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The 2004 election of FMCA National Officers will be held August 16, 2004, at FMCA’s 72nd International Convention in Redmond, Oregon.
This year’s Nominating Committee was elected by the Governing Board in accordance with FMCA Bylaws. Its members are Chairman Verne Roland, F73154; Billie Blythe, F70340; Leonard Davis, F158928; Bill Hohmann, F221258; Bruce Holcomb, F54442.
FMCA’s Nominating Committee has submitted its slate of candidates recommended for national office for the 2004-2005 term.
Although balloting is restricted to National Directors and National Officers, we invite all FMCA members to review the candidates’ resumes and to communicate their preferences to their respective National Director.

Central Oregon boasts snow-etched volcanoes, towering ponderosa pines, sterling lakes, wild and scenic rivers, picturesque waterfalls, pristine meadows, wilderness, lava flows, cinder cones, and high desert. And two central Oregon towns, Sisters and Bend, serve as bases of exploration for marvelous journeys into the Deschutes National Forest.
Each town is within an easy drive from Redmond, the site of FMCA’s “Cascade Mountain Magic” convention August 16, 17, 18, and 19.

When the blackout window shades in our motorhome do not keep out the light from lampposts we inevitably park next to at RV parks, I have an inexpensive, simple-to-use, and easy-to-store solution that is extremely effective.

The Abzorb Oil Mat from PCI Products Company is said to keep oil and fluids that leak from a vehicle from staining the garage floor or driveway. The gray-colored mats are available in three sizes: 3 feet square, 3 feet by 5 feet, and 3 feet by 8 feet.

Four Winds International, C7457, a division of Thor Industries, has announced that Ricky Carmichael, the 2003 champion of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Motocross Series and Supercross Series, has agreed to endorse the Mandalay type A diesel motorhome and the Fun Mover type C sport recreational vehicle.
Mr. Carmichael is the AMA’s all-time winningest driver in supercross and motocross racing.

Western RV has expanded its lineup of diesel-powered motor coaches for 2005 with an intriguing new addition: the 40FDQS, an Alpine Coach Limited Series floor plan with four slideouts. This motorhome measures 40 feet long and 102 inches wide for travel; when the slideouts are extended, the interior living area becomes almost 13 feet wide between the street-side and curbside walls.

Throughout the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to report several times in Family Motor Coaching magazine on the performance of type C motorhomes built by Chinook RV. In 1993, while road testing a Chinook Premier, I enjoyed exploring northwest Washington, which included a ferry trip across the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Port Angeles, Washington, to Victoria, British Columbia.

Let’s combine light eating with light duty in the galley. These food ideas are attractive and tasty, as well as easy on the cook and the waistline.

Although some folks still do so, the days of lugging around two-by-fours to level a coach at a campsite are becoming a thing of the past. Over the last decade the technical advances in RV leveling systems have made the effort and process of leveling a home on wheels almost transparent.

One of the first surprises motorhomers experience during their initial day aboard a new coach usually doesn’t occur until the sun sets. Lighting, which is hardly noticed when you buy a motorhome at an outdoor lot or brightly lit showroom, may be all wrong for the routines of everyday living.
Think about all the different situations you may be in during a single day that rely on artificial light.

The World Series of Birding isn’t just a boast; it’s the name of an event. The New Jersey Audubon Society sponsors the competition, calling it “The country’s premier conservation event!” Now that’s a boast, but it’s hard to dispute.

Did you know that Wisconsin produces more than a third of the cheese made in the United States? Or that a good share of the state’s cheese comes from small, family-owned-and-operated factories? We’ve cruised through information about many such factories to find 13 that keep the welcome mat out for visitors. Of the ones covered in this column, some offer tours; all have observation windows so visitors can see those hardworking souls slave over a hot vat of cheese in the making.

The Youth Activities Committee is responsible for planning and overseeing the youth programs that take place at FMCA’s international conventions; planning the advertisements for these programs that appear in Family Motor Coaching prior to each event; and recruiting volunteers to help with the activities. During the summer convention the committee also oversees the election of TATS (Teen-Age Travelers) officers.
The committee receives its guidance from FMCA’s Policy and Procedure 2032, Youth Program.

The sunny state of Florida can lay claim to one of FMCA’s first chapters — the Roll’n Rebels, which was chartered in July 1968. Thirty-six years later, it’s still a strong group that stays active by rallying at least once a month, from September to May.
Roll’n Rebels rallies have a fairly regular structure.

The Converted Coaches of the Eastern Area chapter kicked off the 2004 new year with its annual “Bussin’” Rally in Arcadia, Florida. This event has seen continual growth, and this year’s rally was no exception, with 198 coaches in attendance.

