Issue 140 Campground & RV Park E news

GetawayUSA issue 5 which features the states of North Carolina, New Mexico, Kentucky and Arkansas is on its way to readers via the internet.

The monthly production is published by Industry E News LLC, publishers of Campground & RV park E News.

We have attempted to give the reader an insight into

why they should visit each of the states we are promoting by way of stunning photography and informative editorial combined with RV and camping tips and tricks.

So far, we think we have achieved our goal which was to get more people off their sofas and hit the open road".

Continued Page 2

Continued from Page 1 The magazine will cover 48 states over a 12 month period with the next four being Virginia, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.

magazine is also being sent to Best Parks in America visitors and potential RV buyers via an RVIA data base.

To date, the readership has been encouraging, not only reaching out to the consumer but the

The publishers are working toward increasing the distribution by working with Private and State

Campgrounds, State and National Associations and large consumer orientated groups.

All of these groups are being encouraged to forward on the magazine to their members. When this distribution is achieved

GetawayUSA will be a major player in reaching directly to the in boxes of many thousands of potential visitors.

Direct Marketing and Social Media is the future, Campgrounds should be embracing it.

Editor.

Higher gas prices could mean more traffic at area campgrounds this summer.

business and a change in where campers are traveling from.

Year-to-date reservations at state-owned campgrounds are up 1820% from last year, said Mary Dettloff, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Vacationers who used to own cabins and cottages farther north have sold that real estate and invested in campers they park at campgrounds and visit on day trips, said Todd Hess, owner of Fort Trodd Family Campground Resort in Clyde Township.

“If we see gas prices reach over $4 a gallon, all the state parks in the lower part of the state (soon) will be booked” for summer, Dettloff said.

Owners of private campgrounds also are noticing a bump in

“People are picking out spots where they can stay local and stay for the summer,” he said.

All of the 461 camp sites at the Port Huron KOA in

Kimball Township have been booked for Memorial Day weekend. The campground is almost filled for July 4, office supervisor Bobbie Marks said.

“When (gas) prices go up, we see more locals,” Marks said.

Algonac State Park in Clay Township has seen a decline in the average length of campers' stay in the past few years, supervisor Dennis Wilson said.

In an attempt to draw in crowds, fees have been reduced from $25 to $22 a night this year for campsites

farther away from the St. Clair River. The nightly fee for sites closer to the river remains $27.

The strategy seems to be working. The park is booked for the Memorial Day and July 4 weekends, Wilson said.

“We're expecting to have a really good year,” Wilson said.

Officials at Lakeport State Park in Burtchville Township also are anticipating a strong season, supervisor Mark Sine said.

Full Article: www.thetimesherald.com

MEADVILLE, PA (April 20, 2011) – The Brookdale Family Campground is the latest campground in Pennsylvania to be invited to join the 475-park Kampgrounds of America system. KOA is the largest and most recognized camping franchise in the world, with campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada.

This well-known and highly rated campground has been renamed the Meadville KOA. The campground has a 33-year history of serving camping families, and also has a rich area heritage.

The McClemens family, who originally purchased the land from the Holland Land Company in 1893, built a homestead and barn at the site in 1914, in an area known at that time as McClemen’s Flats.

In 1945, the Roae family purchased the property and turned the farm into an auction barn and built ponds for a fish hatchery, where they raised and sold flathead minnows for fishing in Pymatuning Lake. In 1978, they turned the auction barn and farm into Brookdale 1914 Campground, taking the name directly from the date on the old red barn and the brook that runs through the center of the property.

According to current owners Tim and Robyn

Chilson, people still ask if there used to be a big barn with roller skating in the top of it at the campground.

The barn served as the main building complex for the campground until it burned in 1984. The campers helped rebuild the main building, which now serves the campers and local community with a seasonal mini-mart store.

The building also houses a recreation hall, game room, restrooms and showers, and a laundry facility for campers.

The Chilsons purchased the campground in October 1999. The Chilsons have continued to expand the campground, adding ten additional 50-amp pullthrough campsites, a camping cabin, two lakefront deluxe rental cabins, a mini golf course, a new playground, a jumping pillow, pedal karts, and WiFi to the park. “As the technology changes and RVing changes, we have to expand our infrastructure to not only meet our customer’s expectations, but to exceed them,” said owner Tim Chilson. “We’re honored to have been invited by KOA to join their organization, which is known for being on the cutting edge of bringing the very best to campers and RVers on an international level.”

