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Editor’s note: Mr. Eversmann presented the following report to the FMCA Governing Board during its meeting in Hutchinson, Kansas, this past October.
I would like to provide you a summary of the significant things that have been happening within the Family Motor Coach Association.

Our initial contact with any potential FMCA convention site usually starts with the facility’s staff. Such was the case with the Kansas State Fair Association in Hutchinson when we first contacted them in 1999 about the possibility of the fairgrounds hosting an FMCA convention.  The site played host to the South Central Area Six-State Rally that year.
From this initial contact right up to the time the last coach had left the fairgrounds after FMCA’s Motor “Home On The Range” convention in October 2002, I have had nothing but thanks and praise for general manager Bill Ogg and his staff.

Gold was hidden in Arizona’s Bradshaw Mountains; silver, too. And copper, in huge, profitable amounts.

Strange and wonderful things happen in life, and the explanations for why they happen often make for interesting reading. Such is the case not once, but at least twice, with Newell Coach Corporation.
The history of the company — how it got started and why it continues to thrive in the provincial northeast corner of Oklahoma — is a fascinating two-part story.

We drove west toward Vicksburg, Mississippi, roughly following the route that Union General Ulysses S. Grant took during the Civil War as part of his unrelenting campaign to take the city on the hill.

Following its successful 1999 purchase and subsequent upgrade of General Motors’ gas-powered motorhome chassis manufacturing operation, Workhorse Custom Chassis, C8291, ventured into new territory this past July by unveiling its new R Series diesel-pusher chassis to industry insiders gathered in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In an effort to provide motorhome customers with more choices and options, the new Workhorse diesel chassis will be equipped with Cummins engines in three horsepower modes. The standard engine is the 350-horsepower ISC power plant, with an optional 330-horsepower ISC engine also available.

The corner shelves in our motorhome’s shower are in a handy location for bars of soap or shampoo containers. But the shelves are designed to shed water as well as any item placed on them.

A replacement suspension kit from Holbrook Specialties promises to improve the ride and towability of a Jeep CJ. The asymmetrical springs of the Holbrook LongLeaf spring kit are approximately 10 inches longer than the vehicle’s stock springs.

Motorhomers who want to explore the natural wonders and rural history of Minnesota may be interested in Shawn Perich’s new book, Backroads Of Minnesota ($19.95, Voyageur Press). The book leads travelers on a scenic tour of the Gopher State, revealing many of Minnesota’s hidden treasures.
Included in the book are more than 30 recommended drives that visit many of the parks, rivers, lakes, and other sites that capture Minnesota’s colorful history.

It seems safe to say that if any company can create a coach that offers as much luxury as is implied in the term “mansion on wheels,” it would be Newell Coach of Miami, Oklahoma. Newell builds custom coaches that epitomize luxury and range in price from $700,000 to more than $1 million.

When you decide to make your motorhome your full-time residence, one part of the process must be to take a look at your insurance coverage. The RV insurance policy you had as a homeowner and part-time motorhomer won’t cover all the bases.

November has been designated “National American Indian Heritage Month” in the United States, so we decided to recommend some sites to visit to help celebrate the occasion. Those who live in or are visiting the Midwest or South will notice that none of the mound-building American Indian cultures are represented in this month’s column.

Some years back, we lived in an area that claimed to be the foggiest place in the United States. Old-timers said the location had been used during World War II to test the ability of pilots to land their planes under extremely foggy conditions, and the airport in the northern California town of Arcata had some of the most consistent fog anywhere.
More recently, we checked some weather maps and found that the area along the northern California coast still is as foggy as we remembered — more than 60 days a year the visibility drops to less than a quarter-mile.

With colder weather creeping up on us, we’re reminded that winter isn’t far off. But for some FMCA members, winter is a lifestyle rather than a season.

Members of FMCA’s Golden Spike and Western Bounders & Buddies chapters have enjoyed many good times at rallies and different outings throughout the years. But every so often there is one exceptional rally that will be talked about long after it’s over.

