Issue 79 Campground

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 20, 2010 – A little known loan program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture may provide funding for qualified park operators or other RV businesses located in rural areas who haven’t been able to secure financing for improvements and expansions during the recession.

The USDA’s Rural Business Guaranteed Loan Program typically

provides up to $10 million in funding for rural businesses that need loans for a variety of reasons, including refinancing, repairs, modernizations, development and expansions.

A fact sheet detailing the USDA loan program for the Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan program can be obtained at http://www.rurdev.usda.go v/rbs/busp/b&I_gar.htm.

“Local federally insured and regulated financial institutions are still making these loans,” Bill Garpow, executive director of the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA), told park operators attending CalARVC’s Education Day Jan. 13th at Newport Dunes Waterfront RV Resort and Marina.

“This program is good for a campground or any Continued page 2

Continued from front page

USDA Rural business loan program could help private parks seeking capital for improvements and expansions other rural business that is financially sound, can meet the program’s collateral requirements and has a justifiable need for the loan to make some good things happen in rural America.

You can also use this kind of funding to purchase recreational park trailers for placement into a rental program.

Another use might be to refinance the whole park and reduce your monthly cost of operations as a way to bring a profit back to your balance sheet.

USDA is particularly interested in projects that could provide additional jobs and would conserve water or power.”

“If you qualify for this type of loan, the government will guarantee up to 80 percent of the loan,” Garpow said, which essentially covers the bank’s risk in making the loan and may result in a better loan interest rate.

Garpow said he learned about the USDA loan program during a seminar at the National RV Trade Show at Louisville in December. And while the loan application process is more cumbersome than usual, since it involves both a bank and the USDA, he said the program is worth considering given the unwillingness of most banks to lend money right now.

The USDA defines “rural” as an area with a population of 50,000 or less.

Garpow said park operators can find out if they qualify for the rural area requirement of this program by visiting the USDA’s eligibility website and entering the address and zip-code of their business. http://eligibility.sc.egov.usd a.gov/eligibility/welcomeAct

A rash of break-ins at the KOA Gulf Pines Campground in Florida has led to the arrest of two Bay County residents Monday night.

The accused admitted some of the items taken included a flat screen Sony Bravia TV from one fifth wheel, a few board games and a Gerger knife from another camper, and several articles of jewelry, a small TV, a fire safe, a coin collection, and two muzzleloader firearms from a third camper.

Management from the KOA Gulf Pines Campground confirmed the registration and that the two had stayed at the back of the campground near the camper storage area. Full Article: www.srpressgazette.com

RESTON, Va. -Reinforcing the innovative look and value theme of Go RVing’s new “Ambassadors of Affordability” TV ads, GoRVing.com will launch a state-of-the-art interactive microsite Feb. 12. The site will utilize new technology and programming, allowing more interactivity than the current website to keep visitors entertained and bring them back.

When a visitor lands on GoRVing.com, they’ll be greeted by the television ads’ new Ambassadors of Affordability. Each animal ambassador will be a tour guide to an updated area of the website. The latest interactive technologies will be used to give the animals voices and personalities, drawing the user further into the site.

Instead of simply reading about RV travel savings, features and activities, web users will discover an interactive and more customized experience tailored to their interests and needs. They’ll have access to an Explore RVs tool comparing the various

RV types, sizes and features; a vacation cost comparison tool utilizing the most current PKF vacation cost comparison data; an activities selector tailored to their age and interests; and most important, a more accessible, visible Locator tool to find a dealer, rental, manufacturer, campground or industry supplier.

“The new Go RVing TV spots will get people’s attention and drive them to the website. There, prospects will get detailed information to motivate them to take that next big step and see their local dealer,” said RVIA Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Gary LaBella.

More than 2.5 million people have visited GoRVing.com in 2009.

Since July – at the height of Go RVing summer advertising – web visits have actually exceeded last year’s, LaBella said.

GoRVing.com has seen four consecutive months of increased website visits.

Last week we released our new concept for an online magazine that will reach 66 million consumers.

The feedback was tremendous and encourages us to move on it as quickly as possible.

We are aware some campgrounds are still closed and have limited access to read the article hence repeating the article here......

You and the entire industry have embraced Campground & RV Park E-News and soon you will be able to introduce your own client base to a new and very high quality monthly online publication called ‘Getaway USA’.

It will present destination ideas and pictorials, suggest itineraries and

profile Campgrounds and much, much more.

Getaway USA will promote the industry as a whole to those not yet hooked on Camping and RV’ing but equally, it’s content is of major interest to existing Campers (your clients).

The new publication ‘Getaway USA’ will introduce you, your facilities and your area features to many millions of potential ‘New Campground Goers’ across the USA and Canada and espouse the virtues of the great lifestyle that our industry has to offer as well as portray the wholesome social environment that awaits kids and teenagers.

