The following account was told to me by Carol Luetjen and Bill Mitts, F213470. It describes their experiences before, during, and after Hurricane Charley, which struck Florida in August 2004.

My wife, Jeri, and I have made many wonderful friends and precious memories through our membership in Family Motor Coach Association. I am dedicating this month’s column to our memories of one FMCA friend in particular.
In 1976 Jeri and I became members of FMCA and joined the Rollin’ Okies chapter, which I believe was the only FMCA chapter in Oklahoma at the time.

In the summer of 1995 a representative from Sharp Electronics Corporation called to see if I could help out with seminars at a Family Motor Coach Association convention in Minot, North Dakota. I had been teaching, writing, and developing recipes for microwave ovens for years, and had done some work with microwave-convection ovens.

As folks live longer, they may require more assistance during the later years. FMCA hopes to help members prepare for this possibility with a new benefit that provides group rate discounts for long-term care insurance.

Historic spots, modern hospitality, and some of the state’s finer dining and shopping establishments make Bismarck, North Dakota’s capital city, and Mandan, its neighbor across the Missouri River, a good place to visit before or after attending FMCA’s 74th International Convention in Minot this month.
Bismarck may be the state capital, but it is a small town. The combined population of Bismarck and Mandan is 72,250.

Remember the thrills and chills we enjoyed from riding a roller coaster or similar attraction at our favorite amusement park? On the contrary, as an RVer, there is nothing like driving from point A to point B without experiencing any white-knuckle events. I love uneventful trips.

Silicone caulk is applied to bottom of the rug to prevent sliding.To prevent rugs from sliding on wood or tile floors, apply a thin bead of silicone caulk to the bottom of the rug and let it dry completely. The silicone will keep rugs and other items that tend to slide in place.

Suntek has developed the new ShurGrip RV Dash Cover to help prevent the dashboard from fading, rotting, or deteriorating when subjected to ultraviolet rays and heat over a period of time. The cover also is said to cool the interior of the motorhome by reducing the heat reflected off the dashboard and to help eliminate the unsightly film that can form on the inside of the windshield due to vinyl dash fumes.
According to product literature, the cover features ShurGrip technology, which includes a non-slip rubber backing to keep it in place without the need for fasteners or adhesives.

Prevost Car Inc., C632, based in Sainte-Claire, Quebec, Canada, has announced the first-ever Ultimate Prevost Adventure for Prevost owners and motorhome enthusiasts. The event is scheduled to take place November 13 through 16, 2005, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The rally is designed as a fantastic vacation experience, complete with top-notch service, great food, fabulous entertainment and activities, and seminars galore.

Thomas Paine said, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” When it comes to manufacturing motorhomes, Monaco Coach Corporation elects to lead.
Monaco remains on the cusp of motorhome design. A case in point is the Dynasty, wherein for 2006 some features previously available only as options are now included as standard equipment.

Grasshoppers are part of the orthoptera order, which also includes crickets and katydids. Members of the order are recognized for their singing ability, usually performed by courting males wishing to make their presence known.

Approximately 2,000 years ago, nomadic people began settling down, building structures, and cultivating crops in what is now called the “Four Corners” region of the western United States. Some of the ancient structures still stand, more or less.

Make summer trips with kids more entertaining by inviting the youngsters to participate in your meal planning. Children can help prepare some of these recipes; all are tasty treats that they’ll enjoy.
Pineapple Drumsticks
12 small or six large chicken drumsticks
1/3-cup soy sauce
3 teaspoons minced garlic
10-ounce jar pineapple jam or preserves
1/4-cup soy sauce
1 jar strained plum baby food
1 jar strained apricot baby food
Place the chicken in a large resealable bag with the 1/3-cup soy sauce and the garlic.

FMCA’s international conventions are a great benefit for our members. For a small fee, members receive a parking space and can enjoy three nights of high-quality entertainment; big band dancing, square dancing, and line dancing; seminars; crafts; a youth program; local tours; morning coffee hour and an ice cream social; and the opportunity to examine wares brought by hundreds of vendors who sell anything that can go in or on a motorhome.

