ON A ROLL
By Paul Mitchell, F165576, National President
Lisa and I recently traveled from Las Vegas to Sevierville, Tennessee, to attend the International Area Organization (INTO) destination rally at The Ridge Outdoor Resort. A destination rally is a different type of event that focuses on learning and doing things in the area. We enjoyed seminars, vendors, meals, and shows. The Redneck Comedy Bus Tour and the Array Variety Show were great, and the Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Show was a fantastic event for the rally. Our final day was spent at the park with seminars, sports competitions, cards, and crafts, culminating with a barbecue salad meal and entertainment.
Lisa and Paul Mitchell
We always have a great time at FRVA rallies, reuniting with friends we haven’t seen in a while and meeting other members for the first time. Many members might not realize that FRVA has hundreds of chapters that host rallies and tours throughout the year. The Beaver Ambassador Club just completed a “Historic Trails Gathering” that traveled from Georgia to Pennsylvania. Coming up, they have “Amarillo By Morning,” “Get Your Kicks On Rt. 66,” and “Goofin’ Off In Guthrie” rallies scheduled.
Monaco International will host “The Falls in Fall” rally at Niagara Falls in September, followed by “The Scenic Route” 2026 Balloon Fiesta in October in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Monaco has reserved the RV parking area that is literally adjacent to the launch field. Going with a chapter is the best way to check this bucket list event off your list.
4-Wheelers chapter membership is limited to street-legal four-wheel-drive vehicles. They normally have six or more events during the year, each usually lasting one week in various locations. Each event includes member-led trail rides that range from easy to challenging, coupled with various social activities.
FRVA’s Ramblin’ Pushers chapter offers coach weighing at its Motorized RV Maintenance Session and other rallies, plus seminars and roundtables that relay RV-specific info.
The Ramblin’ Pushers chapter puts on their Motorized RV Maintenance Session event in Goshen, Indiana, each year. They provide a wealth of technical information about the major systems of motorized RVs along with seminars by RV component manufacturers. The interactive roundtables specific to your type of RV or chassis are invaluable to learning more about your rig from other owners.
Many other chapters hold exciting events that are concentrated in specific areas. Chapter officers, I encourage you to update your group’s information in FRVA’s Horizon membership system and include those special items unique to your chapter. Our active chapters are growing and host some amazing tours and rallies. Turn to page 82 of this issue for upcoming FRVA chapter rallies, or visit the Rallies Calendar on FRVA.com.
Following the INTO rally, I had the pleasure of spending a week in Cincinnati with our dedicated staff. It is rewarding to watch the FRVA team take great care of our members and handle the wide range of challenges and issues they face each day with ease. Don’t forget to thank our staff for all they do when you call or email the office. They are here to serve you, our members — the most important part of our association.
As our busy summer rally season continues, I look forward to seeing everyone at FRVA’s 113th International Convention & RV Expo in Sedalia, Missouri, immediately followed by the Midwest Area in the same location.
Building update. As reported in my September/October 2025 column, we are moving forward with the sale of the empty lots at our Clough Pike location; the sale is under contract with an interested buyer. The funds generated from the sale will be used to pay for the planning costs to renovate our Round Bottom Road facility. The remaining funds will be used to start the required construction at Round Bottom Road, which will allow us to consolidate our national office operations at that facility before the Clough Pike location is listed for sale.
THE “BENEFITS” OF MEMBERSHIP
As a Family RV Association member, you have dozens of benefits and discounts available to you. And that list continues to grow. In this column, I’ll discuss the benefits you may already know about as well as those that I recommend you check out.
The association’s longest-running benefit is the publication you are reading: Family RVing magazine. First published February 15, 1964, as Family Motor Coaching it became the primary means of communication for the association and continues to inform and entertain members.
Family RV Association’s flagship benefit is our Medical & Travel Assist insurance program, included with all Full, Life, Lifetime, Pathfinder, and Associate memberships. This coverage gets members, their family, pets, RV, and tow/towed vehicles home following an unexpected incident while traveling in North America more than 75 miles from home. Full-time RVers are always considered 75 miles from home. It also includes emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, travel, and medical assistance (not medical coverage), and much more.
Family RV Association was built on the exchange of information among members. Learning “how to” continues to be a big reason RV owners join the association. The FRVA University continues that tradition by providing online educational articles covering topics important to all RVers.
FRVA’s Tech Connect+ Max through T-Mobile offers mobile internet and phone plans for travelers. Partner discounts are also available from WiFiRanger, Mobile Internet Resource Center, DISHForMyRV, and Winegard.
The FRVA Tire Savings Program can help members save hundreds of dollars the next time they need to replace the rubber that meets the road on their vehicle(s). The program features Michelin (including BF Goodrich and Uniroyal) and Goodyear products for RVs, trucks, and cars.
FRVA Roadside Rescue powered by SafeRide RV Motor Club is available to FRVA members at a discounted rate. This program provides towing services, fuel delivery, tire change, battery boost, and more.
Leading RV insurance experts from the FRVA Coalition can help you find the right policy and best rates for your RV through the FRVA RV Insurance program.
FRVA teams with partners who provide health insurance tailored to your needs; pet insurance to make sure your dogs and cats receive the care they need when on the road; and travel insurance to protect your travel costs.
Fantasy RV Tours offers members unforgettable guided RV tours to some of the most breathtaking, memorable destinations at discounted rates. From New Orleans to Alaska, the Sunshine State to the Great Lakes, you’re sure to find a tour that’s on your bucket list.
Members can stay at the FRVA Campground in Cincinnati for two nights every month at half price. FRVA also has affiliations with KOA, Passport America, and RV Overnights for membership discounts, plus many FRVA commercial campgrounds offer FRVA members discounts on nightly rates.
Discounts are also available for Blaupunkt e-bikes; Briter Solar panels and power equipment; Kleen Tank waste tank cleaning service; PROTENG automatic fire detection and suppression systems; RV Roofing Solutions installation, repair, and preventive maintenance service; RV LIFE Pro trip-planning membership; and MemberDeals savings on travel, theme parks, hotels, rental cars, shows, sports, concerts, and more.
Our newest benefits are Dutch online veterinary telehealth service; America’s RV Warranty extended warranties; and Legal Now member group legal services through ARAG with over 10,000 network attorneys.
FRVA members can also save at UPS; Office Depot; and Avis, National, Hertz, and Enterprise rental cars.
As you can see, loads of value is packed into your FRVA membership. To learn more, visit FRVA.com, click on the FRVA Membership tab, and select “Benefits” or “Discounts” from the drop-down list to discover how you can get quality products at a great price.
SPREAD THE WORD
FRVA’s Ambassador program is under development by Rocky Mountain Area president Wayne Cernie and the Recruitment Committee, and progress in being made on how participants will be trained, what recruitment materials they will receive, and how success will be tracked. Like those on the committee, I am very excited to see this take shape and become a true grassroots recruitment effort. It’s you, the members of FRVA, who are our biggest and best promoters.
If you would like to become involved in the FRVA Ambassador program, contact Wayne at wcernie@frva.com or (602) 909-6773.
Whether you join the Ambassador program or not, I hope that whenever you have the chance to spread the word about Family RV Association, you do so. Tell other RVers what attracted you to the association and why you continue to be a member. If you’re part of a chapter, invite them to a rally. If you’ve used one or more of the benefits, let them know how it worked out for you.
For years, the association touted itself as “the best-kept secret” in the RV world. I’m asking you to help us change that slogan. Spread the word about FRVA to all RVers and let them know that you’re part of the premier RV owners club in the world — Where RVers Connect.