By Don Eversmann, F240000, Executive Director
November 2008
I would like to bring two items to your attention this month. The first item deals with the merchandise coupons FMCA awards members for recruiting new members, and the other relates to the FMCA Mail Forwarding Service.
Membership Recruitment Rewards Revisited
In my March 2008 column, I discussed member recruitment rewards. In that article, I shared that the FMCA North American Road Atlas & Travel Guide has been updated and is now in its 5th edition. I also noted that you can receive a free copy of the atlas if you recruit a new member to FMCA. In addition, you’ll receive a $10 merchandise coupon for each subsequent new member you recruit.
The merchandise coupon is good toward FMCA logo products or Camping World merchandise. FMCA merchandise is available at FMCA international conventions and area rallies or online at FMCA.com “” click on FMCA Store.
Soon, as a result of a decision made by the Governing Board at the FMCA International Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, this past summer, you also will be able to use your merchandise coupon toward payment of your FMCA membership dues. This new policy starts with membership recruitment coupons issued after January 1, 2009. There is no limit to the number of coupons that can be used when paying your dues, so the more you recruit, the less you will have to pay toward your membership renewal. Coupons issued prior to January 1, 2009, will not be valid for payment of dues but still can be redeemed for FMCA or Camping World merchandise.
Details about redeeming the new coupons toward payment of your dues will be spelled out on the face of the coupons. You also will continue to be able to redeem the coupons for FMCA or Camping World merchandise, as in the past.
Mail Forwarding Monthly Service Fee
Since its inception, the FMCA Mail Forwarding Service has been offered as a free member benefit. No service fees have been assessed; members using this service have paid only for the postage required to forward the mail to their desired location(s).
The Mail Forwarding Service constitutes a considerably large line item in the FMCA budget. In trying to budget for the coming year, taking into account all of the other reductions being implemented to balance the budget, it was recommended that those members using the Mail Forwarding Service begin paying a portion of the costs associated with providing this service. It has been a significant amount for a long time.
During the Governing Board meeting in St. Paul, the recommendation to begin charging an amount that might cover approximately half of the cost of providing the service was approved. Beginning January 1, 2009, a monthly $5 fee will be charged to those members using the FMCA Mail Forwarding Service, in addition to their regular postage expenses. This charge applies only to members actively using the service.
The monthly $5 service fee will be charged the first time mail is sent in a new month and postage is debited to that account, or when mail is picked up from the receptionist at the Round Bottom Road office. The $5 fee will be deducted from the mail forwarding participant’s postage account. The $5 charge will be identified as a “Mail Forwarding Service Fee” on the mail forwarding postage statement/invoice, along with the date.
When a member notifies FMCA to close his or her mail forwarding account, the account will be removed from active status. Accounts that are not active but are in the process of being closed will be charged $1 for each mailing, and no more than $5 per month.
If you have any questions about these changes, please contact the Member Services Department at (800) 543-3622; membership@fmca.com; or Mail Forwarding at (800) 448-1212; mailforward@fmca.com.