Convention Parking Procedures — Pomona, California

Family Parking Procedures

Families will be assigned a day and time of admittance based on the date their registration is received at FMCA headquarters in Cincinnati. All registrations will be divided equally over the three-day parking period.

Families arriving in Pomona with credentials for the date and time specified should follow the directions in the confirmation materials. Many families will be directed to the on-grounds Holding Area, which may serve as additional family coach parking if necessary.

Families who arrive prior to their specified date and time of arrival, or who wish to meet and park with friends, should report to the official Holding Area located at Fairplex Gate 15, off Arrow Highway, to wait until their assigned time for entry. (See directions in your confirmation materials or online at www.fmca.com.) Families arriving on-grounds for the Pomona convention, including the official Holding Area, prior to their assigned “date of entry” will be assessed an early arrival fee of $15 per night for dry camping.

Families who arrive in Pomona later than the date and time specified on their official window credential should report to the official Holding Area at Fairplex Gate 15, located off Arrow Highway. From there you will be directed by the parking crew to your parking area at the earliest possible time.

Families who pre-register and who receive February 25, 2008, "date of entry" credentials for Pomona should arrive prior to noon on Monday, February 25, 2008. All families who register are guaranteed parking at the convention site.
Caravan Parking Procedures

Caravan reservations will be accepted for Saturday or Sunday, February 23 or 24; caravans will not be accepted for Monday, February 25. Your assistance with caravan reservations and scheduling is appreciated.

When a caravan leader makes the group’s reservation, he or she will be sent the appropriate number of "caravan date of arrival" credentials. The caravan leader distributes one caravan credential to each coach. This caravan credential should be displayed in the coach window along with the date of entry card the member received when registering for the convention. Caravan families should enter the grounds according to the caravan reservation time and not according to the date of entry credential sent with the confirmation materials. Families arriving with a caravan must be pre-registered.

A caravan reservation does guarantee a parking space at the convention site. A caravan reservation means that members of a caravan will be parked together as a group. Caravan reservation "assigned time" means that a caravan should arrive at the convention site at the specified time in order for the parking staff to park the group as efficiently as possible. Participating in a caravan supercedes the “date of entry” credential you receive in your confirmation materials; however, the “date of entry” credential must still be displayed to show pre-registration. Families will not be assessed the early arrival fee if arriving with a registered caravan group.

Will Call Procedures

Many families request that FMCA not mail their confirmation packets and to hold their credentials at Will Call. Will Call is located at the convention Holding Area at Fairplex Gate 15, off Arrow Highway. In Pomona, packets may be picked up at the Holding Area Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, February 22, 23, 24, and 25, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Will Call packets may be picked up at the Information Center, located in Building 9 at Fairplex, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, February 26, 27, and 28, beginning at 8:00 a.m. After convention-goers pick up their packets, they should remain in the Holding Area until their appointed entry time, or until directed otherwise by a member of the parking crew.
Families picking up "Will Call" packets for large groups may be asked to submit their list and return later for packages.

Early Arrival Fees

Families arriving on-grounds for the Pomona convention, including the official Holding Area, prior to their assigned “date of entry,” will be assessed an early arrival fee of $15 per night for dry camping. Upon collection of this early arrival fee, families will receive a special early arrival credential that must be displayed in the front window of the coach. Cash, credit card, or check will be accepted as payment.

Convention Parking Definitions And Explanations

Caravans: The California Highway Patrol wishes to remind caravans traveling the highways in the state that a convoy law is in effect. This law prohibits vehicles traveling in a group to deny other vehicles from moving into the lane where the caravans may be driving. While FMCA realizes that caravans provide sufficient distance between motorhomes, we ask your cooperation in obeying this traffic law.

Daily Passport: A daily passport may be purchased at the Public Gate ticket locations at the Red Gate or Blue Gate at Fairplex. This special credential will permit members and potential members to attend all convention activities, including seminars and evening entertainment, for the day purchased. Daily passport parking will be available at the Fairplex White Avenue lot (for the Blue Gate) or the Sheraton Fairplex Suites lot (for the Red Gate). An additional fee for vehicle parking will be assessed by the facility.

