PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Wow, it doesn't seem like it's been two years since I took office!! It has been a great two years for Linda and me and a great two years for the chapter. We have enjoyed watching the chapter grow in so many ways because of the wonderful members that made it all happen. It is so nice handing the chapter presidency off knowing that we are in great shape in every way. Everyone in the chapter helped make my term as president a real joy and I know this will continue with our new president, Paulette Kotan. I want to thank all the board members who served with me, Gerry Chetelat (vice president), Linda Strobel (secretary/treasurer), Bob Evans, Nick Escamilla, Wendy Holloway all serving us as national director at different times and Paulette Kotan (newsletter editor), each and everyone did an outstanding job and helped the chapter get to where it is today, a chapter with great attendance at our outings, many fun things to do at every outing and wonderful camaraderie. Linda and I are looking forward to next year as I'm sure everyone is, we have four outings already scheduled for next year plus the FMCA rally at Indio! We hope to see all of you at every outing.
Richard Strobel, Chapter President
MINUTES:
Golden Village Palms RV Resort, Hemet, California
October 9, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.
The meeting was called to order by the president Rich Strobel. He led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members in attendance: Dick and Vicki Bartlett, Lenny and Gloria Blake, Gerry and Linda Chetelat, Nick and Ramona Escamilla, Russ and Pat Himmer, Lloyd and Wendy Holloway, Dennis and Paulette Kotan, Greg and Debbie Murrell, Hal and Cookie Ringhand, Rich and Linda Strobel, Bill and Sandy Vargo and Henry and Lucille Yanoff. Guests attending included the Blake's daughter, Jim and June Cheshire and Bill Proett.
Thanks to Wendy and Lloyd Holloway and Cookie and Hal Ringhand for hosting this great rally.
A motion to approve the minutes from the May meeting as printed in the blog was made by Dick and seconded by Dennis.
The treasurer reported a balance of $2,429.07 after expenses of $178.78 for food for the club anniversary dinner and $26.50 to Badges "R" Us for badges. Motion to approve the treasurer's report was made by Ramona seconded by Hal.
NATIONAL DIRECTOR'S REPORT: The 2010 Governing Board was held on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 in Redmond, OR. It started at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned at 2:06 p.m. We had 51% of the total voting members in attendance. Out of 488 possible Governing Board voting members, a total of 290 voting members were represented, which equates to 59% and a quorum was established.
There were 1,928 family coaches and 274 commercial coaches actually staying on the fairgrounds. The overall total including day passes for the convention was 2,202.
FMCA had added income from their web site advertising and have benefited through the efforts of our IT department and their untiring focus to put Family Motor Coach at the top of the search engine lists, so that when you go online and search using the key word RV or motor home, Family Motor Coach Association is one of the first things that pops up. FMCA also has a presence on the popular social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.
FMCA has partnered with GMAC Insurance Company to give most of the members a better rate on their motor home and car insurance while at the same time ensuring a licensing fee to the Association for their participation.
Since January 2009, FMCA has downsized their workforce by 17 people and cross-trained the remaining employees to fill gaps of those who left. The employees are paying 25% of their own insurance premiums for single medical coverage and 50% for family coverage. Contributions to the employee's 401(k) play by FMCA ceased effective March 1, 2009. These has been no salary increases since January 2007, nor has there been any cost of living or merit raises.
With fewer staff, FMCA has reconfigured space at the Clough Pike location and have done some necessary computer programming and, as a result, have been able to bring the FMCA Store in-house at a savings of $60,000 per year.
Last January a campaign called the "A Dozen Does It" program began and as a help to each chapter, FMCA gave each chapter president five free memberships; which is approximately 2,599 free memberships. To date FMCA has signed up approximately 300 new members from that free program. That's 300 new members in 7 months. 34% of our membership have a chapter affiliation and 66% is not chapter affiliated.
At last year's governing board meeting, we requested a committee be formed to seek a better, more economically priced medical evacuation plan. Currently we have MEDEX which will expire December 31, 2010. The Evac Benefit Special Committee was formed. The committee reported out of 12 firms asked for a proposal, only 5 replied. Those five were contacted and were consulted again for clarification of items.
There are four parts to this service: Incident or accident to first medical stabilization facility; stabilization facility to a major hospital; hospital to recuperation location; and repatriation of remains. These services are world wide. The present provider does not cover the evacuation until after the initial emergency call. Optional medical coverage is better than that offered by the previous carrier. With the new provider, grandchildren under age 18 are returned home; handicapped children are returned home regardless of age, escorted by a registered nurse, if needed; and the motor home return includes, towed vehicle, the use of a professional driver and expenses, including fuel, with a $5,000 limit for the professional driver. Additional items covered under the new provider: dispatch of doctor or specialist; chronic condition travel; 24 hours; 365 days a year call center; numerous concierge services; $1,000 AD&D coverage; summary plan and ID cards included; monthly invoicing; monthly report of services; quarterly reviews; and FMCA has full access to claims and losses. HIPPA regulations will not be violated, and the underwriter has an AM Best AA+ rating.
