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fmcastaff

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Posts posted by fmcastaff

  1. Posted · Report reply

    Hello. Don is correct. FMCA.com and FamilyRVingmag.com are two separate websites. So, even if you log in at FMCA.com, if you click on the magazine from there, you will be transferred to the magazine-specific website and will need to log in on that site as well. If you want, when looking for magazine material, you can go straight to that site -- www.familyrvingmag.com -- and log in there.

    Pamela Kay
    Director of Communications, Publishing

  2. Posted · Report reply

    10 hours ago, cwswine said:

     

    Here is what it says on your FMCA page and I quote..".No overages or data caps apply on their network".  As of 10:00 Central it still states that.

    "After 75GB, you still get unlimited LTE data but may at times notice reduced speeds in areas with network congestion. At AT&T unlimited is truly unlimited. No overages or data caps apply on their network. Data prioritization will only be noticeable when you access a congested tower and have used over 75GB of data in a particular billing cycle. You will continue to get unlimited high-speed data on your mobile hotspot when you aren’t accessing a congested tower. In that way it’s different from data throttling, which slows you down for the remainder of your bill cycle regardless of network conditions, all the time. Their policy is also in line with common industry standards for network management, which are designed optimize network performance and service."

     

    How do you "Download speed is 12mbps guaranteed."?  I have AT&T phone and at River Bend RV park in CO I get NO SERVICE on my AT&T phone.  How do you "guaranteed" any amount of speed?  My speed varies depend on location and no way to guaranteed any amount of download speed.

     

    The contract AT&T and FMCA has is their 12mbps down plan. That obviously depends on service availability where you are.

    No data cap refers to the unlimited data, which is only network managed in congested areas after 75 GB. It does not apply to download speed.

    53 minutes ago, odocamper said:

     

    We will send notice to current users once the plan is active. That should happen soon.

  3. Posted · Report reply

    On 6/26/2022 at 10:33 PM, C-923954 said:

    My question is one that I've been waiting a week to get an answer .......I just was billed my normal 49.95 last week.  When I activate the ATT hotspot will I get billed immediately or will the 59.95 be billed on my usual date?  Since Tech Connect is not answering, has anyone here heard anything on this subject?

    You will not be billed $59.99 until your next billing cycle. We honored the $49.99 pricing during the 30 day notice period. Sorry for the delay in response.

  4. Posted · Edited by fmcastaff · Report reply

    Wanted to share some facts about the new AT&T plan:

    - Unlimited data...network managed in congested areas at 75GB. No throttling.

    - Download speed is 12mbps guaranteed. Some experience higher speeds. FMCA has never promoted the plan as uncapped download speeds.

    - The Moxee is the only device we could have included in the plan at an affordable price. Luckily it is bring your own device, so if the Moxee does not fit your needs, the member has other options.

    - In the very near future, FMCA will be offering the same plan as listed above, but with a 25mbps download guarantee. Price will be $64.99. Double the download speed for only $5 more per month. More to come as details are finalized.

    Thank you for your patience with our Tech Connect. When you have three full time employees trying to migrate 6,000 lines, it can be a bit overwhelming.

     

  7. Posted · Report reply

    14 minutes ago, WILDEBILL308 said:

    I was simply pointing out that it was still cheaper to join FMCA with the benefit package than it was Good Sams with the same level of protection.

    By the way what are you doing to increase the number of discounts at different campgrounds? I see very little FMCA presence at places I have stayed. I think this is an area that could be improved. I never see any posters,or any on site advertising for FMCA. What about developing some "Point of sale" type promotional material/displays. 

    I hope you arn't trying to impress us with those numbers considering your last video got 86 views since June 29, 2020. Yet little home done channels like All about RVs got 46,657 views since Jun 27, 2020 and has 113K subscribers. https://www.youtube.com/c/AllAboutRVs/videos
    You might add them to your list of “influencers” you are talking to. 
    Bill

     

    We are working on our campground network as we speak. It is a harder sell than you think. GS can say we have 2 million members, so campgrounds are very eager to hang up flags and offer discounts to their members. 

