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When FMCA celebrated its 40th anniversary in July 2003, Family Motor Coaching magazine took a look back at milestones and notable events in the association's history.
July 20, 1963 26 families gather at the Hinckley School in Hinckley, Maine, to view a solar eclipse. July 21, 1963 The Family Motor Coach Association is formed. September 7, 1963 FMCA Constitution Committee meets in Wolf Den State Park, Connecticut. October 15, 1963 Articles of Incorporation filed. December 15, 1963 FMCA Constitution unanimously ratified. January 1964 Crown Coach Corp. becomes first FMCA commercial member. February 15, 1964 Vol. 1, Issue 1 of Family Motor Coaching magazine published. July 17-19, 1964 First national convention held at Fort Ticonderoga in New York. March 1965 FMCA national office moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. April 10, 1965 3 FMCA chapters chartered: Michigan Knights Of The Highway, Midwest Coachmen, Northeastern. January 15, 1966 Manufacturer's Advisory Board holds first meeting. February 1966 First "Business Service Directory" published in FMC magazine. July 1966 First coffee hour held at Glenwood, Ohio, convention. June 1967 FMCA office moves to "ivy-covered cottage" in Cincinnati. July 1967 Vic & Vi White, F748, commissioned FMCA's "International Ambassadors" at Bowling Green, Kentucky, convention. July 1969 First FMCA Family of theYear Award presented to Harold & Winifred Beard, F196, at Traverse City, Michigan, convention. July 1969 Teen Age Travelers (TATS) program initiated at Traverse City, Michigan, convention. July 1970 Industry pioneer Ray Frank honored at Costa Mesa, California, convention. July 1970 FMCA office moves to 5200 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati. February 1971 FMC magazine becomes a bimonthly publication. September 1972 Motor Vacations Unlimited becomes 500th commercial member. 1973 FMCA celebrates 10th anniversary; nearly 10,000 member families, 22 chapters. June 1975 World Of Recreation becomes 1,000th commercial member. 1976 FMCA purchases building at 8291 Clough Pike, funded by members' voluntary participation in lifetime member program, Thousand Club. March 2-4, 1976 First winter convention, Harlingen, Texas. April 1976 Family member number F20000 issued. November 30, 1976 FMCA moves into newly purchased building with staff of 15. March 1977 Member number F25000 assigned. July 1978 FMC magazine becomes monthly publication. 1982 FMCA Message Service launched. May 1983 Member number F50000 issued. 1983 FMCA celebrates 20th anniversary year; 29,645 active members, 113 chapters. July 28, 1983 Clough Pike office dedicated to Bob Richter, L1, and Ken Scott, L63. July 1985 FMCA Governing Board approves $1 million expansion to Clough Pike building. August 1986 Joey Bed Inc. becomes 3,500th commercial member. 1987 Clough Pike office expansion completed. 1988 FMCA celebrates 25th anniversary year; 63,982 active members, 214 chapters. March 25-27, 1988 Del Mar, California, convention coach count surpasses 4,000 (4,328). March 1988 Member number F100000 issued. June 21, 1989 President George Bush visits Richmond, Virginia, spring convention. March 27-29, 1990 Tampa, Florida, convention coach count surpasses 5,000 (5,244). September 1990 Quality Motor Coach becomes 5,000th commercial member. November 1991 Member number F150000 issued. 1993 FMCA celebrates 30th anniversary year; 88,217 active members, 323 chapters. July 4, 1994 Monument honoring FMCA's birthplace dedicated in Hinckley, Maine. October 1995 Member number F200000 issued. March 26-28, 1996 Perry, Georgia, convention coach count surpasses 6,000 (6,632). August 1996 Sun Rocks RV Resort receives C7000 membership number. June 1997 FMCA's official Web site — www.fmca.com — launched. July 15-17, 1997 Columbus, Ohio, convention coach count surpasses 7,000 (7,208). 1998 FMCA celebrates 35th anniversary year; 113,828 member families; 386 active chapters. September 1998 Member number F250000 issued. August 18-20, 2000 All-time convention coach count record set in Brunswick, Maine (7,422). March 2001 FMCA's Official North American Road Atlas & Travel Guide becomes available to members. July 2001 Membership Services Department moves from Clough Pike office to FMCA's Round Bottom Road location. August 2001 FMCA's Strategic Plan approved by FMCA Governing Board in Redmond, Oregon. September 2001 Member number F300000 assigned. January 2003 FMCA members approve revised Constitution. March 2003 Revised Bylaws approved by FMCA Governing Board. June 1, 2003 FMCA boasts 126,644 member families; 507 active chapters; 2,166 commercial members; 58 full-time and 11 part-time employees. |