August Rally highlights

Harold Tends Fire

Returning from West Springfield brought us to Linden’s paradise for the August Rally. 14 of us attended, including Jim and Sherry Miller from the Pen-NY Mixers and Weibels from Calico Sams. Dick and Mary Randall visited us on Saturday.

Walt spends countless hours keeping up his 6 acres. There are walking trails, old farm implements and many places to park. Our chapter tent enables us to use a venue like the Linden's, Harborfest and others.

Countryside Restaurant

Thursday and Friday brought us to local restaurants. A full breakfast was served on Sunday with Wes and Janet making pancakes, Don Parks and Sharon making and serving scrambled eggs and we had sausage.

Saturday dinner was self-grilled steak or 1/2 chicken, cooler corn and salt potatoes. 

Sunset

 Showers rained out the campfire.

Welcome to Bill and Rhonda Quade who joined in West Springfield.

Southeast Area Rally - February, 2017

Southeast Area Rally

• Feb. 2 to 5, 2017
• SUN 'n FUN Expo Campus
• Lakeland Linder Regional Airport
• Lakeland, Florida

Fingerlakers at West Springfield

John Serves at now famous ice cream
social

As you know, a goal of Charlie Adcock (FMCA President) was to have a rally in the North East.

Our party Friday night

Once solidified to be in West Springfield, MA, Tom Ziobrowski (NEA President) tried very hard to involve our chapter. We were asked to man the FMCA Store. Thanks to all of you below, the tables were pretty clean by Saturday. We were asked to be responsible for helping members in the FMCA Store.  Our members also helped in other areas. Below is a summary of what I know where you helped, but I may have missed some of your contributions.

• Jim and Nancy Anten - Information
• Richard Marvin - National Technical Advisory committee
• John Pangburn - Ice Cream
• Antens, Lindens, Sharon and Linden's - Governing Board

The following pitched in to work in the booth:
Jim & Nancy Anten, Dan & Carol Begy, Barb & Ken Eggleston, Lois & Richard Marvin, John & Joan Pangburn, Alice & Fred Sprout, Craig & Sharon Sylvester, Russ & Dorothy Taylor, Harold Wollaber, Sharon Roule.

WELL DONE!

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2016 Govering Board Summary from John Pangburn

Thanks to John Pangburn, below are the highlights from the the Governing Board Meeting at the FMCA International in West Springfield, MA. More posts will follow.

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The 2016 Governing Board meeting was called to order promptly at 9am by President Adcock. The usual housekeeping items, standing rules and assignment of various duties was completed and we were soon down to the business at hand. the treasurers report and standing committee reports were concise and to the point. I am pleased to tell you this is the first Gov.,Board meeting I have attended where the topic instead of doom and gloom reported positive gains in membership over loss. FMCA has shown positive numbers all of 2016 with the exception of Feb. 25% of the attendees aththis convention were new first time members. When Charlie Adcock became president the tone at that meeting was that when our reserves dropped to 3 million we would shut down as it would cost that much to close the doors. Our reserves today are just under 8 million. The youth activities committee requests we get more children and grandchildren involved. The youth that are here are kept on a busy schedule and here at the convention appear to be having a very good time.FMCA at the recommendation MCA our management advisory group had partnered with RVillage as social media group. The thinking was that that way to attract new members from the 50 and up group this is how to contact them best. There was a lot of discussion that the cost at $250,000 was excessive. The overall feeling of the gb was however positive. I think we all know even if we don't use it, the internet and social meida groups are here to stay and the younger people use them more than any other way to communicate. There is a dues increase coming effective Oct 1 2016. It is possible to renew for up to 5 years at the old rate up until then. Joan and I plan to do just that and advice all in our chapter to do the same. 

That is the general information from the meeting. I will, Lord willing, be a the Oct rally and bring my booklet if anyong would like to see the agenda, reports and my notes. 

John Pangburn, Fingerlakers Nat. director