FMCA extends membership: Join or not?

[Long Leaf Piners]

January, 2018, Family Motor Coach Ass'n. posted this;
"FMCA members have voted to extend membership to owners of all self-contained, wheeled RVs with permanently installed cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities."
With FMCA now open to more than just motorcoachs, are there advantages to having FMCA membership? (I expect our Berkshire, Charleston, FR3, Georgetown, Legacy, Forester, & Sunseeker folks to have first hand experiences.)
And what about road service? Which is better, FMCA RoadsideRescue or Good Sam Roadside Assistance?
We've had good service from GS, since 2009.
Do you think you will join FMCA?

[Wobbles]

I am interested in the answers to your questions as well...

[spock123]

Originally Posted by Long Leaf Piners

January, 2018, Family Motor Coach Ass'n. posted this;

"FMCA members have voted to extend membership to owners of all self-contained, wheeled RVs with permanently installed cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities."

With FMCA now open to more than just motorcoachs, are there advantages to having FMCA membership? (I expect our Berkshire, Charleston, FR3, Georgetown, Legacy, Forester, & Sunseeker folks to have first hand experiences.)

And what about road service? Which is better, FMCA RoadsideRescue or Good Sam Roadside Assistance?

We've had good service from GS, since 2009.

Do you think you will join FMCA?

They probably need new members.

[Mr. Dan]

See if you can find your desired answers in this existing thread ===> http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...vs-149208.html.

[Ifightfire]

If you can’t find the answers you are looking for, call FMCA direct. They are more than happy to answer questions. I joined a couple weeks ago for the benefits they offer, I did not have Good Sam. Some of the benefits are like insurance, hope you never have to use it. Others like purchase discounts can come in handy.

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by spock123

They probably need new members.

And the money. I won't be signing up anytime soon. Later RJD

[rockfordroo]

Won't they need to change their name now, too??

[youroo]

As Mr Dan pointed out in the existing thread many questions were answered! Many other"groups/Lodges/organizations" that have "Changed their ways in order to "Survive/Keep Alive"! Some even shortened a Long Process of Initiation down to 1 day,don't think that all long time Members will receive You with "Open Arms"! Youroo!!

[Cowracer]

After many decades of looking down their noses at non-Class A RV'ers, I want exactly zero to do with them. Our membership wasn't good enough for them then, our money shouldn't be good enough for them now.

Tim

[JimFitz]

Originally Posted by youroo

As Mr Dan pointed out in the existing thread many questions were answered! Many other"groups/Lodges/organizations" that have "Changed their ways in order to "Survive/Keep Alive"! Some even shortened a Long Process of Initiation down to 1 day,don't think that all long time Members will receive You with "Open Arms"! Youroo!!

You are wrong. I believe FMCA needs to change because the country is changing. As a long time FMCA member I welcome new members in other types of recreational vehicles. And you have to know that the membership voted to extend the membership to other types of RVs. It wasn't just a management decision.

[rvfriendly]

At the recent January Indio FMCA Rally, I noticed three 5th wheel coaches in amongst the class A, B, and C coaches there. RVers are all the same regardless of your rv choice. Great rally, good seminars, intertainment and friendly folks. This is what what drew me. No snobbery detected.

[JimFitz]

Originally Posted by rvfriendly

At the recent January Indio FMCA Rally, I noticed three 5th wheel coaches in amongst the class A, B, and C coaches there. RVers are all the same regardless of your rv choice. Great rally, good seminars, intertainment and friendly folks. This is what what drew me. No snobbery detected.

I totally agree. I am at the Pima county fairgrounds RV park, and will attend the FMCA rally here next week. I'm looking forward to seeing our viewers in all types of rigs.

[Sanibel]

Originally Posted by JimFitz

You are wrong. I believe FMCA needs to change because the country is changing. As a long time FMCA member I welcome new members in other types of recreational vehicles. And you have to know that the membership voted to extend the membership to other types of RVs. It wasn't just a management decision.

