October 2005
FMCA’s Executive Board is made up of the national president, senior vice president, secretary, and treasurer, along with the 10 area vice presidents. FMCA members were able to learn more about the four nationally elected officers when their resumes were published in the June 2005 issue prior to the election at FMCA’s 74th International Convention in Minot, North Dakota. This is not the case for the national area vice presidents, who were each elected by their respective areas. So, in an effort to help FMCA members become acquainted with the national vice presidents, we have provided brief information about each of them below.
(Note: At press time committee appointments for 2005-2006 were still in the approval process, so that information was not able to be included here.)
Jay Blumenthal, F230605
International Area
Jay and his wife, Donna, joined FMCA in 1997. They attended their first FMCA convention in 1998 and have been active members ever since. Jay served as a member of the Education Committee during 2004-05.
Jay and Donna belong to more than 20 chapters: eight Frustrated Maestros chapters; three Monaco owners’ chapters; FMCA Chapter: Habitat for Humanity®; CHAI “” Chavurat Yehudim; Elk International; Long Islanders; Full Timers; Slots ‘O’ Fun; Bingo Maniacs; Xplorers; Coast to Coasters; Over 50 and Fabulous; and 100%ers. Thirteen of these are International Area chapters. Jay and Donna helped to found two chapters and are charter members of five.
Jay served four years as president of the Frustrated Maestros-NE, Yankee Doodle Dandies chapter and one year as treasurer. He has been a member of the Northeast Area nominating committee three times and chairperson once.
Jay and Donna have served as captains at more than 12 area rallies or conventions and on the planning committee for five area rallies. They have been rally masters at several of the numerous chapter rallies they have attended.
Jay was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in New York state. After receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he taught social studies in public schools for 34 years, at both the junior and senior high school levels. During this time he took postgraduate courses. He served as coordinator of social studies for three years, as a member of the curriculum committee for two years, and coached various sports and the debate team. As members of their respective national, regional, and state professional organizations, Donna and Jay presented workshops to teachers in cooperative learning, group dynamics, and consensus building. Outside the public school arena, Jay taught religious school for 25 years and was religious school principal for five years. He served as chaplain at New York Military Academy for 10 years. Prior to Jay’s retirement in 1995, he and Donna both worked at summer camps for many years, with Jay serving as a camp director for five years.
Jay has been a member of Temple Beth Jacob in Newburgh, New York, for 42 years. He has served on the temple’s board of trustees, on numerous committees, and as a vice president for three years. He was an active member of the Jaycees for seven years and served as that group’s vice president for two years. After being a Cubmaster and Scoutmaster for 12 years, Jay was District Commissioner for the Boy Scouts for three years. He also served as a Little League baseball manager for five years and league president for two years. Currently he is a member of Elks Lodge #1643 in Indio, California.
Jay and Donna have been married for 42 years and have three children and three grandchildren. Aside from music, Jay and Donna enjoy sight-seeing and tennis. They have been full-timers for four years.
William P. Conway, F99081
Northeast Area
Bill and his wife, Pat, joined FMCA in 1988. Bill is in his third year as national vice president, Northeast Area. During 2003-04 he served on the Education Committee. During 2004-05 he served as chairman of the newly formed Information Technology & Communications Committee.
Bill hosted the July 2004 Northeast Area Rally in Essex Junction, Vermont, and the 2005 rally in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Prior to his election as national vice president, he served a one-year term as second vice president of the Northeast Motorhome Association and four years as treasurer. He also served as area rally treasurer for the successful rallies held in 2001 and 2002. Bill served on the national convention parking crew with the Mt. Laurel Travelers chapter at the 1989 convention in Richmond, Virginia.
At the chapter level, Bill has served as wagon master for several Mt. Laurel Travelers chapter meets and on the chapter board of directors, and was selected to fill in the position of national director for the Northeast Pacers chapter during the Hutchinson, Kansas, convention in 2002. Bill and Pat served on the youth committee during the 1999 area rally, and they have served as registration and bingo chairpersons for the Northeast Quadrant-Croton chapter at the annual Columbus Day weekend rally since 2000. Since taking office, Bill and Pat have visited many of the active chapters in the Northeast Area, and they plan to visit more as their schedules allow.
Bill has a degree in Industrial Engineering from Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts. He worked at Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies, for 34 years and retired in 1997. He was a member of the volunteer fire brigade in Agawam, Massachusetts, for 20 years, and was a baseball and basketball coach for youth leagues for six years while his children were growing up. He also served as treasurer of a social club and the bingo bookkeeper for 13 years prior to his retirement.
