VP Membership Update – Mar/Apr 2026

Hello Dogwood Family, we hope that all is well with all of you.

 

Normally I discuss membership information in my article, but this time around, I am switching hats and going to discuss Dogwood elections.

 

As you all know, this is an election year for our chapter to fill Executive Board and Nominating Committee positions for the 2027-2028 term, and we need your help. Elections will be held in the September 2026 time frame.

 

The following information provides a list of all positions which must be filled and the status of members currently serving in those positions.

 

Executive Board

President: Ed Herbert                           Will not seek reelection

VP of Membership: Jim Buelow            Will seek reelection

VP of Communication: Dave Meyer      Will seek reelection

VP of Rallies: Del Tenney                      Will not seek reelection

Secretary: Mary Lou Dudziak                Will seek reelection 

Treasurer: Sonia Kuppert                      Will seek reelection

National Director: Ed Herbert                Will not seek reelection

Alt Nat Dir: Rob Hill                               Will seek reelection 

 

Nominating Committee

Nominating Committee Chairman: Jim Buelow       Will not seek reelection.  This position will be filled by immediate past President Ed Herbert per Dogwood policy.

 

Nominating Committee Member: Rob Hill                  Will seek reelection

Nominating Committee Member: David McFarlane    Will seek reelection   

 

So, as you can see, we need a President, a VP of Rallies, and a National Director to fill the vacancies for the next term. 

 

First, we want to thank President Ed Herbert and VP of Rallies, Del Tenney for their dedicated service to our Chapter. Ed has served as President for the past six years and as National Director for the past two years and has done a fantastic job leading our Chapter. Del has served for three years as our Rally Master and has also done a super job. Thank you both for your outstanding service and dedication. 

 

And thank you very much to the Executive and Nominating Committee Board members who have stepped up for another term. Your actions and performance have taken Dogwood to another level, and we are grateful for your continued service.

 

The next step in this process is to seek volunteers to fill the vacant positions, and as was said earlier,we need your help. We cannot legally operate our Chapter without filling these positions. 

 

There is a lot of talent among the current membership in Dogwood and we ask that you will seriously consider and step up to fill one of the vacant positions. We can assure you that whomever steps up, will not be left hanging out there. Assistance can and will be provided to assist you with questions and guidance to ensure that you are successful in the position you decide to accept. 

 

And if you have any questions at this time about a specific position, contact Ed, Del, or one of the Nominating Committee members, and we will get you answers.

 

And to volunteer for a position; please contact one of your Nominating Committee members as soon as possible. Please support your Chapter. 

 

Regards and Safe Travels,

 

Your Nominating Committee

Jim Buelow, Chairman ….. 757-876-7399

Rob Hill, Member ….. 540-842-9207

David McFarlane Member ….. 757-234-2671

  

 

Regards and Safe travels, 

 

Jim Buelow, VP Membership

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

  

VP Membership Update – Jan/Feb 2026

 

Hello Dogwood Family,

 

We hope that all is well and that all of you had a wonderful Holiday season, And if you like cold weather and snow, you are probably enjoying our winter thus far.

 

First, I would like to extend a big welcome to new members Michael and Coreen Gelber, who joined us in December. They are from Bumpass, VA, which is southwest of Fredericksburg. We look very forward to meeting you Michael and Coreen and you can look forward to enjoying lots of "FUN, FOOD and FRIENDSHIP". Again, WELCOME.

 

Next month is the FRVA International Rally in Perry, GA. These rallies are an opportune time to gain new members during gatherings and especially at the Chapter Fair. Ed and Jean will be attending the rally and heading up the Chapter Fair, so if you are attending the rally please consider stepping up and assisting with the fair. It is a fun activity to meet new friends and bring new members to our chapter. "COME ON DOWN".

 

As we enter 2026, our membership remains steady at 56.  And as always, never miss an opportunity meet new friends and welcome them to join our great chapter.  

 

Regards and Safe travels, 

 

Jim Buelow, VP Membership

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

 

VP Membership Update – Nov/Dec 2025

 

Hello Dogwood family,

 

We hope that all is well as we prepare and celebrate Christmas.

 

As we close out the year, I just want to thank all of you for your support during the past year. Our membership remains steady and it is great to see newer members, along with the old, stepping up to support our great chapter.

 

On behalf of Susan and I, we wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Happy New Year.

 

And remember, never miss an opportunity to meet new friends and invite them to join Dogwood.

 

Regards and SAFE travels,

 

Jim Buelow, VP Membership

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

VP Membership Update – Sep/Oct 2025

Hello Dogwood Family, we hope that all is well and that you have had a great summer.

 

In past articles I have discussed ways to recruit new members including participating at Chapter Fairs at National and Area rallies. Opportunity is now upon us. The GEAR Rally is being held in Myrtle Beach, SC November 5-9, 2025, and a Chapter Fair will be held on Wednesday, November 5th at 4:00 P.M.

