The reasons why a family member attends a convention are varied.
Here is what attendees have told us:
Family — The motorhoming lifestyle is a great family oriented
activity. The Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte/Concord, North
Carolina will host the "Fast Track To Fun" convention -- FMCA's 76th
International Convention.
Fellowship — Friends who travel together or who plan opportunities
to meet down the road find FMCA conventions a great place to gather.
Motorhome purchase — The major manufacturers bring their best
products to display. It's the best place to compare brands and shop
for that next coach.
Coach Service — Knowledgeable technicians discuss problems with
coach owners at the conveniently located FMCA Service Center.
Repairs are arranged on site or at an off site repair facility.
Entertainment — FMCA showcases wholesome family entertainment
appropriate for all ages.
Supplier Exhibits — One-stop shopping. Everything a motorhomer needs
and much more can be found in the exhibit buildings.
Technical Seminars — Plan to arrive early for most of the technical
seminars fill up fast. Topics include chassis, engines,
transmissions, electrical systems, towing, tires, and communication
systems.
Educational Seminars — Safe driving classes, digital photography,
personal safety, microwave-convection cooking, identity theft, as
well as full time RVing are popular topics.
Make-and-Take Craft Seminars — Learn a new skill and walk away with
a convention keepsake. These fun sessions fill up quickly.
Fun, Fitness, and Health Seminars — Where does it hurt? There's
probably an exercise that can help. Professional instructors guide motorhomers through exercises they can do in their coaches while
traveling.
Travel Destination — Beautiful, warm climate with many opportunities
to explore in the area. In the heart of NASCAR Country is race shops
and motorsports museums. Charlotte provides the excitement of a
cosmopolitan city and the ease of Southern charm.
Uniqueness — Everything a motorhome owner could ask for in one
location; information sources, vendors, education.
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What is Will Call?
A service provided by FMCA where pre-registered families can choose
to pick up their convention admittance credentials on site at the
Holding Area.
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What is a Holding Area?
A place where families can register for the convention; where
families meet friends so they can park together; where families
arrive prior to assigned parking days and wait for time to enter
grounds.
Families arriving prior to their assigned "date of entry" will be
assessed an early arrival fee of $15 per night for dry camping.
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Are children and grandchildren welcome?
Absolutely. FMCA provides youth activities for specific age groups
to socialize, enjoy pizza parties, play games and just have fun. Be
sure to register the children when you preregister. Detailed
information will be sent to you.
A special parking area for families with children will be available.
For dry camping only, it's is close to all the action of the youth
program. If you wish to be parked in this family coach area, contact
Maureen at mmullarkey@fmca.com or (800) 543-3622.
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How can I volunteer for a convention?
Check with your area vice president and chapter officers about
volunteer opportunities. It’s really fun to volunteer, and many
volunteers are recruited for each convention.
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What about septic?
FMCA arranges on-site dump stations and pump out services whenever
possible. Be prepared and arrive at the grounds with full water
tanks and empty holding tanks.
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What about water?
FMCA arranges water truck service whenever possible. Be prepared and
arrive at the grounds with full water tanks and empty holding tanks.
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CHARLOTTE/CONCORD SPECIFICS
"Fast Track To Fun" is the theme of FMCA's 76th International
Convention. Since FMCA's founding in Maine in 1963, the FMCA
family has grown tremendously. Chapters have formed and branched out.
Parents,
sons, daughters, and grandchildren proudly display the same member
number representing their unique family traveling tree. Wholesome
long-time friendships and new friendships spawned around the campfire contribute to what makes FMCA a family. Come to North Carolina
and celebrate FMCA's 76th!
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What is the location of FMCA's 76th International Convention?
Lowe’s Motor Speedway, will host the convention. For GPS purposes
the address is 5555 Concord Parkway South, Concord, NC 28027.
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What are the dates of the Charlotte/Concord convention?
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, August 14, 15, 16, and 17,
2006.
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Will everyone be parked at the Speedway?
Yes. Please refer to the Convention Parking Procedures in the June
2006 issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine online.
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What is the surface of the parking lots?
The surface is grass.
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What about electric service?
Electric hookups —
30-amp — available but limited. Be sure to
preregister for electric service when you register for convention.
