We previously shared 5 tips for attending an FMCA convention which included the following:
- Soak up the RV knowledge
- Don’t be shy
- Volunteer
- Download the App
- Do your homework
Well, we’re back with even more tips to make sure your convention experience is wonderful from the moment you arrive on-site until you pull out of your parking space and continue down the road.
Participate in morning/daytime activities
You don’t have to wait for seminars and evening entertainment to enjoy your time at an FMCA convention – The fun starts as soon as the sun rises! Socialize with your fellow members at the FMCA Town Center, where coffee and doughnuts are served each morning. A daily bulletin is handed out in the mornings, so you can stay informed and up to date on all the convention happenings. While you’re at the town center, make sure to check out The Frustrated Maestros, a rather entertaining group of FMCA member musicians who play at conventions and rallies.
If you’re looking to start your day out with a little exercise to get your blood pumping, you can participate in The Magic Mile, an event where participants walk, run or ride mobility scooters on a 1-mile course that will take them on a loop throughout the grounds. The best part – It’s for a good cause! Your $10 participation fee will be donated to a local charity!
In the afternoon, make sure to check the schedule for various social activities such as the Ladies Luncheon, crafts, The Supersized Book Club, and more!
Explore the surrounding areas
We know that RVers have a certain desire to explore, so we encourage you to check out the surrounding areas near the convention. Whether you arrive a few days early or stay a few days after the convention, make sure to show some love to the local communities that have allowed us to host our event in their town. Every main street in America is a treasure chest of uniqueness, so be sure to check out the small businesses and restaurants.
Generally, local tourism experts set up booths on-site at the convention to answer any questions about the region. They are choosing to be there to answer your questions, so they obviously love to share their knowledge with out-of-towners. Make their day by striking up a conversation with them!
Share a meal with your neighbors
There are lots of places to buy food on the convention grounds, but there is nothing like a good home-cooked meal. And luckily for RVers, everybody brings their home with them to the convention. As you meet your neighbors and explore the parking lots, don’t hesitate to offer to share a meal with your new companions. It is a great way to make lasting friends and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow members.
There are pop-up potlucks (say that 10 times fast!) throughout the week as well as parking lot happy hours and chapter block parties, so a good meal and a cold beverage is always just a few campsites away!
Pro Tip: Bring the ingredients to make a dish that’s popular in the region where you are from. You might get the opportunity to introduce the dish to somebody who has never tried it!
Meet the FMCA staff
These are the people who work year-round at our offices in Cincinnati to make sure FMCA is there for you whenever you need it. Whether it’s answering your phone calls, negotiating for new benefits, planning events, or putting together each issue of Family RVing magazine, FMCA’s staff is always hard at work to make sure you can enjoy your RV lifestyle with minimal hassles.
We are easily spotted during conventions as we will all be wearing the same color shirts as one another each day. If you see one of us, say hi! We love meeting our members and hearing about where you are from.
We can’t take all the credit, though. Each FMCA convention would not be made possible without the hundreds of people who volunteer their time to ensure everybody has a fun time. Make sure you show extra love to all of our volunteers whenever you get the chance. They are truly the folks who make these events possible, and they are fellow members, just like you!
Be festive!
We all know that the F in FMCA stands for FAMILY, but who says it can’t also stand for FUN? At the heart of these events, the goal is to provide a fun and festive atmosphere for people to enjoy themselves and each other’s company. If everybody arrives with a positive attitude and radiates that positivity everywhere they go, the convention will become even better!
Share a joke with a stranger. Decorate your golf cart or campsite with festive flags, ribbons and streamers. Wear your favorite party shirt or a goofy hat when you’re walking around the grounds. All of these little things add up to something much bigger and more fun than the sum of the individual parts.
See you at the next convention
Now that you know how to have the best convention experience possible, all there is left to do is sign up and start counting down the days!
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