Executive Director’s Commentary
By Don Eversmann, F240000
January 2005
Each year as I write this column for the January issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine, I try to entice readers to turn to the member benefits section in this magazine and become familiar with the benefits that are available to you as a result of your membership in FMCA. This year the “Member Benefits Guide” begins on page 186. I encourage you to read about and become familiar with all the benefits that are offered to you as an FMCA member.
Also in this magazine, you’ll learn that we now offer bigger rewards for recruiting new members. On a sad note, as announced previously, the Accident and Dental Deductible and Coinsurance Reimbursement Insurance Plan was not renewed for 2005 because of its increased cost.
As I write this article, the results of FMCA’s quadrennial membership survey are being tabulated and analyzed. I am sure that Family Motor Coaching magazine will again be ranked as the most appreciated benefit of membership. However, we are finding that a majority of you also really appreciate the coverage afforded you by the MEDEX Plus (emergency medical assistance program) benefit that FMCA purchases for all members. Members receive this coverage with no signup required. Recently FMCA’s Risk Management Committee was able to effect a change in this program so that MEDEX Plus now covers Hawaii. So, FMCA members are now covered throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The rest of the member benefits have remained the same, and I encourage you to become familiar with them. When recruiting other motorhome owners to join FMCA, you can be sure that they will be interested in hearing about the benefits of membership. Two items should be part of a short sales pitch “” Family Motor Coaching magazine and MEDEX Plus. Many have commented that the magazine alone makes the membership worthwhile. You can become familiar with everything that MEDEX Plus entails by reading about it on page 201 of this magazine.
While I am on the subject of recruiting new members to FMCA, I am happy to announce that the Gimme Five family member recruitment program was renewed for calendar year 2005. If you recruit five family (F) members in 2005, you automatically receive a free one-year membership renewal. For more information about the Gimme Five program, turn to page 137.
I also want to remind you that Family Motor Coach Association’s Official North American Road Atlas & Travel Guide has been revised and the new edition is now available. As in the past, a free copy of the newly updated FMCA North American Road Atlas & Travel Guide is yours for the first new member you successfully recruit to FMCA throughout 2005 (one atlas per family). For subsequent recruitments in 2005, you will be rewarded with a coupon good for FMCA logo merchandise or Camping World merchandise.
Previously these coupons were worth $5 each. But effective January 1, 2005, we will be awarding coupons worth $10 each. So, for your first successful recruitment you will receive an FMCA road atlas, and for each additional recruitment you will receive a $10 merchandise coupon. In case you are not familiar with the FMCA Official North American Road Atlas & Travel Guide, not only is it an atlas, but it also shows the locations of campgrounds, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores, Cracker Barrel restaurants, and Flying J fuel and travel centers. Turn to page 172 of this magazine for more information. The atlas may also be purchased online at www.fmcastore.com or by calling (800) 543-3622 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. It costs $14.95 plus $5.95 shipping.
Last, but not least, have you recently checked out the FMCA Store merchandise online or in the FMCA merchandise catalog section of the March, June, September, and December issues of Family Motor Coaching? Several items have been added that might be of interest to you, such as playing cards, seats, blankets, and tumblers “” all perfect for motorhome travel. Visit the online store to see the new items today.
As I close this month’s column, on behalf of the entire national office staff, I want to wish all of you a wonderful and prosperous New Year.