This small, friendly chapter enjoys outings in the Great Lakes region.
In 1989 when the PALS chapter was formed, members named the group by using the first letters from the words “Pace Arrow Lakers.” You had to own a Fleetwood Pace Arrow motorhome to join, and the “Lakers” part referred to FMCA’s Great Lakes Area, which is the chapter’s geographical scope.
Times change, of course, and as members replaced their coaches with other brands, they didn’t want to have to give up their friendships. So ever since July 2000, the PALS chapter has welcomed FMCA members who own any brand or type of motorhome, be it a type A, B, or C, or a bus conversion.

Donald T. McGrath, F87335, past national vice president, Great Lakes Area, passed away on May 2 at his winter home in Lake Wales, Florida, after a long illness.

Dear RV Doctor:
I have a 1986 Real-Lite 27-foot motorhome with a plumbing problem that I have not been able to resolve. When using the water pump while dry camping, I vent water overboard through the city water hookup until the pressure bleeds off after the pump switch has been shut off.

Q: I recently had to have our motorhome, built on a Chevy P-32 chassis, towed. The ignition switch had failed and resulted in no power in any of the circuits, including the parking brake system, which requires 1,200 psi fluid pressure to release the spring-applied brake.

An incorrect Web site was listed for ordering a narrated travel DVD noted in the April 2005 “Full-Timer’s Primer” column (page 156). “Traveling the Devil’s Backbone: RVing Along the Natchez Trace Parkway” by Steve and Gloria Gibbs, F321761, can be ordered for $14.99 at www.dvdrvtravel.com or by calling (248) 373-8469.

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RV Equipment Company Comes To The Rescue
Dear Editor:
This is to confirm that Family Motor Coaching magazine really is of significant value to our many friends who participate in our lifestyle.

Is this the time of year when you traditionally travel extensively in your motorhome, or do you travel year-round? Do you follow the weather and take in the beauty of the changing seasons? In a like sense, the locations for FMCA’s international conventions are chosen in an attempt to take advantage of the climate of different parts of the country. Next month — August 15, 16, 17, and 18 — we are hoping to enjoy the days of summer by traveling to Minot, North Dakota, and I encourage you to join us at this event.
From March 20 through 23, 2006, FMCA’s 75th International Convention will be held on the grounds of Fairplex in Pomona, California.

For two weeks this past May, FMCA’s Executive Board and standing committees convened for the association’s annual spring meetings in Cincinnati. It was a busy time at national headquarters as the committees held workshops and official business meetings.
It also was a busy time at our Round Bottom Road campground, since most of our committee members come to Cincinnati for the May meetings in their motorhomes.

If you travel through the hinterlands of North America long enough, eventually you’ll stumble across a sparkling gem hidden away somewhere. We discovered Medora, North Dakota, population 100, a true diamond in the rough, entirely by accident while touring the Great Plains in our 30-foot motorhome.
Medora is in the far western part of the state, only 24 miles east of the Montana state line, off Interstate 94.

Disney parks around the world are commemorating Disneyland’s golden anniversary with special events to keep the dream of Walt Disney alive in all of us.

On July 18, 1954, an orange grove in Anaheim, California, began to undergo a transformation. By the summer of 1955, it had been replaced by an amusement park called Disneyland, complete with a jungle, a river, a castle, and a crowd of children and parents who marveled at this land of enchantment.

On May 5, 2005, The Walt Disney Company launched “The Happiest Celebration on Earth,” an 18-month global commemoration of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary, at all 11 of its theme parks around the world.

The 50th anniversary celebration will be highlighted by the premiere of new entertainment spectaculars, adventures, and attractions at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim; Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; Japan’s Tokyo Disney Resort; and France’s Disneyland Resort Paris.

Although RVing is usually associated with adults, I have a different perspective — that of a traveling teenager. Think back to your teenage years and try to imagine spending that time in an RV, traveling the country.

Vangie Otten has coped with rheumatoid arthritis for 30 years. She’s endured 11 surgeries and continues to require various medical treatments.

