I have a lifetime Good Sam membership, I have a lifetime Escapee membership, I have an annual FMCA membership. I belong to Good Sam & FMCA, I am an Escapee. If I could only belong to one it would be the Escapees. If I could belong to two, the second would be FMCA. Good Sam comes in third.
That said...we are all individuals and these are all businesses. They all have employees and volunteers, some good, some not so good. We're all adults and can make our own decisions about organizations.
Take time to read the magazines from all three, take time to meet members of all three, take time to attend chapter meetings of all three, take time to attend annual rallies of all three. Then make an informed decision.
As to the hugging, there are plenty of Escapees that don't hug. Some even wear a pin stating that...when the hug is offered, just decline. No need to get offended...it was offered in good will.
Froggi Donna "From the Lily Pad" Blog
SKP Lifetime #48337 ~ Good Sam Lifetime #42600353 ~ FMCA #F246470
My husband and I have been members of Escapees for just about a year. More than three years ago, when we decided to become full-time (working, not yet retired) RVers, I stumbled upon the Escapees Forum. I spent two years just reading-- learning about RVs and the lifestyle. At first I thought we would never be able to deal with all the systems in an RV (we are both mechanically challenged). After a while I realized there was an incredible support system on that Forum and, knowing they were out there, we could do it! I took the advice that Kirk and others offered on the Forum and joined RVCG, read up on buying an RV, and then spent nine months finding the right one for us.
The first time we stayed in an Escapees Park (Raccoon Valley, TN) we were overwhelmed by how friendly and helpful everyone was--there were no "strangers" there!
We arrived at Rainbow's End in Livingston two weeks ago to register our vehicles, get our licenses, and become Texans. Once again, everyone has been extremely friendly and helpful. This morning, we took a tour of the CARE Center. My husband is a hospice nurse and has dealt with sick people in their homes, hospitals, nursing homes, and a variety of care centers. We were both very impressed with the Escapees CARE Center--which, by the way is made possible,and affordable, by donations of time and money from Escapees.
Escapees is the only RV organization we belong to and, thus far, the only one we think we need.
Hayes wrote: I have yet to find a true negative about the Escapees.
Shall I send you a copy of the letter that they sent to me while I was recuperating from a heart attack, and the rain was running into my motorhome from the its two broken windows? (Caused by reckless driving on the part of the company returning it from FL to my home in PA)
Or is THIS part of the letter enough for you: "We have neither the time not the resources to respond to individual members complaints."
That answer from Escapee headquarters four years ago was like a slap in the face. It was FMCA that stepped up to the plate for one of its members!
Other than that, I agree with all the other positive posts about the Escapees, and we are still members. #17300
Your post is quite confusing to me.
What is the name of that "national company" that damaged your MH and refused to accept responsibility? Why would escapees be responsible for another companies actions? Of all the internet RVing websites I have participated in, rv.net administration is the only one to treat me with disrespect and indifference.
Their mail service had been very good thus far. We haven't had the chance to visit any of their parks yet or use the other services but thus far we are very happy with the mail forwarding service.
Escapees's Rainbow's End, Livingston, Texas -- it's like an elephant graveyard for RVers.
Seriously, it is a wonderful idea by its founders, who made a lot of money off of their idea, and the parts of their property they turned into the above-mentioned elephant graveyard.
There is a certain part of the human race that has this need for hugs and cute names and parties and games and letting others make many of their decisions for them. If it is your thing, fine. If not, save your money and stay at the great state park on the other side of Livingston, then motor on, saving your money for your very own roll-your-own RVing adventures.
VernM
GMC Conversion van/Wells Cargo MiniWagon trailer
Sent via HughesNet/SatMex5 Internet Portal
VERN:I'd emplore you to perhaps spend a bit more time at Rainbow's end. . . then I hope you'd be able to change your view that its and "elephant boneyard". My wife and I have been active SKPs since 2001 and don't feel that we're quite ready for the grave at age 60. By the way, our Escapades always offer great activities for the younger set, as well as the proverbial "young at heart". Rainbow's end may appear to cater to the senior Escapees, but I think you'll also find children riding their bikes around the campground on a daily basis as well as families doing "family" things. As always, oRV
Orvil, I had two or three years of membership when my wife was still alive. We visited at Rainbow's End two or three times. Stayed at a few of their other parks too. Found what others have mentioned, eletism, too much cutesy and not much to attract us back. But, as hinted, more-of-the-same isn't my game.
Ray.IN wrote: Your post is quite confusing to me.
What is the name of that "national company" that damaged your MH and refused to accept responsibility? Why would escapees be responsible for another companies actions? Of all the internet RVing websites I have participated in, rv.net administration is the only one to treat me with disrespect and indifference.
Ray, in all fairness to the national company in question, its president was not aware of how one of his own representatives had botched our case until he was called personally by the president of FMCA. As soon as he was made aware, he took responsibility and had our motorhome repaired. His extension of our contract was to make amends for the representative who (wrongly) laid all repair responsibilities on my shoulders at a time when I was extremely ill.
I never said -- nor did I imply -- that Escapees had any responsibility. I did maintain that I simply was rebuffed when I requested assistance in a situation where one little voice did not have enough influence to correct a wrong. At a time when I needed help, FMCA was there; Escapees wasn't.
And again, in case you missed it, I am still a member because of the many good reasons already mentioned in this post.
2Rovers wrote: would be curious to know where you were and what your expectations were that the Escapees Organization would be able to do.
I was at home in PA -- after a week in isolation and intensive care in Tampa, FL. The national company flew us home, and arranged for our motorhome to be driven back. What I expected was [1] What FMCA did, and perhaps [2] what Good Sam does on a regular basis.
* This post was
edited 05/24/08 07:00am by fchammer1 *
Quote: I did consider joining but after lurking on their forum for a month, I felt that they are too elitist.
What elitism
We have been SKPs for over 10 years and certainly haven't run into that
Dianne
Donnelly, ID
DataStorm
HAM WB6N (Terry)
2005 Teton 39' Frontier Grand
2003 Freightliner FL60
Life Member Good Sam
Escapees
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