
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 28, 1993                   TAG: 9307280088
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

RVS GATHERING FOR MALL MEETING

A corner of the New River Valley Mall's grounds is taking on the appearence of a recreational vehicle campground this week.

The mall is the site of a preliminary gathering for participants in next week's Family Motor Coach Association Convention in Blacksburg.

About 125 motor coaches and 250 people from the FMCA's southeast regional group are expected to arrive through today at the mall.

Pre-rally gatherings serve two purposes, said Pat Malloy, a Florida resident and a national FMCA director.

The event gives FMCA members a chance to socialize before next week's national convention and will help organize the caravan of motor coaches Saturday morning as they move from the mall to their destination at the Virginia Tech campus.

Some 4,000 motor coaches and 11,000 people are expected to participate in the national convention, set to run from Aug. 3-5.

The southeast area association is one of nine regional FMCA groups. It contains members who live in Florida, Alabama, Georgia or Mississippi.

by CNB