Hi All

I didn't want to hi jack another's thread but I have noticed over time that some RVer's don't like the CMCA and are quite vocal about them, this confuses me a tad. I have been a member for a few years so I'm just a newbie in comparison to others. Although I own a MH I have never been asked or quizzed in reference to a grey water tank. They now allow C'van owners to become members, although on a restricted level but as we all know this will probably change in time (everything seems to). It doesn't cost a lot and they send a magazine to my door (& computer) and this alone pays for the membership. They have connection with RV outlets to offer discounts, deals etc

They supply shires etc with Dump Tank outers some of these are in conjunction with Kea, they go to bat for the general RV industry to the point they utilise specialists to lobby Govts. I can't say how successful they are at this but at least they are a voice for the RV public. They have also opened member only low cost camps, yes these are for members but then it is a club. They give their members every opportunity to join chapters and go away with like minded people and you also have the option to go the major rallies. These alone must put 10s of thousands of dollars into the local regions.

They are active in getting some communities on line as a RV Friendly Towns and if that community changes they are again active in removing this status. I don't know about other people but I find this an advantage when I'm out and about. I suppose they are quite loud about people being responsible campers with rubbish, water and respect for the local area but is this a bad thing.

I haven't joined a local chapter or been to any rallies and I don't hold down any position within the CMCA and I don't think they actually care so long as I am enjoying the RV life. I have not heard of any other club / organisation going to the same level to assist the general RV public, I'm not saying others don't just that I have not read or heard about any.

So, my point in this dribble is NOT to start a slinging match but to ask what is they have done to cause so much angst.

Peter

My personal thoughts on the CMCA  are that this subject has been done to death on this forum,

If you go and click on "SEARCH" enter CMCA,  you will find over 134 comments already made on this forum regarding Members thoughts on this subject.

K.J. 

Well it's a bit of a slow Sunday so poured a glass of red and followed your advice K.J and read the lions share of those 134 comments and not one reason why the CMCA cause so much angst. There was a running debate on personalities at rallies and another on insurance and another on the confusion about if Caravans can or cannot join but other than that not one real reason what they have done.

I think you are right Hino , people just like to look at the perceived negative aspects.

Well, I for one like the idea that we have a voice, albeit probably not as loud as it could be. If anyone has any real reasons I would be keen to know as my renewal is coming up and I like to look at all aspects.

Regardless, keep safe on the roads and keep smiling.... life is way ... way to short

Sorry Goldfinger I didn't see your post when I replying, I think you may have something and in the many years ahead I can see other substantial clubs amalgamating and then we would have a Lobby voice and it may even some of the free camp versus C Parks debate in some towns around OZ

-- Edited by Peter1059 on Sunday 17th of April 2016 07:13:04 PM

There was the CMCA of Old !! and now The CMCA for the New, !! the old CMCA was very eliteist !! and the old school was very much against allowing Caravaners into the fold, However A couple of years back, there was an upheaval and the Board was replaced with a much more forward thinking group and in part of the restructure allowed Caravan Owners to become members, [ much to the disgust of some of the old school !! ] The only sticking point now is that Caravan owners can only be Associate Members, !! They pay the same dues, ! However they do not have all the same rights ! like Standing for positions Nor Voting Rights in elections , to name a couple ! But no doubt this also may change over time, 

I think a part of what '' goldfinger'' wrote in his post is just about spot on  ''ie'' they do sound like a Club that is in the process of evolving for the betterment of their growing membership....less elitist and more representative of the various R/V's including caravans than perhaps before?......

There is No Doubt that the CMCA has done some great and beneficial work, that is of great benefit to Every traveller or camper out there today, And we all must hope that this continues, as Great as the Group is, lets us not forget, that there is another very powerful and Deceitful Group out there trying to undermine, not only The great work that CMCA does, but also make life very difficult for all travellers, !!  That Group is the CPA ! [ Caravan Parks Association ] who are also campaigning very heavily, to force us all into their members caravan parks,  By getting Councils to close down both Freecamp, ! and Lowcost area's such as Showgrounds etc !! They too are a powerful group, and are actively pouring thousands of $$$ into their campaign, !!  To Our Detriment !!

I have been a member of ACC [ Australian Caravan Club ] for many years, and they have also been doing great work, !! and personally I would like to see a much closer  working relationship between both the CMCA and the ACC,  As I believe that the combined membership voice of Both Organisations would be a very loud and powerful voice indeed !!  -- I am not saying Amalgamate !! Just saying we all have common interest, so lets work together to secure those interests !!

