President’s Message
By R.G. Wilson, F21025
National President
April 2005
My wife, Jeri, and I are avid sports fans, especially when it comes to Oklahoma University Sooners football. We discovered back in the early 1970s that a fun way to use our motorhome was to take it to the home games. We drive to the university in Norman (a two-hour journey) on Friday afternoon, thereby avoiding the heavy traffic that fills the area on Saturday before the game. We park in our choice parking spot near the stadium where our motorhoming friends park, and enjoy a relaxing Friday evening visiting with family or friends who have joined us.
On Saturday morning we enjoy the camping atmosphere and visit with other fans as they come in for the big game. If the game is in the afternoon, we usually go all out cooking and preparing a picnic for our tailgate party. We are fortunate in that several years ago, Oklahoma University let our group occupy a very nice parking lot next to the “Duck Pond” and close to the football stadium. They also permitted a group of us to install electrical hookups in the lot and designated each of us a priority parking spot for life. We are required, of course, to purchase a parking permit for our spot each season.
I have been thinking for some time that we should organize an FMCA chapter of Sooner fans. We could have our rallies when we are together at the games. Recently in Indio, California, I was visiting with Wes and Sue Neidhart, F130703, from Norman, Oklahoma, who also are OU Sooner fans. We discussed the possibilities of organizing a sports chapter in Oklahoma. They were very interested and agreed to lead in this venture to get our Sooner fan chapter organized.
The Chapter Services Department at the FMCA national office is sending a mailing to non-chapter FMCA members in the central Oklahoma area inviting them to an organizational meeting in May. We are very excited about getting this FMCA chapter organized.
I am writing this to encourage all sports fans to consider organizing a similar chapter for their favorite university. This is a fun way to use your motorhome and a great way to increase your fun, fellowship, and enjoyment at the game. An FMCA chapter already exists for fans of South Carolina’s Clemson University Tigers, called the IPTAY Chapter Of Clemson. In addition, the Ramblin’ Renegades chapter supports Florida State University athletics.
FMCA members have formed chapters because of their interest in non-collegiate sports as well, such as auto racing “” the New England Race Chasers; golf “” Swinging Golfers International; and fishing “” Arizona Fishing. I would like to encourage FMCAers to consider organizing chapters centered around these types of activities also.
The great thing about traveling in a motorhome is that you are taking your home with you. You can visit, have fun with family and friends, and then relax and rest before that long drive home. Our FMCA Chapter Services Department will assist you by sending a mailing to prospective members who don’t already belong to a chapter and can lend you any other help you may need.
Sports fans, you have made a big investment in that “home away from home.” Put it to use by following your favorite teams and having tailgate parties under the awning.
See you at the game, “Boomer Sooner.”
Notice of Annual Membership Meeting
The Family Motor Coach Association’s annual membership meeting will be held during FMCA’s 74th International Convention at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds in Minot, North Dakota, on August 18, 2005.