According to Chilson, the campground is highly rated nationally. “We’ve worked

hard to achieve high ratings from both industry directories and our customers through their reviews of our park over the past 11 years,” he said.

“Partnering with KOA will open our campground to new campers and allows us the honor of serving them with the same great service and family fun that we provided as Brookdale Family Campground and they expect from KOA.” In addition, Chilson added that the interest in seasonal camping has increased for 2011. “Seasonal campers,” Chilson explained, “are people who park their RV at the campground for the entire summer. When camping seasonally, they can drive more economical vehicles to the campground instead of towing, and save money on fuel. That way, they get the maximum use of their RV for minimal costs.”

The Chilson family hopes the business will continue to grow by introducing more people to the fun and familyoriented events and activities they provide at the campground. “We do a host of fun events and activities every summer,” Chilson said. “This year, we are joining KOA’s Come Kamp & Care With Us Weekend! Campers who stay as paying guests on Friday, May 13 will receive a free night of camping on Saturday, May 14. We will do fundraisers that

weekend and be asking our campers for donations to support the 44 KOA Care Camps for kids with cancer that are located around North America.

“We’ll be hosting a grand opening in honor of becoming a KOA on May 21st, complete with a parade and ribbon cutting,” Chilson said. “And, we’ll offer campers who stay as paying guests on May 20 will receive May 21st free for our Grand Opening Weekend! Kids can participate in our free crafts and ride their bikes in the parade through the campground! We’ll also be running specials and discounts this summer.

We’re not just celebrating joining KOA on one weekend. We’ll be celebrating it all summer long!”

For more information about the Meadville KOA Campground or to make your reservations, go to www.Meadville KOA.com or call 814-789-3251.

What is the June Campaign?

Purpose: To encourage young families to go camping during the month of June, Great Outdoors Month, using GoCampingAmerica.com (GCA) coupons for discounts on all things camping; and to document their camping experience on video for a chance to win a grand prize.

What is the campaign time frame?

The campaign runs June 1 - June 25. During this time ARVC will be promoting a new page on GoCampingAmerica.com that will offer discounts for all-things camping, to encourage young families to try it out!

How does the campaign work?

We will be using social media, viral video, marketing efforts and media outreach to drive traffic to GoCampingAmerica.com where consumers can download various offers for discounts on camping.

We will be offering a 20% off coupon for all GCA/ARVC member parks. Companies like CampingWorld, Coleman, El Monte RV, etc are participating by offering discounts as well.

How does my park participate?

Accept and honor the coupon for 20% off your regular night stays during the period of June 1 - June 25. Your park does not need to tell ARVC that you are participating in the campaign, we assume all parks are participating unless you choose to not accept the coupons. If your park is full during that time, consider offering the guest a time when you could honor the discount. The purpose of this campaign is to bring you new business, and hopefully repeat business!

What are the details of the 20% off GCA Coupon?

The coupon states that it is only valid June 1 - June 25.

It also states that it's only accepted at participating parks (therefore, if your park chooses not to accept the coupon, you are covered) and that the consumer must call the park at least 24 hours in advance to make a reservation. The guest may use the coupon for up to a seven night stay at your park during that time frame.

Questions? Please contact Kera Tomlin, 303-681-0401 ext 114 or ktomlin@arvc.org

sheet.pdf. These rates change fairly often and there’s nothing that the processor can do about it.

The increase is passed on to you.

By Art Lieberman Longtime readers of our column know that we have informed campground owners about saving money on their credit/debit card processing. It has been the hallmark of my company together with attempting to give extraordinary service to those we do business with.

Several years ago, we explained the difference between processing with, tiered, MOTO and Interchange Plus rates.

Now that spring is upon us, (when will the weather cooperate?) it might be time to redefine and review this information so that campground owners can make decisions affecting their bottom line.

Not all processors offer options to merchants who accept credit cards. It has to do with their profitability and it’s an easy sell when the merchant isn’t offered any options. The most common rates are what I call “TIERED RATES” which are rates based on the type of transaction that is performed by the merchant.

If the card is swiped through a POS terminal, generally it

is called a “qualified” transaction and a rate is given for that card. Most processors don’t care what card type it is (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover) the transaction is at a “swipe rate”. The caveat here is if the card is a “reward card” because if it is, the rate on that swiped transaction will be higher.

If the transaction is done over the phone, the rate is higher for this “nonqualified transaction” – sometimes double the swipe rate. This is because the processor is not receiving the information encoded on to the magnetic strip on the card (which contains tons of info, including the SS # and street address of the cardholder). However, if the campground owner uses AVS: Address Verification System, the rate will drop to a “midqualified rate”, saving transaction fees.

