Is anyone going to attend the Mar. 16-19, 2009 FMCA rally in Perry GA?

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ArdraF

ArdraF

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If anyone attends the Perry FMCA rally this year, I do hope you will report here about how FMCA is dealing with all the RV manufacturers disappearing.  We know, for example, that Alpine, Bluebird, and Country Coach have closed their doors permanently.  Monaco has always had the largest space at FMCA so I'm wondering how FMCA and/or Monaco is going to handle that.  Monaco filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week and the CEO said they hope to sell off some assets and emerge from Chapter 11 stronger than ever.  That being said, I wonder if Monaco will send new units to FMCA and the dealers will try to sell them there?  Will there be any Monaco people there?  Will there be a Monaco section?  Most employees have been laid off, but apparently there are still some who haven't yet been laid off.  Or will the entire format change with there being sections by dealer such as Lazy Days instead of by manufacturer?

Please let us know everything you can about the rally.  Inquiring minds want to know.  Thanks!

ArdraF
 
Ardra

We'll be arriving at Perry next week. I don't expect to see a Monaco display there tho there could be some dealers showing what coaches they have. Tech support is something else I don't expect to see. Since the Monaco chapters are independent they will probably still have their pre-rallies and caravans into Perry.

All things considered, I wouldn't expect much. I'll be looking around and hopefully remember to report back ;D
 
Thanks, Bernie.  It seems like FMCA will be forced into changing the format somewhat and I'm really interesting in hearing about how they cope.

ArdraF
 
Lazy Days skipped the FMCA Southeast Area Rally in February and they are only 50 miles down the road from it. THE SEA normally attracts 1500-2000 coaches and LD has been at every one for many, many years, so they were sorely missed.  Don't know if they will be at Perry either.
 
Bernie, something else for you to check on for us!  ;)

ArdraF
 
I've already got so many things scheduled, you expect to remember this also ;D ;D ;D I will try to remember and report back. ;)
 
We arrived yesterday in the drizzle and gloom of Perry. Attendance is anticipated around 2,500 family coaches. There is no mention of Monaco anywhere, but the display coaches won't be available until Monday, so can't tell if any dealers are showing. Fleetwood has a 2 page ad in the program and has a large space on the vendor map, but, we have to wait and see. Lazy Days is a major sponsor, has a large ad in the program and is supposed to show a lot of coaches. I'll report further after I get a chance to look over the display area.

As I noted previously, FMCA has been adjusting budgets and reducing expenses for well over a year now in order to ride out the downturn. We'll just have to keep cutting costs and reducing activities as the economy dictates, but as long as there are members interested in all the benefits that FMCA has to offer, it will continue.
 
I did a quick walk around of both the indoor and outdoor exhibits. I don't remember the make up when we were here last in 2002, but there seemed to be a full house of indoor vendors, tho somewhat tilted toward RV resorts. At the outdoor display, Fleetwood had what seemed to be it's usual type of display with full complement of coaches. There was a full complement of Monaco coaches; Monaco, Beaver, HR and Safari, being displayed by 3 or 4 different dealers, including Lazy Days. The only thing missing there was the Monaco and other brands' displays. Monaco has no official representation here, no service people and no parts truck. Overall, you have to wonder what RV depression :-\

I was told by an officer of the Holiday Rambler FMCA Chapter that the president of Monaco was escorting a potential (unnamed) buyer around the convention and something is supposed to be announced next week.
 
Bernie,

Yes, thanks for the report.  Looking forward to more....  I've noticed the last couple of issus of Family Motor Coaching have been very thin.

ArdraF
 
ArdraF said:
Yes, thanks for the report.  Looking forward to more....  I've noticed the last couple of issus of Family Motor Coaching have been very thin.
Click to expand...

Ardra

I think you'll find the next couple (or even a lot more) very thin also. The editorial content will be as thick as before, but a lot of full page ads by coach builders will be missing :'(

At dinner tonite, someone made the comment that many of the exhibitors are looking at this rally as a determining factor as to how they participate in the future. I hope that they do well.
 
many of the exhibitors are looking at this rally as a determining factor as to how they participate in the future. I hope that they do well.
Click to expand...

That's not too surprising.  I would expect them to be making a major evaluation considering the entire economy and the RV industry in particular.  That's why I asked for feedback originally.  Let's all pray they do well!

ArdraF
 
Not sure what they consider doing well, but I heard that 6 Monacos have been sold so far. At the same time, Spartan has no chassis on the production line. All the movement seems to be in factory buybacks of floorplaned units and attempts to send them to new dealers.
 
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