Issue 144 Campground & RV Park E News

ORANGE, Calif. – Leisure Interactive, LLC, the developer of Hercules™ software (LI), and GuestRated, LLC, creator of GuestReviews™ satisfaction survey tools, announce the industry’s first “full-featured” consumer-generated

review system for campgrounds and RV parks - GuestRated™.

The program recently launched on the Leisure Partner Network including, guestrated.com, camping.com, rvparks.com,

campgrounds.com, campcalifornia.com, and ksrvparks.com. With the integration of GuestRated features into the LI online campground directory with its real-time online reservation system, Continued Page 2

Continued from Page 1 campers and RVers are now able to search for parks, read individual consumer comments and ratings, and submit their own campground reviews.

“The GuestRated joint venture is another example of LI’s commitment to delivering the most comprehensive marketing solution for campground operators to connect with online consumers”, said Deb Kohls, EVP, Business Development, LI. “Reviews and ratings will enhance the consumer trip planning experience delivering a single source for researching, trip planning, instant access to book a campsite, and get immediate confirmation.

Plus unlike other review sites the GuestRated program offers park management the opportunity to respond to reviews and quickly connect with the online consumer.”

When used with the GuestReviews survey management tools, park operators will have a detailed understanding of total guest satisfaction.

GuestReviews offers

benefit from increased exposure to a much larger audience.”

business owners an automated system to manage consumer feedback and satisfaction.

“Camping.com & the LI Network are thrilled to be offering consumers quality reviews and ratings with GuestRated”, said Kelly O’Bryan, EVP, Marketing, Leisure Interactive.

To learn more about these tools visit www.guestreviews.com.

“With campers and RVers increasingly relying on each other as a trusted resource, it was important that we integrate the GuestReviews program for property owners with realtime consumer comments and ratings “, said Bob MacKinnon, President of GuestRated, “The integration and distribution

Bob McKinnon of real-time ratings and comments throughout the Leisure Interactive Partner Network enables parks to quickly receive additional feedback and thereby

“Campers and RVers will now have access to more useful reviews written by people who camp and RV. Plus, our consumers can now easily rate and review their favorite RV Parks and Campgrounds from any of our web properties”.

Many parents with adolescent or teenage children worry that their kids have become couch potatoes who spend far too much of their free time playing video games or sitting in front of a computer screen.

“As far as physical fitness goes, today’s kids are the sorriest generation in the history of the United States,” said one parent quoted by author Richard Louv in his best-selling book, The Last Child in the Woods.

Louv found several alarming statistics, which document the increasingly sedentary lifestyles of America’s youth and the extent to which they are losing the physical and psychological benefits that come from spending time in nature.

In an effort to encourage parents to spend more time with their children outdoors, President Obama has proclaimed June as national Great Outdoors Month.

Building on Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative, which encourages children to eat healthier foods and increase their physical activity, Great Outdoors Month is intended to encourage parents and their children “to move, run,

play and thrive” in our state, national and local parks and other scenic places.

Campgrounds affiliated with the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds are doing their part to support Great Outdoors Month by offering fun family activities as well as significant camping discounts during the month of June.

“Camping is affordable, and it’s a great way to get families walking, climbing, swimming and playing in the Great Outdoors, while building memories that can last a lifetime,” said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

Sipe added that many California campgrounds will be participating in GoCampingAmerica.com’s Great Outdoors Month promotion, which involves 20 percent discounts on camping between June 1st and 25th at participating parks.

Camp-California.com, California’s travel planning

Michelle Obama's Let's Move iniative website, now includes a link to GoCampingAmerica.com, where consumers can download e-coupons to obtain discounts on camping as well as discounts at Camping World (www.campingworld.com) and Coleman (www.coleman.com)

camping supply stores and RV rentals booked through El Monte RV www.elmonterv.com, which has agreed to provide 500 free miles plus 50 free miles a day to GoCampingAmerica visitors who rent an RV for at least one week during the June 1st to 25th period.

Grand Junction, CO (May 18, 2011) – Junction West RV Park and the Grand Valley Combined Honor Guard will hold a dedication ceremony and flag raising for Junction West’s new flag pole on

At the ceremony Junction West will also announce their participation in the Tents for Troops network “creating a place to enjoy life away from the field”.

Junction West RV Park, in partnership with Tents for Troops, offers active military and their family complimentary camping sites as a thank you for their service to our country. Junction West RV Park will offer members of the military an RV or tent site for two nights when they identify themselves as active military when making their reservations and present active military I.D. upon check-in.

Saturday May 28th at 10:00 a.m. – just in time for Memorial Day. Owner Tom Garland and his daughter Jenni will play the national anthem as a trumpet duet. A plaque will be mounted near the flag pole which reads:

“It was an idea that just wouldn’t quit,” said Mari Garland, owner of Junction West RV Park.