That, basically, is the way “Tiered” rates are presented to most merchants. The applicable rates, given by processors, are where the competition

between us is handled.

There is one exception, however, when a campground does most of its business over the phone for reservations. They may receive from a processor a MOTO rate where the midqualified rate and nonqualified rate are lower than “tiered” rates but the swipe rate will not be there.

But campground owners can “have their cake and eat it two” by having TWO accounts. One for their store - (a tiered rate), and one for their reservations, (a MOTO rate).

But there is another rate that some campgrounds do get. It is called Interchange Plus. Interchange rates which are the rates given by the card companies: Visa MasterCard and Discover, to processors.

They are posted on the card company’s websites.

They are based, not on transactions as tiered rates are, but on Card Type, and there are hundreds of them. You can actually see their rates on their websites. Here’s Visa’s http://usa.visa.com/downloa d/merchants/april-2011-visausa-interchange-rate-

To these published rates, the processor adds their profit (the plus in Interchange Plus). That addition may range from a small portion of 1% to a full 1%. Sometimes, if you get a good rate, campgrounds can save money on Interchange rates, BUT your statement will increase by several pages due to all the card types which will be listed.

It’s your choice!

Art Lieberman is the President of MCPS for Campgrounds and has been running FREE webinars on this subject and PCI compliance every month for several years. Along with Deanne Bower, Art is the Producer of the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo II, which will begin on 11/11/11.

Art can be reached at MCPS at 877-858-9010 or at Campground Expo at 877901-EXPO (3976)

McLean,Virginia: The first meeting of the newlycreated Best Parks in America RVer Advisory Board was held on Thursday, March 10th.

Four active RVers from diverse backgrounds have been named to the Board and will be both offering ideas and advice for better serving RVer needs and experiences, and critiques of the parks they visit and the communications from Best Parks to RVconsumers.

The Advisory Board members are:

David Gorin www.FocusedWords.com where she puts her marketing experience to work for the park owner.

driven more than 50 RVs of various types. Owned and operated an RV rental business for several years.

Constructed my own RVs in the 1970s. My academic background includes a PhD in aquatic Microbial Ecology with experience teaching and conducting research at Texas Tech U., U. of Southern Colorado and the U. of Illinois. I have RVed in every state in the continental US, Canada and Mexico plus camping in RV parks in Australia. I have written more than 200 articles online as the Phoenix RV Travel Examiner.

Jerry Batt of Michigan.

Stan Fleming of Maine.

My wife and I purchased our first RV / Motor Home (23 foot) in 2006 as we were getting close to retirement. We have become true believers in the value and pleasure of traveling in our RV. While not full-timers, we are close, and the freedom and flexibility our RV has provided has made traveling to visit family and friends a real pleasure. We are now planning extensive travel throughout the US in the comfort of our own "home".

Pamela Wright of Florida.

Pamela has been a full time RVer for the past 8 years. She has been a workamper, a park manager and now has her own company

Jerry is currently Vice President and CIO at Pulte Homes, a residential home builder headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

My wife, Christine, and I have three grown children who are married and live in different midwest cities. We have two dogs with whom we travel to see our kids and between two homes in Rochester Hills, Mi and Mesa, Az. We have been rv'ers for 30 years. Starting with a pick-up camper and now a 40 ft 2009 Itasca Ellipse. We have camped in 38 states over the years and plan to visit Alaska summer of 2012.

Bob Gorden of Arizona I have been a tent camper and RVer for more than 50 years. Have owned and

“We are delighted at the response to the Best Parks announcement of the Advisory Board and the quality of the folks appointed to serve reflects the wide diversity of RVers.

This is a truly quality group of knowledgeable RVers who will help Best Parks continue to grow and develop into the leading national brand of RV parks in the US,� said BPA President David Gorin.

The Advisory Board will meet quarterly to review Best Parks programs and initiatives, suggest ways to improve outreach and top of mind awareness among RVers, and to help craft the outstanding experiences that Best Parks offers to its guests.

Best Parks in America is the only national network of parks that sponsors an RVer Advisory Board to provide consumer input into the national group of parks that make up Best Parks in America.

Best Parks in America is a group of independently owned and operated RV parks and campgrounds that are highly rated by Woodalls and/or Trailer Life campground directories.

There are currently 78 affiliated parks in 32 states and provinces. Each park offers a quality facilities and amenities and unique guest experiences. For a free directory of Best Parks affiliates, visit www.BestParksinAmerica.com.

