January 2020
Happy New Year!
We have just returned from the Western Area Rally in Indio, the Big Tent RV Show in Quartzsite and the Beaver Ambassador Chapter Rally in the desert of Quartzsite. We have a tentative rally schedule for 2020. Contracts are not signed as of today but will be in the next couple of weeks.
May 21 – 24, 2020 Cowichan Exhibition , Duncan
June 03 – 06, 2020 Seal Bay RV Resort, Comox Valley We are invited to join the Newmar Chapter for this rally.
July 20 – 23, 2020 Southern Vancouver Islanders Ranger Station, Langford
September 03 – 07, 2020 Cowichan Bay Jetty
Please remember the FMCA Northwest Area rally is in Roseburg, OR from June 24 – 28, 2020. This is a new venue and should be lots of fun.
The National Conventions are : 101st Convention – Tucson, Arizona from March 26 –30, 2020 and the 102nd Convention – Lincoln, Nebraska from August 26 – 30, 2020.
I will be sending more information and asking for hosts for the rallies in the very near future.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
While we were attending the Indio rally, FMCA President Jon Walker made an announcement at his Meet the President Seminar that I would like to pass on to you. Effective February 1, 2020, this next Saturday, the FMCA Roadside Rescue prices will increase. The current price of $74.00 per year for a maximum of 3 years can be obtained by calling FMCA at 1-800-543-3622 before 2pm on Friday, January 31, 2020. The one stipulation is that your membership must be in effect for the same time period as the Roadside Rescue is in effect.
On February 1st, 2020, the rate per year for a motorhome will be $159 per year and for other RVs, the price is $129 per year.
Safe travels!
Andy
Saturday, April 04, 2020
Thursday, September 05, 2019
September Rally report.
The Long weekend rally is in the history books! As they say, “a good time was had by all”!
Most attendees arrived on Thursday and what a great heavy appetizer meal we had. More arrivals on Friday and then off to the Rock Cod Cafe for dinner.
Saturday and Sunday were filled with more food and games. Jenga being the most popular, followed by the bean bag baseball and ladder golf. The fix your own meat dinner on Saturday was wonderful. Sunday’s dinner was Costco Dogs and fresh picked (Sunday morning) corn on the cob. Both nights, ice cream with various toppings were dessert.
Now for the breakfasts....WOW! Friday, it was pancakes and sausage with yogurt and juice. Pancakes had various toppings and of course, whipped cream. Saturday, the breakfast was the chapter’s famous surprise, oatmeal with toppings and ice cream, hosted by the Woodrow’s and Campbell’s. Sunday’s breakfast was hosted by Joe & Stella and Matt & Jody. A meal of french toast and bacon with all the trimmings. I am sure that there was no weight lost at this rally.
We did not have an official meeting but did take time to discuss rally sites and hosting.
Clarence Zimmerman and Gary Giles have been approached by the mainland Newmar group to have a joint rally. This was discussed and I will be contacting their President once we have our rally dates and sites confirmed.
Several members have agreed to host rallies for 2020. Thank you if you have agreed to host; if anyone else would like to host, please email me at the address below or give me a call.
The following sites have been suggested and the Executive Board will be contacting each one.
Cowichan Expo Center May 28 or 29 – 31, 2020
Buttle Lake, Kin Beach, Kitty Coleman, Luxton Fairgrounds, Ranger Station in Langford, Lighthouse RV Park near Fanny Bay, Qualicum Bay First Nations Campground, Providence Farms, and
Cowichan Bay Jetty September 3 – 7, 2020 This has been requested.
If you have any additional suggestions, please let me know. We did not draw for the Ken Williams award but will do so at the May rally and award the $60.00 rally fee at that time. Please check out the Vancouver Islanders Blogspot at vifmca.blogspot.com
Thanks for all your help and input at the rally!
Andy Balogh
President, Vancouver Islanders
778-265-2493
MINOT National Convention Governing Board Report August 14, 2019
I attended the annual meeting of the FMCA Governing Board at the FMCA 100th convention in Minot, ND. Each FMCA chapter has the right to be represented by a single voting delegate. I represented the Vancouver Islanders as your National Director. 253 of 358 FMCA chapters were represented. The meeting lasted from 9:00 AM until 6:30 PM. At the meeting, the following actions were taken by the Governing Board that may be of interest:
1. New FMCA chapters now only require 15 members, rather than 20; new FMCA associate chapters (non-voting) now only require 7 members, rather than 10.
