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Family Motor Coach Association's 87th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase will be held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana. The dates for this event will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 27, 28, 29 and 30, 2012, with family parking days on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 25 and 26. This will be FMCA’s first international convention at this location and the fourth FMCA international event in Indiana. The last time FMCA met in Indiana was in 1991, at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend for the 46th convention of the association.

Florida's Turnpike switching to electronic toll collection

Here is a sampling of links and customer support phone numbers for tire brands. In this thread, feel free to post other tire-related links that can be helpful to motorhome owners. Bridgestone http://www.bridgestonetrucktires.com/ 1-800-815-9793 Firestone http://www.firestone.../home/index.asp 1-800-523-6366 Goodyear http://www.goodyear.com/rv/ 1-800-321-2136 Michelin http://www.michelinr...linrv/index.jsp -800-847-3435 Toyo Tires http://toyotires.com/ 1-800-678-3250 Tire Safety -- NHTSA http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/tiresafety/ridesonit/brochure.html

FMCA member Lee Rock, sent in this picture showing FMCA's billboard presence in the Christmas Train Garden at The Manor Shopping Center in Phoenix, Md.

Owners of towable RVs are invited to attend FMCA's Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase in Perry, Ga., in March 2011, and park on-site. Judy Czarsty, FMCA national senior vice president/acting national president, says, "As our friends in Georgia would say, "Ya'll come. Join us for some good-old-fashioned fun and RV fellowship and learn firsthand about the motorhome lifestyle." So, motorhome owners: Invite your friends with towables to join you in Perry and fully expose them to the motorhome lifestyle that you enjoy so much. Read more

FMCA is pleased to announce that Bradford Koshland has been named executive director. He begins work Jan. 3, 2011. Read press release

Here are a few FMCA.com articles related to traveling with kids: The Courtney family is cleared for takeoff There's no place like home ... for schooling For the Mazza family, school's out; motorhoming's in Kids on board

Last week Charlie Schrenkel, FMCA's national president, submitted his resignation for health reasons. Although he has stepped down, he will remain an active member of the Executive Board. In accordance with FMCA's Bylaws, FMCA senior vice president Judy Czarsty will serve as the national senior vice president/acting president. On behalf of the FMCA family, we wish Charlie well as he faces health challenges. More: FMCA National President Resigns to Focus on Health Issues

Related article on FMCA.com: Indiana RV excise tax

Certain Texas Campgrounds are offering 50-percent discounts on campground rates to all military personnel who present a a valid past or current military ID Nov. 11 to 14. More info at TexasCampgrounds.com.

Nickolas is lucky to have such caring owners. I hope he continues to heal and you have plenty of quality time with him left.

Do you decorate your motorhome for the Halloween? Do you have a favorite Halloween decoration in, on or around your motorhome? Do you dress up for Halloween? Share your best Halloween photos here and you could win two Quik-E-Seats. Follow these steps to upload your picture(s) to this current thread/topic: 1. Click the Add reply button, above, right. In the text area, be sure to provide information about your photo(s): your motorhome type, the setting/location, decorations and any other details you care to share. 2. To attach your photo(s), browse to the image on your computer and then click UPLOAD. (The Browse and UPLOAD buttons are below the square text box, and to the right.) 3. From the "Manage Current Attacments" drop-down menu, insert attachment into text editor. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each image you wish to attach. 4. 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 two Quik-E-Seats. These foldable seats are great to carry with you. Each weighs only 4 pounds and has a durable steel frame. The seat height is 17 inches and the weight capacity is 250 pounds. Features include an extra-wide, padded back support with an auto-fold strap and beverage holder. Contest Rules and Conditions 1. Entries must be uploaded between Sept. 23, 2010, and Nov. 3, 2010. 2. Winner will be notified via e-mail and announced on forums. 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.

RV Education 101 has launched a new RV Orientation Online Training Program designed to educate RV dealer customers after the sale, on how to properly and safely use their RV. FMCA.com visitors can order the program at a discounted price.

