tmoning
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Posts posted by tmoning
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With regard to motorhoming, what are you thankful for?
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I'm posting this on behalf of Charlie Shrenkel, FMCA National President
To all FMCA members:
I have accepted the resignation of Don Eversmann as Executive Director of Family Motor Coach Association. Don has been an asset to the association for the past 11-1/2 years and will be missed by all who came in contact with him here in Cincinnati and through his many outside association contacts. All of us here at Family Motor Coach Association headquarters wish Don well in his future endeavors.
A search committee for a new Executive Director will be put in place and the process will begin shortly.
Charlie Schrenkel, F140050
National President
Family Motor Coach Association
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To all of our veterans: Thank you for your service to our country. We're very proud to have so many former members of the Armed Services as members of FMCA.
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I'm posting the following questions at the request of Charlie Schrenkel, FMCA national president:
- Do you currently carry pet health insurance?
- Would you be interested in purchasing insurance for your pet(s) through an FMCA group discounted rate?
- Do you currently carry pet health insurance?
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Does anyone have the FMCA Road Atlas? If you do, does it have the complete mileage chart?Yes, the mileage chart is on page 152 of the current (5th Editon) FMCA road atlas, with the Distance and Driving Time Map on the adjacent page. Order it online through FMCAStore.com or call FMCA at (800) 543-3622.
The sixth edition of the Family Motor Coach Association North American Road Atlas & Travel Guide should be available in December 2009.
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The Roadtrek International chapter is one of FMCA's largest chapters and holds rallies throughout the year, in various regions. To join this chapter, you must own a Roadtrek and be a member of FMCA.
For more info about the Roadtrek International chapter, including upcoming rallies, visit www.roadtrekchapter.org.
Of course, Roadtreks often gather together at FMCA conventions and area rallies as well.
FMCA.com's Association Calendar is a good resource for anyone looking for a rally to attend.
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This news release was issued today by the U.S. Department of the Interior ...
Secretary Salazar Honors Veterans with Fee Free Day at National Parks, Refuges and Other Interior Lands
To honor America’s service men and women, secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that areas managed by the department will not charge entrance fees on Wednesday, November 11, 2009.
Visitors to public recreation lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation are invited to take a day to honor and reflect on what our service men and women have done to maintain our freedom and keep peace around the world, Salazar said.
“The Department of the Interior is honored to offer this fee free day to thank our nation’s service men and women,†said Salazar said “The sacrifices and achievements of the brave men and women of our armed forces can never be understated. We invite all of our visitors to enjoy this fee free day and take time out on this national holiday to remember our service men and women who are currently serving overseas in harm's way. â€
The Department of Agriculture also is waiving entrance fees at its national forests.
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The forums are the heart of the FMCA.com Community. If you're comfortable using forums in general, then feel free to jump in without reading any further. If you'd like a bit more of an overview of how to find and create messages, then read on.
A note on time zones: The default time zone for the forums is Eastern time. To set your time zone so your messages will reflect your time zone:
- Click your username at the top right of the screen.
- From the menu, select "My Settings."
- Select your time zone.
Categories, Forums and Threads
You can enter specific forums, such as the "Forum support" forum that you clicked to read this message, from the Forums homepage. The forums are grouped in categories, such as Motorhomes, Technical and Travel, and named for the general topics they're intended to contain.
Upon entering a forum, you will see a list of topics, also known as topic "threads." A topic thread is a new message or set of messages on the same subject. When a forum member creates a new message topic, that is the start of a new thread. When other forum members reply to that original message, and to each other's replies, the thread grows into a set of related messages that are all part of the same thread.
By default, the topic lists on the FMCA.com forums are sorted by date, with the most recent topics on top. To read the messages in a topic, click a topic's title. When viewing the messages within a topic, the first, or root, message will be on top, with replies listed below by order of when they were posted.
Searching the Forums
One way to think of the messages in the FMCA.com forums is as a searchable knowledgebase of information about motorhoming. If you have a question, you may want to try searching the forums first, before asking a question by starting a new thread. By searching the forums first, you may find what you're looking for without the need to compose a message and wait for a reply.
New Topics and Why Topic Titles are Important
If you can't find the information you're looking for, or if you just want to share a tip, go into an appropriate forum for your topic and click "New topic." When you create a Topic Title for your message, try to include key elements of your question or tip. Keep in mind that the Topic Title is what others will see when deciding if they can help you or if they are interested in reading your topic. Give some thought on how to best summarize your message. Sometimes it's easier to define the subject after you've finished writing the main body of the message.
Text Formatting: Use Sparingly
The message editor provides rich-text editing features for controlling font and formatting options, but I recommended using default fonts and simple paragraph formatting. Overuse of formatting features can make it more difficult to read a message and may result in other forum members skipping over your message rather than reading and responding to it.
