EVERYTHING WAS PEACHY IN PERRY!

99TH International FMCA Convention

Georgia State Fairgrounds, Perry, GA

We attended the Spring 99th International Family Motor Coach Association in Perry, Georgia. This event brought almost 2,300 motor coaches and towable recreational vehicles together for fun, fellowship and interesting RV education opportunities. 

99th International FMCA Convention - Perry, GA

99th International FMCA Convention - Perry, GA

Sometimes a few coaches may be sold by the many RV manufacturers who attend every year.  Placing all the components into place and organizing this event is mind boggling to me because we play a very small part in helping to make the convention a success.

ARTitude Adjustment (It's FUN art...not FINE art) is a painting class presented at national RV rallies, manufacturer rallies, private RV resorts (for the past 8 years) as well as at the Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort where we spend our winters.    

Registration for classes
99th International FMCA Convention - Perry, GA

During the week of the FMCA convention RV and I (and our ABA's) present 3 ARTitude Adjustment classes.  An ABA is an "able bodied assistant"...something you need when you are teaching a class, and we make sure we have lots of help to make the class go smooth.   In addition to our classes, there are other craft classes to choose from if that is what interests you.... like jewelry making, quilting, etc.

The theme for this rally was "Peachy In Perry" and we were asked to present a class using a peach design.  Besides the peach tote bag we also presented a class making alcohol ink domino pendants and a class using acrylic paint with Chalk Couture silk transfers.

Peachy In Perry class picture

"Live Life In Flip Flops"
Chalk Couture Transfer Class

Alcohol Ink Domino Pendant Class

Peaches were everywhere ... peach pies, peach cobblers, peach milk shakes, peach jam, everything peaches as well as a peach tote bag!  

Peachy In Perry Tote Bag Design

Looking around Perry there are probably just as many pecan orchards as peaches!

So after a fun week of visiting with friends, teaching enthusiastic and happy campers, we pack up everything and return to our winter base in Webster, FL.  This has been a busy season for ARTitude Adjustment and our last class of the season is today - painting beautiful Habotai 100% silk scarves! 

Did I forget to say Happy St. Patrick's Day?!  It seems like we spend just about every St. Patrick's Day in Perry, GA.

It's been an extremely busy season for us and I'm looking forward to a little slower pace.  This is the time of year many RVers develop "hitch itch" and start thinking about returning home and moving to cooler climates. 

To all our RV snowbird friends on the move....... safe travels and happy trails wherever your "wheel estate" takes you across this great country of ours.

MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH

When we are at the Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort, where we have owned an RV lot and suite for 10 years, I have offered a monthly art class for the past 8 years that not only satisfied my creative and artistic self but also has given me many opportunities to get to know hundreds of new people and allow them to get to know each other as well.  Sometimes making new friends while you are traveling is difficult.

ARTitude Adjustment by Marty Whitney

Since beginning the classes at Florida Grande we have accepted invitations to present classes to other RV venues and named the course ARTitude Adjustment by Marty Whitney.  I've taught these classes  to motorhome manufacturer rallies, motorhome club rallies, Family Motor Coach Association International Rallies, private resorts and for private painting parties as well.   This has allowed us many opportunities to meet hundreds of new friends as we travel throughout this great country of ours.

ARTitude Adjustment by Marty Whitney

Where ARTitude Adjustment differs from other painting classes is that canvas painting is rarely offered.  We usually work with acrylics, sometimes alcohol inks, fabric paint, silk paint, etc., because RVers don't have room for canvases.  We call it "FUN art...not FINE" art!

Peace Pole Painting Class

Completed Peace Pole

Completed Peace Poles

This class made beautiful hand painted Peace Poles in a recent ARTitude Adjustment class using wood 4 x 4's (4' long).  The Peace Pole Peace Movement was developed in Japan in 1955 and since that time has been placed in over 200 countries.  The phrase "May Peace Prevail On Earth" is used on the poles and reminds us to pray for world peace wherever we are.

Our class made their own designs and finished them by putting a solar light on the top and then planted them in their yard or gardens.  A piece of rebar was installed in the bottom to assure the poles are stable and do not blow/lean over.  The poles were then finished with a coat of protectant to block the heat and sun.  They look awesome as you drive throughout the community!

After 65 years, the message of the Peace Pole Movement is more important then ever, and we hope it continues to spread:

MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH!

 A Peace Pole is a hand-crafted monument that displays the message and prayer 
May PeA Peace Pole is a hand-crafted monument that displays the message and prayer 

May Peace Prevail on Earth
on each of its four or six sides, usually in different languages.
There are tens of thousands of
Peace Poles in 180 countries all over the world dedicated as monuments to peace. They serve as constant reminders for us to visualize and pray for world peace.

ace Prevail on Earth
on each of its four or six sides, usually in different languages.
There are tens of thousands of
Peace Poles in 180 countries all over the world dedicated as monuments to peace. They serve as constant reminders for us to visualize and pray for world peace.