FMCA- Thor Diesel Club

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TDC Newsletter "Mile Marker" has been post to the TDC website; www.thordieselclub.org

July 22

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Another RVillager has joined our Thor Diesel Club group. HotDigaty is currently in Angola, Indiana with his 2018 Thor Aria. Welcome!

July 17

Jack & Karen Arnold and 3 others like this.

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I have a dumb question. Are we using the TDC website for discussions or the RV Village website? I think the club needs to decided which website will be used for discussions. That way a member doesn't need to go to both sites to see whats going on.

July 16

Becca Ray likes this.
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Jack & Karen Arnold We have 3 places where members can communicate, TDC Forum, Facebook, and RVillage. It would be nice if everyone could settle on one site but some like Facebook, some do not use Facebook and never will. Some like our Forum (my favorite) but we ... more
- 2 like this.
- · July 16

Gisela and Ken I like the Forum for discussion and RV Village to keep in touch with and meet new friends.
- 3 like this.
- · July 16

TPM There is nothing wrong with RV Village, but when we are discussing TDC matters or items such as FMCA allowing towables, it should probably should be discussed on the TDC site not RV Village since the TDC site is for TDC members only and not more or ... more
- 1 likes this.
- · July 17

Brian & Terry For those that have not explored our RVillage page the Group Forum button at the top of the page goes right to the TDC forum. So when ever you visit the RVillage page you can pop right over and see if there is any new activity in the Forum.
- 3 like this.
- · July 18
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- Bernie & Carole Patton As they say on Family Feud "Good Answer!!"
  - 1 likes this.
  - · July 18

l1brass You can also setup RVillage to send you notices when there is activity so you don't have to check it everyday just when there is activity!
- 2 like this.
- · July 18
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- Jack & Karen Arnold Yes, you can adjust your notification settings. You need to select the icon (drop down between the "Bell" and the "Envelop"' upper right hand corner of this web page) and select "Notification Settings"
  - July 18

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A group of Thor Diesel Club members enjoyed a social gathering this afternoon at the FMCA Convention.

July 15

l1brass and 3 others like this.

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We welcome a new RVillager to our Thor Diesel Club group - - RuffingIt! and his Tuscany 45AT are currently with us at the FMCA 96th Convention in Indianapolis. This addition brings us to 104 group members!

July 15

Glenn & Jeanne and 2 others like this.

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Here's a chance to connect with your fellow TDC members! We've seen quite a few Palazzos, Mandalays and Tuscanys parked here at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. A TDC get-together is planned for Saturday afternoon (July 15) at 3 pm in the Ag Building, Seminar 7.

July 13

gmadams and 3 others like this.

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Below is the FMCA press release on the towable proposal. Reading it you will see that it is ultimately up to a vote of the entire membership to make this happen. It failed 5 years ago. FYI

FMCA Set to Consider Towable Proposal in Indy

July 11, 2017... moreBelow is the FMCA press release on the towable proposal. Reading it you will see that it is ultimately up to a vote of the entire membership to make this happen. It failed 5 years ago. FYI