 

We have done very well at these fairs in the past including winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the display competition, buy most importantly, we have gained some new members.

2023 GEAR 

We will definitely be setting up a booth at GEAR in hopes of gaining some new members, and I will be the point of contact for Dogwood. If you are attending GEAR and would like to help out "working the floor:", we would very much appreciate it. It is a lot of fun and an opportunity to meet new friends. Come on down. 

 

Please contact me at 757 876-7399 if you can be there and thank you.

 

Our Dogwood membership remains steady at 53 members. Never miss an opportunity to make a new  friend and sign up a new member.

 

Regards, safe travels, and hopefully we will see you at GEAR.

 

 

Jim Buelow, VP Membership

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

  

VP Membership Update – Jul/Aug 2025

Hello Dogwood Family,

We hope that all is well with you and your families.
 
In this article I will be discussing Family RV Association (FRVA) membership. As all of you know, you can't be a member of a chapter unless you join FRVA.
 
As many of you know, FRVA is having some major issues at this time to include a loss of membership, low turnout at national rallies, financial issues, dues increase, and other issues. At the August National Rally in WY there were less than 400 RV's. Compare that to over 7000, yes 7000, years ago when FRVA was in its prime.
 
The annual dues about doubled over the past year and no doubt, some members are considering or have dropped their membership in FRVA. If you are one of those considering dropping out, think about and consider my comments before doing so.
 

As an RV owner, you have made a considerable investment, so $100.00 a year is not going to break the bank. In addition, FRVA provides some great benefits. A few of those include: membership, magazine, discounted RV insurance, RV education, discounted campgrounds, national rallies, and one of the most important, a Medical and Travel assistance plan. This plan itself will cost you over $100.00 a year alone.  FRVA includes it in your membership dues. And most importantly, if you are not a member of FRVA, you can no longer belong to our great Dogwood Chapter and hang out with a group of wonderful friends. Think about it.

 

Our current membership stands at 53. We have made a few adjustments since our last newsletter, but for the most part, our numbers remain steady. And remember, never miss an opportunity to make a new friend and sign up a new member.

 

  

Regards and Safe travels,

 

Jim Buelow, VP Membership

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

 

VP Membership Update – May/Jun 2025

2025 North Landing Beach Rally

Hello Dogwood Family,

 

We hope that all is well with everyone and that you are having a great summer.

 

In my last 2 articles concerning Dogwood membership, I discussed recruitment which is very important. But what is equally important is member retention. which I will discuss in this article.

 

Having new folks join our chapter means absolutely nothing if they are just names on our directory, so we as officers and members need to ensure that we officially welcome them to Dogwood upon their joining. Then we need to encourage their attendance at Dogwood functions and welcome them with open arms. And lastly, we need to encourage their involvement in the chapter to include rally co-hosting and eventually and hopefully stepping up to serve as officers in our great chapter. New members are the future of Dogwood, and we are also making new friends. It is a win-win situation.

 

2025 North Landing Beach Rally

I can remember several occasions at rallies where new members were attending for the first time. They were seated at a table all alone, not a good way to welcome and treat new members. But that did not last long. Other Dogwood members joined their table which is exactly what we do in Dogwood and what we need to continue doing to retain new members. Make them feel welcome to our family.   

 

Our current  membership is 54 RV families. We lost a few members during the last membership reconciliation. During your travels, never miss an opportunity to sign up a new member.

 

Regards and Safe travels,

 

Jim Buelow, VP Membership

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

VP Membership Update – Mar/Apr 2025

Hello Dogwood Family,

 

We hope that all is well with all of you and that you are enjoying our beautiful Spring weather. It's about time to head down the road.

 

2025 Perry, GA.  Dave, Nanette,
Sue, Steve, Dell, & Terry

In our last article I discussed member recruitment, specifically Chapter Fairs, and I will continue on that subject in this article. And by the way, our Chapter Fair at the FRVA rally in Perry last month went very well. Del and Terry Tenney headed up the Fair committee and were assisted by several Dogwood members including Dave and Nanette Meyer, along with Steve and Sue Sohles. They put together a very impressive Dogwood display, talked to many prospective members and handed out a good number of Dogwood fliers. Several people indicated an interest in our chapter and we are hoping to get some new members as a result of the fair. Thanks to all who participated for a great job at the Chapter Fair.

 

In addition to Chapter Fairs, another excellent way to recruit new members is through the use of our Dogwood Flyer (printable copy on the blog), along with copies of the FRVA magazines. Carry copies of both in your RV and never miss an opportunity to stump for Dogwood and FRVA. Rest stops, truck stops, campgrounds, RV stores, rallies, etc are excellent places to strike up a conversation with fellow RV owners, make a new friend and invite them to join. It doesn't require a lot of effort, and believe me, it works.Give it a try.