“We have offered a 10% discount to all veterans, active duty and retired military since we bought the RV Park four years ago, but the flag pole gives us a visible way to honor our country every day and have some fun with the second flag as well. Participating in Tents for Troops is a simple way to say thank you and give military members a chance to enjoy the outdoors and reconnect with their family and friends.” Junction West is a full-service RV Park

where guests can cool off in the splash pad water feature, play games on the large, grassy lawn or enjoy a campfire at the central fire pit. The park is minutes from hiking trails in Colorado National Monument, wine tasting amidst the vineyards and peach orchards of the Grand Valley, viewing over 100 outdoor sculptures in the newly remodeled downtown Grand Junction area and mountain biking famous trails in Fruita.

“It is a very small way of saying thank you for all of the hard work and sacrifices men and women in the military make,” said Toutle River RV Resort owner and Tents for Troops founder Charlie Curry. “In this case a 10% discount is just not enough. Our troops give us 100% all the time – we are delighted to do the same.”

Active military members wishing to visit Junction West RV Park may contact the reservations office at 970-245-8531 or email reservation requests to reservations@junctionwestr vpark.com. Mari Garland sums it up: “It is a pleasure and a privilege to provide a well-deserved respite to service members at our RV park.”

Junction West RV Park – “Your friendly camping oasis in Western Colorado” is located at 793 22 Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81505.

Learn more about Junction West’s amenities, local attractions and make reservations on our website at www.junctionwestrvpark.com

or by calling 970-2458531.

About Tents for Troops Tents for Troops is a network of campgrounds and RV parks across the United States that make available, at minimum, two nights of free camping to active members of the military and their immediate family.

Park participants are asked to commit to providing two sites for two nights upon request.

Network members are listed on the Tents for Troops website at www.tentsfortroops.org.

Parks interested in joining this program may contact founder Charlie Curry at info@greatrvresort.com or 360-274-8373. Details can be found at www.tentsfortroops.org.

You can also become a Tents for Troops Facebook fan.

NEW ORLEANS, La., May 20, 2011 – Several Louisiana campgrounds are willing and able to accommodate Louisiana residents who need a temporary place to stay as a result of the Mississippi River flood.

“Campgrounds are one place where families can stay until the flood waters recede,” said Sharon Vennen, executive director of the Louisiana Campground Owners Association.

She said several campground operators are willing to accommodate evacuees and some of them are offering discounted rates. These parks include: L’Acadie Inn and RV Park in Eunice: This park is already has some

evacuees from the Krotz Springs area.

Land O Pines Campground in Covington Poche Plantation in Convent Silver Creek Campground in Mount Hermon Tchefuncte Campground in Folsom Whispering Meadows in Westlake Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Robert For more information about campgrounds that are willing and able to accommodate people fleeing Louisiana’s floods, please contact Sharon Vennen at (225) 202-0084 or email her at lcoa@cox.net/.

For business owners, it's often difficult to fully comprehend the real values of email and social media.

These are vulnerable to new developments in technology, internet practices and cultural trends. It's not about what businesses view as the most important promotional tool, it's really a question of what produces the best results.

Social media is a powerful tool. When combined, Twitter and Facebook have more traffic than Google, with upwards of 32 percent of followers actively seeking and sharing product information.

These platforms offer a great deal of interactive contact between businesses and consumers. They've also become indispensible to viral and word-of-mouth campaigns.

Email marketing is a particularly effective and measurable direct communication channel.

With the emphasis on maintaining relationships with existing customers, we can say that email marketing is subject to more calculated, segmented distribution.

Email's proportionally high

retention benefits more or less outweigh any alternatives.

What's most obvious and important to understand is that these two platforms operate very differently and offer very different advantages. So why rely on one or the other? It should come as no surprise that merging these two channels has shown impressive and cost-effective results.

It's estimated that around 40 percent of email marketing recipients use social sites to search for commercial information.

This could seem like a trivial figure, but despite the social evolution, email is far from dead. Ninetytwo percent of adult internet users consistently send and read email. The average digital consumer is estimated to be about 37-years-old and participates prominently in the sharing of commercial content and recommendations.

While email already delivers the highest return on investment of any marketing medium, it's even more profitable when combined with social media.

Given the growing importance of integrated communications and convergence marketing,

email marketing service providers have been adding tools and features to make it easier for consumers to unite their online channels. Email can now be married to social and professional networking sites, all with the addition of prompts from one medium to the next.

The fusion of media can be achieved simply via social widgets, Facebook, newsletter subscription forms and social sharing options. You can share an email newsletter via a Facebook "Like" button in the header, or share the URL of the newsletter to your various social profiles. Any direct marketing materials can be published straight to your social network. Social sharing of direct email content can then be tracked by the number of clickthroughs spanning from the original newsletter to the relevant social platform and ultimately to your website and trade conversions.

