The Pipe Dreamers

By Cherie Ilg Haas
Production Assistant

Have you ever found yourself caught up in someone else's passion for motorhoming? Some of FMCA's founding members were so influenced by Ken Scott, L63, FMCA's first executive director. Ken wrote a column titled "Pipe Dreams" that appeared in early issues of Family Motor Coaching. In these articles he shared his visions of FMCA, the motorhoming lifestyle, and organized chapters. "I see the marvelous potential of these delightful meetings and the charm and sociability which they offer to our gregarious and footloose fraternity," Ken wrote. After reading a few of his pipe dreams, I can tell you that it's no wonder a chapter was named in honor of Ken and his dedication to FMCA. That chapter is the Pipe Dreamers.

Formed in 1991, the Pipe Dreamers chapter is open only to those with FMCA membership numbers of 5000 and lower. Chapter members have years of interesting stories to tell about motorhoming and the early days of the association; thus, their favorite meeting activity is to look back and remember all the great times they've had. Some of these stories center on the first FMCA conventions, when chapters competed against each other in tug-of-war games and engaged in canoe battles. "I know we can't go back to that, but it's fun to reminisce," said Margaret Hoffman, L2494, who served as FMCA's national secretary from 1972 to 1975, and as a national vice president from 1978 to 1980.

The Pipe Dreamers meet twice a year at FMCA conventions. Like many FMCA chapters, when this one meets, it's about friends getting together and having a good time, Margaret said.

But the Pipe Dreamers have done a lot more than play games, for some chapter members are responsible for donating money to FMCA in the mid-1970s when its financial situation was not as strong as it is now. George Snyder, L1852, served as national vice president from 1973 to 1975 and as national 2nd vice president in 1977. He came up with an idea to increase funds for FMCA by temporarily selling life memberships, which helped FMCA to buy its own office building. Each life membership cost $500. George was the first to buy one. Margaret and her husband, Don, were also on hand to sign up, as was Jim Barnhart, L2624, who later became International Area vice president from 1981 to 1985. Margaret and Jim flipped a coin to see who would be the next life member after George.

"Once we got going, it went pretty fast," George said. "Everyone chipped in to make the club bigger and better, and didn't ask for anything. It's possible to start with nothing and make something out of it."

Genny Jennings Luckey, L26, was national secretary from 1967 to 1970; a national vice president from 1975 to 1977; and Great Lakes Area vice president from 1982 to 1986. She said that the Pipe Dreamers chapter was also formed so that RVers could form new friendships and help each other out with their coaches. She said that she's made lifelong friends through the chapter, and that by sharing so many stories, chapter members have gotten to know each other very well. "They're like family," she said. Several marriages have even resulted between chapter members over the years.

Pipe Dreamers members park together at FMCA conventions, and some even travel to the events together via caravan. Many keep in touch on their own between the two yearly meetings. "We've grown, but we still do all the things that we did before," said Genny. "We just plain sit around the campfire, talk, play karaoke, roast weenies and marshmallows, and tell stories."

"It's been one of the pleasures of our life," George Snyder said, summing it up for himself and his wife, Patty.

The pleasures of the RV tradition are being passed on to the children of the Pipe Dreamers as well. Many of their offspring are now grown and have made their own friends through the chapter. Some of them also own motorhomes and are FMCA members.

As the chapter grows, it is sometimes necessary to expand membership eligibility by raising the membership number limit. Such is the case now, as sometime this year the chapter plans to admit FMCA members with membership numbers of 6000 and below to join.

When FMCA was only 3 years young, Ken wrote, "What is past has been fruitful, the present is exciting, and the future looks promising." Ken, you couldn't have been more right.

If your membership number is below 5000 and you'd like to join the Pipe Dreamers, contact FMCA's Chapter Services Department at (800) 543-3622.