Indianapolis FMCA Highlights

Some rain

We had 7 Fingerlakers willing to travel the 500+ miles to the Indiana State Fairgrounds for the FMCA 96th International. We managed to get together for dinner a couple times at Golden Coral and Chili's. Most of us parked inside the sulky race track - which meant our campers got muddy trying to cross it to get to the infield.

Governing Board meeting

Weather was in the 80's most of the week. So, generators got a workout if you didn't have electric (we didn't).
There were about 1350 coaches and several hundred vendor coaches.
Barbara Smith was officially sworn in as President of the Northeast Area.
Below is John Pangburn's (ND) summary of the Governing Board Meeting.


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The 2017 Governing Board meeting was started promptly at 9am. There was a bit of a new twist this time as we had a workshop on the day before.  It was a very good idea.  Although criticized  by some Charlie Adcock took a straw vote to see if the proposition 3 would likely pass.  Proposition 3 was the by-law change to allow towables in FMCA.  It did certainly appear there were enough votes to pass. The remainder of the workshop was spent developing a definiton of what recreational vehicles are that we will admit.  The working definition is “defined as a self-contained, wheeled vehicle that includes permanently installed cooking, sleeping, and sanitary facilities”.  The definition is subject to review at future gb meetings. The proposition did receive the necessary 2/3 margin receiving 277 yes votes out of 308 total.  Of interest to us attending was what President Adcock referred to as the roast of the executive board. The fisrt 2 propositions for by-law amendment put forth as approved by the executive board; during discussion were obviously not favored by the executive board..The question was then raised of why the 2 proposals were even on the agenda which amounted to a waste of time for the governing board. The discussion was ended there. The decision to add towables is not over yet.  Now the question goes before the membership.  If you all approve the measure in November, we will begin adding towables in December.  This action was the high point of the meeting in my opinion.  The remainder of the meeting was taken up with the usual housekeeping of updating policies and procedures.  The meeting ended with the report of the nominating committee. Our new national officers will be

                                             President Jon Walker

                                             Vice President Erretta Porter 111, Rett

                                             Secretary Gaye Young

                                             Treasurer John Reynolds

There was a nomination from the floor for vp but the candidate select was as above.  I will bring the GB agenda to our meeting in September should anyone be interested to review the details of the meeting including my thought as it progressed.  I was really amazed the progress that has been made since the last time the idea of towables was brought up.  Most of those attending expected a long and very heated meeting, although there was an oppsition present the measure very easily and swiftly passed. Hopefully if approved by the total membership FMCA will begin a new concept for the future.

Although brief I believe this sums up the main points of of the meeting. I am hopeful President

Walker will continue the practice of  workshop prior to the meeting.  I believe this was the reason the proposal was acted upon so quickly.  In any case Our new president has a tough act to follow.