Simple and Clear for Everyone
For every message posted in the forums, there will be hundreds of other forum members and visitors who will search or browse through the forums looking for the same information. So when answering a question on a technical issue, try to explain your answer in straightforward language, avoiding technical jargon whenever possible, even if the question was phrased in a way that suggests a high level of expertise. Using straightforward language will help to ensure that your message can be understood by everyone who may read it.
More Than Questions and Answers
You don't have to ask or answer a question to participate in the FMCA.com forums. Another way to join in the discussions is to share tips, advice and experiences with others.
Thanks for reading.
Enjoy the forums!
- Click your username at the top right of the screen.
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Under no circumstances shall FMCA be liable to you or anyone else for any damages other than direct damages. This provision includes, without limitation, any liability for consequential, special, incidental, indirect or similar damages, even if we are advised beforehand of the possibility of such damages.
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I'm just trying to get an idea of how many motorhomers are using mobile data cards for wireless Internet access, and which services they are using.
The FMCA Computer Geeks wrote an article on the subject: Internet data cards for motorhomers.
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The sixth edition of the Family Motor Coach Association North American Road Atlas & Travel Guide should be available in December 2009.
The FMCA road atlas, like others of its kind, covers covers all U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. It contains state locator maps and convenient page tabs that guide readers to the page displaying a neighboring state.
But FMCA's 11x15, full-color atlas also offers many features that appeal to motorhome travelers, in particular:
Plastic spiral binding, for durability and ease of use
Campgrounds:
- Thousands of listings with phone numbers
- Highlights big-rig-friendly locations
- Identifies FMCA commercial member campgrounds and other discount campgrounds
- Use in conjunction with your campground directory for driving directions, amenities, etc.
Flying J Travel Plaza locations
Wal-Mart and Sam's Club locations
- Distinctive symbols identify Wal-Mart stores, Wal-Mart Supercenters and Sam’s Clubs
- Handy chart lists stores that are located adjacent to interstate highway exits
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations
Tourism contact information for all 50 U.S. states, U.S. territories, Mexico and the Canadian provinces
The FMCA atlas costs $15.95 plus shipping. Order it online through FMCAStore.com or call FMCA at (800) 543-3622. If you order online at FMCAStore.com, take a look at the Atlas/Map Book Organizer item as well.
- Thousands of listings with phone numbers
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Do you have a link to the recall or a number for those with Samsung microwaves to call?Information from http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/recallsearch.cfm (search for Campaign ID Number 04E031).
Manufacturer: Samsung Electronics
NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 04E031
Potential Number of Units Affected: 117,157
Summary:
Samsung microwave ovens installed in recreational vehicles for microwave cooking, models MR1031WB, MR1032BB, MR1033SB, MR1352BB, and MR1351WB, manufactured May 1, 2000, through September 30, 2003. These units were produced with a defective membrane panel.
Consequence:
An electrical short can occur causing the oven to activate without pressing any key pads. This could result in excessive heat, smoke, or possibly a fire.
Remedy:
Samsung will notify its customers and repair the panel free of charge. In the meantime, consumers should unplug their microwave, if possible. If the consumer is unable to unplug the microwave, they should leave the door ajar until the membrane panel is replaced. Consumers should never use the microwave oven for storage or leave any towels, paper, cloth or other products in the microwave after use. Owner notification began September 18, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Samsung service division headquarters at 800-932-3837.
Notes:
Also, customers can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
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I would like to get in contact with Denny Gattis ...John: FMCA does not disclose members' personal contact info, but I will gladly pass along your inquiry to the Disconnect Club. Perhaps Mr. Gattis or someone will respond on this forum or get in touch with you.
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I'm befuddled in your terminology of "visitors." Could you elaborate on that? Who are "Visitors?"In other forums I belong to, the only ones that see what is written are the members. Do I have to be extremely careful about email addresses, telephone numbers, stick house addres, when I'm leaving on my next trip, and will the house really be empty, or will my son and "bull mastif" be protecting it? If people who are just googling are dropping in and can see everything, then i do have some concern.
Thanks.
Anyone who visits the forums can view/read messages. But no one can see your personal information, such as your e-mail address, unless you provide it in the text or signature of your posts.
To post messages, you must create a sign-in account and use your username and password to sign in to FMCA.com or the forums. "Members" are the good folks, such as yourself, who have created accounts and signed in to the forums. "Visitors" are anyone who visits the site.
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Typically the author of a deleted post is notified. We'll make sure that it gets done in the future.
Some forum visitors tell us they get annoyed by off-topic posts and they just skip over some authors' posts for that reason. Those off-topic strings probably were the ones that were deleted.
