A Pleasant “Escape”

 

The coach count for this FMCA Family Reunion was 1,595 — 1,434 family vehicles and 161 commercial vehicles.

 

Madison is the capital of Wisconsin, the state’s second-largest city, and home of the University of Wisconsin, Madison. It has received “best city” recommendations from Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, among other accolades. Despite the “four lakes” nickname, it actually claims five — Lake Mendota to the northwest, and Lake Monona to the southeast, along with lakes Kegonsa, Waubesa, and Wingra. The capitol, in the heart of downtown, is visible from many parts of the city, including the Alliant Energy Center — not surprising, perhaps, because its dome is the second-largest in the United States. 

 

Alliant Energy Center

Attendees were heard to remark that Madison, specifically the Alliant Energy Center, is one of the nicest locations where an FMCA Family Reunion has been held. This was FMCA’s third event at the facility: the others took place there in 1984 and 2011.

 

“The Alliant Energy Center proved again to be one of the best venues in which we have held a Family Reunion,” commented Bob Nebel, the- national vice president, Midwest Area, host area for the event. “Its location, combined with the versatility of the many buildings, makes it a great site, along with all the city of Madison has to offer.”

 

Several landmarks on the Alliant Energy Center grounds helped to orient attendees and housed Family Reunion activities. Among them was red-and-white Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the venue for FMCA’s Governing Board meeting, the annual membership meeting, and evening entertainment. But the largest landmark by far was 255,000-square-foot Exhibition Hall. The award-winning building is infused with light from its multiple windows and skylights, and its terrazzo floor is punctuated by bronze medallions depicting natural, cultural, and historical features of the area by artist Michele Oka Doner.

 

Exhibition Hall housed supplier and component displays from more than 150 companies. Coach components, accessories, maintenance and home products, RV resorts, caravan providers, coach weighing services, and more filled the aisles. The FMCA Connections Area consolidated association business, including the FMCA Store, membership and area rally booths, and FMCA commercial member partners. A line of attendees waited outside the doors each morning, ready for the indoor exhibits to open.

 

Exhibition Hall also accommodated FMCA’s Information Center and its dozens of booths that stretched along the sun-drenched lobby. This was the go-to spot for event information, of course, plus will call, locator card drop-off, mail, sign-ups for tours and other scheduled events, Madison area brochures, and more.

 

The Ladies’ Social on Friday, July 31, also in Exhibition Hall, drew a crowd of 362. The lighthearted affair treated participants to refreshments, prizes, and musical entertainment by Dane Bailey, “The Singing Auctioneer.”

 

Upon exiting Exhibition Hall, FMCAers could walk a short distance to the outdoor exhibit area. There, motorhome manufacturers and dealers showcased the newest models and floor plans in Type A, B, and C styles, along with motorhome chassis. Approximately 75 vehicles were showcased.

 

Attendees started their tour of the outdoor displays beginning late afternoon on Wednesday, July 29. The “Motorhome Preview,” as this sneak peek was called, was graced by breathtakingly beautiful skies and a pleasant climate, which made strolling among and into display coaches even more inviting. The motorhome exhibits resumed “open house” status Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as well, along with the indoor exhibits.

 

In the outdoor supplier demo area, Fogmaker North America offered an intriguing demonstration. Onlookers observed the igniting of a controlled blaze, which simulated a fire in an engine compartment. As the flames swirled to life, they were swiftly extinguished using fire-suppression-system technology.

 

Nearby was an outdoor demo space occupied by MasterTech RV. The RV renovation company invited walk-throughs of its updated 1974 Winnebago Indian Type C motorhome, including a new street-side slideout.

 

Seminars

Eleven rooms inside Exhibition Hall provided the “classroom” space for most of the Family Reunion’s 100-plus seminars, meetings, FMCA area gatherings, and chapter get-togethers. The far-ranging seminar slate included information and technology topics, among them satellite TV and sound, computer apps, and smartphone basics; coach interior and upkeep; microwave-convection cooking; full-time RVing; genealogy; and travel itineraries around the United States, Canada, Mexico, and beyond. Seminars devoted to motorhome maintenance and operation delved into towing, supplemental braking, collision avoidance systems, exterior maintenance, and motorhome house systems. RVers new to the Family Reunion scene received tips for maximizing their week from presenter Jerry Yeatts, FMCA’s executive director, in his well-attended “first-timers” seminar.

