FMCA to allow Towables Owners to join

ncrowley wrote:
We voted against it because we like that the magazine was focused on motorized RVs and therefore had lots of articles that were of interest to us. Also, the rally have sessions that are geared to motorized RVs. FMCA has turned themselves into Good Sams, which we are a member of. There are lot more RVs that are trailers than there are motorized RVs. Therefore, in the future, the magazine and the rallies will need to emphasize trailers and fifth wheel over the motorized vehicles.

Guess I'm really dense. Just skimmed the FMCA magazines for 2017 and found minimal articles that were motorhome specific. Most of the articles applied to any self contained RV. Maintenance of heating, plumbing, and electrical applies to both. Places to go and things to do apply to both.

Winnebago has the WIT club which for many years was motorhome only. Now that they build trailers and at least in my area, none of the clubs are upset about, but look forward to having more members to make friends with.

BTW, been a member of FMCA & WIT for 12 years.

The Ralliesabout are a good thing FMCA.
We didn't make one this year but instead American Coach rally in Oklahoma.
Only about 125 coaches this time.
I don't know how many or if any new coaches were sold but at other Rallies FMCA and American Coach as many as ten coaches sold.
We had our heat pump repaired not cost by Coleman, that seized up while there.
At others a water heater problem helped with.
Oil changes and transmission fluid changes, while no money was saved done on Rally Goers Schedule while they enjoy the doings. Use to be lots more vendors but they don't want to show unless 150-200coaches, or so I was told. I had hoped to have Roadmaster service our tow bar, since camping World is unreliable and very expensive. they have quit showing up, however Blue Ox dealer was there and sold and serviced some tow bars etc.
Participants are aging out, it is that simply.
While a lot of new Rvers are showing up, not as many as the cost, of Rigs is now higher and horror stories of service avaialble is reaching way beyond the RV community.
The economy and economic freedom, are keeping more people at home or closer to home.
Down the road it may, probably will improve, but the bulk of Participants are Retirees etc and though I have met several in their nineties, even Widows and Widowers off that age there is a cycle undetermined as to when the majority get into it, live it, and settle down, at last, in Florida etc.
The Industry makes or made a lot of money at these Rallies as showcases, for everything RV including coaches, and created a lot of good will with some services, like American Coach and Coleman and Freightliner, with free fixes, clinics and the big feeds or the party, that put money, in their cash register, in the short term and over the long haul.
Everyone does business within the family.
However, now, Wall Street is acquiring the RV industry and demanding the maximization of their returns and service, and customer support, and being part of the RV Community doesn't make them enough money in their book.
They are cutting their own throats.
I understand sales are up so there is some disparity here I can't explain, as it shows scant presence elsewhere.

Tvov wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:
However, less than 10,000 of the 75,000 members voted. I suspect that many had no idea a vote was happening. Even if they saw the page in the magazine they may not have been interested enough to actually tear out the ballot and put it in an envelope. FMCA was counting on that, of course.

So they used a "tear-out" ballot from a magazine for voting? I think I see part of the problem right there. Most of the people I know who are 30 (or even 40) years old and younger don't get any magazines anymore. Or newspapers.

Yes, that's how the vote was designed. Pretty much a rigged system as the regional directors were out there promoting the change to everyone who would listen and those who were not active in a chapter or on the FMCA forum had no idea the vote was happening or what it actually meant.
I'm lucky, my membership expired before the vote so I don't have to worry about what to do going forward. My ONLY reason for being a member was the information provided in the magazine about things that interest me. I will never own a towable so information about them is really of no interest to me. Now, if the guy next door invites me over to his towable we will have a great time and I will likely take a tour (if offered).

We voted against it because we like that the magazine was focused on motorized RVs and therefore had lots of articles that were of interest to us. Also, the rally have sessions that are geared to motorized RVs. FMCA has turned themselves into Good Sams, which we are a member of. There are lot more RVs that are trailers than there are motorized RVs. Therefore, in the future, the magazine and the rallies will need to emphasize trailers and fifth wheel over the motorized vehicles.

azrving wrote:
Is a smiling truck camper owner allowed to join?

If your self contained. IE fresh water, waste tanks, cook, sleep, poop, bathe. Then yes, come join us please. If the FMCA will allow my 22 year old entry level Bounder, then they will allow most any thing. GRIN
OH! And thanks for the smile. It's your positive attitude that I want to see in the FMCA.


Richard
Webmaster MWPSchooners.com

Well put Shot-N-Az! sold their soul is right! Not unlike the attitude of the whole country - no borders, no boundaries - just total free for all.

jfkmk wrote:

William Willard wrote:
I`ve been a FMCA member since 1995, & I was one of the no votes -- I`m not a High Nose, but the MC stands for Motor Coach -- I will not be renewing my membership when mine expires next year -- William Willard

I have no interest in joining (unless there is some fantastic benefit), but I'm curious....are you (and anyone else who said they won't renew) that hung up on the word "motor" that because of this change will cause you to not renew?

Again, I'm not interested in joining, so you don't have to worry about this trailer owner, but this seems kind of petty to me.

Speaking only for myself, no, it’s not about that. The issue is you had an organization that was allegedly dedicated to motorhomes. Now it is not. It’s the same as being a member of any other club or organization that is built around a common interest and then they change it to a completely different one, and the organization then becomes one that is no different than, say, the organization that sponsors this board.

For example, let’s say you are a member of a Corvette club, and a minority of the membership votes to include Hondas into the club because there are more of them out there and they will bring more revenue into the club. I have nothing against Hondas, but I joined the Corvette club because it was about Corvettes.

FMCA sold it’s soul for $$$$ and has yet to address the issues that caused it to have to consider this move in the first place. Until those issues are addressed, it will continue to be a flawed organization with unimaginative management.

William Willard wrote:
I`ve been a FMCA member since 1995, & I was one of the no votes -- I`m not a High Nose, but the MC stands for Motor Coach -- I will not be renewing my membership when mine expires next year -- William Willard

I have no interest in joining (unless there is some fantastic benefit), but I'm curious....are you (and anyone else who said they won't renew) that hung up on the word "motor" that because of this change will cause you to not renew?

Again, I'm not interested in joining, so you don't have to worry about this trailer owner, but this seems kind of petty to me.

rgatijnet1 wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:
Even if they saw the page in the magazine they may not have been interested enough to actually tear out the ballot and put it in an envelope.

I guess that says it all. If they weren't interested enough to vote, then they shouldn't complain afterwards about the result. :B

Exactly it is that same apathy that led to a vote they disliked.

When my membership expires (2018), I'm not renewing.