You are right Jim, That’s the point, the MEMBERS voted to INCLUDE OTHERS so to those of you who want to “cut off your nose to spite your face”, go ahead. I am a former 5th wheel owner and joined FMCA when we bought a MH for the benefits. Sure there are some members who voted against , but the majority voted for inclusion. So for those of you who feel you are not willing to interact with others so be it. We’ve attended a couple of FMCA events before the change. Trust me, not all the units were fancy smancy, some were old and not even all that nice, but everyone was having fun and I sure didn’t see anyone being discriminated against. For the minimal cost a year we have roadside assist if over 100 Miles from Home and travel insurance for any trip by any means. Plus the buying power of a large group for tires, windshields etc.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by JimFitz

You are wrong. I believe FMCA needs to change because the country is changing. As a long time FMCA member I welcome new members in other types of recreational vehicles. And you have to know that the membership voted to extend the membership to other types of RVs. It wasn't just a management decision.

The Only way I am "Wrong" is if 100% of the FMCA Membership voted YES,and I know that did NOT happen! Youroo!!

[1nshort]

youroo, nothing is ever 100%, look at elections for example. The point is it was a 2 to 1 margin. There are certain benefits your $50 gets you, Michelin tire discounts, a Roadside Assistance program for 1/2 the price of a certain other (think profit) program's platinum level and then there is the included med evac program the other group wants $70 for. I could go on but suffice it to say FMCA is member owned so it works for its' members instead of someone's profit greed. Yes, now they do need to modify their name. Snobs? Yeah there will be some. I remember getting to a campground late and the next morning found I was in a section of mostly Travel Trailers. They must have seen my FMCA coach badge. No one, I mean no one bothers to say hello...the road goes both ways it seems. I spent 23 years defending everyone's rights to be friendly or snobbish...I'd do it again. Like in 'Mars Attacks' Jack Nicholson has the line "Can't we all just be friends?"
1n

[JimFitz]

I spent 21 years defending people's rights to be free as well. Many people that are in a motor home today had a travel trailer or 5th wheel before that. I was stationed in Montgomery Alabama for a year and my family and I lived in a travel trailer. A lot of people choose to go away from the motor home and go to a travel trailer or 5th wheel, or vice versa for various reasons.The bottom line is if you want what FMCA has, then go for it. If you don't want what FMCA has, then you wouldn't like it anyway, so stay away.

[DrLewie]

I joined. One major advantage is that membership includes emergency assistance/evacuation which Good Sam offers for a price as an option. Also, I needed to switch insurance on my 5er because my previous insurer stopped offering personal insurance. I called Good Sam (I'm still a member) and the "agent" was less than helpful. I checked into FMCA's insurance (Both GS and FMCA offer Progressive and a couple of other companies) and the agent there was quite helpful. FMCA is a non-profit, and their magazine (also included) isn't loaded with ads disguised as editorial as a lot of the stuff published by Good Sam/Camping World is. Is FMCA worth it? I don't know, but time will tell.

[jkoenig24]

I "graduated" from a 17' Travel Trailer to a 39' diesel puller in 2014. I joined FMCA and, was impressed at the one FMCA rally I've been able to catch so far (the Big-E in W. Springfield, MA). I would say, sure, join FMCA and get to one of their rallies. They have a LOT of resources for RVers and, you should be able to benefit from many of them even if you can't make it to a rally. If after a year (or three), you don't believe you're receiving good value for the membership fee, don't renew. For a relatively modest amount, you'll learn first hand and, be making an informed decision based on personal experience.

I'm currently in the middle of a FIVE-year membership and, I expect I will renew when the time comes.

[spock123]

I’m going to check the benefits but I might join, who knows. We don’t attend many rallies

[JimFitz]

Originally Posted by spock123

I’m going to check the benefits but I might join, who knows. We don’t attend many rallies

I'm just attending my 2nd rally next week. Looking forward to it