Social networking sites have become

institutionalized as the online equivalent to wordof-mouth. In view of the digital marketing mix as a whole, social media is a magnifying glass for increased brand exposure and awareness. Even Google searches now rank social media content, which makes it more radiantly visible to users across different networks.

By combining the strengths of email and social media marketing, you can fortify your marketing strategy.

These two digital channels are mutually supportive and tend to attract different age groups and demographics to the same campfire.

Whatever changes are brewing on the horizon, playing the field in the integration game allows companies to reach a wider audience.

The practice of combining electronic channels is without a doubt the marketing wave of the future.

BILLINGS, MT (May 23, 2011) – Gasoline prices are dropping, just in time for the annual exodus of Memorial Day campers to favorite Kampgrounds of America parks throughout North America.

The second dose of good news is that there are still great tent and recreational vehicle sites, as well as KOA cabins and lodges, available at the more than 475 KOA campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada for this holiday weekend.

“For several years now, we’ve seen a trend of more and more campers looking for camping options closer to home,” said KOA President Pat

Hittmeier. “That is even more pronounced during the spring Memorial Day holiday, when schools may still be in session and it’s hard to take a long trip.”

Luckily for campers, there is likely to be a fantastic camping option just a fuelefficient short trip from home.

“We know that fuel prices have been on everyone’s mind this spring,” Hittmeier said. “It’s great to see fuel costs starting to drop, and we encourage everyone to enjoy the outdoors this Memorial Day weekend. Of course, we think KOA camping is a wonderful way to do just that.”

The American Automobile Association (AAA) reported that the national average price of regular gasoline had dropped more than 11 cents per gallon from last week’s average of $3.955 per gallon to $3.843 per gallon on Monday, May 23.

The drop was driven in part by a 16-cent decrease in the price of a barrel of oil.

AAA predicted that 34.9 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home as part of their Memorial Day weekend – up 0.2% from last year.

“Our campgrounds have invested in beautiful, fullservice lodges with full bathrooms and kitchens, as

well as our more rustic cabins,” Hittmeier said.

“This allows our guests to still enjoy camping in comfort at a KOA while traveling in their most fuel efficient vehicles. Camping is still the most economical vacation you can experience.”

AUBURN, Calif., May 23, 2011 – There’s no shortage of activities and entertainment this summer, particularly in California’s privately owned and operated campgrounds.

“Wait a minute,” you say.

“Aren’t campgrounds quiet places where people go to enjoy a lazy summer days and to sleep under the stars?”

“In many cases, they are,” says Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

“But California has growing numbers of privately owned and operated campgrounds that offer fun family activities for the whole family. It’s almost like going to summer camp. Only you’re not locked into a schedule. You can pick the activities you want to do.”

This summer, campgrounds, RV parks and resorts are organizing everything from scavenger hunts to cardboard sailboat regattas, tug-of-wars, pie eating contests and Karaoke competitions.

Others offer arts and crafts activities and sporting events.

And you don’t have to have camping equipment to join in the fun, since growing numbers of campgrounds offer rental

accommodations, including park model cabins, RVs, yurts and, in some cases, even tipis and safari tents.

“More than half of California’s privately owned campgrounds, RV parks and resorts offer some form of rental accommodation,” Sipe said, adding that CampCalifornia.com has a complete listing of campgrounds and a search tool that can help consumers find parks with rental accommodations.

Here’s a sampling of the entertainment and activities being planned at several California campgrounds this summer: Campland on the Bay in San Diego: This park, which features RV sites as well as supersites with private patios, grills and Jacuzzis and a view of a wildlife sanctuary, has an extensive activity lineup, including regular classes in arts and crafts, yoga, water aerobics as well as scavenger hunts, sand castle building contests, luau presentations, live bands and sporting events, including kick ball, dodge ball, soccer, volleyball and flag football.

The campground also has a skateboard park, bicycle and watercraft rentals. www.campland.com Casini Ranch Family Campground in Duncan Mills:

This park, located along the Russian River about 60 miles north of San Francisco, has hayrides, weekend bonfires with marshmellow roasting as well as outdoor movies on holiday weekends. Canoe and kayak rentals are also available. www.casiniranch.com Coloma Resort in Coloma: This park, which includes campsites, RV sites, park model cabins and safari tents, offers several activities, including a ropes course and gold panning.

