Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a Family Motor Coach Association
international convention?
International conventions give FMCA family members a chance to spend
time with friends from all over the United States and Canada, and to
intermingle with FMCA commercial members.
Would you like to learn more about
maintaining your motorhome? Manufacturers of chassis, engines,
batteries, generators, refrigerators, transmissions, satellite
systems all send representatives to present seminars to help keep
you happily motorhoming.
The make-and-take craft seminars almost always sell
out. First-time convention attendees always should make it a
point to be at the sign-up table early on Monday morning.
FMCA chapters plan their own socials and business
meetings at the international conventions.
The convention entertainment is fun because of the variety of the
performers. There’s something for everyone — clowns, musical groups,
an amazing ventriloquist. FMCA’s own musicians perform on the
daytime stage, and big-name acts such as the Oak Ridge Boys present
concerts in the large arena in the evening.
In Perry, square dancing, line dancing and a big band dance should
be fun for convention attendees of all ages.
Family friendly convention activities include a youth program in
which four age groups participate in pizza parties, games and other
fun activities.
The focal points of FMCA conventions are the exhibits. The
commercial members go all out in the supplier buildings, exhibiting
the latest and greatest items you just can’t pass up. The trams transport
attendees to key locations
fast (refer to trams map in convention program). Wear your walking
shoes, though, because you'll want to check out what’s inside all of
the motor coaches. Some even have four slideouts, extensions that
expand the living space inside the coach.
Don’t forget the Class C Lane, where the smaller motorhomes are on
display. That’s “smaller” as in shorter, but not without amenities
or impressive equipment. The display coaches at FMCA conventions
come in all sizes, styles and price ranges.
A one-word description of all FMCA’s vendors: Fabulous.Top
Is the convention
open to the public? Yes.
Public gate passes are available Monday, March 21, from 3 to 7
p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A public gate pass (admittance to exhibits only) costs $7 per day
per person. Children 12 and under and persons with a military ID are
admitted free. A daily passport costs $35 and admits to exhibits,
seminars and evening entertainment for the day. Follow the signs to
public parking.Top
What is a Holding Area?
An FMCA convention holding area has many purposes. It's a place
where families can register for the convention if they have not
preregistered. Families wishing to park with their friends meet in
the holding area and move into the parking lots together. Some
families arrive prior to their assigned parking days and will “hold”
in the holding area until they are parked on the convention grounds.
Check out the FAQs below for more specific information.
If you arrive on your assigned arrival date, you may
go directly to the family entrance for parking.Top
What is Will Call?
Some preregistered families choose to pick up their credentials at
Will Call because they are traveling and unable to receive their
credentials by mail. Will Call is staffed by FMCA members who have
attended many FMCA international conventions. They can answer
questions and direct you to the services you need at the convention.Top
How can I volunteer for a convention?
It’s really fun to volunteer, and many volunteers are
recruited for each convention. Check with your chapter officers
about volunteer opportunities. The area vice president in the area
where the convention takes place appoints the volunteer captains.
Some international area chapters also provide volunteers.Top
This will be my first convention. What can I
expect? You can expect to have fun, to
shop for a new or used motorhome, to learn how to maintain your rig,
and to cook in your convection oven. And that's just for starters.
This may be your first convention, but it’s FMCA’s 73rd. FMCA'
Executive Board, Convention Committee, and staff start planning each
convention two years or more prior to the convention dates. While
every convention site is unique, the basics of RV life will be
provided for you.Top
Are children and
grandchildren welcome? Absolutely, they
are. FMCA provides youth activities for specific age groups so they
can socialize, have pizza parties, play games and just have fun. Be
sure to register the children when you preregister. You will be sent
detailed information on the activities available for young motorhome
enthusiasts.Top
How can I exhibit at a
convention? Approximately four months
prior to the convention, FMCA mails exhibitor information to all
FMCA commercial members. (You must be a commercial member to
exhibit.) For exhibitor information, call FMCA at (513) 474-3622 or
(800) 543-3622; send an e-mail to
conventionexhibitor@fmca.com or a
fax to (513) 388-5286. Exhibitor
registration is available online at
www.fmca.com/conventions/2005perry/registration_exhibitor.asp.Top
What is the location of the 73rd International
Convention? The Georgia National
Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Ga., will host the convention.
For GPS purposes the address is 401 Larry Walker Parkway, Perry, GA,
31069.Top
What are the dates of the Perry
convention? Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday, March 21, 22, 23, 24, 2005.Top
Will everyone be parked at the fairgrounds?
Yes, this will be FMCA’s fourth convention in Perry.
The Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter continues to improve
and increase the amount of motorhome parking on the grounds. It is
unlikely that overflow parking will be required. If the parking lots
fill up, FMCA will arrange for services such as transportation and
security to all the parking lots.Top
What
about weather? Just think beautiful!
It’s not likely to snow, we’ve been told. Will it rain? Maybe. Be
prepared, just in case. Be sure to pack your sunglasses!
The average temperature in Perry in March is 58
degrees, with a high of 69 and a low of 44.Top
How can I register for the convention?
Four ways to register: 1)
Register online beginning Nov. 1, 2004.
2) Mail the *registration form with a check or credit card number
to: FMCA Convention
Dept.
8291 Clough Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45244-2796. 3) Fax the
*registration form to (513) 388-5295.
4) Phone (800) 543-3622 or (513) 474-3622. Ask for Convention
Department. *The registration form will be
in the November and December 2004, and January and February 2005
issues of Family Motor Coaching magazine.
Make checks payable to Family Motor Coaching, Inc.,
in U.S. funds. If you do not have a
registration form or are not a member of FMCA, please register via
the Internet or telephone.Top
If I register
early, will I save any money? Yes, by
registering before March 4, 2005, you save $20.Top
Are there other advantages to registering early?
In addition to the lower cost, early registrations
receive early entry dates. Many families prefer to beat the crowd
and get parked early. Actually, you are
helping FMCA and the other convention attendees by preregistering
and arriving on your early entrance day.Top
What do early arriving families do until the convention activities
begin? They explore the local area
before the activities get started. The folks at the Perry Welcome
Center on General Courtney Hodges Boulevard will gladly help you
decide among the many opportunities in the Perry area. You don’t
want to miss the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins. The Georgia
Music Hall of Fame and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame are two
special museums not too far away. Also, the Cherry Blossom Festival
runs from March 18 to 27. Check the links for Perry on
www.fmca.com/conventions/2005perry for more suggestions.Top
Is food included in my registration cost?
Coffee and doughnuts on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m., and the Ice Cream Social on Wednesday at
1 p.m. are included. Myriad food vendors
around the grounds will be open starting Monday, March 21.Top
What about electric service?
A limited number of electric hookups are available,
so be sure to preregister for electric service. The hookups are 30
amps. Please read the instructions before hooking up, as you will
not be able to run everything in your motorhome at the same time
without problems.Top
When will I receive my
confirmation packet? You will receive
your confirmation packet approximately three weeks after your
registration is received at FMCA. Confirmation packets will be
mailed as soon as December 21, 2004. Registrations postmarked after
March 4, 2005, will be held and processed as gate registrations. You
can pick them up at Will Call in Perry.Top
What happens if I preregister for the convention and then have to
cancel? You will receive a refund if
your request is received in writing by March 11, 2005. Your
confirmation packet, including credentials for parking and badges,
must be returned before a refund will be processed.
No refunds for electric will be offered after
February 11, 2005. All cancellations are
subject to a $10 handling fee.Top
How do I
get to the convention The Georgia
National Fairgrounds and Agricenter is located on Interstate 75 near
the intersection of Larry Walker Parkway and General Courtney Hodges
Boulevard in Perry, Ga. Specific directions will published in Family
Motor Coaching magazine. In addition, the directions will be
included in your confirmation packet and online at
www.fmca.com/conventions/2005perry/directions.asp.Top
What is the address so I can have my mail sent to
me? Mail and parcel shipments for family
members sent to the address below will be sorted and available at
the Information Center beginning at noon on Monday, March 21, 2005.
Name and Member Number
c/o Family Motor Coach Association
401 Larry Walker Pkwy.
Perry, GA 31069 For general delivery to be
picked up by you at the Post Office:
Name
General Delivery
1400 Macon Road
Perry, GA 31069Top
Where is Will Call?
Many families ask that their confirmation packets be
held for them so they can pick them up at the convention. Will Call
is located in the Holding Area at the intersection of Elko Road and
Starbuck Road. Follow the signs to Will Call.Top
Will I be able to register for the convention at the
Holding Area? Yes, FMCA provides a
registration office in the holding area so non-registered families
can be ready to move to their permanent parking on Monday and begin
mingling with new and long-standing friends right away.
Preregistration is recommended. However, if you
decide after the deadline to attend the convention, go to the
Holding Area to register. Registration will be located at the
Holding Area beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, March 18 and continuing to
5 p.m. Tuesday, March 22. After that, registration will be at the
Information Center at the Multipurpose Building at the Georgia
National Fairgrounds and Agricenter.Top
What
are the hours of the exhibits? Motorhome
Exhibits Preview: Monday, March 21, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Motorhome exhibits, components, and supplier exhibits
are open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March 22, 23, 24, from
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Top
Who are the evening entertainers?
