By Chuck Woodbury
PUBLISHER
America’s oldest general-interest RV club, the Family Motor Coach Association, has made some highly questionable decisions lately in an attempt to reverse the club’s misfortunes. I wrote an article two months ago that was headlined “Is the FMCA RV club in trouble?” I strongly urge you to read that article before proceeding here to understand what’s going on.
The situation today is more desperate than when I wrote that article in July. The club’s finances grow worse every day, and its membership continues to decline. Its recent national rallies, once big profit-makers, have lost money. The most recent gathering, last month in Redmond, Oregon, is estimated to have lost somewhere around a half million dollars. Its monthly printed magazine, also running in the red, recently began publishing every-other month from monthly as it had for decades. The magazine has always been the members’ favorite benefit for their $50-a-year membership fee.
Again, I wrote in more detail about the club’s troubles in the article I referenced above.
Friday’s news
And so it was that Friday afternoon, I received an email from the club’s executive board that told of “key decisions” that it approved at its meeting at the Oregon rally.
Mostly, nothing significant was new — no great new benefits, just a lot of mumbo jumbo about how the club is all about family.
But the big news is that FMCA is changing its name and dramatically raising the cost of a membership. I am stunned that anyone on the executive committee could believe that these two actions could help the failing club survive.
The club’s new name after 61 years will be the Family RV Association.
“This name will better reflect our mission of welcoming and supporting those who enjoy various types of RVs,” the club’s Identity Committee noted in my Friday email. “We will be developing a new logo to accompany the new marketing name and are working on a timeline for the rollout of the new brand.”
Will these changes help? Does putting lipstick on a pig make it more attractive?
Will FMCA become FRVA? I emailed club president Gary Milner about that, but he has not responded. My long-time contact at the club, CEO Chris Smith, is now gone after 11 years, and no replacement has been named. Who’s in charge? I wonder.
Membership costs to double!
And now news about membership dues. Two of my trusted sources tell me that the club plans to double its membership fee from its present $50 a year to $99 or $100. In my opinion, that would finish off the club all by itself.
I will not say more until I know more. If you are a member of FMCA or have thought of joining, please leave a comment. And current members, please answer the short poll below.
##RVT1173
In my opinion the Medical Evacuation Insurance is more than worth the cost of membership
Concur. Many naysayers are ignorant to that benefit, and just see the printed magazine as the only factor. Many printed publications are the last vestiges of an obsolete business model – whether newspapers or magazines. Times are a changing, adapt or die.
The beauty of ‘printed matter’ is that you can take it with you for doctor appointments or blood draws where you will probably sit for a while, and you don’t have to look like everyone else who is glued to their phone screens. Zombies. I go out of my way now to not look like that.
Cool. I avoid printed material in Dr’s offices and such. Could be “germy.”
The Assist program is valuable. I suggest they drop the paper magazine and go to a monthly digital magazine. One rally a year in the Summer so “families” can attend during school breaks. How can a family attend a rally in March during school sessions. Raise vender fees at rallies many sell out of product and service appointments. My chapter is lots of fun and very active. I would hate to see FMCA go away. Good Sam is just a shell of itself these days.
We are current members of FMCA and have paid our dues ahead but I do have to say I do not see the benefit of the association. Rallies are not fun anymore and the loss of its magazine is sad. I will not renew our membership as I find no value in FMCA at this time. JMHO
We joined for the benefits, but only used the tire discount once. Next time i tried to use it Michelin was out of my tire size and the dealer in Gaylord was not as helpful as the first time. We are not the type of people who like going to rallies, we went to one in Indianapolis once and it was ok, just not our cup of tea. I will not drive halfway across the country to attend another especially when my coach can’t even get out of our barn until mid April. The Magazine is so-so, not much in it that interests us, I do read it and I would not read a digital version. I keep them in the door pocket of our Toad so I have something to read when the wife is in the store.
We have been members of FMCA since back in the ’70s. I was initially drawn to the organization because of the, then, widespread bus conversion crowd that made up the membership and the publication that supported that kind of activity. On a monthly basis there was an incredible amount of technical and how to do information, as well as advertisements from various suppliers of conversion components. I loved the magazine because of that. However, over the years, all of that has either been watered down, or disappeared altogether. Likewise, the private sale advertisements have all but disappeared in the publication, which gets thinner and thinner. None of this bodes well for the organization.