Larry and Kim Jones, owners of Jellystone Park™ Campground Hill Country in Canyon Lake, Texas, have been recognized with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Jellystone Park franchise system. The award recognizes Campgrounds that show a strong growth in business over the prior year

“We’ve been very blessed with strong business growth thanks to our wonderful staff and our amazing customers,” said Larry Jones. “Our team, the unique Texas economy and the great regional attractions that surround our park have helped us build a strong repeat customer and referral base.”

Located on 27 acres in the beautiful rolling hills of Texas Hill Country, the campground is just 13 miles from New Braunfels and less than an hour from Austin and Houston. Guests will love the brand-new sparkling pool and kidfriendly splash park that opened for the 2011 camping season, as well as the indoor pool, Jumping Pillow, meeting rooms, Laser Tag, disc golf, Gem Mine, sand volleyball court, half court basketball, horseshoe pits, playground and Jellystone Hall, which is perfect for family reunions or church retreats. The park also allows day visitors to its pool and splash park, and rents its meeting rooms and Jellystone Hall to the public, making it a great day destination for locals.

Themed weekends provide additional family fun, with a different theme every weekend all summer long.

The Joneses, whose children also work at the campground, were chosen for their commitment to consistent improvement to their growing park. In addition to the new pool, splash park and disc golf, they have recently added a jumping pillow and camping cabins.

Kids and adults alike will enjoy events like Hero’s Weekend (May 20-22), when all law enforcement, doctors, nurses, EMTs, firefighters and military personnel camp two nights for the price of one; Western Roundup Weekend (June 24-26), when guests can don their cowboy duds ; and Under the Sea Weekend (August 12-14), including sand castles, blowing bubbles, crafts, crab races, and of course, lots of water activities.

The Jellystone Park Campground Hill Country is located at 12915 FM 306 in Canyon Lake and is open year-round.

Find more information and reservations visit jellystonehillcountry.com or call 877.964.3731.

The Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Campground in Toronto, Ontario has been recognized with the Maple Leaf Award by the Jellystone Park franchise system.

The award honors a Canadian franchisee for

commitment and dedication to the Jellystone Park franchise and to providing a top-quality camping experience for guests.

Jellystone Park Toronto offers guests a choice of Continued

Continued 150 spacious campsites, each with a picnic table and inground campfire ring, or their unique “Canadian Habitats,” 200-square foot, full-frame camping shelters (sometimes called “yurts.”)

The closest campground to Canada’s Wonderland theme park, the campground also features a heated swimming pool, sand volleyball, mini-putt golf, playground, walking trails, wagon rides with Yogi Bear, and an activities pavilion.

Just a short drive away are: golf courses, antiquing, the Metro Toronto Zoo, The Hockey Hall of Fame, and the Skydome.

“Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks are a great place to camp as well as work,” said owner Gary O’Rourke. “I very much enjoy the opportunity to meet people from around the World and help make their vacations that much more special.

Jellystone Parks across Canada and the U.S.A. are

a great destination for clean, fun family camping.

It is an honor to receive this award.”

Theme weekends begin May 20-23 with Victoria Day Weekend, when guests will enjoy a fiestastyle celebration complete with spicy salsa music. Not only will families create new memories, but they will enjoy camping while making use of the park’s recreation program at discounted pre-season rates. Another example is July 1-3, Canada

Day/Western Weekend, when the park will celebrate the weekend ‘western style’ while participating in a western style dance and the annual corn roast.

The Toronto Jellystone Park Campground is located at 3666 Simcoe Road 88, on the northwest corner of Hwy. 400 & Simcoe Rd. 88 at Exit 64B West. The park opens for the season May 1, 2011. For more information or to book a reservation, visit www.jellystonetoronto.com/ or call (905) 775-1377.

KENNEWICK WA — Gary Long Jr. will accept Kennewick's $2.46 million offer to settle the Columbia Park Golf Course lawsuit the city lost two years ago.

City Manager Marie Mosley said the city will make payment in full Friday once Long signs a settlement agreement.

The payment, which is $1.3 million less than the total amount owed, will come from general fund reserve balances and uncommitted capital funds and will not result in a tax increase, Mosley said in a statement late Monday.

Long announced at midday that the city's first and only offer to come from negotiations was enough to resolve the $3 million judgment resulting from a 2009 jury trial in Benton County Superior Court in his breach of contract suit.

Almost $650,000 in interest had accrued at nearly $1,000 a day.

