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Now that we are quickly approaching FMCA’s 82nd International Convention, I want to devote this month’s column to that large group of individuals who give so much of their time and talents to make the association’s conventions a success: volunteers.

Some of us might not be as knowledgeable of the Internet and of using Web sites as others. However, I believe that we all would like to learn how to benefit from the advances that have been developed using these forms of communication.

Post-Convention Repair

Dear Editor:
My wife, Mary, and I attended our very first FMCA convention in Perry, Georgia, this past March after having numerous FMCA members encourage us to do so.

Butane Vs. Propane

Could I get some clarification on the propane versus butane issue brought up by Walter A. Szczepanik in his letter (“Propane Or Butane?” page 25) in the October 2008 issue of the magazine?

Navistar has announced NHTSA recall 09V110000, which affects 2001 through 2008 Workhorse Custom Chassis W20, W21, and W22 motorhome chassis manufactured from July 24, 2000, through December 19, 2007.

Winnebago Industries plant tours resume

If you’ve ever wondered what goes into building a modern-day motorhome, you can see for yourself thanks to Winnebago Industries. The company, based in Forest City, Iowa, resumed its tours on April 6 …

When you hit the road this summer, consider these particularly scenic highways, some of the best drives in North America.

What’s the most unusual place or attraction you’ve visited during a motorhome trip?

Golden tips to help you find inexpensive books, compare cell phone plans, avoid extra postal expenses, and more.

FMCA’s national treasurer, Doug Key, reports on the financial status of FMCA. He reviews revenues and expenses for 2008, and also discusses the association’s investment portfolio. Treasurer’s Comments includes a…

The RV Friendly signage program was rolling right along. In September 2005 the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued an interim approval for states to use the RV Friendly symbol. By the end of 2007, 15 states had enacted RV Friendly legislation or started programs administratively under FHWA’s interim approval.

The economic downturn has had a profound effect on the RV industry. Uncertainty has left consumers wondering how they will be affected. Following is an update, and some potential answers.

Every two years, FMCA members hold elections for national president, senior vice president, treasurer, and secretary. As I write this, there are five candidates for the office of president and three for senior vice president.

FMCA members attend conventions to shop; to enjoy the entertainment; to meet up with old friends; and, in some cases, to travel to new destinations. They visit FMCA area rallies for the same reasons. 

Repairing wheel rims may be risky

Dear Editor:
An FMCA commercial member contacted us to comment about the fix for the towed vehicle wheel rim described in an April 2009 “Readers’ Forum” letter (“The Tire, The Rim, And The Rock,” page 20). He wrote: “If you are off-roading and dent a steel rim …

Digital TV questions

We have two TV sets in our motorhome on the antenna with the power booster. Will we need the converter box for each set even though the one is digital?

Forest River Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 08V664000, which affects some 2007 through 2009 model-year Georgetown motorhomes.

Several years ago we made our first plane flight into San Francisco, California, arriving in the early evening. As we descended toward the airport, we could see an exceptionally large painted patchwork of rich reds, pale greens, and various shades in between. 

Enjoy the tastes of Appalachia with these easy-to-make Southern recipes.

What’s the best state or province for motorhome travel?

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.

Reduce your time in the kitchen with these easy-to-prepare meals.
The slow food movement is gathering momentum, but that doesn’t mean you have to eliminate shortcuts. These recipes were chosen for their traditional taste yet time-shaving appeal to motor coach chefs.
Thanks to Judy Nelson, F144141, for sharing this delicious soup.

Countless opportunities exist for motorhomers to use their time and talents to help make the world a better place.
Forty-five million Americans are involved in some kind of volunteer activities. Eighty-five thousand of them volunteer in the country’s park systems — national, state, county, and local.

A new mail option; estate taxes; free information; managing food costs.
As always, this column’s focus is on people whose motor coaches also serve as their homes. Full-timers’ needs are unique, their problems varied, and their lifestyle enviable.

Physical adaptations allow nocturnal animals to see through the darkness.
Off in the distance, under a moonless midnight sky, a meadow mouse rustles nearly unseen in the dry stubble of last season’s grass. The mouse feels a sense of security in the dark surroundings, but on the other side of the meadow, perched on a dead branch, an owl watches it intently.
Many creatures are more active at night, and most see quite well in the dark.

