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2003
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Without a doubt, the use of supplemental braking systems is one of the most-discussed topics among motorhome owners. Visit any RV forum and you are sure to find someone requesting information about whether a supplemental braking system is needed. The answer should be a resounding “Yes.”
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Developing an emergency exit plan and having several fire extinguishers in your motorhome will help to keep you and your loved ones secure while traveling and camping.
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From time to time I hear comments from members and nonmembers that they perceive FMCA to be an organization for well-to-do type A motorhome owners. I can understand how people might get that impression.
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Since 1988, Bob Helvie, founder and owner of Startracks Custom Lifts in Elkhart, Indiana, has built devices designed to make life easier for the physically challenged. The work, he said, “began humbly, a seat-of-the-pants production, when I designed a travel trailer with a lift.â€
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The final passport rule, home state considerations, finding a post-retirement job, and other tidbits to keep you informed.
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Committees! Who needs them? Aren’t they just a bunch of people sitting around arguing about one thing or another? Well, actually, in order to get many things done, FMCA’s Executive Board relies heavily upon the work of its various committees.
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Every year, hundreds of people in the United States die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and thousands of others end up in hospital emergency rooms from breathing this noxious gas. The statistics are regrettable, as most of these incidents could be avoided.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no color, odor, or taste. -
This month I am dedicating my column to the questions most frequently answered by the staff in our Membership Services Department. I have found that although the facts are quite familiar to those of us who work with the issues daily, they may not be to members who deal with us infrequently, or those who are new members of FMCA.
Beverly Spurgeon, director of membership services, and the Membership Services Department staff have compiled the following list of the most frequently asked questions and the answers. -
Full-timing is certainly a wonderful lifestyle, but it doesn’t relieve you from paying attention to the real-life situations and responsibilities you had before you took to the road. Here are a few things to keep your eye on as the year progresses.
The fine print. -
What to do about the mail is always a concern for the traveling family. Motorhomers who enjoy extended summer trips or winters in warmer climes and full-timers who travel wherever the winds may take them are especially aware that keeping up with the mail can be a source of frustration and worry.
FMCA’s mail forwarding service* was instituted as a member benefit so that families might enjoy their travels without having to worry about when and where they would receive their mail.
FMCA members who wish to sign up for this service are asked to follow the procedures listed below to ensure uninterrupted mail service once they depart.
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Updated information regarding the many benefits and services available to members of the Family Motor Coach Association.
Membership in the Family Motor Coach Association brings with it a wealth of benefits that are of value to the motorhome traveler. Some of these benefits are obvious — the subscription to Family Motor Coaching magazine, for example — and some are not so obvious. -
If you missed FMCA’s 75th International Convention in Pomona, California, held Monday, March 20, through Thursday, March 23, you missed a great celebration. The number of family coaches attending our “Celebrating Family” convention was 2,892, and we had 1,375 commercial coaches, for a total of 4,267.
Although the weather was cool and damp on the first few days, it improved each day, and the last two days were ideal. -
FMCA’s Executive Board is made up of the national president, senior vice president, secretary, and treasurer, along with the 10 area vice presidents. FMCA members were able to learn more about the four nationally elected officers when their resumes were published in the June 2005 issue prior to the election at FMCA’s 74th International Convention in Minot, North Dakota.
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This committee formerly was known as the Insurance and Risk Management Committee, and its name was changed because of its new focus over the past couple of years. After ensuring that the property and casualty policies (these cover the building and equipment owned by FMCA) were up-to-date, the committee began to focus on what risk management means to FMCA.
FMCA provides coverage for all active members via two programs: the Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance policy and the MEDEX emergency medical assistance program. -
This small, friendly chapter enjoys outings in the Great Lakes region.
In 1989 when the PALS chapter was formed, members named the group by using the first letters from the words “Pace Arrow Lakers.” You had to own a Fleetwood Pace Arrow motorhome to join, and the “Lakers” part referred to FMCA’s Great Lakes Area, which is the chapter’s geographical scope.
Times change, of course, and as members replaced their coaches with other brands, they didn’t want to have to give up their friendships. So ever since July 2000, the PALS chapter has welcomed FMCA members who own any brand or type of motorhome, be it a type A, B, or C, or a bus conversion. -
Effective January 1, 2001, FMCA contracted with MEDEX Assistance Corporation to provide active family and life members with coverage under the MEDEX PLUS Program. This program helps traveling members to effectively manage the complexities and expenses of out-of-area medical and travel emergencies.