The resort also has an onsite masseuse. Nearby activities include white water rafting, river tubing, fishing and biking. www.colomaresort.com El Capitan Canyon near Santa Barbara: This resort, which features luxury park models, yurts and safari tents, has a Saturday night concert series that goes throughout the summer, featuring everything from oldies and classic rock to blues, old school funk and Latin jazz. Recreational activities include hiking,

biking and ocean kayaking. www.elcapitancanyon.com Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton: This park, which has RV sites as well as park model cottage rentals, has several activities, including Friday night Tri-Tip barbecues, Saturday night ice cream socials and movies under the stars and Sunday breakfast in bed delivery service. www.flyingflags.com Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina in Newport Beach: This park, which features RV sites, park model cottage rentals and a secluded beach with a waveless swimming lagoon, has daily activities throughout the summer, including kids crafts, Karaoke contests, ice cream socials as well as guitar hero hours, teen pizza nights, card nights and outdoor movies on the beach. Upcoming special events include a barbecue competition and cardboard boat regatta on Father’s Continued

Continued Day weekend; a July 4th extravaganza with music, food, carnival games, contests and tournaments as well as a cardboard boat regatta. Hot dog and pie eating contests are also being planned. Kayak and sailboat rentals are also available. www.newportdunes.com Redwoods River Resort & Campground in Leggett: This park, which has RV and tent sites as well as cabin and motel room rentals, features movie nights, rock painting, ice cream socials, Karaoke nights and “Find the Rock” games in which children search for brightly colored rocks in exchange for a prize. Numerous events are also scheduled for July 4th weekend, including a chocolate pie eating contest, a canoe race in the pool, a tug of war and water balloon toss as well as Karaoke by the campfire and an ice cream social.

Labor Day weekend activities include a “Find the Rock” hunt, Karaoke by the campfire, a movie night, an ice cream social and bingo. http://redwoodriverresort.com

San Francisco Petaluma KOA in Petaluma: This park, which features park model cabin and RV rentals as well as RV sites, features a petting farm with goats, chickens, miniature donkeys and horse; a 30foot rock climbing wall; horse shoe pits, a bocce

ball and ring toss area, a jumping pillow as well as a huge swimming pool.

Organized activities include Karaoke nights, hay wagon rides, pancake breakfasts and outdoor movie nights.

The campground is also close to several regional events, including the Petaluma Wine, Jazz & Blues Festival on Aug. 7th and Wings over Wine Country, an acrobatic flying event on Aug. 20th and 21st at the Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa. www.petalumakoa.com

This park’s summer activities include outdoor movie nights, ice cream socials and scavenger hunts. Other special events this summer include a July 4th patriotic parade, in which campers are invited to decorate their bikes, trikes, scooters and wagons in red, white and blue. The park will have its annual dog show competition on July 31st and a wiffle ball tournament on Labor Day weekend.

Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA in Watsonville:

The Springs at Borrego RV Resort in Borrego Springs:

This park, which features park model cabin and RV rentals as well as RV sites, has a fun train on site as well as a jumping pillow and an outdoor theater with live entertainment, including talent shows and game show recreations. The park also has tie dyed t-shirt classes and ice cream socials and themed weekends. www.koa.com Shady Oasis Campground, Victorville: This park is planning organized events and entertainment over Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends, including family bingo games, movies for the kids and an evening DJ. A live band is also planned for the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. http://shadyoasis.tripod.com Smithwoods RV Park in Felton:

www.smithwoodsrvpark.com

This park will have a summer solstice celebration and Native American medicine circle ceremony on June 18th.

www.rvonthego.com Thousand Trails Idyllwild: This park will have live entertainment Father’s Day weekend as well as a craft activity for kids and their families to make together. A pinecone derby is also planned. www.rvonthego.com Ventura Ranch KOA in Santa Paula: This park, which features park model cabin and tipi rentals, features arts and crafts activities, scavenger hunts and other special events, including a hulahoop contest June 4th and a horseshoe tourney June 11th. www.koa.com Willow Creek Campground in Camptonville:

www.springsatborrego.com

Tahoe Valley Campground near South Lake Tahoe: This Encore park serves RV and tent campers in a forested 84-acre park with a heated pool, horseshoe pits, tennis, pickleball, basketball courts as well as a children’s playground, game room, camp store and laundry.

The park also offers live music on holiday weekends as well as Wednesday night ice cream socials followed by Karaoke and Saturday night movies. Weekend children’s activities include crafts, games, nature hikes or bike rides, dog parades and candy bar bingo.

This Northern Sierra park, which features RV and tent sites as well as cabins and park model rentals, is conveniently located for several athletic and entertaining events, including the Nevada City Bicycle Class on June 19th, the Downieville Class Mountain Bike Race and Festival, which is slated for July 8th to 10th; the California Worldfest, a July 14th to 17th festival featuring music from around the world; as well as Nevada City’s Summer Nights Arts & Music Festival, which is scheduled for July 13th, 20th and 27th. www.willowcreekcampground.com

NEW YORK — These days, camping isn’t just pitching a tent in the wilderness on a long hike, or stopping at a campground far from home on a road trip.

Instead, for many leisure travelers, camping nowadays may involve driving just a few miles from home to spend the night in a cabin with a roof, bathroom, beds and electricity, or taking the kids to a place that offers activities and entertainment like scavenger hunts or sports competitions.