This fun and loving bunch rallies right in RV-owners’ heaven, and they know it!
Northeast Florida and southeast Georgia might just be the chewy caramel center of the RVing world. Campgrounds abound, the weather is hospitable most of the time, and your motorhome is a welcome part of the scenery, right along with the sunshine and flowers.
So is it any wonder that Sun Wheelers chapter members, who all live in this region, hold their rallies here, too? There are exceptions, but typically rallies occur “within about 125 to 150 miles of Jacksonville,” explained chapter president Doug Pearson.

If you love to watch auto racing, you really would have enjoyed the Monaco Northwest chapter rally at the Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon, June 8 through 10, 2007. This three-day event included the Star Mazda, Atlantic, and Champ Car series races.

Dear RV Doctor:
We have a single-lever faucet on our shower that has a continuous drip when the water heater is on. I carefully replaced all the parts within the faucet with a kit, but to no avail.

I have a 37-foot 1998 Pace Arrow on a Ford chassis. My generator won’t pull fuel from the chassis’ fuel tank even when the tank is full.

Two images were incorrectly identified in an article about braking systems in the October 2007 issue (“Stop On A Dime”). On page 85, the top illustration depicts a drum brake; the bottom, a disc brake.

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Battery Talk
Dear Editor:
A couple of comments about the September 2007 article on batteries (“Basic Battery maintenance,” page 66).

Some of the most important decisions entrusted to a new FMCA president are made within the first few weeks of assuming office. They include appointing members to the national committees that will, for the most part, guide FMCA through the coming year.
Throughout my campaign for election as national president, I promised to appoint members based on their qualifications and experience, and to provide as much diversification as I possibly could.

When I grew up, we never threw anything away. Everything had a second use, and if you didn’t know what to do with it, you saved it anyway, just in case.

To some, Nevada is either desert or glitz. But the state has mountains that lift the soul, offering sights that stay with you forever.
One such jewel is Thomas Canyon, located near Elko in the northeastern part of Nevada.

Some Lubbock folks swear that on early summer evenings when a warm zephyr comes off the High Plains, they can hear Buddy Holly’s sweet guitar strings playing “Peggy Sue.” But Lubbock, Texas, is much more than music. It has more hues than a West Texas sunset.
One big aspect of Lubbock’s attractiveness is its weather.

The origin of the word “tip” is controversial and mostly unsubstantiated, but legend has it the term is a 16th-century acronym derived from the phrase “to insure promptness.” Despite its inception, one thing is for certain: as you travel in your motorhome, the question of whom to tip will often arise.
It’s easy to remember to reward someone who provides a personal service. Hairstylists, manicurists, shoeshine attendants, or masseuses who provide you the indulgence of a well-needed massage are generally tipped 10 to 15 percent of the total bill, depending on how satisfied you are with the service.
When it comes to pampering your pet, Richie Powell, a pet store owner for almost 20 years said that customers in his shop generally tip around 10 percent, “but there are several known to tip up to 20 percent.”
Certain delivery services warrant a tip.

Fulton, Missouri, a town of about 12,000 in the heart of rural America, is an unlikely spot for a former British prime minister to visit. But what makes it even more unusual is that the statesman, called “the greatest Englishman of his time,” gave a speech there in 1946 that resonated throughout the world for years to come.
Sir Winston Churchill had led his country through World War II, yet he chose Fulton’s Westminster College, a small liberal arts men’s school (now co-ed) as the site for the speech.

Can you imagine life without cell phones, high-speed Internet, and e-mail? Not long ago, these conveniences were considered high-tech wonders more than everyday necessities. But as many people have discovered, the speed of technology, particularly in electronics, is measured not in time, but in the rollout of new models with more advanced features.
The products described below include some of the latest technological innovations and have been selected because they fit the motorhoming lifestyle.

Whether caused by a backing mishap, by turning too wide, or from some mysterious force, it seems that dented exhaust pipes are fairly common among motorhomes. Replacing the dented piece may require a chat with a loan officer at the dealership.

Keepsakes need a special place in the motorhome, and they collect dust, but you can make a travel collection without buying a thing. My husband and I travel from state to state “collecting” national parks and monuments, wildlife refuges, and even state high points.