Bill and Pat will celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary this November. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Judy Czarsty, F79148
Eastern Area
Judy and her husband, Steve, joined FMCA in 1986. Judy is serving her second year as national vice president, Eastern Area. During 2004-05 she served as a member of the Constitution and Bylaws/Policy and Procedure Committee. She and Steve cochaired the Youth Activities Program for several years, and developed Youth Activities Program policies and procedures and a volunteer handbook. Judy authored the original chapter treasurer’s guide for the Chapter President’s Handbook.
Judy has served as senior vice president of the Eastern Area Motorhome Association; coordinator of G.E.A.R. volunteers; and captain of G.E.A.R. greeters. She assisted in site selection for three G.E.A.R. rallies; assisted the area vice president in establishing the Eastern Area Volunteers chapter, which planned and produced the early G.E.A.R. rallies; and served as the first newsletter editor for the Eastern Area Volunteers chapter. Judy served as the Eastern Area liaison for the non-chapter-member initiative and hosted six non-chapter-member rallies that resulted in the formation of eight new Eastern Area chapters.
On the chapter level she has served as national director for the Dogwood and Colonial Virginians chapters; voting delegate for the IPTAY Chapter of Clemson; and newsletter editor for the Dogwood and Eastern Area Volunteers chapters. She and Steve were charter members of eight chapters “” Eastern Area Volunteers, Dogwood, Cardinal Virginians, CHAI-Chavurat Yehudim, Just Friends, Mid-Atlantic Pals, Frustrated Maestros Eastern Sharps and Flats, and IPTAY Chapter of Clemson “” and currently are members of six Eastern Area chapters.
Judy has a bachelor of science degree (honors) from George Mason University, with a concentration in accounting. She also took graduate accounting courses at the University of Houston and is a certified government financial manager. She has worked for the Veterans Administration; USAF, Pentagon; Southern Railway; and U.S. General Accounting Office as a senior auditor. She retired from the U.S. General Accounting Office as manager of the Policy & Control Branch.
She and Steve, a former national area vice president, have been married for 31 years. Their son, Steve Jr., served as TATS president for five years and remains active in FMCA.
Tony Innocenti, F56315
South Central Area
Tony and his wife, Geri, joined FMCA in 1983 and have attended 38 FMCA conventions. Tony was a security volunteer at the 1994 FMCA convention in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; assisted with the parade at the 1998 convention in Las Cruces, New Mexico; served as technical seminar volunteer captain at the 2001 convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and worked security during the 2002 convention in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Tony is serving his third year as national vice president, South Central Area. He served as a member of the Membership/Member Services Committee during 2003-04 and 2004-05.
His involvement in the South Central Area has included attendance at 21 Six State rallies, serving as senior vice president of the Six State Rally Association in 2002-2003, and serving as rally master of the Six State Rally in 2002 and 2003. He was the outdoor exhibits captain for that rally from 1998 to 2001. He helped the area vice president to establish the Six State Rally Association and to write its bylaws.
Tony and Geri joined the Thousand Trails of Texas chapter in 1992. Tony served as the chapter’s national director from 1999 to 2003 and as alternate national director from 1994 to 1998. The Innocentis joined the Foretravel International chapter in 1987.
Tony attended Victoria College in Victoria, Texas, and was the owner and manager of a local glass company for 23 years. During that time he worked with architects and engineers designing storefronts on commercial buildings. He is a member of the National Home Builders Association and served as national director for six years.
Tony retired in 1985 and currently is active in farming and ranching in Victoria County. He has served as an officer in the local chapter and on the state level of the Independent Cattleman’s Association. He also is a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and serves as chairman of the committee that awards scholarships to Victoria County students through the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Go-Texan Committee.
Tony and Geri have been married for 50 years and have a daughter, a son, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Donzella Leahy, F234822
Northwest Area
Donzella and her husband, Bill, joined FMCA in 1997. Donzella is serving her first year as Northwest Area vice president. She served as the welcome crew volunteer coordinator at the August 2004 FMCA convention in Redmond, Oregon, and at the March 2005 convention in Perry, Georgia.
Donzella served as Northwest Motorhome Area Association secretary, vice president, Nominating Committee member, and senior vice president. She also served as vice president and alternate national director of the We’come chapter. She was entertainment chair for the 2003 and 2005 Northwest Area rallies, and she and Bill have helped in various capacities during the rallies. As Advance Crew members for the international convention, Bill helped with convention parking and Donzella helped with the welcome bags. The Leahys have attended eight area rallies and eight international conventions.
The Leahys are members of the Northwestern, Blue Mountain, Roamin’ Catholics Northwest, Olympic Snowbirds, Monaco Northwest, Monaco International, We’come, Snowbirds Southwest, Bingo Maniacs, and Moose chapters.
