September Officer;s meet

It's not too late to sign up for the officer's meet in September.

• Tom's cooking pulled pork. Wes and Janet are doing breakfast Saturday (if they get new tires). 
• More meals are supplied. 
• See the agenda above.
• Bring a $5 item to use for "secret Santa".
• Looking forward to seeing you.

More on the Dues increase

I hope you received the following email from FMCA President Jon Walker. Dues are going to $75 per year effective August 29th, immediately. If you have prepaid, the increase will be effective when you renew.

Just a few thoughts:

• It seems the governing board forgot the 2016 dues increase of $10/family to pay for FMCA Assist. Yet, in this July, we heard FMCA spent $2.1 Million of reserves to pay for the insurance since. All this to cover 180 recipients. Was it a plan poorly executed or a poor plan? 
• That means dues are up 87% since 2016! Pres. Walker mentions 73% but excludes the 2016 increase.
• FMCA Assist is now 47% of your dues for the one benefit. That's $35/year - using the 2016 baseline.
• What are the chances, we will see another increase as soon as this contract expires?

Whatever you choose to do in the future, our membership expires in 2021. Maybe, I will get new math by then.

If you check the President's post above, it appears Walker was not fully in favor of the increase. He is being a "good soldier" of the Governing Board.

I just wanted to give you one person's opinion. I welcome your opinion.

Tom 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Walker, FMCA National President
To: troule
Sent: Thu, Aug 29, 2019 3:08 pm
Subject: Important Notice Regarding Your FMCA Membership

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YOUR FMCA DUES Dear Fellow FMCA Member, During the Governing Board meeting on August 14, 2019, in Minot, North Dakota, board members voted to raise FMCA annual membership dues to $75 per year ($85 for the first year). The reason for the increase is to save the FMCAssist Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance Program, described as FMCA’s flagship benefit. This change takes effect August 29, 2019. Why was the FMCAssist Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance program in jeopardy? And why the sudden need for this dues increase? The benefit provider passed along a 73 percent price increase to FMCA for fiscal year 2020. This new increase resulted in a substantial budget deficit for FMCA, which is a not-for-profit, member-owned organization. What does this mean for members? FMCA membership remains a great bargain. FMCA is the only RV club to offer an emergency medical and travel assistance program as part of the dues structure.  Similar programs on the open market can cost several hundred dollars for an individual plan alone. The FMCA plan, included with dues, covers primary and secondary members, plus their dependent children. FMCA members receive this great program as part of their annual dues, plus so many other fantastic benefits.  How do I learn more? To learn more about your Governing Board's decision to increase club dues, I encourage you to read my letter posted online or click below to access a PDF of the letter. A copy of this letter will also be included in a future issue of Family RVing magazine.  READ NOW I appreciate your commitment to FMCA. Because of members like you, we truly have the best RV club in the world. Thank you for your membership. Sincerely, Jon Walker, F268778

Governing Board summary from the Pritchards

Below is a summary of the results from Minot. This from Brian and Patty Pritchard who represented the Fingerlakers in Minot, ND.

August, 2019 Rally highlights

Walt making the rounds

For our August Rally, we headed to Walt and Beryl’s back yard for the Avon Corn Festival. What a job Walt did getting things ready. He managed to control everything but the weather. Of course, the forecasters didn't do much better as didn't predict all the rain we got.

One of these trees bit my camper. After
removing the tree, we moved.
Walt was left alone.

Under D-tent

D-Tent

Do you wanna race?

Southeast Area Rally invitation

Southeast Area Rally

Who: Southeast Area, FMCA What: Southeast Area Rally "Keep On Smiling at Lakeland in 2020" When: February 5-8, 2020 Where: Sun 'n Fun Expo Campus, 4175 Medulla Road, Lakeland, Florida Be on the lookout for your September issue of Family RVing magazine.  In that issue, you will find the registration form for our 2020 rally. The registration form will also be posted on our website, www.seafmca.org, in September. In the coming months, after we complete the rally schedule, it will be published on the website, too. Safe travels! We hope to see you in Lakeland in February 2020. Betty Duncan, F253901 FMCA National Vice President, Southeast Area bduncan@fmca.com 256-520-6897

Potential FMCA Dues increase

On Saturday, July 27th at the Northeast Area Rally, Jon Walker, President of FMCA presented members with a dilemma. The cost of FMCA Assist was to go up 73% or FMCA has to discontinue it.

What does that mean to us? I want to give you my thoughts.

•   Members who have not signed up for an extended membership will probably face a $25 annual dues increase or loss of the benefit.
•  An estimate based on our roster shows less than half our members will travel more than 100 miles to meet the requirements to qualify for the benefit.
•  According to FMCA Treasurer John Reynolds, there were 8000 calls resulting in about 180 +/- rescues. That’s one in 42 that needed help, indicating 98 of 100 wasted the insurance company’s time. 
• The insurance company has given FMCA almost no time to negotiate alternative terms. A number of alternatives were proposed, but the carrier isn’t interested.
•  I AGREE WITH THE EXECUTIVE BOARD – SEPARATE FROM SEVEN CORNERS INSURANCE AND EXPLORE ALTERNATIVES FOR 2020. That means we go without the benefit for one year.
•  Just using the numbers I cited above, I believe a 50% dues increase could result in a loss of many members.

Sharon and I have a membership until 2022. At $75/year, chances of us renewing after 2022 are slim.

Our representative at Minot, ND is Brian Pritchard and he has a tough decision to make. My recommendation is “Reject the dues increase”, “End the relationship with Seven Corners”.

Brian’s and Patty’s email is:

patymac46@gmail.com

Whatever your thoughts, let him know (me too). He’s our voice. The initial meeting in Minot is August 13. So, he needs to know before that.
Jon Walker's letter describing the plans are on a tab at the top of this blog.

Take care,

Tom Roule

Some Pictures From NEAR-2019

The Platters Provided Great Saturday Entertainment

Walt tried adding a Power Panel for Harold

A Friday "Block Party" made for new friends