President’s Message
By Don Moore, F154921
National President
July 2006
Forty-three years ago this month, a group of motor coach owners met at Good Will-Hinckley School in Hinckley, Maine, to discuss their common interests and to view a solar eclipse. The group decided to form an association for motor coach owners, and of those in attendance, 18 families signed on as members of the new organization, which they named Family Motor Coach Association. As you know, the group continued to grow and flourish, and FMCA now has nearly 125,000 member families.
On July 4, 1994, a group of 79 FMCA members traveled to Hinckley, Maine, for the dedication of a monument that had been built to commemorate the founding of FMCA at the site. The monument is constructed of India black granite. The “goose egg” portion measures 6 feet long, 4½ feet high, and 20 inches thick and weighs 3 tons. The base is 7 feet 6 inches long, 1 foot high, and 20 inches thick. The inscription on the base tells the story of that day in July 1963 when FMCA was formed.
The monument further cemented an ongoing connection between FMCA and Good Will-Hinckley. I thought this might be an appropriate month to share a little of the history and mission of what is now known as Good Will-Hinckley Homes for Boys and Girls. This information was supplied to me by Monica M. Russo, director of advancement at Good Will-Hinckley.
George Walter Hinckley was a spiritual man and an impressive preacher, who longed to become a minister. His work with a Sunday school brought him to Maine where he became determined to build a home for needy boys. Farming was also important to him, and in looking for a location for his home, he found a Fairfield, Maine, farm to be the ideal place. Good Will Farm, as it is known, was then and is still the cornerstone of Good Will-Hinckley Homes for Boys and Girls.
Good Will-Hinckley (GWH) provides a home and helping hand to young people in need. The not-for-profit organization has helped more than 6,000 youth since 1889. Today, GWH is home to young people once caught in a cycle of conflict and loss. Before life at GWH, they lacked a stable home, school, or network of support. Youth are referred to GWH for a number of reasons, including family strife, abuse, and neglect; emotional and behavioral struggles; educational challenges; and homelessness.
The 2,450-acre campus in central Maine serves as many as 300 youth per year. GWH offers complete residential, educational, and counseling services. The GWH program focuses on youth safety and well-being and nurtures strong, healthy families. Youth range in age from 11 to 21 and stay at GWH for very individualized lengths of time. In some instances, youth and family challenges can be addressed through short stays. In other situations, ongoing care is provided.
At GWH, young people learn academic and social skills, taught at a gentle and steady pace. In the process youth also gain values for a happy, well-adjusted life. The overall goal is to help young people become their best.
GWH schools are fully accredited by the state of Maine. The accreditation is for both regular and special education programs. Classroom sizes vary from six to 10 students for maximum personal attention. Campus school facilities include: Alfond Middle School for grades 5-8; Averill High School for grades 9-12; Glen Stratton Learning Center for Day Treatment; and self-contained classrooms in some 24-hour staffed programs.
Each GWH youth receives a solid education. More than 80 percent of graduates are accepted into post-secondary education programs. Some alumni enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces.
GWH provides a safe place for youth to grow and to flourish. The campus is a total community. In addition to residential services, both boys and girls have opportunities to play organized sports: baseball, softball, basketball, and soccer. Each year, a group of GWH students travel to National Home Olympics and participate in friendly sports competition with youth from group homes throughout the United States. Youth also have opportunities for making spiritual connections through the nondenominational Moody Chapel. At weekly chapel attendance, alumni students and other guest speakers deliver messages on moral issues such as forgiveness, patience, generosity, etc. Students learn the value of hard work and responsibility through work-study opportunities, either at GWH’s working organic farm with 40 to 50 head of dairy cattle; at the farm stand from spring through fall; or in the cafeteria, museum, or other campus buildings. Many youth perform community service. Community service gives youth the chance to fine-tune job skills and learn the fulfillment of giving back to the community.
When youth are ready for the responsibilities of employment, opportunities exist in various areas, both on campus and off, in preparation for independence and self-sufficiency in adulthood.
In its earlier days of existence, Good Will-Hinckley operated solely on donations. Today it is fortunate to receive some funding from the state of Maine for room and board and counseling expenses. Fundraising is responsible for meeting education expenses, as well as those associated with the well-rounded life experience that has led to so many success stories for GWH youth, who come from all over the United States.
Good Will-Hinckley welcomes FMCA members to enjoy free dry camping. A limited number of 20-amp electrical hookups are available, with plans to provide more comfortable accommodations for FMCA members in the near future.
While enjoying your stay, you’ll find that the L.C. Bates Museum offers spring and summer activities and exhibits. Moody Chapel is popular for weddings, and nondenominational services that are open to the public are held Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m. The newly completed Founder’s Pavilion is available for outdoor functions and gatherings during warm-weather months. Produce grown on Good Will Farm is offered for sale in the farm stand through the summer and into early fall.
If you are planning a visit to New England, plan to stop at the site where FMCA was founded. The GWH staff will be happy to provide you with a personal tour of the Good Will-Hinckley campus. Please contact Monica M. Russo, Director of Advancement, at (800) 639-1757, ext. 4289.
Fast track to family fun
FMCA’s 76th International Convention in Charlotte/Concord, North Carolina, is just around the bend. We’ll enjoy plenty of entertainment for the whole family August 14 through 17 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. In an effort to enhance the fun for the kids, special parking will be set aside for members who bring their children or grandchildren to the convention. If you are interested in parking in this special section, please call Maureen Mullarkey at the FMCA national office “” (800) 543-3622, ext. 208 “” or send her an e-mail at mmullarkey@fmca.com.
As usual, FMCA will have Youth Centers set up at the convention for various age groups. Each of the age groups “” TOTS (ages 2-5), TWEENS (ages 6-9), PRE-TEENS (ages 10-12), and TATS (ages 13-18) “” will have a Youth Center with activities geared to their age level. The older kids also will have an opportunity to take part in outings to nearby destinations.
If you travel with youngsters, whether to this summer’s convention or elsewhere, you’ll be interested in several articles in this issue of FMC. “Take The Kids And Hit The Road,” which begins on page 102, is packed with hints and tips for enhancing road trips with children. This month’s “Full-Timer’s Primer” column (page 130) also focuses on kids and includes plenty of helpful information for those who travel full-time or part-time with youngsters in tow. One way to entertain the kids and also teach them valuable lessons about nutrition and life skills is to invite them to join you in the motorhome galley to whip up snacks or meals. This month’s “Cooking On The Go” column (page 132) offers up several kid-friendly recipes. Finally, look to the special kids activity pages in this issue (pages 106 and 107) to help keep the youngsters amused while heading down the highway. You might even find that these stories or some of these activities will awaken the kid in you. Wishing you many happy motorhoming memories, and happy trails!