FMCA benefits, the president’s update, FMCAssist, and other topics. Glenda and Claire have often presented a seminar titled “Yes, She Should and Can” about why all female RVers should know how to drive their RVs and stay in practice. Glenda, Claire, and I have presented seminars on “Go Bags,” as we unpacked our own bags to show attendees what was important to have in theirs.
All four of us worked as a united team from 2021 to 2023 when I was elected FMCA national president and Gary as FMCA national senior vice president (as the title was then). We had a fluid, easy, cooperative communication style and leadership approach. Many of you will remember that Gary was my “fall guy” when in presentations I would say, “If you have any questions or concerns, call Gary; he’s available 24/7.”
We have shared so many meals together, so many rallies, so many miles, so many ideas, so many funny stories, so many brainstorming actions on how to approach situations, and so much enthusiasm for FMCA. I really enjoyed being the FMCA immediate past president as an advisor to Gary when he was elected FMCA national president in the summer of 2023. We are really good sounding boards for each other.
Like all members of FMCA, Claire and I were distraught when we learned of Gary’s medical diagnosis. We understand the reason for his resignation, and we agree it’s time for them to get off the road so Gary can fight this battle with Glenda by his side. We are sure that we will see them both again at FMCA events and that we can enjoy being together again in person rather than just communicating on the phone, by text, by email, or on Facebook. In fact, Glenda, if we’re in Arkansas, we might not even get a helicopter crane to fly us up the mountain to your home; we’d drive all those curvy, narrow roads to come visit! And there has to be another cornhole game for us, even if it’s in your backyard.
Touching Lives, Spreading Joy
By Charlie and Gloria Adcock, L311374
FMCA Past National President
Gary greets Lincoln Landers chapter members during their 50th anniversary rally.
If you don’t know Gary and Glenda Milner, you have probably not been to an international convention or area rally in recent years, or belonged to one of the hundreds of chapters they have visited during the 15 years they have been FMCA members. They have not missed an international convention since 2015; have been to almost every area rally; and have spent many weekends with chapters. I heard someone say about them, “They live and breathe FMCA.” They truly do.
There is not a part of FMCA that they have not touched. Gary has served as a chapter president, Midwest Area vice president/Midwest Area president, two years as national senior vice president, and tragically had to step down with only one year as our FMCA president. He organized and conducted three area rallies during his time as Midwest Area president. He has served on many FMCA committees, mostly as the chairman. He has held many different volunteer positions at conventions and area rallies. But that is the way he is. He loves to be involved. He loves to help others and contribute his time for the betterment of all members of FMCA. During his short time as FMCA president, he strived to keep all members informed of the challenges and accomplishments of FMCA. Because he has an advanced degree in business, he tried to make decisions that would allow FMCA to remain active for all its members.
Glenda was one of the most active first ladies I have ever known. She may be as much or more involved than Gary, if that is possible. She, too, has served at the chapter level, and she is currently serving as senior vice president of the Midwest Area, planning their June 2025 rally in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.
When I learned she has an advanced degree in education, I asked her to serve on the Education Committee. She assisted Gaye Young, FMCA secretary at the time, in the development of our FMCA University. She started a chapter and served as president and national director. She has been instrumental in assisting with the RV Basics classes offered at our conventions. She has also served as a volunteer at many conventions and rallies.
Maybe her most important position was chauffeur for Gary. She was the primary driver and was even involved in changing many flat tires on their RV. If you missed those stories, you truly missed out. We look forward to when they can return to the road and what types of challenges they create for each other.
If I had to pick one thing that stands out about this couple, it would be their love for each other and the bantering when they are in the same room with each other. You have to smile because they can have you in stitches in just a short period of time. I have to admit I think Gary is the underdog, because Glenda seems to remember more “stories” and shares them about him. If you attend one of their seminars, or just watch them on stage during an event, you will experience their fun and exciting personalities. They solicit others to join in, and the result is everyone having a great time.
Gary and Glenda will be missed for the short run, but Gary needs to concentrate on himself. They will truly be missed while they travel this unexpected road dealt to them. We will want to hear more of “The Rest Of The Story”!
I spoke with them recently, and they both said that being away from FMCA is the hardest challenge they have had to face; that FMCA was their life and they truly loved every aspect of it. They did say that they plan on returning to the road when Gary’s health allows; therefore, please pray for their journey to be short lived so they can be back with all of us.
Medical & Travel Assist in Action
Our Medical & Travel Assist Story
Emergency Cash For A Mechanical Breakdown
We attended FMCA’s 109th International Convention & RV Expo in Redmond, Oregon, this past August. On our way there, the bearings went out on our vehicle’s rear wheel, and we had to stay in a hotel for one night and eat out while it was being repaired. When we were at the convention, one of the seminars we went to was on the FMCAssist [now Medical & Travel Assist]. While we knew of some of the benefits, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that if you have a mechanical breakdown more than 75 miles from home, there is a benefit of $250 a day ($1,500 max a year) to help with lodging and food. Our hotel and dinner were covered. This is a wonderful benefit to help with travel emergencies, and it is included in our FMCA membership. Thank you, FMCA!
Sue Hankins & Pat Yacklon, F395564
Torrance, California
Medical Evacuation Example
Recently, an FMCA member fell and was severely injured during a trip to Mexico. The local hospital was unable to provide the degree of care she needed, and with the Medical & Travel Assist program, she was flown by air ambulance to the United States. She was not traveling in her RV when this occurred, which highlights the fact that the benefit is applicable regardless of the type of travel.
Have a Medical & Travel Assist story to share? Send it to us at magazine@fmca.com.
Members Assisted To Date
Since October 1, 2020, the Medical & Travel Assist benefit has helped 491 Family RV Association members, with claims totaling more than $2 million. Member claims ranging from $250 to over $74,000 have been paid by the plan.
To learn more about the coverages provided by this plan, visit FMCA.com/medical-and-travel-assist.