Chuck, Gary Milner recently stepped down from the president position due to a cancer diagnosis
I think you are mistaken. Gary Milner has not resigned his wife has reported on FB they’ll see you all in Perry
Chuck, I’m very disappointed with your reporting. I used to think that you did your research. Now I doubt that. You tried to get a comment and explanation by sending one email to the President who happens to be undergoing medical treatment? You didn’t try contacting the office or any of the other officers? I’m very disappointed with the lack of research.
I’m also disappointed that you don’t recognize the similarity between what has happened with your organization and FMCA. The industry and society in general is changing and both have had to change to adjust to these changes. Hopefully, they both survive and even thrive but there always is an adjustment period when changes are made.
Bob, Chuck said it didn’t make sense to him. You seem to feel otherwise so please share why the changes make sense to you. Like Chuck, I’m scratching my head as well.
Northwest RV Rally Association, an association and board that I currently belong to. We are new but have been around a long time. Explain. For legal reasons we had to drop the word Elks from our name, and start the whole process again, registration and regulations to comply with the IRS and the State of Washington as a 501(c)3. Still, many of the great folks getting together once a year at a rally to share charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity. Although there is no requirement to be an Elk, membership is of those with the same values as an Elk member. No full time paid staff, no newsletter, no bricks and mortar, just a group that loves to get together and enjoy the travel and fun.
We joined when we bought our first motorhome. The rallies were fun and educational, but after several years became the same old thing. But that is the same as Escapees. I have continued to stay with FMCA for the Assist program because we travel a lot overseas now.
How can FMCA improve its performance? Get rid of the unnecessary costly medical evacuation insurance and use the money saved for other purposes. Medical evacuation coverage is only necessary in third world countries where medical treatment may be substandard. Don’t be like Sears with an outdated business operations model. You need some younger people and some recent college graduates on your staff who are more open to new ideas and changing trends in society. Include more articles on really good and really bad campgrounds, which should make great reading material. Include articles on other items of interest besides camping. One article could be about how to set up an IRA.
Completely disagree. FMCAssist is the main attraction to FMCA for us. It’s far less costly than any of the competitors that offer this service. And you’re wrong that it’s unnecessary. Figure up the cost of a medical evacuation you or your spouse, pets and your rig from a remote location halfway across the country. Drop that and we have no reason to be members. For that alone, FMCA membership would be worth it at 4X today’s cost.
You are correct about your cost but the cost to FMCA will bankrupt the club.
Unfortunately, Roger, only a fraction of 1 percent of the members ever take advantage of the medical assist program and yet it is the most costly benefit program to members. While the club tries to attract younger members, they have to pay a higher membership fee to subsidize the 70- and 80-something members for a benefit that is of little interest to them.
It is an insurance program that is included with your members. Very few people ever use their insurance plans but when they are needed, they are grateful to have them. I’ve been with three individuals that needed FMCA Assist and they were very glad it was part of their membership. Best part is that you don’t need to be in your RV just away from home.
I met a lady last year, who was from So Cal, and was in Key West when her spouse died. FMCAssist covered the cost of getting her son to Key West to be with her, them, the remains and the Class A motorhome back to So Cal. Her cost $0. Not a bad deal for $50 a year or even $100.
Others have been AirEvac’d from small hospitals in rural areas to state of the art hospitals for issues such as broken bones and heart attacks and $0 cost.
Several thousand dollars is the cost for services that do this like Skymed and MASA.
That lady got a great deal and I know she is glad for her membership. It’s a case of everyone paying lots of money for something we don’t anticipate needing. This medical evacuation coverage forms the bulk of our membership fees. Good Sam offers a competing membership program with no medical evacuation service. This makes them appealing to younger campers who prefer to pay a lower membership fee that doesn’t include something they don’t anticipate needing. Younger people are now forming the bulk of our membership. Respond to their needs!
I will renew to get the medical evac insurance. If that goes away I am gone from club.
