In the October Issue of Family Motorhoming Magazine a Ballot was enclosed to ask members to vote on a change to the Organization. The FMCA Website has offered the enclosed comments on exactly what they would do for the membership. Specifically, it gives FMCA the ability to create another organization to attract towables and younger RV'ers.
If this is something you would like to see, we urge you to send in the Ballot indicating yes!
Several members have
asked for details regarding the current ballot related to amending FMCA’s
Articles of Incorporation. Following are several questions and responses
intended to clarify.
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What does the association want to
do that it cannot do within the current Articles of Incorporation? In other
words, what prompted the decision to place this issue before the membership
for a vote?
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Discussions have
surfaced for a number of years now regarding how FMCA can attract young
families. The reality is that many young families do not travel by motorhome.
This is true in large part because they are still employed full-time and thus
have limited time to use a recreation vehicle, and they may also have limited
discretionary income. So, for many younger families, a towable RV that can be
pulled by a pickup truck or an SUV that can be used on a daily basis is their
choice.
Recent studies indicate
that millennials are joining the RV lifestyle. Sales statistics show that since
the economic recovery, towable RVs are far outselling motorhomes.
In order to accommodate
younger RVers and possibly to serve as a feeder organization for FMCA, the idea
has been floated of starting a sister organization that would welcome owners of
towable RVs. Many members have offered this suggestion — some because they have
children and grandchildren, or close friends, with towable RVs — and FMCA’s
marketing consultants have asked about this concept as well.
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What will happen to FMCA? I like
being part of an organization that focuses on my interests as a motorhome
owner.
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FMCA is the world’s
largest motorhome owners organization, and the plan is to maintain that niche.
FMCA would remain as it is, an association for motorhome owners. The new
organization would be a separate entity.
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Who will make the ultimate
decision about starting another corporation
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Nothing would be done
without the advice and consent of FMCA’s Governing Board, and no business plan
has been created to date. However, we learned from FMCA’s attorney that in
order to fully explore this idea, FMCA’s Articles of Incorporation should be
amended. He noted that organizations ordinarily state their primary business
purpose in their Articles of Incorporation but also include a general purpose
clause that allows the corporation the flexibility to engage in any lawful
activity. For whatever reason, FMCA’s Articles of Incorporation, drafted in
1971, have no such general purpose clause, which limits FMCA in terms of its
activities.
So, during its meeting
in Massachusetts, FMCA’s Governing Board voted to move forward with the process
of amending FMCA’s Articles of Incorporation to make them as broad as possible.
The amendment language on the ballot is that suggested by FMCA’s attorney.
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What are the next steps if this
change to the Articles of Incorporation passes?
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If the change to the
Articles of Incorporation is approved by the membership, the next step would be
to make a change to the purpose statement in FMCA’s Bylaws. FMCA’s Bylaws
Committee would draft this suggested amendment, and it would be voted on by FMCA’s
Governing Board during its meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, next July. FMCA’s
Long-Range Planning Committee also would begin working on considerations
related to a sister organization for FMCA. And the hope is that a basic plan
could be shared with the Governing Board in Indianapolis as well.
Even if the Governing
Board decides not to move forward with forming a sister corporation, this
change to the Articles of Incorporation would allow FMCA more flexibility in
today’s fast-paced world to adapt to changing needs and expectations over time.
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION — BALLOT
Instructions: Printed in this issue of the magazine is the
addition to the current purpose statement in the Family Motor Coach Association
Articles of Incorporation. This is the return ballot. You may vote for ONE (1).
Mark your ballot by placing an “X” in the box, remove the ballot, and mail to:
MANDEL AND ASSOCIATES, INC., 431 OHIO PIKE, SUITE 201,
CINCINNATI, OH 45255.
Full Members, Full Lifetime Members, Life Members, or
Honorary Members who have advanced from one of these classes are entitled to
cast a vote. One vote per FMCA member number.
ACCEPT THE ADDITION
TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
oYES oNO
_________________________________________________________________________________
NAME and FMCA
MEMBER NUMBER (print)
_________________________________________________________________________________
CITY AND STATE/PROVINCE OF MEMBER (Print)
Signature
MUST BE RECEIVED BY
THE CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT BY DECEMBER 31, 2016
