Interactive Table of Contents

From or About Our Members

• From The President
• Scholarship Registration Is Now Open
• Anti-Discrimination-Policy
• Nominating Committee
• Commercial Task Force
• Camping Today/Social Media Forms
• Help Wanted (Open Volunteer Positions)

Upcoming National Events

• Retiree Rally 2023 – Dothan Alabama
• Campvention 2023 – Richmond Indiana

Event Schedule & Recaps

• Event Calendar & Recaps
• Where Strangers Become Friends

Wildlife & Conservation

• “The Best Day Yet”

Camping Information & Tips

• Dear RV
• The Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide

Past Camping Todays

• 2018-2022

Camping Today Staff

• Research Director: Barb Turner
• PDF Design/Layout: Paul Standiford
• Website Design/Layout: Carl Fromholzer

Please send articles through the new
‘Camping Today’ Submission Portal Page.
https://fcrv.org/camping-today-submission-forms/. 

National Officers

• President: Gerry Pfirsch
• VP of Operations: Jeff Kendle
• VP of Programs: Dora Lewis
• VP of Planning & Development: Amy DeCamp
• Corresponding. & Recording Officer: Beth Standiford
• Comptroller: Debbie Swanson
• Past President: Shari Weber

Camping Today is a publication of the non-profit National Campers & Hikers Association, doing business as Family Campers & RVers (FCRV). Issue frequency is 12 (monthly) on line at www.fcrv.org. Publisher is Family Campers & RVers, 4904 Transit Rd. Bldg. 2, Depew, New York 14043-4906. Office Manager – Pat Wittmeyer 716-668-6242, [email protected]. Online subscription is included with annual membership. Mailed, printed copies are available by annual subscription of $20. USPS Pub.# 724-710, ISSN# 870-1465. OWNER: National Campers & Hikers Association, doing business as Family Campers & RVers (non-profit), 4804 Transit Rd. Bldg.2, Depew, New York 14043-4906. Bondholders, mortgage, and other security owners holding 1% or more of bonds, mortgages, and other securities: NONE. The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes has not changed in the last 12 months.

‘Camping Today’ Submission Forms

[ ‘Camping Today’ is currently scheduled for release on the 15th of each month.]

[ All content must be submitted by the 1st.]

Contact [email protected] if you have any questions or problems submitting material.

Click on the hyperlink below for the type of ‘Camping Today’ submission you’d liked to send.

Articles – Event Recap – Birthday Shoutout – Milestone – Farewell –  Dear RV – Event Submit

Let me start by thanking each of the Trustees, Program Directors, Regional Directors, State Directors, Provincial Directors for their service this year.  I would also like to Thank all the Chapter Officers for everything that you do for your Chapter. FCRV is better for your service. It is the time of the year that we need to be Thankful for where we are and plan on the path forward into the New Year. It is my prayer that you have a wonderful Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year.

Happy Holidays! 

Happy New Year
Gerry Pfirsch
FCRV National President

FCRV HANK NATHAN SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY: 2023

By: Deborah Swanson

Who Can Apply: Any FCRV member, or their dependent* children planning to enroll, or currently enrolled, in an undergraduate, graduate, or trade school, may apply for an FCRV scholarship. An applicant must be a member for at least 18 full calendar months before application, and in good standing.

*Dependent children of members applying under their parent/guardian’s membership must be a dependent thereof for the year of the scholarship award, and be eligible as an income tax deduction.

How to Apply:  Applications for 2023 will be available on Scholarship America’s website @ http://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/ncha/  Applications will only be accepted online at the above address. The application MUST include the FCRV member holder’s name, membership number, postal mailing address, and, most importantly, an email address at which the applicant can be contacted.  Pay special attention to the entire website and follow the directions closely as you will only have one opportunity to complete the application. Scholarship America will not contact you to make any corrections. Do not assume that it is the same as last year as it may have been changed.

      Applications must include the following:

1.   A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display student name, school name, grades, and credit hours for each course, and term in which course was taken.
2.   Two online recommendation forms, one from an FCRV member, (can be a trustee, regional director, state director, district director, or any member who is not related). AND, one from a school official, or your immediate supervisor if you are working. Your application will not be complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically, and you will not be considered for a scholarship.