Donzella is a graduate of Lewis-Clark State College with a B.S. in secondary education. She taught English and social studies. She served as cochair of the college’s alumni association for two years and in leadership roles in the Student Idaho Education Association.
Donzella also served 12 years as president of the Kennewick Newcomers Bowling League, and in leadership roles in the following groups: Kennewick Newcomers Club; Washington State Square & Folk Dance Federation; Tri-Cities Cancer Center Guild; Soroptimist International Pasco/Kennewick; and Investment Quest (a women’s investment club).
As active members of St. Patrick’s church, Donzella and Bill serve as Eucharistic ministers and Donzella also serves as a lector.
The Leahys have three daughters, seven grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. They have been full-timing for more than two years since selling their farm in Pasco, Washington.
Ginny McGrath, F87335
Great Lakes Area
Ginny and her late husband, Don, joined FMCA in 1987. Ginny is a member of the Midwest Coachmen, Ohio Nomads, Ontario Overlanders, National RV Great Lakers, and Frustrated Maestros Great Lakes chapters, and an honorary member of the Hoosier Cruisers and Achievers International chapters. Ginny and Don assisted with security at the 1990 and 1991 Great Lakes Area Spring Spree (G.L.A.S.S.) rallies, and were registration captains at the 1991 FMCA international convention in South Bend, Indiana. She and Don attended 26 international conventions and 52 area rallies.
Ginny and Don hosted many rallies with the Midwest Coachmen chapter, and Ginny has held craft seminars at G.L.A.S.S., Southeast Area, and Eastern Area rallies for many years. She currently serves as treasurer of the On-Road Quilters group.
Ginny is now in her third year as national vice president, Great Lakes Area. She served as a member of the Convention Subcommittee during 2003-04 and 2004-05.
From 1996 to 2000 Ginny served on FMCA’s Membership/Member Services Committee while Don served as national vice president, Great Lakes Area. During this time, the McGraths assisted with handicapped parking and transportation at FMCA conventions. They served again in this capacity in 2003-04 and 2004-05.
Ginny majored in elementary education and minored in art at Kent State University in Ohio. She has taught special needs children for nearly 40 years and currently is teaching early intervention and preschool children as well. She has served as president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer of high school, middle school, and elementary school PTAs. She also has held the office of president and secretary in various other service organizations in the Cleveland and Mansfield, Ohio, areas. Ginny is an ordained elder and deacon in her church.
Ginny has three sons and eight grandchildren. She and Don were married for 52 years.
Duane Pindell, F105443
Rocky Mountain Area
Duane and his wife, Rosalie, joined FMCA and the Cowboy Ambassadors chapter in 1988. In 1992 Duane and fellow FMCA members formed a chapter in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado called the High Plains Drifters, which received its charter in January 1993. Duane served as the chapter’s founding president. He also served for five years as either national director or alternate national director for that chapter and participated in most of the FMCA Governing Board meetings during that time. Duane’s first experience as rally master of the Rocky Mountain Ramble came in 1997 when the High Plains Drifters hosted the event in Laramie, Wyoming.
Duane helped to form the Rocky Mountain Motorcoach Association (RMMA), which came into being in July 2001. As senior vice president of the RMMA, Duane was the rally master for the Rocky Mountain Ramble rally held in Brighton, Colorado, in 2002, and for the rally held in Tucson, Arizona, in 2003.
Duane currently is serving his third year as national vice president, Rocky Mountain Area. During 2003-04 he also served as a member of the Convention Committee; in 2004-05 he served a fourth year on the Governmental and Legislative Affairs Committee. During the 17 years that he and Rosalie have been members of FMCA, they have attended most international conventions and Rocky Mountain Rambles. They also have attended area rallies in neighboring areas.
Duane worked for 15 years as chief of maintenance of the Laramie County School District, where he supervised 50 employees. He also served in supervisory capacities many times during the 30 years that he worked as a plumber and pipe fitter in the heavy construction industry. He has served in leadership positions in his church; his union; and various clubs in the Cheyenne, Wyoming, area.
Duane and Rosalie have been married for 51 years and have three children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
George M. Schipper, F17603
Southeast Area
George and his wife, Ann, joined FMCA in 1976. George currently is serving his third year as national vice president, Southeast Area. He served as a member of the 2004-05 Convention Committee and also served two years on the Long-Range and Development Committee. George has served on the Parking Layout Crew. He served on the national President’s Council in 2002 and the Nominating Committee for 2000-2001. George was captain of the registration volunteers at the 1996 convention in Perry, Georgia.
