July 2002
The 2002 election of FMCA National Officers will be held September 29 & 30, 2002, at FMCA’s 68th Premier International Motorhome Extravaganza in Hutchinson, Kansas.
This year’s Nominating Committee was elected by the Governing Board in accordance with FMCA Bylaws. Its members are Chairman Kent Jacobs, F97114; Manuel Canales, F59832; Dave McFadden, F74806; Gerald Parker, F36980; and Richard Wright, F42952.
FMCA’s Nominating Committee has submitted its slate of candidates recommended for national office for the 2002-2003 term.
Although balloting is restricted to National Directors and National Officers, we invite all FMCA members to review the candidates’ resumes and to communicate their preferences to their respective National Director. Doing so will help him or her better serve you on election day. Also, nominations can be made from the floor of the Governing Board meeting; however, committee members ask that this be done only with prior consent from the proposed nominee.
CANDIDATE FOR NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Jeff Jefcoat, F118344
FMCA Background: Jean and I joined FMCA in 1989. We are very pleased and honored to have served as your president this year. We are charter members of several chapters and currently members of the following:
Carolina Cruisers (Past President and past National Director), Eastern Area Volunteers (Past President), Frustrated Maestros Eastern Sharps and Flats (Jean is National Director), Converted Coaches of the Eastern Area, Gemstones, Penn Coachmen, Coaches for Christ, Dixie Traveliers, Parking Layout, Blue Bird, Vintage Birds, FMCA Chapter: Habitat for Humanity®, Elk International, PNO, Foothills Fire Side, and Friends of Children.
The chapters of the Eastern Area gave me the opportunity to serve four years as National Vice President for that area. I was elected to the office of National Senior Vice President for one year, and I am honored to be currently serving as your FMCA President.
Civic Activities include: Columbia, South Carolina, Rotary Club (Past President and Paul Harris Fellow); Lake Murray Boating and Sports Club (Past Commodore); Little Mountain, South Carolina, Ruritan Club (Past President, V.P., Secretary, and Treasurer); Newberry County, South Carolina, Recreation Commission (Past Chairman); Newberry County, South Carolina, Transportation Committee (Past Chairman); Jessie Frank Hawkins Nursing Home/Springfield Place (Current Board Member); Senior Catering Inc. which administers the Meals on Wheels program for most of South Carolina (Current Board Member).
Personal Background: Jean and I attended the University of Southern Mississippi. We have four children and eight grandchildren. My career was with Sears where I spent the last eighteen years of that career as Store Manager, four in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and fourteen in Columbia, South Carolina, where I retired.
We are members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Little Mountain, South Carolina, Sunday School Teacher, Long Range Planning, and Past Church Council member. We enjoy motorhoming, and spend part of our winters at Emerald Pointe R.V. Resort in Zephryhills, Florida. Other hobbies include fishing, golf, and almost any outdoor activity.
FMCA Goals, If Re-Elected: Family Motor Coach Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit corporation, which owns Family Motor Coaching Inc., a for-profit corporation that produces the monthly magazine and the two International Conventions each year (now to be called “Extravaganzas”). The combined assets are approximately ten million dollars and an annual budget of approximately fifteen million dollars. My goals are:
A. Continue efforts to grow the membership. It requires over fifteen thousand new members a year just to cover our losses, and most of those are health-related.
B. Work through our Commercial Council and other avenues toward better quality of product and service as it relates to motorhomes.
C. Continue efforts to develop new and enhanced member benefits.
I consider it an honor to serve as the President of FMCA and will continue to serve to the best of my ability if re-elected. Your vote is appreciated.
CANDIDATE FOR NATIONAL SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
R.G. Wilson, F21025
Objective: I am a candidate for office of National Senior Vice President of Family Motor Coach Association. My primary goal is to continue to help improve our great organization so our membership can enjoy traveling in their motorhomes and fellowship with others. I would like to continue to use my business experience and skills to improve the management of FMCA and the operations of our international conventions. I also want to see that our organization continues to provide good benefits and support to our membership.
FMCA History: My wife, Jeri, and I joined FMCA in 1974. We have been very active in the Rollin’ Okies chapter and the South Central Six State Area. We are also members of Monaco International, Heartland Execs., and Monaco Wan-Na-Go’s. I have served as vice president and national director in the Rollin’ Okies. My wife and I have served on many committees in our local chapters and the South Central Area. We have been very active in attending area rallies and international conventions of FMCA through the years. I served on the Finance Committee of FMCA four years and chairman of the Finance Committee three years. I was elected National Treasurer at the International FMCA Convention in Ogden, Utah, in August 1998 and was re-elected in 1999 and 2000. During that three-year period the cash reserves of FMCA increased over three million dollars.
