2003

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.

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.
1.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There are houses, and then there are houses. Some are the cookie-cutter variety, while others incorporate customized features.

As the holiday season approaches, many cities, towns, and hamlets in America are decked out in lights or finery. But some are garlanded every day of the year by a name that is associated with the yuletide season, such as Bethlehem, Noel, and North Pole.
A number of tourist attractions have special appeal during the holiday season, although they can be enjoyed any time of the year.

If you are an active RVer and have ever pushed your coach westbound late in the evening as the sun was about to set, I’m sure you have experienced what I call the “brutal sun zone.” Actually measured in inches, it’s that space between your lowered sun visor and the top of your dashboard. Ring a bell? The pervasive glare of the sun penetrates unabated through this gap, literally blinding you at times.

First impressions do matter when it comes to motorhomes. The Coach House Platinum type C, for example, exudes elegance and luxury, and has great eye appeal.

The Olympic Peninsula forms the northwest corner of Washington, with Puget Sound and Seattle to its east, the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. That may be its geographical description, but after you experience it, you’ll want to describe it with another word: diversity.
An amazingly different array of trees, wildflowers, weather, and land elevations all exist together here.

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.

The September 1980 issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine contained an article written by FMCA’s national president at the time, Harry Palmer, L481. His “FMCA Update” was titled “Help Choose A Convention Site.”
I thought you would be interested to see the convention site specifications he shared with the membership in that article, because they make for an interesting comparison with those of today.

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.

During our first year as full-time RVers, we paid an average of $17 per night in camping fees. That was seven years ago.