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COVERED WAGONS
Chapter of the FMCA
12648
170th Street
Linwood,
Kansas 66052-4040
National Director’s Report
January 29, 2012
Every time I
think that things are going to be quiet on the National
level, they surprise me by bringing up something new.
For those of you who were at the meeting on Saturday
the 28th, this will be a review of what I
discussed. For
those of you who couldn’t attend, please read the
following and let me know your thoughts.
TOWABLES
Over the past
two years I have told you about the thoughts of allowing
towables to attend the National Reunions.
This past December the Executive Board voted to allow
towables to attend the 2012 Reunion in Indianapolis.
This decision was not made lightly.
We all realize that Motorhome ownership is declining,
which impacts the membership of FMCA.
Our membership has declined by many thousands during
this latest turndown of the economy because the current
membership is aging and there just are not that many new
Motorhome owners available to take their place.
As I have told you, repeatedly, your National
officers have cut expenses to the bear minimum in every area
that they could. Our
membership drives have not been able to keep up with the
attrition.
The FMCA needs
to change! The
Executive Board is looking for our input to decide whether
we should, formally, incorporate towables into our
membership. One
of the driving forces behind allowing towables into the FMCA
is to increase revenue so that we can start expanding the
services of the FMCA instead of contracting.
As was discussed
in the meeting, nothing has been decided as of yet.
The Executive Board is looking for guidance. A ballot was handed out during the meeting with the following
questions:
·
Should we allow towable RV families to
join the FMCA as a Family Member
·
If allowed, should these new members have
full benefits or should they be denied the privilege to vote
and hold office
·
Should we allow Towable Families to attend
FMCA events without becoming an FMCA member
·
If Towable Families were allowed to join
the FMCA, would you drop your membership
Before the vote
was taken, we had a very lengthy discussion of the pros and
cons of opening up the FMCA to Towables.
You made me very proud to be you National Director as
all of the questions were constructive.
I didn’t hear a single, negative, question or
comment from anyone.
One question
that was raised was if the FMCA had considered merging with
Good Sam. I
honestly, do not know if any such consideration has been
made by the Executive Board, but I would assume they would
have to be very careful in broaching this subject.
Those of you from Kansas City know what happened to
TWA when they merged with American Airlines!
At this time,
the Executive Board is just looking for guidance.
I would not expect to see any, major, changes for at
least a year or two. Please
continue to send me your questions and comments and I will
see that they get into the right hands.
FMCA MASCOT CONTEST
I was going to update you with the latest
information on the Mascot Contest, but I see that they have
published the flyer in the February issue of Family Motor
Coaching on page 29. Please note that the contest closes on March 30th,
so send in your ideas as directed.
Even if you idea is not chosen, all entrants will be
placed in a drawing to award full hookups at the
Indianapolis Reunion.
UPCOMING FMCA REUNONS
Summer 2012 – Indianapolis, Indiana
(Monday, August 27 thru Thursday, August 30th)
Summer 2013 – Cam-Plex, Gillette,
Wyoming, Kansas (Dates To Be Determined)
If you have never been to the Cam-Plex it
is worth your while to visit www.cam-plex.com.
This is a facility that was designed from the ground
up to be an RV only convention site.
SIX STATE ASSOCIATION
Future Six State Rally sites:
2012 – Shawnee, Oklahoma (Wednesday,
September 26 thru Saturday, September 29)
David
R. Marlowe
Covered
Wagons Chapter
National Director
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