You must provide a 10-gauge minimum, 50-foot electric cord. No
refunds for electric after July 7, 2006.
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When will electric service be available?
Electric service begins at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, August 13, and ends at
9:00 a.m. Friday, August 18.
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What about weather?
Beautiful! Be sure to pack your sunglasses and your umbrella! It's
usually sunny and very warm to hot in North Carolina in August with
an occasional pop-up thunder storm.
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How can I register?
You have the following choices to register:
a) Register online.
b) Mail registration form with check or credit card number to:
FMCA Convention Dept.
8291 Clough Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45244-2796.
c) Call (800) 543-3622 or (513) 474-3622 and ask for Convention Family
Registration.
d) Fax the registration form to (513) 388-5295.
Make checks payable to Family Motor Coaching, Inc., in U.S. funds.
The registration form will be in the April, May, June and July
2006 issues of Family Motor Coaching magazine.
If you don’t have a registration form or you are not a member of
FMCA, please register via the Internet or telephone.
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If I register early, will I save any money?
Yes, register by July 24, 2006, for the $20 Early Bird discount.
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Will I be able to register for the convention on-site?
Yes. Preregistration is recommended. However, if you decide after
the deadline to attend the convention, go to the Holding Area
located at Morehead Campground to register. Registration will be
located at the Holding Area beginning Friday, August 11, at 8:00
a.m. through Tuesday, August 15, at 5:00 p.m., and then moved to the
Information Center in the Nextel Garage in the Infield of the Lowe’s
Motor Speedway for the duration of the convention.
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Are there other advantages to registering early?
Besides 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
pre-registering and arriving on your early entrance day.
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In case of an emergency, how can my family and friends reach me?
The family member Information Center and emergency phone number is
(704) 455-3655. Also, be sure to fill out a locator card you
received in your packet and turn it in. The locator card is the
only way of finding you in the parking area should you need to
be located for an emergency. Blank cards are available at the
holding area registration office or at the Information Center
located in the Nextel Garage on the Infield.
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What do early arriving families do until the convention activities
begin?
Explore the local area before the activities get started. Check the
links on www.fmca.com for suggestions.
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Is food included in my registration cost?
No. Beginning on Monday, August 14, there will be plenty of food
vendors around the grounds. The following events are sponsored:
Coffee and doughnuts on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 7:00 a.m.
— 9:00 a.m.
Ice Cream Social on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.
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When will I receive my registration material?
You will receive your confirmation packet that will include your
parking and admittance credentials approximately three weeks after
your registration is received at FMCA. Confirmation packets will be
mailed as soon as May 26, 2006. Registrations postmarked after
August 4, 2006, will be held and processed as gate registrations.
You can pick them up at Will Call in Charlotte/Concord.
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What happens if I have
to cancel?
You will receive a refund if your request is received in writing by
August 4, 2006. Your confirmation packet, including credentials for
parking and badges, must be returned before a refund will be
processed.
No refunds for electric after July 7, 2006.
All cancellations are subject to a $10 handling fee.
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How do I get there?
Lowe’s Motor Speedway is located near I-85 and Speedway Boulevard in
Concord. Specific directions will published in the June issue of
Family Motor Coaching magazine. In addition, the directions will be
included in your confirmation packet and on the website www.fmca.com.
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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, August 14, 2006.
Member name and membership number
c/o Family Motor Coach Association
General Delivery
Concord, NC 28027-9998
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Where is the Holding Area and Will Call?
Will Call is located in the Holding Area. Entrance is on Morehead
Road.
Note: Will Call packets for governing board, past
national officers, advance crews, and families registered in
handicapped parking will be available in those
parking areas.
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What are the hours of the exhibits?
Motorhome Exhibits Preview on Monday, August 14, 2006, from 3:00
p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Motorhome exhibits, component, and supplier exhibits are open
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, August 15, 16, and 17, 2006, from
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Is the convention open to the general public?
Yes. A public gate pass and a daily passport are available.
A public gate pass (admittance to exhibits only) costs $7 per day
per person. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Public gate
passes are available Monday, August 14, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.,
and Tuesday through Thursday, August 15-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00
p.m.
Monday Daily Passports and public gate passes for the Motorhome
Preview Evening are also good for admittance on Tuesday.