Please note: We do not censor opinions or ideas on the forums. We do take action, though, against posts or topics that could cause unrest in the community beyond a civil and polite disagreement.
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Many who come to the forums for advice and information may be put off by too much off-topic banter. So remember, please keep your posts constructive and on topic. Threads that evolve into good-natured, off-topic exchanges are better suited for a personal contact method such as a private message or e-mail.
Don't get me wrong; we like fun. And light, funny comments can be interjected in serious threads -- as long as they don't start to dominate a serious topic.
Also, you can use the General discussion forum to talk about topics that don't fit into any of the other forum categories.
Thanks.
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You're in luck, because FMCA facilitates many opportunities for fun and fellowship among all motorhmers.
In addition to FMCA's 10 area rallies, hundreds of chapters hold smaller-scale rallies throughout the year. FMCA chapter rallies are generally open to ALL motorhome owners, including non-chapter members.
Check FMCA.com's Association Calendar for dates, times and locations of upcoming chapter rallies, and then visit a chapter that interests you. Note that some rallies may have limited space and require reservations.
If you decide to pursue chapter membership, use the FMCA.com Chapter Search to request information from chapters that interest you.
Of course, you may also contact the Chapter Services department at chapters@fmca.com (800) 543-3622 to learn more about FMCA chapters.
Congratulations and good luck as you embark on your full-timing lifestyle. -
The post is... What is the best way to stay connected online? Look for the fourth or fifth reply by Geeks on Tour. This is one possible answer to your problem.Here's the forum discussion to which Tom is referring: http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=309.
Jim and Chris Guld address this topic in FMCA.com's Computer Geeks section.
Also, here's an FMCA.com article that might give you some insight: Internet to Go.
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Hi. I'm brand new to this site. I tried to follow your advice regarding adding a signature. Evidently, I'm not getting it. I filled in information in a couple of places as to what I'm driving, but it doesn't show up when I post. Would someone please provide the specific path I need to follow for adding a signature?Thanks,
Mike
Mike: Click the bold "My Controls" link near the top middle-right of the page. This takes you to your Control Panel page. There, look at the left-hand column and scroll down until you see the "Personal Profile" heading. Beneath that heading, select "Edit Signature." Type your signature in the text block provided and then click the "Update my Signature" button.
Refer back to one of your posts, and you should see the signature info that you entered.
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California officials have delayed the closing of up to 100 state parks, and a possible ballot initiative offers a glimmer of hope that closures can be averted.
In July, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the state would close selected parks to erase a $24 billion budget shortfall this fiscal year.
Parks that don't make money, cannot be operated with minimal staffing and are not self-sustaining through fees have been in jeopardy. But state park officials have not been able to come up with a precise list of which parks to close.
In addition, they're not sure how to keep the public out of closed state parks and beaches. A parks spokesman said local sheriff's deputies will patrol the closed parks, but many state beaches and remote wildland areas will be difficult to supervise adequately.
An environmental coalition is considering a 2010 ballot measure to create a $15 vehicle license fee to keep parks open. The initiative would raise about $400 million a year and eliminate entrance fees for motorists at all state parks.
California's 279 state parks cover 1.5 million acres.
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Since non-veterans can contribute to this forum ...
I stumbled across this newspaper column in my basement the other day. It's hard to believe it's been close to 20 years since I wrote it for a small-town weekly that I edited. At the time, many families in town had loved ones in the Armed Forces, and local National Guard members were being mobilized for active duty. All of this prompted me to think about my dad's military service in World War II ...
Moved by a chest full of war items
Feb. 18, 1991
I call it the "war chest." Never before has its contents evoked such pride in me as now, during this time of conflict in the Persian Gulf.
The medals, pendants, photos, newspaper clippings and patches were packed away in the old cedar chest in the attic. These mementos, and what my older brothers and sisters told me, are my only sources of information about my dad's WWII experiences.
He never talked about the war much. I never prodded him, either. I guess I didn't want to stir up painful memories.
I know Dad was in the Ninth Air Force; he flew on planes that dropped cargo and supplies to the troops. His plane was shot down once, he contracted malaria, saw his buddies killed and was decorated.
One of the few "war stories" he told, my family says, was of the time his plane dropped goods to the Germans by mistake.
I look at the photos of Dad -- in the chow line, working on a plane, shirtless with other soldiers, on a motorcycle, and in front of a plane that has "Helen," my mom's name, inscribed on the side. The turbulence of war seems hidden in his constant smile. His expression is typical of his "Don't worry, everything will turn out all right" attitude. He is in his early 20s and lean. This is before marriage to Helen, before eight children, before me.
I wonder who took the pictures. I wonder if the soldiers pictured with Dad are still alive. I wish I knew their names. I wish I could talk to them.
