and Joanne Durbin with a Lifetime Membership Award. Joanne Durbin accepted for Max, who passed away a few months ago.
The Governing Board also voted to initiate the process to consider a dues increase of $5.
The last item on the Agenda was the election of National Officers. The results:
President-Charlie Schrenkel
Senior Vice President-Judy Czarsty
Treasurer-Wil Young
Secretary-Joanne Durbin
The Executive Board includes the four National Officers, the Immediate Past President, and ten National Area Vice Presidents:
Eastern Area-Otho TewNorthwest Area-Judy Keppler
Great Lakes Area-Ross BoyerRocky Mountain Area-Allen Rein
International Area-Sonny GillespieSouth Central Area-Fred Kennedy
Midwest Area-Al TalbottSoutheast Area-Tom Eller
Northeast Area-Paul DuBoisWestern Area-Bobby Donald
To help FMCA recover from these economically hard times, our newly-elected National President, Charlie Schrenkel, is putting emphasis on recruitment. Although we are getting new members each month, the loss is greater than our gain. I challenge each Chapter to use their five free memberships to recruit new FMCA members and add to your Chapter membership at the same time. Let’s put the net gain back on the positive side. Remember, the deadline for using these five free memberships is December 31, 2009.
EASTERN AREA MOTORHOME ASSOCIATION
I want to state again that GEAR 2009 was a very successful Rally. With everyone co-operating fully, we came out with a + Budget. We have had many positive comments received by e-mail, phone calls and personal contacts.
You know by now that GEAR 2010 will be held at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds in Winston-Salem, NC. The management is excited that the Great Eastern Area Rally is coming to their facility. To see pictures of the grounds, go to
Some of the Area Vice Presidents have challenged each other to see who can recruit the most new members for FMCA over the next year. At the end of July, the Eastern Area was number two for recruitment. At the end of August, we were number four. We want to be number one and we can do it! You and your Chapters can help us to make this happen. Use your five free memberships for FMCA and increase your Chapter memberships at the same time.
TREASURER
“The 2010 Winston-Salem Budget is prepared and everything is looking good for another successful rally in October 2010.” – Bob Holliday
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/GEAR 2010 RALLY MASTER
“As a follow-up to the e-mail I sent to all the Chapters, I still have not heard from many of the Chapters pertaining to their upcoming rally schedule. I would like to visit as many as time and my schedule still allows this fall and start to schedule visitation for 2010.” – John Reynolds
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS
“First of all, please allow me to introduce myself. I am John Breisch, Northern Regional VP for the Eastern Area of FMCA. My wife, Nancy, and I are membersof the Penn Coachmen Chapter andI am currentlyPresident. The Penn Coachmen Chapter is headquartered in eastern PA. I look forward to meeting all of you and hopefully attending one of your rallies in the near future. If you would kindly send me your Chapter Newsletter, either by e-mail or snail mail, I'll be able to keep current on your Chapter activities and hopefully include a visit with your group in my travel schedule. If there is any way I can be of assistance to you or your Chapter, please do not hesitate to contact me. My e-mail is: .
I would like to call your attention to the following 2 initiatives: 1)Charlie Schrenkel, our new FMCA President, has challenged each of us to recruit ONE new FMCA member. Please be sure to use the 5 free memberships your chapter received in the mail and then keep the effort going. We are part of a great national organization - let's share its benefits with every non-member who owns a motorhome that we encounter. Please do your part to help the Eastern Area recruit the most new members. WE CAN DO IT!!!!2) Our EAMA President, Otho Tew, has begun an Ambassador Program for all Chapter Presidents in the Eastern Area. Please go to the Area Website, click on Newsletter and see page 3 of the April 2009 issue where the program is explained. I'm hoping each of you will attend the meeting in Winston-Salem in April 2010; bring along your Chapter members when you return for GEAR in October. It promises to be an event you don't want to miss!
Finally, I've agreed to chair Security for GEAR 2010 and would welcome volunteers from your Chapter. The only requirement is a willingness to help make GEAR 2010 a rousing success while having FUN!!! You can submit names & contact info of potential volunteers to me at any time. Thanks in advance for your help.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
John BreischHome – 610-678-4288
1308 Whitfield BlvdCell – 484-529-3503
Reading, PA 19609
“Hello, FMCA Eastern Area/Western Region members.