Jolene Baxman organizes an annual two-night trip for a dozen mothers and their kids to a Kampgrounds of America facility in Petaluma, Calif., a mere 5 miles from where she lives.

But they don’t pitch tents.

They rent a lodge with a bathroom, indoor shower, kitchenette, microwave, barbecue grill, and, of course, beds. The moms take turns relaxing and making meals; the kids swim and bike. At night, they sing around a campfire and toast marshmallows.

“It’s not far from our homes but it feels like we’re camping,” Baxman said.

“We’re out in the woods; it’s very beautiful — lush trees and you don’t hear any cars around. We’re not in a tent, but it’s camping to us.”

More than half of those staying with Kampgrounds of America say they were at home the night before arriving at the campground, according to KOA CEO Jim Rogers. That’s a 25 percent increase over seven years.

Rogers says work demands, kids’ schedules, high gas prices and other concerns are all contributing to the trend.

“They just want to stay within reach and go away for shorter time periods,” he said.

Rogers also said KOAs have seen a 25 percent increase in the use of roofed accommodations at their campgrounds. “It’s attracting a whole new breed of campers, people we haven’t seen before,” he said.

In Ohio, the Lazy River at Granville campground, 25 miles from Columbus, offers activities and entertainment ranging from a zipline to magic shows to arts and crafts. For those who bring laptops and TV sets, there is wireless Internet and cable service.

One of the most popular attractions at Lazy River is the “bug lady,” a local woman who takes visitors on a walk in the woods, where she points out bugs.

“She’s the Pied Piper of bugs,” said Mark Kasper, owner of Lazy River. “She just entrances her audience.”

Kasper observed that when he was young, “you’d go to the state park and watch a presentation with a ranger and a movie. Now it’s different. We try to have everything the modern-day person wants, and yet you’re away from the city.”

Jeff Crider, spokesman for the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, says “more and more campgrounds across the country are offering organized activities that could range from nature walks to special themed weekend events like holiday events or Father’s Day events. You can still find plenty of campgrounds that offer a natural setting and a nice environment for kayaking, fishing, or river tubing, but what the parks are finding is that more and more families want things to do. And fun activities are a way to get kids away from computers and iPods and do something as a family.”

In addition, campgrounds that offer these types of activities find that people will stay longer — three or four days instead of just a weekend.

Crider said accommodations are also changing. Campgrounds are investing in everything from yurts and furnished teepees to cottages and cabins. A KOA in Herkimer, N.Y., just opened three furnished cabins for rent

that are powered by solar panels, with a backup propane generator.

“If they can provide rental accommodations, then they can make camping accessible to everyone. It isn’t just people who like to rough it in a tent or who have an RV,” Crider said.

Dawn Tosner, of Valley Stream, N.Y., has been going to the KOA in Herkimer, N.Y., for 15 years. “When we first started, we went tent camping,” she said. “We gradually started using the cabins.” Last year, joined by friends, she tried an upgraded cabin with all the comforts of home, including a bathtub, stove and TV. “It’s a little bit of luxury while still enjoying the outdoors,” she said. “When you go tent camping, you have to bring everything with you — sleeping bags, all the utensils, supplies.

You pack up the whole car.

With the cabins, you don’t need to bring as much stuff.

You have more time to spend enjoying the trip.”

Even those who go the traditional route of sleeping on the ground may be spending time in a tent that has multiple rooms, with separate quarters that can be used for the kids or as a screened-in porch for chairs.

Full Article: www.timesleader.com

MCPS for Campgrounds, the credit and debit card processor specializing in campgrounds, announced today, through its President, Art Lieberman, that Deanne Bower had been promoted to Partner of the company.

and to gotowebinar which we have used so effectively to educate campground owners on credit card savings and PCI compliance. Without her, I probably would have retired at that time”

Bower had served for 4 years as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the company, a position that she will retain. She had been instrumental in acquiring nearly half of all the campground accounts that are in the portfolio of the company during that time.

“Then when we made a decision to attempt to produce the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo last year, Deanne played a key role in obtaining sponsors and exhibitors and assisting in them in the construction of their booths. Because of this she was named Associate Producer of the event. This year, it was Deanne who investigated alternative software companies for our 2011 Expo.”

“Deanne was a miracle in the life of our company” explains Lieberman. “When my partner Lash passed away several years ago, Deanne took over almost all the duties that Lash performed. In addition, she set up our website and introduced us to e-faxing

Bower, 47, had some experience in marketing prior to joining MCPS, but discovered her unique “take” on matters financial shortly after joining MCPS.

“It’s about crunching numbers,” she now says, “and about saving campground owners money on their processing while keeping them abreast of the foibles of the credit industry”.

Deanne’s husband Barry is the Administrator of MCPS for Campgrounds so her family is dedicated to the business.