We don’t go to general rallys. Could care less about that aspect. FMCAssist though! Wow! Compare the FMCAssist medical evacuation program to any of the other commercially available programs. It’s great! That’s the main reason we are long time FMCA members. Even at a $100/year, it still costs far less than any competitor. We also use the FMCA Roadside Rescue program. It’s reasonably priced and they’ve taken good care of us on the occasions we have needed them.
Thank you, Chuck! 🙂 We have been members of FMCA since 2016, I think (if not, then 2015 or earlier). We have stayed at their campground in metro Cincinnati 4 or 5 times and find it quite convenient when traveling from metro Chattanooga, Tennessee to the factory service center in Indiana (Decatur for RV #1 and Nappanee for RV #2). I find that I get magazines too frequently to stay current in reading them. So, FMCA going to 6 annual magazines from 12 is a welcomed change. I hope that the executive group improves and that they “right the ship.” If the ship ultimately sinks, then I will accept whatever benefits they offer until the end; e.g., our T-Mobile hotspot is through FMCA. Thanks …
… again, have a great week, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
I am disappointed in your lack of research. One attempt is not enough. Paul Mitchell would have responded. This dues increase may be too little roo late. The cost of the insurance continues to increase and must be recovered.
Kent, the information about the changes came Friday afternoon. I immediately emailed the club’s president Gary Milner. I also contacted some people who are familiar with the club’s operation who provided information and insights. I could not talk with Chris Smith, the long-time CEO, because he is gone now and not replaced. The club should have sent the “changes” email mid-week and thus provided anyone in the media adequate time to research. Paul Mitchel is welcome to post a comment here to further explain the changes or set me straight if I made mistakes. — Chuck/publisher
Chuck,
I am a long-time subscriber of your newsletter and have enjoyed it most of the time. You report the correct information and hold the RV suppliers and organizations to a higher standard. Thank you for that.
I have been a member of FMCA – Family RV Association for 31 years but only active in the Governance for the last 9 years. I think your assessment of the future of Family RV Association is inaccurate. The new name was carefully researched, is inclusive of all RVer’s and is long overdue.
Family RV Association is the Premier RV non-profit Association as shown by our Medical Evacuation Program plus additional benefits included in the dues for our members. We are changing!
Hi Paul
As an FMCA member I joined because even with membership the roadside towing services were slightly less than Coachnet but on par for quality. If membership drastically increases my husband and I will cancel and just go back to coachnet… OR if dues increased but roadside assist dropped in price to continue being a great value I’d stay. We joined a chapter to access information on Alpine motorhomes but we would drop the chapter as well as FMCA if membership prices increase more than $50 a year.
Paul, please email me and let’s talk about this (chuck@rvtravel.com). If you wish to talk off the record, that’s fine. Or if you would like to Zoom, we can record it and make it available to your members and the public. If you feel strongly that the club is on the right path to reverse its decline, then please take me up on my offer and set me straight.
Kent, History says this move will kill an organization. Organizations that survive, found that lowering costs have a bigger impact on viability. At the same time, reducing costs and improving benefits revitalize the desire to belong. It seems that the FMCA is in trouble and if changes are not implemented, it will disappear!
18 yrs FT – We joined FMCA in 2006, let it drop a few years later. Rallies were very “Clickish”, hokie, not very educational, mainly about vendors and making money. “Benefits” were useless to us, over shadowed by those of other groups we had to belong to, Ins. co., etc.
I agree. A price increase will be the final nail in the coffin. No way am I paying $100 per year.
They need to quit kicking a dead horse.
It’s over!
Clique leadership will eventually kill any organization.
We were at Redmond where we heard the annul membership fee will double. We will not renew. President Gary Milner will not likely respond to any inquiries due to very serious health issues.
I just joined, so sorry to hear of the problems. Seems like a truly great resource, with BAD management. Would be a real shame to lose it. And the new name, hmmmmm BAD choice. They did not ask anyone under 65, did they?
What is wrong with the new name? People who don’t have Motor Coaches find that name off-putting. Actually, the average age of the club is 74. If those under 65 don’t join the association will certainly DIE off.