    I was simply pointing out that we do have a YouTube channel and we put videos on it. Our marketing department consists of one person responsible for all of the social media efforts of FMCA. We are doing great with very limited resources in that area. 

    I am going to make an assumption regarding All about RVs. The guy in the video looks fairly young. I am guessing a good portion of their viewers are younger and in the digital age. A good portion of our membership are not young and living in the digital age. Cannot say I am shocked with the disparity of subscribers and views.

    Their focus is on views and Youtube advertising dollars. Our focus is on acquiring and retaining dues paying members. Two totally different business models.

     

    14 minutes ago, WILDEBILL308 said:

     

     

     

     

  8. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, manholt said:

    Dan, I have not seen FMCA on UTube...I see it all the time on  FB.  

    We have, for as long as I remember, advertised FMCA as a whole and feel we should continue that.  

    Smithy, you can't use the past 8 months+ as a benchmark against previous years!  

    Bill, I remember and don't plan on being gone, anytime soon!  I have 53 years of Class A's, my wife has 37 years!  

    I don't remember the cost of membership in FMCA back in 1967, but if you take inflation into consideration,  the cost of $85 today, would probably be the same! :rolleyes:

     

    Here is our Youtube channel. We have 7,100 subscribers and hundreds of videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/fmcaonline

    There have been 10 full months since the dues increase. We have only had 2 out of 10 months with positive membership growth. Before that, at the old dues rate we had 33 out of 35 positive months. This is a disturbing trend that needs to be taken seriously. 

  9. Posted · Report reply

    9 hours ago, WILDEBILL308 said:

    Yes maybe we arn't doing a good enough job of explaining that yes you can join GS for 29.00 but you have to buy the travel assist for an extra 69.00 or a total of 98.00. or get both for 85.00 from FMCA. The number of people who remember the old price will be gone soon.

    Bill

    Bill,

    When we survey members, we ask what other clubs they belong to. If they indicate GS, we ask why they joined. Top two are campground and Camping World discounts. I don't believe our numbers are down because people are joining GS and signing up for their travel assist program. 

  10. Posted · Report reply

    On 6/28/2020 at 2:11 PM, rossboyer said:

    You can opt out of receiving hard copy. I looked on the web site but didn’t find where you could opt out. You may have to call Membership Services, 513-387-5319 to request it. 

    Eliminating the hard copy does not eliminate the FMCA Staff to produce the digital version. I am not suggesting that be done, because the magazine is valuable to communicate to all members.

    I receive both ways, because I use the hard copy as a recruiting tool.

    Ross is spot on. The magazine department is down to 5 employees, which is our bare minimum for the magazine to be produced as we currently know it. Whether digital or print, those 5 employees will be needed. 
     

    You would save quite a bit of money on printing and postage going digitally. But my gut is you would lose those savings in lost advertising revenue. A digital magazine would not command the same ad dollars.

  11. Posted · Report reply

    On 7/5/2020 at 7:29 PM, WILDEBILL308 said:

    I would like to know what FMCA is doing to recruit some of the thousands of new people entering the RV lifestyle. This has been a period of unbelievable growth, with more people than ever before buying RVs of all kinds. 

    Bill

    Bill,

    One other thought to add to Dan’s post. Our acquisition has really suffered with the dues increase passed late last year. It was done to fund our FMCAssist premium increase from the provider. Acquisition is down about 30% from last year. So all the things Dan listed that worked last year is not working this year. People simply are not willing to pay 85 dollars to join like they were before. We are trying our hardest to grow FMCA!

  12. Posted · Report reply

    22 hours ago, WILDEBILL308 said:

     

    Once  Again, I am pretty shure it is the job and responsibility and duty of "STAFF" to report things that might help their organization especially when we are in a decline and losing revenue and members. Especially when they are in the CEO position. 

