By Jerry Yeatts, F390000
March 2015
The late Jan Hooks was a comedian who became known for hilarious sketches on NBC-TV’s long-lived comedy show, “Saturday Night Live” (SNL). One of the most memorable performances of her time on this show was when she portrayed Brenda, a waitress who served a cowboy played by Alec Baldwin. In typical SNL fashion, and on a set that resembled an old Western diner, the quick-witted, fast-talking cast made remarks as the cowboy ordered the breakfast special. When Brenda asked what kind of pie the cowboy would like, he stated, “You know something, honey? You shouldn’t give your pie away with breakfast! It makes you look cheap!”
March 14, 2015, at 9:26 a.m. will be a special moment for all mathematicians. Each year on Pi Day (3/14), we honor an irrational number that cannot be expressed exactly as a common fraction; it never ends and never settles into a permanent repeating pattern. This year’s Pi Day is especially of interest because even the calendar year (2015) factors into the celebration. Pi (3.1415926, and on and on). Pi relates to a circle or ellipse. FMCA’s recognizable goose-egg-shaped membership emblem is a form of an ellipse. So, Pi Day also could be a day to celebrate FMCA.
As an association of like-minded families sharing similar interests, many members in FMCA talk about the circle of friends they have met while traveling to chapter, area, and international events, or meeting new friends at campgrounds and resorts. And, just like the circle that has no beginning and no end, the fun and fellowship FMCA members possess is never ending, with room to always expand the circle.
In my own travels to FMCA events big and small, through some wonderful potlucks and happy hours serving some great desserts including (what else) pie, I have probably gained 3.14 pounds. One chapter in particular I’d like to recognize for exhibiting tremendous fellowship at the Northeast Area Rally this past summer in Essex Junction, Vermont, is the Allo Quebec chapter. What a fun bunch to be with. Thank you, Allo Quebec, for your hospitality.
Tim Rice wrote the lyrics to the song “Circle of Life” from the film The Lion King. These lyrics seem to reflect the adventuresome attitude of the FMCA member. “There’s more to see than can ever be seen; more to do than can ever be done. There’s far too much to take in here; more to find than can ever be found. But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky keeps great and small on the endless round.”
Life is an adventure, and FMCA members seem to embrace this adventure more than others I have met. The growing number of benefits available to you are designed to help you see more than can ever be seen and help you do more than can ever be done. We continue to receive accolades over the decision to once again include FMCAssist (www.FMCA.com/benefits/FMCAssist), the travel assistance and medical evacuation program, in the portfolio of benefits included in your annual membership dues.
FMCA RVinsurance (www.fmcarvinsurance.com) offers members in the United States and in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan priority access to the industry’s leading RV insurance experts.
FMCA Road Assist (www.FMCA.com/roadassist) was designed after receiving feedback from more than 2,000 members regarding what you consider important in a roadside assistance program. This program, available for both U.S. and Canadian FMCA members, is being offered at a special rate of $99 per year. Benefits include towing of your motorhome to the nearest qualified repair center; fuel delivery; lockout service; tire change; battery boost; trip interruption up to $1,500; winching service; RV technical assistance; mobile mechanic and mobile tire services; and coverage for multiple RVs and additional vehicles, among other benefits.
FMCA’s Michelin Advantage Program (www.michelinrvtires.com) offers competitive prices on Michelin and B.F. Goodrich RV tires, light truck tires, and passenger tires at authorized Michelin RV tire dealers.
FMCA Mail Forwarding Powered by DakotaPost (www.dakotapost.net/fmca), offers members an exclusive discount off of the company’s regular mail-forwarding rates, as well as a variety of enhanced services.
Members also receive many more benefits too numerous to mention in this article. Please see the article titled “FMCA Member Benefits” in your January 2015 issue of FMC magazine (page 136) or visit www.FMCA.com and click on the Benefits tab for details.
As the SNL sketch suggests, pie has value. The slice of benefits pie you receive as an FMCA member fulfills your appetite for travel and should satisfy you as you visit the cherry blossoms of Washington, D.C.; the apple orchards of Washington state; and the pumpkin patches of the Midwest. Benefits, discounts, chapter involvement, and the overall adventure of travel are key ingredients for a sweet experience with the largest motorhome association in the world.
So, what do you get when you divide the circumference of a bowl of ice cream by its diameter while riding in a motorhome? You guessed it — pi a la mode on the road!
Safe travels.