Stipend: Annual Scholarships are awarded carrying a stipend ranging from $250 to $2,000.The Schuh award of $2500 is given to students who study the fields of wildlife or conservation. Part-time, and trade school, students will receive one-half of the granted amount. Scholarships are for one year. Recipients may reapply for a scholarship each year they meet the eligibility requirements.

Selection of Scholarship Recipients: Applicants are scored, and ranked, by Scholarship America who then recommends the ranking to the FCRV Scholarship Board. The Board then confirms the ranking and the award. The Board of Directors present the awards at, or after, the Annual General Meeting held at that years Campvention,

Eligibility Requirements

1.   Parents, or guardians, must be a member of FCRV for 18 full calendar months or longer.
2.   Applicants must be enrolled, or accepted, into an undergraduate, graduate, or trade school course of study in an accredited two-to-four year college, university, or trade school. Part-time students must carry a minimum of six credits and full-time a minimum of twelve credits.
3.   Applicants currently enrolled in college are given equal consideration with incoming freshmen students.

Scholarship Considerations:

1.  High school graduates will have their class ranking scored by Scholarship America.
2. College students should have at least a 2.3 grade point average on a 4.0 point scale.
3. Consideration is taken for maturity, leadership, related activities, and goal of the candidate as related to the objectives of FCRV.
4. Special consideration is given to applicants majoring in fields related to conservation, ecology, or outdoor activities, although all other fields are considered.
5. This is a competitive Scholarship therefore the lowest ranked applicant may not receive an award.

Nominating Committee – Here’s your chance to be an FCRV Trustee (officer)!

By: Shari Weber – Chairman, Nominating Committee

Nominations are being accepted for one half of Trustees (nationally elected officers) who will govern the operations of the Family Campers & RVers (FCRV) during the 2023/2025 term of office.

International President, Gerry Pfirsch has established a nominating committee of which I am the chair to find and vet suitable candidates for election. The deadline for nominations is January 15, 2023.

The positions to be elected are Vice President Operations, Vice President Planning and Development, and Comptroller.

Any FCRV member in good standing is eligible for nomination consideration. Please immediately contact your respective State/Provincial Director, any member of the nominating committee, or me if you are interested in any of these offices (or can suggest a person whom we should seek).

Once a nomination slate has been selected by the nominating committee, each candidate will complete a resume and platform which will be published in the March 2023 issue of “Camping Today”.  Ballots for a contested election will be distributed at the beginning of March with the deadline for voting as April 15, 2023.  If you cannot participate in electronic balloting and will not be at your membership residence on file with the office, absentee ballots must be requested by January 15, 2023 indicating the alternate address.  Make your request for an absentee ballot to Pat or Carl at the national office 716-668-6242 or by email [email protected].

Commercial Task Force

By: Amy Decamp

Hello, campers…

Your help is needed. 😊

Building a strong and ever-growing commercial member base has been a challenge for FCRV for well over a decade. While we are by no means alone in this struggle, we have several advantages many other non-profits do not: A 73-year organizational foundation to build upon; a consistent mission of wildlife preservation and environmental conservation that spans all demographics; and an energized, international member network.

Both current and prospective commercial members have different needs and priorities. To increase and retain financial sponsors, we must establish membership tiers that meet members’ needs and help appropriately fund our organization. They must also reflect today’s marketing desires and strategies, which the current levels do not. 

Our FCRV website now lists the commercial membership tiers as “Under Construction.” Here are the previous tiers for review:

Offering members varying levels of benefits with each tier gives current and prospective members more options to meet their needs, while also staying within their budget. This, in turn, boosts membership renewals.

How may you help? Creative minds are needed to aid in the development of our new tier strategy. As consumers, we ALL have marketing experience and opinions, especially when it comes to RVs, camping products, supplies, and campgrounds. Please strongly consider joining our Commercial Task Force and lending a hand in this endeavor. You may send your questions and/or desire to participate to [email protected]. Thank you!

Camping Today/Social Media Forms

By: Barb Turner

Camping Today submissions have been technologically streamlined.  By using the submissions forms below, members can easily submit articles and share upcoming events, recaps of activities completed, as well as farewells, milestones, birthday shoutouts, and ask questions of Dear RV. 

Click on the hyperlink below for the type of ‘Camping Today’ submission you’d liked to send.

