FMCA Strikes “California Gold”

 

By Robbin Gould, Editor

Photos By Guy Kasselmann, Art Director

June 2015

 

Exhibits. Entertainment. Education. Enjoyable friendships.

 

Against the backdrop of the San Bernardino Mountains, the 487-acre facility known as Fairplex welcomed motorhomers to Pomona, California, to experience these highlights and more during FMCA’s 91st Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, March 26-29, 2015.

 

This springtime event carried the theme “California Gold” and attracted 1,455 “prospectors” — actually, 1,135 family coaches and 310 exhibit coaches. It marked FMCA’s seventh visit to Fairplex; previous conventions were held there in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2008.

 

Pomona is home to 163,000-plus residents and is the fifth-largest city in Los Angeles County. Not far from the bustling city of Los Angeles, it is easily accessible to many who travel to Fairplex to attend the annual Los Angeles County Fair, which has been held on-site since 1922 and is known as one of the world’s largest county fairs.

 

Fabulous Fairplex

“Fairplex was happy to host the FMCA Family Reunion,” facility spokesperson Renee Hernandez said. “It’s a great event, filled with fun activities throughout our campus. We are thrilled that the Family Reunion guests were able to enjoy the grounds and some nice Southern California weather.”

 

It’s difficult to spend time at Fairplex and not be impressed by its lush landscaping. It was particularly picturesque during FMCA’s spring gathering, as numerous trees, flowers, and bushes were bursting in color.

 

Donald DeLano, Fairplex horticulturist and farm manager, described the facility’s vast variety of flora. They include at least seven varieties of palm trees; citrus plants that harbor lemons, limes, oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, and kumquats; and five varieties of avocadoes. Several bird of paradise species join begonias, geraniums, vincas, impatiens, and other colorful plants. Family Reunion attendees also may have spied topiaries carved into likenesses of elephants, goats, dogs, cats, and other animals.

 

The well-tended facility provided level, paved areas for parking family motorhomes and display coaches during FMCA’s Family Reunion. Two buildings accommodated indoor exhibits, and several others housed FMCA seminars. A particularly cavernous structure supplied space for coffee hour, the Entegra Game Zone, and evening entertainment, with room to spare. 

 

Perhaps the most notable change since FMCA’s 2008 visit was the addition of the 85,000-square-foot Conference Center, an airy, well-lit building that echoes the Art Deco design seen elsewhere around the grounds. Four seminar rooms were set up in the facility. Its lobby provided ample area for FMCA’s Information Center, with dozens of tables devoted to activity sign-ups, mail drop-off, info desks, and more.

 

“Fairplex was a fantastic place for us to rally,” said FMCA national president Charlie Adcock. “In addition to its layout, including the new Conference Center, it’s a beautiful facility. And they even made sure we had great weather!”

 

The mercury read “summer,” with daytime temperatures reaching the 80s and lower 90s at times. Humidity was low, rain was nonexistent, and sunshine predominated.

 

In addition to FMCA activities, several Fairplex attractions were open to members. They included the 28,000-square-foot Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, with its collection of vintage and historical racing vehicles, and the Fairplex Garden Railroad, featuring handmade replicas of railroad operating equipment and 10,000-plus feet of operating track.

 

“I could not get over how beautiful the Pomona location was for our Reunion,” commented Jon Walker, FMCA national senior vice president. “This had to be the best facility I have ever been to with FMCA. And I have been attending since the year 2000. I enjoyed talking to the volunteers at the railroad and watching the model trains run.”

 

Family Reunion Fun

So, what goes on at an FMCA Family Reunion? Sit back and we’ll fill you in on some “California Gold” highlights.

 

Exhibits. Representatives from a total of 174 commercial member companies assembled in motorhome displays, outdoor supplier demo areas, and indoor exhibit booths.

 

Motorhome manufacturers and dealers held an open house of sorts on Thursday evening, March 26. From 5:00 to 8:30 p.m., the “Motorhome Preview” gave attendees their first look at the new 2015 and 2016 Type A, B, and C coaches and chassis on display.

 

The outdoor exhibits reopened for daytime hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; they were joined on those days by the indoor supplier and component exhibitors. The latter set’s product lineup featured a broad array of RV-related items and services, along with RVer-oriented products.

 

Indoors, the “FMCA Connections” exhibit area spotlighted many of FMCA’s benefit providers and partners. Logo clothing and other merchandise was sold at the FMCA Store, while nearby, employees from FMCA’s national office in Cincinnati functioned as an on-grounds membership department. Next to them, national vice presidents chatted with attendees about FMCA’s 10 areas, including upcoming area rallies.

 

Folks strolling through the indoor exhibits may have been startled by a familiar sight: a three-dimensional statue re-creating the famous Life magazine photo taken in New York City’s Times Square on August 14, 1945. On that day, President Harry S. Truman announced that Japan had surrendered, signaling the end of World War II. The celebratory photo snapped by Alfred Eisenstaedt forever captured an impromptu kiss shared by a sailor and a nurse.

 

The Spirit Of ’45 Times Square Kissing Statue, at 6 feet tall and 600 pounds, was hard to miss during the Family Reunion. Randy Parent, F331020, was on hand to educate onlookers about the Spirit of ’45 movement, which honors the men and women of World War II. One goal of the movement is to increase knowledge of the upcoming 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, which will be celebrated in August 2015.

 

Entertainment. For some attendees, evening amusements began before the official start of the Family Reunion. Volunteers who, by necessity, arrived early had the chance to partake in friendly games of card bingo for fun and prizes one evening. The next evening, they assembled for movie night, where they munched on popcorn and viewed the action-adventure film National Treasure, starring Nicolas Cage.