I was elected to the office of National Senior Vice President of FMCA last year in Redmond, Oregon. As chairman of the Convention and Rally Committee I have worked closely with our convention director, Jerry Yeatts, in making improvements in our conventions. We are now offering electricity to our family members at our international conventions. We are negotiating better rental contracts for facilities, electric services for our vendors, golf cart rentals, and other outside services required in our convention activities.
Work History: From July 1, 1964, to April 1, 1996, I was managing partner of my own public accounting practice in Clinton, Oklahoma. During those thirty-two years, I performed all types of public accounting work including business planning, auditing, tax preparation, compilation, and financial planning. After my retirement in 1996, I was asked and accepted an appointment to serve on the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. I currently serve on the finance committee of this organization, which oversees the annual operating budget for over five thousand missionaries throughout the world. I am also serving on the Clinton Integris Hospital Board and the Integris Rural Hospital Board of Oklahoma. I have been a deacon in my church over thirty years and have served many terms on the finance committee. From 1981 to 1986, I served a five-year term on the Oklahoma State Board of Public Accountancy. Prior to my public accounting career I worked as an accountant for Williams Companies in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 1957 to 1964. I still maintain a small tax practice, in my office at home.
Education: I received my BS degree from Southwestern State College in Weatherford, Oklahoma, in 1956. I received my MBA degree from Oklahoma University in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1957. I received my Certified Public Accountant Certificate in 1960. I still maintain and keep my CPA license current by completing in excess of the required forty hours of continuing education each year.
Interests: I have been married to my wife, Jeri, for forty-nine years. We have two daughters and four grandchildren. My wife and I are both in good health. We enjoy traveling, meeting people and have a strong interest in FMCA activities and serving others.
Summary: I enjoyed serving as Treasurer of FMCA for three years and Senior Vice President this past year. I believe I have done a good job in watching over our family finances and reporting the results to you. I want to continue to serve FMCA and improve the operations of our organization. I believe I can do this by bringing good sound business policies and procedures into the planning and organizing of our international conventions.
CANDIDATE FOR NATIONAL SECRETARY
June Davis, F158928
FMCA Experience: My husband, Leonard, and I joined FMCA in 1992. I am currently serving as your National Secretary and on the Legislative Advisory Committee. I have served as National Director, Alternate National Director, Chapter “First Lady” and Chair of Chapter Bylaws, Membership and Nominating Committees. We serve as Volunteers at area rallies and international conventions in several capacities: Parking Layout, Greeters, Will Call, Safety, Frustrated Maestros and as facilitator for Morning Devotions. We also have served as trail bosses for several rallies. We treasure our chapter memberships: Gold Diggers, Golden Spike, Golden Gate, Coaches for Christ, Elk International, Klondikers, Sierra Ramblers, Spartan Chassis International, Rockwood International, Frustrated Maestros (Rocky Mountain Rockers, Northwest Musical Misfits, Eastern Sharps and Flats, Yankee Doodle Dandies, and of course, the Original Chapter).
Prior Work Experience: I retired in 1991 from the California Legislature where I served as Assistant to the Majority Leader of the Senate; in the Senate Office of Research; and, as Notary Public for all Legislators. I worked for the Aerojet-General Corporation providing administrative services for all three plants (Liquid Rocket, Solid Rocket & Nuclear Rocket, with over 20,000 employees) during our space buildup programs. I hold a SECRET Security Clearance. My administrative duties included technical, statistical and personnel functions for Division and Department Managers. I served as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Board for Century City Doctors Foundation and owner of Beverly Hills Doctors Hospital, where I also acted as Medical Staff Secretary for some 400 doctors. I have trust and banking experience as well: California Canadian Bank, Wells Fargo and American Trust. Currently, I am Vice President and CFO for our own business.
Personal: I married Leonard, my high school sweetheart, some 45 years ago. We travel with a little 11-year-old Bichon Frise dog named Printz. I have four brothers and one sister. We love motorhoming, music, and meeting the terrific folks out there who enjoy these same interests. We used to fly quite a bit but Leonard sold our airplane to start motorhoming; however, he still likes to tell flying stories since he retired from flying helicopters and airplanes for the California Highway Patrol and Military.