Near the start of the 19th century, the Corps of Discovery, a group of men led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, set out to explore America’s newest land acquisition — the Louisiana Purchase. They departed on their journey from St.

Do you remember Green Rivers, cherry limeades, and vanilla phosphates? If the names of these old-time drinks don’t ring familiar, you may be from a younger generation that missed out on such concoctions the first time around. These drinks and many others were the favorites of soda fountain denizens 50 years ago.

Changing lanes, backing up, and performing other maneuvers in a motorhome can be challenging. Potential blind spots along both sides of the coach can make it difficult to detect obstacles, even with mirrors.

Here is a sample of a chart that we use to help us remember which items we need to put into the motorhome when we travel and which ones come out when we get home. For each item listed, we mark a single slanted line in the box when we put it into the motorhome and then complete the “X” when the item is taken out.

Frame-Rite membership plaque holdeer from PLAK-RThe Frame-Rite from PLAK-R is said to be a safe, professional way for FMCA members to mount their membership plaque to the motorhome’s ladder, while eliminating the need to use tie-wraps or drill holes in the motorhome to display the plaque.
The mounting kit comes with two ladder mount supports and a base unit into which the membership plaque fits. Installation is said to be quick and easy.

Two new editions of popular Alaska travel books were released recently, just in time for folks heading to the “Land of the Midnight Sun” this summer.
The 57th edition of The Milepost ($25.95 U.S., $34.95 Canada; Morris Communications) includes mile-by-mile highway logs for routes in Alaska, as well as the Yukon Territory, northern Alberta and British Columbia, and the western Northwest Territories of Canada.
New in the 2005 edition are special features on five geographic areas: the Kenai Peninsula; Matanuska-Susitna Valley; Copper River Valley; West Cook Inlet; and Southeastern Alaska. The book also includes historic itineraries highlighting the building of the Alaska Highway and the Yukon Gold Rush, as well as three new driving routes: the Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies; British Columbia’s Sea to Sky Highway; and the Deh Cho Connection through Northwest Territories.
The 784-page guide is available at bookstores, through online booksellers, or from the publisher: visit www.milepost.com or call (800) 726-4707.
Mike and Terri Church, F284948, released the third edition of their book Traveler’s Guide To Alaskan Camping ($21.95, Rolling Homes Press), which is designed to help those planning an RV trip to Alaska.
The book, which guides travelers along the Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, through the Yukon Territory and into Alaska, also covers the other major roads in northwestern Canada — including the Cassiar Highway and the Klondike Loop — as well as the major roads in Alaska.

Alfa See Ya Founder EditionThe Alfa See Ya Founder Edition pushes the envelope when it comes to quality and value. Especially since its price tag — approximately $165,000 — includes everything one would expect in a well-appointed, yet no-frills, motorhome.

It’s a pleasure to see deer browsing at the edge of the campground or a coyote trotting down the trail. But in truth, much of the wildlife that travelers come across are the remains of animals alongside the highway.

The idea for this column came from reading Mary Blocksma’s 1995 book, The Fourth Coast. Back in 1990 she left home and family for three months to drive and camp along the entire Great Lakes coastline — plus some additional waterways.

When you cook double batches of a meal at home and freeze some for future road trips, you save time, mess, and money. Here are some offbeat recipes that can be made in large amounts and then frozen in portions appropriate for your family.
Chicki-basa Stew
1 pound kielbasa, halved lengthwise and sliced
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, partially thawed and cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 large onions (2 heaping cups), diced
1 large green sweet pepper, diced
1 small red sweet pepper, diced
3 stalks celery, diced
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
10 cups water
1 cup flour
In a large kettle, sizzle the kielbasa and chicken in hot vegetable oil, gradually stirring in the garlic and vegetables over high heat.

For 40 years, the California chapter of FMCA has been the umbrella under which many motorhomers have gathered. At one point more than 1,500 members belonged to the chapter, but as FMCA grew, more chapters sprouted from within the California chapter and its membership decreased to a more manageable number.

