From Tucson To Redmond
After a successful and fun event in Arizona, we’re setting our sights on Central Oregon for FMCA’s “Adventure Peaks” convention in August.
Glenda and Gary Milner
National President
Gary Milner, F409834
gmilner@fmca.com
We had a great time in Tucson at FMCA’s 108th International Convention & RV Expo, “Fiesta Del Sol.” I would like to thank the Rocky Mountain Area for hosting the event, and I’d like to express my appreciation to the FMCA staff for their hard work, as well as the many volunteers who pitched in.
The weather in Arizona was perfect for outside social events, sporting activities, and entertainment, and conventions provide members wonderful opportunities for developing new friendships.
Several new seminars were offered in Tucson. They included “FMCA Website Overview,” “FMCA January Family RVing Magazine Overview,” and “Yes, She Should And Can” (for female drivers). We are designing more educational classes to be presented at the convention in Redmond.
New Membership Growth
I want to thank members who are actively recruiting new members to FMCA. Are you familiar with the “Share the Love” program? You can earn a free year of FMCA membership for the first new member you recruit and then a $10 reward certificate for each additional new member. If all members would recruit one new member, we would exceed our highest numbers in FMCA history. Please be active in recruiting new members. We can all help to keep this a strong and fun organization. To learn more, visit fmca.com/share.
T-Mobile Update
T-Mobile has become one of our top benefits. It started off slowly but has grown significantly recently. The revenue from this program helps our organization financially. Remember, when you sign up, you’ll be working with a staff member from FMCA’s IT Department, and they also will provide support for issues that might come up. That’s right; you speak to an FMCA employee and receive immediate assistance.
Area Rallies
The Milners would love to see you at one or all of the upcoming area rallies:
Great Lakes Area
June 5-9 | Greenville, Ohio
Northeast Area
July 10-13 | Frankfort, New York
Midwest Area
July 24-27 | Amana, Iowa
South Central Area
September 18-21 | Shawnee, Oklahoma
Eastern Area
October 23-27 | Fletcher, North Carolina
Rocky Mountain Area
October 23-27 | Farmington, New Mexico
Join Us In Redmond, Oregon!
FMCA’s 109th International Convention will take place in Redmond, Oregon, August 14 through 17, 2024. This area is so beautiful and has so much to offer for our attendees. The FMCA Governing Board will be gathering for its annual business meeting on August 14 at the convention. The board votes on important financial and business decisions for the organization. The meeting is open to everyone to attend.
We hope that you mark your calendars and join us in Redmond. Registration is open, and the registration form appears on page 43 of this issue and online at FMCA.com. I would like to thank the Northwest Area for hosting the event, which has been named “Adventure Peaks.” Looking forward to seeing you there!
Remember, it’s all about having fun!
Now For The Rest Of The Story By Glenda Milner
I hope that everyone loves to hear about your president. Gary and I have had some interesting opportunities in our 51 years together. When our children were preteens, they decided to join a speed roller skating team. Since I was taking them to practice each day, I decided I might as well join also (Masters Division; the name is mislabeled). Gary and I are extremely competitive, so he decided he was going to join the team also. The problem is that he was NEVER a skater. To say that he was entertaining during practice is an understatement. To give an example of the first few weeks, I had to hold out my arm to help him stop, and when we started off the line, the wind would knock him over. Several months passed and he improved marginally and decided to participate in our first meet in Oklahoma. Gary was competing against eight men, one of whom was a small person. The entire competition, Gary could not get around the small person in order to avoid finishing in last place. As he was rounding his last corner, I yelled, “Just step over him,” and he responded, “But I can’t take my feet off the floor.” Skating is not, and never was, his best sport.
On a serious note, I thoroughly enjoyed our convention in Tucson and having the opportunity to meet many new members. What I particularly enjoyed was the fact that Gary was called out by my cousin about his pole dancing. He was caught off guard, and I truly enjoyed setting him up! He must have had taps on his shoes, because he was doing well answering her questions! The Tucson convention was one of our favorites, and we can hardly wait for Redmond.
RV Curious? FMCA Is Here To Help
FMCA has launched “Pathfinder” membership to assist those considering RV ownership and looking for reliable information as they explore the possibilities.
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Smith
csmith@fmca.com
Major decisions in life generally require extensive thought and research. You must gather information, weigh the options, evaluate the pros and cons, and then make your decision and act. Deciding to take the plunge into the RV lifestyle is no different. Most FMCA members can relate to this and remember when they were first starting out. What type of RV is best for me? How much do I include in my budget? How do I plan an RV trip? Where am I going to learn how to use my new home on wheels?
The decision-making process can be overwhelming for someone new to RVing. Nowadays you can Google any question you have, but how do you know the information you find is dependable? A real void seems to exist in terms of helping those who are “RV curious” to confidently embrace RV ownership. FMCA has 61 years of experience in the RV industry, and one of the pillars of its existence is education. FMCA plans to fill the void and become the authority in education for those investigating the wonderful RV lifestyle.
To that end, FMCA recently launched a new membership category called Pathfinder. We will help guide this group through the decision process while allowing them to take advantage of all the wonderful benefits and discounts members love. Pathfinders will have access to educational content via Family RVing magazine, the online FMCA University, newsletters, and the FMCA Forums — and by belonging to a community of knowledgeable and friendly RVers!
The expectation is that once Pathfinders make their RV purchase, they will move on to become a full Family member. And then, once they have experience under their belt, they can pay their newfound RV expertise forward to the next generation of potential RV owners.
If you know of anyone contemplating RV ownership and in need of some help along their journey, I highly encourage you to do two things:
- Recommend that they join FMCA’s new “RV Curious – Exploring RV Ownership” Facebook page. This is a place where they can ask their questions and receive answers from fellow seasoned RVers. The page can be found at facebook.com/groups/rvcurious. If you’d like to help shepherd the RV curious and share your wisdom, feel free to join us in that space.
- Explain the wonderful benefits, education, and community that FMCA can offer them. They can now join as a Pathfinder by filling out the enrollment form on page 25 of this issue of the magazine; calling the FMCA office at (800) 543-3622; or visiting join.fmca.com/home-page-join-annual-monthly.
We’re looking forward to welcoming Pathfinder members and hearing their stories as they — we hope! — make the decision to embrace the fun, freedom, and flexibility of RV life.
New member benefit. FMCA has a new partner that can help you to avoid one of the annoyances that can crop up while RVing — issues with wastewater holding tanks. The folks at Kleen Tank use high-pressure water to scrub the surfaces of RV waste tanks to remove built-up gunk and obstructions, clean sensors, and eliminate odors. FMCA members receive a $50 discount off this service. Kleen Tank has been in business for more than 10 years and now has an authorized dealer network with nearly 50 participants. The company also prides itself on educating owners about the correct ways to care for RV waste systems. To learn more, visit FMCA.com/kleentank.
Until next month, enjoy the journey!
The Mission Of FMCA is to educate, support, and encourage family and social RV lifestyles.