September Rally change

This is not a major change, but we have swapped dinners Thursday and Friday. We changed the hots and sausage to Thursday night and Gordy Harpers to Friday evening. We will supply 1/2 chicken for Saturday Dinner.

Remember to practice for our second pentathlon. The events are:

1. Ladder ball
2. Putting
3. Washer toss
4. Bean bag toss
5. Marshmellow shooting

Check the tab above for details of the weekend.
See you this weekend.

Thursday, Sept. 13 is NY Primary Day

Don't forget to vote Thursday before you come to the rally this weekend.
Recently,

October Get together

I talked to Finger Lakes Race Track.

Kinda good news and bad news. 

• Bad news:They told me they had problems with another camping group who used the facility this past summer. They abused the privileges we spent over 5 years trying to obtain. The result is - Finger lakes can no longer accept camping groups for extended stays. They don't have the insurance to cover the problems the group presented.
  
• Good News: They would love to have us come back for lunch. I chose October 13th at 12:30 pm. Their buffet is among the best in the area.

We had about 25 last year. Let me know if you are interested in lunch at Fingerlakes this year.

I am open to other venues, if anyone has suggestions.

Northeast Annual Meeting has been postponed

The meeting was scheduled for August 31st. There will be updates after the audit is completed.
Tom

--------------------------------------------------

NORTHEAST AREA ANNUAL MEETING POSTPONEMENT Dear Presidents and National Directors, It has been an honor serving you since I was installed in Indianapolis as the National Vice President, Northeast Area.  Ed and I have especially enjoyed our chapter visits and area gatherings. Annual Meeting Postponement In June we sent an annual meeting notice for our meeting on August 31, 2018. Due to unforeseen circumstances, this meeting is postponed until further notice. The reason is that a seven-year audit of the Northeast Area is being performed by a certified accountant. For further details, refer to the July 31, 2018 National Executive Board meeting minutes published in the Governance section on the FMCA website. Updates from Gillette The Governing Board approved Minot, North Dakota as the location of the 2019 Summer Convention. In Gillette there were: 1,753 Total RVs parked at the CAM-PLEX 1,559 Family member RVs 217 Commercial member RVs 150 Exhibitors 13 Sponsors & Manufacturer 71,600 People reached by FMCA's social media channel 1,500 Users on the convention Crowd Compass/Attendee Hub mobile ap 497 First Time Attendees The Supersize Book Club was a big hit. If you have questions about the postponement or happenings in Gillette, please give me a call. Barbara Smith National Vice President, Northeast Area 978-764-7484 bsmith@fmca.com

Are we too old??

We hear quite often from folks, "we are too old for that". So, when a couple in their mid 70's embarks on a trip of almost 6000 miles from New York to Hoover Dam, are we too old? 
The goal was to visit many of the great national parks is the west. Here is a summary.

Mileage traveled – 5,789 miles

Number of days traveled - 35

States visited - 17

National Parks, Monuments visited - 11

Other museums Visited: 5

Highest Altitude climbed in motor home –

Eisenhower Tunnel under Continental Divide - 11,153 ft

Highest Altitude climbed by commercial means –

Jackson Hole, WY tram: 10,415 ft – (14,400 ft view of Grand Teton)

Photos taken – about 1000

Rallies attended: 1 International in Gillette, WY

Just about the time I think about patting myself on the back, I remember 2 octogenarions joined us for the first 2+ weeks. 

None of us are "too old". Just need a little motivation.

September Rally Plans

Our September Rally agenda is posted on a tab above. Wes and Janet Barager will be making their famous pancakes.
We hope to have our second chapter olympics.
We would love to see you there.
It's only $40 + (a dish to pass) on Saturday.

Governing Board summary

July 18, 2018

2018 FMCA Governing Board Report

·         Secretary, Gaye Young reported there was a quorum – 241/355 member chapters present

·         President, Jon Walker called the meeting to order at 9:00 am

·         He announced there would be no rest breaks before lunch, in order get though the agenda as fast as possible. 

·         The usual procedural issues were covered which led to the National President’s report.  A few highlight’s follow:

a.       “The state of the organization is good”

b.      Membership has increased by 5,000 since the low reached in 2016

c.       Motor home production reached 62,638 in 2017 – highest since 2005

d.      There are 2,210 owners of non-motorized RV’s now members.

e.       Perry 2,570

f.        Gillette 1,700

g.      The big challenge – Chapter Participation. In 2014, 34,000 of 75,000 members belonged to chapters. 2018, 22,000 of 77,000 belong. That’s a decline from 45% to less than 30% participation in 4 years. It is reflected in 72 chapter losses.

h.      Many more charts will available at the September rally.

·         Treasurer, John Reynolds, reported $311,653 in Cash and $7,573,237 in investments.

·         Executive Director, Chris Smith reviewed the accomplishments of the staff in Cincinatti. They are in the report.

·         Bylaws: Bob Mills had 10 amendments to the bylaws. A couple significant ones:

a.       Changes to the constitution can now be voted electronically.

b.      An RV is defined a “self-contained wheeled vehicle that includes permanently installed cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities.

c.       A proposal to have National Directors and Governing Board members be elected by all members rather than chapters was rejected.

·         For me, in trying to get through the agenda quickly, International Rally’s through 2022 were presented as a package – rather than individually. This resulted in some frustration among participants. After considerable debate, the following were chosen:

a.       2019 Winter – Perry, GA

b.      2019 Summer – Minot, ND

c.       2020 Winter – Staff ot review Kissemmee, FL, Tucson, AZ, Las Vegas, NV and other sites

d.      2020 Summer- Rock Springs, Wy

e.       2022 Summer – Rock Springs, WY???

·         Policies and Procedures: Committee recommendations were accepted except for ways travel should be reimbursed. They suggest receipts, which met with some resistance. Ultimately, it was sent back to committee.

·         Other informational items were discussed.

·         Meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon by Jon Walker.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of John Pangburn.

Tom Roule

Plans for the rest of the year

We are planning a special event for September. FMCA gave us a $450 check after our 45th anniversary last year. 
So, if you paid your dues for 2018 we have some special plans for the September meet. If you are interested -

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS PAY YOUR DUES BY AUGUST 20TH.

That may be complicated, but many have not paid their dues as of June 1st.  You will get an email indicating your status soon.

Those considering joining the chapter,

We have a special offer for you to attend the September Rally

Please contact  Harold Wollaber (treasurer) or me to join.

In addition, we will be including a coupon in future newsletters for $15 to be applied to a rally of your choice.

There will be an email with details coming soon.

October, we hope to return to Fingerlakes Gaming Casino.

Northeast Area Annual 2018 Meeting

The following is the list of Norheast Area officer candidates from Barbara Smith, NEA VP.

========================

I would like to thank all the candidates for consenting to run for election in 2018.  I would also like to thank the Nominating Committee for their work in providing the slate of officers.

Save the time and date:

The annual meeting for the Northeast Area is by teleconference call on August 31, 2018 at 11:00.

The election will be conducted during the annual meeting per the NEA bylaws.

The slate of officers is a follows:

Louis Snow, running for Sr. VP, unopposed        F201098;

Donnie Osterhout, running for VP, unopposed F229123

Donna Merlino, running for secretary,               F365443

Deb Flattery, running for secretary                     F437041

Resumes will be available in the annual meeting package in the mail soon from the FMCA national office to chapter Presidents and National Directors.

Please call if you have questions.

Barbara Smith

National Vice President, Northeast Area

bsmith@fmca.com

978-764-7484