"This was the first offer the city has ever officially given me other than the $1 offered during trial," said Long in a statement released by his attorney, Nicholas Kovarik, in Spokane.

Long sued after being prevented from developing an RV park on the golf course property in Columbia Park. He claimed the Kennewick City Council reneged and began negotiating with another person about an RV park to be built in a different part of the park.

"This case was never really about the money. It was about the city treating me fairly and being accountable for killing the RV resort project at the golf course," Long said.

His acceptance of the city's offer came six days after the council unanimously voted to counter his last offer of $2.6 million.

"We feel that this compromise demonstrates, for the first time, that the city recognizes the damage

RESTON, Va. -- Wholesale RV shipments to retailers were reported at 27,500 units in the March 2011 survey of manufacturers, 38.8 percent greater than last month and 14.6 percent greater than this same month last year, the RV Industry Association reported today.

Improvements were reported in all vehicle categories except folding camping trailers with conventional travel trailers

it caused me, my family and my company," Long's statement said.

"We are hopeful that this experience will make the city more eager to take responsibility for its wrongdoing in the future," he added. www.thenewstribune.com

showing the largest units gains while truck campers had the greatest percentage gain.

Year to date, total RV shipments in the first quarter of 2011 rose to 65,100 units, a gain of 8.7 percent over the same period last year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, shipments in March this year were at an annualized rate of more than 258,000 units, a 13.5 percent improvement over February’s rate.

The climbing wall, ropes and trails are nearly complete. And Ashton, the friendly but intense Sasquatch, has cleared his schedule to make an appearance for a good cause.

On May 14, the Toutle River RV Park on Interstate 5 exit 52 will hold the first "Ashkicker" 5-kilometer obstacle course run and walk. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., competitors will run the course every half hour, tackling terrain built on Mount St. Helens ash dredged from the Cowlitz and Toutle rivers.

All proceeds go to the United Way of Cowlitz/ Wahkiakum County for its kickoff fundraising event, said Kalei LaFave, the agency's executive director.

Williams Company, a natural gas pipeline company and lead sponsor,

has offered to match donations dollar for dollar up to $100,000, she said.

"This could exceed $200,000" in total donations, LaFave said.

The RV park will have live music, a beer garden and food vendors all day Saturday, LaFave said. The United Way will also hand out prizes to competitors, including the coveted best costume, she said.

The race costs $50 for individuals up until the day of the event, and $65 to register the same day.

About 270 participants have already registered, according to United Way. Williams Company, based in Salt Lake City and which owns a pipeline that crosses Cowlitz County, chooses one charity event to sponsor each year, said

Travis Wickham, a Williams employee. As regular contributors to United Way, the company saw the Ashkicker as the perfect event to support, he said.

"We wanted to support our community and raise money," Wickham said.

Other corporate sponsors include JH Kelly, Norpac, Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, Weyerhaeuser Co. and Cascade Select Marketplace in Castle Rock.

Other businesses can sponsor the event with donations ranging from $500 to $5,000.

By Larry

Campgrounds will be opening for the start of another great season over most of North America about this time of year. RV parks will be doing their spring brush-ups, flower planting and face lifts. For many, if not most, LEAVES will once again be deemed as a big nuisance. I left where they have fallen and collected into piles they will become a small eyesore and a big attraction for bugs and insects. With rainfall they will become a breeding place for mosquitoes. It does not need to be that way.

Here’s the idea: leaves are a natural source of nitrogen. Oak leaves are the best, but any kind of leaves whether from trees, bushes or plants, contain some amount of nutrition.

In addition, they make excellent soil conditioner or mulch if properly applied.

What is the proper way to apply?

I have found two ways of utilizing leaves, both highly effective. The first step in either case is to mulch the

leaves: simply rake them out of the beds out into open areas where you can grind them up with a lawn mower. Simply pile them in shallow rows and zip over them with the mower, catching them in a mower bag or raking up what is left into a container of any sort.

Then dig shall trenches around your trees and shrubs or in your flower and vegetable garden area and bury the mulched leaves just an inch or two below the surface, creating instant mulch cover. By this time next year you will have several inches of new rich soft earth. The other method for is to dig deeper trenches and bury the leaves, knowing that by next year you can spade them back up and they will have become excellent cover.

Either way, with very little effort and time you will have turned a problem into an asset. And you earn gold stars for environment stewardship!

