Adventure Aloft And Aground In Albuquerque

FMCA’s 71st International Convention “” held March 16, 17, and 18 in Albuquerque, New Mexico “” lived up to the theme chosen for the event as attendees enjoyed several adventuresome days punctuated by plentiful opportunities for fun and fellowship.
By Pamela Kay
Director of Communications, Publishing
May 2004
Mention Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the image that comes to mind for many motorhome owners is a turquoise-blue sky dotted by the whimsical colors and patterns of hundreds of hot-air balloons. Each October this Southwest city is home to the world’s largest and most-photographed balloon event, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, which happens to be a popular destination for RV owners. FMCA members who traveled to the Land of Enchantment for the association’s 71st International Convention “” “Albuquerque Adventure” “” found that for a week or so in March, motorhomes rather than balloons were the talk of the town.
Up, up, and away
Balloons weren’t absent from the picture, however. Each morning at Balloon Fiesta Park, one of the two venues for the convention, folks on the ground were treated to the sight of more than a dozen hot-air balloons being transformed from piles of silk to lighter-than-air transports for eager convention attendees who climbed into their baskets and were carried aloft. While motorhome owners with feet planted squarely on terra firma raised their eyes to the sky for this spectacular sight, convention-goers who chose to embark on one of these aerial adventures were treated to a bird’s-eye view of thousands of motorhomes clustered below. Approximately 500 convention attendees took to the skies and drifted over the city during and immediately following the convention.
Blue skies, nothing but blue skies
One aspect of the convention where “adventure” didn’t enter into the picture, thankfully, was the weather. Convention attendees were treated to picture-perfect days graced by brilliant-blue skies, sparkling sunshine, and pleasantly warm temperatures sandwiched between cool mornings and evenings.
Convention top 10
A total of 5,250 coaches gathered in Albuquerque for FMCA’s big adventure, earning this convention the number 10 spot on the list of FMCA conventions ranked by coach count. The coach count in Albuquerque included 3,970 family coaches and 1,280 commercial coaches. All 50 states and seven Canadian provinces or territories were represented by motorhome families in attendance.
“The event also seemed to be a hit with area residents,” said Duane Pindell, F105443, national vice president, Rocky Mountain Area, which was the host area for the convention. “Approximately 2,800 people purchased public gate passes, which enabled them to view the exhibits and learn more about the motorhome lifestyle.”

Double the fun
The “Albuquerque Adventure” convention was made possible through the use of two major venues that together, but not separately, had all the elements necessary for a convention site “” parking for thousands of motorhomes, room for indoor and outdoor exhibits, an entertainment arena, buildings for seminars and other gatherings, etc. Activities took place at both locations at varying times throughout the event. The majority of convention attendees dropped anchor at Balloon Fiesta Park, which was 12 miles from the second venue, EXPO New Mexico, home of the New Mexico State Fair. Transportation between the two locations was facilitated by 26 air-conditioned tour buses. Those who preferred to strike out on their own were able to commute using their personal vehicles and park on the infield of Albuquerque Downs, the fairgrounds’ racetrack.
“The two venues worked very well for our family members,” said Jerry Yeatts, director of conventions and commercial services. “Many awoke to the whirl of the fans bringing the hot-air balloons to life and pilots firing the burners of the beautiful flying machines taking off each morning at Balloon Fiesta Park. Evenings were equally inspiring as the beautiful New Mexico sunsets reflected off the Sandia Mountains.”
EXPO New Mexico provided a compact site for the hub of convention activities. Almost all seminars were located on Main Street, as were the information center and indoor exhibits. One short block to the east was Tingley Coliseum, the evening entertainment venue. To the south were hundreds of motorhome displays.
Exhibit escapades
On Monday afternoon, a crowd gathered outside the gate leading to the outdoor exhibit area, and FMCA national president R.G. Wilson, F21025, and his wife, Jeri; national senior vice president and Convention Committee chairman Don Moore, F154921, and his wife, Darlene; and Rocky Mountain Area vice president Duane Pindell and his wife, Rosalie, took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the outdoor exhibits. Convention attendees were treated to their first tours of the myriad motorhomes in the outdoor exhibit area as part of the “Motorhome Exhibit Preview” that day. The welcome mat was out at a variety of 2004 and 2005 models. Convention attendees discovered that the trend toward additional slideouts continues, as does the idea of incorporating residential-style lighting, furnishings, and appliances in homes on wheels.
One new feature in the outdoor exhibit area was “Class C Lane.” This area was set aside for exhibiting type C and type B motorhomes, as a way of assisting those who might be purchasing their first motorhome and wishing to start small, or current motorhome owners who might be looking to downsize.
The next morning the doors opened on the indoor exhibit areas as well, and attendees were greeted by hundreds of booths overflowing with all sorts of goodies designed to enhance life on wheels.

