Just passing this on for FMCA members that didn't vote the vote for allowing travel trailers into FMCA passed 2:1 it could be a good move or a bad move on FMCA part
It was a victim of apathy as usual,, out of 74K members only 11K voted.. Its astounding and telling that 63K folks really didn't care.>>>Dan
Quote from: Utahclaimjumper on December 08, 2017, 09:20:40 AM
It was a victim of apathy as usual,, out of 74K members only 11K voted.. Its astounding and telling that 63K folks really didn't care.>>>Dan
Sounds about right that happens in FMCA chapters only a few vote in elections.I saw this coming 2 years ago people said it would never happen surprise,surprise it did happen.FMCA is after the advertising dollar for the towables
Quote from: luvrbus on December 08, 2017, 09:40:44 AM...FMCA is after the advertising dollar for the towables
And membership fees?
I think the governing board was genuinely concerned about the fall-off of membership,, while still trying to offer members the advertised "perks" that were in place without raising costs.>>>D
Say what the dues are up to 50 bucks a year now went up 10 bucks this year,it is in place now and has been for 2 years where they raise the dues to cover the cost Charlie Addcock told me that when he was President.I don't have any problems with dues, but I was looking at the perks we had in the 80's and 90's for less dues huge difference now. more money less perks
Cliff, you made my point.. If the cost of the "perks" are constant, and membership is reduced then something has to give.>>>D
Humm, Probably have to re name it now...??
Or try and come up with another def for FMCA. (Former Motor Coach Assn) lol
Who Knows!
I don't get the new name FMC they just dropped the A ,lol do I see buying new goose eggs in the future.You never know I thought the vote never stood a chance in passing even if I did vote for it ;D,the only reason I vote yes is I got tired of hearing "those people have other places they can go"
Quote from: Nick Badame Refrig/ACC on December 09, 2017, 04:58:29 AM
Humm, Probably have to re name it now...??
Or try and come up with another def for FMCA. (Former Motor Coach Assn) lol
Who Knows!
Boy you are sharp Nick especially at 5 am good one!
Fiddling while Rome burns?
It was too easy for too long.
Nobody wants to "belong" to anything any more. That generation is dying off.
What "needs" does FMCA currently meet, that a user of recreational vehicles, driven or towed, is looking to have met?
If that user has the internet, a computer and a cell phone. What can FMCA do for that user, that the user cannot do for oneself?
That is the tough job for FMCA, if they are to survive.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
The FMCA name has not changed.>>>D (FMC has always existed)
Dan,the magazine uses FMC now on the cover,FMC was the parent corporation that owned FMCA I see they applied for non profit status now also FMCA was always a for profit organization
As I said,,FMC has always existed, and I said nothing about provit.. The magazine has always been a provit center.>>>D
Nowadays with everything available on the internet, an association or club has become obsolete. I don't need to belong to a club, association or group to get perks. I just shop for what I need on the net. I don't need a club to meet other bus nuts, there is Facebook and other media for that. Clubs are relics of the old days before computers and internet. They are on their way out. I was a member of FMCA for a few years, saw no advantage, gave it up, and haven't regretted it. Harsh reality...
JC
As much as you enjoy "gatherings" (AKA Rallies) I am sure you realize that "clubs" are much more likely to stage these events for like minded folks than other "for profit" entities. JC.>>>Dan ( Just like this forum,,,if Gary did not provide this forum someone else would,,,its a human thing.)( Just like today,, FMCA was founded by like minded folks with the desire to associate.)
The advantage of large numbers of members is,,and always has been,, buying and negotiating power.>>>D
And funny thing FMCA was founded in Maine by a bunch of Bus Conversion people originally!LOL ;D
Just my two cents worth, but I suspect clubs and groups of all kinds are going to make a comeback in the next few years as young people raised on the internet (iGeneration) start to crave and seek out actual contact with actual people in actual places.
Everything comes and goes.
