Happy 70th Birthday USAF!

Today marks the 70th birthday of the United States Air Force.  Celebrate the newest branch of our Armed Forces, created by the National Security Act of 1947.

Please keep our past National Director in your thoughts

Bob Cerney, our past National Director has been admitted to a hospital in Las Vegas with blood clots. Please keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers. If you would like to send Bob get well wishes, please send them to his email, bobnfeda@csolutions.net .

New Emails

The Military Veterans Chapter of FMCA has been updating the way we communicate out to members. We have sent a number of emails recently (the latest email was sent yesterday with a subject of Military Veterans Chapter Newsletter and it was mainly about the appointment of a new treasurer) and some of the email addresses are not going through.

If you have NOT received any of these recent emails, please send an email to militaryveterans.fmca@gmail.com so we can change your email on file to your current email.

Thanks!!

Membership Application Updated

The FMCA Military Veterans Chapter application has been updated. Please find it located at this link:

MVC Membership Application

Print it out, fill it in and mail it according to the instructions and we look forward to seeing you at the next rally!

Happy Birthday U.S. Coast Guard!

On Aug. 4, 1790, the U.S. Coast Guard was created by Congress, which authorized Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton to build a small fleet of 10 cutters to protect the coast. As the Coast Guard marks its 225th birthday and continues to serve a critical role under the Department of Homeland Security.

FMCA Military Veterans Chapter featured in June 2017 FMCA Magazine Chapter Spotlight

The Military Veterans Chapter of FMCA was featured in the June 2017 issue of the Family Motor Coaching magazine. Here is the article, just in case you may have missed it:

Chapter Spotlight: Military Veterans   

By Dell Jackson, F201821
June 2017

The Military Veterans chapter is alive and growing. This year, many new members joined our group at the Southeast Area Rally in February and during FMCA’s 95th International Convention in March. We now have approximately 300 families, and we have plenty of room for more.

Our chapter was formed in 2010 and is an international chapter. Besides being an FMCA member, members must be either active duty or honorably discharged from the United States or Canadian armed forces or National Guard.

We are asking all veterans to join us, as we have social activities and also help fellow veterans who are less fortunate than we are.

We hold our chapter business meetings at FMCA conventions. If you’re a veteran and want to check out our chapter, come visit us in Indianapolis, Indiana, during FMCA’s 96th International Convention, July 12 through 15.

During morning Coffee Hour on one day of the convention, while the Frustrated Maestros are playing anthems, we present flags representing branches of the military. At area rallies, we participate in chapter fairs and socials.

We often have socials and joint rallies with members of FMCA’s Elk International chapter (Elks support veterans) and members of the Full Timers chapter. Our regular summer rally will take place after the Indianapolis convention.

As our chapter grows, we plan to form even more groups based on where members live. That way, they can gather at their own rallies and decide what local veterans organization to support and how they will do that. A group in Florida is 72 members strong and assisted in giving homeless veterans permanent housing through Hearts and Homes for Veterans Inc. in Cape Coral. A group of chapter members in Colorado is also active in procuring assistance for vets with various needs.

The Military Veterans chapter donated $1,000 in 2015 to a fund that helps veterans and their families, the Fisher House Foundation (www.fisherhouse.org).

We keep in touch by using RVillage (www.RVillage.com) and our own blog (www.mvcfmca.blogspot.com), where you can see pictures and learn about our outings. Our blog also has a membership application. Annual dues are $10.

For more information, contact me at dell1942j@gmail.com or by phone at (209) 471-3905. See you in Indianapolis!

For general information about FMCA chapters, contact the Chapter Services Department at (513) 474-3622 or (800) 543-3622; chapters@fmca.com .    

If you would like your chapter to be featured in Chapter Spotlight, contact FMC associate editor Peggy Jordan, (800) 543-3622, ext. 212; pjordan@fmca.com .

2017 MVC Meeting Minutes from the 96th International Convention

Military Veterans Chapter Meeting

Thursday, July 12, 2017

Indianapolis, IN

1700 Hours

Call to order: Called to order by President, John Lee at 1707 hours.  Members stood for Pledge of Allegiance. 

Number of members present: 47 members and their guest

Invocation by: Wilma Jean.

National Officer present recognized:  Gaye Young, National Secretar; Gary Milner Midwest Area Vice President and David Kessler, INTO Area Vice President.

Officer Reports

President: In attendance.  Welcomed all members and potential new members. 