In a manner of introduction to those folks that were unable to attend the "Richmond on theRiver" Rallyin June, my name is Bob Gregory, F296139, your new Western Regional VP.My home baseis"Onthe Mountain" in Russellville, Kentucky. We are charter members of the Let's Roll Chapter andpresently hold the office of National Director.
As a full-time RVer for the past five years (and loving it), it fits into my lifestyle to be ableto assistour National VP for the Eastern Area, Otho Tew, in visiting your Chapters as time anddistancepermit. Due to the large number of Chapters in the Western Region, it will be almost impossible to visit all ofyou ona yearly basis. Feel free to contact me - - at any time.
Unless you ask me to visit your Chapter for a particular reason, my visits will always be to enjoythefun and fellowship with you and your families. I am always open to questions, suggestions and commentsconcerning FMCA.
In myopinion, the greatest challenge facing our great Association is retaining our members.Retentionbegins the first time that a new member attends a rally.It only takes a few minutes foryourChapterto help them establish a positive mindset about you and your Chapter. It takes all of usworkingas a team to cause good things to happen to good people.
We enjoy meeting other campers at campgrounds that we visit. Manylasting friendshipshavebeen made as a result ofpresenting themwith a recentcopy of the FMC magazine. By leaving the addresslabel on the magazine, it is only natural for them to let me know when they make the decisionto joinFMCA. Some good courtesy parking locations have been establishedas a resultof taking the timeto meet those campers.
It is my pleasure to be able to serve FMCA in general and the Eastern Area specifically in this newventure.”
Bob Gregory270-847-0215
PO Box 1175
Russellville, KY 42276
“As your new Southern Regional Vice President, I will soon contact each NC and SC Chapter, either by phone or email, to review your Chapter profile, make updates, and forward this to Otho Tew, EAMA President, and Mary Hunter, EAMA Secretary. This will help us place a new FMCA member that may be a great match for your Chapter. Also, I would like to know your Rally Schedule for 2009 and 2010 so I can plan a visit with you. Whatever assistance your Chapter may need, I am here to serve you.
The newly-formed Tiffin Travelers Chapter is still accepting members. The first official Rally will be held at Bill Plemmons RV World in Rural Hall (Winston-Salem), NC, October 23rd-25th. Camping is free! At that time we will determine annual dues, how often we meet, etc. If you would like to attend or would like to join the Tiffin Travelers, please contact President Nick Paul at 919.210.4392 or .
I look forward to speaking with you soon!”
Gaye Young910-799-6985
713 Grey Squirrel Dr919-632-2369
Wilmington, NC 28409
CHAPTER PRESIDENTS
I’m proud to say that 94.34% of the Chapters in the Eastern Area were represented at the Governing Board Meeting in Bowling Green. They were prepared to make their votes count for their Chapters.
In my last Newsletter I told you about the new Chapter Presidents’ Ambassador Program and issued an invitation to attendthe GEAR Planning Meeting April 16-18, 2010. The responses received have been very positive. The date announced for RSVPs was March 30, 2010. However, this will not give us sufficient time to make arrangements with the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. Therefore, please respond by February 1, 2010.
The Executive Board will be meeting in November in Cincinnati. We will be working on things that will help FMCA survive thiseconomical downturn. All is not bad. There is some light at the end of the tunnel. Monaco, Fleetwood and Country Coach are back doing business. Newell has recalled some furloughed workers. The FMCA Website is bringing in an increase in revenue.
I concur completely with the Regional Vice Presidents’ comments. We, as individual members and Chapters, have to do our part in building up our Association’s membership. We must keep a positive mindset and let non-members know what a great opportunity they are missing by not being a part of FMCA.
Alice and I hope and pray for your safe travels wherever the call of the open road takes you in 2009.
NOTE: In our continued efforts to reduce mailing costs, effective October 15, 2009, if you have an e-mail address listed in your membership record, all chapter officer mailings will be sent to you electronically ONLY. If you need to ALSO receive this information via U.S. Postal Service delivery, please contact FMCA’s Membership Department and let them know. Call 513-474-3622 or 800-543-3622 or send an e-mail to . Please be sure to include your name and membership number in your e-mail message.
If you do not have an e-mail address on file, or if for some reason our e-mail notification failed, you will automatically receive the mailing via U.S. Postal Service. This includes, but is not limited to, mail ballots, that are required by FMCA’s Bylaws and Member and Volunteer Handbook.
GEAR OCTOBER 2010
WINSTON-SALEM SPORTS COMPLEX
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