Quote from: Dave5Cs on December 11, 2017, 12:58:13 PM
And funny thing FMCA was founded in Maine by a bunch of Bus Conversion people originally!LOL ;D
I read where the "1" was issued to a person that didn't even own coach
Not much different that a bus conversion website with how many that don't have bus conversions or even a motorhome for that point.
FMCA is trying to survive the tremendous upheaval from the last several years. 4 dollar plus a gallon of fuel almost killed the RV industry. Some of the result I see at the annual RV show at Hershey convention center. Very little color choice any more, all interiors are same basic color combinations, everything is leather or pleather, with ceramic floors, and they put slide outs on every damn thing with wheels under it. BTW, they NEVER show any with the slides run in. Many more people are buying campers than before, maybe they can justify buying a super duty crew cab pickup to pull it.
Their magazine is half what it used to be. More RV members should help vendor attendance at national rallies. With generational changes, it is necessary to adapt or disappear. They have high numbers on their goose eggs, but I would like to know how many actual members there are anymore. People die off, get out of RV in or other reasons.
Quote from: richard5933 on December 11, 2017, 03:07:18 PM
Just my two cents worth, but I suspect clubs and groups of all kinds are going to make a comeback in the next few years as young people raised on the internet (iGeneration) start to crave and seek out actual contact with actual people in actual places.
Everything comes and goes.
Richard,
maybe but there is zero hint the tide has yet to change. Until the detrimental effects of social media become clear, the trend is even more toward virtual existences. Even spreading to religion. Check this out - https://futurism.com/way-future-new-church-worships-ai-god/
Humanity is facing existential threats like this. Makes "clubs" roadkill in the big scheme.
There are not that many vendors left now at a FMCA rally about all you see now are vendors selling rv's from low end to the top end conversions.
The rally fee is a little steep just to listen to a sales pitch IMO.Then if you want power get ready that will cost you another 50 to 60 dollars a day,they need to make their rallies a little more family oriented JMO
FMC may survive or may not,the chapters are the life blood for FMCA without the chapters they would have already been gone.
Younger folks could care less about clubs or FMCA they have their own life to live and enjoy other things to do beside setting around a fire and listen to the BS
I wouldn't bet on the younger crowd having much to do with helping save FMCA
Clifford, I'd have to agree with you but having come to this "bus" stage so late in life I'll not be able to help much. Besides, here in smoke choked Kalifornia who needs a club to sit around a camp fire. All I have to do is risk opening my door to watch the flames dance around. So far, so good but there aren't any local camp sites left.
Quote from: chessie4905 on December 11, 2017, 05:05:18 PM
. 4 dollar plus a gallon of fuel almost killed the RV industry.
While that is likely a very accurate statement it actually shows how much emotion plays a part in RV selection and purchase.
Is there anyone who has ever bought a new RV that has spent anywhere close to the amount of depreciation per year on fuel? With depreciation rates that are breathtaking I never hear anyone ever discuss that as an impediment to making a purchase, but if fuel goes up in price even a little, owners are in a panic.
QuoteWith depreciation rates that are breathtaking I never hear anyone ever discuss that as an impediment to making a purchase, but if fuel goes up in price even a little, owners are in a panic.
Jon, it is a certainty the topic comes up when selling. The RV marketing and sales folks earn AAA ratings for getting people to fork over wads of cash for a new RV while blinding them of the fact one nearly brand new but a few years old can be had for a huge discount; probably more than they will ever spend on fuel whatever the price. But same goes with nearly any non-investment grade asset.
Don't forget the boating industry for the same value issues.
So are we changing the name from FMCA TO FTTA??
The younger crowd at work & church seem more interested in NEW & seem to avoid used at all costs. They can't fathom why I like my 82 year old house. They think that anything used has problems . . . . They also think a 'warranty' will prevent anything from going wrong.
They also seem to think they already know it all & a club is a waste of $$
I still have hope. I've been involved in restoring and collecting both vintage typewriters and sewing machines over the past decades, and there are a growing number of 20-somethings who are collecting and using the old machines. Almost all the machines I've sold over the past few years went to college kids.