Summary: I have enjoyed the last few years promoting FMCA and conducting seminars for Area and Chapter Secretaries. Please read my Executive Notes column in the July 2001 issue of Family Motor Coaching for more details of my activities or click on the Secretary link on our Web site: fmca.com. It is a pleasure to serve an organization with so much potential. It is with great pride that I promote who we are and what we do wherever we go. I look forward to continuing to lay new groundwork so that future secretaries can build on it. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and constructive criticism. I value all three. I will continue to devote the time, energy, skills and experience necessary to complete this last term of office. My commitment to a strong FMCA is unwavering.
CANDIDATE FOR NATIONAL TREASURER
Connie Pool, F140306
FMCA Experience: Elected in Redmond, Oregon, in August 2001 and currently serving as the National Treasurer. Oversaw the annual audit for 2001 and the preparation of the budget for 2003. As National Treasurer, I serve as chairperson of the Finance Committee.
My husband, Corbett, and I served on the Youth Activities Committee for six years through the summer convention of 1999, the last year as co-chairmen. We were reappointed as the co-chairmen of the Youth Activities Committee in 2001.
FMCA is truly a family experience for us as Corbett and I, along with our daughter, Kelly, bought our first coach in 1990. We joined FMCA in January 1991 and attended our first International Convention that summer at the University of Notre Dame. Our perfect attendance at summer conventions was unduly influenced by Kelly’s extreme fondness for the FMCA youth program, the Teenage Travelers (TATS). Kelly served five years as a TATS officer, the last two as President. Even with her school commitments we have attended all but three winter conventions since joining FMCA.
I served two years as National Director for the Friends of Children Chapter, and Corbett has been a member of the Governing Board for seven years. We are also members of the Travelin’ Tarheels, Tennessee Ridge Runners, Colonial Virginians, Eastern Area Volunteers, Foretravel International, FMCA Chapter: Habitat for Humanity®, and Parking Layout chapters. We have hosted or co-hosted numerous rallies in most of our chapters and served as volunteer greeters and food servers at the 2000 & 2001 Great Eastern Area Rally (GEAR). We are charter members of the Habitat Chapter and have participated in six builds. We were the build team leaders for three of the builds.
Personal Background: Born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, and graduated from the University of South Florida in 1970. I entered the United States Marine Corps in June 1971 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in August 1971. I continued to serve on active duty until July 1993 when I retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Corbett, who is also a retired Marine Corps Officer, and I met while stationed together in Hawaii and have been married for 22 years. Our daughter, Kelly, is a senior at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville; I also have four stepchildren and four step-grandchildren. We are active members of Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church in Crossville, Tennessee.
Education and Work Experience: I received my BA (Accounting) degree from University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, in 1970. I became a Certified Public Accountant and received my Virginia CPA license in 1981. My Master of Accounting degree was completed at the University of Hawaii in 1988. During my 22-year Marine Corps career I served as a Personnel Officer, Area Auditor, Analysis and Review Officer, Marine Corps Base Comptroller, Budget Officer and Deputy Comptroller. My last assignment was Assistant Chief of Staff, Comptroller, Fleet Marine Forces, Atlantic, with combined aviation and ground annual operating budgets of over $450 million. Upon retirement from the Marine Corps I established an accounting practice in York County, Virginia, where I specialized in small, not-for-profit organizations. I closed my practice when we moved to Tennessee in June 1999.
Since Corbett and I are both retired and in excellent health, we have pursued a ministry of working with and feeding the homeless in our former parish in Hampton, Virginia, and with an organization called Hampton Ecumenical Lodging and Provisioning (H.E.L.P.), an interfaith group of over 54 churches. We also spent 19 months serving as general contractors and volunteer coordinators for the rebuilding of the H.E.L.P. Center, which received the Hampton, Virginia’s 1999 Mayor’s Civic Improvement Award. Our interest in Habitat for Humanity continues and in 2002 we will participate in three FMCA Chapter builds, two as build team leaders.
FMCA Goals, If Re-elected: I appreciate your support in the past and will work to maintain your trust. I have the training and background to continue as Treasurer of FMCA, and I pledge to you I will continue to devote the time and energy to do the job to the best of my ability. I will continue to attend as many of the area rallies as possible and to provide in-person updates on FMCA’s financial status and be available to discuss your comments and concerns. I will continue to maintain openness of the financial records and provide the Governing Board the financial statements so necessary for the fiscal management of FMCA.