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.

MEXICAN FIESTA Sept. 8, 9, & 10

We will be entering the site after NOON on Sept. 8th.  Please remember, this is a working industrial site, watch for big trucks (and berry pickers!)  The whole area is open, so there is plenty of room. (See Map in earlier Post, Coordinates are below)  We have a large attendance, this time 42 RV’s ...if you have a shade structure or tent we could add onto our dining tent, it would be appreciated.   Please bring any narrow tables and your chairs for the dining tent. Thursday Dinner will be pot luck, last names P to Y please bring a main dish, last names F-O please bring a side or salad and last names A-E please bring a dessert.  Dinner will be followed by “Spanish Bingo” at $3.00 per card.  Proceeds will be used for prizes.


Friday breakfast will be pancakes, sausage and fruit from 7 AM until 8:30 AM.  The Roast pig will be cooking all day for our dinner and this day we suggest you make a trip to the Cowichan Exhibition.  This is a great Fall Fair and has been running for 143 years.  Later in the day we would appreciate help getting appies out and preparing the beans, salad and Pico de Gallo for dinner.   Typical Mexican desserts will be provided.   After dinner the “Vegetable Races” begin.  Any vegetable is eligible (zucchini is great!) for these races, as long as it has an axle through it and some wheels.  We are trying for lights in the evenings this time, so please bring your quarters for “Left, Right and Center” or “Pass the Ace” later on.


On Saturday for breakfast we are serving Ham, Eggs to order and Hash browns.  An “experienced” Medical Travel Insurance rep may come to talk to us this morning.  At 2:30 everyone is invited to help with preparations for our Taco dinner.  We will be chopping peppers, grating cheese and slicing lettuce so be prepared to help!   Every coach to bring 1 ½ cups only of fresh, canned or frozen fruit for dessert.  Whip cream provided.  Following dinner we will have a rousing round of “Minute to Win It” based on the popular TV show. 


Sunday will be muffins and bagels for breakfast, followed by dismantling of the tents.  If you plan on staying over for Sunday night, at an extra cost of $10 per unit, all further meals will be on your own.  We must exit Monday morning before 11 AM.


Looking forward to seeing you all!    
Co-ordinates for the site are:
N 48.7514167
W 123.6303667

BUTTLE LAKE RALLY REPORT

This rally was a no-host affair, but the attendees outdid themselves!  This will read like a food review, but everyone deserves a big pat on the back.  Many thanks to those who prepared and delivered such great meals. Thank you to Mick and Gale (I am sure Betty did something as well) for cooking anything we would let them.  Thank you to Laurel Macauley for bringing along contributions from the Port Hardy rally.  People – you all did great!

Our first dinner was Seafood Chowder, prepared and delivered by Mick Hargreaves and his helper, Gale Dyer.  Desserts were donated Birthday Cakes “gone astray”.  The chowder was superb and enough for a few more meals. No complaints except that everyone ate too much.

Monday started with a hearty breakfast of Eggs, sausage, hash browns and fruit prepared and delivered by Laurel & Wayne Macauley.  Laurel scrambled eggs for everyone, using her coach stove!  A good way to start a day of exploring the area.

Dinner was Pulled Pork in a bun with Asian Slaw.  This excellent meal was prepared and delivered by Avis and Lou Ten Have.  Desserts were “Fruit in a Bucket” provided by attendees and more cake, squares, etc.  We followed this with a 50/50 draw and a game of Card Bingo.

Tuesday at 10:00 AM everyone (almost) formed teams and set out on a Mystery Hunt.  There were cougar and bear sightings in our area, but we found a lot of other native animals and someone even thought they found a “killer” beaver.  As usual, some of the ladies did a little better than the gents and it was suggested that the RCMP might want to hire Lynda Daniel as her investigative skills are so good.  I think everyone had a lot of fun and a few laughs as well.

 Appetites were stirred after the hunting trip and we had a wonderful lunch of European Wieners and Kraut in a bun, prepared and delivered by Wolf and Barbara Schlichting and their Sous Chefs, Linda & Brian Bowden.  Wolf wanted the buns “fresh” so he drove into Campbell River early in the morning to get them.  Very tasty!   Later in the day each coach brought vegetable contributions to the “Hobo Stew” for dinner.  Chef Mick and his helper Gale once again pulled it together for us.  And again, we are all very generous and we had enough stew for an army.  We all contributed to desserts with cookies and squares. A few of us followed dinner with games of “Left, Right and Center” and “Pass the Ace”.

When all the sleepyheads were up and at ‘em on Wednesday morning, we started a Bocce game.  We resumed and had another game after lunch and naps.  Lots of fun and some more good laughs.  Later, we all started thinking about our contributions to the pot luck dinner.  Some had brought canned chilli to add to a pot.  Soon Mick had the pot growing and without some stern supervision, we would again have had enough to feed an army!  A few more items, salads and buns made an excellent meal.  Ice cream cones were delivered by Lynda and Keith Daniel and appreciated by all.  More “Pass the Ace” and my next Laundromat trip is free!  During the week I won a total of $21 which did not include my own contribution! Winner of the Ken Williams Award is Bert & Rita Ward, who get their rally fees returned.

A really great rally, again, with thanks to all who attended.

Mexican Fiesta for Family and Friends.

Cowichan Bay Rally   

Sept. 8, 9, 10 & 11, 2011

Hola!  Once again we have managed to procure the site at Cowichan Bay for a rally again at the Westcan Pier (map below). If you are a member in good standing and would like to bring someone in your family or a friend with a self-contained RV, they are welcome to join this rally. Please submit rally fees together.

The cost will be $65 per RV and we will be having a Mexican Fiesta theme with a pig roast on Friday, the 9th.  Singles please pay $45.

The cost will include 3 nights dry camp @ $10 per coach per night. Also included are 2 dinners and 3 breakfasts.  We will be asking for pot luck items and desserts.

Those wishing to stay over on Sunday, the 11th may do so at an extra cost of $10 which will be collected on that Sunday.

The Mexican Fiesta for Family and Friends.

The cut-off date will be August 31.

Please send your cheques payable to:
Sandy Quesnel
4870 Marshall Road,
Duncan, B.C.   V9L 6T3

(click on map for larger version)

Buttle Lake Rally

Hello to you all,
If you are home, I hope it isn't for long ... get out and enjoy the weather while we have it!
I have had a few cancellations for the Buttle Lake Rally and would certainly like to give anyone who wants to come the opportunity to do so.
We go into the site on Sunday, August 21 and leave on Thursday, August 25.  This is a "no host" rally but several members are bringing in a couple of meals.  We will have Seafood Chowder, Egg & Sausage breakfast, European Weiners and Kraut in a bun, Pulled pork with Asian Slaw on a bun and if there is any money left - a Hobo Stew.
The cost is $70 per 2 person coach.  If you are interested please email me ASAP and I will take names on a first serve basis and tell you where to send the cheque!
Sandy      
skew67@hughes.net