Articles – Event Recap – Birthday Shoutout – Milestone – Farewell –  Dear RV – Event Submit

In addition to Camping Today, submissions other than the articles are placed in queue for  sharing on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.  After research and recommendations, promotion and publicity of FCRV and our activities via these formats will enhance our exposure, both to our members and the RV world.  From the beginning, NCHA/FCRV has been referred to as ‘the best-kept secret’.  Survival in the modern world won’t happen as the ‘best-kept secret’.  Let’s shout that we are here!  We are ‘happening’!  And, we welcome all campers & RVers!

If you have any questions submitting material, contact [email protected]. 

FCRV needs your help.  Please consider filling one of these positions.  They are very important to the operation of FCRV. Contact VP Ops – Jeff Kendle, or Immediate Past President – Shari Weber for details.

Volunteers are needed for the following National Positions:

Membership Director – Reports to Vice-President Planning & Development and is a member of the Advisory Council.  Primarily responsible for the growth and retention of membership.  Field Manual job description is currently under review and subject to change.

Commercial Director – Reports to Vice-President Planning & Development and is a member of the Advisory Council. Main responsibility is the development and retention of commercial membership/accounts. Field Manual job description is currently under review and subject to change.

Youth Director – Reports to Vice-President Programs and is a member of the Advisory Council.  Works for the betterment of future youth programs in FCRV.   Field Manual job description is currently under review and subject to change.

State/Provincial Directors for Maryland, DC, Ohio and Connecticut – Reports to their Regional Director and is a member of the Advisory Council.  Position is to administer and coordinate the activities of the State/Providence in the areas of membership and National programs at their level.  Maintain current membership list for said State/Providence.  Appoint Field Director(s).  Keep Regional Director apprised of chapters status.  Approve constitution/bylaws, promote FCRV and State/Provincial activities, submit reports to Regional Director, hold meetings with field staff.  Field Manual job description is currently under review and subject to change.

Communication & Security Director – Reports to the Vice President Planning & Development and is a member of the Advisory Council. Communication to be used for FCRV Campventions and Retiree Rallies.  Integration of electronic communication into a balanced communications system.  Responsible for electronic (walkie-talkies) equipment.  Field Manual job description is currently under review and subject to change.

Conservation Director – Reports to the Vice President of Programs and is a voting member of the Executive Board.  Conservation is at the heart of FCRV.  Maintain existing program guidelines and formulate new as needed.  Maintain records of the program.  Field Manual job description is currently under review and subject to change.

Veterans – Reports to the Vice President Programs and is a member of the Advisory Council. Show support FCRV members who are Veterans, conduct or arrange for, informational seminars featuring other Veterans and promote information about FCRV Veterans about activities and opportunities for them. Field Manual job description is currently under review and subject to change.

Travalong Director – Reports to the Immediate Past President and is a member of the Advisory Council. Program is designed to help travelers enjoy group-planned activities and help members and non-members learn about areas of travel and who to contact for information. Establish Travalongs with at least one to coincide with National Campvention.  Field Manual job description is currently under review and subject to change.

Region 5 Director – Reports to the Vice President of Operations and is a voting member of the Executive Board.  Represent FCRV in the region, assist State Directors in the region and provide coordination of administration between the States and the Vice President of Operations. Recommend appointments and/or releases of State Directors to the Vice President of Operations. Coordinate activities between the various States in the region. Act as the State Director in those States that have none. Within the region, administer National bylaws, Constitution, regulations, policies and directives.

Volunteer Background Records Custodian – Member of the Advisory Council Reporting to the Vice President Programs. This position receives permission forms from volunteers working with teens or youth to run a background check. Full job responsibilities are in the field manual. Field Manual job description is currently under review and subject to change. 

2023 Retiree Rally Host  

By: Ron & Reba Ray 

4 months and countdown.  Our registration list is growing at this time; so, get yours in, and let’s make this a good one. Put it on your calendar, March 28-April 2, 2023.  The early days will start on March 24.  

We are looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones this year.

The fairgrounds are making it all possible for us to enjoy this rally.  They are adding more sewer sites so most everyone will have places to dump their tanks without having to move.