A daily passport (admittance to exhibits, seminars, and evening
entertainment for the day) costs $35 per person for members and $45
per person for non-members. Daily passports are available Monday,
August 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Tuesday through
Thursday, August 15-17, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Follow the signs to public parking.
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How can I exhibit at a convention?
FMCA mails exhibitor information to all FMCA commercial members.
(You must be a commercial member to exhibit.) Contact FMCA about
exhibit opportunities:
- Call (513) 474-3622 or (800) 543-3622.
- Fax (513) 388-5286.
- E-mail conventionexhibitor@fmca.com.
Exhibitor Brochure and more
registration info
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As an exhibitor, may I attend seminars and entertainment?
Yes, be sure to wear your exhibitor badges.
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Who are the evening entertainers?
Evening entertainment is open only to registered convention
attendees, and is not open to public gate patrons unless they
purchase full-day passport tickets.
|
Sunday, Aug. 13, 8:00 p.m. |
“The Singing Trooper” |
|
Monday, Aug. 14, 8:00 p.m. |
“Big Ray and the Kool Kats” |
|
Tuesday, Aug. 15, 8:00 p.m. |
“The Ricky Nelson Legacy Tour” |
|
Wednesday, Aug. 16, 8:00 p.m. |
“Ronnie Milsap” |
|
Thursday, Aug. 17, 8:00 p.m. |
“Riders In The Sky” |
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What are the seminars like?
The seminars begin on Monday, August 14, and continue Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday, August 15-17. More than 100 seminars are
scheduled covering a variety of topics including how to maintain
your motorhome as well as create meals in it, too.
"Selecting The Right Motorhome For Your Needs," seminar is scheduled
on Monday afternoon, August 14, and will assist you in shopping for
your first or next motorhome purchase. This seminar is the only
seminar open to public gate patrons.
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Do I have to sign up for 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 on Monday, August 14, at 7:00 a.m. in
the Information Center located in the Nextel Garage. Some of them
fill up quickly.
Be sure to wear your convention name badge to the seminars.
Register to have your coach weighed by the RV Safety &
Education Foundation on Monday, August 14, at 7:00 a.m. in the
Information Center located in the Nextel Garage. Beginning on
Tuesday, August 15, you can register at the RV Safety Education
Foundation booth during exhibit hours.
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What about common courtesy?
It's important for convention attendees to display common courtesy.
Without conferring with Miss Manners, a considerate convention attendee will:
- Welcome First-Time convention attendees with brown ribbons attached
to their convention badges.
- Clean up after pets.
- Turn off your cell phones during seminars and entertainment. Ditto
for those little radios.
- Arrive on time for seminars.
- Leave camp site as clean as you found it.
- Check out every vendor’s merchandise.
- Buy a new motorhome.
- Recycle.
- Thank the convention volunteers.
- Have fun!
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Is motorhome service available?
Yes. The Service Center will be open on Monday, August 14, from
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, August
15, 16, and 17, 2006, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Service is limited and
some firms may direct you to service facilities outside the grounds.
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Is my pet welcome at an FMCA convention?
Yes. Pets must be kept in your coach parking area unless they are
providing service assistance. Pets are not allowed in activity
centers and indoor exhibit structures. Be considerate of others and
be a responsible pet owner when walking your pet and clean up after
it. In case you forget, we'll remind you in the daily newsletter,
too.
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Where can I find information about the Charlotte/Concord area?
Information as well as links to related Web sites will be posted at
www.fmca.com/conventions/2006Charlotte. In addition,
certain FMC magazine issues contains "convention side trip" articles related to the area.
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Will I be able to stay on convention property after the event?
All families must leave the grounds by 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August
18. If you would like to stay longer, information will be available
at the Information Center.
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What is a Welcome Bag?
Upon parking in your final parking space, you will receive a
convention welcome bag. Important items in the bag are the
convention program; daily schedule of events and map; and the
"Today" newsletter. The Welcome Bag is also known as a goody bag.
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What else do I need to know?
You can ontact us at any time with questions that may arise.
The convention program will have lots of information about on-site
services. Representatives from the Cabarrus County Convention and
Visitors Bureau and the Visit Charlotte Convention and Visitors
Bureau will be available to assist with questions relating to
services in the local area.
Have fun! You will meet some of the most interesting people you’ll find
anywhere.
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