MCPS for Campgrounds and has been running FREE webinars on PCI compliance every month for several years. Art Lieberman and Deanne Bower are the Producers of the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo II, which will begin on 11/11/11. Both can be reached at MCPS at 877-858-9010 or at 877901-EXPO (3976)

Nebraska — A new recreational vehicle campground is under construction and will be open by Memorial Day, according to its owner.

Keith Rodehorst is building Kearney RV Park and Campground at 315 Ave. M. The park will sit on eight acres, and there is room to add on. There will be 39 spaces to rent for campers.

Rodehorst said he’d like to add another 40 spots in the future, if they are needed.

A 1,000-square-foot office, now under construction, will house a check-in room, laundry, showers and a maintenance area.

This is the third park Rodehorst has developed.

He owns one next to Northshore Marina at Harlan County Reservoir and one in Ogallala.

Rodehorst said he recognized a need for a RV park and campground because there hasn’t been one in Kearney since Clyde and Vi’s Campground closed to make room for the Kearney Cinema 8 at 303 Third Ave. Rodehorst said the park will be open by May 30.

“We’re hoping to be able to park campers by Memorial weekend,” Rodehorst said.

He said he chose the location for the park because of its proximity to other recreation, and he

hopes it will help tourism in Kearney.

He said the Kearney hikebike trail is 100 yards from the entrance of the park.

The north channel of the Platte River runs along the south side of the park, and fishing is allowed.

“I think this a good spot,” he said. “We’re about halfway between Second Avenue and the arch and the Cherry Avenue Interchange that is coming.”

The Great Platte River Road Archway is less than two miles to the east of the campground.

Rodehorst said that M Street directly connects to the Buffalo County Fairgrounds where large events are held.

Keith Rodehorst: Photo by Brad Horton The plan is to build a swimming pool on the property.

A wireless Internet connection also will be available.

Eventually, Rodehorst will construct a horseshoe pit.

He found a pair of matching horseshoes during

construction. When he found the horseshoes, he knew the decision to build the park was a good one.

The rates will be $32 per night. Weekly rates will be $192. The monthly rate will be $450.

Article & Photo: www.kearneyhub.com

Rodehorst said he wants to provide a modern camping experience to his guests.

Each of the 39 spaces will have electricity, water and sewer hookups.

“They’re all pull-throughs,” Rodehorst said. “They don’t have to back into any spot.”

Each lot is 39 feet by 90 feet.

“The big motor homes pulling a car or a trailer will have plenty of room to park,” he said.

Tent camping spots will be arranged along the river. “I think this will be a real asset,” Rodehorst said.

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) has alerted its members about possible confusion over a new RV promotional website.

ARVC stated in its current “Flash Report:” “Please be aware that we have received several calls from ARVC members about a company called ‘Go RV Network’, who is billing our members for a web listing on their website.”

Their invoice reads: “GoRVNetwork”.

“Members are confused because the name is similar to the GoRVing campaign and they think that ARVC/RVIA is billing them, yet there is no affiliation. ARVC members may advertise with the GoRV Network at their own discretion.”

The new website is http://www.gorvpark.com.

The contact number is (877) 520-5871.

CROWLEY, Texas, May 23, 2011 – For the first time in its 17 year history, Texas Advertising won the Supplier of the Year Award from the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO).

“We’re thrilled with this honor,” said Texas Advertising President Brian Schaeffer, who received the award during TACO’s Spring Convention & Tradeshow at Guadalupe River RV Resort in Kerrville earlier this month.

Schaeffer, who also serves as executive director and CEO of TACO, said Texas Advertising was chosen the award by an independent panel of judges.

In addition to administering the Texas campground association and publishing their annual RV Park and Campground Guide, Texas Advertising produces site maps for more than 100 campgrounds while also designing and hosting websites for an equal number of parks.

Texas Advertising’s clients include Carefree RV Resorts, Horizon RV Resorts and numerous privately owned campgrounds across the

Brian Schaeffer US and Canada as well as the Missouri Association of RV Parks. The Crowleybased firm also hosts AccessCamping.com, a web portal with hundreds of links to databases of public and private campgrounds and RV clubs across North America.

Texas Advertising also develops marketing plans and serves as an advertising agency for private park operators – a role that enables Texas Advertising to not only design the ads for each park, but guide parks in their advertising strategies.

“We help parks decide how to allocate their advertising dollars for maximum results between websites as well as print and online campground directories,” Schaeffer said.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – RVC Outdoor Destinations has formed a strategic alliance with Pilot Flying J, the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America. Through this relationship, RVC will give guests a free membership to Pilot Flying J’s reward program for RV drivers.

“We wanted to partner with Pilot Flying J not only because they are a toprated company, but also because we feel the pain of the rising gas prices, especially for RV travelers,” said Yale Spina, RVC Vice President and Director of Operations.