Richard and Loretta Trulson, F342395, of Ardmore, Alabama, used to do much of their traveling by air. That should come as no surprise, since he is a licensed pilot and owns his own aviation company, and both of them are certified airplane mechanics.

Dear RV Doctor:
I was asked a question the other day by a fellow RVer about a 4,500-watt Onan generator. He wanted to know if I could find out what the point gap of the points on his unit should be.

Q: In the “Engine Shuts Off” inquiry that appeared in the October 2004 issue of FMC magazine (page 30), Carl Kummer, F272373, indicated he was having fuel valve shutoff problems on an 8.3-liter, 300-horsepower Cummins engine. I had the same problem on my coach and found the following.
The fuel shutoff valve has two coils: one that activates with the starter circuit to pull the valve in, and a second “holding coil” to keep the fuel shutoff valve energized while the ignition is activated.

The telephone number published for Toyo Tires in “Where The Rubber Meets The Road” (April 2005, page 64) was incorrect. The Consumer Relations phone number is (800) 442-8696; the Technical Service Center number is (888) 444-8696.

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Lack Of “Perfection”
Dear Editor:
I think the proofreaders were taking a nap when it came to page 110 in the article “Perfection In New Harmony” (May 2005).

Family Motor Coaching magazine has been an integral part of FMCA since the association began in 1963. Early on, the founders realized the association needed a magazine to share information about the increasingly popular lifestyle.

When I asked for the opportunity to write this column, my deadline was far in the future. Like everything, time passes by rather fast.

In my December 2004 “President’s Message” column I reported on FMCA’s standing committees and explained their purposes and functions. The FMCA president appoints members to two other groups that I did not mention at that time, but they are very important to FMCA and our first-class magazine, Family Motor Coaching.
The Technical Advisory Committee is a highly qualified group of individuals selected from our family membership to review technical material prior to publication in the magazine.

Directions to the North Dakota State Fairgrounds Parking for FMCA’s 74th International Convention will commence on Saturday, August 13, at 7:00 a.m. Please display your admittance card on the front windshield, lower left-hand corner of the passenger side.
The holding area will open on Friday, August 12, and is located via Burdick Expressway (Hwy.

Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park will forever stand out in my mind as the first place I saw a wolf in the wild. It easily could be the one and only time.

In September 1883 Theodore Roosevelt, a graduate of Harvard University who would go on to become the 26th president of the United States, boarded a train in New York City and traveled to a small town called Little Misery in what is now North Dakota. He had come to “bag a buffalo,” as he explained it, during a trip that historians believe lasted from September 7 to 28.
This part of the country is known as the Badlands.

FMCA members interested in helping to eliminate poverty housing firsthand can participate in an upcoming Habitat for Humanity build in Central America.
Anyone can take a vacation and come back tan and a few pounds heavier. But only special people travel to exotic places in the spirit of helping others.

The 2005 election of FMCA National Officers will be held August 15, 2005, at FMCA’s 74th International Convention in Minot, North Dakota.
This year’s Nominating Committee was elected by the Governing Board in accordance with FMCA Bylaws. Its members are Chairman Bill Walker, F56746; Bob Haught, F82522; Norman Holley, F21819; Fred Kennedy, F44281; Gary Smith, F155557.
FMCA’s Nominating Committee has submitted its slate of candidates for national office.
Although balloting is restricted to National Directors and National Officers, we invite all FMCA members to review the candidates’ resumes and to communicate their preferences to their respective National Director or Area Vice President.

When crew members building the Great Northern Railroad stopped work for the long North Dakota winter back in 1886, they set up a tent city at a place they called Minot. Like magic, the town sprang up almost overnight.

Want to stand where a record wind speed — 231 mph — was recorded in 1934? Want to view breathtaking vistas? Then hitch a ride on New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Cog Railway, one of the world’s steepest railroad tracks.
In the spring of 1858 New Hampshire legislators thought Sylvester Marsh’s request to build a cog railway to the top of 6,288-foot Mount Washington, the state’s highest peak, was a joke. “Let him build a railway to the moon!” one legislator taunted.