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FMCA's 86th International Convention will be held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The dates for this event will be Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, August 10, 11, 12, and 13, 2011. Family parking days will be Monday and Tuesday, August 8 and 9, 2011. The Alliant Energy Center is a 164-acre complex that includes Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Exhibition Hall, Willow Island and the Arena. It is accessible from five major highways and interstates. Many families will be parked at Lake Farm Park, which is located approximately two miles from Alliant Energy Center. Lake Farm Park is a beautiful lakeside county-operated park with boat docks, picnic shelters, walking paths and playground equipment. It should be a great location to bring families. This will be FMCA's second international convention at Alliant Energy Center (formerly the Dane County Exposition Center). The last time FMCA met in Madison, Wisconsin, was in 1984, for the 30th convention of the association. We look forward to seeing you at FMCA's 86th International Convention in Madison, Wisconsin! More info about Alliant Energy Center: www.alliantenergycenter.com Exhibition Hall at Alliant Energy Center Aerial view of Alliant Energy Center

Those are good suggestions. Despite the delayed start of this first seminar webcast, response has been generally positive. So, we may explore some of your ideas in the future. Accessibility/availability of the webcasts will be publicized. Thank you, everyone, for your comments. Anyone who has additional suggestions for webcasts/DVDs/multimedia, please post.

Our Web team in Albuquerque experienced some technical difficulties, so the webcast was delayed for approximately 45 minutes. Then, an e-mail was sent out redirecting members to specific URLs where they could view the remaining portion of the Webcast. We apologize for the inconvenience this caused. We have heard favorable comments from folks who watched the webcast once it was up and running. Due to the length of the RV Weight & Tire seminar, it's doubtful that the complete footage will be "archived" online. Weight and tire information, however, is available in the Motorhoming section on FMCA.com, www.fmca.com/index.php/motorhome/basics, and there is good information available on the Web site of the company that presented yesterday's seminar -- the Recreation Vehicle Safety & Education Foundation -- www.rvsafety.com. Again, our apologies for the inconvenience.

RV Weight & Tire Safety, one of FMCA's most popular technical seminars, will be webcast live from FMCA's Albuquerque convention on Tuesday, March 23. Times and link follow: 8 to 10 a.m. Mountain time 10 to noon Eastern time 9 to 11 a.m. Central time 7 to 9 a.m. Pacific time To watch the webcast, click this link: RV Weight & Tire Safety seminar webcast. The seminar, co-sponsored by the Recreation Vehicle Safety & Education Foundation and FMCA, focuses on weight-related definitions, weight disclosure labels, towing components, stopping assistance, tire markings, tire load/inflation tables, new RV considerations, tire pressure monitoring systems and more. That's important stuff, so tell your friends and be sure to tune in.

Good news ... Forest Service continues discounts ...

Please see the Subscribing to forums and tracking topics post in Forum support. Thanks.

Subscribing to specific forums or tracking certain topics is a great way to keep an eye on forum discussions that interest you. Subscribing to a forum: By subscribing to a forum, you are asking to be notified of all new posts in that forum. Here's how to subscribe: (Note: You must be signed in at FMCA.com or logged in on the forum site.) 1. Go the forums contents page, http://community.fmca.com/index.php?act=idx. 2. For this example, we'll choose the Towing forum, so under the Technical category, click on the Towing forum. It takes you to a list of topics, or threads, within the Towing forum: http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showforum=13. 3. Do you see the Forum Options button at the right of the page? From that drop-down menu, select the last option, "Subscribe to this forum." 4. Choose your forum notification method. (I suggest Immediate Email notification.) 5. Click the Proceed button. That's all there is to it. Now you will be notified of any new activity in the Conventions and Rallies forum. Tracking topics: You can also subscribe, or Track, individual Topics within a forum category, instead of the entire forum. 1. For example, go back to the Towing topics -- http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showforum=13 -- and click the "Tire pressure when towing" Topic title. This will take you to an active discussion: http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=1266. 2. From the Options drop-down tab, select "Track this topic," and then choose your notification method, and click Proceed. You are now set to receive e-mail notifications when a reply has been made in the "Tire pressure when towing" Topic. You will NOT be notified of new posts under other Towing Topics, unless you specify so or are subscribed to the Towing forum. Note: If you are already subscribed to a forum category, you will not be able to subscribe to individual topics within that category. Unsubscribing: It's fast and easy. 1. Click the My Controls link near the top center of the page. 2. On the left of the control panel page, scroll down to Subscriptions. 3. Select View Forums and you'll see your forum subscriptions. Use the check boxes and unsubscribe drop-down menu to unsubscribe or change your notification preferences.

