Enjoy great music and plenty of laughs with friends during FMCA’s “Southern Homecoming” Family Reunion in Perry, Georgia.
January 2011
Reuniting with family and friends who you haven’t seen for a while is always lots of fun. It’s a time for catching up, sharing photos of kids and grandchildren, and reminiscing about the good times from years gone by. FMCA’s Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, to be held March 14 through 17, 2011, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Georgia, will give FMCA members an opportunity to get together with their extended family and celebrate good times. They’ll also have a chance to share laughter, music, and camaraderie while enjoying the exciting array of performers who have been scheduled throughout the event.
The fun begins on Sunday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. during “Movie Night” at New South Arena. The main feature that evening will be The Blind Side, the true story about Michael Oher, a homeless boy who found success “” and a family “” through the intercession of a caring woman, her husband, and children. Sandra Bullock won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the movie. To help create a true theater experience, free candy and popcorn will be available to movie-goers.
On Monday, March 14, keep your evening schedule free so you can check out the newest motorhomes during the “Parade of Lights” motorhome preview, which begins at 5:00 p.m. Enjoy the festive atmosphere in the coach display area as manufacturer and dealer representatives accentuate their exhibits with lights, decorations, music, giveaways, and more. Of course, the main attraction will be the 2011-model-year motorhomes on display, so take the opportunity to discover the latest and greatest features available in these homes on wheels. And make sure to stick around at the conclusion of the preview for a Fireworks Show that will take place at 8:30 p.m., courtesy of Alliance Coach, C11904, an FMCA Five Star sponsor. Raise your eyes to the sky for a spectacular pyrotechnic display set high above the fairgrounds lake.
Beginning on Tuesday, March 15, and continuing throughout the rest of the Family Reunion, attendees can get a great start to their days with coffee, hot chocolate, and doughnuts during Morning Coffee Hour, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., courtesy of Roadmaster Inc., C2952, an FMCA Five Star sponsor. While enjoying your morning treats, make sure to pick up a daily newspaper (while supplies last) and a copy of the official FMCA “Southern Homecoming” newsletter to keep abreast of all the Family Reunion happenings.
During Coffee Hour, attendees will be entertained by FMCA’s own Frustrated Maestros, who will perform each day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. This eclectic ensemble, composed of members from the various Frustrated Maestros chapters, has been a convention favorite since the original Frustrated Maestros chapter was formed in 1981. The Maestros also will perform on Wednesday, March 16, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. before and during the Ice Cream Social, which will begin at 1:00 p.m. Be in the area at that time to pick up a cool treat, courtesy of Miller RV Insurance Agency, C3045, an FMCA Two Star sponsor.
The three nights of evening entertainment will take place at Reaves Arena beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Kicking off the evening lineup on Tuesday, March 15, will be pianist Mac Frampton, whose show, “Yesterday Once More,” pays tribute to the romantic music of the 1970s. He will appear with vocalists Vincent Talarico and Lisa Balkwill.
Mac began playing the piano at age 3 and made his professional debut at age 8. Following his musical studies at Erskine College, he did graduate work at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he received his doctorate degree in musical arts. He later gained national prominence as a medal-winning semifinalist in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
Mac bases his music on classical technique, but he draws liberally from jazz and rock idioms. His “rock-alternative” sound continues to build a wider audience with every concert. He and his group have played more than 3,000 concerts in the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, and the Middle East.
Mac also produces revues. Over the years he has mounted productions based on the music of Cole Porter and George Gershwin, as well as several Broadway shows. In 1995 he founded The Hollywood Hills Orchestra, a 16-piece ensemble dedicated to the performance of great cinematic music. In addition to his live performances, Mac has recorded 22 albums and a motion picture soundtrack.
Country music lovers won’t want to miss superstar Lorrie Morgan, who will take the stage on Wednesday, March 16, to perform many of her biggest hits along with a selection of her newer music.
Lorrie was barely a teenager when she made her first major appearance, singing “Paper Roses” with her father, country star George Morgan, on the Grand Ole Opry stage. When he died in 1975, Lorrie carried on the legacy by touring with her father’s band to keep his memory alive while winning countless new fans.
Since that time, Lorrie has sold more than 10 million albums; was named TNN/Music City News Female Artist of the Year four times; received County Music Television’s Female Vocalist of the Year in 1992; and received Country Music Association awards for Vocal Event of the Year in 1990 and Album of the Year for “Common Thread” in 1994. She also became the youngest person ever to become a member of the prestigious Grand Ole Opry at the age of 25.
From 1989 to 1997, Lorrie had 14 Top 10 singles on Billboard magazine’s Country chart, including three that made it all the way to number one: “Five Minutes,” “What Part of No,” and “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.” She’s recorded numerous albums, including seven that have gone gold or platinum, and celebrates the release of her newest album, “I Walk Alone,” this year.
On Thursday, March 17, get ready to exercise your sense of humor as Jeanne Robertson brings her hilarious one-woman show to the Family Reunion stage.
Jeanne (pronounced “Genie”) is a professional speaker and humorist from Burlington, North Carolina. She specializes in humor based on her life experiences and uses her funny style to illustrate that a sense of humor is much more than a laughing matter; it is a strategy for success. The 6-foot-2-inch Robertson uses her down-home Southern drawl to leave her audiences laughing and thinking about her message.
Jeanne was Miss North Carolina in 1963 and was named Miss Congeniality in the Miss America Pageant. A graduate of Auburn University, she taught physical education and coached basketball for nine years before going into professional speaking on a full-time basis in 1976.
While Jeanne focuses on humor, she takes the business of being a professional speaker quite seriously. She served as president of the National Speakers Association and was the first woman to receive the organization’s most prestigious honor, “The Cavett Award,” which is given for long-term contributions to the speaking profession. She also has been honored with Toastmasters International’s “Golden Gavel Award,” presented annually to an individual for achievement in communications and leadership. Additional accolades include Auburn University’s Woman Entrepreneur of the year award in 2000 and the North Carolina Press Association’s North Carolinian of the Year award in 2001.
Jeanne has produced six DVD and CD humor programs in the last 11 years and can be heard daily on Sirius XM satellite radio’s family comedy channels, where millions of people nationwide know she speaks two languages fluently: English and “Southern.”