President’s Message
By Connie Pool, F140306
March 2008
One of my responsibilities as president of FMCA is to receive comments, complaints, suggestions, and compliments from members, either by phone, postal mail, or e-mail. As you might imagine, the president receives quite a few each week. I will admit I am most grateful that there are more “atta boys” than complaints.
I recently received two e-mails complaining that the leadership of FMCA isn’t taking any positive action to turn FMCA around. They wanted to know what I and the Executive Board are doing to increase member recruitment, to increase revenue, to increase member retention, and to change FMCA’s current image as a group of “old fogies in expensive class A motorhomes.” I think we all can agree these are the main challenges facing FMCA today, and corrective action needs to be taken.
Correcting all the challenges of FMCA is not solely the responsibility of the 15 members of the Executive Board. It is the responsibility of every member. Our association was founded by individuals coming together with the common interest in motorhomes. Those first members shared their enthusiasm with other motorhome owners, and the association grew. That was nearly 45 years ago, and members have continued to be the best source for recruiting new members. In fact, members normally recruit between 40 to 50 percent of new members each month.
In the past few years, new member recruitment has been down in all areas. In 2004 the number of new members recruited by members averaged 610 per month; in 2007 the average dropped to 490.
I randomly checked on four members who wrote to me, two with positive comments and two with complaints, to see whether they were fully participating members. Of the two with positive comments, one has been a member for eight years and the other a member for 10 years. Both are involved in various FMCA activities and also have been actively recruiting new members and averaging one to two new members each year since they joined FMCA. Of the other two, one has been a member for 16 years and has been involved in various FMCA activities, has recruited 12 new members, but only during six of the 16 years. The other one has been a member for four years and has recruited only one new member during that time. I ask that we all remember that you get out of an organization only what you put into it.
FMCA is a member-owned association, and it is the responsibility of every member to make this a premier association. Every member should be spreading the good news about FMCA to other motorhome owners. There are many motorhome owners on the road and in the campgrounds you visit who have not heard about FMCA.
Why is it so important to increase our membership? FMCA produces a monthly magazine, Family Motor Coaching, which generates revenue that permits the long list of benefits that our members enjoy. The magazine’s revenue figure has declined in recent years. A larger membership base increases the ability to sell more magazine advertising at competitive rates. As the membership grows, so grows the advertising revenue.
Most FMCA presidents in recent years have asked each member to recruit at least one new member per year. I also am asking the same thing of you. If you want this association to stay strong and grow, it will take a concerted effort from all of our membership. Acquaint yourself again with the benefits of membership and consider what is afforded by the annual dues of $35 as you explain the benefits to prospective members.
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Subscription to Family Motor Coaching “” a $30 value
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Free classified advertising “” 20 words per calendar year in Family Motor Coaching, valued at $10
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Free mail forwarding service “” Member pays for postage only. Value at least $45 annually
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Free trip routing service “” Savings of $5 to $10 per request
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Free MEDEX Emergency Medical Evacuation Program “” Price of comparable plans, $99 per year
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Free Stoppin’ Spots Fellowship, including Stop Over Spot and Come Visit, one night’s stay “” Comparable camping $15
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Free Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance “” Purchase value, $20 per year; up to $10,000 benefit
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Free campsite at Round Bottom Road office in Cincinnati, two nights per month “” Estimated savings of $25 per night in camping fees
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Educational programs at FMCA conventions and some area rallies. FMCA pays to lower members’ cost for these courses: Safe Driving Course, $10 savings; Coach Weighing, $15 savings; CPR & AED training, $15/$25 savings
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Flying J Real Value Card, 1-cent discount per gallon of diesel (20 gallon minimum), 1-cent discount per gallon of gasoline, 5-cent discount per gallon of propane
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FMCA member rate for Coach-Net, a roadside assistance program especially for motorhome owners
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Special FMCA rate for Passport America, a camping discount program
There are also many other benefits with values that are hard to determine. If a member took advantage of all of the above items, the savings would be around $300 each year.
FMCA is known as the “best-kept secret” in the RV industry, because we hesitate to share with people what a great bargain an FMCA member gets for that $35 yearly membership fee. Other membership clubs charge an annual fee you must pay before you get a chance to spend more money on the benefits. FMCA provides many benefits for free. Some benefits, such as MEDEX, cover every member without the member needing to sign up for it, or even acknowledging they are aware of the coverage.
It is the responsibility of every member to let others know the tremendous value of belonging to FMCA. The dollar value of being a member is very attractive, but FMCA is about more than just saving money. As the credit card commercial says, “There are some things money can’t buy,” and that is true with an FMCA membership. One of the greatest benefits is the opportunity it provides for you to enjoy the fellowship of friends from all over who share in the common interest of motorhome travel.
We all need to get involved and support this organization. You can start by extending a hand of friendship to the individuals in the coach parked next to you that doesn’t have a “goose egg.” Let them know what kind of people we really are, and tell them all motorhome owners are welcome! Invite them to join your chapter or attend an area rally or an international convention to take advantage of all the educational benefits we offer. Give them a copy of Family Motor Coaching magazine and explain the benefits we all have come to expect and enjoy.
To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what benefit FMCA can provide you, but ask what benefit you can provide FMCA.”
Oh, yes, for those of you who are curious, my husband, Corbett, and I have recruited 28 new members in the 17 years we have been members. And just last evening on our way to the Southeast Area Rally in Brooksville, Florida, we couldn’t resist telling the couple next to us in the Poor Boy Campground in Cross City, Florida, just how much they are missing by not being members of FMCA.
Peace, and may all your travels be safe and trouble-free.
Notice of Annual Membership Meeting
Family Motor Coach Association’s annual membership meeting will be held during FMCA’s 80th International Convention at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, Minnesota, on July 17, 2008.