It’s All About Money … Not!
An explanation regarding FMCA’s volunteer structure, and an invitation to become involved.
National President
Jon & Sondra Walker, F2678778
jwalker@fmca.com
I hope all of you are enjoying your summer travels. Sondra and I are really excited about our upcoming trip to Minot, North Dakota, for FMCA’s 100th International Convention & RV Expo. One thing we are looking forward to is participating in the annual business meeting of your association. Each year, elected national directors (or alternates) from the FMCA chapters attend the Governing Board meeting. They vote on the next year’s budget; approve Executive Board actions from the past year; vote on proposed changes to the FMCA Bylaws and FMCA Policies and Procedures; and take care of anything else related to the business side of your association — the world’s largest not-for-profit RV association!
This year is very special, because delegates will be electing new national officers to serve you for the next two years, and after the business meeting, we all will be celebrating the 100th FMCA convention. What a huge milestone this is, and what a great party we will have. By the way, there still is time to join us. Just call, write, or go online by August 6 to register for our “big 100 celebration.” After August 6, you can register on-site at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds.
Quite frequently, I am asked how much money we get paid to be a national officer. The follow-up comment usually is something along the lines of, “Hey, I certainly would love to get paid to run around the country attending chapter, area, and national rallies.” The answer is NOTHING. We are not paid to work for our association.
It has not been that way from the beginning, though. The first international convention I attended was in August 2000 in Brunswick, Maine. There were 7,422 coaches at that convention. I looked around and was amazed at the hundreds and hundreds of volunteers. From that point on, I was “hooked” on FMCA. I wanted to be part of all these wonderful people having fun, socializing, and volunteering their time to what I thought was the great cause.
Obtaining feedback from members and engaging them in the governance of FMCA is one of the goals of FMCA president Jon Walker.
That is where Sondra and I started our journey with the governance of FMCA. By 2009 I was involved to the extent that I served as volunteer coordinator for the international convention in Bowling Green, Ohio. I was tasked with providing 900 volunteers for the event. In order to do that, I started working a full year before the event to find chapters and individuals willing to volunteer. I am proud to say that we got 1,000 volunteers!
My bubble was broken when I received a call from the FMCA national president and was told that if I wanted to step away from my role as an elected chapter delegate (national director), I would be paid a stipend of $750 to be the volunteer coordinator for the Bowling Green convention. I did not understand. I asked how I could be paid if I was volunteering. It was explained to me that the top layers of volunteers at FMCA conventions were called “member staff” and received stipends for their volunteer work. I also learned that according to FMCA’s Constitution, members of the Governing Board, and members of managing boards of any FMCA subsidiary, could not receive financial remuneration, other than expenses, from FMCA; thus the question as to whether I wished to resign from my position as national director in order to receive the stipend.
This went against everything I thought I was doing for FMCA. I had to make a decision to either quit the organization or work to change it. I decided that I would not accept ANY money as a volunteer but would continue in the organization and try to change it from a paid volunteer organization to an all-volunteer organization. This was finally achieved in 2012. The Governing Board voted to stop paying convention volunteers to volunteer. Yes, we lost some members over the change. We were told by some of the people who had been receiving money to volunteer that we would not survive without their expertise and help. Well, I am proud to say that not only did we succeed, but the organization is much better today than in the “paid days.” I am very proud that I was a part of this change!
I want everyone to know that your elected Executive Board is charged with making decisions throughout the year, in the best interests of the organization, while the Governing Board is not in session. Some decisions are left to the president, some to the Executive Board, and some to the Governing Board. Ultimately, the Governing Board has the final say in all FMCA matters.
In order to take care of the business of running the organization throughout the year, your elected national area vice presidents and your four nationally elected officers receive partial expense reimbursement for traveling to Executive Board meetings in Cincinnati, Ohio, and to the meetings that are held at each international convention. The nationally elected officers also receive partial expense reimbursement for representing FMCA at area rallies.
Each area vice president has a “Chapter Visitation Budget” to offset the cost of traveling to and visiting chapter rallies in their respective areas. Please invite your area’s national vice president to attend your chapter meetings. They are prepared to talk with your chapter about FMCA member benefits, including new benefits being released, and to share what is happening all over the FMCA landscape. They are a very valuable asset to each chapter.
Does this mean the only way I can participate and have my voice heard in FMCA is to be a member of a chapter? The answer is NO. I have created a Member Engagement Committee that has been working very hard this past year to “engage” our members and to find out what their interests and work talents are. Visit the Member Engagement web page — join.fmca.com/member-engagement — to let us know that you possibly would be interested in helping FMCA in some way. The FMCA organization works through member committees. In order to do the work of FMCA, we need talented and qualified people to serve the organization. So far this year, we have had more than 3,000 members go to the web page and start the process of letting us know about themselves.