Q: We updated our towable to a 2004 Chevy Tahoe LT with four-wheel drive. The owners manual states that the transfer case must be in “Neutral,” but says nothing about pulling a fuse.

Dear Editor:
Members of the FMCA Palm Beach Gold Coasters chapter are privileged to manage and maintain the entertainment tent for the Southeast Area Rally. Our duties require us to arrive at the rally site in Brooksville, Florida, at least three days in advance, and many of us arrive as much as two to four weeks early to assist with anything that is needed.
One of the major rally responsibilities includes unpacking and setting up the seats in the entertainment tent, maintaining seat areas for volunteers and special groups, and folding and recrating the seats, all according to fire and safety specifications.

Oval, goose-egg-shaped membership emblems have long been a part of FMCA’s history. New members of FMCA have been issued various types of coach plates over the years.
The first 10,000 members of FMCA were given cast-aluminum plates that had their membership number stamped on them in raised letters.

FMCA’s “Albuquerque Adventure” convention, which took place March 16, 17, and 18 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was all that we had hoped for and more.
It was a beautiful sight to see the Balloon Fiesta Park full of FMCA family motorhomes. Members of our Executive Board, advance crew, handicapped members, and approximately 1,000 new exhibitor coaches filled the EXPO New Mexico Fairgrounds.
God blessed us with chamber of commerce weather the entire time we were there, which permitted members to participate in and enjoy all the activities.

If you long to experience the “real” Old West, go back in time to explore dinosaurs and petroglyphs, soak in steaming thermal waters, or just enjoy beautiful scenery and old-fashioned hospitality, Thermopolis, Wyoming, is the perfect destination. We discovered this small Western town while on our way to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, and immediately fell in love with it.
The winding highway into Thermopolis from the town of Shoshoni — U.S.

If you have been looking into kitchen remodeling or watching home-improvement shows such as “This Old House,” you know that the top-of-the-line kitchen countertop material is real granite. Not a composite made up of plastic and stone dust, but the real thing sliced off a block taken out of the ground.

Prostate cancer is a common problem. It is the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths in men, after lung cancer.

There are only a few things that should be done to maintain the efficiency of today’s RV air conditioner, but those few things are very important. However, before delving into maintenance, it might help to understand the mechanics of the air conditioner’s operation.
In order to produce a dramatic temperature change, the air conditioner takes advantage of a principle of physics: when a liquid evaporates, a significant temperature drop occurs.

Mention Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the image that comes to mind for many motorhome owners is a turquoise-blue sky dotted by the whimsical colors and patterns of hundreds of hot-air balloons. Each October this Southwest city is home to the world’s largest and most-photographed balloon event, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, which happens to be a popular destination for RV owners.

Asheville, North Carolina, is a town where bohemians and businessmen walk side by side on city streets. The rich and famous flock here, as they have done for more than a century, and are joined by the rugged hikers who arrive via the Appalachian Trail.

Idea for better bathroom lightingThe only light in our coach’s bathroom was on the ceiling in line with the mirror. Although it worked fine when we were combing our hair, I found it very inadequate for shaving, and my wife found it too dim for applying makeup.
I solved this lighting deficiency by installing a pair of two-bulb 12-volt fixtures on each side of the mirror at face level.

The new Demco KarKaddy SS tow dolly features folding ramps and a folding tongue that allow it to be stored on many RV park lots or even in front of the car when it is garaged at home. The KarKaddy SS measures 133 inches long but folds to nearly half its size — 67 inches — for more compact storage.
Other features include a hydraulic surge brake system; a galvanized finish; custom chrome wheels with radial tires; and dual safety chains.

Blue Bird Corporation recently announced that it has consolidated its coach, luxury motorhome, and commercial bus divisions to form Blue Bird Coachworks.
The new division will be led by vice president and general manager Wayne Joseph, who joined Blue Bird in 2003 after working for 25 years in the transit bus industry. Richard Maddox was named vice president of sales and marketing for Blue Bird Coachworks, with Bryan Hays (RV) and Buddy Cox (coach and commercial bus) as directors of sales and marketing.
In one of its first major acts as a consolidated division, Blue Bird Coachworks introduced the all-new 2005 Wanderlodge 450 LXi luxury motorhome.

In late 2002 Airstream Inc. introduced the SkyDeck motorhome.

Although Monaco Coach Corporation might best be known for the bevy of diesel-powered motorhomes built by its various subsidiaries, the company’s presence in the gas-powered market is undeniable, and ever-increasing. The Monaco LaPalma has contributed to that growth.