As I said before, we are shortening the rally by a day, but we will get everything that we look forward to every year.  There will be three nights of entertainment, the home-grown FCRV night of entertainment and then the King and Queen Coronation and the Ball, and, of course, we will have the International Parade.  It will be a fun-filled week for you.

Please bring a door prize. If you want to get rid of some things around your house that are in good shape or things you just really don’t want anymore, think about the marketplace; someone else might want it.

If you would like to run as FCRV International King & Queen, registration deadline for this is January 15th, so you need to get your name in the pot.  Please contact Leon & LaNelle Ishmael for this.  [email protected]

We have lots of people who are asking to be vendors for this rally. 

If you have any questions and need any answers about the retiree rally, please contact me, Reba, at [email protected]  See you soon.

.

Nuts About Dogs Pooch Parade 2023

By:  Robert & Rita Letellier, Pet Parade Chairs

Welcome! to the pooch parade.  We will be giving out a gift to all participants.  The winners will receive an award & some surprises which will be given out on awards day.  There will be 5 dog categories:  Most Adorable, Best Behaved, Best Trick, Owner pet-look-alike and Best-in-Show-dog.  Cats are invited. and the winner will also receive an award and surprises.  The category will be Best-in-Show-cat!  Please come!!!

FCRV International Retiree King & Queen Info 

By: LaNelle & Leon Ishmael, King & Queen Coordinators

Ho, ho, ho.  Santa whispered in my ear that he is getting excited to see who will be the next FCRV Retiree royal couple. Could it be you? Deadline to register is January 15.  Please don’t procrastinate! Ask your state or province to elect you their king and queen. Then email us for a registration form. You will have more fun than you imagined.  [email protected]  or [email protected].

Retiree Rally Door Prizes

By:  Pat Crow, Door Prize Chair

Halloween is over, and the shopping season has begun. So don’t forget to pick up something for your Retiree Rally door prize. It can be large or small, but please bring something you yourself would like to receive. Thank you.

FCRV Retiree Rally Flea Market

By: Richard & Frances Jackson,  Flea Market Chairs

Don’t go ‘nuts’ getting ready for the 2023 Retiree Rally Flea Market!  Start now to gather unused items or crafting items to sell! Flea market booth space will be free.

Retiree Games

By: Craig & Shari Weber & Marjorie Bates

Are you planning to get “Nutty” with the “Nutty Campers” and come to the peanut grounds in Dothan? Get your game on! Or, just come and have some fun. This month I thought I would talk about the table games we plan to play.

Chicken Foot is a game played with dominoes and is a variant of Train Dominoes. The resulting layout of the game looks like a chicken foot, thus the name. The game is typically played with a double 9 set of dominoes although bigger sets are necessary with more than 4 players. There can be 2 – 8 players per table. A boneyard is created by placing the dominoes face down on the table where each player can reach. Each player begins with 7 dominoes. Play begins with the highest double domino which is placed in the center of the table. Using strategy the players want to play all their dominoes out. Players with remaining dominoes add the total of their dominoes to create a score. Play goes for 6 rounds. The player with the lowest score after 6 rounds is the winner. Those who come to play this game should bring a set of dominoes with them.

5 Crowns is a rummy style card game. It is like 3 – 13. The special deck is a double deck with 5 suits, jokers, and no 2’s or aces. The game is played progressively starting with 3 cards and finishing with 13. Each round has a wildcard matching the number of cards dealt for the round. The object each round is to create runs (a sequence in the same suit or color) or sets (all the same number) of a minimum of 3. The round is complete when a player can go down by playing all his/her cards. Then each player has one more chance to make plays to reduce their hand as much as possible. At the end of the 13 rounds the player with the lowest score is the winner.

Card Bingo is played with playing cards. There is one deck per group of four people. All cards are dealt out with each player having 13 cards. Another deck of cards is used by the caller who will call cards one at a time. Players place their card in the center when it is called. Bingo is achieved when a player has no more cards.

Skip-Bo is another card game played with a special deck of cards. This game is also known as Spite and Malice. It is played with up to 6 players per deck. The goal of the game is to play all your cards in numerical order of 1 – 12 before the other players. The cards from the stockpile are played onto the middle building piles. There can be 4 building piles started with 1(or Skip Bo card) and built to 12. The first player to play all the cards in the stockpile is the winner!

Anyone interested in helping with a particular game or just in general, please send a message to us at [email protected].