 

Folks who enjoy music and song were treated to three nights of it. On Friday, March 27, award-winning singer-songwriter Mary Kaye performed a lineup of Western numbers well-suited to her three-octave range; they included traditional Western classics peppered with her original pieces, and intermixed with stories. It was hard to believe this comely cowgirl is the mother of 10!

 

Saturday night featured an encore performance by Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, which had played to an enthusiastic crowd at FMCA’s 2008 Family Reunion in Pomona. Comments seemed to indicate that the show was even better this time around. The band’s hits, including “I’m Henry VIII, I Am,” “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat,” and “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” no doubt transported some listeners back a few decades.

 

Sunday evening was dedicated to recognizing the armed forces and their courageous achievements. Members of the ROTC Color Guard Team from Cal Poly Pomona were on hand with the U.S. flag and the California state flag. FMCA’s own Frustrated Maestros — singers and instrumentalists from various FMCA Frustrated Maestros chapters — performed a musical tribute that included the anthems of each military branch. Veterans and first responders, among them fire, first aid, and law enforcement personnel, were honored as well.

 

Sunday evening’s program also recognized another group: the California chapter, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2015. The group received its charter on June 24, 1965, and is FMCA’s oldest chapter west of the Mississippi.

 

No doubt many audience members listened expectantly for their name to be called in conjunction with major prize drawings during Saturday’s and Sunday’s entertainment programs. On Saturday evening, Nel Filliger of the FMCA Tour Connection Powered by Fantasy RV Tours pulled a winner’s name out of the hopper for a 27-day Autumn In New England RV Caravan for two, valued at $6,395. This prize went to John Kirk, F99230.

 

On Sunday evening, Nel drew from the names of FMCAers who had played the “Gold Digger Game,” a type of treasure hunt for signs featuring the whimsical mining character that adorned the cover of the “California Gold” event program. Those who turned in a completed game card were entered in this drawing. Diana Donnelly, F253331, won the eight-day Oshkosh (Wisconsin) AirVenture Pre-Rally for two, valued at $2,395, plus admission to FMCA’s 92nd Family Reunion in Madison, Wisconsin, July 29-August 1.

 

Daytime diversions included coffee hour — a convention ritual since FMCA’s earliest days. Early each morning, cheerful members of the California Heartland and California Pacers chapters served hot Starbucks coffee and decadent Krispy Kreme doughnuts, while the Frustrated Maestros created the musical ambience.

 

The same spacious building that housed coffee hour and, on the other end, evening entertainment also was set up with pickleball courts in the aforementioned Entegra Game Zone, sponsored by Jayco/Entegra. What is pickleball, you ask? This racquet sport is rapidly becoming a favorite among those in the RV community. It’s played with a paddle that calls to mind ping-pong, with a ball that resembles a Wiffle ball, on a court with a net reminiscent of tennis. Pickleball instructors introduced the game to neophytes, and the courts were open for free play. They attracted players — and spectators — much of the time.

 

Family Reunion attendees opted to get in the game, literally, by competing in a bean bag toss tournament on Friday morning, also in the Entegra Game Zone.

 

It was a good idea to have an event program or map handy to keep track of other scheduled activities throughout the “California Gold” Reunion. These included the Ice Cream Social, where attendees welcomed frozen treats on a sun-filled afternoon. At the Chapter Fair, representatives from FMCA’s areas and more than 20 FMCA chapters shared information about their groups. The Ladies’ Social included a fashion show featuring items for sale by convention exhibitors and modeled by FMCA members, along with oodles of door prizes. The “Quilts For Kids” display showed off the stitchery of FMCA members from the On-Road Quilters group, who produced these items for donation to local organizations assisting at-risk children. Attendees also embarked on professional sight-seeing tours of local quilting establishments; the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum; and, of course, Hollywood!

 

Education. More than 120 seminars were scheduled for “California Gold” conventioneers. Those with a technical bent gravitated to discussions related to motorhome mechanics and maintenance. The technical seminar docket included presentations regarding towing, engine maintenance, RV weight and tire safety, refrigeration, air-conditioning, and awnings, among many others. A mixture of miscellaneous topics enlightened attendees about health and wellness issues; computer tricks and apps; and RV travel to Alaska, Europe, and beyond. Make-and-take craft sessions saw members creating decorative candle jars, wine glass lamps, and Christmas ornaments. And early each morning, a “functional exercise” class gave participants a workout while teaching them ways to improve core stability.

 

Enjoying each other. The “people factor” is always a highlight at FMCA gatherings. The hundreds of Pomona volunteers who assisted in diverse areas such as parking, seminars, information, and security gave up hours of their day(s) when on duty. Their dedication contributed to smoothly running operations in these and many other areas. Plus, some volunteers noted, it was a great way to forge new friendships. 

 

FMCA’s Western Area was the host area for the 2015 Pomona Family Reunion, under the leadership of Western Area national vice president Dick Gibbs, with assistance from countless volunteer captains and other national officers and spouses. We thank them and all the Pomona volunteers for their time and dedication.

 

In many respects, the “California Gold” convention was a perfect storm of pleasant events. “The weather was great — just ask anybody from the East who was there,” Dick Gibbs quipped.

 

“The Pomona Fairplex is one of the best venues in the U.S.,” he continued. “All of our volunteers did an outstanding job; some even volunteered for several different jobs. All of the national officers pitched in to help get the Welcome Bags delivered. It is not often that all of these factors come together at one time, but this year in Pomona, they did. If you missed the Pomona Family Reunion, you missed a good one.”

 

Your next chance for Family Reunion fun is July 29 through August 1, 2015 (with departure on Sunday, August 2), when FMCA members convene at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, for the association’s 92nd Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase. As the theme for that event suggests, you, too, can “Escape To Wisconsin.” Visit www.fmca.com for details.