The Future of FMCA

[whiteeagle]

I believe there are at least 5 active FMCA Chapters with members operating in the SE WI area plus several others more regional or with specific interests. You may have explored all - and possibly discussed your interests and what you would like to see done locally with officers of those  chapters? If not, maybe start with Regional VP?  Granted that with the current pandemic situation, difficult for organizations to hold more sanctioned events.

As a couple not full timing but relatively active in FMCA National, FMCA Regional, 2 FMCA Chapters summer month events, rolling rallies to and from events with friends (not only from our chapters) plus winter snowbird luncheons, and short trips with others, we stay about as active as possible to fit in. Also participate with 3 non - FMCA motor home organizations.

Last point I would offer is that National FMCA members do not need to be a Chapter member to attend a Chapter rally of function... Providing space is available, our chapter as well as several others allow and actually invite non members to attend a function (one per calendar year), meet the members, participate in all events, contribute on round table discussions, and decide on membership later. Suspect many chapters (as we do) normally have round table discussion during the function on several topics including RV maintenance, recent mistakes shared, etc.

Will step off my Chapter box with best wishes you find what you are after... PM me if we can be of help.

Stay safe and healthy.

 

[miniedmo]

Hello guys, i hope i am not speaking out of place here. I am about 4 years in on owning my motorhome and have been a member of FMCA for about the same length of time. My wife and I are in our mid 50's, so we still have jobs and are not able to travel full time at the moment. We had went on some chapter's sites in our area to try and join when we signed up with FMCA and the sites had not been updated in months. I think a lot of the chapters are just hanging on with the small groups they currently have and aren't creating any activities for the future. We would look at the calendar events for the chapters and there would be nothing listed in the calendar except FMCA rally's.

I personally think the way to get younger people involved with FMCA is going to have to go through the kids. I think FMCA should offer some kind of benefit for children and this would may get the attention of the younger group. If they could make this happen in some way, then you would have the young kids growing up and being familiar with FMCA also.

[jleamont]

miniedmo, Welcome to the FMCA forums! 

[miniedmo]

Thank you Jleamont, good to be here.

[richard5933]

I understand the possible benefit of chapters to those that choose to join one, whether it be a geographic based or interest based chapter, but isn't it really just making double work of getting new members to be involved and active? It seems like it's hard enough for us to recruit members to FMCA to begin with, but we have system that requires members to join a second time in order to become full members? If all members were automatically members of a chapter they could begin full involvement much easier. Or just skip the chapter requirement and allow at-large members.

I've been an FMCA member for a few years, and it's always surprised me that I have absolutely no voice in choosing the leadership of our membership-run organization because I don't belong to a chapter. The reason I haven't joined a chapter so far is I haven't found one with events that interested me which were held at a time and/or place I could get to.

We are not retired yet, and so our travel calendar is limited. Making our travel calendar more difficult is that we live in the north and our coach is parked from Nov thru May. Really hard to get to events when the coach is still winterized or there is still salt on the roads. With the time limitations we work around and the long list of places we want to go around the country, it's just really hard to fit in more than one or two rallies per year, and that's in a good year. Perhaps if we knew more FMCA members from non-rally events we'd be more inclined to spend our limited vacation time at rallies, but that's not the case yet.

I just don't understand why this double-layer involvement is still necessary for FMCA members to gain full membership and participation in the conduct of the organization.

[manholt]

Once upon a time, a small group of Family's, with the same interests got together and formed, Family Motor Coach Association!  Family=Mother, Father and kids!  Motor Coach=Bus conversion!  As time went by, FMCA grew exponentially bigger and bigger and went from Coast to Coast as more and more Motor Homes was being built by WB, Fleetwood, etc.   To manage this influx FMCA came up with Areas and Chapters in each area!  One of the oldest Chapters was/is Yankee Travelers, followed by The Bus Nuts...self explanatory what their name stood for!  Like any organization, you need a President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer and Board of Directors and as the Club grew and most members belonged to one or more Chapters, we needed one voice to deliver to National, what the majority of the members of the Chapters wanted.  Today they are National Directors.

Somewhere along the line, FMCA Leaders have forgotten what Family and Motor Coach stand for!  My take on this, our leaders in the past 10 years only care for the bottom line!  Their Legacy!

Richard, you and all others, who are not with a Chapter, have a voice!  Send a letter to National, if they get enough of them, they got to do something!  Sadly, when National send out to all members, they get back less than 6%...🤬

[whiteeagle]

I  likely can't help Richard find folks he might like to associate with to explore possibilities of common interests or friendships. However... if his SE WI means in the area  between Milwaukee, Madison,Janesville,Kenosha, there are 27 member families living in that area in our chapter alone.... and I'm sure several from other chapters as well.

