By Tony DelSorbo, F12604D, & Janis Meyer, F444259
September 2016
It’s a cool, sun-filled morning in June at the Elkhart County 4H Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana, as we sit and chat with Jane Roush, president of Great Lakes Area Motorcoach Association (GLAMA). We are at GLAMARAMA 2016, the area’s annual rally.
Jane attributes the tremendous success of this rally to the dedication and support of the committee chairs and volunteers. “My goal is to make sure that if you come, you will have a good time, develop new friendships, and get your money’s worth. I believe in giving back to our members,” she says.
There has been the anticipation of 375 motor coaches for 2016, and when she gets her morning report indicating that more than 440 coaches have arrived, there is that million-dollar Jane smile that says we have done it well and done it right.
Jane and Roger Roush’s coach is parked directly across from the registration building, where there is a steady stream of people walking, pedaling bicycles, riding golf carts, waving good morning, stopping to ask questions, offering words of encouragement, or just saying thank you! Jane greets each one with a handshake, a smile, and most of the time, a hug.
As with all rallies, pulling off GLAMARAMA is a monumental effort. “When we started four years ago, there was no money in the bank. We obtained a line of credit from FMCA, and knew from the start in order to be successful, we had to give back to members. This was a nonprofit adventure. We used our own cell phones to communicate, and many volunteers dug into their own pockets to make it happen,” Jane says.
It takes many volunteers to keep the costs down, and Jane is a master at delegating to her chairpersons, including communications, parking, safety, security, registration, and many more. Her team is fiercely loyal, and they all have each other’s back; communication is key.
“This has been Jane’s baby! We support and love her,” says Shirley Fraley, registration chair.
“Every time we do this, we learn a better way . . . great communication and effort on every level,” says Ken Lewis, Ohio regional vice president and parking chair.
The theme for this rally held June 8-12 is “Friendship,” and it’s clearly evident that friendship abounds. Many chapters arrived in force and are well represented. First-timers Marilyn Galvin and Steve Duff from Cincinnati said, “As new coach owners we appreciated the opportunity to learn from the pros and other coach owners. The seminars were great, answering our many questions and reinforcing our knowledge. But best of all was making new friends who share our passion for travel.”
Jane kept true to her word of giving back to the members. GLAMA now sponsors a couple of breakfasts, shuttle cart service, an ice cream social, a picnic lunch, a volunteer dinner, coffee and doughnuts, a ladies tea, a golf outing, a chapter officer and vendor reception, card bingo, and many behind-the-scenes events. The rally members also were privy to a series of seminars, as well as vendor presentations at the vendor booths.
Three nights of top-notch entertainment attracted just about everyone at the fairgrounds, all but packing the house. The first night, impersonator Mike Albert honored the achievements of Elvis Presley. Cahal Dunne, “Ireland’s Happy Man,” opened the second night with a series of performances including a bit of comedy as well as gospel, rock, patriotic, Irish, and country music. The final evening brought The Atlantic City Boys, who wowed the audience with rock-n-roll harmonies of the 1960s.
GLAMARAMA 2016 is bittersweet for Jane, for she knows this is her last as rally master and president of Great Lakes Area Motorcoach Association rallies. In August, she passes the baton of leadership to Les Naylor, who is Ontario regional vice president, assistant rally master, and food chair. GLAMARAMA has become a successful FMCA rally, and Jane is confident it will continue under his leadership.
Planning and preparation begin a year out, and Jane has put her heart and soul into this event. Tri-State Traveliers chapter President Mike (Fuzzy) Overbeck recognized her efforts on behalf of all GLAMA members by announcing the presentation of a token of appreciation for all her hard work throughout the years. Yet, Jane’s efforts were also not lost on Charlie Adcock, FMCA national president, who proclaimed June 9, 2016, “Jane Roush Day.”
Perhaps the best authority on Jane’s dedication is her husband, Roger. “I am truly proud of Janie and how hard she worked to fulfill her position as president of the Great Lakes area and rally host of GLAMARAMA,” he says, “but I am looking forward to having her back in the driver’s seat of our coach.”
On behalf of all FMCA members, we thank you, Jane, and celebrate with you in making a difference with your leadership, kindness, going the extra mile, touching the hearts of all members, and for making GLAMARAMA the success you have envisioned that truly “gave back to the members.”
The next GLAMARAMA will be June 6-10, 2018. The venue will change to the Allegan County Fairgrounds in Allegan, Michigan. To follow planning for that event, or to review the pictures taken at GLAMARAMA 2016, visit http://glamaramarally.blogspot.com.