By Charlie Schrenkel, L140050
October 2011
Thank you once again for your trust and confidence in electing me as your national president. Jean and I have just returned from the “Family A’Fair” Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase in Madison, Wisconsin. And what a great time it was. Many new seminars and enjoyable events took place and are covered elsewhere in this issue, so I won’t elaborate too much.
One of the seminars was the G.R.O.W. seminar; G.R.O.W. stands for Go Recruiting On Wheels. Executive director Brad Koshland will give you details in his column, but I just wanted to say thank-you to all who participated in this exciting meeting. Fifty-four new recruiters are heading out into the field to invite other motorhome owners to join our great association.
I realize that these are unpredictable times, not only in the United States and Canada but also in the RV industry, with which we are closely associated. But I firmly believe that we, ourselves, hold the key to increasing our membership to make our association the premier motorhome association on the continent. Over the past several years, we have become an electronic society; for example, the way we do our banking, communicate with acquaintances, and the total overhaul in how we communicate with each other in general. I was attending a graduation ceremony last June for one of my grandchildren and watching two of my other grandchildren vigorously typing on their cell phones. We were all sitting in one row in the auditorium. I leaned over to ask the closest one what was so important that she had to be on the phone at this particular time. She whispered in my ear, “Oh, nothing. I’m just talking to my sister.” Her sister was sitting right beside her!
The point here is that we have forgotten how to talk to each other. In a campground or some other outing where other motorhome owners are present, we have forgotten how to walk up to them and say, “Hi, my name is …….. That’s a nice coach you have there.” “Where are you from?” “How long have you been motorhoming?”
Members Jay and Donna Blumenthal have a unique way of meeting potential new members. Whenever they stay at a campground, they have a sign that they put in their window that says something like, “Motorhome Owners, Happy Hour here at 4:30 p.m. BYOB.” Or they put up signs in the laundry area or on bulletin boards and host a social hour in the campground’s activity room.
Donna told me that they have been extremely successful by hosting such get-togethers, engaging potential new members in just plain old motorhome travel conversation; passing out our Family Motor Coaching magazine; and telling these folks about FMCA. No high pressure; just sharing our lifestyle with other like-minded folks.
I realize that this is a thinly veiled sales pitch to you, all of you, to get a member/keep a member. A strong association is a healthy association. We are a unique family; reach out to your other relatives in the motorhoming community and say, “Come, share the experience of the open road and the excitement that motorhome travel brings.”
I encourage anyone who picks up this magazine, wherever you may find it, to give me a call. Let’s talk about your extended family that you don’t know exists.
Safe and healthy travels.
2011-2012 National Officers
The following officers have been elected or re-elected to serve during the 2011-2012 term.
National President
Charlie Schrenkel, L140050
National Senior Vice President
Allen Rein, F214273
National Secretary
Vicky Ferrari, F369332
National Treasurer
Wil Young, F207019
National Vice President, Eastern Area
Otho Tew, F152425
National Vice President, Great Lakes Area
Jon Walker, F268778
National Vice President, International Area
Sonny Gillespie, F192819
National Vice President, Midwest Area
Bob Nebel, F205021
National Vice President, Northeast Area
Paul DuBois, F296221
National Vice President, Northwest Area
Andy Balogh, F316832
National Vice President, Rocky Mountain Area
Harry Montgomery, F336413
National Vice President, South Central Area
Charlie Adcock, F311374
National Vice President, Southeast Area
Ralph Marino, F111272
National Vice President, Western Area
Bobby Donald, F107800
Immediate Past President
Connie Pool, L140306