Retiree Rally Variety Show

By: George Walters, Variety Show Chairperson

The  Retiree Rally Variety Show is a highlight of the rally.  2023 will again present the stars of the show, our own FCRV Campers.  Of course, there are many activities and events at any FCRV Retiree Rally, and we all have to budget our time, but we want to make this year’s Variety Show the one event you don’t want to miss.  This won’t happen without our wonderful campers participating. I hope that includes YOU! 

Please remember that this is not a contest, but a chance to see your fellow campers in a different light. Many of our member campers have talents that we don’t often get to enjoy. AND IT’S A LOT OF FUN!

So, if you sing, tell a funny (clean) story or joke, put together a skit, dance group (maybe a coordinated line-dance?) or anything else I didn’t think of, get it together and let’s have some fun! Now is the time to talk to your friends about putting together one of these entries.

Sign-up sheets will be available at the Registration Area when you arrive in Dothan.  Now is the time to plan for the Variety Show, and this can be the highlight of the 51st Retiree Rally in Dothan, Alabama.  Will we see you there?  As my dad always said, “I certainly hope so”.

Do you have an idea or do you want to help, please contact me at [email protected]. 

Give What You “Can” Retiree Rally Food Drive

By: Beth Standiford, Food Drive Chair

FCRV makes a big impact on the locations where we hold Rallies and Campventions.  For this reason, we want the impact to be a positive one.  We, as a collective group, bring a lot of income to the area where we camp in the form of fuel, food, tourism, eating out, entertainment, local sites, etc.  Food/Fund drives are a great way to give back and say thanks to a community where we’ve had so much fun with our friends.  Food drives help local charities keep their shelves stocked, and it raises awareness among our camping community to the hunger and needs of those around us, even though they may not be immediately visible.  

We are providing for the basic needs of others and giving a sense of dignity and pride to those who can then provide for their families. The facility we will be donating to is yet to be determined. Last year, cash donations exceeded my expectations by so much more than I thought possible.  This year, I am asking every person at the Rally to donate the equivalent of one meal, either in canned goods or in cash donations.   I know you won’t let down the deserving people of Dothan, Alabama.  Any questions or comments can be directed to me at [email protected].

Visit Ozark, Alabama in March

By: Barb Turner, Retiree Rally Publicity Chair

Ozark, Alabama is located less than 35 miles from Dothan, site of the 51st FCRV International Retiree Rally.  Ozark is located in the southeast corner of the state in a region known as the Wiregrass, the long-stemmed grass that is native to the region.  According to local lore, the city received its name for a traveler who thought the terrain looked like that of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas.  The city borders Fort Rucker which is the center of the U.S. Army Aviation.  (http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-4048 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srmx0l9bUk8,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIkwbtYpH1k)

The Ozark area was originally inhabited by the Muscogee people.  (The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is now located in Oklahoma and has land claims in the Florida panhandle. The Tribal headquarters is located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and the tribe has approximately 44,000 tribal members.)

Ozark is home to three sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Claybank Log Church, the Samuel Lawson Dowling House, and the J. D. Holman House.

The Claybank Log Church, 1570 Andrews Ave., was built in 1852.  It’s a hand-hewn log church that was actually the second to stand on its site. The original, built in 1829-1830, was a crude building of round logs. It deteriorated over the years and was finally replaced by the church that can still be seen today. (https://exploresouthernhistory.com/claybankchurch.html and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3Un02NrRw)

Samuel Lawson Dowling House (311 Owens St.) was built in 1870 by Samuel Lawson Dowling, whose family was one of the first groups to settle in the area.  “The house is similar in style to a Tidewater-type cottage, which was popular on the Atlantic coastal plain where many of the area’s early settlers came from. Being built just before the railroad came to Ozark, it was one of the first architecturally styled homes in the area; most previous houses were log structures that emphasized function over form.”  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Lawson_Dowling_House)

D. Holman House (285 E Broad St) is one of the most elaborate Neoclassical homes in the Wiregrass Region.  It was built in 1912–13 for Jesse DeCosta Holman, a prominent local merchant. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._D._Holman_House)

As noted above, abutting Ozark is Fort Rucker.  Visit the United States Army Aviation Museum (6000 Novosel St, Fort Rucker)  which boasts a collection of over 160 military aircraft.  The museum houses one of the largest displays of military helicopters in the world. Visitors can view a multitude of machinery, ranging from World War I early combat aircraft to highly advanced UH-60 Blackhawks flown by military personnel today.  If you enjoy researching military history and aviation, don’t miss a trip to this fascinating museum.  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EHAD-XNYCA)

Ozark, Alabama awaits rally attendees.  Tour and eat. This YouTube video will entice the latter!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srHy_tDQI-Q  See you in March!

