FMCA International Convention in the West
The FMCA International Convention will be held on the west coast this winter, March 7-10, 2017, in Chandler, AZ. Check your magazine for details because this one is close enough that many of us can plan to attend. This is way closer than the last convention that was held in Springfield, Massachusetts.
FMCA Dues Increase
Our FMCA annual dues are going to be higher beginning Oct. 1st - $50.00 per year. This has already been printed in the summer’s editions of the FMCA magazine, but we don’t have to pay that amount just yet.
The good news: We can “up" our membership for 5 years by paying for 4 years, taking advantage of the current $40 per year price available as long as we act before October 1st. That’s $160.00, a good savings over the years of membership to come. I just renewed ours for this longer period and am happy to because we don’t have to worry, should we sell the motorhome or stop RVing. Membership can be transferred to an associate membership, which retains the insurance benefits for all travel, domestic or abroad, plus receipt of the magazine or, if we could no longer travel, we could get a refund as long as we weren’t within the last 12 months of the membership period.
Update on FMCAssist Change
"The dues we pay to FMCA each year include an outstanding travel assistance insurance package available when there is a medical emergency while more than 100 miles away from home. Coverage includes costs incurred by the injured person, getting the family and pets home as well as the motorcoach. An issue arose last month when a GMC Cascader needed to take advantage of this insurance and was told drivers weren’t available for coaches over 10 years of age. The good news: they all did get home and so did the GMC, but it was a complicated situation for a while as FMCA had to address a stipulation in their policy with the carrier that had not arisen before.
This glitch caught FMCA by surprise. The insurance company contracts with a group of truckers from around the country and, unknown to anyone, the truckers came up with the 10-year limit on their own. The insurance carrier is willing to pay for a driver but has no way of finding one, so that task falls to the FMCA member on an “older” coach. That is in direct contradiction to the language in the policy.
When you go to an FMCA convention, you see that many national officers themselves drive coaches older than 10 years! Needless to say, this issue is getting maximum attention at all levels. Jerry and I will be attending a NW Area Planning Meeting in Longview, WA, later this month and you can bet this will be fully discussed. We will get information to the membership as soon as it is resolved at the national level. Meanwhile, consider who among your driving friends you would call in an emergency knowing their costs will be reimbursed by FMCA’s insurance carrier."