Available now through FMC Assist: optional out-of-country coverages available through FMCA Assist are in effect now, which provides medical coverage when out of state that Medicare or other insurance companies do not cover.
The saving as projected for the proposed 2011 budget is $148,571. FMC Assist is an improved member benefit for a lower cost.
Executive Director Search Committee - FMCA has over 40 applications to date and still accepting applications. Additional details will be available in the FMC magazine. Approximately 1 to 1 1/2 years before having someone hired. FMCA National Bylaws state we shall have an Executive Director.
Mail forward fees will be reduced from $10.00 per month to $8.00 per month.
The 2011 budget submitted is a workable budget. It is a $92,000 deficit recovery budget. FMCA continues to be optimistic about the remaining portion of 2010 and the upcoming year of 2011. Your Association continues to be debt-free.
Respectfully submitted by Wendy Sue Holloway, Rockwood West National Director
OLD BUSINESS: none
NEW BUSINESS: Wendy provided more information on the Pismo Beach rally and the melodrama that is included. There were enough members interested in attending the FMCA rally in Indio to attend as a group. The Vargos are making all the arrangements and they should be contacted directly if you are interested in attending. The Murrells gave some information about the rally they will be hosting at the Vista Elks Lodge in February. Paulette provided more information about the rally to be held at two campgrounds within Death Valley National Park in March, Linda Chetelat talked about their rally in April at Chula Vista RV Resort and Nick also talked about their rally at Lone Pine Boulder Creek RV Park.
Wendy presented a badge to Bill Proett as the chapter permanent mascot.
Greg received the Rockwood West "Dummy" Award for walking in front of a car!
Wendy said that Karenann is still trying to finish the history of the chapter and if you have anything that can help please contact Karenann.
Wendy reporting for the bylaw committee the need to amend the chapter bylaws so that the election of officers is completed prior to November 1st of each year so the new officers are listed in the January issue of FMC magazine instead of the outgoing officers. The other issue to be discussed is the membership section of the bylaws, specifically paragraph E. The language is confusing. The present language states: All prospective members must attend two outings in one year before membership will vote to accept or reject them for membership unless they are sponsored by a member in good standing when they may be voted on after attending one meeting. The proposed language changes the bylaw to read: All prospective members must attend one outing before membership will vote to accept or reject them for membership unless they are sponsored by a member in good standing when they may be voted on at that meeting.
Under Officers, section B. The present language states: The Officers of the Chapter and a three member nominating committee shall be elected by a vote of the membership at the annual meeting in October of each year and shall take office January 1st after election and receive all records from the outgoing officers. The proposed language changes the bylaw to read: The officers of the Chapter and a three member nominating committee shall be elected by a vote of the membership at the annual meeting in October of each year and shall take office immediately after elected and receive all records from the outgoing officers.
Section F presently states: The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of candidates for chapter officers at the annual meeting in March October. They shall be responsible for conducting the election in November and installing the new officers in January.
The proposed language changes the bylaw to read: The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of candidates for Chapter officers at the annual meeting in October. They shall be responsible for conducting the election in October and installing the new officers in October.
After much discussion of the above changes a motion was made by Dennis and seconded by Ramona to approve the changes to the bylaws. The motion carried.
The nominating committee presented the slate of officers for election: Paulette Kotan, president; Cookie Ringhand, vice-president; Linda Chetelat, secretary/treasurer; Lloyd Holloway, national director; Nick Escamilla, alternate national director; Ramona Escamilla, Gerry Chetelat and Dennis Kotan, nominating committee. There were no other nominations and the officers were elected by proclamation. Debbie Murrell swore in the new officers.
Wendy also showed everyone a form to list the chapter rallies on the FMCA calendar.
Motion to adjourn meeting made by Gerry, seconded by Hal. Meeting adjourned.
RALLY SCHEDULE:
November Pismo Coast Villae RV Resort, Pismo Beach, hosted by Lloyd and Wendy Holloway
January 12-16, FMCA rally, Indio, organized by Bill and Sandy Vargo
February 3-5 Vista Elks Lodge, Vista, hosted by Greg and Debbie Murrell
March 2-9 Death Valley National Park organized by Dennis and Paulette Kotan
April 1-3 Chula Vista RV Resort, Chula Vista hosted by Gerry and Linda Chetelat
May 13-15 Lone Pine Boulder Creek RV Park, Lone Pine hosted by Nick and Ramona Escamilla
Paulette Kotan,
Editor
