May 30, 2017
Hello Dogwood Members,
Below is an email from our National Director, Ed Fisher addressing the FMCA Proposal to allow all RV's into FMCA. This is a VERY IMPORTANT issue and requires our attention. In his email Ed provides information as to why this proposal is being presented. For additional information on the subject, read the Presidents Message in the April issue of FMCA magazine, or go to FMCA REMODEL on your computer.
In order for this proposal to pass, the FMCA Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Constitution must be changed.
The Bylaw changes can be approved by a majority vote of the Governing Board which Ed is a member of. This vote will take place in July at the FMCA Rally.
The Articles of Incorporation and Constitution changes require a majority vote by the FMCA membership.
If the Bylaw change is approved in July, the next step will be to present the proposal to the entire FMCA membership for a vote, so we DO have a voice in this decision, both at the July vote and the general membership vote.
SO PLEASE DO AS ED IS ASKING. REVIEW THE PROPOSAL AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENTS(pro or con) TO HIM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AT aandedfisher@gmail.com AND COPY TO fmcadogwood@gmail.com
Thank you,
Jim Buelow
Dogwood President
Director May 2017 Report
Ed Fisher
To All Dogwood Chapter Members
As your National Director, I will be asked to discuss and vote on the proposal to amend the FMCA Articles of Incorporation, Consti- tution, and Bylaws. This will allow the Executive Board to proceed with admitting RV Families, instead of restricting membership to Motor Homes only.
This is a very important decision and I solicit comments from all Dogwood Members. Regardless of my opinion, I will vote the wishes of our membership if I can get enough replies to this Email to determine our members preference.
I find this to be a very distasteful, but important subject. It might well be that very strong trends in the RV market could be a death blow to FMCA as we know it, so your Executive Board is looking at this solution. Even though I personally do not care for the change, I am in favor of it when all of the facts are considered.
Below, I will present the undisputed facts surrounding this situa- tion.
MEMBERSHIP: Peaked at 130,000 Families in 2004. Steady de- clines to 97,065 in 2010, then to 89,864 in 2011, then to 83,708 in 2012, then to 78,708 in 2013, then to 75,699 in 2014, then to 71,771 in 2015. Finally, there was a net increase of 616 members in 2016, but at a recruiting cost of $269,910. This all represents in a 45% membership loss from the peak.
As your National Director, I will be asked to discuss and vote on the proposal to amend the FMCA Articles of Incorporation, Consti- tution, and Bylaws. This will allow the Executive Board to proceed with admitting RV Families, instead of restricting membership to Motor Homes only.
This is a very important decision and I solicit comments from all Dogwood Members. Regardless of my opinion, I will vote the wishes of our membership if I can get enough replies to this Email to determine our members preference.
I find this to be a very distasteful, but important subject. It might well be that very strong trends in the RV market could be a death blow to FMCA as we know it, so your Executive Board is looking at this solution. Even though I personally do not care for the change, I am in favor of it when all of the facts are considered.
Below, I will present the undisputed facts surrounding this situa- tion.
MEMBERSHIP: Peaked at 130,000 Families in 2004. Steady de- clines to 97,065 in 2010, then to 89,864 in 2011, then to 83,708 in 2012, then to 78,708 in 2013, then to 75,699 in 2014, then to 71,771 in 2015. Finally, there was a net increase of 616 members in 2016, but at a recruiting cost of $269,910. This all represents in a 45% membership loss from the peak.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: In 1986, motorhomes accounted for
37.7 % of RV sales, while other RV sales accounted for 62.3%. In
2016, 12..7% of RV sales were Motor Homes, leaving 87.3 % to
other RVs.
Average age of FMCA members has increased from 65 in 2001 to 71 today, while average age of other RV owners is currently 48. How many Motor Homes will be driven by people 81 years old (other than me) in the future? We must look to increase our mem- bership pool.
WHY DO WE NEED SO MANY MEMBERS: Simply put, with around 72,000 members, there is a shortfall of $16.00 per mem- ber not covered by dues. The difference is being made up from investment income. This has been possible due to the long bull market in stocks, with everyone making money. ALL bull markets come to an end, and when it does, more likely sooner than later, this source of income will be lost. Before internet advertising, FMCA has had from $5 million to $8 million per year advertising income from the FMCA magazine advertising. This income has dropped to $1.82 million in 2016, and this will never come back. Have you noticed how skinny the magazine has become? One advantage of opening to all RVs is that we will have a vast new trove of towable RV advertisers, which should bring back some of these advertising dollars. To provide our same level of benefits at the current dues, we need 125,000 members, at which time we would have net income from dues of $1.72 per member family. This proposal by the Executive Board opens our audience to all 8.9 million RV owners, increasing it by 833%.
Your National Director has lived winters since 1996 at the Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort in St Augustine Beach Florida, and has seen a significant decline in Motor Homes as compared to other RVs (particularly 5th Wheels). As a matter if fact, the Motor Home manufacturers can also see hand writing on the wall. Just last
Average age of FMCA members has increased from 65 in 2001 to 71 today, while average age of other RV owners is currently 48. How many Motor Homes will be driven by people 81 years old (other than me) in the future? We must look to increase our mem- bership pool.
WHY DO WE NEED SO MANY MEMBERS: Simply put, with around 72,000 members, there is a shortfall of $16.00 per mem- ber not covered by dues. The difference is being made up from investment income. This has been possible due to the long bull market in stocks, with everyone making money. ALL bull markets come to an end, and when it does, more likely sooner than later, this source of income will be lost. Before internet advertising, FMCA has had from $5 million to $8 million per year advertising income from the FMCA magazine advertising. This income has dropped to $1.82 million in 2016, and this will never come back. Have you noticed how skinny the magazine has become? One advantage of opening to all RVs is that we will have a vast new trove of towable RV advertisers, which should bring back some of these advertising dollars. To provide our same level of benefits at the current dues, we need 125,000 members, at which time we would have net income from dues of $1.72 per member family. This proposal by the Executive Board opens our audience to all 8.9 million RV owners, increasing it by 833%.
Your National Director has lived winters since 1996 at the Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort in St Augustine Beach Florida, and has seen a significant decline in Motor Homes as compared to other RVs (particularly 5th Wheels). As a matter if fact, the Motor Home manufacturers can also see hand writing on the wall. Just last
month, a large Winnebago 5th wheel pulled in, and there have
been other traditional Motor Home manufacturer names on 5th
wheels this winter.
Please let me have your thoughts on this subject. It is very quick and easy to click "reply" and send me a note, and we can discuss this at rally's between now and the end of June.
Ed Fisher
Dogwood National Director
Please let me have your thoughts on this subject. It is very quick and easy to click "reply" and send me a note, and we can discuss this at rally's between now and the end of June.
Ed Fisher
Dogwood National Director