Dad must have wanted to preserve some lighter memories, but I never saw him show the photos to anyone. Maybe they recalled a time of killing. I don't know how much direct fighting Dad was involved in, but it was hard to imagine him killing; then again, it was hard to imagine him not having to kill.
Questions rush through my mind as I examine mementos in the chest.
"What's this medal for?"
"Were you scared?"
"Tell me about the time your plane was shot down."
I know Dad saw much of Europe during his flights. A letter he wrote to my grandmother was excerpted in the Stars and Stripes. Dad wrote about the sights of Paris and told his mom to tell a friend that he was awarded an air medal.
Several years ago, after Dad retired, he went back to Europe on vacation for the first time since the war. How thrilled he must have been to see Italy, Paris and Germany again, only this time on the ground, at his leisure and during peacetime.
In the chest there is a framed letter from a military public relations officer addressed to Dad's mother and father. It commends Dad's effort toward inevitable victory for the Allies. My pride swells.
There is also a red, white and blue valentine card with Dad's picture in the center. The message: "To my Honey, From Your Sweetheart in the Service."
There is foreign currency in the chest. There are war annuals and individual photos of Dad in military uniform. All remnants of a short chapter in his life almost 20 years before my time.
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(Somewhere, I have a photo of Dad on his motorcylce and Dad in front of his plane. When I find them, I'll post them here.)
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"When installed on the rear edges of the author's motorhome, Airtabs helped to reduce drag and increase fuel mileage."
This comes from the article "MPG -- five ways to improve your motorhome's fuel mileage" in the September 2009 issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine.
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We have a winner!
Bernie Lahickey of South Windsor, Conn., photographed his National RV Tropi-Cal in Goblin Valley State Park. Congratulations!
How to Enter
Take a picture of your motorhome in a scenic setting. Follow these steps to upload your picture to this current thread/topic:
1. Click the Add reply button, above, right.
2. Browse to the image on your computer and then click UPLOAD. (The Browse and UPLOAD buttons are below the square text box.)
In the text area, be sure to provide information about your photo(s): your motorhome type, the setting/location and any other pertinent details you care to share.
3. Scroll down and click Add Reply. You should see your photo/entry below, in this thread.
To minimize download times, please try to keep your uploaded image(s) under 1MB in file size.
The winner, prize
FMCA staff will select the best photo befitting the category: scenic. The motorhomer who sends in the best scenic photo will win a set of four 16-ounce Tervis Tumblers.
Rules and conditions
1. Entries must be uploaded between July 31 and Sept. 1, 2009.
2. Limit of three entries per month (one photo constitutes one entry).
3. By uploading a photo, you represent that you either own the copyright in the photo, or you have permission from the copyright owner to use the photo for the intended purpose, as further set forth in the next sentence, and that you hereby agree to indemnify Family Motor Coach Association, Inc. (FMCA) for breach of these representations. By entering the contest photographers agree to grant FMCA the royalty-free and nonexclusive right to distribute, publish and use the photographs in publications and on the Internet.
4. FMCA reserves the right to end or extend the contest at any time if entries are insufficient.
5. Winner will be notified via e-mail and announced on forums.
Holiday Photo Drive
in Photo Contests
Posted · Report reply
And the Winners are:
Susie Melo of Santa Ana, Calif.
Orville and Mary Ann McGee of Placentia, Calif.
Thanks, everyone, for participating and viewing!
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Do you decorate your motorhome (or around your motorhome) for the holidays? Share your photos here and you could win a 2010 FMCA North American Road Atlas & Travel Guide.
Follow these steps to upload your picture(s) to this current thread/topic:
1. Click the Add reply button, above, right.
2. Browse to the image on your computer and then click UPLOAD. (The Browse and UPLOAD buttons are below the square text box.)
In the text area, be sure to provide information about your photo(s): your motorhome type, the setting/location and any other details you care to share.
3. Scroll down and click Add Reply. You should see your photo/entry below, in this thread.
To minimize download times, please try to keep your uploaded image(s) under 1MB in file size.
The winner
FMCA staff will select the best photo, and the winner will receive a 2010 FMCA North American Road Atlas & Travel Guide.
Rules and conditions
1. Entries must be uploaded between Nov. 30, 2009, and Jan. 10, 2010.
2. FMCA reserves the right to end or extend the contest at any time if entries are insufficient.
3. Winner will be notified via e-mail and announced on forums.
4. By uploading a photo, you represent that you either own the copyright in the photo, or you have permission from the copyright owner to use the photo for the intended purpose, as further set forth in the next sentence, and that you hereby agree to indemnify Family Motor Coach Association, Inc. (FMCA) for breach of these representations. By entering the contest photographers agree to grant FMCA the royalty-free and nonexclusive right to distribute, publish and use the photographs in publications and on the Internet.