SEACA Newsletter – November 2019

Greetings Southeast Chapter Members and Friends.

Our Fall Rally held in Punta Gorda FL, was a great success. A tremendous Thank You to Jackie and Mark Belcher and Joanie and Jack Brier. Day excursions to Fisherman Village, Muscle Car Museum, Military Museum and Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary were enjoyed by all who participated. Our group of 40 dining experience at La Fiorentina’s Restaurant was another special treat. We have reserved a group of sites so we may repeat the experience in 2020. Thanks again to our hosts, the Belchers and the Briers.

The Southeast Chapter will gather again on December 5-9, 2019, for our annual Christmas Rally. The rally will be held at the award-winning Sun ‘N Fun RV Resort in Sarasota, FL. Rally hosts Brett and Sandy Sloan, Bob and Sue Moore and Martin Mancuso have been hard at work assuring that this rally will exceed expectations. There are still spaces available, so be sure to signup online at www.southeastaca.net.

In January, 2020 Southeast will host the 9th Annual Eastern Regional Rally at Lazydays RV Campground in Seffner FL. Catered meals and live entertainment make this one of our more popular events. We travel from here to the Florida Supershow. It is my understanding that the Supershow is SOLD OUT. Southeast is maintaining a wait list. If you would like to be added you may do so by signing up online at www.ray@southeastaca.net. If you have a reservation and will be unable to attend, PLEASE let us know and we will attempt to find someone who is interested in taking your space. Tentative agendas for both Lazydays and the Super Show are posted on our web site (www.southeastaca,net).

Southeast will return to Disney’s Fort Wilderness in February, 2020. The dates are fluid as some like to come early and stay late. Sites have been blocked from February 1 through 10. Cost of sites will be approximately $120 per night. Reservations can be made by calling Hilda Neal (302 598 8892). Be sure to tell her you are with the Southeast Chapter of the ACA. Visiting theme parks is an option but not necessary as there is much to do at Ft. Wilderness.

Our Spring Rally will be held at Compass RV Park, the closest campground to historic St. Augustine FL. This rally sold out in 2018 and registrations are already beginning to be made. Rally hosts are John and Jill Schafer and Dick and Pat Lokar.

Saving the least pleasant for last, discussion of the “absolute truth”. The ACA’s most recent magazine contained an article that claimed to state the “absolute truth” regarding the proposed changes to the bylaws and its intent. The suggestion being that everything and anything else said about the amendments or its intent was a lie. How truly sad it is that the Leader of this Association would resort to publicly calling four Chapter Presidents liars. I Think it is safe to assume that this Association is made up of fun-loving, caring and sharing people who enjoy traveling the country in their cherished motorhomes who deserve the respect of the elected Board, even if their opinion differs. Nonetheless, we find ourselves in a situation, not unlike the rest of the country, where civility and courtesy have been set aside.

Let me share with you once again, the result of the upcoming bylaw amendment dealing with merging chapters has nothing to do with preserving “geographic balance on the board to maintain a sense of equal representation for ALL MEMBERS.”. (If you are interested in geographic balance, go to the front of your ACA Magazine and count the number of elected officers and/or appointed Chairs to determine how many are East of the Mississippi.) One might consider if geographical balance on the board maintains equal representation for all members or if it actually distorts that representation. A single member of a chapter with three votes has stronger representation on the Board than a member of a chapter with one vote.

Chapters have merged in the past (Northern California and Northwest). No change to the bylaws was necessary. Those chapters merged, becoming one chapter with one vote. This issue is not about merging of chapters or Board representation, or how many blue dots there are on a map, it is about VOTES. How many votes should one chapter have? That is question you must ask when you cast your vote. One Chapter, one vote OR six chapters with one vote each and one chapter with three votes.

Those members of the Southeast Chapter who were present in Texas and Punta Gorda were polled regarding their views of the issue of one chapter having three votes and the overwhelming majority of those present opposed any one chapter having more than one vote. As the President of the Southeast Chapter, I will continue to oppose this amendment on your behalf and individually. The ballots to vote on these changes should be sent in mid-November, please remember to vote.

I’ll close this newsletter by quoting the ACA President in an e-mail he recently sent to a member with a copy to me. “Defeat [of the bylaw amendment] means that the entire association is controlled by Southeast as they, Northeast, MacPac all vote as a block and have for the past four years.” This is not and should not be viewed as an east versus west or a north versus south issue. You, as members of this Association get to decide what is fair and balanced. This decision of how many votes a Chapter should have will not be made by a Board or Chapter Presidents, but by you the voting membership. I urge you to exercise your right and vote.

Wishing you Happy Holidays,

Dorothy Strunk
Southeast Chapter President