GILLETTE, Wyo. — “People were excited, people were involved. A sense of things are really positive and moving in the right direction.” Those are the words of Paul Mitchell, president of the organization formerly known as the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), and now called the Family RV Association (FRVA), in describing the 2025 annual convention.
The organization holds two annual conventions with this one being its summer convention and being held in Gillette, Wyo., which was July 16-19, at the CAM-PLEX Multi Event Center.
About 400 RVs with members descended on the grounds for the multi-day event, which included informational seminars, entertainment and vendor booths. There were also several workshops including training on driving and backing RVs as well as having them weighed.
Vendors provided everything from organized journeys to aftermarket add-ons, hitches, microfiber towels and even wigs.
According to a few attendees and vendors attendance was clearly down but Mitchell addressed that, saying that the cost of producing the convention was significantly lower so, when all is said and done, the event may break even.
The FRVA has seen a significant decline in membership in the past few years — along with many membership-based organizations — but Mitchell indicated that the management recognizes this and is working to stem the tide of members not renewing.
Among the actions being taken is simply telephoning those whose membership has lapsed. According to Wayne Cernie, Western Area vice president, “Some of the people we’ve called didn’t even know their membership didn’t just automatically renew.”
Returning to the show were Patrice and Kevin McCabe from the television show “RV There Yet.”
As a recognition the slate of officers for the board of directors of the organization included Mitchell returning as president for the next two years along with Vice President Bob Whitehoff, Secretary Glenda Milner, and Treasurer Ken Lewis. “We’re all going to work together to move things forward,” Mitchell said.
The FRVA is the new name for what was the Family Motor Coach Association, which started in 1963 to serve members with motor coaches and has grown to some 55,000 members at present.
Membership organizations in general are facing challenges. While the name change for the FRVA is intended to bring in new members, particularly the absolute vast majority of new RV buyers who prefer towables, it’s a struggle with any membership organization.
The FRVA holds two international conventions per year with future conventions planned for Sedalia, Mo., and a return to Gillette, Wyo. Both of those locations don’t require the organization to lay down power, it was noted. They can also utilize volunteers to set-up sound systems and other infrastructure. These two factors alone can save up to $200,000, making the conventions much less of a loss for the organization.
But there will be challenges, including attracting new attendees. Several vendors expressed their frustrations with RVBusiness, but at least one — Darryl Abts from Wack-O products — praised FRVA’s efforts to reinvent itself.
“They’re working hard to try to diversify into more towables.” said Abts, who has been coming to FRVA conventions since 2018. He, too, recognizes the value of diversification with his company extending from simply selling the RV AC Silencer to other products for RV air conditioners and a wider variety of brands of air conditioners.
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