It will be delivered in the same manner as Campground & RV Park ENews but the format will be more magazine style.

Essentially, the new publication will profile and promote places as well as owners and your Campgrounds, RV Parks and Resorts, along with the franchises involved in the industry. We will give insight, tips, suggestions and advice on destinations across the USA and Canada.

The publication will heavily promote the lifestyle to adults and espouse the benefits of introducing children to a new and socially beneficial way of life.

We feel that Getaway USA is of equal interest to existing Campers and RV’ers as well as the vast majority of the general public who do not yet enjoy this pastime.

But! We want you to be the judge….

Getaway USA endeavors to set a new standard in the online communication and promotion of our Industry, not only to those who already use it but also to those who are yet to consider our Industry as their primary vacation and leisure activity.

It has a genuine and realistic goal of ‘Growing our Industry’.

You’ll find the publication rich in content, consistent, Continued next page

and loaded with free stuff for its readers.

Each year the publication will ‘Give Away’ a Luxury Trailer or Fifth Wheeler, this National free competition alone is sure to enthuse our readership.

This is a major National Publication which you are very much a part of.

Via our ‘Let’s Grow Together’ promotion (which will start in a few weeks) we’ll be asking you (our readers)to assess the first publication and if you deem it worthy, pass the link to the new publication on to your own client base via e-mail so that they may consider its value

also; you’ll be providing them with ‘something of real value for nothing’ and it will be up to your client to register to receive their regular issue should they choose to do so.

This is the perfect time for such a launch as folks look for alternatives in a floundering economy and with the industry as a whole improving its accommodation offerings, everyone from all dimensions of the economic spectra can be persuaded to ‘Try Campgrounds’.

We at Campground & RV Park E-News are using several means to

promote to that section of the public who don’t currently have a relationship with our Industry.

It is our sincere belief that together we can grow the industry and (via Campground & RV Park E-News) along the way ‘Getaway USA’ will be making some data collection and surveys available to all individuals

and associations who stand for the advancement of our Industry.

The project is dynamic and its national impact can be greatly increased with yours and a broad Industry support.

THE BIG4 chain of caravan and holiday parks will feature prominently at this year's national tourism awards in Australia

holiday experience," he said. "This sees us attracting new guests while ensuring our current guests continue to choose BIG4.

It crushed the opposition in the caravan and tourist park category at the state and territory rounds of the awards, grabbing six out of seven top places and reinforcing its position as a leading holiday park operator in Australia.

These six award-winning parks are testament to the quality of parks in our family and we are proud they wear the BIG4 name."

The six winners were BIG4 Beacon Resort (VIC); BIG4 Deniliquin Paringa Holiday Park (NSW); BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park (SA); BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park (TAS); Beachlands Holiday Park (WA), and BIG4 MacDonnell Range Holiday Park (NT).

The only state where a BIG4 Holiday Park did not win an award was Queensland, the first time since 2004.

BIG4 chief executive officer Terry Goodall believed tourism awards provided well-deserved recognition for park owners and operators who worked exceptionally hard to maintain the standard that set his organisation apart from its competitors.

"We strive to provide our guests with a unique

BIG4 Holiday Parks’ dedication to offering a high standard of product was reflected in the group’s overall success.

Despite the economic climate, BIG4 Holiday Parks has increased its revenue by 5.3 per cent in the last financial year to more than $250 million.

The introduction of an online booking system in September, 2008, has aided this success, earning the group more than $7 million in bookings – mostly from a non-traditional customer base.

The six award-winning BIG4 Holiday Parks will be in the running to take out the National Tourism Award in Hobart on February 26.

Adventure Bound employees relax aboard the Westerdam during a Manager’s Cruise Meeting in the Caribbean.

Adventure Bound Camping Resorts recently returned from its yearly Managers Meeting which was held aboard a 7 night Caribbean Cruise on Holland America Cruise Line.

This was the second time their Manager’s Meeting was held on a cruise ship.

“Cruise meetings give our managers and key personnel the opportunity to attend planned meetings, spend time together, share ideas, create friendships and relax after a busy season!” says Jayne Cohen, President of Adventure Bound Camping Resorts.

The meetings focused primarily on customer service, management training seminars, motivational videos, marketing and operational

cracker barrels. Many meetings qualified for CPO credits from ARVC. Peter Kearns from Campground Manager graciously hosted the opening night “Bon Voyage Party” and gave an informative session on Book Your Site and Campground Manager.

The last evening of the cruise wrapped up with the Managers’ Auction, a variation of a favorite activity at many Adventure Bound Camping Resorts, and a Manager’s Appreciation Party and Awards Ceremony.

Several managers were honored for financial performance, outstanding recreation programs, customer service and operational excellence.

