By Charlie Adcock, F311374
FMCA National President
January 2014
Hello, My Fellow FMCA Family:
Well, here we are starting another new year. I always like to take this time and reflect back on all the good things that have happened to me during the past year. Boy, has this been a whirlwind 12 months! National senior vice president Jon Walker and I have traveled from one side to the other of this great continent, attending all the area rallies, among other stops we’ve made on behalf of FMCA. We have been from Indio, California, to Brooksville, Florida; from Scussett Beach, Massachusetts, to Albany, Oregon; and from Gillette, Wyoming, to Cincinnati, Ohio. We traveled from Sedalia, Missouri, to Goshen, Indiana, and then to York, Pennsylvania. We can relate to the Johnny Cash song, “I’ve Been Everywhere.”
Jon and I both feel very blessed to have been elected your national president and senior vice president, respectively, at the 50th anniversary Family Reunion in Gillette this past June. We wish to thank each and every one of you for entrusting those positions to us. Our promise to you is that we have been looking and will continue to look every day for ways to enhance the membership of FMCA and our benefits.
Gloria and I were sitting in church one Sunday morning recently, and our pastor had all the kindergarten-age and younger children come down front for a quick sermon before they went to children’s church. During his talk with them, he asked each one to go home that day and think of something really big that they would like to see happen next year and to write it down. He told them to bring their really big idea back to church that night so they could talk about it. First, this brought to mind the Art Linkletter show and his feature “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” It so happened that Gloria and I couldn’t be at church that night, so, unfortunately, we missed hearing their ideas. But this did spark some thoughts for me as I considered the year ahead for FMCA and, more immediately, what to write about in this month’s column.
What goals do I have for FMCA in the coming year, and what really big thoughts would I write down if asked to do so? One of my goals since I was elected has been to personally meet every FMCA member that I can. I don’t mean just a nod of the head as we pass; I actually want to take time to talk with as many members as possible during our travels.
Another one of my goals is to visit as many chapters as I can. This is where you come in. I would like to ask each chapter president to look at the 2014 area rally schedule in Family Motor Coaching magazine (I plan to attend every one of these rallies) and plot a route from one to the next and then let me know if your chapter is having a rally close to my likely route of travel. If each chapter president would e-mail me your rally schedule for next year, I can try to make arrangements to attend as I travel. One of my greatest joys is visiting members at chapter rallies.
Another big thought I had is that I would like to see FMCA membership grow by at least 5 percent this next year. Some of my ideas on how to accomplish that involve member benefits. A big goal of mine would be to recapture the concept of having FMCAssist included as part of our membership dues like it once was. Of course, ultimately that is a Governing Board action. Just thinking BIG! I also believe that we are on the brink of something really big happening. Executive director Jerry Yeatts and the staff are working hard every day looking for more and better benefits.
Yet another goal on my list is to increase participation in FMCA’s Youth Program. Children ages 6 to 18 take part in their own schedule of activities during each summer Family Reunion. Whether you have experience as a teacher or day care provider, or if you just love kids, consider helping out. We’re looking for volunteers to organize and coordinate fun activities for the youth during FMCA’s 90th Family Reunion in Redmond, Oregon, this August. We want the youngsters to have so much fun that they’ll beg to come to more events! If you can’t be in Redmond, maybe another Family Reunion will better suit your travel plans. We’d like to have a team of folks available in different parts of the country. Regardless, Youth Program organizers would love to hear from potential volunteers and to hear your suggestions for how to make FMCA Family Reunions must-go events for the kids. Contact the national office at (800) 543-3622 or e-mail fmcayouth@wildblue.net. An article in this issue explains some of the goals of the Youth Program for 2014 and beyond.
In a prior column I introduced FMCA’s Under 60 Task Force. I am expecting really big things from that group. I’ve asked them to tell me what they want FMCA to look like and how they would change it. I’ve asked not only for ideas but also for suggestions for how they think we could implement them. During the Family Reunion at Perry, Georgia, in March, we are planning a get-together with those under 60 and their spouses. We are already getting feedback from this group. Those of you over 60 (like me) shouldn’t feel left out, because I very much want your ideas and solutions, too. You can submit ideas to feedback@fmca.com. Remember, the only bad idea is the one you keep to yourself.
I hope by now that you are starting to feel the excitement and anticipation of attending the upcoming FMCA Family Reunion in Perry. Jon Walker and FMCA’s Convention Committee, along with the FMCA Events Department staff, have a lot of exciting things and a great lineup of entertainment in store for you for March 17-20, 2014, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. I sure hope you can attend. And remember, I want to meet as many of you as possible. As the saying goes, let’s have a party! If you attend the Reunion in Perry and have half as much fun as I do, you will certainly get double your money’s worth.
Before I close, I would like to share something with you. Chapters need officers, and sometimes it can be difficult to find enough volunteers to fill these positions. The author of the following piece is unknown, but the words make you stop and think.
Whose Job Is It?
This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
On behalf of the entire Executive Board, Jon, Sondra, Gloria, and I wish each of you a happy and prosperous New Year.
Remember, “It is all about having fun!”