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akadeadeye

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Posts posted by akadeadeye

  1. Posted · Report reply

    All good comments and many good suggestions.  As a businessman and past president of several trade organizations I have learned that a Board of Directors basically knows very little about what the membership wants, especially in a large membership organization like FMCA.  70,000 members is HUGE.  Listen to the percentages.  If only 20% belong to a chapter, don't spend any money supporting chapters.  Let the chapters support themselves.  If a significant percentage don't go to rallies or conventions, don't support them beyond the support of the attendees.  I resent paying my dues when I know a significant portion of them goes toward programs I will never use.  A far better system, it would seem to me, is to price basic membership dues with options to add other subscriptions.  Even if the $25 for FMCAssist goes to $35 on a choice basis I am sure those that want it will still subscribe at the higher figure.

    Thought should be given to adding even more "discount" programs.  With 70,000 members FMCA HAS to be enticing to partner with to numerous RV and Travel related companies.  The more the merrier.  This is what will grow membership IMHO.  "You want that lithium battery/solar panel combo package for $4,900?  How about joining FMCA for $45/year and get it from our lithium/solar panel partner for $4,120?"  This kind of incentive driven membership program is what will halt the bleeding and will grow the organization membership to 100,000.

    For heaven's sake folks, there are more RVs being manufactured per day than ever before.  Think outside the box and sign them up with give away memberships on ANY new coach or trailer for a year and beat the bushes for discount partners such as mentioned above.  There are potentially dozens.  After a short while RV owners will figure out they can't afford NOT to be a member of FMCA.  As they say, "re-imagine the organization".  The old ways are gone!! 

    Give them choices they WANT.  Don't make them pay for benefits they DON'T WANT.  It is insanity to continue doing the same thing month in and month out and expecting different results.  On the contrary, they will be the same results as you are experiencing now.  Loss in members.  THIS CAN BE TURNED AROUND!!  But not by faith alone or cheering on the sidelines.  Radical changes need to be made. NOW.

    Just my 2 cents.

    Don

  2. Posted · Report reply

    47 minutes ago, manholt said:

    Don C.  Good to know, your still alive!

    The Ball Game has changed this year, most State Parks are open to residents only or closed, NP's are mostly open.  We are in West View RV Resort, Cortez, Colorado for 3 weeks!  We called to extend our 7 day reservation, a week, before we got here.  Everything is open on a 50% capacity, all NP and BLM 4x4 trails are open!  We'll be back in Ruidoso Downs, NM, for the Labor Day horse races!

    You bet I am!!  But very jealous that I'm still in Texas in August and a lot of my friends are in Colorado!  We have all but given up on getting to CO this year although we may sneak up there in late September and maybe to Davis Mountains and Lajitas, TX.  It depends on RV park availability and completing a bunch of things I have going on here.  We're planning a trip to Banff and Vancouver next Spring but that, too, may be put on hold because of campground availability there and along the way.  Hey, I'm not getting any younger.  This virus stuff needs to be contained so we can all get on with traveling.  Are you going to Telluride?

    Don

  3. Posted · Report reply

    6 hours ago, RLS7201 said:

    When traveling West of the Mississippi river we just follow our nose and make no reservations.
    Due to the increased population density East of the Mississippi we seldom travel East. When we do travel East we make reservations.

    Richard

    I have to agree with Richard.  We have never had a problem in the West.  We have had numerous problems in the East, along with attitude problems with Eastern RV Parks and Campgrounds.  Just too many people there.

  4. Posted · Report reply

    Blanksam

    Sounds like a nice trip.  I would recommend IH-70 right through Denver and the mountains.  It is gorgeous scenery.  There are some steep grades but nothing you can't handle in your Open Road.  It would be nice to detour off of IH-70 on Hwy 191 in Utah to see Arches National Park, Canyonlands NP, Capitol Reef NP, drive Hwy 12 over the Hogback Highway then see Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park before heading north to Salt Lake.  I can't help you with the best route to Glacier.  We plan to go there ourselves next spring on our way to Banff, Alberta.

     

    Don

  6. Posted · Report reply

    I am usually very good about checking my liquid cell house batteries the first of every month.  This spring/summer I somehow let it go 3 months.  I checked them today and 3 of the four needed just a little water.  The fourth was completely dry.  All three cells were well below the plates if not all the way dry.  These are Interstate batteries about 2 years old.  I have never seen any water level below the plates before.  Is this battery toast?  Faulty battery?

    Don

  9. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, hermanmullins said:

    Blue Bell was at one time one of the best around. But not so since the reopened that plant after the listeria problem. A good friend of mine, who has over 50 year in the ice cream industry, says that Blue Bell began to put more air in the ice cream to increase the volume which makes for a poorer quality but more money.