“Adventure Bound was thrilled to reward our

Managers and key personnel with a week in the Caribbean aboard an incredible 5 star ship in order to thank them for providing the Company with an outstanding year!

2009 was our best year since the company was founded” says Cohen.

“Looking towards 2010 we plan for another record breaking year with our strong management team!” adds Cohen.

Adventure Bound owns nine camping resorts primarily in the Northeast with one in Tucson, AZ and another in Gatlinburg, TN and is known for its high level of customer service!

The company is owned by H. Wayne Klekamp Inc based in Vero Beach, FL and Wayne Klekamp, the

Company’s Founder, is very involved in the company’s management focusing on acquisitions, capital improvements and financing. “Plans are to continue the tight watch on our expenses, and begin adding cabins and other amenities to our properties” says Klekamp. “We have positioned ourselves to move forward in the coming years with expansion of current properties, acquisitions and even a greater emphasis on customer service!”

For more information on Adventure Bound Camping Resorts phone 877-786-2846, or email jcohen@abcamping.com.

Visit our website at www.abcamping.com.

Hunter, New York – On October 31, 2009, Hickory Hill Family Camping Resort, Bath, NY received the 2009 Marketing Award for Best Mailer Piece during the 46th Annual Conference and Trade Show of Campground Owners of New York (CONY), held at the Kaatskill Mountain Resort in Hunter, New York. This is the second year in a row Hickory Hill Family Camping Resort has won this award.

The winning design, entitled “Your 2009

Vacation Guide: Memories that Last a Lifetime,” was chosen as the top mailer piece by an independent panel of judges. All members of CONY were invited to submit their mailer pieces for judging.

Rosemary Curtis, Operations Manager and Certified Park Operator for Hickory Hill Family Camping Resort, accepted a plaque for the campground from CONY Board Chairman Scott Sherwood at the annual Conference banquet.

The Best Simple Brochure award went to Rip Van Winkle Campground, owned and operated by Dan and MaryAnn Ellsworth and their son Eric.

The winning brochure, entitled “For Family. For Friends. For Fun!” with design work by Brydan Corporation of Delhi, NY, was chosen as the top brochure by an independent panel of judges. All members of CONY were invited to submit their simple (single page) brochures for judging.

Other marketing award categories recognized during the CONY Conference included Website Design and Mailer Piece.

According to Donald G. Bennett, Jr., CONY President and CEO, the marketing awards honor CONY members for their self-promotion activities, and encourage improvements in marketing efforts among the CONY membership.

Rosemary Curtis, CPO, operations manager for Hickory Hill Family Camping Resort in Bath, NY, accepts the award for Best Mailer Piece, from Board Chairman Scott Sherwood.

Said Mr. Bennett, “Every year I am amazed at the design quality of the brochures and websites

Cover of the winning brochure design. that our CONY campgrounds and RV parks produce, and hopefully this competition is an incentive for all our members to be the best parks in the camping industry, and maybe compete in next year’s marketing awards program.”

The winners were announced during the annual awards banquet held during the CONY Conference & Trade Show.

Rip Van Winkle’s award was accepted by co-owner Eric Ellsworth.

A meeting will be held soon in Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba, to examine how best to take advantage of the opportunities expected to spin off from the $5 million redevelopment of Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park announced last year.

The public meeting is expected to be a more ambitious effort at consensus-building than others than have garnered little participation, according to the Interlake Spectator, Winnipeg.

A meeting of business

owners late last year attracted just four people.

The agenda for that meeting was ambitious enough: Talk not only about the closure of a parking lane on Main Street last year, but what can be done to best accommodate the expected influx of people when a 120-site RV campground opens in 2011 or 2012 in this resort town located 31 miles north of Winnipeg. The question, says Councillor Pam Jackson, is how can the community best position itself to accommodate

hundreds of people, many of whom may stay at the campground for two weeks or more.

“This RV park is going to change Winnipeg Beach in many ways,” said Jackson. “It’s very important to have wide input. We have to come together in a coordinated fashion, and do some very creative things to [take advantage] of the opportunities.”

The disability-accessible campground, the first of its kind in Manitoba, will also feature playground and other recreation areas for the general public, further enhancing the appeal of Winnipeg Beach as a destination.

The investment is expected to change the face of this resort town.

Full Article: www.interlakespectator.com

In the last ten years we, as Americans, have witnessed a huge amount of tragedies. It started with 9/11, when nearly 3,000 Americans perished in a terrorist attack.

Then in 2004, what was probably the worst tsunami to ever occur in recorded history took the lives of an estimated 200,000 people.

The earthquake that generated the great Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 is estimated to have released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

It is estimated that 2,000 people died when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August of 2005, but another 20,000 were left homeless. We watched as the hurricane became a political football here in the US – and many believe that our relief efforts were halve-hearted.