Secretary:  Glenda Milner kept the minutes for the meeting.  Motion was made by Thomas Giluya and seconded by Gary Milner not to read the minutes.  Minutes can be found on the MVC blog at:  www.mvcfmca.blogs.com

         

Vice President:  In attendance. Dell Jackson reported that we signed up 17 new members at this meeting.  Total membership is now 321 members.  The Chapter received 43 new members from the Southeast Area rally; 75 new members at International Convention in Chandler; and 10 new members attending the Northwest Area rally.  He encouraged all members to read the article found in the latest FMCA magazine about our Chapter.

National Director:   In attendance.  See New Business on his Governing Board update.

Alternative Director:  In attendance. -  Rev. Rich “Doc” Strait

Old Business:

Hats are available for all members for $12.00.  Many members were wearing the new hats.  If you are interested in the available inventory, contact Dell Jackson.    John Lee indicated that the new shirts are also available.  He indicated he would have them for members at the Donut/Coffee location. 

New Business:

National Director, Bob Cerney reported on the results of the Wednesday Governing Board meeting.  He indicated a budgeting error on the Treasurer Report.  The Chandler rally had a loss due to the number of extra coaches in attendance versus the budgeted (forecasted) amount.  The 2018 budget shows that some items have been moved above the line. 

Proposal #1 to change the Bylaws to reflect that same members under one FMCA number cannot serve concurrent (simultaneous) terms on the Executive Board. This proposal failed. 

Proposal #2 to change the language regarding membership eligibility.  It reads:  Membership shall be open to any family unit or individual regardless of race …adding “sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, religion, color, marital or family status, age, nationality, disability or political beliefs.  The proposal failed.  Conversation suggested that we end the membership eligibility to just family or individual unit.  The proposal may be to the next Governing Board.  P

Proposal #3 to the wording of Family Motor Coach owners to recreation vehicle owners.  Before vote was taken, the definition of “recreational vehicle was defined”.  The vote was passed by the Governing Board.  The next step will be for every “F” number has the opportunity to vote on whether to allow the predefined definition of “recreational vehicle”.  FMCA will run three months of the voting ballot in the monthly magazine and also the voting ballot can be downloaded from the website and mailed in.   The belief is that the change will generate new members, therefore assisting the financial position of FMCA.  Look for the ballots and vote.  Additional Governing Board decisions was  to consider Pomona California for the 2019 Winter Convention and 2020 in Wyoming or back to Oregon.  The National Budget was also approved.

Your new FMCA National Officers are:

Jon Walker, President

           Rhett Porter, Senior Vice President

           John Reynolds, Treasurer

           Gaye Young, Secretary

David Kessler, International Area VP, was invited to speak to the group.  He introduced the next International Area rally that will be held in Tucson, February 2018. 

Motion was made by Nick Farley to dispense of reading and reporting the Treasurer Report. 

The Blog is up and going.  See in RVillage site to keep track of all members.  Thank you, Rev. Rich Strait, for keeping us updated.

John reported that Volunteering at your National Conventions are very rewarding.  He suggested members seek out that opportunity.

A suggestion from the floor is that the Chapter identify members that can organize social gatherings in geographical areas.  Mr. Lee suggested that if members would volunteer to be Wagonmaster for those events, that it would be a great way for members to meet outside regular meetings.  Southern California, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Colorado, Florida, Georgia and Washington State have people working on meeting locations and activities. 

All military veteran members were invited to an Elks gathering at 9:45 on Friday July 13, 2017.

Nominating committee met (Dell Jackson, Roy Holt and Gary Milner) and recommended the following officers for the next two years.  Nominated for President is Dell Jackson, Roy Holt for Vice President, Secretary Glenda Milner, Treasurer Skip Kazmarek, National Director George Young, and Rev. Richard Strait as Alternate National Director.  Floor nominations were asked for each position and no nominations were provided from the floor.  A motion was made to elect all by acclamation by Patricia Sonny and seconded by Gary Milner. 

Audit Committee has been conducted and no financial issues were found.  Report will be filed. 

Drawings were made for gifts for the members in attendance.   

Dell Jackson recognized John Lee for his hard work as President for the Military Veterans Chapter for 4 years.  He also thanked Bob Cerney for serving as the Chapter’s National Director.  Carol Lee for Secretary

Dell Jackson asked that the ladies consider making quilt blankets for Veterans that are recovering from surgery. 

Badges are also being made for members who prepaid dues for five years; postage paid by the members. 

Adjourn meeting at 18:15. 

Signed,

Glenda Milner

Secretary