As noted, you do not have to be a member of any chapter to participate in the workings of your association, but I highly recommend chapter membership. I was not a member of a chapter for the first 10 years after I joined FMCA, and when I was asked to join a chapter, my FMCA world expanded and became a key interest in my life. We have met many, many people and new friends through this organization. So, go to that web page and let us know a little about yourself.
I hope to see you in Minot. Until then or until next month, remember, it still is all about having fun!
Magnificent Milestones
Marking and celebrating some noteworthy FMCA achievements.
Chris Smith
Chris Smith
Executive Director
csmith@fmca.com
August is one of those special months for me as it relates to FMCA. This August marks my sixth year with the organization, and this will be my third year as executive director. In this case, the saying “Time flies when you’re having fun” certainly applies. It has been a joy. I’ve especially appreciated being part of the recent growth of your organization. By the time you read this, FMCA will have exceeded 80,000 active family memberships. That equates to 150,126 individual members who are part of FMCA.
Toward the beginning of my time with FMCA, membership had dipped to 68,000 families. So, we’ve experienced a nearly 20 percent turnaround! FMCA is growing each and every month, which makes studying our membership numbers very enjoyable. That has not always been the case in our recent history.
As I write this, we are on the brink of issuing F500000 to one of our new members. What a huge milestone. A half-million families have joined our wonderful organization during its storied history. Next stop is F1000000!
As you have read in this column and heard elsewhere, August also will produce FMCA’s 100th International Convention and RV Expo, set to take place August 14 through 17 in Minot, North Dakota.
Another exciting thing that happened recently was that Family RVing magazine received an Excel Award from Association Media & Publishing for its 2018 redesign. Congratulations to the magazine staff and Bates Creative of Silver Spring, Maryland, the firm that designed the new look.
These are all amazing accomplishments, and I am so thrilled and honored to be a part of all this.
Speaking of Minot, it’s not too late to join us. You have until August 6 to register online, by mail, or by phone. After that date, registrations will be accepted only on-site at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. If you’re not already signed up, I’d encourage you to make plans to join us as we celebrate the convention 100 milestone.
Switching gears, I want to focus on RV insurance this month. As many of you know, arranging for RV insurance is an important decision. FMCA has assembled a coalition of the best insurance specialists in the industry. I thought I’d share a brief explanation of what is offered as part of the FMCA RV Insurance program, as well as a short list of our most frequently asked questions.
FMCA members have priority access to the industry’s leading RV insurance experts. With FMCA RV Insurance, members can select from the industry’s top RV underwriters and receive the best rates.
The members of the FMCA Coalition have decades of combined experience in the RV industry. As RV insurance specialists, they know what it takes to maintain and repair RVs, and what types of coverage options RV owners need.
In addition to RVs, coverage also is available for sticks-and-bricks homes in many states and some provinces, as well as for automobiles in the United States, Alberta, and Ontario.
FMCA members qualify for a member discount (not available in all states and provinces or from all insurance companies); coverage options from multiple RV insurance specialty carriers; annual policy reviews and rate comparisons upon request; multiple RV and auto package options; and select RV specialty coverages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does RV insurance cost?
Rates depend on what type of policy you purchase (standard or specialty coverage); the model of your RV; and many other variables, including your driving record, age, etc. As noted, FMCA members have access to the industry’s top underwriters at the best rates and are eligible for an FMCA member discount.
I’m a full-time RVer. What type of insurance do I need?
You have unique insurance needs as a full-time RVer. FMCA RV Insurance can help you obtain a policy created just for full-timers and allow you to travel in confidence, knowing that you have the coverage you need.
I purchased a brand-new RV. What RV insurance do I need?
Multiple total loss replacement methods are available to eligible FMCA members who purchase new RVs. FMCA RV Insurance can tailor an RV insurance policy to fit your lifestyle.
What is standard RV insurance coverage?
Standard coverage includes the following:
*Bodily injury
*Property damage
*Uninsured motorists
*Underinsured motorists
*Personal injury protection
*Medical payments
*Comprehensive
*Collision
What specialty RV insurance coverages are available?
FMCA RV Insurance can assist you with your specialty coverage needs, including:
*Total loss replacement
*Purchase price guarantee
*Disappearing deductible
*Personal effects replacement
*Full-timers liability
*Vacation liability
*Emergency vacation expense
*Towing and roadside labor
*Tow dolly/tow bar coverage
*Depreciation buy-back
*Total loss awning replacement
*Valuable personal property
*Adjacent structures
*Golf carts and scooters
*Glass coverage
*Secured storage
*Mexico coverage
*Consignment coverage
Selecting the right coverage for your needs doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The experts in the FMCA Insurance Coalition are there to help. Visit www.fmcarvinsurance.com or call (877) 589-3599.
I look forward to seeing many of you in Minot. If you are there, look for one of the only people running around with a necktie on. Stop me and say hi!
Until then, enjoy the journey!