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Describe an act of kindness shown to you by a fellow RVer.

As we approach the summer season, our travels often take us toward open water, preferably areas that include sand dunes and ocean breezes. Some of our favorite places are managed by the National Park Service, but rather than being national parks, they are called national seashores and national lakeshores.

The full-timer’s life differs from that of individuals who use their RV to vacation, take an extended trip, or even set out on a lengthy sabbatical. That’s why this column focuses on problems specific to those who live their life on the go. Here is some of the latest news and views for full-timers.

NeXus RV Sets Open House Dates

NeXus RV, C12206 (FMCA commercial member), a new motorhome manufacturer that offers direct sales to consumers, will hold an open house at its facility in Elkhart, Indiana, from June 20 through 30, 2011.

Shoe Moisture Eliminator

According to product literature, Stuffitts Shoe Savers will help eliminate moisture and odor from shoes to keep them smelling fresh.

Margaret Goodman, F44592, wife of former Western Area national vice president Bill Goodman, recently passed away. She was 97.

A Hilly Billy Wedding was the highlight of the Fingerlakers chapter’s 37th annual Officers Rally in upstate New York. Sixty-six members and guests attended the three-day rally held October 8 through 10, 2010, at the Genesee Country Campground in Caledonia, New York.

Jack C. Schneiker, L2150, a longtime member of FMCA who, along with his wife, Belle, recruited more members to the association than any other family, died at his Tucson, Arizona, home on April 1, 2011. He was 87.

Securing Storage Compartment Struts

The screws used to attach the gas struts on my motorhome’s outside storage compartments kept coming loose.

Perplexing Propane Problems

Dear RV Doctor:
I am having a problem with the pilot light on my motorhome’s hot water tank. I can light the pilot, but when I turn the dial to the “On” position, it takes a moment for the ignition. And when the propane gas finally reaches the pilot light area, the combustion is so strong that it blows out the pilot light and the main heating flame.

The company with a recall detailed in this month’s column is Fleetwood RV Inc.

How Long And How Fast?

I tow a 2008 all-wheel-drive Saturn VUE XR that’s equipped with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. When preparing the vehicle to be towed, I place the transmission in “neutral” with the ignition key in the accessory position and pull the ignition fuse so the battery doesn’t go dead.

Shut Off The Fridge

Dear Editor:
In “Refrigerator Leveling” (March 2011 “House Calls,” page 20) the RVer was worried about the refrigerator becoming unlevel while the coach was being driven on hills and mountains. My answer to that would be to never run the refrigerator when you are driving.

Hello from Cincinnati.  As I write this month’s commentary for our June issue of FMC magazine, I reflect back on the past few months as to what our staff has accomplished since my arrival here in January.  I can report that things are moving at a fast pace, and many good things are happening behind the scenes at FMCA . . .

My messages in the past few issues have focused on the motorhome lifestyle, and, indeed, that is what FMCA is all about.  But there is more to FMCA than simply traveling, meeting old friends, and making new friends.  For many of you, it is about becoming involved.

The 2011 election of FMCA National Officers will be held August 10, 2011, at FMCA’s 86th Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase in Madison, Wisconsin. The Nominating Committee has submitted its slate of candidates. Although balloting is restricted to National Directors and National Officers …

Vent fans enable motorhome owners to remove stale air, food odors, and that stuffy feeling without running the air conditioner. View a chart that shows the features and models currently on the market.

Here are some easy ways to use the simple spiral as a way to turn everyday dishes into something more special.

Every time we see Canada geese flying overhead, we are reminded of our personal calendar of seasons, which is much more inexact.

Clinton Birthplace Home Established As National Historic Site

The President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site in Hope, Arkansas, was officially announced as the 394th park in the National Park System following legislation signed by President Obama on March 30, 2009.

Frozen Holding Tanks

Dear RV Doctor:
I think I really messed up. Last night the temperature dropped to minus 5 degrees. I thought about the fresh water and left it dripping at a faucet, but I never thought about the black and gray holding tanks.

Companies with recalls detailed in this month’s Recall Corner are Caterpillar Inc., Entegra Coach, Prevost, Thor Motor Coach, and Winnebago Industries Inc.

Refrigerator Facts

I have a 1996 American Eagle with a Dometic side-by-side refrigerator. It won’t maintain the cold when in the electric mode. The freezer works fine, but the refrigerator does not stay cold.   

So Many Swirls!

Dear Editor:
I noted with a longstanding interest the comments by Mel Smith (“Simplify Exterior ‘Designs,'” Readers’ Forum, February 2011, page 12) about RV exterior designs. For years I have been puzzled by the freestyle swirls, appliques, and paint treatments on motorhomes and RVs in general.

In order to shed more light on the operation of FMCA, I thought it would be a good idea for each department director to write a little something about his or her background and to explain the responsibilities associated with their position and how the staff plays a key role in what gets accomplished.  I have asked Pamela Kay, director of communications, to start this off. 

One of the great benefits of being an FMCA member is the wonderful staff we have doing the work of the association in Cincinnati.  Have you ever thought about how many weeks and days go into 42 years of service?  Well, it is a bit mind-boggling.

We love our motorhomes, and for most of us, it takes a truly special destination to make us sleep anywhere else when we travel. But every so often we find a location worth bragging about to our traveling friends.

Stay up-to-date on the latest information for saving money on fuel, choosing a home state, finding a physician, and more.

Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort Under New Management

Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort, an exclusive Type A motorhome resort located in Webster, Florida, 45 miles west of Orlando, is now under the management of Bella Terra Realty Holdings LLC (BTRH).

Dear RV Doctor:
I have a Magnum inverter in a 2007 Monaco motorhome. On shore power and generator power, all the receptacles check “good” using a three-light plug-in tester. However, when the electrical system is on inverter power, the receptacles show an open ground on both circuits.