Just like the width of ties, everything comes and goes.
We can find faults with FMCA, Good Sam and many other companies, clubs, hoarders etc but if it wasn't for these and many other organizations willing to step up and provide some sort of info or service we would have nothing. We can buy just about anything on the internet but when stores and malls completely shut down because of no one to support the malls it will be very boring. If it wasn't for people that create clubs, collect things, hoard things like on Pickers everything would go away and what would we have left ? I subscribe to FMCA, does it provide me everything, No but I like to read the magazine from cover to cover and find it very interesting reading. We all have opinions on things which is fine but does it make a difference, if not just enjoy what you have and get on, the day will come when you cannot.
Haven't gone to a mall in 20 years. Buy our food at Costco, Winco & Whole Foods. Clothes on line if needed. When that magazine comes it goes in the trash because it sit around for days and no one wants to read it. It seems only to be about big fancy plastic fantastic s that cost way more than we have of would want to spend. We only joined to get Coach-net. Their tire program is not that good. We found good tires new for a lot less than their program. Their medical is way higher than ours. for some it might work but it didn't for us.
We got Good Sam's years ago also and have never used anything but the trash to throw away all their paper waste they send us. Just saying.
Now the only thing we see with FMCA is them going to bat for us to keep RV rules in line in every state with the Government entities. ;D
We buy Coach Net insurance every year without being a FMCA member.
JC
And I use Good Sam Road Assist without being a Good Sam member. No magazine, no trash advertising in my mailbox.
I used to be a FMCA member prior to 2003, and I'm a Good Sam Lifetime member (prior to Camping World). I don't get anything of value from either (unless you count the Camping World "Discount").
Camping World is no Discount. You can get anything they sell anywhere else for less. ;D
FMCA is like many other organizations,,as an all volunteered organization, it depends on members becoming involved thru participation,,not just sitting back on your @$# and waiting to "get your value in return" (for doing nothing).>>>Dan
Where did you get Michelin for a lot less than their program? I'll be buying tires this spring and only use Michelin, even though every other brand is better and cheaper......
Quote from: chessie4905 on December 14, 2017, 04:28:27 AM
Where did you get Michelin for a lot less than their program? I'll be buying tires this spring and only use Michelin, even though every other brand is better and cheaper......
You don't really save that much by the time the dealers get through with all their fees,I bought a set I paid Michelin direct for the tires,they shipped to my local dealer that was honoring the program 60 miles away and he wanted $125.00 plus taxes per tire to mount the 315's .FMCA's Cooper tire program is a lot less trouble IMO
Michelin's seem to crack and dry got faster than others, here in the desert southwest, lvmci...
Quote from: lvmci on December 14, 2017, 06:51:03 AM
Michelin's seem to crack and dry got faster than others, here in the desert southwest, lvmci...
Yep Michelin's do crack here in the desert,mine cracked bad the 19.5's on Sonja's Trek and the Michelin rep told me that was UV cracks nothing to worry about just drive it.
BS we blew one in Wickieup 2 weeks later and it took Michelin 9 weeks to adjust the tire at a huge discounted pro rated price.We have Toyos on the front now
Cheesie don't have Michelin's, Wouldn't buy another set of them. Had them go bad on coach and on our Buick at home also. We also now have had Toyo's on Coach and Hankooks from Indonesia on car and Jeep. Nice riding. We had Hankooks from China and they were a harder rubber to the touch and they shredded on our Jeep while towing it. The replacements were from Indonesia and you could feel the difference, more rubbery and a smoother ride from Walmart.
Dave,, If you figure your bus will make it from Roseville,,then be sure to get your application in ASAP,,it's always a madhouse at the gate when we don't have the time to plan.. Over 50% of attendee's arrive unannounced and it's a headache.>>>Dan (We now have more parking and it looks like a big one this year)
I mount my own tires, don't visit deserts and coach is stored inside. That should take care of some issues. There's a lot of good tires at much better prices. This set will be the last set I'll ever buy I expect. I happen to like and use Michelin on all my vehicles since the 80s.