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Try these delicious recipes, each with a secret shortcut or two, as you travel in your motorhome. They’ll save time and mess without letting your culinary standards slip.
Dockside Blueberry Crisp
This recipe, a freebie from the folks at Dockside Jewelers in Juneau, Alaska, celebrates blueberry season in the northernmost state, where this bursting blue fruit can be found growing in the wilderness. -
You’ve watched as pounds seemingly melt off your friends who are on one of the new, low-carb diets. Now, with the help of the late Dr.
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Can you imagine seeing a half-pound ground squirrel taking on a rattler? Believe it or not, this is normal behavior for a California ground squirrel. You see, when a ground squirrel senses a rattlesnake around, it assesses the situation for a few minutes, and then it gets confrontational.
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When we decided to look into the National Scenic Byways Program, we had no idea of the breadth of possibilities. Not just any road qualifies as a National Scenic Byway or an All-American Road, which together have been designated by the U.S.
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Recently I spoke with two RV industry executives who assess customers’ needs and wants and translate them into product design: Luc Van Herle, motorhome product planning manager for Fleetwood Enterprises, and Patrick Carroll, vice president of product development at Monaco Coach Corporation. I found their comments very interesting.
Van Herle was in the midst of his annual look into a crystal ball to see what motorhomes will look like five years from now. -
Achievers International chapter vice president Marge Mazzone, F217160, had a fulfilling career as a dedicated nurse until a work-related accident changed her life. While responding to an emergency, Marge tripped and fell, cracking the vertebrae in her lower back.
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Residents of Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province, were treated to a phenomenal sight as approximately 750 motorhomes from the United States and Canada crossed the eight-mile-long (12.9-kilometer) Confederation Bridge for the 11th annual Northeast Area Rally. The event, titled “Come Play On Our Island,” took place July 25, 26, and 27, 2003, at Cabot Beach Provincial Park.
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Now that we have safely returned from a five-week trip to the Midwest, we want to thank the 25 to 30 FMCA members who cared enough to call, write, or e-mail in response to my plea for help in a letter published in the May 2003 issue (“More Stalling And Surging,” page 28).
The majority of those who responded recommended replacing the fuel pump in the gas tank, which we did. The result was smooth-as-silk performance this year in all conditions and temperatures, including getting stuck in traffic more than once. -
Dear Editor:
A family is an ever-growing life mobile; a formation center for human relationships; a perpetual relay of truth; a museum of memories. All these things a family is, and much, much more.
Have you ever thought about why we are called the Family Motor Coach Association? If you had been in my shoes this past July at the FMCA convention in Buffalo, New York, you would have no trouble answering this question. -
One of the greatest benefits of membership in the Family Motor Coach Association is the opportunity to join a chapter. Chapters truly offer the most opportunities for fun and fellowship.
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I’m very excited about the plans we have made for FMCA’s 71st International Convention. It will be the first time we have held a convention in the beautiful Southwest city of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Several new events are being planned for this convention, which we’re calling the “Albuquerque Adventure.” Albuquerque offers a unique mixture of cultures, natural beauty, historic attractions, mild and fiery cuisine, museums, and shopping to create an unforgettable visit for everyone attending.
Albuquerque hosts the largest and most photographed balloon event in the world. -
Whatever became of those glittering world’s fairs that seemed to appear overnight like fairyland cities? They attracted participants from around the globe, and throngs reveled in the attractions.
World’s fairs are not gone; they are still being held in locations around the globe. But to Americans and Canadians, they may seem to be a thing of the past, as one hasn’t occurred in North America since 1986.
Motorhome travelers today who enjoy nostalgia, history, or even the latest invention still can visit the sites of world’s fairs from times past. -
Many motorhomers already rely on portable computers to find information on the Internet, send e-mail messages to friends and family, and run navigation and mapping software while on the road. With the right setup and software, that small computer can do so much more.
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It’s nearly twilight on a warm, humid Sunday in late September at East Fork State Park in southwest Ohio. In the campground, about 40 men and women, mostly between the ages of 50 and 75, are gathered outside in a circle formed by picnic tables and chairs.
Their potluck meal is over, and the leftover desserts are a tempting sight. -
The milestone achieved in October 2002 underscores how agencies with different agendas can work together to resolve social, economic, and political issues. Those who build diesel engines for motorhomes worked with the federal and state regulatory agencies that determine diesel exhaust emissions standards to achieve that milestone.