    So we are suppose to wait for the  National Convention once per year! At that time The Executive Board/Governing Board will be allowed to run around and scream that we are losing membership and don't have a clue what to do.  Right now that may be anouther year. Is that the way we want to operate this organization? Don't you think it would be better to have some ideas to present to the board before hand? If it is important enough they could do like outher organizations and have a "Virtual meeting and implement changes before the decline goes to far. 

    So Once  Again, I am pretty shure it is the job and responsibility and duty of "STAFF" to report things that might help their organization especially when we are in a decline and losing revenue and members. Especially when they are in the CEO position. 

    Bill

    Bill- I have engaged you multiple times in this thread and answered all questions(I think). What more would you like me to do? Almost everything you have suggested or recommended we are already doing. Your assumption above that the EB is doing nothing to try and solve the issues we are facing is flat out wrong. 

     

  14. Posted · Report reply

    20 minutes ago, docj said:

    Of course, this is a classic accounting tactic by which revenues from future years are used to resolve a current cash flow problem.  It doesn't fix any problems; it simply delays them.

    I don't know of a company that does not run promotions. FMCA does not do it very often.

  15. Posted · Report reply

    20 minutes ago, marktaylorjets said:

    Shouldn't everyone be able to take time from their job, no matter how important,  to enjoy life and their family? 

    I think the first line on someone's resume for the job should go something like, " I own XYZ rv and have been camping for XX years with my family."

    I will have to wholeheartedly disagree with your assessment.

    Does the CEO of Delta have to own a jet? Be a pilot? Both?

    I know there are plenty of individuals that run very successful sports franchises that are the most unathletic people imaginable. I could go on and on with examples.

    We have an Executive Board that own RVs and live the lifestyle. They are the decision makers. As Brett said, I carry out their directives. And owning an RV has not hindered that once in 3.5 years in the position.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    I

    2 hours ago, manholt said:

    Bill, thank you!  

    Smithy, the last time I was offered a one year comp for FMCA membership by a dealer, was in 1996, I bought a 1997 Allegro!  Yes, they did it in the 1960's to 1990's!  I knew nothing about FMCA until I bought my first new, cookie cutter coach in 1967!  

    Sure wish someone from FMCA would join in, that will not play the PC card.  IMHO, we all need to be able to throw out ideas, without getting false feed back from the paid employee!

    Ross, you forgot to mention committee recommendation to the EB for Governance vote!  Are you back on a committee?  

    I am here honestly answering questions and clarifying misinformation. What can I help you with?

  17. Posted · Report reply

    11 hours ago, WILDEBILL308 said:

    Ok Smithy, What is your job at FMCA? What RV do you have?

    "We have 5,500 non-motorhome members." I hate to tell you but that sounds realey condescending towards our fellow RVers. You do know there is a perception in the non-motorhome world that FMCA is a bunch of rich elitist in their fancy coaches. 

    It is more about the person and the journey than the type of RV they have.

    "It is easy to say selling ads should be a piece of cake to that segment. When you ask them to outlay print ad money, the numbers make it a tough sell." No one said it would be easy. What kind of deals are you offering? 

    "We have partnerships with many dealers and manufacturers to offer comp memberships. We have been doing this for longer than I have been with FMCA." That's interesting because I have been in several major dealers and I have just bought a new to me 2008 Newmar Mountain Aire frome (NIDRVC) and never heard anything about FMCA. Never saw a poster on the wall or  any type of promotional material. I can't think of ever seeing anything at any RV dealership. 

    "We have a limited budget on the advertising side" Ok what are you doing to leverage it? 

    "We get great bang for our buck promoting FMCA on Facebook and Google. Our cost per acquisition is excellent." Well that is realey cool but you arn't making your goals for numbers. This goes back to my original questions. What do you think? What do you think can be improved and how?