You guys have an enormous amount of experience with heavy truck tires so I take your less than kind comments about Michelin tires seriously. I do notice so many of them on fleet vehicles though. Is it maybe not as much of an issue since they wear rapidly while in daily commercial service so things like UV issues just don't show up? It seems certain that fleet managers are closely watching the tire wear, defects, and cost to purchase tires that provide the best performance for the least cost.
Quote from: chessie4905 on December 14, 2017, 04:28:27 AM
Where did you get Michelin for a lot less than their program? I'll be buying tires this spring and only use Michelin, even though every other brand is better and cheaper......
here:
http://www.michelintruck.com/services-and-programs/michelin-advantage-program/ (http://www.michelintruck.com/services-and-programs/michelin-advantage-program/)
you can list all of your vehicles farm tractors and acquaintances inventory.
i did. iirc they also discount Firestone and maybe other brands by now
Quote from: windtrader on December 14, 2017, 10:04:05 AM
You guys have an enormous amount of experience with heavy truck tires so I take your less than kind comments about Michelin tires seriously. I do notice so many of them on fleet vehicles though. Is it maybe not as much of an issue since they wear rapidly while in daily commercial service so things like UV issues just don't show up? It seems certain that fleet managers are closely watching the tire wear, defects, and cost to purchase tires that provide the best performance for the least cost.
That's it, they get worn out before the cracking show's up. Many trucking companies will put new Michelin's on the front, and recap them for the rears or trailers. Overall, their casings are still the best in the world. A blowout on the front axle is the most dangerous, and despite the extra cost, some people think that extra margin is worth it. Our need is for tires that last over time with lighter loads than a truck experiences.
Quote from: DoubleEagle on December 14, 2017, 12:09:19 PM
That's it, they get worn out before the cracking show's up. Many trucking companies will put new Michelin's on the front, and recap them for the rears or trailers. Overall, their casings are still the best in the world. A blowout on the front axle is the most dangerous, and despite the extra cost, some people think that extra margin is worth it. Our need is for tires that last over time with lighter loads than a truck experiences.
I see the truck manufactures are starting to use different manufactures now for a long time Michelin's were standard on Freightliners now I believe they are Hancock's,,the Volvo are Cooper now and the Petebuilts I bought always were Bridgestone tires
Quote from: windtrader on December 14, 2017, 10:04:05 AM
I do notice so many of them on fleet vehicles though.
Don -Lost of fleets lease their commercial tires, so you'll get RFPs and the "best man wins."
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
RJ, "RFPs" ?
Thanks.
JC
In the business world RFPs was "request for proposals" in RJ's world I don't know
Lol!
Dan sent you a PM we won't be at Q this year Doreen is having more arthroscopic surgery on her Knees and will be off the road for at least 6 months.
Clifford won't be able to come by then either.
Quote from: Dave5Cs on December 15, 2017, 08:08:08 PM
Dan sent you a PM we won't be at Q this year Doreen is having more arthroscopic surgery on her Knees and will be off the road for at least 8 months.
Clifford won't be able to come by then either.
We wish Doreen the best,the alternator will be there when you get around to picking it up
Hi Dave, wishing Doreen the quickest of recovery, sorry I'll miss you two at Q, tom...
Thats ok dave,, just send the money and we will forgive you. ::)>>>Dan
Quote from: luvrbus on December 14, 2017, 04:35:18 PM
In the business world RFPs was "request for proposals" in RJ's world I don't know
Clifford for the win - his prize is one expired Spokane Transit transfer!
;D ;D ;D
The 1st time I received a RFP's in the 80's I had to call the to ask what he was saying he was kinda of wise @$# to me so I sent him a note with a FYI and told to translate that.He called and said I don't think you were sending "For Your Information" was you,lol later we came friends