I WROTE THIS AGES AGO ON ANOTHER THREAD.

About 6 years ago I was on another popular forum and there was an attempt (not initiated by me) to "FORM A CARAVAN GROUP", similar to CMCA so that we could mutually support each other across the spectrum of issues.

It was a dismal failure as the "caravan group" were so fragmented and bitched about everything that didn't suit their own personal wants or opinions that the whole thread caved in on our heads.

Just my thoughts.

Peter1059 wrote:

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I have never been asked or quizzed in reference to a grey water tank. 

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 Me too.   I was onboard with the LNT attitude long before the CMCA so have no problem with it at all.    I am a member mainly because the club does so much for its members.   The flow on effects to all travelers are often ignored by those happy to use the facilities and opportunities that CMCA has pushed for while knocking the club at the same time.   People who knock the CMCA as elitist are only disclosing something about their own level of self-esteem while insulting the whole CMCA membership.   Never been to a rally and don't belong to a CMCA chapter but happy to show the stickers that say I am a member.

Iza

dazren wrote:

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There is No Doubt that the CMCA has done some great and beneficial work, that is of great benefit to Every traveller or camper out there today, And we all must hope that this continues, as Great as the Group is, lets us not forget, that there is another very powerful and Deceitful Group out there trying to undermine, not only The great work that CMCA does, but also make life very difficult for all travellers, !!  That Group is the CPA ! [ Caravan Parks Association ] who are also campaigning very heavily, to force us all into their members caravan parks,  By getting Councils to close down both Freecamp, ! and Lowcost area's such as Showgrounds etc !! They too are a powerful group, and are actively pouring thousands of $$$ into their campaign, !!  To Our Detriment !!

I have been a member of ACC [ Australian Caravan Club ] for many years, and they have also been doing great work, !! and personally I would like to see a much closer  working relationship between both the CMCA and the ACC,  As I believe that the combined membership voice of Both Organisations would be a very loud and powerful voice indeed !!  -- I am not saying Amalgamate !! Just saying we all have common interest, so lets work together to secure those interests !!

 

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 There is a combined club lobby group called MoTouring Australia of which ACC is also a member, see; 

http://www.atcmcc.org.au/newsitem.php?pagename=home&page=9&newsid=motour2 

(The above club also has full membership for caravans etc and motorhomes with equal rights)

This CMCA link also refers to MoTouring Australia  https://www.cmca.net.au/about-us/motouring 

Weevil wrote:

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There is a combined club lobby group called MoTouring Australia of which ACC is also a member 

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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Couple of points.
Caravan owners (and any one else at all) have always been able to join the CMCA as Associate Members. Nothing has changed there except that they can now attend a many major rallies as they wish.
MoTouring Australia was created by the CMCA as a way of getting as many RV clubs as possible together in order to better represent RVers when negotiating with various other bodies and the government at all levels. Many other clubs have chosen not to be a part of this initiative and that is their choice.

Cheers,
Peter

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 I am personally not in to clubs or the like, but I do wonder at an organisation that has equal fees for members but unequal rights, as I understand from your posts is the case with CMCA.  ie Non Motorhome owning members can't vote or be office holders but pay the same membership fees.  Please correct me if I am wrong.

Like I said .. not for me.

I seem to recall that the Owner/Operator of that great CP at Narrabeen (& perhaps others eg Ballina) is a leading light in CMC.  Is that right?  It's our prefered CP when visiting Sydney

Hi Cuppie

Yes you are quite right.

They are Associate Members.

Associate members are those who are RV enthusiasts, but do not own a qualifying vehicle. Associate members have the same access to all member benefits as full members.

There are equal fees and the Caravan owners do not have the right to vote in club elections, nominate persons for election, move motions or hold office.

 They also have the right like you have chosen, not to join. Some Caravan owners are very happy with this arrangement.

It seems the best of both worlds for all The Motorhome members maintain control of their Motorhome club and Caravan Associate members can join and enjoy from all the benefits of the Motorhome Club if they wish but they will never be in a position to take over control of the Motorhome Club.

Very happy camper wrote:

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Hi Cuppie

 

Yes you are quite right.

They are Associate Members.

 but they will never be in a position to take over control of the Motorhome Club.

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 And nothing in this statement doesn't seem wrong to all the members? Those darned caravaners might take over? What a paranoid way of looking at the proposed brethren.

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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MoTouring Australia was created by the CMCA as a way of getting as many RV clubs as possible together in order to better represent RVers when negotiating with various other bodies and the government at all levels. Many other clubs have chosen not to be a part of this initiative and that is their choice. 

