The Future of FMCA

[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.

[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.

[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. 

[richard5933]

Do we know the percentage of FMCA members that belong to a chapter?

[manholt]

Richard, today, from what I have learned..20% (I believe it's more, because total membership is different from active membership)! You can count the same F# 4 times (F# with S, D, GS, GD at end of #), I have seen GGS on one, this summer in CO. on a 5'er!

[rossboyer]

I have not seen recent figures, but it was 24% belonged to one or more chapters. They didn’t count for each chapter the member belonged. 
 

“P” is also used for plates which is parent. 

[richard5933]

With chapter membership rates that low, then I would say that my thoughts on the subject should have pretty high importance for a lot more people.

Really - only 20-24% of FMCA members get to vote on how things are run at the national level? Why doesn't this bother more people?

Sorry, but I find it really bizarre that in all these years the national leadership hasn't found it necessary to find a way to involve the other 76-80% of the membership in things like voting for our national leadership. No wonder things feel like an old boys' club sometimes.

[whiteeagle]

Suspect it's like the normal 80-20 experience in many organizations. 20% contribute operationally to the organization goals and purpose, 80% members but preferring to pay dues based on their perceived economic benefits received and more or less stay in the shadows...... 

Have no idea how many of the 80% non-chapter members serve on committees, volunteer at rallies, or seek other ways to help organizations they are not satisfied with - would offer that as one way to gain support for their views.  

[manholt]

Interesting point...I have found that on a Area and National level, all volunteers are members of a Chapter!  

I display my Goose Egg, but not my GS or Escapees.  Most GS and the same with Escapees,  are FMCA members, but don't display it.

Ross, I also forgot about the L# !  Then you have members who are both F# and C# !  Members who have L# and a different F# and F#, L# with the same # !  Confused yet? 

Edited November 21, 2020 by manholt

[charlieiam]

I am a Life member of Good Sam and Passport America.  I was a member of Escapee until I made the mistake of questioning a decision made by the leadership and got banned.   John 3:19  

I do not belong to any FMCA chapter... there are none in my area.   I did get to vote for the Amendment to the By-Laws to allow the inclusion of all RV types.   Being a Life Member of two other RV clubs that include all RV types I chose to join this one because of its reputation of being a Family Motor Coach Association.  It was short lived due to my joining shortly before the change in the By-Laws which did I not support.  I have no objection toward any RV type as evidenced by my Lifetime Membership in two clubs that include all types.

I am still learning the ropes here at FMCA and I get the impression that the leadership is isolated behind a firewall.   Perhaps that is good if the goal is to retain a set goal of remaining exclusively a Motor Coach Association.    That goal is no longer desired ( to be an exclusive club ) and perhaps now it would benefit the new association of RVers to allow all registered members to vote in the election of their board of Directors.  Folks in the USA are used to being in control of their leadership as evident in "We The People."

Just saying.

[djsamuel]

On 12/3/2020 at 5:41 PM, Glenn_Kathryn said:

Meetups arranged around an outdoor physical activity like hiking, climbing, or white water rafting. A whole lot of RV meetups appear to be just sitting and talking, with an occasional tour thrown in. To young active families who are used to the constant dopamine hits they get from being on electronics most of the day, that sounds as appealing as watching paint dry. We're not going to just sit around and stare at each other and discuss black tank issues. Adrenaline needs to be engaged.

I think this is a big one, but not limited to just the younger age (not that I'm old ).  My wife and I are 60 (I'm soon to be 61), and I am retiring next year.  We use our camper a good bit and always associated with some form of activity.  We may camp a lot at Disney World (where my wife retired), which entails a lot of walking and then onto state parks and National Parks where we love to hike.  Usually during a week to 10 day long camping trip we may hike 80 to 100 miles, especially at a park like the Smoky Mountains.  That said, we do like to set days aside to enjoy the camper and the campground; so we're a combination.  I do find interest in the technical side of campers, but our focus is on staying active in the outdoors.  

Edited December 9, 2020 by djsamuel

[peggyjshafer]

On 4/21/2020 at 8:49 PM, docj said:

With all due respect, the fine print says that FMCAssist will take you to the nearest medical facility that can provide you adequate care.  There is no guarantee that you will be taken home.  If you're outside the US there's no obligation to get you back to the US.  Furthermore, having someone return your RV home for you is dependent on you first being approved for transport.  

Don't get me wrong, these limitations are pretty much the same for SkyMed and MASA.  That's one of the reasons I haven't bothered to subscribe to them either.  MASA appears to build its subscriber base by scaring seniors in group settings at snowbird parks.  Personally, I find that kind of marketing offensive.

Personally, I'm more likely to purchase health insurance for when we're in Canada.  Our medicare supplement covers us for $50k of coverage outside the US and that's on a reimbursable basis.  If we spend another summer up there I think I'd like to have "real" health insurance that would cover us for accidental injury and other concerns.  Of course, that assumes we're ever going to go away like that again!

I can't answer for MASA, but SkyMed truly IS different.  Directly from the SkyMed Member Service Agreement:

If, as a result of a serious or critical illness or injury, a Member requires emergency medical
care, SkyMed guarantees provision of:
• By choice of the Member, air transportation and medical services needed to move
the Member to the Member’s Transport Preference as designated on the Membership
application form; or
• By choice of the Member, emergency medical air transportation to a hospital closer
than the Member’s Home hospital as designated on the Membership application form
and/or in the Member’s Membership record at SkyMed.
The Member’s medical condition must be stabilized for air travel by the attending physician.

So SkyMed TRULY has a take you home guarantee without "medical necessity".