FMCA Governing Board Meeting, West Springfield MA, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016 

Governing Board Meeting started at 9am and adjourned at 12:28pm. 

1) Biggest item was membership. FMCA ended July with 70,539 members.  They lost a net 69 members in the last ten months of the fiscal year. The previous year, it was a net 3763 loss.

Biggest year for FMCA was 2004 when it peaked at 129,189.  In ’08 3900+ lost; ’09 5800+; ’10 10,041; ’11 6400+; ’12 7200+.  July was first month since “05 that we had a net increase——344. 

Initiatives to build membership to continue. Barry Elk our contractor from MCA continues to work for us in this area.  A lot of discussion on Barry’s advice to spend $250,000 on advertising on RV Village——expanding our use of social media to gain members.  Use of social media is alien to many in the meeting;-)  Percy Bell says, and I do not understand his figures, that FMCA will get back $234,000 of that with the expected membership income gain, where an average member stays for three years.  

2) Some folks complained about the lower than expected turnout of coaches (less than 1100—did not hear an exact number) and blamed it on the venue—which is pretty nice.   FMCA Sr. VP, Jon Walker’s response was that the GB had asked for new, more varied venues and West Springfield was one example of the result of that request.  As is Chandler, AZ for next winter.  BTW, Chandler looks like a very nice venue with lots to do in that west Phoenix area.

3) A $10- dues increase was approved with little discussion, effective Oct 1st, start of the new fiscal year.  Big driver was the increase for FMCA Assist. Last year premium paid was $295,442 with claims paid out of $298,470. Two years ago there were 73 claims with an average pay out per claim of $4,089.  Last twelve months, 57 claims with an average pay out of $6,487.

In the larger issue of insurance, use of golf carts, and the control of that use has become a big issue in risk management.  And various measures in that control is an ongoing discussion. 

4) Search for new FMCA executive director is ongoing.  But President Charlie Adcock states the home office staff have done a great job in helping him pick up the slack in the meantime.

5) Changes in Standing Rules were approved, per listing in meeting booklet.  As was the budget, again as listed in the booklet.  Note budget approved was the one that took into consideration the $10- increase in dues.  

6) Various committee chairs offered their reports.  Again, as listed in the booklet.

7) Last item in the meeting, under New Business, Ken Carpenter as chair of the Long Range Planning Committee, proposed to update the Articles of Incorporation (written in 1973) as on file with the Secretary of State with the State of Ohio.  FMCA incorporated in Ohio.  “To amend the purpose statement in the articles of incorporation so that it is as broad as possible to avoid an overly restrictive constraint on FMCA’s mission (which has evolved over time) and activities in serving needs and expectations of members.”  This proposal was approved.

Submitted: George Young, F408306

MVC Temporary Delegate FMCA Governing Board