We’re all familiar with these disasters; they made headlines on the news. In writing this article I found a website http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/d bc.nsf/doc100?OpenForm

which virtually blew my mind.

There are hundreds of natural disasters EACH YEAR which are hardly mentioned in news reports, many of which claim hundreds or even thousands of lives.

On January 15, at 4:53 PM a 6.9 hurricane struck 15 miles WSW of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Estimates as of this writing, place the deaths at over 111,000 and nearly a million people are without shelter, food or water. News sources have continuously covered the event and most have people on the ground reporting directly from the city. Aftershocks are occurring on a daily basis.

In all of these events, the generosity and humanity of the American people has been on display for the world to see. Relief workers, doctors, nurses, firefighters and other volunteers have traveled to disaster areas to help the victims. Our government has immediately expressed concern and sent troops and caretakers to each of these locales.

And Americans, in the worst financial times, have emptied their pockets to send what

they could to assist survivors, bury the dead and to attempt to re-build the decimated infrastructure. The recent “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon is reminiscent of the “Hope for Heroes” telethon after 9/11 and the "Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast" fundraiser after Katrina.

Americans have always rallied to help victims of disaster, natural or manmade all over the world.

And yet, there are those that would chose these times of hardship to politicize a horrific event.

They blame politicians or even the people living where the event occurred for the disaster. We can only hope that these critics suffer from a disaster and seek relief.

Haiti’s disaster continues to be a major source of news on TV and in the newspapers. It will be months before the suffering ends and years before Haitians can have a semblance of their country re-built. Many are calling for the complete destruction of the present building and a complete re-

building such as the one that took place in Germany after WWII. We will watch and hope that the results can bring about a restoration of that country and their people.

But campground owners, I suggest that you look out upon your acreage and thank the Lord that it is a place that people find comfort in. It is part of God’s natural wonders which you care for and invite others to share. We all participate in the “outdoor hospitality industry” with emphasis on the word outdoor.

Look out and appreciate how lucky we really are.

By Art Lieberman

Art Lieberman is President of MCPS for Campgrounds, a credit card processor sponsored by Woodforest Bank NA. Art has been in the Credit Card industry for nearly 12 years. Art has been conducting webinars online and seminars on credit cards in many State and Regional Association Conventions. He can be contacted at art@mcpsforcampgrounds.com

By Larry

Useful tips for the Campground People were using common sense before the environmental movement ever began.

We didn’t need doctors to advise us that breathing smoke from burning trash was not a good idea or that polluted drinking water could make us get sick and die. Nobody thought that breathing smog was healthy.

We still need common sense. The difference is that research provides us more information and a better understanding of how to make our environment healthier.

“Environment” includes air, water and soil. By derivation it also includes food, medicine and all other substances that we breathe or ingest. More knowledge helps us use common sense more effectively.

The first and most useful tool in the environmental arsenal is still the human brain! Some starting points: • avoid obvious pollution such as burning of trash, dumping of toxins into water or undesignated areas, pouring poisons down the toilet, and littering.

• avoid subtle pollution: pouring unused medicines down the toilet; burning leaves and trees trees; ignoring failing septic systems and faulty exhaust systems.

• keep the use of salt and sand on roads to a minimum.

• divert storm water runoff to wetland sites or holding ponds.

• encourage recycling.

Provide adequate containers for paper and plastics, toxic materials and unused medicines.

• keep the use of insecticides, weed killers and fertilizers to a minimum.

Share the responsibility for sound environmental practices. After all, everyone lives in our environment.

People appreciate tactful reminders and encouragement to do their part.

Ask your customers for suggestions and post their ideas.

More heads are better than one.

Panelists attending CalARVC’s Education Day share their insights regarding the costs, management and marketing of the cottage-style units Gelfand said his company initially rented park models without linens, but later switched to a daily maid service, which he offers free of charge to his guests “to minimize the thrashing of the units.”

Debbie Sipe: CALARVC NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 20, 2010 – Manufacturers have long touted the merits of investing in recreational park trailers or “park models” as rental accommodations, which can generate anywhere from two to five times as much annual income as a typical RV site.

But while there’s no question that these units can generate significant revenue, private parks that go into the accommodations business also encounter additional costs, according to park operators who discussed the cost, management and marketing of park models Jan. 13th during CalARVC’s Education Day at Newport Dunes Waterfront RV Resort and Marina.

“Houskeeping has been a challenge,” said Michael Gelfand, president of Terra Vista Management, which rents 24 park models at Newport Dunes.

Gelfand said renters tend to take better care of their park model when they know someone will be coming in to clean the unit each day. Housekeeping staff can also alert management if the guest breaks something or causes damage to the unit so that they can be held accountable to pay for any damages before they leave. In this sense, the value of having a daily maid service goes far beyond that of simply making the beds or cleaning the unit, he said.

