The Diesel RV Club chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association has approved a resolution calling for the 20-year-old motorhome owners group’s dissolution. It has been one of FMCA’s most popular chapters.
“We have … been struggling for years to get volunteers to serve in leadership positions and to help host rallies,” wrote chapter president Dee Blocker in an August business meeting report. He said it was ultimately the group’s inability to recruit new club officers along with volunteers for rallies that made its continued operation too challenging to overcome.
The group has also struggled financially. The 2023 income statement showed a $12,204.74 loss compared with a loss of $3,248.33 in 2022. The 2023 loss was the result of 62 fewer dues paying members, a decline in preferred partner and advertising income, and increases in operating expenses.
“The time has arrived for us to take drastic measures,” Blocker explained.
Other factors that have affected the club’s survival were an aging out of members (most in their 70s and 80s) along with a decline of new members from FMCA, itself with a declining membership and questionable future. As a result, the Diesel RV Club has lost members faster than it has replaced them.
The popular chapter originally formed to serve FMCA members who owned motorhomes with Cummins’ diesel engines. In 2010 it opened to coach owners with other diesel engines.
At its peak, the club’s membership stood at 1,382.
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This is a problem that all volunteer driven clubs, associations- professional and hobby- are having. Younger people 60 and below just think all of these organization events and day to day operations happen without “someone” doing the grunt work which makes it all happen. They just want to plunk down a check and leave when finished enjoying what us “grunts” set-up, ran and cleaned up. Doesn’t work that way; so now the venue is over. “You reap what you sow”.
I don’t think the upcoming generations carry the same preference for that style of socialization. It’s akin to our grandparents wondering why this generation lacks the ambition and attention span to huddle around the radio for entertainment. Things change and I suspect more and more pieces of the RV lifestyle will evolve.
Well said!
…it isn’t only volunteer groups which have trouble recruiting members. It seems this generation and perhaps the last one are not “joiners”. Note: Veterans organizations and social clubs like the Eagles, Elks or whichever. Most have declining memberships. Even some volunteer jobs with minimal pay ie., Township officers, have difficulty finding willing persons to serve. Seems there is no benefit to paying dues and not getting a shiny trinket or thing so people don’t perceive the value of dues. As further evidence – even donating to this newsletter with many non-donors reading it, but not perceiving the benefits they may and most likely derive from it. Paying $500. to $1,100. for a phone..
How many of these “old folks” organizations ask young people to join, and then ask them to do something? If all your leadership is your 70 and 80 year old friends, you are not going to live much longer. Find the youngest member, ask them to coordinate a party, a charity event, a blood drive, better yet a children’s Halloween parade, anything to get them involved and they will start to bring their friends. Then ask them to take on more leadership. Churches, veterans groups, and other organizations that do that are doing better.
That is exactly what RV organizations are doing, or at least trying to do. Young people aren’t joiners. Elks, Moose, and other organizations are also struggling.
Not any different than the decline in service clubs…Lions, Rotary, Eagles etc. And I’m guilty. I just don’t want to join.
Thank you, RV Travel! I did not know that this existed. I would have joined if I had known. Thank you for tbe news! Have a great day, a good Thanksgiving, and safe travels!