She spent hours writing, researching and correcting it, and fortunately was able to have the satisfaction of seeing it in print.

The whole thing started in February of 1965 when Tom and Junia Duck F257 sent invitations to Family Motor Coach Association members to attend an organizational meeting at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona.  Thirty-six coaches arrived on Friday, February 19th, with great enthusiasm, to form a California Chapter.  King and Georgia Kramer brought their stripped Brill which they were about to convert, and we were served coffee and cookies by Georgia and Betty Kandt as we sat or stood in the Brill.  On Saturday, officers and directors were elected as follows: President, Tom Duck F257, Vice President, Dr. Chester Moore F320, Secretary-Treasurer, Ken Tompkins F390.  Directors: Dr. Truman Newberry F588, Bob Dilday F301, Dr. Donald Norquist F102, Ed (King) Kramer F653, Art Houston F222 and Dr. Jim Holifield F387.  Junia Duck was appointed newsletter editor which we dubbed "The Spot-Lite."  Junia continued in this position for 5 years which was quite a task.  The Spot-Lite and Sec's notes yielded these names for this meeting.  If there are others, they are not recorded.  They are, the Tom Ducks, Ed Kramers, Ken Fells, Don Norquists, Irving Brooks, Dick Kandts, Bob Dildays, Art Houstons, Van Groos Montieths, Chet Moore, Ken Thompkins, Truman Newberrys, Jim Holifields, Tureks, Berrys, Maynes, Munsons, Stevens, Bruce Hollingsworth, Watsons and Clifford Nutts.  Five of these families are still active in the California Chapter.  Our Treasurer opened a bank account of $63.50, and it was decided our yearly dues would be $8.00.  Today, in 1980, they remain the same.

The California Chapter charter was granted at the 2nd Annual FMCA Convention at Greenville, Ohio, in July.  California members attending were the Tom Ducks F257, Munsons F372, from Willets, Ed Murrays F130, from Berkeley, Jim Holifields F387, from Sacramento, and Jerry Beem F858.  Ernie Lindner F669 was in Chicago on business, rented a car and came over to Greenville for the meeting.  Vic and Vi White F748, from Australia, were also there and subsequently became California members and now make their headquarters in beautiful Hemet where Jean Dummar has a pad for them.

The first meeting after the granting of our charter was at Mule Canyon, near Calico Ghost Town, with 28 members present.  Labor Day found us up north at Jim and Clem Ray's F642, in Sonoma.  Everybody enjoyed their home, their pool and wonderful hospitality.  The last meeting of 1965 was Morro Bay.  Inclement weather kept the coach count at 17.  The officers and directors for 1966 remained the same as 1965, except for Jim Ray who replaced the late Bob Dilday.  We had some exceptional rallies that year ---Newport Dunes in February, Thanksgiving Rally at Fresno, where our trailbosses, Jim and Clem Ray F642 and Randy and Edna Sullivan F775 roasted a whole pig --- apple and all.  34 coaches were there.  The Labor Day rally was at Santa Cruz --- 44 coaches.  By August we had 80 family members.

The 3rd Annual National Convention was held at Glenwood, Minnesota, in July of 1966.  Tom Duck was elected National Vice President.  15 California coaches attended --- Ducks, Ephroms, Art Crawfords, Mark DaShiell, Hills, Holifields, Herb Irwins, Jacksons, Pioskes, Russ Stewarts, Bachors, Cromptons, Jones', Krahans and Murrays.

The officers for 1967, California Chapter were: President, Jim Holifield F387 and Secretary-Treasurer, Ken Tompkins F390.  Directors: Tom Duck, Art Houston, king Kramer, Don Norquist, Seymour Johnson, Dick Kandt and Jim Weatherbie.  We had some good rallies that year --- Palm Springs with 52 coaches, Santa Barbara, 54 coaches, Lake Tahoe, 54 coaches.  By October we had 167 full members and 41 associate members.  This surpassed any other state.

The 4th Annual National Convention was in 1967 at Bowling Green, Kentucky.  Seymour Johnson presented a flag work-shop and was made flag registrar for the national organization.  6 California coaches were there.