Adventures in learning
Approximately 100 different topics were addressed as part of the FMCA convention seminar program in Albuquerque, and the subject matter covered a broad range, from the serious to the sublime. Motorhome owners could learn from the experts how to prevent RV fires, how to properly maintain their chassis and its various components, and how to enhance personal safety in their travels. They also could pick up tips on how to whip up tasty meals using their onboard microwave-convection ovens, and learn how to create a crystal sun catcher or a “hummingbird whirlee” to enliven their coach or awning area.

Meet me at the Chapter Fair
It has long been noted that chapters are the lifeblood “” the heart and soul, if you will “” of FMCA. Members who become actively involved in one or more of these FMCA subgroups discover why that is true and learn how the benefits of belonging to FMCA are multiplied on the chapter level. Energy and excitement filled Tingley Coliseum at EXPO New Mexico on Monday afternoon when 107 different chapters, and each of the 10 FMCA areas, strutted their stuff as part of the association’s first Chapter Fair. Non-chapter members were invited to meander amongst tables that had been set up and decorated by chapter representatives and chat with them in hopes of finding a group or two that shared their interests.
“We suspected that this would be a great way to bring chapter representatives and non-chapter members together,” said Loretta Buob, FMCA’s director of chapter services. “But since it was a new venture, we weren’t quite sure what type of response we’d get from either group. It was fantastic to see it all come together at the convention and to watch as people went from table to table talking with chapter folks. We haven’t received formal feedback from the chapters yet, but from all reports we’ve heard thus far, it was a tremendous success. We appreciate all of the chapters that took part and feel sure we’ll find that many of them signed up new members as a result.”