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Some may call it the “Forgotten Coast,” but travelers who visit a 120-mile portion of Florida’s Panhandle will long remember it. The section of coastline in question stretches between Panama City and Tallahassee, from Mexico Beach (east of Panama City) to St.
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What mile-high city is rich in natural and cultural history, has a mild year-round climate, is bisected by one of the most famous highways in the world, can be seen from the world’s longest tram, and hosts the largest and most-photographed hot-air balloon event in the world?
If your answer is Albuquerque, New Mexico, give yourself a pat on the back. Most people associate any reference to a mile-high city with Denver, which lies 450 miles north of Albuquerque. -
As noted in last month’s “Type A Chassis: The Gas Pullers” story, only two manufacturers build gas-powered chassis for type A motorhomes today. At least 10 manufacturers are vying for the consumer’s diesel dollar.
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Afraid of misplacing or losing my keys, I needed a place to keep an extra set that was easily accessible. I found it with this push-button box that can be mounted on the motorhome, holds two keys, and is worth its weight in gold.
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The Traveler golf pull cart, which weighs just 11 pounds, disassembles easily and folds down to 24 inches long by 12 inches wide by 20 inches deep for convenient storage. Made of welded 18-gauge steel tubing, the cart includes 12-inch removable wheels with steel ball bearings and a width-adjustable axle.
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Luxury motorhome manufacturer Country Coach, C2132, is celebrating its third decade in the RV manufacturing business with the 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Magna. This 42-foot flat-floor, triple-slideout motorhome, which debuted at the annual Country Coach Class Reunion Rally in September 2003, will be offered in a limited production run of 30 units.
“This coach is a culmination of the things people look for in a Country Coach — and then some,” said company CEO and founder Bob Lee. -
Georgie Boy is prepared to soar to new heights with the introduction of the 2004 Cruise Air XL. The latest version of this popular diesel pusher offers many upgraded appliance options, new interior wood finishes, redesigned lighting, and a black water tank rinse system.
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If it looks like a diesel and drives like a diesel, then it must be a diesel, right? Wrong! Totally redesigned and built on the Workhorse W22 chassis, the 2004 Fleetwood Pace Arrow has all the earmarks of a high-line diesel pusher. These features include new graphics, a roofline that is 5 inches higher than that of the previous model, and 22.5-inch wheels and tires.
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Life today is lightning-paced, with constant changes in everything from taxes to technology. Overdraw a checking account because your automatic electronic deposit was late by a few minutes, and you’re charged $50.
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Want to see a fossil firsthand? No, we aren’t talking about your great aunt Mary, but about really old fossils. Check out these national monuments, parks, and recreation areas that claim fossils as part of the reason for a visit.
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Whether you’re cooking for two or 12, you’ll find a recipe here that’s easy to prepare and is sure to tantalize your taste buds.
Low Country Shrimp Boil
The nice thing about this recipe is that it easily can be portioned to serve a dozen people, making it ideal for campground potlucks. For even cooking, choose potatoes that are all approximately the same size. -
This time of year, you’ll notice that birds frequently feed and move about in mixed flocks. Why would they do that? What is the advantage in having more mouths at the table? Actually, there are several payoffs for such behavior.
For one thing, feeding with companions increases the number of eyes and ears available to detect predators. -
On a warm, sunny day in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, a rural community just north of Chattanooga, the door to Horsin Around, the only carousel animal carving school in the United States, stands wide open. Inside, sunlight floods the 1,500-square-foot studio, illuminating rows of shelves laden with carved wooden animal heads — horses, dogs, giraffes, and more — many of them works in progress.
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Q: I have a 2001 Jeep Wrangler and would like to wire it so it can be towed behind my diesel pusher. Is there a wiring harness that will plug into the existing factory wiring, and if so, where can it be purchased?
Robert Laird, F321471
Beaumont, Texas
A: RoadMaster (5602 N.E. -
Dear Editor:
As many of you know, my husband, Eddie, and I traveled to Buffalo, New York, in July to attend the FMCA convention and the Governing Board meeting. On July 16, the first morning of the Governing Board meeting, Eddie became ill. -
It is said that opportunity knocks only once. In 1998 I was given the opportunity to serve on the Legislative Advisory Committee, and accepted the appointment with the hope that the work I would be involved in would benefit my FMCA fellow members.
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There has been much discussion and support through the years for FMCA to have a permanent site for one of its annual conventions. In his final address to the Governing Board at the convention in Buffalo, New York, this past July, immediate past president Jeff Jefcoat, L118344, asked the new Executive Board to give consideration to this idea.