Buellton, CA (April 26, 2011) – The RV Cooking Show 5-episode series – Food, Fun & Friends at Flying Flags – will commence filming this week, has attracted a large number of local luminaries and foodie stars and supports the Santa Barbara County Food Bank with a locally backed raffle.

in our Dinner and a Movie show, and serving sensational sweet treats from their classic Shasta Travel Trailer at the Friday, April 29th live Party in Paradise event will be Kevin Vander Vliet of Enjoy Cupcakes. This partial list of local places and faces sets the stage for a terrific series.

Each episode will be filmed on location and highlight the beauty, tastes and personality of the Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez Valley food and fun scene. There will be something for everybody that loves to travel and loves to eat.

Several Flying Flags and RV Cooking Show friends are scheduled to share their stories in the series.

“It is a testament to the excellence and community standing of Flying Flags RV Resort to be able to attract such successful, sincere and interesting subjects – both local celebrities and the fantastic products and experiences they produce – to the Food, Fun and Friends at Flying Flags RV Cooking Show series,” remarked producer and host Evanne Schmarder.

“We’ve already had the opportunity to visit with several of them and believe me, they will be an absolute pleasure to watch.”

David Walker of the craft brewery Firestone Walker will appear in the Taste of Flying Flags episode, Theo Stephan, author and founder of the local Global Gardens food line will take us on a tour of her olive grove in the Local & Luscious show, Giorgio Curti of the renowned Santa Ynez eatery Trattoria Grappolo will teach us how to prepare an amazing and easy Italian feast in a beautiful park model cottage for the Gourmet Guests episode, Monte Roberts, the man who listens to horses and owns Flag Is Up Farms, sits down to share his thoughts on the area and his legacy

“The terrific support from our area establishments is wonderful and doesn’t surprise me at all. Not only does this series promote the fabulous food scene and spotlight the diverse attractions in Santa Barbara's Wine Country, but it also demonstrates to RVers and campers across the nation – even across the globe – that our brand of travel and entertainment here in the Valley is really very special. We can’t wait

for the series to air,” added Dan Baumann, Resort Manager, Flying Flags RV Resort.

In addition to the individual episodes, Flying Flags RV Resort and the RV Cooking Show are partnering with participating businesses to benefit the Santa Barbara County Food Bank. Both live shows, Party in Paradise for resort guests on Friday, April 29th and the open to the public Dinner and a Movie event on Saturday, April 30th will

include raffle prizes generously provided by series participants and other local businesses with all monies collected to be donated to help end hunger.

Episodes will be available in time for the summer travel season. For more information about the upcoming Food, Fun & Friends at Flying Flags series contact Evanne Schmarder, RV Cooking Show, at evanne@RVCookingShow.c om or 702-460-9863.

CROWLEY, Texas, April 21, 2011 – Texas Advertising has designed and published the 2011 catalog for Pantera Sales, Inc., one of the nation’s leading RV aftermarket suppliers.

“We’re very pleased with Texas Advertising’s work in making our new catalog a success,” said Charles Cozad, Pantera’s General Manager, adding that print and online versions of the 512 page, four-color catalog will help the company serve its clients and fulfill their company slogan - 'Finding Things Just Got Easier!'

Brian Schaeffer, president of Texas Advertising, said this was the fourth time his company produced the Pantera catalog, which has grown 20-30% with each publication.

“While we’re well known for our work designing websites, rack cards, site maps and campground directories for private parks and for several state campground associations, not as many people know about our work in the RV industry, but we hope our work with Pantera will help change that,” Schaeffer said.

Texas Advertising’s clients include Carefree RV Resorts, Horizon RV Resorts and numerous privately owned campgrounds across the US and Canada as well as the Missouri Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds and the Texas Association of Campground Owners.

Texas Advertising also hosts numerous campground industry websites, including AccessCamping.com, a web portal with hundreds of links to databases of public and private campgrounds as well as RV clubs across North America. For more information about the Crowley-based company, please visit TexasAdvertising.net or call 817-426-9395.

Pantera Sales, Inc. is a Fort Worth-based wholesale distributor that provides the RV dealers, service companies, RV parks and campgrounds with RV appliances, replacement parts and accessories. The 512 page, four-color catalog can be accessed online at www.panterasales.com and can also be ordered by calling (800) 456-0123.

Cabin & Lodge Camping Are Bright Spots in First 2011 Holiday Weekend BILLINGS, MT (April 26, 2011) – The latest Easter Weekend in 68 years, coupled with rough weather in several parts of North America, led to mixed camping results during the holiday weekend, according to Kampgrounds of America Inc. But KOA Lodge camping was a sure bright spot, with an increase of 90 percent in Lodge camping nights compared to the same calendar weekend in 2010.