Fun and fellowship
Numerous opportunities for fun and fellowship presented themselves during the convention. For starters, the traditional FMCA coffee hour was held at both Balloon Fiesta Park and EXPO New Mexico each morning. Convention attendees munched on doughnuts and took the chill off the morning by sipping hot coffee and cocoa while catching up with old friends and making new acquaintances. At Balloon Fiesta Park, FMCA’s own Frustrated Maestros provided the wake-’em-up tunes. Representatives from all nine of the Frustrated Maestros chapters took part in the show. In addition to those playing instruments, a large contingent of Maestros made up the chorus. Meanwhile, during coffee hour at EXPO New Mexico, “FMCA Sweetheart” Alice Detrick provided toe-tapping tunes to start the day off on an upbeat note. Morning coffee hour in both locations was sponsored by Guaranty RV Centers, C4161, an FMCA Super Star sponsor, and FMCA.
On Wednesday afternoon convention attendees gathered for another convention tradition, the ice cream social, sponsored by RV Alliance America, C95, an FMCA Super Star sponsor. Participants were treated to tasty ice cream sandwiches while they chatted with friends and enjoyed tunes provided by Bob’s Cats, a select group of Frustrated Maestros members.
On Thursday afternoon it was tea time! And red hat and purple dress time. In keeping with the Jenny Jones poem “Warning,” FMCA has developed its version of a red hat tea for the ladies. The poem reads, “When I am an old woman … I shall wear purple with a red hat which doesn’t go and doesn’t suit me … But maybe I ought to go practice a little now? … ” Practice they did. The response was so great during signups for the tea that the event had to be moved from the scheduled location to the floor of Tingley Coliseum. Approximately 400 ladies dressed in their purple and red finery and enjoyed congenial company as well as refreshments provided by Judy King from Hacienda RV Resort, C8980, in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Surprises aplenty
A number of FMCA members were caught in the act of having fun during the convention and rewarded by the FMCA “Surprise Patrol.” The Surprise Patrol randomly selected members who were out enjoying the convention and rewarded them with various goodies that were donated by commercial members or by FMCA. One new concept that proved to be a hit was “Mariachi Money.” These certificates, in various denominations, could be used to purchase items from indoor vendors who had agreed to accept them and be reimbursed by FMCA.
Conventions are for kids, too
While the grownups were enjoying the many activities planned for them, members of the younger set could hang out in the FMCA youth center for their age group and enjoy games and activities. A total of 46 children were registered for the convention, with the following age groups involved in activities: TATS (ages 13 to 18), PRE-TEENS (ages 10 to 12), TWEENS (ages 6 to 9), and TOTS (ages 2 to 5).
Savoring the Southwest experience
Albuquerque and the surrounding area are steeped in history, culture, and natural beauty. FMCA members were able to embrace all of these aspects via tours that were organized on their behalf by FMCA in conjunction with Destination Southwest Tours. Excursions included visits to Albuquerque’s Old Town area, Santa Fe, Acoma Pueblo, the Jemez Mountain Trail, and Bandelier National Monument, among others. Attendees also had the opportunity to learn more about the area’s cuisine by joining a cooking class at a local restaurant famous for traditional New Mexico fare. Another tour took convention attendees 10,378 feet above sea level to Sandia Peak, and, as is often the case, getting there was half the fun. The mode of transport for the 2.7-mile trip to the top was the world’s longest aerial tramway, and breathtaking vistas awaited those who embarked on this Albuquerque-style adventure.
Delightful days
A steady stream of talent and widely varied entertainment could be witnessed on the daytime entertainment stage at EXPO New Mexico. As previously noted, “FMCA Sweetheart” Alice Detrick helped convention attendees clear the morning cobwebs by performing during coffee hour at this venue. The Flying J Wranglers, who also put on a show Sunday evening at Balloon Fiesta Park, shared old-time cowboy songs and Western favorites in two performances during the daytime hours on Tuesday. The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band transported convention attendees back to the 1920s in the sunny South with their down-home brand of “jug band” music on Monday afternoon. Gustavo Pimentel delighted the audience with his guitar renditions on Monday evening. Joe Harris shared country ballads, and Bill White presented a tribute to Jim Reeves, his uncle, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The Masat Family filled the air with inspirational tunes on Wednesday and Thursday. All of these acts were presented courtesy of Liberty Coach Inc., C733, and Liberty Coach of Florida, C9408, together an FMCA Five Star sponsor.
The fun didn’t end there, though. The ventriloquism act of Willie & Company “” sponsored by Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, C1905, an FMCA Four Star sponsor “” elicited endless amazement and amusement. Flakey the Magic Clown (also known as Henry Gartner, F197563) generated plenty of laughs with his magic tricks and his clown antics, courtesy of Blue Ox, C2903, an FMCA Two Star sponsor. Howard Cowles, L18517, the “singing square dance caller,” led dancers through their paces as they joined him for some square dance fun on Tuesday and Wednesday. Howard also provided instruction in line dancing, and invited couples onto the dance floor to kick up their heels in the Texas two-step, the polka, and more. Howard’s performances in Albuquerque were made possible by Coach-Net, C4055, an FMCA One Star sponsor, and FMCA.
Enchanting evenings
The Flying J Wranglers kicked off the evening entertainment program on Sunday with a rip-roarin’ show at Balloon Fiesta Park, where they treated the FMCA audience to a variety of Western-style music.
On Monday night at Tingley Coliseum on the EXPO New Mexico grounds, Tuxedo Junction transported convention attendees back to the days when swing was king, and they enjoyed a night of big-band music and dancing, courtesy of North Dakota State Fair, C9318, an FMCA One Star sponsor.
Nationally acclaimed entertainer John Davidson delighted the FMCA audience on Tuesday evening with his Las-Vegas-style show. Mr. Davidson’s appearance was sponsored by Country Coach Inc., C2132, an FMCA Five Star sponsor, and FMCA.
On Wednesday evening Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers treated the audience to many of the songs that have made them famous during their long-standing career. This group’s performance in Albuquerque was made possible by Monaco Coach Corporation, C2111, an FMCA Five Star sponsor, and FMCA. Later that night, after convention attendees had settled in again at Balloon Fiesta Park, a spectacular fireworks show lit the night, courtesy of Dometic Corporation, C306, an FMCA Five Star sponsor.
Let’s fiesta!
The convention reached a fun-filled finale on Thursday evening. At the close of exhibits that afternoon, convention attendees returned to Balloon Fiesta Park for “Fiesta Night,” and what a feast for the senses it turned out to be. The evening began with a rousing performance by Mariachi Tenampa, an authentic mariachi band based in Albuquerque. While convention attendees enjoyed wonderful music and dancers twirling and whirling in their colorful costumes on an outdoor stage, they chowed down on a chuck-wagon-style meal, courtesy of E*Trade Consumer Finance Corporation, C4076, an FMCA Five Star Sponsor. Approximately 5,200 convention attendees were served in 45 minutes, thanks to the help of some 150 volunteers. Meanwhile, the sun slipped slowly below the horizon, transforming the sky and the nearby Sandia Mountains to majestic shades of pink and peach. The evening would have been perfect had it ended there, but there was more to come.
Much like gathering around the campfire, convention attendees encircled more than a dozen hot-air balloons as they lit up the night sky. Folks were invited to walk out onto the field amidst the towering “night lights” for a close-up view and to chat with the pilots about the fine points of hot-air ballooning. Again, this had all of the makings of a fabulous finish, but still more was in store that evening.
A blanket of stars decorated the night sky and convention attendees gathered around the outdoor stage as Syd Masters & the Swing Riders filled the air with Western swing music, interspersed with traditional trail songs and cowboy humor.
Good music. Good food. Good friends. Great fun. The night’s events were made possible by the following FMCA convention sponsors: Copilot/ALK Technologies, C9493 (Two Star Sponsor); E*Trade Consumer Finance Corporation, C4076 (Five Star Sponsor); Ford Motor Company, C405 (Three Star Sponsor); and Motor Home Specialist, C10000 (Super Star Sponsor). All in all, it was a night “” and a convention “” to remember.
Community contributions
As a way of giving back to the community FMCA visits for its convention, a group of FMCA members who call themselves the On-Road Quilters have begun a tradition of creating quilts to be donated in the local area. At the Albuquerque convention, a total of 71 quilts and blankets were presented to the New Mexico Quilters Association. The members of this association will donate the FMCA creations to local hospitals’ neonatal units, shelters for victims of domestic violence, nursing homes for use as lap robes, and other charities they support.
During the convention, FMCA members also had an opportunity to give the gift of life by donating blood via an agency that serves 42 hospitals in the “Four Corners Region” and the entire state of New Mexico.
In addition, members of the FMCA Chapter: Habitat for Humanity® were actively involved in two builds that took place in New Mexico following the convention “” one in Belen and one in Deming. In the case of the build in Belen, chapter members teamed up with college students participating in Habitat for Humanity International’s Collegiate Challenge program.