But not every park operator sees a need to offer daily maid service.

The Fountain of Youth Spa RV Resort in Niland, Calif. finds it worthwhile to provide weekly maid service for its seven park models, which it rents on a weekly and monthly basis, said Jolene Wade, the resort’s managing partner.

John Croce, managing member of Huntington Beach, Calif.-based Team RV Management LLC, whose properties include Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging in

Newport Dunes Cottages Groveland, Calif., said his guests do not really expect or require daily maid service. However, he does provide linens for the park’s 26 park models and eight yurts, which collectively require about $30,000 worth of linens.

Each unit requires at least two sets of sheets, blankets, bedspreads and pillows, not only in case of loss or damage, but because it’s not possible or practical for park operators to quickly wash and replace the same set of linens in units when one set of guests leave at 11 a.m. and the next guests arrive soon after that. “At peak season in Yosemite Pines, we may turn 20 or 25 units a day,” Croce said.

Park operators who have

large numbers of park models will also need to invest in commercial grade washers and dryers. “You can run maybe three to six park models and use your existing laundry. But once you pass six, you need commercial laundry equipment,” Croce said.

The park’s housekeeping staff needs will also vary, depending on the season, Croce said. In peak season at Yosemite Pines, for example, Croce has as many as 12 people handling housekeeping duties. “Sometimes we only need a half a dozen.

Sometimes we need a lot more,” he said.

Croce added that park Continued next page

Continued from previous page models should also be set up in “little villages,” Croce said, partly to keep them separate from transient RVers and partly to make it easier for housekeeping staff to maintain the units.

But while private parks take different approaches with maid service, park operators say it’s imperative to invest in highquality units that can withstand wear and tear.

“Don’t go for a stripped down version,” Gelfand said, because they won’t hold up.

Gelfand, Croce and Wade also offered other tips in terms of what park operators should ask for when they order park models for rental use: Choose laminate flooring if possible. It’s more durable

than linoleum, which can tear, and it’s easier to clean than carpeting.

Equip the units with instant hot water heaters.

Standard water heaters are often too small for rental use.

Park operators who invest in durable units will be glad they did. Croce said he’s had units last nearly eight years at very high occupancy rates at Yosemite Pines and he doesn’t yet see a need to replace them. “I think their lifespan can go on for years if you maintain them,” he said.

Maintenance, from Croce’s standpoint, includes removing all of the furniture and thoroughly cleaning each unit once a year and replacing or repairing anything that is broken or needs attention. “In the

mountains, you have to reseal the cedar every three or four years,” he said.

In terms of marketing park model rentals, Gelfand, Croce and Wade all said they generate most of their leads and bookings online.

“It’s essential to have online reservations,” Croce said, adding that parks need to invest in their websites and make it easy for consumers to find them easily through Web searches. “The more you get out there (on the Web), the easier it is for people to find you,” he said.

Croce added that online reservations can generate cash flow for the park months before the guests actually

arrive. “We’ve done great in February and had an empty park,” he said, adding, “If you have limited marketing dollars, invest in your website.”

Gelfand, for his part, said most of his marketing is also Web-based.

However, Gelfand has also hired a public relations consultant who promotes Newport Dunes in newspapers and magazines.

Gelfand and Croce also said that one of the key merits of park models is that they can turn “dysfunctional” campsites into moneymakers. In fact, Croce said the park models and yurts at Yosemite Pines generate as much income as all of the RV sites in the park combined. But despite their revenue generating potential, Croce recommended that park operators start with a small number of park models. “Start with two or three and let demand determine what you need,” he said.

At one point during the discussion, Bill Garpow, executive director of the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA) asked the park operators attending CalARVC’s education Day if any of them had regrets about investing in park models. Not one park operator raised his hand.

Yosemite Pines RV Resort provide linen service

By David Coursey If you are using "123456" as your password it is past time to stop. Same if you are using the always popular "Password" to protect your account.

Those easy-to-hack passwords were the top and fourth most-popular from among 32 million hacked from RockU.com, a new study finds.

Imperva studied the breached passwords and has published an interesting study that talks about them. While "Consumer Password Worst Practices" isn't about us supposedly savvy business users, as an occasional system administrator I've run into both 123456 and Password on many occasions.

Here are the top passwords Imperva found among those compromised in the attack (they were posted online, without identifying details, for the world to see--and analyze): 1. 123456 2. 12345 3. 123456789 4. Password 5. iloveyou 6. princess 7. rockyou 8. 1234567 9. 12345678 10. abc123 If any of those look too familiar, please stop

reading this story and change your password now. All these passwords are easy to crack using simple brute-force automated methods.