Q: What kind of information do you have on braking systems for towed vehicles? Can you recommend any system? I have a motorhome with hydraulic brakes and I will tow a Honda Accord.
Don Rader, F169185
Veradale, Washington

A: The July 2001 issue of FMC magazine included an article (“Supplemental Braking Systems,” page 60) that provided brief information about more than a dozen different supplemental braking systems for towed vehicles. The systems were not tested.

The “Holding Tank Headaches?” article that appeared in the August 2002 issue (page 68) was not properly attributed to Tony Suddon, its primary author. Mr.

Approximately four years ago, FMCA leaders decided to begin the process of developing a long-range plan and modernizing the association’s governing documents. The first step was to establish a committee of FMCA members who would be charged with bringing forth a plan that would help to direct the association’s future.

A few years back, my wife, Joan, and I flew from Hong Kong to Los Angeles with only brief stops in Tokyo to refuel and in Honolulu to clear customs. Although we fortunately had seats with plenty of legroom, the long flight had taken its toll.

I have now completed one term as president of FMCA and would like to thank everyone for their support this past year. During the Governing Board meeting on September 30 in Hutchinson, Kansas, association business included an election of the four national officers for the 2002-2003 term.

If you’re looking for small-town America, then a visit to the village of Waynesville, Ohio, is in order. Located in the southwestern part of the state, this quaint town is a mecca for those seeking a slower pace.

Traveling by motorhome is a comfortable way to visit different parts of North America. But the cozy confines of your motor coach may cause you to become too relaxed, allowing your natural defenses to slip.

You exit the diner . .

Since the beginning of civilization, man has sought a bigger stick — to protect his family, keep the belongings that were his, and, on occasion, to take the things that weren’t. This most likely will continue until his time on Earth is finished.
In the early morning of July 16, 1945, in the bleak desert near Alamogordo, New Mexico, on a site code-named “Trinity,” man found the ultimate ”stick.” With a flash as bright as a thousand suns and an earth-gouging roar, the first atomic weapon was exploded.

Some Christmas travel destinations quickly fade from memory, just like shooting stars. Not so with Goliad, Texas, the “Star of the South.” Goliad’s stellar attractions shine year-round, but at Christmas the sights and sounds are out of this world.
Imagine a 253-year-old Spanish mission outlined in 20,000 white lights, a spectacle to behold and photograph.

I was watching TV a few months ago when a commercial that flashed across the screen caught my attention. “Hey, Hon, take a look at this,” I called to my wife.

Next to your motorhome’s entrance door, you likely will find a small black-and-gold emblem like the one shown in the illustration. It is the seal of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).

South of the busy Tampa-St. Petersburg area, Interstate 75 leads travelers toward a region along the Gulf of Mexico with great beaches but fewer crowds.

On hot days, mothers watch their toddlers play at an interactive fountain at the Tammany Trace trailhead in Mandeville, Louisiana. The water spouts triggered by “lily pad” buttons are in a paved area outlined in the shape of Lake Ponchartrain.

In a spacious factory surrounded by cornfields that stretch for miles over the rolling hills of northeastern Missouri, Don and Carol Jenkins, owners of Superbus 1 LTD, C8623, have been making some of the finest motorhomes — “ultimate bus conversions,” Mr. Jenkins calls them — that money can buy.

Have you ever stopped for fuel and then pulled back on the highway going the wrong way? My wife does it all the time. While she loves traveling and seeing new sights, and enjoys meeting new friends (strangers, to her, are merely friends she hasn’t met yet), she admittedly has no sense of direction.

The operating instructions for our Spendide RV washing machine call for using 2 tablespoons or 1 ounce of detergent per load. There doesn’t seem to be an easy way to mark this amount on the liquid detergent cap.

