Opportunities and possibilities … we love these two words. When traveling in our motorhome, my husband, Steve, and I are always on the lookout for opportunities to meet new people and explore places that are unknown to us.
Cora “Jean” Jefcoat, L118344, wife of former FMCA national president Jeff Jefcoat (2001-2003), passed away on September 18, 2013, in South Carolina. She was 83.
In 1983 the B.C. Bus Nuts chapter was formed by 20 FMCA members from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and California. Originally, as our chapter name suggests, the members were bus converters who created functional motorhomes from bus chassis.
The Apollo Amigos chapter received its FMCA charter in 1993. The chapter was started when several members of the company-sponsored Apollo International RV Club had their memberships revoked because they no longer owned Apollo motorhomes.
On June 20, 1978, a group of friends met at Rex’s Restaurant in Morehead City, North Carolina. The purpose of this gathering was to organize a new chapter of Family Motor Coach Association.
Members of the Cardinal Virginians chapter gathered at the Staunton/Walnut Hills KOA in Staunton, Virginia, the weekend of May 17 through 19, 2013, to celebrate the group’s 20th year as an FMCA chapter.
Have you ever had an owl fly so close to you that your hair moved in the wind? Have you seen flower sculptures made of copper and paint that looked so real that you couldn’t tell the sculpture from the actual flower?
After the Ohio Nomads chapter received its FMCA charter on February 17, 1978, chapter members held their first official rally at the Strawberry Festival in Troy, Ohio, in June 1978. Records indicate that …
The Cruisin’ Cajuns chapter of Family Motor Coach Association was started by Harry and Ethel Wakefield in 1970. According to friends, the Wakefields lived in Lafayette, Louisiana, and enjoyed camping. So, they bought a motorhome. During one camping trip, Harry got the idea of …
In 1960, several men living in California’s Pomona Valley region discovered that they had all bought a 1940-era Flxible bus from a dealer in Los Angeles. They each had the same concept of converting them for use as mobile camping homes. So, they shared ideas about …
Ten motor coaches from the Blue Bird chapter rendezvoused at Montgomery Bell State Park in Burns, Tennessee, the afternoon of October 21, 2012. The following day, we would begin a tour of natural and historical sites along the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Johnnie Linebaugh, L12971, who served as national secretary and first lady of FMCA during the 1980s and early 1990s, passed away on April 11, 2013, in Jupiter, Florida. She was 92.
Frank “Scott” Brady, F19147, who served as FMCA national vice president, International Area, from 1988 to 1992, passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2013. He was 80.
Forty-three motorhomes from three FMCA chapters — Great American RV Club, Olympic Snowbirds, and Reigning Rex — gathered Sunday, September 16, through Wednesday, September 19, 2012, at the Swiss Sportsmen’s Club of Tacoma in Bonney Lake, Washington, for a three-chapter rally.
Members of the Travlin Texans chapter gathered at the Coffee Creek RV Resort in Santo, Texas, October 2 through 5, 2012, to commemorate the group’s 25th anniversary.
The Oswego Harborfest Rally, co-hosted by the Vintage Birds, Pen-NY Mixers, Fingerlakers, and New York Centrals chapters of FMCA, was a delightfully fun-filled, laid-back event on the shores of Lake Ontario.
John Samuelson, F19, passed away on February 7, 2013, in Bourne, Massachusetts, at the age of 95. He and his wife, Jean, who died in 2009, were among the 26 motor-coach-owning families who met in Hinckley, Maine, in July 1963 to view a solar eclipse.
The GMC Motorhomes International (GMCMI) chapter celebrated its 30th anniversary with a joyful, tasty, fun-filled week in quaint Amana, Iowa. Members arrived in their classic and colorful GMCs (and some in other brands) until we had more than 155 motorhomes in attendance for the rally…
William Patrick Conway, F99081, who served as FMCA national vice president, Northeast Area, from 2003 to 2007, passed away on Thursday, January 31, 2013, in Brooksville, Florida. He was 71.
Family & Friends: California Southwinders Chapter Donates To USO At Los Angeles, California, Airport
In December 2012, a delegation from the California Southwinders chapter met with Barbara Musella, center manager at the Bob Hope Hollywood USO at the Los Angeles airport (LAX), and presented a $500 donation.
Scooby, an 8-year-old English golden retriever owned by James Hsu and Michael Burger, F412587, had a blast during the Great Eastern Area Rally held October 10 through 14, 2012, at the York Expo Center in York, Pennsylvania.
The family fun experienced at FMCA’s 87th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, held August 27 through 30, 2012, in Indianapolis, Indiana, continued for nine member families of the FMCA Chapter: Habitat for Humanity® who traveled east toward Hamilton, Ohio, a town north of Cincinnati, following the international event.
On December 1, 2012, members of the Cenois Prairielanders chapter had their annual Christmas party at Shannon’s Five Star Restaurant in Bloomington, Illinois. During this gathering, we also held our second annual Christmas gift exchange for Toys for Tots.