Day Pass: A day pass is available for family members and the general public to view coach displays and the supplier/component displays only. The day pass is sold at the Public Gate Ticket location at the Fairplex Blue Gate or Red Gate and is generally available only for the day purchased. Public parking will be available at the Fairplex White Avenue lot (for the Blue Gate) or the Sheraton Fairplex Suites lot (for the Red Gate). An additional fee for vehicle parking will be assessed by the facility.

Gate Registration: Following the completion of general parking, family members registering on-site will be parked on a first-come, first-serve basis on Monday afternoon, February 25, from noon until 5:00 p.m.

Governing Board Parking: Families requesting Governing Board parking at the Pomona convention will receive a special sticker on the parking credentials sent with the confirmation materials. Governing Board families will receive preferred parking in the family parking areas; however, a dedicated parking lot will not be provided.

Greeters: Family members may notice a group of volunteers around the perimeter of Fairplex with welcome signs. While FMCA and the volunteers appreciate the excitement of the members arriving at the convention grounds, we ask your cooperation in not honking your horns or stopping to talk to the greeters.

Handicapped Family Parking: Families registering for handicapped family parking may request general parking (no electric); electric parking (30-amp service); or full generator (ability to run the motorhome’s generator 24 hours per day). Handicapped parking in Pomona will be located adjacent to the motorhome exhibits and in close proximity to daytime entertainment and evening entertainment. Handicapped golf cart transportation, as well as trams, will service this area. Families requesting this parking area are encouraged, but not required, to provide additional information pertaining to any special needs in case of a medical emergency.

Holding Area: Families who arrive at the convention site earlier than permitted according to their entry credentials may stay at the Holding Area until their appointed time to enter the grounds. When it is time to enter the grounds, the parking crew will assist them in moving to their final parking space. An early arrival fee of $15 per night will be assessed to families arriving at the Holding Area prior to their assigned day of entry.

The Holding Area is also a place for friends to meet if they wish to park together. In order to park together, convention attendees must arrive together. If members of a group have a later entry date than other members in their group, they must all enter on the later entry date. The best way to park with friends and avoid a longer wait in the Holding Area is to send registrations to FMCA in the same envelope with a note requesting identical date of entry credentials. The Holding Area does not have sufficient space for caravans to meet and reassemble. Please call the FMCA national office for assistance in locating a site.

Passport Registration: A passport registration entitles the convention attendee (four days for two people) to all convention services and activities with the exception of overnight on-site parking. Passport registrants often choose to stay at a local campground or a friend's home and drive to the convention site each day in their personal automobiles. Car parking for passport patrons will be available via Fairplex Gate 15, located off Arrow Highway. An additional fee for vehicle parking will be assessed by the facility.
Towing a car: According to state law, motorhomes towing a vehicle (car or trailer) in California may travel only in the right two lanes of the interstate. California Highway Patrol appreciates your cooperation in obeying this traffic law.

Type “B” Area: New to the convention for Pomona will be an area designated for families arriving on grounds in a type B motorhome. This special parking area will be located in the White Avenue lot immediately outside of the Blue Gate. Members owning a type B motorhome who wish to park in this area should request the parking crew member to direct them to this location.

Welcome Bag Locations: Welcome bags with convention programs, maps, and other important information will be distributed from several convenient locations inside the fairgrounds. For members parked in family electric, general family, full generator, and non-generator areas, welcome bag distribution locations will be along the service road in lots J, K, and M. Members parking with caravans, volunteers, and in the Type B lot may pick up welcome bags at the Blue Gate. Members parked in the handicapped family parking area will still receive coach-to-coach distribution of the welcome bags. Welcome Crew members will be at these locations from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. After Monday, welcome bags may be picked up at the Information Center located in Building 9.

Will Call: Due to travel plans or the time the registration was made for the convention, families may request that confirmation materials be held at the convention site for pick-up. Will Call will be located at the Holding Area registration office. In Pomona, the Holding Area will be located at Fairplex Gate 15, accessed via Arrow Highway.

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