    But I now just watch other eat it to help keep my triglycerides down. (I did have to spell check that word) :(

    Herman

    triglycerides?  Is that a new Blue Bell flavor??

    Don

  10. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, manholt said:

    Don, the city of Burnet is on Lock Down!  What can I do & not do?  Pretty much the same as I did before yesterday! Has not affected our life style, other than not sitting in Restaurant & some strange runs on our food markets!  We have a bread machine, but no flour of any kind to be found.  Can't go into lobby of the Bank, unless you call and make an appointment, same with Merrill Lynch...those 2 is my excitement for this morning!  This afternoon, I have 5 ac of lawn to cut and then lay down fertilizer.  

    RayIN, I feel your pain!  We got a mile of fence in back that's got to be replaced, before that can happen we need to get rid of a lot off ceder trees and old dead trees, then tear the old barb wire and most of the posts out.  Not waiting for fall, tree removal company with all the heavy equipment will be here next week!  Then we're putting in 2 1/2 inch pipe with  4 rows of welded on Sucker Rods and pig wire!  We got over 4,000 feet of pipe and my friend  in NE TX is bringing us 12,000 feet of rods and his welder to go along with ours...yea, I know how to put down a bead.  We got to do the same with the front. 

    Wayne,  your right.  COVID-19 is no joke!  Maybe now, everyone will be vaccinated against the flu next year!  

    Carl, as long as you can get a Storms Burger and fries to go life should be fine. 

     

    Don

  11. Posted · Report reply

    I am truly befuddled and confused with all of the closings, cancellations, shelter in place rules, etc.  This is not intended to be a rant, nor a political statement by any means.  I just wonder if I am missing something with all of the reactions to this Covid-19 virus versus the annual and seasonal flu.  Here is an article by and about Michael Levitt, a Nobel laureate and Stanford biophysicist.  The following statement was taken from the article.

    "But he also blames the media for causing unnecessary panic by focusing on the relentless increase in the cumulative number of cases and spotlighting celebrities who contract the virus. By contrast, the flu has sickened 36 million Americans since September and killed an estimated 22,000, according to the CDC, but those deaths are largely unreported."

    https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-03-22/coronavirus-outbreak-nobel-laureate

    So, why is our country at a standstill over Covid-19, with 46,548 cases and 540 deaths versus the flu with 36 million cases and 22,000 deaths?  These numbers just don't make any sense to me. What am I missing?

    Don

  13. Posted · Report reply

    On 1/4/2020 at 4:49 PM, hermanmullins said:

    Ok now back to the OP Handicap Equipped RV.:)

    Herman

    Exactly Herman.  Ours is a 2009 Newmar Allstar 4188 with a lift and a back door.  Bathroom is totally wheelchair accessible and my wife can push her wheelchair down the aisle when the slides are in.  Only three of these made by Newmar at that time.  However, Newmar has been making wheelchair accessible units since then in the Canyon Star and Dutch Star models.  Maybe more.  We met Maylon Miller in Nappannee, IN in 2010 and asked him to continue making these models.  I guess he thought about it and took it to heart.

    Don

  14. Posted · Report reply

    On 9/18/2019 at 8:39 AM, wolfe10 said:

    Don,

    The VAST majority of the drop in PSI was because of temperature.  Altitude has very little effect. 

     

    And, yes, if you will be operating the coach in cold conditions, you will need to inflate the tires to the correct PSI for your load.

    Going from Texas summer heat to winter driving, I always have to add air.

    Thanks Brett.

    And, thanks to the other replies.

     

    Don

  21. Posted · Report reply

    Our inside step on our motorhome won't elevate.  I lifted the step manually and looked underneath the step and saw that the "piston" had become disconnected from the housing at the step wall.  I found four tiny screws loose.  But I couldn't get the "piston" extended in order to see if I can fasten it back.  How do you release this piston, or is it fried?

     

    Don

  24. Posted · Report reply

    To Those Who Know What They're Doing

    Our 2009 Newmar Allstar needs an electronic makeover.  We have replaced two TVs.  Now they don't work without unplugging RCA connectors and plugging in different ones depending if we need satellite or DVD.  Our tuner/receiver is a Jamo.  They don't make them anymore.  No HDMI connections.  There is a 4-plex tuner box on top of the Jamo that directs signal to the 4 TVs.  Our satellite dome is a Winegard In-motion model, 9 years old, not very dependable.  We have DISH.

    I want more state of the art equipment.  Two new TVs is no problem.  Tuner receiver, routing to 4 TVs so wife can watch DVD in the bedroom and I can watch satellite elsewhere, HDMI cabling?

    Anyone have a makeover plan?  I would very much appreciate it.  I have been to 3 reputable RV service shops and no one has been cabable of suggesting anything.

    Thanks in advance.

     

    Don

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