2. Chapters may now combine the offices of secretary and treasurer and it will be considered holding one office. This is only significant because people can only hold two offices in FMCA chapters at the same time, either two in the same office or one in each of two chapters.
3. Next year’s winter convention will be held in Tucson, AZ from March 26-29, 2020.
4. Next year’s summer convention will be held in Syracuse, NY from July 29-August 2, 2020.
5. The 2021 winter convention will be in Perry, GA and the summer convention will be in Gillette, Wyoming.
6. FMCA will implement a new administrative computer system that will cost $285,000. The Governing Board authorized funding this with a loan. FMCA reserves are down to $7.3 million which is short of the $9 million that is prudent to retain to cover one year of operating expenses. At this time, FMCA is debt free.
7. The 2020 annual operating budget of approximately $9 million was passed, which includes a $25/year membership fee increase for new members and renewals effective September 1, 2019. This was considered necessary to fund FMCAssist (emergency medical evacuation), which will cost in excess of $1 million for fiscal year 2020. Other options were to take the necessary money out of reserves or discontinue FMCAssist.
Election of National Officers concluded the meeting. The FMCA National Officers for 2019-2021 are: John Walker - President (incumbent, ran unopposed)
Rett Porter - National Senior Vice President (incumbent, defeated Jack Mayberry; Percy Bell withdrew right before the election)
Kathie Balogh - National Secretary (defeated Ken Carpenter and Connie Jones)
John Reynolds - Treasurer (incumbent, ran unopposed)
Attendance was budgeted at 2,000 RVs. I believe there are approximately 1,600 RVs attending.
Respectfully, Andy Balogh NATIONAL DIRECTOR Vancouver Islanders
1. New FMCA chapters now only require 15 members, rather than 20; new FMCA associate chapters (non-voting) now only require 7 members, rather than 10.
2. Chapters may now combine the offices of secretary and treasurer and it will be considered holding one office. This is only significant because people can only hold two offices in FMCA chapters at the same time, either two in the same office or one in each of two chapters.
3. Next year’s winter convention will be held in Tucson, AZ from March 26-29, 2020.
4. Next year’s summer convention will be held in Syracuse, NY from July 29-August 2, 2020.
5. The 2021 winter convention will be in Perry, GA and the summer convention will be in Gillette, Wyoming.
6. FMCA will implement a new administrative computer system that will cost $285,000. The Governing Board authorized funding this with a loan. FMCA reserves are down to $7.3 million which is short of the $9 million that is prudent to retain to cover one year of operating expenses. At this time, FMCA is debt free.
7. The 2020 annual operating budget of approximately $9 million was passed, which includes a $25/year membership fee increase for new members and renewals effective September 1, 2019. This was considered necessary to fund FMCAssist (emergency medical evacuation), which will cost in excess of $1 million for fiscal year 2020. Other options were to take the necessary money out of reserves or discontinue FMCAssist.
Election of National Officers concluded the meeting. The FMCA National Officers for 2019-2021 are: John Walker - President (incumbent, ran unopposed)
Rett Porter - National Senior Vice President (incumbent, defeated Jack Mayberry; Percy Bell withdrew right before the election)
Kathie Balogh - National Secretary (defeated Ken Carpenter and Connie Jones)
John Reynolds - Treasurer (incumbent, ran unopposed)
Attendance was budgeted at 2,000 RVs. I believe there are approximately 1,600 RVs attending.
Respectfully, Andy Balogh NATIONAL DIRECTOR Vancouver Islanders
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Rallys, Rallys, Rallys
July 26, 2019
Hi to all the Vancouver Islanders!
We are in the planning stages of this rally but would like information from you before we send
out the rally schedule.
Rally Update – SEPTEMBER LONG WEEKEND
Will you be attending?
What day will you arrive?
What day will you depart the rally site?
PLEASE send the above information to me at akcbalogh@gmail.com ASAP but before August
10, 2019.
