These central-Florida FMCA members enjoy volunteering and sight-seeing together.
By Betty Hisaw, F203802
Family RVing magazine, March 2012
The Challengers became a chapter of FMCA in 1990. Most of the members who formed the group had worked in some way with the Florida space industry, so they chose to honor the memory of the Space Shuttle Challenger, which was lost in 1986.
As you might guess, most of us are from central Florida, or that general area. We have 52 member families who live as far north as Ocala and Jacksonville, as far south as Vero Beach, as far west as Sarasota, and as far east as Cocoa Beach.
We enjoy rallies every month of the year, except for June, July, and August. Each rally attracts approximately 30 motorhomes. Most of us are longtime FMCA members, but lately we have been adding to our ranks. Those of us who are still working are looking forward to the day when we can retire like the rest!
We are a very active group and are known for volunteering. We have worked at FMCA international conventions in Perry, Georgia. Since 1996 we have volunteered at the Southeast Area Rally, getting up at 5:00 a.m. to serve coffee, hot chocolate, tea, juice, doughnuts, and more, in all kinds of weather — blazing heat or freezing, icy temperatures.
At our monthly rallies, hosts schedule games, sight-seeing, card-playing, and anything else that might interest members. We are very fortunate to have four professional cooks as members; so, needless to say, we have all gained a few pounds.
We have caravanned as far west as California and places in between, as well as to Nova Scotia, Canada, and to FMCA conventions throughout the United States. During the summer months, when no chapter events are scheduled, some of us seem to always meet up somewhere.
We keep our Web site — www.thefmcachallengers.com — updated with current information, and members are updated by e-mail as well. If you would like to receive our informational e-mails, just write to Martha Barnes at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let her know.
The best way to determine whether you'd like to join us is to attend one of our campouts. We would love to meet you at a rally and show you what a great time we have. For more of our rallies, look each month in "Association Calendar" and online at FMCA.com.
For more information about this chapter, or if you would like your chapter to be featured in Chapter Spotlight, contact FMCA's Chapter Services Department at (513) 474-3622 or (800) 543-3622; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