FMCA Set to Consider Towable Proposal in Indy

July 11, 2017 by Rick Kessle

The Family Motor Coach Association’s (FMCA) 96th International Convention & RV Expo is set to open Wednesday (July 12) at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Ind.
Dubbed “Crossroads To Fun,” the four-day event will focus on the RV lifestyle, including a motorhome showcase as several OEMs and dealers have brought their latest offerings for tours and test drives. Booths offering a wide range of RV accessories, components, supplies, and services will be set up inside Champions Pavilion.
Also on the agenda for attendees are educational seminars, a variety of fun activities and events, along with evening music and comedy entertainment.
Another item, one that is likely to spawn some debate among the membership, is the topic of whether FMCA will allow owners of towable units to be eligible for membership. The association’s governing board is to consider the proposal while in Indianapolis and determine whether to bring the measure to a referendum this fall.
FMCA, which had more than 140,000 members prior to the Great Recession of 2008-09, now reports about 72,000 active member families, with the vast majority owning Class A motorhomes and the average age of the owners of those units being 71. The slide is enough that the association is seriously considering opening its membership to towable RV owners; only motorized owners have been allowed to join FMCA in its nearly 55-year history.
Chris Smith, who assumed the dual role of executive director and chief financial officer for FMCA last October, told RVBUSINESS.com the time is right for members to consider this proposal again — a similar proposition was defeated some five years ago.
“There are many reasons why, but really we stepped back and said, you look at other organizations and for them it’s not about the equipment you drive, it’s about the lifestyle. We feel the same way. We feel it’s about the people, not the equipment,” he said.
Smith acknowledged the club’s motorized-only criteria has been restrictive, especially lately since growth in the towable segment has outpaced the motorized end. “If you look at the stats and the market, we’re chasing a pretty small piece of the pie,” Smith said, pointing out that the demand to join FMCA from towable owners definitely exists.
“We have plenty of nonmembers who come up to us if we’re at a trade show and they say, ‘This looks great; can we join?’ And we have to tell them no because they don’t own a motorhome. And we have plenty of members who say, ‘I have children and friends who I would love to be able to have them join FMCA and have them attend rallies with us, but they can’t do it currently.’ We’ve heard loud and clear from plenty of different people that they want to share FMCA with everyone, and they can’t do it now,” Smith noted.
Stressing that the association wanted to be “very up front and honest with the membership of what we’re trying to do,” Smith explained the timeline for the proposal, which formally was placed on the table at the club’s 95th International Convention in March in Chandler, Ariz. There the executive committee approved the motion for consideration by the governing board at the convention in Indianapolis. Should it again be approved, the proposal would be up for referendum by club members, who would have through the end of November to cast their votes.
“So, ultimately, the member is the one who decides. They would have the final say on whether or not we do it,” Smith explained.
Should the proposal ultimately be approved, towable owners would become full-fledged members with equal status as current FMCA members and would be afforded the same benefits including a subscription to its monthly magazine, Family Motor Coaching; FMCA Assist, a medical evacuation and travel assistance program valued at $105 per family; group rates on a roadside assistance program and motorhome and auto insurance; discounted rates for RV tours and caravans; and a tire purchasing program. less

July 11

Jack & Karen Arnold and 1 other like this.
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Jay & Nancy The Governing Board voted to allow towables into FMCA today with 84% of the chapters represented voting FOR the proposal. However, it won't be official until December when all FMCA members will have had an opportunity to vote on the change.
- July 12
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- Jack & Karen Arnold Thanks Nancy!
  - July 12

TPM There goes FMCA down the drain.
- July 14
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- Jay & Nancy The reason for opening FMCA to towables is to prevent FMCA from going down the drain!
  - July 14

Jay & Nancy FMCA is not about the equipment. It's about people and family celebrating the RV lifestyle. This is a positive move for the organization.
- July 14

TPM I think everyone needs to know more about how FMCA is going to be structured before any vote is made. Are there going to be separate rallies? Combined rallies with coaches mixed in with trailers? Are there going to be 2 magazines one f... more
- 2 like this.
- · July 16
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- Jay & Nancy Thanks TPM for the good questions. I agree that people need some details in order to make an informed vote. FMCA will be structured as a united organization that includes all eligible members. Every member will have the same benefits. &n... more
  - 2 like this.
  - · July 16

TPM In other words it will be another Good Sam except it will have one magazine instead of one for Motorhome and on for Towables.
- July 17
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- Jay & Nancy FMCA is a member run, not-for profit organization. Good Sam, part of Camping World, is a shareholder owned, for-profit corporation. Perhaps that makes a difference in goals and objectives.
  - 1 likes this.
  - · July 17

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Stay up to date with RV industry news;http://www.rvbusiness.com

RV Business - Breaking RV Industry News

RV Industry News and Information.

July 11

Becca Ray likes this.

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Any other TDC members heading for the FMCA Convention in Indianapolis? If so, let's plan a get-together!

July 9

Jack & Karen Arnold and 1 other like this.

Jack & Karen Arnold Sorry we can't be there this year. We are still stuck in Cincinnati taking care of Doctor appointments
- July 9

Fantasyislander I'm here, waiting to be parked still).
- 1 likes this.
- · July 11
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- Jay & Nancy I've seen quite a few Mandalays here. We played bingo with Charlene Carney.
  - 1 likes this.
  - · July 11

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This announcement is intended for those members that have registered, or plan to register, for our Fall International Rally (October 1-6, 2017) at the Elkhart Fairgrounds, Goshen, IN.

As many of you know Thor Motor Coach Customer Service Center will be w... more

July 6

Becca Ray and 2 others like this.

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