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The exact wording must be spelled out clearly to the Article they wish to amend. It must show all changes. They can share that file electronically, sign it as a petitioner, scan it, and send it by email. We need each person's name printed, a signature, and a membership number so we can verify they are active members. Hope this helps! The email address to send in the petitions is dmitts@fmca.com.

Thanks Jeff. You too! If you need help with your proposal, let me know.

Hello Jeff, Proposals to amend the FMCA Constitution may be initiated by the Governing Board, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, the Executive Board, or by a petition signed by twenty memberships. The text of the proposed amendment, along with rationale, must be submitted in writing. Please indicate which Article you would like to amend. The deadline to submit a proposed change is January 1 of the year in which they are to be considered by the Governing Board.

Chris, this will be up to the Governing Board to decide. I encourage you to contact your national area vice president. In your case, that's Jack Mayberry, Rocky Mountain Area. You can email him at emayberry@fmca.com. Of course, any change will have to wait until we have the results of the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation.

Tommy, can you let me know what date you would have called VAS? Just trying to gather additional information for you. Thanks.

Don't forget to check out the FMCA RVinsurance program! www.FMCARVinsurance.com

Arizona RV Parks are FANitical about Pickleball. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jo Ann Mickelson Arizona Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (623) 551-1577 arizonaarvc@aol.com www.gocampinginarizona.com PICKLEBALL CRAZE SPARKS A BUILDING BOOM AT RV RESORTS IN ARIZONA AND ACROSS THE SUNBELT Pueblo El Mirage RV & Golf Resort, which added 16 pickleball courts two years ago, is hosting the Grand Canyon State Games Wednesday through Sunday, the third largest pickleball tournament in the world PHOENIX, Ariz., Feb. 17, 2014 — Is tennis going by the wayside? Probably not. But at RV parks and resorts across the Sunbelt, empty nesters and retirees are abandoning tennis in favor of pickleball, an easy to learn, senior-friendly sport that requires hitting the ball over a net, but in a small court that doesn’t require nearly as much running around. “Pickleball is amazingly popular,” said Vickie Jepperson, manager of Pueblo El Mirage RV & Golf Resort in El Mirage, Ariz. “In all of my years working in the RV resort business, I’ve never a sport, other than golf, that is this popular.” So popular, in fact, that RV parks and resorts in Arizona and across the Sunbelt are converting some of their tennis courts into pickleball courts and building new pickleball courts to accommodate the rapidly increasing numbers of pickleball enthusiasts, said Jo Ann Mickelson, executive director of the Arizona Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds. “We put in our first two pickleball courts in 2011. Then we added two more in 2013. And this summer we’re putting in two more,” said Cherie Suddarth, manager of the 754-site Gold Canyon RV and Golf Resort in Gold Canyon, Ariz. Demand for pickleball courts has become so intense that RV parks and resorts that don’t have pickleball are losing snowbird business to other parks that do. Even parks that don’t have enough pickleball courts are at risk. Pueblo El Mirage RV & Golf Resort installed its first two pickleball courts six years ago. But so many snowbirds took an interest in pickleball that lines started to develop and the resort ended up losing some of its snowbirds to other parks that had more pickleball courts. “We didn’t have enough pickleball courts, so we lost people,” Jepperson said. But not for long. Pueblo El Mirage RV & Golf Resort responded to demand by adding 16 more pickleball courts, which were completed two years ago. And the park’s facilities are so highly regarding that the 1,284-site resort will be hosting the Grand Canyon State Games, the third largest pickleball tournament in the world, from Wednesday, Feb. 19, through Sunday, Feb. 23. Jepperson said pickleball has become a big business that draws players from all over the country. And RV parks and resorts that have the largest and highest quality pickleball facilities often wind up hosting pickleball tournaments that bring in more guests. Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort in Casa Grande will have an in-house tournament today, Feb. 17, through Wednesday, Feb. 19, which involves the park’s guests. But March 7 to 9 the resort will have its annual open tournament, which will draw hundreds of pickleball enthusiasts, said Wendell Johnson, Palm Creek’s general manager. “We have had several people come in RVs for the tournament and then come back to stay with us during the following winter season. We have also had many non RVers come for the tournament and later rent or buy a home. Our 24 pickleball courts have been a great marketing tool for Palm Creek.” Indeed, pickleball is so popular it’s not just popular with snowbirds, but people of all ages. “We’ve even converted some of our tennis courts into pickleball courts,” said Mickelson of the Arizona Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds, who owns JH RV Park in Flagstaff. Suddarth of Gold Canyon RV & Golf Resort said pickleball is also easy to learn, so it’s a sport that anyone can learn quickly. “It’s a great activity for people to meet each other and have fun,” she said. For more information on the rising popularity of pickleball and other trends involving the RV parks, campgrounds and resorts in Arizona, please contact Jo Ann Mickelson at (623) 551-1577 and visit www.gocampinginarizona.com. Following is contact information for RV resort sources referenced in this release: — Vickie Jepperson, Pueblo El Mirage RV & Golf Resort, El Mirage, Ariz., (800) 445-4115 or vickie.jepperson@robertsresorts.com — Wendell Johnson, Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort, Casa Grande, Ariz., (520) 421-7000 or WJohnson1@suncommunities.com – Cherie Suddarth, Gold Canyon RV & Golf Resort, (877) 465-3226 or cherie@robertsresorts.com Here are other RV parks and resorts in Arizona that have pickleball courts: — Canyon Vistas RV Resort, Gold Canyon, Ariz., (480) 288-8844 or www.canyonvistasrv.com — Casa Grande RV Resort, Casa Grande, Ariz., (520) 421-0401 or www.casagrandervresort.com — Fortuna de Oro RV Resort, Yuma, Ariz., (928) 342-5051 or http://www.cal-am.com/resorts/resorts_details.php?resorts_id=31&search=quick — Good Life RV Resort, Mesa, Ariz., (480) 832-4990 or http://www.cal-am.com/resorts/resorts_details.php?resorts_id=26&search=quick — La Hacienda RV Resort, Mesa, Ariz., (480) 964-5058 or www.lahaciendarv.com — Mesa Regal RV Resort, Mesa, Ariz., (480) 830-2821 or http://www.cal-am.com/resorts/resorts_details.php?resorts_id=15&search=quick — Monte Vista RV Resort, Mesa, Ariz. (877) 570-2267 or http://www.rvonthego.com/arizona/monte-vista-rv-resort/ — Paradise RV Resort, Sun City, Ariz., (877) 570-2267 or http://www.rvonthego.com/arizona/paradise-rv-resort/ — Rincon Country RV Resorts, Tuscon, Ariz., (520) 294-5608 or www.rinconcountry.com — Sunflower RV Resort, Surprise, Ariz., (623) 583-0100 or http://www.cal-am.com/resorts/resorts_details.php?resorts_id=14&search=quick — Sun Life RV Resort, Mesa, Ariz., (481) 981-9500 or http://www.cal-am.com/resorts/resorts_details.php?resorts_id=17&search=quick — Superstition Sunrise RV Resort, Apache Junction, (800) 624-7027 or www.superstitionsunrise.com — Viewpoint RV and Golf Resort, Mesa, Ariz., (480) 373-8700 or www.viewpointrv.com — Voyager RV Resort, Tucson, Ariz., (800) 424-9191 or www.voyagerrv.com

