Billboards And A Bus
Promoting FMCA in a big way, and a fun look back at FMCA history.
By Rett Porter, F369084
National President
With the new year, we made some marketing moves to keep FMCA visible to our members and potential members. One of those marketing changes involved billboards. If you were in the Quartzsite, Arizona, area during December and January, you might have seen the FMCA billboards on Interstate 10 eastbound and westbound. In the picture of the billboard that accompanies this column, you will notice “gofmca.com” in the lower left-hand side of the sign. This was a special website so we could determine if people saw the billboard and used this site to download a sample copy of our magazine.
The westbound billboard was in a great position, because you could see the sign from the ramp as you entered the highway. This allowed you time to read the sign. On the other hand, if you were traveling eastbound at 70 mph, then you didn’t have enough time to absorb the message on that billboard, let alone copy the “gofmca.com” to check the website. We hope RVers had good memories of a short URL they could access later.
Billboards promoting FMCA membership graced Interstate 10 eastbound and westbound near Quartzsite, Arizona, around the time of the big RV show there.
Having the billboards in a heavily populated area for RVs was a great learning experience, and we will get better at placement of the billboards in the future. If you saw the Quartzsite billboards, I would appreciate you sending me an email (rporter@fmca.com) telling me your thoughts about this new FMCA marketing idea. We also are considering trying billboards in other RV-dense areas, such as around the Tampa RV SuperShow in Florida; America’s Largest RV Show, commonly known as the Hershey RV Show, in Pennsylvania; FMCA’s International Convention and RV Expo in Tucson, etc.
During the Southeast Area Rally in Florida, FMCA president Rett Porter (left) met FMCA member Steve Cramer, who owns the 1947 Flxible bus that once belonged to FMCA’s second president, Ray Fritz, F4, and his wife, Gladys.
Flxible bus. At the Southeast Area Rally in Lakeland, Florida, in February, Steve Cramer, F517893, brought his 1947 Flxible bus for all to admire. The Flxible (yes, that’s the correct spelling) originally belonged to Col. J. Raymond and Gladys H. Fritz of Portsmouth, Rhode Island; their FMCA membership number was F4. Ray Fritz was a charter member of FMCA and served as the second FMCA president. A lot of history is in this Flxible bus. A four-page article about the bus appeared in the July 2021 issue of Family RVing magazine, pages 66 to 69. If you no longer have this issue, you can read the article at FamilyRVingmag.com.
In business from 1913 to 1996, the Flxible Co. produced motorcycle sidecars, ambulances, funeral cars, and city buses. The company ultimately became one of the largest transit-bus manufacturers in North America. Steve Cramer’s Flxible motorhome was originally a 23-passenger bus. Ray Fritz transformed this passenger bus into what he called a “land yacht.” The FMCA logo design has a Flxible bus in the center. There is no evidence that Steve’s Flxible was the basis for this image, but these buses were popular for conversion to motor-homes when FMCA was founded.
Steve found and purchased the Flxible bus in Serena, Illinois, about a year ago and drove it 1,600 miles back to his home in the Florida Keys. Steve is making what he calls “modernized original” upgrades to his Flxible bus. He is keeping the overall appearance of the Flxible as close as possible to the original but making modern changes. For instance, while re-creating the exterior pattern of the original cabinets, Steve has added a pull-out pantry like what you would find in a newer RV.
I have invited Steve to bring his Flxible motorhome for viewing at FMCA’s 106th International Convention and RV Expo in Perry, Georgia, March 15 through 18, 2023. I hope you will join us there and check out this wonderful vintage machine that is so important to our FMCA history.
Travel safely, and we’ll see you down the road.
When Every Day Becomes Saturday
A tribute to FMCA’s longest-tenured employee as she embarks on her next chapter.
By Chris Smith
Chief Executive Officer
At the end of February, FMCA staff members attended a lunchtime celebration for sales manager Ranita Jones, who retired after 44 years of service to the association. That is quite a milestone, especially in today’s world, when people don’t seem to stay in the same job for long periods. To me, this longevity is a testament to Ranita and her dedication to FMCA, and it also says something about FMCA as an organization when employees choose to stay long-term. Ranita is FMCA’s longest-tenured employee to date.
Ranita was not the first in her family to work at FMCA. Her mother, Nita, was employed as an assistant bookkeeper at FMCA and knew that the association needed part-time summer help. So, she recommended her eldest daughter, Ranita, who was in college at the time.
Over the years, staff member Ranita Jones, who retired at the end of February after 44 years of service, was a familiar face in the exhibitor registration office at FMCA conventions.
Little did either of them realize it then, but that part-time summer job led to a long-term career and a lifetime of fond memories for Ranita and those with whom she interacted and worked.
In December 1977, Ranita started her full-time employment assisting the finance department by preparing invoices for FMCA commercial members and others who advertised in the magazine, which at the time was known as Family Motor Coaching. She also served as backup computer operator.
She went on to work in the computer department from 1979 to 1982, and that involved using FMCA’s first-ever computer and transferring printed data into the system, a big old IBM computer that took up a large chunk of the room it occupied. In 1982, Ranita started working with the magazine and conventions, including traveling to events and assisting exhibitors. She ended her tenure in February as sales manager for the magazine and for online advertising.
Over the years, staff member Ranita Jones, who retired at the end of February after 44 years of service, was a familiar face in the exhibitor registration office at FMCA conventions.
Ranita built some great relationships in the RV industry over the years. If you ever spent time with her during an FMCA convention, you quickly realized that she knew all the exhibitors and they knew her. Not only did she know them, she also could tell you about their kids, their grandkids, their pets, etc. She is a true “people person.”
A few of the FMCA commercial members Ranita worked with over the years wrote letters to congratulate her on her retirement, and the words they used to describe her included “professional, remarkable, warm, friendly, helpful.” One told the story of how he was losing a battle with new technology at an FMCA convention in Pomona, California, and Ranita came to his rescue. He hit the wrong button on his car’s key fob and caused the panic alarm to go off right outside the FMCA commercial office. He couldn’t get it to shut off, but Ranita came running out, grabbed the keys, and with one click, off went the horn. That definitely sounds like the Ranita we at the FMCA office know as well. She seems to have a knack for fixing things others may be struggling to figure out, and she’s always willing to help.
Not only is December 1977 the month Ranita started working full-time at FMCA, but that also was the month she married her husband, Don. Along the way they had two sons – Matt and then A.J. – and they now have two granddaughters. Ranita has noted that she looks forward to spending more time with Don and her family in retirement. She also shared that she and Don plan to add a new family member on March 1, Ranita’s first official day of retirement, when they pick up Sally, a 4-month-old Labrador retriever, border collie, German shepherd, etc. mix they are rescuing. Puppy training should keep Ranita busy for a while!
She’ll also have more time for gardening, canning, cooking, reading, and other things she enjoys.
While I’m sad that FMCA is saying goodbye to such a valuable employee, I’m very happy that Ranita will have well-deserved time to wake up and do whatever she pleases every day. She has joined the ranks of retired folks for whom every day is Saturday. And, knowing her, she also will be one who fills her time with worthwhile pursuits and before long questions how she ever had time to work.
On behalf of FMCA, thank you and congratulations, Ranita, on 44 years of service. On a personal note, I want to say that I’ve enjoyed the time we’ve worked together, buddy, and I will miss seeing your smiling face at the office. All the best as you embark on your new adventure!