Bob: Lydia Hansen, with Destination Southwest, the tour operator, responds: "We do have a guide who keeps everyone moving while giving commentary. Tour participants are also given time to explore on their own. I'm sure if you are concerned once the tour actually gets going, you can work something out with your guide. I would not classify the tour as "strenuous," but it is definitely a moderate walking tour." For more information, contact Destination Southwest at (505) 766-9068; e-mail tours@destinationsouthwest.com.

Stoppin' Spots enables members to offer assistance and hospitality to fellow members who are on the road in their areas. Stoppin' Spots exemplifies FMCA's members-helping-members philosophy, which has been a hallmark of the Association from the start. To have your name added as a Stoppin' Spots listing to the online Member Directory, send an e-mail to FMCA's Membership Services Department (membership@fmca.com) or call (800) 543-3622 and ask for the Membership department. Also, the January directory issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine contains a printed listing of Stoppin' Spots participants. If you would like to be included in the January 2011 Stoppin’ Spots directory in the magazine, please contact the Member Services Department by Nov. 1, 2010. Members who volunteer for Stoppin’ Spots are listed under four categories: Stop Over Spot indicates that fellow members are welcome to stop over at the volunteering member’s home for a 24-hour emergency stay. Come Visit indicates that FMCA members are welcome to visit the volunteering member’s home for a 24-hour friendship stay, unless invited by the host member to stay longer. Mechanic’s Helper indicates that if an FMCA member’s coach breaks down along the road in a volunteering member’s area, the volunteering member is available to assist him or her in locating quality local service. Pinch Hit Driver indicates that any FMCA member who encounters an emergency that in any way prevents him or her from driving his or her coach while on the road may request the assistance of a driver to transport that member’s coach to a chosen destination at the owner’s expense. The Pinch Hit Drivers are FMCA members who have volunteered to perform this emergency service for fellow members who are in need.

FMCA's North American Road Atlas & Travel Guide has maps that list the locations of Flying J Travel Plazas, Wal-Marts and Sam's Clubs, and Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. It's available at the FMCA Store.

fyi, everyone: A new Federal firearms law takes effect today. National parks now subject to state, local firearms laws

No, solicitations to buy or sell of any kind are prohibited on the forums. This part of the Forum Rules includes soliciting money for non-profits and posting classified-type ads such as Craigslist. View advertising opportunities, including Classifieds, here: http://www.fmca.com/index.php/magazine/advertising

Awhile back, we had a Scenic Photo Contest that showed motorhomes in some idyllic settings. Scroll through two pages of pics: http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=545

Here is the response letter that FMCA received from the Bay Area Toll Authority: Toll_Bridge_Response.pdf

Feb. 1 is the final day for your comments to be considered in the development of any final version of the proposed fee changes. First, be sure to read the notice published by the Forest Service in the Federal Register. The notice requests comments on a PROPOSED directive revision that would change how concessionaires honor Interagency Passes. Read the notice and related information here: www.fs.fed.us/specialuses/special_concession.shtml Here are some key points from the notice: The proposed change applies ONLY to campgrounds operated by concessionaires on the National Forests and Grasslands. It does NOT apply to Forest Service operated sites or campgrounds operated by any other federal agency. Key points of the proposal for public comment (which are described more fully and explained in the notice): For holders of lifetime senior and access passes: no change to 50% discount at Forest Service-operated sites new benefit of 10% discount at concession operated standard amenity fee sites reduction in camping discount from 50% to 10% at concession operated campgrounds For holders of annual and volunteer passes: new benefit of free admission to concession operated standard amenity fee sites Read the Federal Register notice and submit your comments.

The San Francisco Bay Area Toll Authority and Metropolitan Transit Commission, on Jan. 27, approved a proposal to increase the tolls on seven state-run Bay Area bridges. Starting July 1, 2011, crossing a bridge in a two-axle motorhome with car in tow (four axles total) will cost $14. The toll increases to $20 in July 2012. The current charge for four axles is $8.25. Commercial trucks and other vehicles with three or more axles also will pay the higher tolls. State law requires the toll authority to base tolls on the number of axles on a vehicle or the total number of axles on a vehicle plus the total number of axles on the drawn trailer or vehicle. I'm sure opponents of the toll hikes suggested lowering the tolls for noncommercial vehicles such as motorhomes ... apparently to no avail. The toll hikes would raise $160,000 per year to finance seismic retrofit projects on two of the bridges. I expect most motorhomes understand the need for a toll increase to improve bridges' resistance to earthquakes, but more than doubling the current fee seems a bit steep. The car toll and other two-axle tolls, meanwhile, rose only from $4 to $5 for six of the bridges, effective July 1, 2010. Is the inconvenience of driving the motorhome and toad separately over a bridge worth a $10 savings?

Thanks for the suggestion. Will consder it. Currently, you'll find these types of posts in the General discussion forum. Here are samples: http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=203 http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=939 http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=730 http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=745 http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=512 http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=272 http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=597