Campvention Registration Info Discount Deadline is Approaching

By: Beth Muschinski, Registration Chair

Hello, FCRV members!  Camping season is just around the corner, and it is time to start making your upcoming camping season plans….especially CAMPVENTION.  The 2023 Campvention in Richmond, IN promises to be a fun-filled week of seminars, games, food and fellowship. 

The discounted Campvention fee is only valid until December 31, 2022.  If your envelope is postmarked after that, the full fee is needed.  Get it in now before the last-minute Christmas mail rush.  We all know how slow and unreliable Snail Mail is, especially during the Christmas season.

When you fill out those registration forms, please, please, put in a CELL phone number and email address.  Without an email address, there is a possibility of you not receiving any updated information.   Without a CELL phone number, you will be unreachable in case of an emergency.

If you have sent in your registration and have not received an email from me confirming this, please contact me via phone or email to check on your registration status (see Snail Mail remark above).

Keep your eyes on the Campvention Facebook page for information about the Campvention and “things to see and do while in the area” information tidbits.

See you in July.

FCRV International Band

By: Craig Weber, FRCV International Band Director

This is a special notice to all of you who will be attending Campvention for the first time in Richmond, Indiana this summer. FCRV has a volunteer band that plays one evening at Campvention. We welcome anyone who would like to be part of a fun group and be part of Campvention. We practice four or five times before we play, and we try to keep the music simple. 

Here’s what you get as an FCRV International Band Member:

1. Exclusive FCRV International Band tuxedo t-shirt
2. The enjoyment of meeting new people
3. FCRV International Band Member badge and year tab
4. Pizza party for you and your family before Concert

If you play an instrument and would like to be a part of the FCRV International Band, just dust off your instrument, blow in it to get the dead critters out, and keep your eyes peeled for more information. Music will be made available in May so that you can get in some extra practice. 

Keep watching for future updates.  Thank you.

New Campvention Fun!

By: Kathy Howell

Hello, Campers!

I am Kathy Howell, and I recently joined FCRV with the new Family & Friends Camping Club (FFCC) Chapter. I am so happy to share with you a teen activity that has been a longstanding tradition in the FFCC group. It is called TP (toilet paper) Insurance and Raffle.

A little history of the program: Our group needed a fundraiser to increase the budget for our teen activities. The plan was simple – teens would sell TP raffle tickets, meet and socialize with other members of the club while doing so, and learn how to count and be responsible for money. Members purchase a “card” of tickets, with 26 tickets per card to put toward raffle prizes. Since rallies always involve a bit of fun and shenanigans, the tickets serve as insurance to not have your rig toilet-papered by the teens. Simply display a card in your rig’s window, and you’re safe, at least from the teens. 😉 If TP’d by adults (that, of course, would never happen), the teens will clean up the mess.

Teens sell the tickets Monday morning until Wednesday evening. Thursday is the raffle. Where do the raffle prizes come from? Well, parents of the participating teens are asked to bring a raffle gift per teen to place in the raffle. Club chapters and individual families may also donate prizes. A small portion of the ticket sales proceeds is also designated for prizes.

There is pre-raffle viewing time to make your selections and place tickets in the containers next to the prizes of your choice. You decide how many of your tickets to put in as many raffle items you want. Teens help set-up the raffle and as winning numbers are selected, they deliver the prizes to the respective winners. Cash prizes are available, too. The teens also win cash prizes for selling the most tickets. The money raised is then used to finance future teen activities, and as noted above, a small portion designated for the next year’s prize purchases. 

For the 2023 Campvention, my daughter, Jessica Hicks, and son, Zachary Chearhart, and I will be handling the TP ticket sales and raffle. We are asking that families of teens, please, bring a raffle prize per participating teen. Items donated in the past included camping chairs, games, gas/gift cards.  Items may be camping or non-camping related, with a value of $25-$50. Specific donation drop-off instructions will be provided prior to Campvention.

