February 2007

Some towns honor their local hero with a bronze plaque or historical marker, but Springfield, Illinois, celebrates the life of its most famous citizen in grand style. Who is Springfield’s favorite son? He is a man of humble means who led a nation divided by war.

Tiffin Motorhomes, C1717, based in Red Bay, Alabama, has announced numerous changes to its motorhomes for 2007. New roof caps, a super-quiet cooled-air delivery system, ceramic tile, side-view cameras, added sleeping capacity, independent front suspension, and keyless entry lead the long list of standard and optional features consumers can expect to see in Tiffin’s 2007 models.
The company also is expanding its popular front-engine diesel chassis option, introduced in 2006, to a second model line.

The Digital Picture Keychain from TAO Electronics Inc. allows users to store and share up to 56 digital images on a compact display unit.
The keychain features an internal 8-megabyte flash drive and a 1.4-inch LCD display for showing the images.

We have narrow wardrobes on either side of the island bed in our RV. We use plastic folding cup holders, attached to the lower inside of the wardrobe door, to act as our “nightstands” where we can keep a glass of water or cup of coffee close at hand while in bed.

There’s nothing like coming home, and for many motorhomers, it will feel like old times when they return to Perry, Georgia, for FMCA’s 77th International Convention. This event, to take place March 19 through 22, 2007, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, will be the association’s fifth convention to be held at this location.
FMCA’s convention — dubbed the “Georgia Jubilee” — will take place in a town named in 1824 for naval Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, whose fleet won a victory over the British in the War of 1812.

When Jon Gibson, F368393, retired in 2002 from his job as an over-the-road owner-operator in the trucking industry, he gladly said good-bye to the road construction tie-ups, routine traffic congestion, and fickle Midwestern weather he’d become accustomed to during his 30-year career delivering goods across the country. But he was reluctant to give up one part of his livelihood: his truck.
In the garage behind his Strasburg, Pennsylvania, home, sheltered from the elements, sat his baby, a 1987 Peterbilt.

Updated information regarding the many benefits and services available to members of the Family Motor Coach Association.
Membership in the Family Motor Coach Association brings with it a wealth of benefits that are of value to the motorhome traveler. Some of these benefits are obvious — the subscription to Family Motor Coaching magazine, for example — and some are not so obvious.

Effective January 1, 2001, FMCA contracted with MEDEX Assistance Corporation to provide active family and life members with coverage under the MEDEX PLUS Program. This program helps traveling members to effectively manage the complexities and expenses of out-of-area medical and travel emergencies.

What to do about the mail is always a concern for the traveling family. Motorhomers who enjoy extended summer trips or winters in warmer climes and full-timers who travel wherever the winds may take them are especially aware that keeping up with the mail can be a source of frustration and worry.
FMCA’s mail forwarding service* was instituted as a member benefit so that families might enjoy their travels without having to worry about when and where they would receive their mail.
FMCA members who wish to sign up for this service are asked to follow the procedures listed below to ensure uninterrupted mail service once they depart.
1.

Most FMCA members these days tow another vehicle behind their motorhome when they travel, and the majority tow the vehicle with four wheels on the ground. A smaller number of FMCA members opt to use a tow dolly or trailer for towing.

Parking for FMCA’s 77th International Convention will commence on Saturday,March 17, at 7:00 a.m. Please display your admittance card on the front windshield,lower left-hand corner of the passenger side.
The Holding Area will open on Friday,March 16, and is located via Elko and Starbuck roads.

All pre-registered families receive day and time of admittance credentials based on the date their registrations are received at FMCA headquarters in Cincinnati. Convention parking is divided equally over a three-day period.

Do you remember the 1956 Walt Disney movie The Great Locomotive Chase, which starred Fess Parker? Or are you a fan of classic silent films and have seen The General, a 1927 masterpiece starring Buster Keaton?
If so — or if you’re simply a history buff — you may recall that the General was a locomotive that was stolen on April 12, 1862, by a band of Union spies. Their intent was to destroy the Confederate supply line by burning bridges along the railroad between Atlanta, Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

What dishes are truly local in this great land of ours? Part of the fun of travel is to search for down-home, regional recipes and the homegrown items to prepare them. Starting this month we celebrate recipes from North America’s hometowns.

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Texas Salsa
This recipe, from Richard and Betty Miller, F333547, is a zesty, Texas-style salsa.

The person who first said “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” probably never tried to catch a bird with his or her bare hands. More than likely, that person was equipped with a faithful bird dog and on a hunting expedition.
Up until one fateful day, my husband had never attempted to catch a bird with his bare hands, nor had I, but there he was, grabbing frantically at thin air while a terrified mourning dove redecorated the dash, the furniture, and the carpet inside our lovely motorhome.

Whom should you contact for travel information when planning a motorhome trip?
To answer that question, the staff at FMC has compiled this list of tourism offices in the United States and Canada. If a toll-free number, Web site, or fax number is not listed, it is because that particular state or province did not provide one.
The following information was accurate as of November 2006.

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UNITED STATES
Alabama Bureau Of Tourism & Travel
P.O.

Since its first appearance in 1964, Family Motor Coaching has been an important part of Family Motor Coach Association. The founders of the association realized that communication with the membership was vital, and the magazine was and still is a great way to stay in touch.
The first issue of the magazine was published under the leadership of Robert Richter, L1, who lived in Hanson, Massachusetts.

In 1986 members of FMCA’s Insurance Committee met with Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency to discuss a specialty motorhome and towed car insurance program for members. FMCA wasn’t quite big enough back then for the concept to come to fruition, but the idea of entering into the motorhome insurance arena was on the minds of the Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency.

The December 2006 issue included an article by freelance writer Denise Seith titled “Bradenton Blends Old Florida And New” (page 76). Unfortunately, Ms.

Q: I would really appreciate any direction you can provide. I have a 2000 Dutch Star diesel pusher with door steps that won’t work.

Dear RV Doctor:
My girls and I just purchased a 1985 Minnie Winnie. We took our first “shakedown” trip and discovered two issues.

“Fiesta de Tejas” was the theme for the South Central Area’s 33rd Six-State Rally, September 26 through 29, 2006, at Ford Park in Beaumont, Texas. The event truly turned out to be a fun Texas party.
Perhaps the biggest question on attendees’ minds before the rally concerned the weather.

The California Coasters chapter was organized in Pismo Beach, California, in October 1996, when 20 members put their names on the charter. In just 10 short years it’s grown to approximately 75 member families and counting.

Wasn’t it nice of Mother Nature to provide a cleanup crew? It certainly makes walking and hiking a lot better without the remains of critters underfoot. Many readers are likely familiar with black vultures and turkey vultures soaring above, looking for something to eat.

Tax expert Julian Block phoned me with an alert for full-timers who do volunteer work. “I just returned from a northern California state park where my volunteer guide was an absolute gem — an RVer who donates her services,” he said.

It would be a mistake to think only painters and sculptors are artists. Writers also are artists, using words instead of brushes.