Members of this Family RV Association chapter hail from the coastal areas of Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi.
By Terry Zelius, F434329, Secretary
September-October 2025
Forty years ago, on June 3, 1985, 15 motorhome families gathered to discuss forming a chapter of FMCA. One was from Biloxi, Mississippi, and the others from the Pensacola, Florida, area, and they decided on the name Gulf Coasters. To form a chapter, a minimum of 15 coaches were required, and that’s what the Gulf Coasters started with.
The chapter has set a limit of 50 RVs, and at the present time, we have 33 RVs in the membership. Our club is going through a growing spree, with more being voted in monthly!
The Gulf Coasters scope for membership consists of the coastal areas of Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi — stretching from Tallahassee, Florida, to the Louisiana state line. We meet once per month.
We celebrated our chapter’s 40th anniversary twice! In March 2025, we had 18 RVs and 34 people in attendance at FRVA’s rally in Perry, Georgia, including some first-timers. Bill Dees, Southeast Area president, and Kimberly Farrell, Southeast Area north Florida regional vice president, presented our 40th anniversary certificate to Mona Barfield, Gulf Coasters president, and the other chapter members in attendance.
When the Gulf Coasters chapter celebrated their 40th anniversary in June 2025, they were joined by some past members.
Then, June 19-22, 2025, at Sugar Sands RV Resort in Gulf Shores, Alabama, we had our monthly rally, where we celebrated with past members, present members, and potential members. We had 27 RVs and 52 members and potential members camping with us. At our club meeting, we voted in five new members! We had 16 past members join our Saturday celebration luncheon, totaling 62 people. In addition to Mona, the current president, eight past presidents represented the club: Bill Simmons, 2007-2008; Sue Blackburn, 2011-2012 and 2019-2021; Mac Campbell, 2013-2014; Dan Blackburn, 2015-2016; Joe Loftin, 2016-2017; Rick Zelius, 2017-2019; Duaine Kief, 2021-2023; and Danny Barfield, 2024-2025.
We thank all our officers who serve the club and all the members who make Gulf Coasters so much fun.
Share Your News
Do you own an unusual RV, participate in an interesting hobby, travel with pets, or have an RV adventure to tell about? Has your chapter observed a major anniversary, held a rally with a fun theme, honored a dedicated member, or helped out a charity? We want to hear about it. Share your story in 500 words or less, or contact us to tell us about an RV owner you think others should know about. A high-resolution photo and caption instead of an article are also welcome. Email editor@frva.com; mail Family Matters, c/o Family RVing, 8291 Clough Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45244.