Good stuff coming in the October 2010 isue of Family Motor Coaching magazine: Born Free 22-Foot Rear Side Kitchen Model Born Free Motorcoach continues its 40-year tradition of using top-notch construction techniques and interior design in this new model based on a Ford E-350 chassis. Exquisite Exterior Writer Gary Bunzer offers a guide to understanding, cleaning and maintaining your motorhome's many outside surfaces. An Evening with Debbie Reynolds One of America's most beloved film and television stars reflects on her life and 60-year career, which includes a long-ago motorhome trip. Putting the Shine Back on Your Engine Under-the-hood washing, scrubbing, and painting make it easier to spot potential trouble ��" and add to one's pride of ownership. Among the Giants Five state parks in northern California preserve enormous redwoods and super-sized sequoias. Read all this and more Oct. 1 at www.FMCmagazine.com

The Web site RVparking.com is giving away a Xantrex Portable Solar Powerpack (worth $150 to $200) to the person who submits the most reviews of RV parks or RV sites, by Oct. 15, 2010. The first and second runners-up, based on best overall review quality, each will receive a $50 gas card. All reviews submitted between now and Oct. 15 will automatically be considered for the contest. More info: http://blog.rvparking.com/2010/09/07/fall-review-contest

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Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, has issued this statement regarding Gov. Schwarzenneger's veto of proposed RV holding tank product legislation. AB 1824 – Vetoed! It is with great disappointment that we report Governors Schwarzenegger’s veto of AB 1824 last week. With only three nay votes in the entire legislature, we had hoped that the Governor would see the truly bi-partisan support of the bill. While being a pro-environmental issue, this was also a pro small business issue. We thought the combination of these two items, along with our members’ letter writing campaign, would convince the Governor to sign the bill. However, the Governor, backing his Green Chemistry Initiative Program, chose to veto the bill. What is the Green Chemistry Initiative? Perhaps you will remember the legislation from several years ago banning certain chemicals in plastics, specifically the type of plastic in baby bottles. The scientists put forth evidence on both sides contradicting each other’s findings. During that same year, eleven other chemical related bills tried to make their way through the legislature. Eventually, the legislators and the Governor threw their hands in the air, knowing that none of them had the collective education to understand the science behind each piece of legislation. As a result, the Governor created the Green Chemistry Initiative, a process by which chemical issues will now be thoroughly researched by the California Department of Toxic and Substance Control (CTSC). Their findings will create regulations in which to address each individual issue. CalARVC submitted our holding tank issue to the Green Chemistry Initiative in November of 2007. However, because of our close work with CTSC, they told us up front that it will be years before our issue gets to the “top of the pile.” Knowing that CTSC would be tackling issues that affect the greatest populations first, we grappled with the decision to move forward with AB 1824. But with the support of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board, we decided it was worth the risk. So, what’s next politically? Our Government Affairs Committee will be reviewing our next strategic steps in September. RVIA, FMCA and the major chemical companies have offered to meet and find mutually beneficial solutions. While chemical based treatment products are a major problem for septic and small municipal treatment facilities, it is not the only challenge facing campground operators in regards to wastewater output. Perhaps the combined efforts of everyone in the industry can find ways to work together. And even though the campground industry is a relatively small piece of this great industry, without successful campgrounds, all other parts of the industry will suffer. We will chock this battle up to a loss, but are pleased about the amount of conversation we created around the country within and outside our industry. More, now than ever, awareness of the problems surrounding chemically based holding tank products is at its greatest point. Thetford, the largest manufacturer of chemical based products, launched their Eco-Smart line in January of 2009. Dometic Corp. has permanently removed formaldehyde from the contents of its products. Just last month ELS, the largest owner of RV & manufactured housing communities, announced a brand new product—free of formaldehyde and other chemicals. Then there have been the longtime believers in bacterial or enzyme based products all along: Eco-Save, Heartland Labs, just to name a few. The tide is coming in and it is our sincere hope that these companies will choose to support fellow members of their industry rather than continue to sell problematic, environmental-unfriendly and hazardous products here in California and around the country. We ask campgrounds and aftermarket stores to only stock environmentally safe and septic tank friendly bacteria or enzyme based RV holding tank products. We’ll take a lesson from Canada’s “Camp Green, Canada” campaign and create our own “Camp Green, California.” We will create a central point for consumers and campground operators to access resources. We’ll provide links to the best research we can find, the EPA alert and the Univ. of Arizona publications. We’ll provide a complete list of all products available and their contents. So, yes, we lost this battle. But with the help of our members, consumers and the collective RV industry, we hope to win the war!

