RV owners congregate in Sisters

Full Timers President Bud Dabney presents a food bank donation to

Sisters Kiwanis President Glenn Keeran. photo by Jim Mitchell Last weekend, 47 full-time motorhome owners from around the country set up in Sisters' Mountain Shadow RV Park prior to visiting the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA ) International Convention in Redmond on August 16-19.

The convention will draw more than 5,000 of the luxury travel coaches to the Deschutes Country Fair and Expo Center. This is down from 8,000 in the past. According to Bob Smith, wagonmaster, "Motorhome drivers are traveling less this summer because of fuel prices."

The Full Timers Chapter of FMCA was chartered in 1984 in Fort Myers, Florida, and has grown to over 300 members. The Full Timers live in their motorhomes much of the time. About 50 percent have no fixed home and are truly "full timers." One member described the group as "homeless." To which, Smith chuckled and replied, "Yeah, driving a $250,000 rig we are homeless."

The stated purpose of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), with more than 325,000 members, is to promote and facilitate the ownership and usage of "family motor coaches." FMCA is an advocate for motorhome rights, adressing such issues as parking and zoning. The Full Timers club is one of 460 chapters of the FMCA.

This was the semi-annual rally of the Full Timers, who describe themselves as an informal group of fun-loving, relaxed people. They come from all over the United States.

Sunday's formal business and election of officers completed, the group spent some time "fining" each other for whatever "offenses" could be reported and/or invented. At the end of the fun and games, Glenn Keeran, Kiwanis Food Bank Director, was presented a donation of over $200 for the food bank.

The FMCA encourages RV enthusiasts to attend the "Cascade Mountain Magic" convention in Redmond. The exhibits are open to the public and almost 350 companies will present their wares.

Motorhome manufacturers will showcase their upcoming models. At the upper end, Family Motor Coaching magazine's August issue highlights the Magna 630 manufactured by Country Coach in Junction City, Oregon. Floor plan -- 45 feet long, with up to four slide-outs providing 400 square feet of floor space. Engine -- Caterpillar C13 12.5-liter diesel generating 525 horsepower. Fuel capacity -- 150 gallons. Base Price -- $540,000 (extras can push the price close to $600,000).

Another RV group, "The Frustrated Maestros" will be in Sisters this week. Bob Smith belongs to both the Full Timers and the Frustrated Maestros.

Smith says the Frustrated Maestros is a "bunch of old retired musicians." There are about 700 in the U.S. He expects about 120 musicians in Sisters, then 300 in Redmond. They "will cover every facet of music, from classical to polkas and everything in between." They will rehearse in Sisters for daily performances in Redmond.