“This year, Easter was three weeks later than in 2010,” said KOA CEO Jim Rogers. “That makes an ‘apples-to-apples’ Easter holiday week comparison very difficult.”

In 2010, the earlier Easter weekend was just at the end of the traditional “snowbird” winter camping season in the South. The earlier Easter in 2010 led many “snowbird” winter campers to stay around for the 2010 Easter holiday.

This year, with Easter falling during the fourth weekend in April, most snowbird campers had already headed north. That resulted in Easter Week 2011 numbers falling below camping totals for Easter Week 2010.

“But, when we compare the 2011 Easter week to the same one-week calendar period in 2010, we see an increase of 9 percent in overall shortterm camper nights, a 30 percent increase in KOA Cabin nights, and a 90 percent increase in KOA Lodge nights,” Rogers said.

KOA Lodges are luxury camping accommodation units now available on nearly half of KOA’s 475 locations that include full bathrooms and kitchens.

KOA Kabin and Lodge units open the camping experience to new segment of campers who may not own a recreational vehicle or traditional tenting equipment.

Staying in an accommodation such as a KOA Cabin or Lodge also saves on fuel costs, since campers can drive their smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles to their area KOA, where they still receive a traditional camping experience with all of the comforts of home.

Another factor affecting Easter holiday camping results was a pattern of severe weather that spawned thunderstorms and some tornadoes from the Texas gulf coast to New England. But, that didn’t slow things down in KOA campgrounds such as the Williamsport

South/Nittany Mountain KOA in Pennsylvania, owned by Michelle Strock. ”We had more than 30 kids for our Easter Egg hunt,” Strock said. “Luckily, we have a huge indoor recreation hall, so the rain really wasn’t a factor.”

At the sunny San Diego Metro KOA in California, all of the campgrounds Cabin and Lodge units and tent sites were rented, and a plethora of events kept campers – and the Easter Bunny – hopping.

“We started the weekend with Easter arts and crafts, then our hay ride, then an outdoor movie, a pancake breakfast on Saturday, and a massive Easter egg hunt with 750 eggs,” said owner Clint Bell. “Easter was very, very good.”

“The bottom line is that 9 percent more camping families stayed with us last

week than during the same week in 2010,” Rogers said.

“That bodes very well for the rest of the 2011 summer camping season.”

The next “big event” at Kampgrounds of America is the annual KOA Come Kamp & Care With Us Weekend event May 13-14 at participating KOAs across North America.

Campers who stay as paying guests on Friday, May 13 will receive a free night of camping on Saturday, May 14. The event also serves as a fundraiser for KOA Care Camps for children with cancer.

KOA campers will have a chance to help raise donations on May 13-14 to help send children with cancer to one of 44 specialized summer camps in North America.

North Hollywood, CA, April 26, 2011 - Marketing is not what it was a decade ago let alone 25 years ago.

That is what prompted Mark Summers to launch Advanced Media Marketing Group (AMMG). As the parent company of RV Buddies, AMMG provides media marketing consulting services on the highest level.

It takes more than a jingle to launch a successful marketing campaign in a competitive environment.

New Media marketing can be intimidating, confusing, overwhelming, and sometimes inconvenient.

AMMG specializes in New Media marketing practices from e-Commerce, to web site implementation, SEO/SEM to branding campaigns, social networking strategies, management consulting, sales training and of course video integration and video production.

AMMG will develop a set of best practices to position its clients as a leader in their niche.

Summers explains: "Video integration - for example goes far beyond buying a camcorder and opening a YouTube account. You may

well know how to operate the camera and upload videos, but are you helping or hurting your business?

Video production and integration, like social media, or any other New Media needs to be well thought out and professionally developed, just like any other part of your marketing campaign.

Otherwise you'll run the risk of appearing "sophomoric".

High school level projects just won't do anymore today's audience expects a professional presentation".

"We have generated quantifiable results for our current clients, including Truline RV, Final Touch Coach Works, Hensley Mfg, Auto Careers, and of course, RV Buddies" Summers continues, "and we are thrilled to be able to respond to the demands of our customers and offer our New Media services through AMMG." For more information, free marketing tips, case studies and more, visit AMMG.net.

To discuss your specific marketing and New Media needs and requirements, contact Summers at Mark@AMMG.net.

An 11-year-old Norwegian boy was forced to stand on his tippy toes for 10 minutes to get air.