In regards to these high fuel prices, RVC is giving each and every guest an exclusive membership that includes a Pilot Flying J frequent fueler advantage card and RV travel guide in an effort to keep RVers on the open road. With the frequent fueler card, RV patrons will receive many benefits, including discounts on gasoline,

diesel, propane fuel and dumping fees at any participating Pilot Flying J location. The cards have no expiration date. The travel guide that guests will also receive shows the location of every travel center that accepts the membership discount along with other useful information, such as if the locations have restaurants, RV parking, RV dumping and bulk propane.

The locations and contact information are listed for every state.

Each RVC “Outdoor Destination” will give guests this gift upon check-out.

These are the RVC properties: • Carrabelle Beach, an RVC Outdoor Destination (Carrabelle, Florida) • Catherine’s Landing, an RVC Outdoor Destination (Hot Springs, Arkansas) • Live Oak Landing, an RVC Outdoor Destination (Freeport, Florida) • Pine Mountain, an RVC Outdoor Destination (Pine Mountain, Georgia)

By Larry

Right now Congress and the political parties are in the midst of debates about foreign policy, tax policies, healthcare, energy, immigration and environmental standards, to name a few. It is enlightening to look back on examples of the environmental policies that have gotten us to where we are today. Two come immediately to mind: the restrictions on oil drilling in the Gulf and (from way back) the policies that helped create and then supposedly solve the Dust Bowl - which is now in severe drought and short on adequate water for irrigation.

The moratorium on drilling in the Gulf adds to our dependence on foreign oil, just like the restrictions against drilling in Alaska and other U.S. oil and gas reserves. So energy costs continue to soar but gosh, we are safe from drilling accidents. Of course other nations, including even Vietnam, are pumping oil out of the Gulf while we pay higher and higher prices to

obtain oil from other nations.

Stupid?

The Dust Bowl at the end of the Great Depression was caused by lack of precipitation but it was visited upon thousands and thousands of people who were urged by government to settle and grow wheat where previously there had been prairie grass. They were encouraged to plow under the thick, durable sod in favor of wheat fields that were only productive with winter snow and spring rains. The soil blew away when the precipitation ceased. Before the drought hit, there was so much wheat that it was piled high like coal. The glut led to such a drop in market prices that the wheat rotted because nobody wanted it.

The drought ended the surplus - and left the farmers dead or bankrupt.

Brilliant planning!

Policies will not always turn out to be wise. But the more we all participate in the policy making, the better will be the chances of getting it right - or changing it.

Are you a mom and pop type business? Nobody but you or your spouse works the register. You just don’t trust your help because they are not capable of running your register or you know they will steal you blind. You’re not even sure about your spouse. This article just might set you free.

You will need a cash register that has clerk keys and runs two tapes, a receipt tape and a journal tape. You will have to total and clear your totals everyday (Z) and get a printed tape. You will need to start with a beginning drawer (box with money and balance sheet) that is the same everyday. You will need some known extra coins and cash set aside in case your cash drawer runs out of some coins or cash (bills ).

Before you use the following system with your work campers/employees, use it on yourself and spouse. Two things may happen. One, you may find you are not perfect on the register. Second, you may find you or your spouse is a thief. Look at the right column of balance sheet and the lines titled Money to Jim and Money Out and think how many times have you taken money from the register to go to a store?

Set your register so a clerk key has to be used to start any transaction. Assign a key to everyone that will be using the register. Every credit card receipt and every check must be initialed by the person using the register and kept for the closing Drawer.

Every sale should be tendered with the proper key: cash, credit, or check.

Every paid out must be printed on the register receipt and stapled to the invoice and placed in the closing drawer. If you don’t do this, you will be chained to your cash register or if you are letting workers run your register you are giving them a chance for an unintended raise. It looks hard, but it can be done and you will no longer be a mom and pop business.

Now you will become a business !

Now look at the example of our balance sheet for the closing drawer. First line is the date. Next on the left side is Check Total in dollars and this will come from your adding machine ( add up all your checks ). Record the number of checks below that. On the right side below the word REGISTER is the total from your (Z) in number of checks and dollar total.

The left side and right side should be the same. If not,

record the error on the next line. From your credit card machine total for the day, record the number of credit cards and the dollar amount.

On the right side record the number of credit cards and dollar amount from your register’s (Z). These should be the same, if not record the error. Now for the easy part. Count your money and record the CASH TOTAL. Next subtract the

amount you use for you beginning drawer.

We use $503.00, but you may find this is too much or too little for your beginning cash drawer. If during the day you need more bills or coins in your register, record this amount. (See last sentence of the second paragraph). This also will be subtracted from the CASH TOTAL. Continued

number from the larger number and start investigating.

If the check or credit card numbers do not match, go through the journal tape comparing the entries with the checks and credit cards. It should be easy to find the error if someone simply did not tender the sale properly. It is a bit more complicated if someone rang two sales together.

The big problem is when (A) does not match (B) and checks and credit cards match. You have a money problem. You might start by checking your arithmetic.

