September 2005

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stories about identity theft seem to be making the news on a regular basis these days. Now FMCA’s Membership/Member Services Committee has found a plan for FMCA members that will provide protection against identity theft and assist members in restoration if they become a victim.

In the obituary for Don McGrath, past national vice president, Great Lakes Area (July 2005, page 32), it was stated that Mr. McGrath served as Midwest Area vice president from 1996 to 2000.

Q: Now that we are seeing light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in taillights and interior lights on service panels, when do you anticipate that LEDs will begin to overtake incandescent 12-volt lightbulbs on RVs? It seems that would be the natural progression, and we all would benefit from the lower power consumption.
Peter Jordan
Via e-mail
A: I don’t really foresee LEDs replacing either the incandescent or fluorescent lights found inside motorhomes in the near future, other than those that are already used as accent lighting on the ceilings and along floors. At present LEDs are very expensive, and a main concern for coach manufacturers is the bottom line.

Dear RV Doctor:
We just purchased a clean 1971 RV and have discovered a leaking plastic toilet. The toilet leaks from the top back when the “flush pedal” is in operation.

Despite dire predictions of bad weather, the sun shone brightly on Lebanon, Tennessee, for the sixth annual International Area Rally, sponsored by the International Area Organization (INTO). Six hundred forty family coaches and 64 display motorhomes crowded into the James E.

The original Klondikers set out in 1896 for the Yukon region of Canada. They struck it rich along Bonanza Creek and its tributaries.

Indianapolis City-County Council was considering a proposed ordinance amendment that would restrict RV parking and storage to inside a garage or atop a hard-surface area alongside or behind the owner’s residence.
Status: Introduced May 23, 2005, and referred to the Metropolitan Development Committee. The proposal was tabled at the committee’s June 6 public hearing and placed on the June 27 agenda.

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Idaho RV license fee
Marse Shobe, F313485, is leading an initiative to reduce Idaho’s annual RV license fee.
Currently, Idaho RV owners pay an annual license fee of $8.50 for an RV with a market value of $1,000 or less, and $5 for each additional $1,000 in value.

This committee formerly was known as the Insurance and Risk Management Committee, and its name was changed because of its new focus over the past couple of years. After ensuring that the property and casualty policies (these cover the building and equipment owned by FMCA) were up-to-date, the committee began to focus on what risk management means to FMCA.
FMCA provides coverage for all active members via two programs: the Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance policy and the MEDEX emergency medical assistance program.

If you ever have heard professional organizer Debbie Williams on radio or television, you know she takes a commonsense approach to eliminating clutter. Now she has organized many of her best ideas into a compact book, Common Sense Organizing ($13.95, Champion Press).

Naturally occurring wildfires have been caused by lightning and volcanoes for millions of years. However, archaeologists have found evidence that parts of North America have been intentionally burned for more than 5,000 years.

The year 1860 is famous for more than the start of the Civil War; it also marked the beginning of the Pony Express. On April 3 of that year, a batch of mail was stuffed into a mail pouch and tossed on the saddle.

Here are some offbeat, delicious island recipes to help bring the flavors of the Caribbean to your campsite.
Jerk Burgers
Traditional Jamaican jerk is prepared by rubbing a spice mix onto raw meat, chicken, or fish, then “jerking” it back and forth over a hot fire. North American supermarkets carry several brands of jerk seasoning.