A heart for volunteerism
FMCA conventions would not be possible without the tireless efforts of hundreds of volunteers who give of their time and talents to help make sure their fellow FMCA members have a great time. For the Albuquerque convention, approximately 900 volunteers were assigned duties.
“The volunteers were terrific,” said Duane Pindell. “We really appreciated the help of the many volunteers from the Rocky Mountain and International areas, as well as those from the Western and South Central areas who pitched in. It was a combined effort, and it worked well. Even though a couple of weeks have passed since the convention ended, I’m still left with a good, fuzzy feeling,” he said.
Fond memories of days spent amidst the grandeur of Albuquerque and the Land of Enchantment and in the company of wonderful friends no doubt will linger in the minds of all who embarked on FMCA’s “Albuquerque Adventure.”
Sponsors
The “Albuquerque Adventure” convention was made possible by the generous support of the following “Star” Sponsors.
Super Star
Coach Connect, C9772
Guaranty RV Centers, C4161
Motor Home Specialist, C10000
RV Alliance America, C95
Five Star Sponsors
Country Coach, C2132
Dometic Corporation, C306
E*Trade Consumer Finance Corp., C4076
Liberty Coach Inc., C733, and Liberty Coach of Florida, C9408
Monaco Coach Corp., C2111
Workhorse Custom Chassis, C8291

Four Star Sponsor
Freightliner Custom Chassis, C1905
Three Star Sponsors
Ford Motor Company, C405
Sportscoach, C328
Tracks to Adventure, C1034

Two Star Sponsors
Blue Ox, C2903
CoPilot/ALK Technologies, C9493

One Star Sponsors
Coach-Net, C4055
Hale Expo Services, C974
North Dakota State Fair, C931