If others have similar dissatisfaction with FMCA but not wanting to meet or talk with other members in their area to explore possibilities of friendship or common interests, I fully support what Manholt recommends.  

Just don't understand why anyone would want  "a voice" in an organization but not want to meet or socialize with other members - either chapter members or non members - both locally available and from all across this great country. Doubt $15 annual dues is factor.

Maybe FMCA would allow one to organize a "Non Chapter" Chapter and then function fully as an equal to all? 

Stay safe and healthy.

[richard5933]

2 hours ago, whiteeagle said:

...Just don't understand why anyone would want  "a voice" in an organization but not want to meet or socialize with other members - either chapter members or non members - both locally available and from all across this great country. Doubt $15 annual dues is factor.

Maybe FMCA would allow one to organize a "Non Chapter" Chapter and then function fully as an equal to all? 

Stay safe and healthy.

Maybe because my limited time available for traveling puts me in various parts of the country when the local events are taking place. Maybe because my schedule hasn't worked out. Maybe I don't have the time necessary to investigate the chapters by visiting an event with each one before choosing which to join. Or, maybe I just don't see why I should have to join anything other than FMCA to have a vote in what goes in with leadership in FMCA.

Will I eventually join a chapter? Likely. But until then it seems I'll be without a vote on leadership issues.

Is chapter membership a deal breaker for everyone? Of course not, but I suspect that not everyone is interested in doing all the parliamentary procedure steps which were so popular in organizations decades ago. I had enough of that belonging to civic organizations in the 70s and 80s, and really think that things could be more streamlined than how they are.

[rayin]

Richard I agree. We do not belong to a chapter for a personal health reason, that is not a valid reason to not have a vote IMO. Invariably when someone attempts to talk to my DW they  begin questioning her about her health problem, which is very rude. Consequently we have not attended a group meeting in years; I doubt we will ever do so again, however I would like a voice in matters of an organization to which i pay dues.

Presently the only way I have to participate is trying to be helpful and share what modicum of knowledge I have with others as I see the issue on these forums.

minidmo makes an excellent point! I hope management is reading and taking notes.

[rossboyer]

One avenue that can use is to email to your National VP for your area. Addresses are in FamRVing. State your opinion that is all a chapter member can do to their National Director. 
 

There was an attempt a few years ago to streamline the governance, but since it would have reduced the current delegates to Governing Board, it didn’t pass. Just like congress not been required to only receive the same benefits any other citizen receives. 

[wildebill308]

miniedmo, Welcome to the forum.

Bill

 

[miniedmo]

Thanks Bill!

[jleamont]

miniedmo, nice looking Monaco coach! Create a signature so we know what it is. Upload some photos in the photo section. 

[erniee]

The Lone Star Birds were started- like FMCA- for like minded owners of Bluebird Wanderlodge. This was a couple decades ago. 
Since then it has evolved into whatever- from towable to Prevost’s.

Harvey and Kathy Lawrence, Ron and Shirley Marabito,  Joe and Kay Losh, Mike and Barbara McMahan, and Ernie and Brenda Ekberg were the founding members.

[richard5933]

1 hour ago, erniee said:

The Lone Star Birds were started- like FMCA- for like minded owners of Bluebird Wanderlodge. This was a couple decades ago. 
Since then it has evolved into whatever- from towable to Prevost’s.

Harvey and Kathy Lawrence, Ron and Shirley Marabito,  Joe and Kay Losh, Mike and Barbara McMahan, and Ernie and Brenda Ekberg were the founding members.

This is one of the things about chapters that confuses me and makes it difficult to know which to choose, if any.

If a chapter is a "whatever" chapter, then how is it anything other than just a geographic subset of the FMCA membership? In that case, just assign all members to a generic state chapter so that everyone gets to vote. Nothing to stop members from being in an interest-focused chapter as well, but at least everyone who pays dues would be given an official voice in things like national elections.

[whiteeagle]

Suspect most "whatever" chapters are not state restricted..... believe most chapter folks would prefer to be in chapter  with members in their area which would overlap state borders to socialize with while at .. and outside of events rather than being assigned to one because of their mailing address.... Fortunately, chapter can have members from several states ..... the "whatever" chapter I belong to has members from 10 different states.... some are snow birds that belong to chapter or chapters  in each of their primary time areas .. and some are full-timers that move around but enjoy having social groups to associate with in different parts of the country. Understand that some chapters restrict membership to only their state or area. So be it... that's their thing.

[manholt]

Richard, The Lone Star Birds, was owners of Blue Bird Motorhomes...period.  Blu Bird did not go out of business, they just decided to get out of the Motorhome side and go back to making Commercial Bus and school bus!  Some of the members wanted to carry on with the chapter, I would be surprised if Ernie is no longer a member.

