By Patty Cassidy, F318314
March 2014
The Ohio Nomads chapter received its charter to become a part of Family Motor Coach Association on February 17, 1978. The chapter’s first rally was held at the annual Strawberry Festival in Troy, Ohio, in June 1978. Records indicate that 33 members and guests attended.
Fast-forward a fabulous 35 years. That’s a lot of festivals, campgrounds, friendships, and miles experienced by chapter members. To celebrate, the Ohio Nomads gathered for an anniversary rally at the Pier-Lon Campground in Medina, Ohio, June 20-23, 2013.
The four-day celebration included coffee and sweets every morning. At lunchtime, the women met at a local tearoom, while the men gathered at an Irish pub. A costume disco party on Friday evening took us back to the late 1970s, with prizes awarded for the best disco outfits. This was a reminder of what it was like when the Ohio Nomads held their first rally. Attendees also enjoyed a treasure hunt road rally with participation from local merchants, and then completed a memento picture frame using the found treasures.
On Saturday evening, 64 members and two guests participated in a buffet dinner at a local restaurant. We took a trip down memory lane with a slideshow presentation during dinner. That evening, our past presidents were recognized and all members received thanks for making the chapter successful and lots of fun.
The Ohio Nomads are currently 86 member families strong. Rallies have taken place at many venues, mainly across the state of Ohio, but we also have ventured to Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and North Carolina. We stay at RV parks, county fairgrounds, and state and local parks with services that range from full hookups to dry camping. Our rallies have included potlucks, catered dinners, fish fries, pig roasts, mulligan stew, and social hour finger foods. We love festivals, arts and crafts shows, tours, games, campfires, and social times. Those who are Florida or Texas snowbirds sometimes hold a gathering during the winter months when they’re away from the Buckeye State.
Chapter members have volunteered at FMCA Family Reunions and area rallies. We’ve visited FMCA’s national headquarters and the Round Bottom Road facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. While there, we also visited Shriners Hospitals for Children — Cincinnati, our charity of choice. We raise money by collecting aluminum tabs all year long. Our chapter “sheriff” collects “fines” during our rallies from those who are not wearing name badges. We hold raffles and auctions throughout the summer camping months for donations. And instead of having a Christmas gift exchange at our Christmas dinner, we make a cash donation to the hospital.
Members keep in touch and communicate in various ways. Our newsletter, “Scope Ohio,” is issued monthly from April through November. The current president sends a “News and Notes” e-mail to members during the winter months. Our Web site — www.ohionomads.com — is used to keep everyone informed about rally dates and news. On the site, a roster album is kept current with member information and photos — a family album, so to speak. Of course, we still rely on telephones and e-mail.
The Ohio Nomads chapter continues to thrive on people being together. We nurture fun and fellowship and value our lifetime friendships. Check our rally schedule in the “Association Calendar” section of Family Motor Coaching or visit our Web site for the upcoming rally schedule, photos, and information. You can contact any of the officers for more information (their phone numbers and e-mail addresses are listed on our Web page). You also can contact the chapter through FMCA Chapter Services at (800) 543-3622. We always welcome new members. Come join us for a rally; you won’t want to leave.