The Heartland Execs chapter gathered for our 26th fall rally this past September at River Plantation RV Park in Sevierville, Tennessee.
In December 1993, the owners of 20 Roadtrek motorhomes gathered in Titusville, Florida, to view the launch of the space shuttle Endeavor and attend the very first regional rally of FMCA’s new Roadtrek International (RTI) chapter. Attendees didn’t realize then that they were launching a community that would bring thousands of Roadtrek owners hours of pleasure, many delightful adventures, and countless friends.
Gerine Reagen, F101008, who served as national vice president, Northwest Area, from 1997 to 2001, passed away on November 25, 2012, in Woodburn, Oregon. She was 76.
The second annual Country Coach Friendship Rally, presented by Country Coach Friends Inc. (CCFI), an international chapter of Family Motor Coach Association, brought 170 motorhome owners to the River Bend Resort in Harrisburg, Oregon, near Junction City, for five days of rally fun, July 24 through 28, 2012.
The 39th Six-State Rally, presented by the Six-State Rally Association (SRA), took place at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma, September 26 through 29, 2012.
Members of the New York Centrals chapter celebrated the group’s 35th anniversary during a rally at the Camillus Elks Lodge in Camillus, New York, June 14 through 17, 2012. New York Centrals members are from throughout central New York and southern Canada and have a rally the third weekend of most months from May through October.
Each year, Achievers International, an FMCA chapter that was established in 1986 for motorhomers with physical disabilities, designates a charitable organization to help. Typically, the chosen charity is based in the host city for FMCA’s Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase event.
We are the proud owners of a classic GMC motorhome. These RVs were built between 1973 and 1978 by General Motors Corporation. On Memorial Day weekend earlier this year, we had hundreds of people touring our motorhome at a car show.
Imagine, 45 years ago, inviting every “house car” or motorhome owner you could locate in the Denver, Colorado, area to your home for a get-together to share the passion for camping in a house on wheels. Howard and Jerre Ferrin of Golden, Colorado, did just that, creating a spark on July 23, 1966 . . .
Virginia “Ginny” Smith, L71987, wife of Dan Smith, national vice president, Rocky Mountain Area, from 1989-1992, died on July 27, 2012, in Mesa, Arizona. She was 91.
The Happy (OK) Wanderers chapter was formed in 1991 by Manuel and Ramona Jackson, a couple who enjoyed camping and RVing and wanted to encourage others to "wander along" the byways of Oklahoma and especially enjoy the state parks in the Sooner State.
Eight members of the Mohawk Roamers chapter attended a rally in Oswego, New York, during the 25th annual Harborfest celebration on Lake Ontario, July 26 through 29, 2012.
The Midwest Prairie Schooners chapter (MWPS) celebrated its 35th anniversary July 13 through 15, 2012, at The Great Escape RV Park & Campground in Higginsville, Missouri.
Early in the morning of April 22, 2012, a meteorite estimated to be the size of a minivan streaked through Earth’s atmosphere. The sonic boom and huge fireball that it created attracted plenty of attention over large parts of Nevada and California.
Where would you find RVs, chickens, cows, alligators, and pigs mixed in with friends, fun, and laughter? The place to be to see all of this was the 2012 Great Lakes Area Spring Spree (G.L.A.S.S.) at the Berrien County Youth Fair in Berrien Springs, Michigan, on Memorial Day weekend, May 24 through 28.
Rosalie Pindell, F105443, an ardent supporter of FMCA and the motorhome lifestyle, passed away July 16 at Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, surrounded by her three children. Rosalie, wife of the late Duane Pindell, former FMCA national vice president, Rocky Mountain Area, was 78.
When the Lone Star chapter received its charter in 1967, it became FMCA’s ninth chapter. Rallies at that time typically involved dry camping, open-pit fires, and BYOF (bring your own food). The wagon master was responsible for keeping the fire going all night.
Members of the Florida Ramblers observed the chapter’s 25th anniversary during the group’s April 2012 rally at Wild Frontier RV Park in Ocala, Florida.
Wedding bells rang during the Sandpipers’ chapter rally March 2 through 4, 2012, at Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions ranch in Myakka City, Florida. John Judy, national director of the chapter, and Josephine Jones were married at the ranch on March 3.
In 2011, Family Motor Coach Association and Fantasy RV Tours teamed up to launch the FMCA Tour Connection, powered by Fantasy RV Tours. This FMCA benefit offers members the opportunity to embark on FMCA-member-only RV caravans, rallies, and cruises at discounted rates, and also to receive an FMCA discount on any other Fantasy RV Tour event.
Since 2010, Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky, has hosted ChallengerFest, a weekend of drag racing and car shows for folks who own Dodge Challengers.
The Coaches For Christ – South Central chapter began in 2005 while R.G. Wilson, L21025, was FMCA’s national president. Since then we have gathered for two rallies each year — one in April and one in September.