Nothing is wrong with the new name. But after 61 years of being FMCA, what will it be now — FRVA? The change was made almost overnight as an attempt to help save the club. It will only confuse matters.
We joined FMCA a couple years ago on retirement. We used the tire discount rhe first year to replace our steers, but the next year when we did the drives and tags we went with Toyo, which aren’t in the program but still way less cost than the brands in the program.
The magazine is OK and I don’t care that they cut it to bimonthly.
Just attended the Redmond rally. Meh. Not many RV dealers compared to good RV shows, and really not many RV accessory dealers either. We thought the entertainment was 3rd rate…even a board member outside one show commented that way.
We don’t intend to renew.
I recently renewed my membership for 3 years at a great price mostly because I thought I could get some great discounts. That hasn’t worked out. I hope I don’t have to pay anymore when the prices go up. The only benefit so far that I have used is the magazine. The chapters near me are not very active and not really my style of camping. I also joined the new Grand Design chapter ($20.00) but so far nothing has been planned in my region so that has been a bit of a bust. I probably will not renew after my 3 years are up.
I’m an FMCA member because I wanted to join the Hoosier Cruisers, a group chapter from Indiana, and that’s the only way I could join. So FMCA dues plus Hoosier Cruisers is $60. If FMCA dues double I’m out unless HC comes up with a way to be a separate club. I will definitely bring this topic up at the club rally next week.
We have been a long time member and will continue to be, if for no other reason that their Medical Evacuation Program. That alone gives me peace of mind if something should ever happen while we are on the road – just knowing that someone would see to it that the rig would be driven safely home and we would be tended too as well. The name change was needed since they changed their policies. They are doing what they can to keep up.
I bought a brick with our name on it 3-4 years ago for their new sidewalk project where the bricks would be placed. Guess what, sidewalk still isn’t built!!
When I contacted them a year ago about the brick I was told the project is delayed cause of zoning issues. But they sent me a picture of the brick 😂
Nice looking with the FMCA logo on it.
What good is that now!!
The main benefit that we like from the club is the emergency travel benefit, where they would help get the coach home if I were sick or injured. They have said that benefit would be continued, which is why I said yes to the survey. Cheap insurance. However, if the club goes under, is there any other place to get this benefit?
We joined for the emergency travel benefit. If they keep that then we will renew, if they no longer have that benefit we will not renew.
They plan to keep it but the provider has significantly increased the cost which is why the membership price went up.
Something not mentioned here is the two new membership options, both of which are significantly less expensive and even have the option of being paid on a monthly basis.
There is a “dreamers” option and one for people who want to remain members but no longer have an RV – probably mostly retirees but some folks just get rid of their RVs. Maybe they’re crazy.
There are a lot of resources on the company’s website but very poorly organized and difficult to find. I’m talking to them about the re-do to make the website actually useful.
And, seriously, does anybody read a print magazine any more?
I got word of the price increase and just renewed for 2 years at the current rate. I’m not sure about renewing for $100.00/year. For me it really depends on finding an alternative to FMCAssist which is 90% of the reason I keep my membership. I do purchase roadside assistance through Saferide via FMCA but that can be had elsewhere too.
Have been a member now for 4 years. Price in that time has not changed, $59. In the last 4 years prices have shot up, so how could FMCA afford not to raise prices. By the way if you take advantage of their Techconnect program you can get great service on cell phone service for $19.99 a month (that includes taxes and fees). We will save roughly $100 per month alone with that program.
My complaint is that, even though I am also in my 70s, the club is full of cliques that ignored us at their rallies. And the seminars were same thing over and over often by same presenters every time.
Chris Smith just joined Escapees as its CEO. I wonder if he saw the writing on the wall when he asked the FMCA board to annul his contract. I agree, doubling the membership dues, publishing the magazine every other month, and questionable “discount” benefits is the perfect recipe to kill the club for good. Those discount benefits are not benefits at all. Anyone can get better discounts outside of the club (at least that has been my experience), so why stick with a dying organization that is doing so little for the modern RVer!
I believe Chris was forced out. If he quit it was because he was frustrated that all he was able to do was stand by as the incompetent board of directors ran the show.