The Sidewinder sewer hose support from Camco can keep sewer hoses off the ground and angled for proper drainage even when the terrain is irregular or full of obstacles. The lightweight plastic support features welded seams for stability and long-lasting use, and deep cradles that hold the sewer hose in place without support straps.
No assembly is required to use the Sidewinder; simply open the support and place the sewer hose on top.

Motorhomers who want to explore the natural wonders and rural history of Minnesota may be interested in Shawn Perich’s new book, Backroads Of Minnesota ($19.95, Voyageur Press). The book leads travelers on a scenic tour of the Gopher State, revealing many of Minnesota’s hidden treasures.
Included in the book are more than 30 recommended drives that visit many of the parks, rivers, lakes, and other sites that capture Minnesota’s colorful history.

Whether you enjoy following the NASCAR circuit, tailgating with your favorite football team, or carrying along a pair of all-terrain vehicles in your travels, the Fun Mover motorhome from Four Winds International could be a worthy companion. Even a pair of personal watercraft, with the proper “trolleys,” can be transported inside the Fun Mover, kept safe from curious eyes and fingers.

Winter camping is a snug and cozy time, when meals are more fun to make, because they warm up the interior of the coach and fill it with great aromas. The family is hungrier, fresh from the ski slopes or biking trails.

FMCA’s Executive Committee 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 July 2002 issue prior to the election at FMCA’s 68th Premier International Motorhome Extravaganza in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Ceiling fans have been used in houses for many years. In warm weather, they do a great job of stirring up a breeze when air conditioning is not yet needed.

This observation from Hippocrates (circa 460-circa 377 B.C.), the father of medicine, indicates that a long, healthful, productive life requires only a moderation of effort.

Let’s get rolling with several casserole recipes that are sure to be greeted at the table to a chorus of oohs and aahs. These recipes were chosen for one of two reasons: either they are easy to assemble in the coach, or they are ideal for preparing at home and refrigerating or freezing for a future trip.
To make the transition from refrigerator to oven to table easier, consider buying Pyrex Portables in places where kitchenware is sold.

You can’t outrun taxes when you go full-timing. But full-timing likely will change the way you manage your taxes.

When most people think of lizards, they picture a cute little critter with a long tail and a lively disposition. But you’ll need to conjure an entirely different image for this desert reptile — it’s a real monster.

History books often give men all the credit for the establishment and growth of the United States. What these books fail to recognize, however, is the role women played in the development of this great country.

A longtime supporter and friend of FMCA passed away August 16, 2002, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dorothy Scott, L63, known as Dotty, was the wife of the late Kenneth T.

Q: Please give me some information on traveling in California and Nevada. My motorhome is a 42-foot Beaver and I typically have a towed car attached.

Dear Editor:
While we were on vacation and traveling near Boise, Idaho, our motorhome was involved in an accident. A truck came across the median from the opposite direction and hit our coach almost head-on, causing it to roll over.

Many FMCA members, myself included, have enjoyed the convenience of using the telephone and Internet services provided as a member benefit through FMCA’s partner, American Telecom Network (ATN). As an agent for telephone companies, ATN is able to offer lower rates than customers can get on their own; however, ATN is not involved in providing the actual service.
Users of FMCA’s phone service through ATN currently receive the service and phone bill from TTI National, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of WorldCom.

It was a Tuesday like any other Tuesday. My wife, Ann, and I had attended the FMCA international convention in Redmond, Oregon, a few days before.

As I write this column, I have been grounded by my doctor for a few days. One of the four arteries involved in a bypass operation that I underwent in January of 1983 developed a 90 percent blockage.

It has been nearly 200 years since Andrew Jackson purchased the property on which The Hermitage now stands. Yet visitors to the plantation, with its stately, columned mansion, lush grounds, and historic outbuildings, are able to return to the past as they envision Jackson’s home life.
In 1804 the future president paid $3,400 for the original 425-acre tract 12 miles east of Nashville, Tennessee.