 

Mac McCoy, “The Fire Guy,” conducted presentations devoted to fire safety. After elaborating on the basics of “Exiting the Motorhome In A Fire Emergency,” he invited attendees outside to practice those techniques for escaping through an emergency window on an actual motorhome.

 

Other Events

Nearby, the Arena Building hosted crowds Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings for a Family Reunion tradition: morning coffee hour. Cheery volunteers set up and served complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and doughnuts. Many attendees started their day there while socializing with friends old and new.

 

FMCA’s Frustrated Maestros provided a musical backdrop during these morning gatherings. Their wide-ranging repertoire spanned a variety of genres . . . including numbers from Broadway’s “Fiddler On The Roof” and “Phantom of the Opera,” plus tunes such as “Mr. Sandman,” “Wipeout,” and “America The Beautiful.” On the last morning, they performed a moving military salute with a medley of armed forces anthems, accompanied by the presentation of colors. FMCA members served as flag bearers and represented each branch of the military.

 

The hard-working Maestros, more than 70 strong, were led by conductor Charles Marston. The group also was the featured evening entertainment act on Thursday; played during Friday afternoon’s Ice Cream Social; and performed on Saturday afternoon, among other occasions. 

 

FMCA’s first-ever “Country, Bluegrass, and Country Gospel Open Jam” was emceed on Friday afternoon by FMCA member/RV historian Al Hesselbart. Al invited attendees to play during this informal session of country, gospel, and bluegrass tunes, some instrumental, some spoken or sung.

 

In a nearby building, the Jayco/Entegra Game Zone lived up to its name as a spot for fun competition. Volunteers, Governing Board members, and others who were on the grounds by the evening of Tuesday, July 28, gathered there for several lively sessions of card bingo — 324 folks, according to Fun & Games coordinator Margie Rodgers. The Game Zone also was the place to compete in the Bean Bag Toss on Thursday, July 30.

 

Folks who enjoy racquet sports could try pickleball on courts set up in the Jayco/Entegra Game Zone. FMCA member Harold Stefan conducted a pair of pickleball sessions to acquaint new players with this easy-to-learn racquet sport that’s a little like tennis, table tennis, and badminton combined.

 

An area nearby was used for three days of wake-’em-up sessions titled “Early Morning Functional Exercise — Movements That Matter,” presented by Wayne and Dahelia Hunt, exercise and resistance-training specialists.

 

Not far from these activities was the FMCA Service Center, where attendees could schedule appointments for on-grounds motorhome service from participating commercial members.

 

Tours For All Ages

The re-established Youth Activities Program, chaired by David and Loretta Marlowe, featured off-site trips for children ages 6 to 16. This was a departure from previous Family Reunions, when many activities were held in on-site youth centers. During the Madison Reunion, youngsters and chaperones traveled to House on the Rock in Spring Green, with its diverse collections and exhibits; Circus World in Baraboo, whose museum and attractions celebrate the traveling circus; Cave of the Mounds National Natural Landmark in Blue Mounds, with a guided tour of a living cave; and the 28-acre Henry Vilas Zoo in downtown Madison.

 

Twenty-three children were registered for the Madison Youth Program, and most participated in all of the outings. David Marlowe termed the program a success and added, “When talking with the parents, they really liked the new format, since it gave the kids a chance to see and learn about new things.”

 

Optional sight-seeing tours of area attractions were available for attendees of all ages. According to the Badger Bus tour company, the most popular was a half-land, half-water exploration of the Wisconsin Dells. Another highly rated tour encompassed highlights around Madison; these included the state capitol, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The Mid-Continental Railway & Museum tour involved a train ride and exhibits recalling the “golden age of railroading.” Another group visited the sewing shop made famous by TV host Nancy Zieman and her “Sewing With Nancy” program.

 

Evening Entertainment

As noted earlier, the Frustrated Maestros entertained the crowd on Thursday evening, July 30. They presented a musical trip titled “Back To Your Senior Year In High School.” Their performance, which was written, arranged, and directed by Charles Marston, called to mind adolescent milestones: football games and dances, a school field trip, a holiday concert, a spring musical, show choir, and school band . . . even graduation.