TENTATIVE PLANS:
Where: Cowichan Bay Jetty
When: ARRIVALS: August 29, 2019 -- AFTER 5 PM OR August 30, 2019 AFTER 10 AM
DEPARTURES: September 02, 2019 BEFORE 3 PM
RALLY SCHEDULE:
Thursday: Heavy Snacks Potluck
Friday: Dinner - Rock Cod Cafe – reservations have been made for the group
Saturday: Breakfast – Provided - Menu to be advised
Dinner - You bring and cook your own meat on the grills in the tent ---- the balance
of meal provided.
Sunday: Breakfast – Menu to be advised
Monday: Departure Day
MORE INFORMATION AND PRICE WILL BE SENT SOON
Hope to see you at the rally! Andy
Hi to all the Vancouver Islanders!
We are in the planning stages of this rally but would like information from you before we send
out the rally schedule.
Rally Update – SEPTEMBER LONG WEEKEND
Will you be attending?
What day will you arrive?
What day will you depart the rally site?
PLEASE send the above information to me at akcbalogh@gmail.com ASAP but before August
10, 2019.
TENTATIVE PLANS:
Where: Cowichan Bay Jetty
When: ARRIVALS: August 29, 2019 -- AFTER 5 PM OR August 30, 2019 AFTER 10 AM
DEPARTURES: September 02, 2019 BEFORE 3 PM
RALLY SCHEDULE:
Thursday: Heavy Snacks Potluck
Friday: Dinner - Rock Cod Cafe – reservations have been made for the group
Saturday: Breakfast – Provided - Menu to be advised
Dinner - You bring and cook your own meat on the grills in the tent ---- the balance
of meal provided.
Sunday: Breakfast – Menu to be advised
Monday: Departure Day
MORE INFORMATION AND PRICE WILL BE SENT SOON
Hope to see you at the rally! Andy
Annual General Meeting
Vancouver Islanders Chapter FMCA Annual General Meeting May 26, 2019 Duncan, BC
The Annual General Meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by President Sandy Quesnel.
Election of Chapter Officers was held: The newly elected Executive Board members are:
President Andy Balogh
Vice President Barbara Lucas
Treasurer Kathie Balogh
These positions are for a two year term. To complete the Vancouver Island Executive Board, the following member’s terms will up for election in May 2020.
Vice President Gary Tennant
Vice President Cathie Woodrow
Secretary: Linda Schwagly
National Director: Andy Balogh
Alternate National Director: Joe Blogg
The Past President and Past Treasurer will be removed from the bank account and Newly elected President and Newly elected Treasure will be put on as signers of the account.
Minutes of the meeting were previously distributed, President Sandy Quesnel asked for acceptance.
Motion to accept 1st - Rita Roy, 2nd - Judy Fedirchuk, the motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS: Treasurer’s Report was given by treasurer Audrey Hauge. Bank Balance $3665.81
The Treasurer’s Report will be filed with the minutes.
NEW BUSINESS: It was agreed that a membership roster would be sent via email to everyone.
Sandy announced that this year, two members, Lynda Bowden and Lynn Barber, passed away. It was also mentioned that John Van Schaik is very ill.
The next rally will be held at the Lighthouse Resort from July 8th to July 13th in Qualicum Bay. No Host. Please notify Roy or Judy Fedirchuk if you are planning to attend.
Gary and Maryann Tennent said they would try to organize a rally at Sooke Flats.
Other Rally Sites that we should investigate are: Buckley Bay, Bowser Legion, Meadowood General Store, Pine Ridge Market, Kin Beach, Miller Creek, Hardy Boys-Port Hardy, Country Rib Fest and the jetty at Cowichan Bay. Andy will check on Labor Day weekend availability at Cowichan Bay.
Sandy brought up the fact that we need volunteers who are trained to use the AED machine; if we do not have volunteers, we should return it. The training cost is 75.00 per person for the course. Gary Giles said he thinks the other club he belongs to will be having a course in September and it would be free. Rita Roy, Henry Schwagly, Linda Schwagly, Gary Giles, Barbara Lucas, and Jim Barber that they would like to take the course with Gary. Gary will let us know when the course will be held.
Plaques for Past President, Past Secretary and New Secretary were handed out.
Meeting Adjourned at 10:34 a.m.
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