tmoning

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.

Tell me, is Minnie a tree hugger?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. * * * (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.)

"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.

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.

Perhaps you are referring to FMCA's Stoppin' Spots, an online listing of members who have volunteered their services to assist fellow members in their travels. You can find these members in the FMCA.com Member Directory by selecting the Stoppin' Spots criteria. First, enter the city and/or state (abbreviation) in which you're traveling. Under the Stoppin' Spots heading, choose one or more of the four Stoppin' Spots options: Mechanic's Helper, Stop Over, Pinch Hit Driver, or Come Visit. Next, click "Search." In the search results, click "More Info" to show the phone numbers of the respective Stoppin' Spots members. Phone numbers are provided only for members who have asked to be listed in Stoppin' Spots. Regular searches of the Member Directory reveal a member's membership number, city/state of residence, and make of coach owned. Mechanic's Helper An oval symbol will appear next to the names of members in the area who have signed up to be Mechanic's Helpers. This means they've agreed to assist members by recommending a facility that offers good motorhome service. Stop Over Stop Over indicates that FMCA members are welcome to stay in their coach at the home of a Stop Over volunteer for a 24-hour period. A triangle symbol designates members who have volunteered in this category. Pinch Hit Driver, Come Visit Pinch Hit Driver members (designated by a star symbol) help FMCAers who need someone to return their coach for them in an emergency situation. Come Visit members (designated by a square symbol) offer their home as a 24-hour stop on a friendship basis. Your coach doesn't have to be broken down to Come Visit, but please call in advance as a courtesy. The online member directory updates continually as new members join and as existing members change their membership information. So, if you would like to change your information or want your name added to or removed from Stoppin' Spots, send an e-mail to membership@fmca.com or contact the Membership Services Department at (800) 543-3622. FMCA is an association built on fellowship and members supporting one another. Wherever you're traveling, it's nice to know that FMCA members are available and eager to help fellow travelers. And you can locate these members by using FMCA.com's Member Directory.

Instructions for using FMCA.com's community forums, blogs and photo albums: First-Time User's Guide PDF Some of this info pertains to previous version of the Forum software.