czarsty

I have a 12 year old Splendide 2000 and use HE Tide liquid and it works quite well. I use the least amount and have had no problems. I have also used the Splendide powdered detergent and it was good too. I guess it hasn't mattered which detergent I use since the machine is going strong since Nov. 1998. I try not to overload it and often use the short wash since our clothes don't get too dirty. Good luck with the washer and have a wonderful trip.

Hello George.

As others have stated, you will have a great time at the GLASS rally. Be sure to go to the chapter fair. I will also offer one piece of advice that people aren't aware of. You can take your chair and reserve your spot on the floor of the entertainment venue. If you want to do this, be sure to do it as soon as you get settled, as the space fills up in a hurry and then you will have to sit in the bleacher seats. There is also a place reserved for the handicapped to put their chairs which is off the floor but a great viewing place.

I hope to see you there. Stop by and say hi. You can tell my coach by the orange tiger paw covers.

Judy Czarsty F79148
National Senior Vice President/
Acting National President

You have certainly given this some thought. I agree that there are times when many organizations must consider life memberships as a way to infuse cash. A temporary infusion of cash does help with current expenses but it can be harmful in the long term. This is because as prices increase and dues must go up; the association will lose any potential benefit of the increased dues for this segment of the membership. I do not agree that now is the time to consider offering more life memberships.

FMCA is strong and that is due in part to the fact that we have no real debt. At the end of December 2010 we had reserves of about $7 million. We do have an aging membership. Some older members are getting out of motorhoming and not renewing their membership. But, we also continue to bring in thousands of new members each year.

As with all businesses and even in our personal lives there are periods when our assets are not what we would like them to be. However, there is a misconception about the purpose of the $500 life memberships. The following passage is taken from the history of FMCA found on this web site under the drop down “Join FMCA” and then the drop down “About FMCA”

“By 1976 the association employed 15 full-time employees who attended to the needs of approximately 20,000 member families. FMCA's leaders determined that the association was now big enough to invest in property rather than continue to rent from others. Thus, the life member program was created to help raise the necessary funds for purchasing property. Thanks to the generosity of many FMCA members, who paid $500 each toward achieving this goal, enough money was raised to acquire property at 8291 Clough Pike in eastern Cincinnati, which continues to house the national office today.”

I hope this clarifies information about the purpose of those $500 life memberships and gives you a better understanding of our current financial position.

Judy Czarsty
National Senior Vice President/Acting National President
F79148

You are certainly right in your depiction of the campground but this is not what I was talking about.

Unfortunately I was not precise in my description of the park. It is Lake Farm Park and if you go to google earth and look for that name you will see the campground you are referring to with the balloon marked "B".

I was referring the to area with the balloon marked "C" which borders on the lake. You can see in the picture the trail leading to the pier on the lake. I am sorry for the confusion.

Madison will be a wonderful site. In addition to parking on the grounds of Alliant Energy Center and the abutting dog park we will have close-by parking which I think is phenomenal. FMCA is taking over the Lake Farm County Park and is it ever beautiful. There is green grass, tons of shade trees (but not so many that you can't get your satellite to work) pavilions, walking trails, and a huge lake where you can fish or boat if you bring your own boat. FMCA will run continuous shuttles from the park to the Alliant Energy Center less than 2 miles away. There will be ample busses running to get you back to your rig and your pet and then back to the exhibits, seminars, special events, and show coaches. Hope this answers your questions.