George and Ann are members of eight FMCA chapters and have served as officers in four of them. The Schippers were involved with the formation of the Southeast Area Association (SEA). They have served as captains of opening ceremonies for the Southeast Area Rally, and George has served as worship leader for the rally’s Sunday morning services for nine years. George and Ann volunteered for years in rally registration and served as registration captains for three years. They have served as volunteers (and volunteer captains) at the rally for many years and continue to do so every year. Ann served as SEA secretary for three years.
George and Ann helped to found the GMC Great Lakers chapter in 1976 and served as chapter officers.
George spent 30 years as a municipal administrator in Michigan, beginning with the city of Zeeland. In Pontiac he was director of community programs and served as the city liaison for the host committee for Superbowl XVI, which was played at the Pontiac Silverdome.
George’s community service includes eight years on the Pontiac Board of Education, as well as serving on the local Salvation Army board of directors, including three years as chairperson, and on local and state United Way boards. He is active in his local church, having served as chairperson of the board and treasurer.
George and Ann have been married for 48 years and have five children and 15 grandchildren. They reside in Zephyrhills, Florida.
Nelson K. Stubbs, F107765
Midwest Area
Nelson and his wife, Janet, joined FMCA in 1989. They belong to several chapters, including Parking Layout, We’come, Coaches for Christ, Elk International, American Coach Chapter of FMCA, Midwest Goodtimers, and the Midwest Pacers (formerly Midwest Pace Arrows). Nelson served two terms as the Midwest Pacers’ vice president and also was the chapter’s alternate delegate to the Midwest Area Cooperative (MAC). He served on and/or chaired the Budget and Audit Committee since the inception of the MAC. He also served as co-captain of the MAC’s Parking Layout Committee and served on the Site Selection Committee for Midwest Area rallies.
Nelson served on the Parking Layout Crew at FMCA international conventions from 1998 until his election as national vice president in 2003. He was a parking crew leader during the last three years of that time. Nelson served as chairman of the 2002-03 Nominating Committee. He was chairman of the 2003-04 Membership/Member Services Committee and served in that capacity again for 2004-05. He also served on the Convention Committee during 2004-05.
Nelson has a bachelor’s degree in music education and received a master’s degree in 1966. He taught for nearly 30 years in elementary and secondary schools in Illinois. During that time he also held part-time positions as a city police officer, truck driver, and professional musician, among others.
Nelson also has served as a volunteer fireman on departments in two of the communities where his family resided. As a Shriner he performed with the brass band of the Mohammed Temple in Peoria, Illinois. He is a member of Modern Music Masters, the Illinois Education Association, and the Beta Nu chapter of the Kappa Kappa Psi honorary music fraternity, for which he served as president. He is past commodore of the Henry Yacht Club and the Illinois River Basin Boating Association.
Nelson and Janet are members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lacon, Illinois. They also are charter members of the Henry Community Volunteer Ambulance Service, in which they have served for 27 years. In addition to his duties as an emergency medical technician and driver, Nelson has served as executive director and operations officer as well as vice president and president of the board of directors. He continues to serve on the board of directors and volunteers as a crew member when home.
Nelson and Janet have been married for 46 years and have a daughter, three sons, and seven grandchildren.
Tony M. Vincent, F161584
Western Area
Tony and his wife, Betty, joined FMCA in 1992. Tony is serving his fourth year as national vice president, Western Area. He served on the 2002-03 and 2004-05 Convention Committee. He served as chairman of the Long-Range and Development Committee for 2003-04 and again in that capacity for 2004-05.
Tony served as rally master for the Western Area Rally in January 2004 and January 2005. Prior to his election as national vice president, Western Area, he spent three years as the central area vice president for the Western Motor Home Association. He also was president and national director of the California Heartland chapter and served as trail boss for many chapter rallies. Tony and Betty also are members of the Apollo Amigos, Beat the Odds, Elk International, FMCA Chapter: Habitat for Humanity®, HMC Club, Roamin’ Catholics Southwest, and Southwestern Bus Nuts chapters. He and Betty have worked on several Habitat for Humanity builds.
In 1997 Tony was captain of the information volunteers at the FMCA international convention in Pomona, California, and served in that capacity again in 2000. He served as the host area vice president for the Pomona convention in 2003 and is serving as host again for the 2006 convention.
Tony grew up on a dairy farm in Dos Palos, California. After receiving a college degree in the 1950s, he went to work for Borden’s Dairy, which later was purchased by Knudsen Dairy. In 1977 the Vincents purchased Sierra View Creamery Inc., and Tony served as company president until he retired in 1995. His eldest son, Gregory, now manages the business. Tony and Betty have been married for 52 years and have four sons and nine grandchildren.