According to Wikipedia, pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis. Two to four players use solid paddles, made of wood or composite materials, to hit a polymer perforated ball over a net. The sport shares features of other racquet sports, such as the dimensions and layout of a badminton court, and a net and rules similar to tennis. One of the fastest-growing sports in America, pickleball was invented in the mid-1960s as a children's backyard pastime but quickly became popular among adults as a game fun for players of all skill levels. How many of you are pickleball fans? Do you play Pickleball? Are you interested in starting a pickleball chapter for FMCA? Contact chapters@fmca.com. Here's a video about pickleball and its growing popularity: http://youtu.be/g2KNhIgOkXM More pickleball info: http://www.usapa.org | http://pickleball.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/usapickleball2

I believe those numbers are from a Holiday Rambler club. They have several Holiday Rambler groups you can join, similar to the FMCA chapters. You can browse the FMCA chapters by going to the following address: http://www.fmca.com/chapters/chapter-search You can select by a certain search word, area of the country, or even by state. Good Luck!

Some of the 41 Northeast Area chapters have a description to help you see what the chapter is all about. Just click on the Chapters tab at the top of the home page. If you follow down to "chapters by area" you can see all of the chapters in the area. You can always call the office and we can also help you find a chapter that might be right for you. Please don't hesitate to call us at 800-543-3622.

MrsHomeSweetRoam, To find a chapter, you can click on the Chapters/Areas tab from the FMCA.com home page. Scroll down to "chapter search". You can search by key words or by choosing a state. (California is in FMCA's Western Area.) The International Area has chapters all over the US and Canada, and are mostly special-interest-based chapters. Some chapters have a brief description which you can read to become familiar with their activities. Once you select a chapter, click the "Request Info" button. That will automatically send an e-mail directly to the chapter. Don't hesitate to call the National Office should you need additional information.

The paragraph quoted from the Governing Board Meeting minutes contains both pro and con rationale, as stated in the Governing Board meeting.

The Governing Board passed three Bylaws Amendments -- two were as amended on the floor -- and several Policy and Procedure Amendments. The updates will be posted on the Web site as soon as possible. The committee reports were approved, the proposed 2011 Budget was approved, and the actions of the Executive Board and Board of Directors also were approved. The minutes will be mailed shortly.

The Desert Rovers chapter in Yuma is still an active chapter. You can contact the Area Vice President for the Rocky Mountain Area. His name is Allen Rein. His e-mail address is arein@fmca.com. He can help you too.