A rally at Ojai that year brought out 57 coaches, and the wilderness rockhound rally at Wiley's Well drew 39 coaches.  The Thanksgiving rally was at Death Valley at Furnace Creek Campgrounds.  Trailbosses Ernie and Harriet Lindner planned tours, hikes and jeep trail rides for the 69 coaches who were there.  We always elected our officers for the coming year at this Thanksgiving rally, and Jim Holifield was made President; Don Norquist, Vice President, vice President for the south and Jim Ray for the north.

The 5th Annual National Convention was again in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with 13 California coaches present.  The 6th Annual National Convention was at Traverse City, Michigan, where our own Tom Duck was elected President.  16 California coaches were able to attend.

In 1969 California Chapter rallies were held at Anza Borrego ---Butterfield Ranch --- 53 coaches; Lake Berryessa in the north --- 23 coaches; Antelope Valley --- 81 coaches; Napa County Fairgrounds --- 25 coaches; Monterey Fairgrounds --- 46 coaches; and Slab City, at Niland (low desert) --- 51 coaches.

The 7th Annual National Convention was at Orange County Fairgrounds July 26-29, 1970.  This was the big one for the California Chapter.  The convention co-chairmen were Clifford Nutt and Ed (King) Kramer.  Tom Duck was elected president for the second time.  It was such a well-planned and well-executed convention.  The huge committee's hard work paid off, as we were told time and again what a super convention we hosted --- exhibitors, entertainment, seminars, the works.

The 8th Annual Convention was in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, in July 1971.  Tom Duck was elected for his third term as president.  40 coaches came from California.

For the next 5 years the chapter grew and grew and our membership in 1974 had reached 418.  Consequently the rallies got bigger and bigger.  The presidents were Ken Tompkins for 1970, Stan Magill for 1971, Milt Diedrich in 1972, Lew Irwin in 1973, Ernie Lindner in 1974, Don Norquist in 1975, John Bergen in 1976, Paul Clark in 1977, Ray Lemieux in 1978 and Sheila Donigan in 1979.

In 1974 Lew Irwin discussed starting a new chapter in Northern California.  Most of us were opposed to splitting the state and it was agreed to put the matter up for a vote at the rally at Death Valley.  47 members voted against the split and 9 voted for it.  There was some bitterness and fractured heart strings but time heals all wounds and the Golden Gate Chapter came into being.

Our Chapter celebrated it's 10th Anniversary at the 9th Annual National Convention in Salem, Oregon.  We had 150 coaches there and served 750 pieces of our anniversary cake to coachers from all over the country.

Junia Duck was the editor of the Spot-Lite for 5 years, followed by Elsa Norquist for 2 years, Georgia Kramer for 1 year, Golda Johnson for 1 year, Elsa Norquist again for 2 years, Jean Dummar for 2 years and Margaret Land for 3 years.

Some of our rallies were spectacular.  At Lake Elsinore in 1972, over 200 buses lined up and watched as the parachutists jumped into our campsite for lunch at Ernie Lindner's invitation.  Our Afton Canyon rallies were always good as we parked on a mesa above the trains and at night we could see the ships slowly passing by.

The Oktoberfest is becoming a tradition and will have it's 5th annual renewal next October.  We eventually plan to enlarge it and invite more chapters to join us.

The Mardi Gras rally was as stupendous as the original in New Orleans, thanks to Tom and Donna Santos and their Krew of Krazies.  There were parades and floats and everone was costumed fantastically.  We really had a ball.  At this point we had about 500 members.

Another plus for California Chapter was the 4th Annual Winter-National Convention at Del Mar Fairgrounds in March of 1979.  Everybody worked on this meeting and we felt it was a great success.  Lots of glowing letters attested to this.  We elected our first woman president for 1979 ---Sheila Donigan.  Her reign as President-person went smoothly and efficiently and sometimes hilariously.  This brings us to this year with Bob Land as President.  We've had great rallies during his tenure and it boggles the mind to imagine greater, more gigantic rallies than we've had in our 15 years of existence.  We have been recognized nationally with Tom Duck as President for 3 terms and Ernie Lindner and Vice President for 3 terms.

We have made marvelous lasting friendships in our ranks and have lost many dear friends who have departed.  To lots of us --- perhaps most --- Family Motor Coaching has become our life.