Yes, working on it with Norton.

Our external hosting compay detected a malicious embed a few weeks ago, and it was removed. It looks like Norton Safe Web has cached that threat. So, rest assured: All is well.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill last week. In his veto message issued to lawmakers, he wrote: "Current law already gives the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) the ability to address the issue of chemical toilet products in recreational vehicles. Additionally, DTSC has the ability to address this issue through the green chemistry process. Schwarzenegger's letter continued: "This bill presents a scenario that is ripe for a green chemistry approach: competing science on each side of the issue; concern about the effectiveness of alternative products for the consumer’s intended use; consumer reaction in the wake of an ineffective alternative; and questions as to whether banning particular chemicals will actually address the underlying problem. "Neither I, nor members of the legislature, are best equipped to answer these questions," he added. "We need science and scientists to undertake this challenge and develop a solution that both addresses the chemical problem and provides the consumer with a product that is both economical and effective for its intended purpose. "Under the leadership of my secretary for environmental protection, the green chemistry process is well under way at DTSC. We will have regulations adopted by Jan. 1, 2011, and DTSC should address the issue raised in this bill either in that process or under their existing authority."

Winnebago posted the following reply in early August, but it was unintentionally removed from this thread. With Winnebago's permission it is posted again here ... When we read your comments and the "As-Tested Weight" information from the Itasca Ellipse 42AD test article in Family Motor Coaching, we were concerned as the data did not reflect our design parameters or the test data for that model. To follow up, we had the very same coach used in the test drive taken to Freightliner Custom Chassis facilities in Portland, Oregon, for weight analyses. We also had our own Test Lab facilities analyze and verify the specific weight measurements for this model. In both cases we found the drive and tag axle weights to be considerably different than the information posted in the article. Our Test Lab data based on full fuel and water shows a tag axle weight of 8,865 lbs., a drive axle weight of 12,728 lbs. and front axle weight of 13,344 lbs. Drive axle -- Winnebago test lab 12,728 lbs. | FMC magazine article 10,420 lbs. | GAVWR 20, 000 lbs. Tag axle -- Winnebago test lab 8,865 lbs. | FMC magazine article 10,760 lbs. | GAVWR 10,000 lbs. Front axle -- Winnebago test lab 13,344 lbs. | FMC magazine article 13,520 lbs. | GAVWR 14,320 lbs. Total -- Winnebago test lab 34,937 lbs. | FMC magazine article 34,700 pounds |GAVWR 44,320 lbs. We also conducted the same exercise with 1/2 tank of fuel and 2/3 water onboard to further verify axle load through a range of scenarios. These weights show the tag axle at 8,825 lbs., the drive axle 12,764 lbs. and the front axle at 12,689 lbs. Both the Freightliner and Winnebago Industries Test Lab measurements were consistent. Based on these findings, we believe that there was a discrepancy with the original weight measurements taken for the article. We will share this same data with Family Motor Coaching magazine so they can print a clarification in an upcoming issue. Thank you. Winnebago Industries, Inc.

It's good to be back! Thank you, all, for bearing with us. The company that hosts the FMCA.com Community/Forums site experienced a technical difficulty. That is why forum users might have received a security threat notification when using the forums. That issue was resolved by the hosting company, but by that time the entire FMCA.com site was down due to an unrelated matter. FMCA.com is hosted internally, and significant problems arose while trying to resolve server maintenance issues. Obviously, we are taking steps to make sure this never happens again. Soon, our Community and forums will be getting an upgrade/new look as well.

If you plan to attend FMCA's Redmond 2010 convention, you might want to set aside time to visit the Central Oregon Tribute to Heroes -- 2010, which will be set up at Redmond High School Aug. 12, 13 and 14. Free shuttles will be offered from the convention grounds. Read more: http://www.fmca.com/index.php/conventions/redmond/3231

Status update: The California State Senate passed AB 1824 on Aug. 2, with 30 votes in favor and three opposed. The bill has been sent to the governor, who may sign or veto the bill. The questions of how this law would be enforced, and how it would affect motorhomers traveling from out-of-state, remain.

DEERICH: This should be posted on the Legislative Action forum. Go to http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showforum=49 and click the "New Topic" button on the right.