Someone had hung him up in a tree at a camping site at Haganäset in Charlottenberg in Värmland County in western Sweden.

anything about the age of the culprit or culprits.

“A very unpleasant story,” Bjarne Andersson, who was on guard for the Värmland County police, told news agency TT.

After struggling to not suffocate for ten minutes, the boy was saved by someone who happened to be passing by.

The assault, classified as attempted murder by police, occurred at 9pm Friday night. The boy, who lived with his family at the camping site, was playing alone in the campground's playground.

“It really was about how long you can stand on your toes,” Palm told Aftonbladet. “It could have been really bad.”

“Suddenly someone come from behind, put a noose around his neck and pulled him up into a tree,” Andersson told TT. “But he doesn't know how many people it was,” said Andersson.

Under interrogation, the boy could also not say

Criminal inspector with Värmland Police, Pernilla Palm, told Aftonbladet the only thing the boy could recollect was that one person was wearing a white t-shirt.

The police have safeguarded the rope as evidence.

“But we don't have any other tracks to follow,” Andersson said late Saturday night, asking for the public's help.

The boy will be examined more thoroughly Sunday in the hospital. He is badly inflamed from the noose

New London - A bank purchase of the Strawberry Park campground is back on the front burner after the bank and the owner of personal property reached an agreement earlier this week.

Superior Court Judge James J. Devine approved the sale of the campground in Preston Thursday after TD Bank, which owns the real estate, and Preston Strawberry Funding Associates, which claims it owns $3.4 million worth of personal property at the site, forged an agreement to move forward.

TD Bank won the property in a foreclosure sale for $8 million, but it had been seeking to back out of the purchase, claiming negative publicity had hurt its ability to market the property.

But on Thursday, the bank and PSFA told the judge they had reached a confidential pact that allows the bank to market the campground, PSFA attorney Mark Stern said.

Stern declined to disclose the terms of the agreement but said the outcome means "the sale goes through, which is what we wanted because that will end up with the business getting sold and us getting paid."

303-681-0401 ext 114 or ktomlin@arvc.org

Also Thursday, a federal bankruptcy judge lifted a stay, technically allowing PSFA to take possession of the personal property. Stern noted, however, that PSFA won't do anything for at least 21 days, when an appeal period expires.

The park remains open, Stern added, under the operation of a receiver, Elite Resorts Management Co. "The intent was for us to work together now to get a buyer and have nobody else able to interfere with that, and we're now in that position," he said. "The park will continue, we'll find a good buyer and that's where the value is."

Scott DeLaura of the New Haven law firm Palumbo & DeLaura, who is representing TD Bank, could not be reached for comment.

Stern has said his client has an interest in hundreds of campground items, citing a list of assets that includes 50 mobile homes, 65 golf carts, six horses, furniture, tools, washers and dryers, office equipment, shelving and linens.

Strawberry Park was more than $7 million in debt to the bank before the bank submitted the $8 million bid at the park's Feb. 26 foreclosure sale.

Article: www.theday.com

and resort owners and players in the boating industry fear another downturn.

Fran Myers, who owns the Red Coconut RV Resort on Fort Myers Beach along with her husband, Tom, said for the first time they are offering perks beginning next month.

“Stay three days and get one free,” Myers said. “We are also looking at gas incentive cards. The big units that come in here get

Just when it appeared the economy had turned the corner and the Great Recession was safely in the rearview mirror, the newest oil-price crisis has whipped up on us.

The almost $4-a-gallon price for regular gasoline in Southwest Florida is affecting most everyone.

“We are at the point where consumers are changing their behavior,” said Mark Vitner, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, N.C., who makes about 15 trips a year to Southwest Florida to study the economy.

No one knows what the “cry uncle” price point will be,

but Vitner said “there’s not much wiggle room for us.

"Somewhere between $4 and $5. ... We can’t take more than that,” he said.

Southwest Florida was one of the hardest-hit areas in the nation during the recession. The unemployment rate peaked at 12.5 percent in March 2010 and now stands at 11.2, and the area had one of the nation’s highest home foreclosure rates in 2009 and 2010.

The tourism industry, which brings about $2.5 billion to the area’s economy, had finally begun to rebound with a strong winter season this year, but now hotel

only 5 miles per gallon.

“Every business out here on the Beach is looking to try to put something together to entice the folks.

Our industry is hearing $5 gas.”

On Captiva Island, South Seas Island Resort is offering an “Escape This Summer” campaign from May 1 through Aug. 31.

That offer includes a $20 gas credit card.

Full Article: www.news-press.com