The next line I hope you don’t ever have to use. If a returned check is made good in cash. Record that amount here and subtract from the CASH TOTAL. This gives you TOTAL (A).

Now back to the right side.

Note the lines on the register side have a “R” on their end to remind us these are from the register.

The next line is the NET SALES line. This represents your total sales including any taxes. The next set of lines you will subtract from NET SALES. First is the paid out from your (Z). Check this with your copy(ies) of the receipt(s). Should be the same!

The next line you probably

don’t have to worry about because you don’t sell lotto. The next line is the dollar amount of checks from the LEFT SIDE Check Total.

The next line is the dollar amount from the credit card machine on the LEFT SIDE. The next line is for me when I take money from the cash register. The Money Out line is for any reason money is removed from the cash drawer.

Note this is to be explained! Now you have subtracted all these amounts from NET SALES, you have your total for TOTAL {B).

Hopefully TOTAL (A) = TOTAL {B).

If not, subtract the smaller

Some suggestions to make this all easier. At day’s end empty all your money, checks, credit card receipts, paid out receipts, and the CLOSING DRAWER balance sheet in a box.

We use a 4 by 6 Tupperware and put the lid on. We use plastic sandwich bags for the coins. We will count the money the next morning when we are not so tired from signing in all those campers. We always have two or three of these Beginning Drawer boxes made up with $503.00 with the balance sheet in the box so one will be ready for the start of the next day.

Best Parks in America has announced that it has stepped up it qualifications for park eligibility in the Best Parks system.

Effective immediately, parks must have a 5 Woodall rating for facilities with a minimum of a 9 overall Woodall rating or a 27 Trailer Life rating. Prior to this change a park was eligible for Best Parks affiliation with a total Woodall rating of 9 or higher with either a 4/5, 5/4, or 5/5. Under the new requirements, the first

number must be a 5. Also prior to the change, parks were eligible with a 26.5 Trailer Life rating; than rating has now moved up a notch to a 27 total.

"As we hear from more and more RVers and campers, we're learning that they expect a higher level of facilities from Best Parks in America affiliates and we want to be sure we are meeting their expectations.

Pushing the rating bar a bit higher is one step in that

direction," said Best Parks President David Gorin.

"We want to continue to strive to make the RVer experience at Best Parks consistent across the brand this is one way to accomplish that," Gorin said.

Parks currently participating in the Best Parks system will need to meet the higher rating on the date of their next affiliation renewal. Best Parks has introduced several new programs to assist parks that want to raise ratings to meet or exceed the new standard.

Parks that receive an A Guest Review rating with at least 50 reviews remain eligible for Best Parks affiliation. That standard

remains unchanged at this time. "If 50 or more consumers review and rate the park at an A level, we're confident that the park qualifies for Best Parks in America," Gorin said.

"Consumer acceptance and consistently high ratings is hard to argue with when it comes to park quality," he said.

Best Parks in America is a national marketing group comprised of highly rated, independent RV parks and campgrounds.

There are currently 80 affiliated parks across the US. For information on Best Parks in America, visit www.bestparksinamerica.com.

November 6-9, 2011 (Expo on Nov. 9) South Point Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV Contact: (406) 248-7444 November 11-12, 2011 On the Internet Contact: (877) 901-3976 Diana Leblanc of PPL Motorhomes in Houston recently joined Texas Campgrounds CEO Brian Schaeffer for a podcast on the RV industry. Diana has been with PPL for 31 years and has countless experience in the RV industry. Her and Brian discussed many things including the younger demographic entering the RV world, RV financing and what types of RVs seem to be popular this year. She

also noted how sales at PPL have been up over the last few years which is a promising sign for years to come.

The Delton Plan Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a recreational vehicle park adjacent to the Ho-Chunk Casino at a meeting Thursday, and construction could start as soon as June 3, according to the hotel's manager.

our customers at HoChunk Gaming-Wisconsin Dells a wide variety of choices.

Jon Warner, executive hotel manager at the HoChunk Casino, said the park will be equipped to handle even the most luxurious recreational vehicle models that exist.

"It's intended to be an extension of the hotel facility. Our goal is to give

The Texas Campgrounds podcast is the first of its kind discussing the RV world in Texas and abroad.

You can listen to this podcast edition at www.TexasCampgrounds.com

and visit PPL at www.PPLMotorhomes.com

Our ultimate goal in our RV park is not necessarily a campground but RV parking. Currently we hold 20 to 30 RV vehicles in our parking lot from day to day, so this is just an extension of our parking lot," Warner said.

The RV park will feature 49 sites, an 1,800 square foot building with rest rooms and showers, laundry and maintenance quarters.

November 14-17, 2011 Embassy Suites, Covington, KY Contact: (513) 831-2100 November 28 – December 2, 2011 Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort Spa & Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, Savannah, GA Contact: (303) 681-0401