Friends Of Children

By CHERIE ILLG HAAS
Production Assistant

Inverter Roundtable, Basics of Refrigeration, and Fashions For The RVer are not seminars that most children would look forward to enthusiastically. But FMCAers who are ages 2 to 18 are in luck, for at FMCA’s international conventions, a compassionate group of adults makes sure the younger crowd has plenty to do while their parents and grandparents play on their own turf.

That caring group is the Friends of Children chapter. Chartered in July 1999, its main purpose is to volunteer for the Youth Activities Program, which is run by the Youth Activities Committee. The chapter is all about getting parents and grandparents involved with the youth activities at FMCA conventions. The youth program provides activities for children in four age groups: TOTS (2 to 5); TWEENS (6 to 9); PRE-TEENS (10 to 12); and Teen-Age Travelers, or TATS (13 to 18). But now that the formal aspect is explained, let's go on to the fun part.

Children in the youth program enjoy games, sports, and the same camaraderie that is known to all FMCA chapter members. They've also gone on field trips to bowling alleys, baseball games, and museums. The adult volunteers who supervise these activities are either chapter members or nonmember parents and grandparents.

Friends of Children charter members Corbett and Connie Pool, F140306, are passionate about the chapter. Corbett said, “We’ve watched all these kids grow up” year after year through the youth program, including their own daughter, Kelly, who served as TATS president.

But the benefits don’t end with the children. Volunteer couples who spend at least 40 combined hours helping with the program during an FMCA convention receive a limited travel expense reimbursement, and the satisfaction of seeing so many smiling, appreciative faces while giving of their time.

The chapter rallies twice a year at conventions, where organizers train volunteers on such duties as how to fill out registration papers and determine the appropriate adult-to-child ratio, among other information. “Volunteering is not babysitting; it’s not just sitting there watching kids,” Connie said. Corbett added that it entails team games, and a lot of fun activities, such as the field trips.

Chapter president Tom Januski, F266041, is just as enthusiastic about the program as the children themselves. Corbett recalled one convention when Tom and his wife, Carol, who serves as chapter secretary and treasurer, got down on the floor and played games with the younger kids, and even treated the TOTS to lunch one day. And when the convention came to a close, Tom hugged every child good-bye.

“Tom’s a good organizer and he’s great with kids,” Carol said. Connie concurred: “Tom Januski is the type of person we’ve been looking for.”

At the next FMCA convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 16, 17, and 18, 2004, the chapter will hold a potluck dinner for members and volunteers so that everyone can get acquainted. “When you’re working with the kids, it’s nice to be on the same page,” Carol said. She added that this is especially important, as it creates a safe environment where the children can have fun.

If you’re interested in volunteering with or joining the Friends of Children chapter, contact FMCA’s Chapter Services Department at (800) 543-3622.