And with the list now published, they are likely to move to the top of everyone's list of those to try first when attempting to crack an account manually.

"To quantify the issue, the combination of poor passwords and automated attacks means that in just 110 attempts, a hacker will typically gain access to one new account on every second or a mere 17 minutes to break into 1000 accounts," Imperva said in its report.

Among its key findings: About 30 percent of users chose passwords whose length is equal or below six characters.

Moreover, almost 60% of users chose their passwords from a limited set of alpha-numeric characters.

Nearly 50% of users used names, slang words, dictionary words or trivial passwords (consecutive digits, adjacent keyboard keys, and so on).

If it makes you feel any better, a similar study of hacked Hotmail passwords from 20 years ago found much the same thing.

Imperva provides a list of

password best practices, created by NASA to help its users protect their rocket science, they include: It should contain at least eight characters It should contain a mix of four different types of characters - upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers, and special characters such as !@#$%^&*,;" If there is only one letter or special character, it should not be either the first or last character in the password.

It should not be a name, a slang word, or any word in the dictionary. It should not include any part of your name or your e-mail address.

Following that advice, of course, means you'll create a password that will be impossible, unless you try a trick credited to security guru Bruce Schneir: Turn a sentence into a password.

For example, "Now I lay me down to sleep" might become nilmDOWN2s, a 10-character password that won't be found in any dictionary.

Can't remember that password? Schneir says it's OK to write it down and put it in your wallet, or better yet keep a hint in your wallet. Just don't also include a list of the sites and services that password works with. Try to use a different password on every service, but if you can't do that, at least develop a set of passwords that you use at different sites.

Someday, we will use authentication schemes, perhaps biometrics, that don't require so much jumping through hoops to protect our data. But, in the meantime, passwords are all most of us have, so they ought to be strong enough to do the job.

Several farm families and the Linn County Farm Bureau have appealed Linn County’s plan to build an RV park on 175 acres near Highway 34 and Seven Mile Lane.

The Linn County Board of Commissioners approved the plan in January along with 11 conditions covering the number of camping slips, lighting considerations for neighbors, and storm water control, among others.

Objections raised were that people at the park

won’t want farmers spraying on weekends, someone will complain. It will also make it harder to move equipment down the road if it’s more congested.

Linn County purchased the property for $1.25 million in 2007 with plans to lease it to a company that organizes Renaissance fairs. When that fell through, the county Parks Department prepared plans to develop a park on the site.

Full Article: www.democratherald.com

SANTA CLAUS, IN ---Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort and the Santa Claus Christmas Store in Santa Claus, Indiana, are hosting a Job Fair on Saturday, February 6, 2010, in the upper level of the Santa Claus American Legion. The job fair will take place between 9:00 a.m. and Noon CST. Those interested in seasonal work this summer are invited to attend anytime during this 3-hour period and fill out an application.

Seasonal positions are available at Lake Rudolph in the following areas: Housekeeping, Maintenance, Grounds, Call Center, Welcome Center, Camp Store, Lifeguards, Security, and Shuttle Drivers. The Santa Claus Christmas Store has seasonal positions available in the following areas: Retail Associates and Shipping/Receiving.

Applicants may speak with representatives from each department and ask any questions.

College students, high school students, retirees and others are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age, with some positions requiring applicants to be older. The Santa Claus American Legion is located on Highway 245.

Applications will also be available at the Lake Rudolph office and the Santa Claus Christmas during regular business hours. Applicants should return completed applications by March 13, 2010.

Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort is located next door to Holiday World Theme Park & Splashin’ Safari Water Park. More than 200 rental RVs & cabins and over 200 RV sites & tent sites are available. Reservations for camping and lodging for the 2010 season are being accepted. Call toll free 1-877-478-3657 for reservations or reserve online at www.LakeRudolph.com

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department has announced the settlement of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) discrimination lawsuit against Wales West LLC, owner and operator of Wales West RV Resort and Train and Garden Lovers Family Park in Silverhill, Ala. The settlement, embodied in a consent decree, was approved today by Judge Callie V.S. Granade in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama.

In its complaint, the Justice Department alleged that Wales West LLC violated Title III of the ADA when it unlawfully denied full and equal services to a child and his family because the child has HIV. Specifically, the complaint alleged that Wales West LLC, upon learning that a guest family’s two-year-old child has HIV, banned the family from using the common areas of the RV resort, such as the swimming pool and showers.

The child’s parents had planned a month-long stay at the family-themed RV resort while the father commuted to nearby Mobile, Ala., for ongoing cancer treatment. After

Wales West LLC denied them full use of the facilities, the family left early the next morning.

Under the terms of the consent decree, Wales West LLC will establish policies, procedures and training practices to ensure that patrons and their families are not discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Wales West LLC will pay a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States and $36,000 in damages to the affected family.