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 Correction here, CMCA did not create MoTOURing Australia. It was a joint effort of CMCA and the NACC, and a couple of smaller clubs. The cooperation between NACC and CMCA commenced during a meeting with with Forbes Council discussing requirements for both bodies national rallies. The NACC rally chairman approached the CMCA delegates about forming a peak council and the proceedings developed from this informal contact.

The ACC split from MoTOURing after they rejected the Self Containment scheme and formulated their ACCESS scheme.

Copied from a previous discussion on the same subject April  2015.................

We  were also members of the CMCA only because the Motor Home we had at the time was too old for any other insurance company to handle,

Ken Tame was the only insurance company that would cover our bus ( a 1977 Coaster ) the only stipulation for the cover was, we had to be members of the CMCA to get the cover.

She wasn't flash, but took us where we wanted to go...........

I also found the Monthly magazine was nothing but adverts, very little helpful info, as soon as I sold the motor Home I didn't bother to renew the membership, instead I joined this Forum and have found all the info here readily available , and free for the reading.

We were down in Tassie when the CMCA had a gathering some years back, We found them to be a very clicky bunch, at the gathering when they all arrived in a paddock, you couldn't park where you wanted to, they would not have our "Cheap Van" beside a $80,000 Motor Home with all the bells &  whistles, "Oh No" ,  You get your cheap heap of junk way down the line, where the lower class vans were,  my thoughts at the time were, How many of you lot actually "OWN" your vans, or do most of you have to be back at work by a certain date to pay the next install on them.    

Another thing I found was that if you wanted to go to one of their Rallies, it would cost a fortune, 

We would much rather free camp and nine times out of ten, meet people who would just come along for a friendly chat and we would all enjoy ""Happy Hour"" at very little expense to anyone.

K.J.

Hi Kiwijims and others who have given their reasons for not joining the CMCA. No person needs to justify their reasons for not joining . A club is something you join if you either want to contribute to the organization or you feel that it will be of benefit to you at what you consider good value.

The CMCA is a huge club that suits a lot of people but certainly not all. When I am travelling I am only too often told the reasons why people do not want to join. I proudly have a CMCA sticker on my van so is anyone sees that they know I am a member .I always listen politely to their thoughts on the club but never try to change their mind. Some people have very strong feelings against the club and they will never change.

The CMCA has been and is a wonderful club for me, I am a single woman travelling (not full time ) on my own and membership of the CMCA Solos Group has given me the support and comradeship that has made my travelling experience exceptional.

If you do not want to join that is fine.

If you want to tell everyone why that is fine also.

I do not see any problem with the club. It has a constitution and rules of membership eligibility . If you are eligible for full membership so be it . If not you can apply for associate membership. If you do not want any part of it so be it.

There are many members of the CMCA on this forum and they do not bother to try to explain what a great club it is for them because the threads usually end in tears. I hope this one does not end in tears

Unfortunately I suspect the tears are usually shed by Cindy once again......I also suspect I help make Cindy an even Greyer Nomad ...we don't really mellow with age do we?.....?.........Hoo Roo

Now I know why I travel alone!!!

Some people should stay at home and whinge!!

Perfect.

TommyG wrote:

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Perfect.

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 Ditto

adreamer wrote:

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Now I know why I travel alone!!!

Some people should stay at home and whinge!!

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 Ditto

kiwijims wrote:

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We were down in Tassie when the CMCA had a gathering some years back, We found them to be a very clicky bunch, at the gathering when they all arrived in a paddock, you couldn't park where you wanted to, they would not have our "Cheap Van" beside a $80,000 Motor Home with all the bells &  whistles, "Oh No" ,  You get your cheap heap of junk way down the line, where the lower class vans were,  my thoughts at the time were, How many of you lot actually "OWN" your vans, or do most of you have to be back at work by a certain date to pay the next install on them. 

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 That's OK. No real discrimination against non members, the big unit owners treat the small rig owners the same at their rallies.

Bruce and Bev wrote:

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As many have pointed out, you are not compelled to join the CMCA - of you don't agree with their constitution and rules, then just don't join.

I have a caravan and don't agree with only being able to join as an associate member and also some of their rules that disadvantage 'van owners. But in the flip side, they are really the only ones who professionally represents Rvers so think they do a good job in that respect. And as their Board develops newer and less old fashioned ideas from new members, we will all benefit and know doubt we will see 'vanners with full rights in the not too distant future

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 I share your views on this topic.

But I resent the posts that label some contributions as 'Whinging'.  (Or am I whinging in saying that?)