December 2006

FMCA has not sent out a mailing to the entire membership for many years. With more than 120,000 member families today, it would be costly to do so.

The name “Impulse” conveys excitement and spontaneity, a perfect way to describe a motorhome and the adventures it offers. At the same time, this breezy moniker belies the engineering, effort, and forethought that designers at Winnebago Industries have put into the company’s new Itasca Impulse product line, one that opens up the RV lifestyle to many.

Casino Camping: Guide to RV-Friendly CasinosThe second edition of Jane Kenny’s Casino Camping: Guide to RV-Friendly Casinos ($16.95, Roundabout Publications) is now available for those who like to combine their love of RV travel with the thrill of casino gaming. The 272-page book includes hundreds of RV-friendly casinos throughout the United States that either provide a campground as part of their facility or allow free overnight parking.
Many of today’s new casino campgrounds provide RVers with upscale, modern facilities along with the restaurants, pools/spa, golf, and gaming typically found at casinos.

Bark’n Boots Grip Trex dog bootsMotorhomers who appreciate the companionship of their dog during outdoor adventures can help make the pet’s experience safer and more enjoyable with Bark’n Boots Grip Trex dog boots from Ruff Wear.
The boots feature upper design and construction that are said to maintain a consistent size, shape, and fit to assure that the boots stay on the dog’s paws for continued comfort. The soles are made of high-performance Vibram material with omnidirectional treads and traction zones customized for the demanding needs of active dogs.

To help keep the sewer hose connection in place, I created this stabilizer using 1½-inch PVC pieces. The unit is simple to use, easy to make, and inexpensive.

Global positioning system (GPS) technology can be called rocket science, and, in fact, it really is. Currently 24 GPS satellites are orbiting the earth at an altitude of approximately 12,000 miles.

After nine years of traveling the country in our motorhome, I was beginning to feel like a migrant couch potato. Once I discovered Nordic walking, a flexible exercise routine that I can easily fit in while traveling, I turned the corner on losing weight and started feeling more energized.
I was walking for exercise before, but now I am walking smarter, not harder.

You can learn so much more about a town just by driving around its downtown area. In the snowbird town of Mesa, Arizona, all you need to do is observe the street signs, and you begin to learn its history.

It’s a rare person who doesn’t find the sea and sand tempting, especially during the cold months up north. While Alabama’s shoreline may not be the first place that pops to mind when planning a winter getaway, don’t overlook it.
But what about the devastating consequences of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf coast? You might assume that Alabama’s coast was adversely affected, too.

On August 14, 2006, the Governing Board of FMCA approved the following Bylaws Amendments, as noted in bold type, in Charlotte/Concord, North Carolina. Per Article XX, Paragraph 3 of the FMCA Bylaws: Proposals to amend the FMCA Bylaws shall be adopted by a 65% affirmative vote of all votes cast by the Governing Board.

Article VIII, Paragraph 4 – Executive Board
This article was amended to read:
(4) Any voting FMCA member, other than a member who is employed by or holds a management interest in an RV-related association or company, is eligible for election to the Executive Board.

FMCA’s Convention Department director Jerry Yeatts, two other staff members, and selected members of the Convention Committee just returned from our planning visit to the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, Georgia. This was our final visit before the 77th FMCA International Convention, which will be held March 19 through 22, 2007.
I am glad to report that the grounds have been greatly improved since FMCA held its last convention there in 2005.

For many RVers it’s time to head south to follow the sun, while others love the crisp cold and mild flurries of early winter camping. Here are some roadworthy recipes to warm your galley.
Apple Stuffing
Heat this stuffing in ramekins or in edible bowls, such as red or green pepper halves.

Dear Editor:
In December 2005 we bought a 40-foot Newmar diesel pusher with four slideouts. We love the coach.

In the August 2006 “Tech Talk” column, it was reported that Mr. Louis King of Decelomatic Corporation had passed away and his company was no longer in business.

Dear RV Doctor:
I need to install a pod on my Coachmen type C motorhome. I’m very limited in storage space (like none at all).

Former Western Area vice president George Rogers, F103097, passed away on August 21, 2006, at the age of 83 after a lengthy battle with cancer and heart disease. He died peacefully at his home at the Anaheim Hills Club in Anaheim Hills, California, with his wife of 65 years, Ann, and his family by his side.
The Rogerses began motorhoming in 1978, but didn’t discover FMCA until 1988 when George picked up a copy of Family Motor Coaching magazine at his doctor’s office.

Owners of Winnebago or Itasca brand motorhomes (or owners of other brands who are simply interested in the group) now can join fellow enthusiasts in a relatively new chapter in the Northwest Area of FMCA.
The Win It NW chapter gets together for social reasons and to share technical information about these particular brands of motorhomes. It was formed during the Northwest Area Rally this past June in Albany, Oregon.
Since that first meeting, chapter members have spent time enjoying each other’s company in a variety of ways.

Bans on parking anywhere except in licensed campgrounds. Owners’ rights to park on their property weighted against neighbors’ concerns about safety and aesthetics.

With Thanksgiving coming up later this month, consider this column a cornucopia of reminders, news, and views for those on the go.
One more time
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington, D.C., more than 100,000 fires each year are associated with cooking equipment, many from burners left unattended.

Whenever we aren’t on the road, our “window” on nature is often the sliding glass door at home. We set up our office so that we both have an easy view of the “back forty,” where we often get four-legged visitors.
Earlier this year, Lowell caught some motion out of the corner of his eye.

This is a terrific time of the year to visit southeast Arizona. You’re likely to have good weather, and encounter fewer tourists.