 

Friday, July 31, featured an enjoyable evening with keyboardist Gary Polkow, guitarist Michael Jay, and drummer Gary Todd of New Odyssey. Their claim to fame is “3 guys, 30 instruments” (Gary Todd alone plays more than 15). The trio mixed country, classic rock, and pop tunes from the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s, and beyond, while having a little lighthearted fun with the audience and encouraging participation.

 

Before New Odyssey came on stage, the first of two drawings for RV caravans took place. Prizes were awarded by the FMCA Tour Connection, powered by Fantasy RV Tours. On this night, Richard and Laura Mae Swartz of Las Cruces, New Mexico, won an RV vacation for two to the Kentucky Derby RV Rally in May 2017.

 

Nostalgia prevailed on Saturday evening, compliments of singer-guitarist William Florian and his revue of familiar 1960s folk melodies. Music lovers might recall him as former lead singer for The New Christy Minstrels (“Green, Green,” “This Land Is Your Land,” “Today,” etc.). He brought the era back to life with those tunes and others from entertainers such as Peter, Paul and Mary; The Mamas and the Papas; and Pete Seeger.

 

Prior to William Florian’s performance, Nel Filliger of Fantasy RV Tours took to the FMCA stage to select the winner of a second RV caravan prize. She drew from among entries that had been turned in for the “Lucky Southern Charm Game.” Players had scouted out nine game signs scattered throughout the activity areas; they answered the trivia question on each and recorded it on a tic-tac-toe game card. The winning card drawn belonged to William Boggess and Joyce Treutel, of Casselberry, Florida, awarding them free admission to FMCA’s 93rd Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase in Perry, Georgia, followed by a six-day RV rally to Charleston, South Carolina, both in the spring of 2016.

 

Donating Time, Treasures

Volunteers are the lifeblood of many organizations, including FMCA. Sizable events such as the Madison Family Reunion are possible only because of the donations of time and energy by hundreds of motorhomers. Some have volunteered at countless FMCA events over the years; for others, Madison was their first Family Reunion. And many helped out in multiple areas. A hearty “Thanks!” goes out to all who assisted with parking, security, seminars, trams, safety team, Information Center, Frustrated Maestros entertainment, Ice Cream Social, welcome bags . . . and numerous other areas.

 

“I was truly overwhelmed by the energy, enthusiasm, and passion of the many volunteers who answered our call so that we could once again give our membership a great rally,” Bob Nebel said. “It was also great to see the number of first-time volunteers who stepped up to add their efforts to staff the areas that had to be filled.”

 

FMCA members are known for “giving back,” and Madison attendees did so in several ways. One was to drop off nonperishable items for a food drive spearheaded by the Professional RV Vendors Chapter (PRVVC). Chapter president Lloyd Smith reported that The River Food Pantry in Madison received more than 850 pounds of food and $150 donated by FMCAers.

“This is the reason for our chapter of FMCA,” Lloyd said. “Thanks, team members and FMCA members, for the opportunity.”

 

Madison attendees also dropped off 23 pairs of used eyeglasses for donation to the Lions’ Eyeglass Recycling Program.

 

FMCA’s On-Road Quilters brought dozens of handcrafted items to Madison. According to coordinator Sharon Eversmann, the group produced 48 quilts, 10 hand-knitted and/or hand-crocheted blankets, 15 fleece blankets, and two toys. These “Quilts For Kids” items were displayed in the Information Center. They subsequently were donated to American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison to be distributed in the emergency department, surgery floor, and other areas. “Having these items available to give to children helps normalize the environment, make a situation less scary, and be a comfort they either do not have or were not able to bring from home,” said Julie Auenson, child life services manager at the hospital.

 

The “Escape To Wisconsin” Family Reunion left a lasting impression on the Alliant Energy Center staff. “It was a joy to meet such enthusiastic folks from all over North America,” said Shirley Kaltenberg, Alliant Energy Center sales manager. “Our entire staff would like nothing better than to start planning your return!”

 

In the meantime, stay tuned for information about FMCA’s next Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase events: March 17-20, 2016, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry; and in early August 2016 at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts (dates to be announced).