Back in the day, every member of FMCA was proud of the coach they owned...so Chapters was formed on coach manufacturers...it still goes on today, one of the biggest Chapters today is Entegra.  Some Chapters are regional, like Crusin Cajuns of La. it's based on their heritage, culture, food & music!  We are members of CC.  

whiteeagle is correct...I was typing! 😁

[richard5933]

Yeah, and at the beginning of FMCA most of the coaches looked very much like my coach - not like modern RVs.

I get it. I understand the desire by some to have a chapter of like-minded people. Not trying for a second to take away from anyone's chapter, their love of their coach, or their desire to be in a sub-group of FMCA to organize activities. Nothing I've said or will say is aimed at denigrating any chapter or those who want to join one.

My point is simple. I believe that ALL members of FMCA should be given an opportunity to vote on things like our national leadership. Directly or indirectly, makes no difference to me. What does make a difference is the large number of members who do not belong to a chapter and as such are left without a vote. At all.

This thread is about the future of FMCA - it's not about what we've done in the past. I know that I'm not alone in thinking that the notion that FMCA members can only vote for national leadership through a chapter is outdated. There are many ways to accomplish voting without funneling the vote through chapters.

What about FMCA members who belong to multiple chapters? Do they get a louder voice in national elections since they have multiple points of input? Hard to say from where I sit.

Yes, there are tens of thousands of members. But, having a membership-wide election is not that difficult. I own a few shares of stock in some very large companies - every year I get to express my thoughts through the annual ballot. Not quite the same, but a good example of various ways to give ALL members a path to having a voice.

[hermanmullins]

On two different occasions, since l have been a member, there was voting by all members. The ballots were printed in the magazine and members were given three months to send in their ballots. Each time less than 8% of the Membership voted. There is no way of knowing but I would guess that the majority of those that voted were members of a chapter.

Herman 

[richard5933]

I might have said it before, but it's worth repeating...

If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got.

Lots of good ideas have been presented on this thread about ways to bring in new members, ways to improve participation, and ways to help FMCA transition into an organization that can offer future generations what they will need. Hopefully someone in leadership is taking notes.

 

 

[charlieiam]

I spent my 52 year professional career attending and sitting in business meeting and expect to spent my RV retirement years avoiding even the semblance of another one.  

The structure of FMCA appears to be similar to that we find in our government , one can be a citizen of the country but must still join a political party to cast a vote.   Not that its wrong for a country's government but is it really necessary for a RV club?

For something as simple as RVers enjoying fellowship among themselves there should be no need for bored (pun intended ) meetings.   Allow FMCA members to fraternize and have their localized fellowships of interest without requiring them be structured as businesses in order to have a voice in FMCA's business..  Why require them to join a political party ( chapter) to have a voice in the FMCA organization?   Overly control spoils the fun.  Life is hard enough why make belonging to a RV club so?

My Auto, Home and Health insurance company sends me a ballot each year to vote on the board of directors and all I have to do to qualify is pay a $25.00 membership fee.   How simple is that?   I suspect their budget and overhead may be a few hundred times that of FMCA.   Why make a mountain out of a mole hill?

Simple is better.  Why make work and employment, for a few at the expense of many, when it is unnecessary?

Just saying.....

Edited November 20, 2020 by charlieiam

[richard5933]

2 hours ago, charlieiam said:

The structure of FMCA appears to be similar to that we find in our government , one can be a citizen of the country but must still join a political party to cast a vote.   Not that its wrong for a country's government but is it really necessary for a RV club?

Even among the 50 states, not all require membership in a party to vote. Not all states require this - you just show up an vote for whomever you wish. I like the parallel here - if you want to vote in the state's (chapter) election, you've got to be a citizen of the state (chapter). But, everyone gets to vote in the national election.

[rayin]

On 11/19/2020 at 10:00 AM, hermanmullins said:

On two different occasions, since l have been a member, there was voting by all members. The ballots were printed in the magazine and members were given three months to send in their ballots. Each time less than 8% of the Membership voted. There is no way of knowing but I would guess that the majority of those that voted were members of a chapter.

Herman 

I was a member for the last one, it was the only time I got to vote in FMCA. At least everyone had the opportunity to vote.

Edited November 21, 2020 by rayin

[richard5933]

On 11/19/2020 at 9:00 AM, hermanmullins said:

...There is no way of knowing but I would guess that the majority of those that voted were members of a chapter.

Herman 

I think it would be interesting to see the math on this one, and it would be an easy question for Dan or anyone in membership to answer. Just a simple database query. It was the only time I've been allowed to cast a vote as a member since I joined.

[rossboyer]

Since the ballots are mailed to an accounting firm, there probably isn’t any individual records, just total count.