Family Motor Coach Association
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (March 2008) |
 |
This article or section needs to be wikified to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please help improve this article with relevant internal links. (March 2008) |
The Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) is an international organization of families who own and enjoy the recreational use of motorhomes. Since 1963 FMCA has issued more than 390,000 memberships to families who look to the association as their source of information about all facets of motorhome ownership and travel. FMCA is a member-owned association that maintains its headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, and employs a full-time office staff. FMCA is governed by volunteer officers who are elected from within the ranks of the association.
Contents |
[edit] Formation
On July 20, 1963, 26 families met at the Good Will-Hinckley School in Hinckley, Maine, to socialize and become acquainted with other "house car" owners. They decided to form a motor coach owners' common interest group. A monument to commemorate the founding was dedicated at the school on July 4, 1994.
[edit] Membership
Membership in FMCA is contingent upon ownership of a motorhome - a self-propelled, completely self-contained vehicle that contains all the conveniences of a home, including cooking, sleeping, and permanent sanitary facilities and in which the driver’s area is accessible in a walking position from the living quarters. FMCA has more than 120,000 member families who hail from every U.S. state as well as Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and beyond. The Association offers its members a full line of benefits to enhance the motorhome lifestyle. Membership in the FMCA costs $45 for the first year (which covers the dues for the first year and an initiation fee) and $35 per year thereafter. FMCA also has 2,500 commercial members — dealers, suppliers, manufacturers, campgrounds, service facilities and other firms servicing the motorhome owner or the motorhome industry.
[edit] Code of Ethics
Every member of FMCA agrees to follow the Association’s Code of Ethics, which requires members to comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the ownership and use of family motor coaches. The Code of Ethics also calls for members to be "good neighbors, careful and responsible coach owners and operators, and good citizens of our communities.
[edit] Purpose
The purpose of FMCA is to organize social activities, exchange motorhome information, and supply benefits made possible, in part, by collective purchasing. The group publishes Family Motor Coaching, a monthly magazine. It provides news concerning motorhome technology, the RV industry and the association. However, perhaps the most important FMCA member benefits are the fun and camaraderie shared by people who enjoy the common interest of motorhome travel. The Association is rich in the tradition of 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 oval plate, embossed with the family's membership number, opens the door for many friendly encounters while traveling.
[edit] Chapters and conventions
FMCA encourages the development of local, regional and specialty chapters. These chapters — FMCA has approximately 500 of them — organize events of particular interest to their members, including numerous rallies throughout the year. Regional rallies, composed of several chapters from a geographic area, also are held annually. Many FMCA chapters cover specific or general geographic areas. Others are dedicated to a motorhome brand, a hobby or a special interest. Special-interest chapters include golf, crafts, amateur radio, single RVers and handicapped RVers.
FMCA holds two international motorhome conventions each year, at various locations in the United States. Motorhome manufacturers, dealers and RV suppliers display their latest products. The events take place over a four-day period and can attract 3,000 to 5,000 motor coaches. .