Special Adult Activity

By: Craig Weber

The Adult Activity Chairpersons for Campvention 2023 in Richmond, IN are looking to bring back the adult bowling event. We have found a bowling alley in Richmond that does two hours of bowling, one pizza and one two-liter bottle of pop for 6 people per lane including shoes. The more lanes we fill the lower the cost. If we can fill 5 lanes (30 people), the cost is about $12 per person. The cost  will go down as we fill more lanes. In order to make this happen, we need to make reservations way ahead of time. This event will be open to anyone 18 or older. We are also going to be working to find babysitters for those with younger children. At this time the committee is trying to gauge interest. At this time, I have received interest from 20 people. We need to get that number up to 30. You still have a month to respond. If you are interested in this event, please e-mail YES to Craig Weber at [email protected] before January 10th. Look forward to hearing from everyone. Thank you.

Campvention ‘23 Camper Rentals Info

By: Connie Black, Campvention ’23 Chair

We have been asked to supply members with information on Camper Rentals for Campvention 2023 in Richmond, IN. 

The following links should be quite helpful in their rental efforts:
https://rvshare.com/rv-rental/richmond/in

https://www.outdoorsy.com/rv-rental/indiana/richmond

RVs for rent in Charleston

As for hotel information, we found it easier and less expensive for someone to go to the booking sites such as Travelocity, Hotels.com and others. There are many hotels available Richmond, IN

Campvention 2023 Program Book Ads

By: Marci Mcintosh, Ads Chair

Now is your chance to say thank you or recognize someone special or wish someone a Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary.  Perhaps you want to tell someone in the organization Thank You for all their hard work.  Or you’d like to remember one of our own who has passed and is missed at Campvention. You can do any or all these things in the 2023 Campvention Program Book!   (The form is available in this issue and on the FCRV website.)

Additionally, if you have a vendor (non-member) interested in advertising, ask them to email me at [email protected].  I will send them the Vendor version of the Program Ads form to help the vendor better understand the metrics of our program book.

Step Back in Time in Metamora, Indiana

By: Barb Turner, Campvention 2023 Publicity Chair

Step back in time less than 40 miles from FCRV Campvention 2023 in Richmond, Indiana July 9-14, 2023.  In Metamora, Indiana you step back to what it was like in the 1800’s in eastern Indiana.

Metamora was platted in 1838 along the projected path of the Whitewater Canal, infrastructure to provide a transportation canal to ship products from eastern Indiana to the Ohio River and onto the Mississippi River and on south.  “The town of Metamora was named after the popular 1829 play, Metamora, or The Last of the Wampanoags. It takes place in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1677 and tells a fictionalized version of the story of Metacom (called King Philip by the colonists), leader of the local Wampanoag tribe.”  (https://www.historicmetamora.net)  Canal boats transported people, lumber, livestock and grain until the early 1860’s with the arrival of the railroad.

Experience Metamora – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVjGOhyYRzA

Whitewater Canal State Historic Site/ The Metamora Gristmill:   Start your visit at 19073 Main St.  In 1845 Johnathan Banes built the 3-story frame mill as a cotton mill equipped with almost a thousand water-powered spindles.  The cotton factory idea didn’t do well, as we would think, as Southern Indiana didn’t produce cotton crops.  Bringing cotton from the south and the import of finished textiles wasn’t productive. In 1856 Banes brought in a new partner and converted the cotton mill to a flouring mill.  (I found the idea of a cotton mill in eastern Indiana rather strange)  The mill was destroyed by a fire in 1899 and was rebuilt in 1900.  Following a second fire in 1932, it was converted to the present 2-story brick building where you can purchase flour and meal.  You can mill grains yourself with a hand-powered grinder and learn how millers secured sacks of flour with a miller’s knot!  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwlB1EVxh7o) (https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=44903)  (https://www.indianamuseum.org/historic-sites/white-water-canal/)  (https://orangebeanindiana.com/2021/07/15/the-incredibly-dramatic-life-of-metamoras-grist-mill/)

Ride the Ben Franklin canal boat. Shop the many shops. Experience quaint Metamora, Indiana. Step back in time!