 

Our current membership is 58 RV families, let's work to not only increase that number, but encourage participation of existing members in Dogwood activities and governing positions.

 

So long until next time and SAFE travels.

 

Regards,

 

Jim Buelow, VP Membership

FRVA Dogwood Chapter

VP Membership Update – Jan/Feb 2025

Greetings Dogwood family from your new Vice President of Membership. I look forward to working with all of you on recruiting and retaining new members for our chapter.

 

In my first article in our newsletter, I would like to discuss one of the ways we can recruit new members, and that is at FMCA and Area Rally Chapter Fairs. At the chapter fairs, any chapter present at the rally can set up a booth, basically a table. It can be as basic as putting your chapter name on the table, to a more extensive display. In past years, we have set up a beautiful display and have won an award for the past 3 years in addition to gaining new members.

Chapter Fair at GEAR 2023

 At the upcoming FMCA rally in March at Perry, GA, Dell and Terry Tenney will be setting up a booth for Dogwood. The chapter fair is Tuesday afternoon, March 11th, immediately following the Newcomers Orientation. There will be hundreds of newcomers visiting the booths and this is a great opportunity to visit with prospective new members, pass out Dogwood fliers and share information about our great chapter. "Working the crowd" so to speak.

 

So if you are attending the Perry rally and will be there by Tuesday afternoon, please contact Dell at 240 298-5553 and offer your assistance at the chapter fair. The more members that we have at the fair, the better chance we have of attracting new members. And be sure to wear your Dogwood shirt if you have one. It is a fun time and a great opportunity to support Dogwood and meet new friends. Come on out.

 

Note that our current membership is 59 member families.

 

Until next time, have fun and safe travels.

 

Regards, 

 

Jim Buelow, VP Membership

FMCA Dogwood Chapter

VP Membership Update – Nov/Dec 2024

From the annual membership reconciliation this year, we added 7 new memberships and lost 5 in 2024.  Current membership count is at 59.

Christmas Rally 2025

WELCOME to our newest Dogwood Members:

 

– Dan & Karen Brooks from Newport News,  VA

 

Glad to have you and looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming Rallies!!

 

 

And a fond FAREWELL to those who left or are leaving the Chapter this year.

 

Robert & Gerry Canipe

Ron Foore 

Butch & Susie Jones

Richard & Irene Norvelle

Fred & Beverly Soutter

 

 

Pat Allen, VP Membership

FMCA Dogwood Chapter

 

VP Membership Update – Sep/Oct 2024

WELCOME to our newest Dogwood Members:

 

– Bill & Carol Benedict from Sterling, VA

– Eric & Phyllis Britz from Wernersville, PA

– Jack & Mary Warren from Quinton, VA

 

Glad to have you and looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming Rallies!!

Pat Allen, VP Membership

FMCA Dogwood Chapter

  

VP Membership Update – Mar/Apr 2024

WELCOME to our newest Dogwood Members:

 

– Steve & Lois Crawford from Reston, VA.

– Richard & Denise Davis from Catlett, VA.

 

Glad to have you and looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming Rallies!!

They are EVERYWHERE!

Pat & Clint, Are there any Cherry Tomatoes left?  (and yes - there is a story behind this!) 😂

 

Pat Allen, VP Membership

FMCA Dogwood Chapter

  

VP Membership Update – Jan/Feb 2024

WELCOME to our newest Dogwood Member:

 

– Steven Wilson from Hayes, VA.

 

Glad to have you and looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming Rallies!!

 

Pat Allen, VP Membership

FMCA Dogwood Chapter

     

VP Membership Update – Nov/Dec 2023

WELCOME to our newest Dogwood Members:

 

– Bruce & Renee Bingham from Ashland, VA.

– Richard & Irene Norvelle from Troy, VA.

– Peni Roberts from Urbanna, VA.

– Zach Dancause & Nicole Baillie from Suffolk, VA.

 

Glad to have you and looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming Rallies!!

 

Pat Allen, VP Membership

FMCA Dogwood Chapter

    

VP Membership Update – Sep/Oct 2023

WELCOME to our newest Dogwood Members:

 

– Wayne and Angee Torrence from Yorktown, VA.

– Don and Martha Shoemaker from Vail, AZ.

– Pete and Evelyn Rawls from Moyock, NC.

– George and Clairevon Nixon from Marietta, GA.

– Joe and Millie Lavalley from Carlisle, PA.

– Kurt and Sonia Kuppert from Fredericksburg, VA.

– Bob and Lynda Bucklew from Shillington, PA.

– Mike and Kayoko (K) Miller from Woodbridge, VA.

 

Glad to have you and looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming Rallies!!

 

Pat Allen, VP Membership

FMCA Dogwood Chapter