MEXICAN FIESTA at COWICHAN BAY

Great weather, great food, great fun! This rally started off with everything right! 44 rigs in attendance including 7 “Family & Friends”. Some of the folks living in Cowichan Bay were very envious and came over to enquire about joining us. We have 2 prospective new members! Thursday evening after a wonderful pot luck dinner, we all enjoyed Spanish Bingo provided by Laurel & Wayne Macauley. We had cash prizes and then for the full card we had cash and a huge basket stuffed with Mexican treats. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed a fun evening.

Click HERE for pictures

Pancakes, fruit and sausages started Friday off and then day trips to the Cowichan Exhibition, exploring or just enjoying the sights around our rally area. Like last year, otters, seals and many kinds of birds were sighted nearby. During the day a Piggy was roasting on the fire and at dinner we ate her all up with beans and salad. Josie Williams supplied desserts which included a beautiful Mexican Tres Leche cake. This “3 milks” cake was a real hit. Also, Empanaditas, little filled pastries typical of Mexico. Three more layered desserts rounded out the meal. After this we began the “Veggie Races” which were very entertaining. Rhonda Unicume and Audrey Hauge made racers which managed to stay together long enough to win their categories. Bob Orr presented a frozen cantaloupe with an axle through it and wheels drawn on. The cantaloupe made such a superior racer that the judges decided Bob should win the distance prize even though Bob entered a “fruit”. Nice job, Bob!

Saturday began with Ham & Eggs and another warm and sunny day. Quite a few people went into Duncan to check out the Saturday Market and came back with treasures. Some folks picked blackberries and some just ate them! Tacos were served for dinner with a huge bowl of contributed fresh fruit. 40 people participated in the “Minute to Win It” games and the roar of the crowd was overwhelming. Lots and lots of laughter.

After a continental breakfast Sunday, the draw was made for the Ken Williams award and won by Gary Giles. Gregs’ RV in Duncan generously supplied a gas campfire for a door prize and new member Bent Pedersen was the grand winner. The tent was dismantled, trailer stowed and 23 of the attendees left. We had 21 units stay over for another night and leave Monday morning. Another very good rally!

Scheduled for 2012;

MAY end of: we are trying for the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds for a “Many hosts” Rally.

JUNE: We discussed going as a group to the Northwest Area Rally at The Mill Casino in Coos Bay, Oregon ... should be lots of fun.

JULY: We shall try for the Native Campground at Qualicum Bay.

WE NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2012

Have a safe, happy and warm winter, see you next year.

Sandy

National Director Report

 FMCA 86th International Convention, Madison, Wisconsin, August 10, 2011

The meeting was called to order by Acting National President, Judy Czarsty.  There were 373 Delegates present, out of a possible 487; a quorum of 78% was established.  The President’s report included events that have taken place since Judy took over as Acting President.  These events include: the hiring of Bradford Koshland as FMCA’s Executive Director, the creation of FMCAssist, FMCA’s own medical evacuation policy and the creation of FMCA Connections, with its many new member benefit programs and discounts.(check out www.fmca.com for more details)

The major concern is the decline in membership which relates to a decline in revenue.  The current membership is approximately 89,000.  FMCA conventions are not being well attended, in spite, of trying to add new concepts to the programs at the conventions.  The Membership and Member Services Department along with the Membership Committee have been developing new programs to help with the recruitment of new members.

The Executive Director’s report showed the resignation of Beverly Spurgeon, Director of Member Services and another full time staff member in mail forwarding.  On June 1, 2011, the Directors, including the Executive Director, took a $5000 cut in salary and on August 1, 2011, the Director of Administrative Services and the Executive Director took another $10000 cut in salary.  The result is a total savings of $45000. Mr. Koshland has made many other positive changes to the operations of FMCA. Obviously, the Acting President, the Executive Director and the Executive Board are very focused on watching our income and expenses in order to keep FMCA a very viable for the future.

The Finance Committee report was given by Wil Young, FMCA Treasurer.  The 2011 budget was a 9 month budget.  It has not done as well as projected.  Many changes are in the future plans for FMCA in the Cincinnati offices, wage reviews are being done, possible office reorganization is being considered and new benefits for members are being investigated.  The filing of amended tax returns has resulted in a $1.3 million refund; this was reinvested.  With minor changes, the proposed 2012 budget was adopted. A couple of the changes were:  the stopping of double dipping (i.e. two members traveling in the same coach receiving reimbursement) and the Governing Board voting to eliminate their stipend for the 2012 convention in Indianapolis...
Future Conventions were discussed and the following were approved:
Indianapolis, Indiana – Summer, 2012
Hutchinson, Kansas – Summer, 2013(FMCA’s 50th Anniversary Celebration)
Perry, Georgia – Winter, 2014

FMCA National Officer Elections were held:
Charlie Schrenkel – National President
Allen Rein – National Senior Vice President
Vicky Ferrari – National Secretary
Wil Young – National Treasurer

Submitted by, Kathie Balogh, National Director, Vancouver Islanders

NOTE:  Since the Madison Convention, other cost cutting changes have been made as follows:
Lana Makin, Director of Administrative Services has retired and the position will not be filled.
Jerry Yeatts, Director of Conventions has moved to Director of Membership Services, the Director of Conventions position will be filled as an Event Coordinator position (cost savings).
The Event Coordinator will be Chris Lusk from the convention department.