By Charlie Adcock, F311374
October 2013
My Fellow FMCA Members,
The fall season is upon us once again. Where has the time flown? It seems only yesterday we were in Gillette, Wyoming, celebrating FMCA’s 50th anniversary. I don’t know about you, but a lot has happened to Gloria and me since then.
As I mentioned last month, the middle of July found the four nationally elected officers in Cincinnati. This was a good time to get comfortable in our new roles and responsibilities, as well as touch base again with our great staff at the national office.
After attending chapter rallies in the Northeast Area over the Fourth of July, and visiting the national office in Cincinnati, we headed to the Midwest Area Rally in Manchester, Iowa. On the way there, we stopped by to visit the Midwest Good Timers chapter rally. We presented chapter president Myron Dagley, F205584, with a 10-year certificate. Our next stop was the Spinning Wheels chapter, where we presented chapter president Robert Christiansen, F106332, with a 25-year certificate. While we were doing this, Jon Walker, F268778, national senior vice president, was presenting a 5-year certificate to Frank Meier, F400622, president of the Winnebago and Friends chapter.
We continued our journey into Manchester, where Bob and Ann Nebel, F205021, national vice president, Midwest Area, and rally masters Myron and Penny Dagley really showed us a good time, including backing us up next to the famous “haunted cemetery.” What a delight the Midwest people are. They are so down-to-earth, friendly, and outgoing. If they tell you the sun is not coming up tomorrow, you can leave your sunglasses at home, and a handshake is still all the contract you need with them. What a great rally!
Next we traveled to Albany, Oregon, to attend the Northwest Area Rally. Andy and Kathie Balogh, F316832, national vice president, Northwest Area, were the rally masters, with Arvin and Pat Spofford, F294804, as their assistants. August in Oregon is beautiful. How could you go wrong? Andy and Kathie kept things hopping the entire rally. The food was fantastic, and I probably gained 5 pounds. The entertainment was out of this world. While at the rally, we visited the Carousel Museum. They are restoring a 125-year-old carousel and hand-carving all the pieces. We also toured covered bridges.
We took advantage of our time in Oregon to conduct a site visit to the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond in preparation for the Family Reunion to be held there August 13-16, 2014. In fact, that’s where we are as of this writing. Redmond is a top-notch facility for an FMCA event. Please make plans now to join us! While you are at it, mark your calendars and register now (see page 81) for FMCA’s March 17-20, 2014, Family Reunion at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry.
We will arrive back home from Oregon just in time to load the coach and get ready to go to the Six-State Rally (South Central Area) in Sedalia, Missouri. Of course, this is the area I served as national vice president prior to being elected as national president in June. The theme for this September 11-15 rally is “Remembering.” We wanted to focus on all of our military personnel and veterans, as well as our firefighters and law enforcement officers, particularly remembering 9-11. The new area vice president, Jim McCabe, and wife, Connie, F216277, along with rally master Rod Sartwell and his wife, Ethel, F319470, have done a wonderful job of organizing everything to make every detail work out. One of the highlights, of course, is Fred Kennedy, F44281, being in charge of the ice cream social and providing each of us with a full pint of ice cream. Job well done, and I’m sure everyone will have a great time.
Afterward, we will travel to Goshen, Indiana, to attend the GLAMARAMA (Great Lakes Area Rally) September 18-22. Rally masters are Jon Walker and his wife, Sondra (Jon served as national vice president in this area prior to being elected national senior vice president), and Jane Roush and her husband, Roger, F243374. This promises to be a great rally with lots of entertainment, seminars, show coaches, indoor vendors, and plenty of ice cream and A&W Root Beer.
Shortly thereafter, we’ll head to York, Pennsylvania, for the Eastern Area Rally, set to take place October 9-13. John and Jayne Reynolds, F171042 , national vice president, Eastern Area, and co-rally masters Jerry and Gaye Young, F284657, are planning a bounty of good times for RV owners at the York Expo Center. In addition to exhibits, entertainment, seminars, and social activities, a motorhome rodeo will be a featured activity at this fun-filled rally.
On another note, Al Vormittag, F231342, national vice president, International Area, and Vicky Ferrari, F369332, national secretary, are co-chairing an “Under 60 Task Force” to study how FMCA can best serve current and future motorhome owners. We need some young members to give us some young ideas. Everyone under 60 is welcome to join in — please give us your feedback. If you would like to participate as a member of the task force, or if you have ideas, suggestions, or comments, please send a message to Penny Gortemiller at the FMCA national office — pgortemiller@fmca.com.
Also, I have asked Jon Walker to chair an Education Committee. Among other things, he will be looking at what we can add to the current educational programs FMCA has going, among them fire safety training given by Mac McCoy, “The Fire Guy,” of Fire & Life Safety, C7648; the safe driving course offered by Recreation Vehicle Safety & Education Foundation (RVSEF), C5999; and tire and weight safety, also offered by RVSEF. I look forward to seeing what develops out of this.
Well, I guess I have rambled enough, so I’ll shut it down for now.
Gotta go, but remember, “IT’S ALL ABOUT HAVING FUN.”