Family Motor Coach Association Chapters Celebrate 50 Years of Motorhoming
Cincinnati, Ohio (PRWEB) May 15, 2015 -- Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), an international organization for motorhome owners based in Cincinnati, Ohio, was formed in 1963. Two years later, FMCA was chartering its first four chapters, smaller groups of motorhome owners who made their own local clubs within the auspices of the association.
Because of their geographic proximity, two of those chapters — Michigan Knights of the Highway and Midwest Coachmen — decided to host a golden anniversary rally May 14-17, 2015, at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio. This little town is playing host to approximately 70 motorhomes for this celebration.
Mike Middaugh, an FMCA member who lives in Columbus, Ohio, and is a self-proclaimed “bus guy,” was 16 years old in 1965 when he attended a rally of the Midwest Coachmen. And this weekend, through May 17, Mike is with other members of the Midwest Coachmen, as well as members of the Michigan Knights of the Highway, who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their chapters. They also have been joined by one couple from the Northeastern chapter, also chartered in 1965.
The fourth chapter chartered in 1965 was the California chapter, which plans to host its own celebration this month and was recognized during FMCA’s recent 91st Family Reunion in Pomona, California, March 26-29.
FMCA executive director Jerry Yeatts addressed the group on the first evening of the Wauseon rally. “This is a great gathering of folks enjoying a celebration of fifty years of fellowship, fun, and camaraderie,” he said. “FMCA’s chapters are our best way of getting members together on a regular basis, even to this day.”
FMCA member Glen Perkin, from the Michigan Knights of the Highway chapter, is serving as rally host and said that the four-day gathering will have activities, entertainment, and catered meals, plus a big presentation scheduled for Saturday night that will include slideshows filled with historical photos sure to take attendees on a trip down memory lane.
FMCA’s third national president, Charles Owens, a charter member of the Midwest Coachmen, will be attending the Saturday night fest, along with Don Marsh, the original secretary-treasurer for the Midwest Coachmen chapter.
Mr. Middaugh noted that at that 1965 Midwest Coachmen rally, perhaps 10 of the 30 coaches were commercially produced motorhomes, and the rest were home-converted vehicles. That includes “bread trucks, school buses, milk trucks, transit buses.” The motorhomes at FMCA rallies are much more reliable today. “You don’t have people working on them all weekend so they’ll make the trip home,” he said. “I look around here and don’t see anybody with a toolbox out. Which is good.”
About Family Motor Coach Association • Enhancing The Motorhome Lifestyle
Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) is an international organization for families who own and enjoy the use of self-contained, motorized recreation vehicles known as motorhomes. The association maintains its national headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently has nearly 75,000 active member families. FMCA offers its members a number of benefits, including a subscription to its monthly magazine, Family Motor Coaching; a medical evacuation and travel assistance program valued at $105 per family; group rates on a roadside assistance program and on motorhome and auto insurance; discounted rates for RV tours and caravans; and a tire purchasing program. Perhaps the most important benefit of FMCA membership is the camaraderie and friendships that develop among people enjoying the common interest of motorhome travel and recreation. The organization can be reached at (513) 474-3622 or (800) 543-3622 and on the Web at FMCA.com.
Pamela Kay, FMCA, http://www.fmca.com, +1 (800) 543-3622 Ext: 234, [email protected]
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