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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will close 18 rest areas around the commonwealth overnight tonight (July 20) as crews implement planned cost-savings reductions. See story here.

The computer education seminars offered by Jim and Chris Guld, the FMCA.com Computer Geeks, are typically well received by FMCA convention attendees. In Bowling Green, Jim and Chris will present seven different seminars: High Speed Internet for Rvers Picasa -- Managing Digital Photos Vista -- What’s New Safe Computing Every RVer Needs a Blog Photostory 3 -- Professional looking Slideshows Using Google Earth Check the seminar schedule for dates, times and locations of these seminars. Seminar descriptions can be found here. The Gulds are also giving a hands-on Computer Boot Camp in three two-hour sessions from 5 to 7 p.m. Register starting on Monday at 7 a.m. in the Information Center. The cost is $60 for all six hours of instruction; class size is limited, so register early.

Many communities have RV parking or "oversized vehicle" parking laws on the books. Sometimes the regulations are outdated. Sometimes they're not enforced until a resident lodges a complaint. Often, the trouble originates when someone perceives a parked motorhome to be a safety hazard or an unappealing visual across the neighborhood landscape. What's a motorhome owner, or prospective owner, to do? Before buying a motorhome, be sure to find out whether you can park it, legally, on your lot. Your community might have specific vehicle size, screening or lot location requirements for parking. Contact your city clerk, township manager or neighborhood association to find out about the regulations specific to your area. Aalways follow state laws, local ordinances and community association restrictions pertaining to motorhome parking. If you can't park your motorhome in a manner that meets current regulations, perhaps a viable storage facilty is located within a reasonable distance from your home. Of course, that can be costly and is less convenient. FMCA members who are confronted by harsh parking restrictions may contact FMCA's Governmental and Legislative Affairs Committee for assistance. So, what do you think: Should governing bodies have the right to regulate motorhome parking on your residential lot? Or, should you be allowed to park it where and however you please, provided the parked vehicle does not threaten the public safety, health or welfare?

Please see my post "How to insert pictures."

As these message boards grow and if there is sufficient interest from users, I'm all for it. A significant portion of FMCA members have served in the military, and we hold them in high esteem.

Announcing the winner of the June 2009 Motorhoming with Pets Photo Contest: Cutest Christal, a puggle (pug/beagle mix) owned by FMCA members Ralph and Gloria Dolan of Cottage Grove, Ore.'' Congratulations! Thanks to everyone who participated this month. Great pics, great pets! Keep your eye out for more contests ... more prizes.

AND THE WINNER IS ... Chessie, owned by FMCA members Ray and Lynda Kiliany of Canton, Ohio. Congratulations! How to Enter Take a picture of your pet(s) AND Family Motor Coaching magazine. The setting can be in your motorhome, at a rally, with you, with friends or wherever your next motorhoming adventure takes you. Just get the magazine in the picture with your pet. Then, follow these steps to upload your picture to this 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.) 3. Scroll down and click Add Reply and you will see your photo/entry. When posting your photo, please share information about your pet: name, age, breed, motorhoming life, and any other information you care to provide. The winner Our hard-working, animal-loving staff will select their favorite photo befitting the current category. The motorhomer who sends in the best Pet/FMC magazine photo in July will win two hooded jackets. Yes, two! Prize for July: Rules and conditions 1. Limit of three entries per month (one photo constitutes one entry). 2. 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. 3. FMCA reserves the right to end or extend the contest at any time if entries are insufficient. 4. Winner will be notified via e-mail and announced on the Pets forum.