Evening entertainment is open only to registered
convention attendees. It is not open to public gate patrons.
| Sunday, March 20, 7:30 p.m |
Square Dance |
| Monday, March 21, 7:00 p.m. |
Big Band Dance |
| Tuesday, March 22,
5:30 p.m. |
Mac Frampton and the Hollywood
Hills Orchestra |
| Wednesday, March 23, 5:30 p.m. |
Pam Tillis |
| Thursday, March 24, 5:30 p.m. |
The Oak Ridge Boys |
Top
What can you tell
me about the seminars?
The seminar schedule is listed in the program, which
you will pick up in the Multi Purpose Building after you are parked.
More than 130 seminars will be offered. They encompass a variety of
topics, including several technical sessions on different aspects of
motorhome maintenance. Health, fitness, travel, and many
make-and-take craft classes also will be presented.
The seminars begin on Monday, March 21, and continue
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March 22, 23 and 24.
A "Before You Buy Your First Motorhome?" seminar is
scheduled for Monday afternoon, March 21, and is the only seminar
open to public gate patrons.Top
Is signing
up required to attend seminars?
With a few exceptions, the seminars are included in
your convention registration fee. There are some seminars for which
you must sign up, such as make-and-take craft classes and the RV
Safe Driving Course. Registration begins Monday, March 21, at 7 a.m.
Some of them fill up quickly. Be sure to
wear your event badge to the seminars.
Have your coach weighed: Register at the RV Safety Education
Foundation booth on Tuesday during exhibit hours.Top
What common courtesies should I keep in mind in order
to be a good convention attendee? We
haven't conferred with “Miss Manners,” but here are some tips:
- Clean up after your pets.
- Turn off your cell phones during seminars and
entertainment. That goes for those little radios, too.
- Be on time for seminars.
- Leave your campsite as clean as you found it.
- Check out every vendor’s merchandise.
- Buy a new motorhome.
- Recycle.
- Thank the convention volunteers.
- Have fun!
- Clean up after your pets.
Top
Will there be someone available to empty our
holding tank? Families are asked to
arrive at the grounds with empty holding tanks. There are limited
dumping facilities on grounds. An official, authorized company
will be available to empty tanks for a fee.Top
Is water available?
Yes, near the dump stations.Top
Is
motorhome service available? Yes. The
Service Center will be open on Monday, March 21, from noon to 5
p.m. It will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March 22, 23
and 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Firms that offer the services of
a service van or service vehicle, request that you make an
appointment with their personnel at the FMCA Service Center. The
service van will meet you at your coach in your parking area.
Service is limited and some firms may direct you to service
facilities outside the grounds.Top
Is my
dog welcome at an FMCA convention?
Absolutely. We've had many dogs, cats, birds and even potbelly
pigs come to conventions. Of course, for safety reasons you must
keep your pets in your motorhome or on a leash in your parking
area. Pets are not allowed in activity centers such as seminars,
entertainment venues, exhibit buildings and outdoor exhibit area.
Be considerate of others and be a responsible pet owner when
walking your dog. And, clean up after it. In case you forget,
we'll remind you in the daily newsletter, too.Top
What products will be displayed at the convention?
Everything from A to Z will be on display at the
Perry convention, including the latest motorhome models (types A,
B and C as well as bus conversions). More than 700 coaches will be
displayed and more than 400 component/supplier companies will
offer a wide range of RV components and accessories. For more
information online, visit
www.fmca.com/conventions/2005perry/exhibitors/Top
Where can I find information about the Perry,
Georgia, area? Information will be
posted, as it becomes available, on the Conventions channel of
FMCA.com (www.fmca.com/conventions/2005perry). The Perry Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has loads
of valuable information at www.perryga.com. The Perry Welcome Center is located across from the
fairgrounds on General Courtney Hodges Boulevard. Be sure to stop
in for a warm welcome. Call (478) 988-8000 for information. For
more information online, visit
www.fmca.com/conventions/2005perry/links.aspTop
May I stay on
convention property after the event?
All families must leave the grounds by 10 a.m. Friday, March 25.
You may stay longer, but you will have to make arrangements
directly with the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter.
Further instructions will be available at the Information Center.Top
What else do I need to know about the
convention? Contact us at any time
with questions that may arise. The convention program will have
plenty of information about on-site services. Representatives from
the Perry Welcome Center will be available to assist you with
questions relating to services available in the local area.
Have fun! At the Perry 2005 convention and all FMCA
conventions, you'll meet some of the most interesting people. And
that's just the beginning ….Top
|
Privacy Policy |
Site Information |
Contact Us
® 1996-2008, Family Motor Coach Association
