These RVers share insider knowledge while enjoying social activities.
By Peggy Jordan, Associate Editor
October 2017
The exponential increase of members in the Entegra Coach Owners Association really surprised founder and chapter president Pat Bauer: “It grew a lot faster than I expected it to, and that’s not a bad thing,” he said.
“We bought our Entegra in 2013 and were planning to go to a rally,” he explained. “We told the Entegra people we’d like to start an owners club.” He obtained permission from Entegra Coach to use the company name and logo, and the club began on August 31, 2013, with 30 coaches.
As of August 2017, around 1,400 motorhomes were on the member list. The Entegra Coach Owners Association is said to be the fourth largest and fastest-growing chapter in FMCA.
Information sharing is number-one with this group. Pat said, “The learning curve is pretty steep; so, we always have an educational component to our rallies. Somewhere between 20 and 25 percent of our new members are brand-new RVers — they’ve never before owned an RV of any kind. These guys need to know everything.”
To fill that need, the chapter has club events, dealer rallies, manufacturer-sponsored rallies, rallies at FMCA international conventions, and more, in locations across the United States. In all, the chapter offers approximately a dozen events each year. Rally support comes from Entegra as well as companies that make components. For example, Spartan Chassis provided door prizes and a seminar at a chapter rally this past May. Door prizes also came from Aqua-Hot, and Griot’s Garage provided information about the proper way to detail and maintain Entegra Coaches’ exterior paint. During a modifications showcase at the rally, chapter member Don Shapansky, owner of Garnet Technologies Inc. (manufacturer of SeeLeveL tank monitors) introduced new Bluetooth gauges.
Entegra Coach Owners Association members meet up at rallies put on by other groups, too, such as the Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa; and get-togethers in Quartzsite, Arizona. Fun times and social activities also fill their rally schedules, with meals, sight-seeing, and perhaps even sampling local brews and vintages. Members make crafts, play games, and challenge each other at golf outings. Friendships are a natural result.
For 2018, the chapter plans more learning and socializing, and if you own an Entegra or a Travel Supreme coach, you’re invited to join. Travel Supreme motorhomes are included because Entegra’s manufacturer, Jayco, purchased Travel Supreme and then began building luxury coaches under the Entegra name. (Jayco is now a subsidiary of Thor Industries.)
The chapter’s website, www.entegraowners.com, is a good place to learn more about the chapter and upcoming rallies. Or, contact Pat Bauer at (813) 310-5707; wmpbauer@verizon.net.
For general information about FMCA chapters, contact the Chapter Services Department at (513) 474-3622 or (800) 543-3622; chapters@fmca.com.
If you would like your chapter to be featured in Chapter Spotlight, contact FMC associate editor Peggy Jordan, (800) 543-3622, ext. 212; pjordan@fmca.com.