"Ensuring that individuals with disabilities are not subjected to discriminatory, stigmatizing treatment based on unfounded fears and stereotypes is critically important. The ADA protects individuals with HIV and other disabilities from this kind of discrimination," said Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division.

"Our office is dedicated to providing equal protection of the laws by ensuring equal access to accommodations for those with impairments or disabilities," said Kenyen R. Brown, U. S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. "Whether it is discrimination against

families in a mobile home park, improper lending practices at a bank or other issues regarding fairness, we fully intend to bring cases each time we learn of wrongful discrimination."

excluding people with disabilities, including people with HIV, from enjoying the services, goods, and accommodations provided by the public accommodation.

Title III of the ADA prohibits public accommodations, such as Wales West LLC, from

Editors Note: We have been unable to contact the owners for comment.

Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc. last Monday reported higher revenues and funds from operations or earnings for the quarter and year ending Dec. 31.

For the fourth quarter 2009, Funds From Operations (FFO) were $27.7 million, compared to $20.6 million for the same period in 2008.

The Chicago-based selfadministered, selfmanaged real estate investment trust (REIT) owns RV parks and manufactured housing sites on 304 properties in 27 states and British Columbia.

For the year FFO was $118.1 million, compared to $97.6 million for the same period in 2008.

Full financial report by contacting ELS. www.equitylifestyle.com

TAMPA, Fla. -- The 2010 Florida RV SuperShow had more than 50,000 attendees over the five public days of the show.

This is an approximately 12 percent increase in attendance over the 2009 show.

With clear skies and the warmest weather of the year, the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa was packed all three of the opening days. “We were coming off record low temperatures the entire week before the show opened,” said Dave Kelly, marketing director for the Florida RV Trade Association. “I think a lot of people wanted to get out and stretch their legs and see the new RVs.” Dealers and manufacturers reported excellent sales which usually is a precursor to the entire RV industry nationwide, said Kelly.

While many of the attendees were retirees, the weekend brought out lots of families and they were interested in more than just window shopping. Low interest rates and a great selection of “entry level” priced RVs combined to create a successful show for just about all exhibitors.

“We are seeing a two year pent up demand for RVs finally opening up,” said FRVTA Executive Director Lance Wilson.

“Americans will only wait so long for things that they really want, and it appears they want RVs right now.”

Kelly said booth exhibitors also reported great sales and many were running out of brochures and products early in the week.

Camping World’s store was constantly packed and restocking went on well into the night every day, he added.

“We heard families saying they have been waiting to buy an RV for years and their kids were not getting any younger and older couples have been patient and they thought the time was right,” said Kelly. “The media was also very positive and very anxious to see what was going on in the RV industry.

Even with the sink holes in Plant City (just east of Tampa) and the Haitian earthquake coverage, we still had lots of TV and newspaper coverage of the SuperShow.”

It’s always interesting to observe other cultures and the way they do things differently and what results from it. Having just returned from a visit to Demark I observed a phenomenon that I think is worth sharing.

I spent the best part of a day in the CBD of a major city called Billund and while munching on a Danish Hot Dog it occurred to me that of the thousands of people I had observed shopping and going about their business, that there were no overweight people, I mean none! How could this be?

So I asked some of the Danish folk in our party about it and they informed me that exercise is very much a part of their culture and that this is instilled in the population at a very early age.

For example; there are only 6.5 mil. population in Denmark yet they have 5000 Jumping Pillows, they’re everywhere in every public playground, schools and at highway stops. It’s not just Jumping Pillows but other playground equipment as well.

So after school and on weekends kids, teenagers and adults jump and play outdoors, there is also a

Gary Wakerley culture of bicycling and the counties provide bicycle paths beside the roads, even the President of Denmark rides a bicycle to work every day.

In the USA there is constant talk of the problem of childhood obesity and how to overcome the problem and I can’t help but wonder about the gross waste of stimulus dollars in 2009 and how if a portion of that had have been directed toward providing for and encouraging our kids to be active, then we may have put ourselves on a similar path to that of Denmark.

There are other things they do there that also have an impact e.g. the Government has banned the use of trans-fat in food, things like this would likely be frowned upon here (Government controlling your life etc.) but regardless of your view on that, the fact remains; here in the USA we have a growing obesity problem, In Denmark there is no such problem – so hats off to them!

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 20, 2010 – Park operators must not allow their recreational park trailers or “park models” to be used as fulltime residences.

They should also be wary of the low-cost trailers being sold by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), many of which have damage and mold problems in addition to failing to comply with established building codes.

Those were the two primary warnings issued Jan. 13th by Bill Garpow, executive director of the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA), during CalARVC’s Education Day at Newport Dunes Waterfront RV Resort and Marina.