The forts presented in this month’s column were chosen after studying a huge body of information. The United States is a large nation, and it’s amazing how many forts were built since settlers first landed in North America more than five centuries ago.

The Aqua Saver from PJB Co. is a port that provides a 5.5-inch opening in an RV’s fresh-water tank, making it possible to reach the inside of the tank with a brush and to scrub it using a household bleach solution.

Produced by General Motors from 1973 through 1978, the innovative GMC Motorhome gained a following that is still as strong — if not stronger — today. This three-part series explores the fascinating history of a motorhome still considered by many to have been far ahead of its time.

Nobody knows exactly how many full-time RVers roam the roads of North America. Still, those who read this column can help one another by sharing information about their full-timing views and experiences.
Please return this survey by July 15, 2004, to Janet Groene, c/o Full-Timer’s Primer, Family Motor Coaching, 8291 Clough Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45244.

The best thing about motorhome travel is that we have so many dining options. If it’s rainy, cook and eat in the coach.

Although you might not know it, you probably have seen lichens somewhere in nature. Right now some are growing atop a granite rock in our front yard.

Florida truly lived up to its nickname as the “Sunshine State” for the Southeast Area’s “SEAFARI 2004” rally, which took place February 4, 5, 6, and 7 at the Hernando County Airport in Brooksville. The many Northerners who attended were very appreciative of the warm temperatures the first few days of the event, and the occasional rain at the end didn’t dampen their spirits.
Our many volunteer parkers, under the direction of Wiley Chandler, F142032, did a fantastic job getting the coaches parked in the right areas.

Q: Our motorhome is equipped with a 1998 Ford V-10 engine that is rated at 266 horsepower. The newer V-10 is rated at 305 horsepower.

Dear Editor:
I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the first installment of Bill Bryant’s articles about the classic GMC motorhome (“Story Of A Classic: The GMC Motorhome, Part 1,” February 2004, page 58).

Recruiting new members to FMCA is an ongoing goal. Every year a number of families fail to renew their membership, for a variety of reasons.

When I decided to run for the office of FMCA national president, I knew it had a lot of responsibility attached and would require a great deal of hard work and dedication if I were to accomplish my goals and make a difference.
I was correct. It seems I hit the ground running and didn’t have a chance to look back.

Okay, what’s the connection between Song of the South and Zip Dee Inc., the 39-year-old company that designs, builds, and sells high-end RV awnings and accessories? This was but one of several questions Bob Miller, the CEO of Zip Dee, would answer during my visit to the Zip Dee plant in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, this past summer.
Henry Duda, a travel trailer owner, founded Zip Dee in 1965. In the process, he took advantage of the kidding he often heard about his last name and its close association with the lyrics in the song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” from the Disney musical Song of the South.

Recently, while shopping at a camping supply store, I noticed a woman carrying a clipboard. In the kitchen utensil department, she stopped and jotted down some notes.

Black button eyes, a red triangle nose, red yarn hair, and a happy smile describe the beloved Raggedy Ann doll. Each year in mid-May, Raggedy Ann and her brother, Raggedy Andy, seem to come alive in the tiny town of Arcola, Illinois, birthplace of their creator and the site of a museum that fondly remembers all three.
Arcola may very well have been where Raggedy Ann originated.

Many of us leave our motorhomes plugged in at home to keep the house batteries charged. The chassis battery, however, loses its charge over time unless the engine is started occasionally.

Home & Park Motorhomes, C3790, a manufacturer of type B motorhomes based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, introduced the 210-Popular model at the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky, this past December.
Similar in physical appearance to Roadtrek’s 190-Popular models, the new 210-Popular is based on the Chevrolet Express 3500 Series extended van and has a 155-inch wheelbase for better ride and handling. The frame extends 18 inches behind the rear wheels, resulting in an overall length of 21 feet 11 inches.

Darwin would be pleased. The evolution in the design of motorhome chassis, as evidenced by the all-new Winnebago Industries Evolution chassis, takes the diesel pusher type A motorhome to new levels.

A motorcycle rider had taken refuge from the sun in the shade of our test coach while we were shopping. As we approached, she jokingly pleaded for us not to take away her shade — it was abundant and refreshing on this hot day.

No matter how well prepared we are as happy wanderers, there are sure to be potholes in the road of life. The motorhome needs maintenance, repairs, and updates.

Produced by General Motors from 1973 through 1978, the innovative GMC Motorhome gained a following that is still as strong — if not stronger — today. This three-part series explores the fascinating history of a motorhome still considered by many to have been far ahead of its time.