September 2011

It is September, as FMCA enters a new year in terms of its leadership and then a new fiscal year on October 1. By the time you read this, the Governing Board will have met and heard committee reports, discussed and adopted a budget for fiscal year 2012, given the Executive Board feedback about the actions they took during the year, and …

This month, the director of administrative services will write about her department’s responsibilities and functions, among them the information technology (IT) team. The IT area is a key and critical component of FMCA. It is what makes FMCA tick as the association moves through the 21st century. Much of FMCA’s business is conducted over the Internet …

Height Restrictions At Some Walmart Lots
James Beck, F278365, alerted FMCA that Walmart stores in Arkansas and Mississippi have put barriers with height limits of 12 feet at the entrance to their parking lots. In order to learn whether this was an across-the-board change or a local issue, Paul DuBois, F296221, FMCA’s national vice president, Northeast Area, and a member of the Governmental and Legislative Affairs Committee, looked into the matter.

Power Switch Problem
We have a 2001 Country Coach Allure motorhome, and I hope you can help me with a shore power question. I think the problem is the Todd Engineering power switch, model PS245L, located at the motorhome’s electrical entry point. Todd Engineering is no longer in business.

The company with a recall detailed in this month’s column is Airstream Inc. 

What happens when you bring together the occupants of 646 motorhomes (including 101 first-timers), 186 vendors, eight RV dealers, and 19 volunteer chapters and then add 6,500 meals, 1,000 doughnuts, crafts, seminars, great entertainment, plus friends and fun? One awesome rally!

Overnight Camping At Wineries, Farms
Harvest Hosts, a new RV membership program, offers RVers free overnight stops at wineries and farms throughout North America. The program was started by Don and Kim Greene, FMCA commercial members and avid motorhomers. While traveling across Europe in 2008 …

While you’re outdoors enjoying a cookout, it’s always nice to have a little something sweet to finish off the meal. But who wants to spend the better part of the day inside the motorhome baking? In these situations, it’s great to have a slow cooker that can be used inside the motorhome or plugged in outside.

Bats get a bad rap. Often they are photographed with their mouths open, snarling in self defense. What type of reaction would you expect from a shy creature that spends its life in a low-light environment and suddenly has flashing bright lights in its face?

Do you ever marvel at the original touches motorhomers add to their coaches (or chuckle at the humorous ones)? Or maybe you are the innovator? This month we focus on RVer individuality by discussing the question: How have you personalized your coach?

When a customer walks up to the parts counter, nearly every conversation starts something like this. Customer: “I have a 1998 Skedaddle McFierce, and my water heater has gone out.” Salesperson: “What’s the make and model of your water heater?” Customer: “I don’t know. Can’t you look it up?”