    Here's a tip for your "social media" people. Work on some of the Channels on Youtube. Many have thousand of followers Many are full time RVers. Some can get several hundred to show up for a meet and greet. Work on getting benefit packages that will appeal to full timers. Then promote them because they are the ones in touch with those who plan on gong full time or joining the RV lifestyle.

    Bill

     

    I am the CEO. I do not own an RV. 

    You referenced that the staff and management needed to do better at selling ads to the new segment we opened up to. I shared how many members we have from that new segment. Not sure how that is condescending. The point was to show why it has been tough getting those advertisers on board.  I was CEO when we opened up to all RVs. I am from the camp that believes it is about the people and not the equipment.

    Dealers and manufacturers do not and will not offer a comp membership into FMCA during their sales process. They are trying to close the deal. They do offer the membership after the sale. The buyer decides to accept it or not. NIRVC would never offer one of our comp memberships. They formed a motor home only club after we opened to all RVs.

    Facebook and Google advertising is pretty cool. It is true that since our new fiscal year, which started October 2019, we have had trouble growing. From March 2017-March 2020 membership grew by 7,756 members, or nearly 11%. So yes you are correct in that in the last 6 months our results have been a bit lackluster, but the 2.5 years before that were very successful.

    FMCA does have a Youtube channel. We do produce video content. I would love to produce more, but much like advertising dollars, resources are limited. We have over 40,000 followers on Facebook so our social media folks(actually one person) is doing a great job.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, docj said:

    Not to be snarky, but since I have no interest in the international conventions or in the print magazine, I would suggest that maybe you have at least 25 too many. 

    I'm with elkhartjim on this issue--what exactly is the "value added" of an organization such as FMCA to it's members?  I used to think of the tire program as one of those, but last year I purchased Hankook tires for less than the FMCA price.  And how often does one really need to buy tires anyway?  The cost of FMCA dues over the ~7 years between tire purchases more than offsets any available discount.

    I usually pay Good Sam Club a membership solely for the purpose of getting 10% off my RV park fees.  That normally pays for itself every year, but I cancelled it this year because we aren't going to travel because of COVID-19.  Similarly, I have paid KOA for its discount card but won't do so this year.  These are entirely "transactional relationships"; I pay because I get something in return.

    One thing that usually gets overlooked in discussions such as this is that many thousands of RV owners use them for something other than recreational camping.  Many Americans use RVs as "alternative housing", a term that includes people who move from one job location to another and those who live in RVs because they find that less expensive and more appealing than apartments and/or other housing they can afford.  Most of these people don't frequent these forums, they hang out in  Facebook groups and similar places.  Many of them lack the basic knowledge of how RVs function and could truly benefit from an honest information source.  However, many (most?) of these folks would rather watch a YouTube video on how to fix something than pay to belong to an organization from which they might be able to get assistance.

    Our members do want the magazine and events, so we must provide the service. 35 to carry out all of the functions our members want seems fair to me.

    We have nearly 79,000 members. Those members must find some value add to being a member of FMCA.  People need to assess what the value proposition is and decide if it is worth having a membership. Just because you don't doesn't mean FMCA is not a viable and valuable organization to many others. 

     

  19. Posted · Report reply

    There are a few things that need to be clarified here.

     

    Doc- You must not have seen financial records in a long time. I have been with FMCA for 6.5 years and we have never come close to bank balances totaling $1 million dollars. We currently have 35 employees. How many do you feel is fair to service 79,000 members, produce and print 12 magazines per year, and two international conventions per year? 

    As a non profit, FMCA tax records are public knowledge. 

    Wildebill- We have 5,500 non -motorhome members. It is easy to say selling ads should be a piece of cake to that segment. When you ask them to outlay print ad money, the numbers make it a tough sell. We have partnerships with many dealers and manufacturers to offer comp memberships. We have been doing this for longer than I have been with FMCA. We have a limited budget on the advertising side. We get great bang for our buck promoting FMCA on Facebook and Google. Our cost per acquisition is excellent. 

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