FMCA.. what is it ? how to join ? thanks, Mike

[seeburgrepair]

I see there is some kind of Organization but cant find it.. FMCA  .. what is its site.?  thanks, Mike

[Dallas]

Here's the website for FMCA, (Family Motor Coach Association).

They have both family memberships and business memberships.

http://www.fmca.com/index.asp

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Mike,

Welcome!

Here is a brief story about FMCA, it actually started with bus conversions.

Nick-


Family Motor Coach Association
The Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) is an international organization for families who own and enjoy the recreational use of motorhomes. With more than 120,000 active member families, FMCA is the world's largest motorhome owners group.

Since 1963 FMCA has issued more than 380,000 memberships to families who look to the association as their source of information about all facets of motorhome ownership and travel.

Membership categories

Full/Family (F) membership is open to any person or family owning at least one-third interest in a qualifying motorhome.

Commercial (C) membership is for dealers, suppliers, manufacturers, campgrounds, service facilities and other firms servicing the motorhome owner or the motorhome industry.

FMCA's purpose
The purpose of FMCA is to organize social activities, exchange motorhome information, and supply benefits made possible, in part, by collective purchasing.

The interest of the Association also extends into the area of political and legislative action. FMCA supports recreation programs and the legal rights of RV owners.

Greatest benefit
FMCA takes pride in the merit of its many membership benefits, which include trip routing, mail forwarding service, an emergency medical evacuation program, and group rates on an emergency roadside assistance plan.

But foremost, and irreplaceable, are the fun and friendship shared by people who enjoy the common interest of motorhome travel. The Association is rich in the tradition of FMCA members extending hands of genuine friendship to one another.

FMCA members can be identified by the FMCA "goose egg," or membership emblem, displayed on their motorhome. This metal oval plate, embossed with the family's membership number, opens the door for many friendly encounters while traveling.

Staff
FMCA is owned by its membership, governed by elected officers and has a national office that conducts its business affairs. The staff establishes a liaison with the motorhome industry, helps members to organize geographic and special interest chapters, publishes a monthly magazine and an annual membership directory, and coordinates FMCA motorhome conventions and annual membership meetings

[gus]

I tried to join before I got the bus but they would only let me buy their magazine until I got a motorhome. I tried the magazine for a year and was not impressed except for the very good service business index, otherwise I found it a bit snobbish.

As I remember they limit memberships only to class A owners.

When they later asked me to join I told them "no thanks".

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Gus,

That is strange because my dad has been a member since 1969 and he has only owned bus conversions.    Hummm!

Nick-

[DrivingMissLazy]

I suspect Gus meant to say RV. Nowhere have I ever seen that it had to be a motorhome per se. And I have been a member for many years. Member # F039926. I believe I joined back in the 70's sometime with a pick-em-up camper.
Richard

Hi Gus,

That is strange because my dad has been a member since 1969 and he has only owned bus conversions.    Hummm!

Nick-

[Stan]

Here is the membership requirement for FMCA from their website:

Full/Family membership
FMCA - Family/Full membershipFull/Family (F) membership is open to any person or family owning at least one-third interest in a qualifying motor coach. This is a self-propelled, completely self-contained vehicle that contains all the conveniences of a home, including cooking, sleeping, and permanent sanitary facilities. In addition, the driver's seat must be accessible in a walking position from the living quarters

I joined many years ago (#36513) with a converted bus and always had a converted bus until last year when I downsized to a class B  When I joined the magazine was more oriented to technical stuff and to bus conversions. Like Gus, I don't have much interest in the latest production model Winnibago.

[bobofthenorth]

We joined FMCA 3 years ago when we bought the bus.  Lately we have really been struggling to justify the expense of membership for all we get out of it.  Escapees is much better value for the way we travel.  The FMCA magazine isn't much more than a collection of ads.  I read the classified ads thoroughly but the front end of the magazine is largely manufacturer puff stories.  I expect one of these years when the renewal comes due we just won't bother.

[bus05eagle]

I am a member just because i can not go to some rallies and cannot belong to the Eagles group with out it i went to 1 fmca convention in 20 years but they have some good thing you always see the new things that are out in the book .I thought the Escapes were a waste of time and money myself

[luvrbus]

I have been a member a long time and they are a good club they help people put rallys  together i know they helped out on the bus'n usa i don't know about Jack Conrads in FL they have chapters for different buses like Mci, Prevost,Gmc,Eagle,and others its fun to go to a national show so much to see and do

[Hartley]

Membership is a small price to pay to be universally accepted across almost all of the Bus and RV clubs.

It is a requirement in many local area clubs and if you always want to attend as a guest you will not usually
be turned away but will usually pay more as a non-member.

There are chapters for virtually every kind of RV ( not always a Class A or motorcoach! )
Anyone who doesn't know that hasn't been paying attention in class...

[JackConrad]

I don't know about Jack Conrads in FL

   Actually, the first couple years, our rally was sponsored and hosted by Paula and I. As the rally grew, we were reminded that we should have liability insurance to protect us. The Converted Coaches of the Eastern Area (CCEA), a chapter of FMCA volunteered to sponsor the rally. This gave us liability insurance through FMCA. Bussin' 2008 will be co-sponsored by CCEA and SE Cruisers, anoother FMCA Chapter.
   We have been FMCA members since the mid 80s. Although we feel the magazine has become mostly advertisers fluff, we still enjoy a few of the articles about new destinations and the classifieds. We also feel we get our moneys worth from some of the other programs they offer and most importantly the freindship and comaraderie of all the fellow members that attend the rallies. In additon to belonging to FMCA, we also belong to 3 different FMCA bus conversion chapters, (CCEA, SE Cruisers, and SE BusNuts)Membrership includes a medical emerency policy that if traveling away from home, will fly you home if neccessary and arrange for you coach to be driven home. They also have mail forwarding services and road services policies available at reasonable rates.
    FMCA allows all motorhomes and bus conversions, but not travel trailers, 5th wheels, pop-ups, etc. It must be a motorhome or bus conversion.  Jack

[Hartley]

Oooppss... I stand corrected...
If it's got wheels,motor and a toilet you can join FMCA...

My brain was playing tricks, Must have been thinking Good Sams when I said "other than motorhomes" was a member
of that for a while but couldn't see a real benefit.

The MIND is NOT the first thing to go, Just hangs around and checks in and out.....

[Hi yo silver]

As a conversion owner wannabe, I tried to join the MCI chapter of FMCA, only to be told I couldn't join a specific chapter unless I belonged to FMCA.  Couldn't belong to FMCA unless I owned a motorhome.  So much for learning what I could from folks who already own MCIs...other than on this BB! 

[gus]

Dennis,

Just about the same thing that happened to me. I was never told they don't accept buses but I always thought a motor coach was a Class A only and I realize that a bus is a Class A. I have never seen an article about a bus in their magazine, just over-priced sticks and staples.

An organization that excludes non-owners is not too smart. Allowing non-owner membership is the perfect way to encourage people to become new owners and members. This is the only organization I have ever found that excludes non-owners and I have belonged to three airplane type clubs over the past 30 yrs-they all welcomed non-owners. All they required was an interest in the particular airplane. That is the way to run a club!

Some people are attracted to an organization that thinks it is exclusive, that attitude has the exact opposite effect on me.