While Garpow has warned park operators not to allow their guests to use park trailers as full-time residences before, he said the reminder is needed because the economic downturn has prompted some people who have lost their homes to relocate to campgrounds and RV parks – at least temporarily.

“The problem with it is that, in many cases, the local unit of government is

Bill Garpow: RPTIA aware of the hardship that is going on with regard to families and foreclosures and, as such, they may be inclined to ignore the improper use of a campground as a place of residence,” Garpow said.

Trouble is, when guests are allowed to establish a residence within a park, it can be very difficult to remove them. “You’re setting yourself up to become a trailer camp if you allow people to live full time at your park,” Garpow said.

Using RV or park model sites for full time residents can also reduce the value of the park, while making it less appealing to transient RVers or

destination campers who are looking for a true recreational vacation experience, Garpow said.

using park models as rental units, Garpow said park operators should be wary of FEMA units.

While long-term renters seeking a form of low-cost housing provide income stability, they don’t mix with transient travelers or participants in the RV lifestyle, Garpow said.

Sometimes, he added, long-term renters can “develop an attitude” toward visitors who are just passing through. This changes the very nature of the park and the true RV customers may seek another location.

In an interview, he said the General Services Administration (GSA) is auctioning some 2,000 plus trailers, which were built for FEMA for use as temporary housing for hurricane evacuees.

However, these units were not built to the ANSI A119.5 standard for park trailers, nor have they been inspected by RPTIA. “The FEMA trailers are really non-conforming manufactured homes because they weren’t built to the manufactured housing codes, as federal law requires,” Garpow said, adding that these units could pose various liability risks to park operators.

“The only way I would even consider allowing fulltime residency within a park would be if you worked with your city or county and had them pass an emergency housing ordinance that allowed you to use your park for this purpose,” Garpow said. “But even then it should only be for a limited amount of time so that the local unit of government could also step in and help you move those people out after the housing emergency was over. I would also try to separate the two types of tenants, as they just don’t mix well.”

And while growing numbers of private parks across the country are

Many of the FEMA units also have visible sustained water and mold damage as a result of improper installation and maintenance by FEMA contractors. “Others may have water damage that remains out of sight, but if that water was mixed with urea formaldehyde glues used in different wood products, the outcome could be renewed offgassing of formaldehyde at high levels,” Garpow said.

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Garpow said the GSA may be unknowingly participating in consumer fraud by marketing FEMA units as recreational park trailers that in reality are non-conforming manufactured homes. ”Any jurisdictional authority could demand the immediate removal of these units from your RV park,” Garpow said,

adding, “The costs incurred in purchasing or setting up these units for rental service would be lost as well as any disposal costs. Parks might also get into a problem situation if they allow individual owners to place these oversized units into the RV park as local zoning or state law may prohibit the placement of a manufactured home into an RV park.”

members pledge that the recreational park trailers they build will be in compliance with the ANSI A119.5 Standard.

RPTIA member manufacturers produce about 95 percent of the nation’s park trailer production.

After 40-years of service as an RV association executive, Garpow frequently travels the country, educating park operators about the park trailer industry.

The association’s

Independent engineering firms, approved by RPTIA, conduct unannounced quarterly inspections of member factories to verify that the manufacturer’s pledge to build units in compliance with A119.5 is being honored.

He regularly consults with park operators to answer their questions involving park trailer rentals and assists them in resolving zoning and taxation issues they may encounter with their state and local units of government. Park operators or RV dealers with park trailer questions can reach Garpow at (770) 251-2672 or wgarpow@rptia.com.

This service is provided without charge by RPTIA to any dealership, RV Park or developer.

How many of us have seen a new product on TV or in a store and thought “I should have thought of that”…well Joe Cooper had an idea that he pursued and didn’t give up on.

After almost 10 years of perseverance, that backyard idea has become a very successful business.

It all began one night while sitting around a campfire with his wife, Erin, and their two young sons. They ran into the same old dilemma…who‘s going into the woods to find the sticks for roasting marshmallows? The Cooper’s frequently enjoyed making their favorite outdoor dessert, s’mores, but the responsibility for finding the roasting sticks fell solely on Joe. “It was always dad going into the brush and bramble to find sticks,” says Joe, who ended up scratched and frustrated from his escapades into the woods.

“I just thought, there’s got to be a better way to do this”.

Joe searched for a marshmallow roasting tool for nearly a year, only to discover that none existed.

He put his idea to paper and started working on a design. After some initial tweaking, SMORSTIX was born!

“It was really just a backyard idea gone global”, says Joe. Originally marketed as a summer time product, SMORSTIX has become a year-round phenomenon.

“It’s found its way into niches I would have never thought of.” Joe says.

From California to Maine, SMORSTIX has found it’s way into campgrounds, rv parks, hotels and resorts.

From tailgating to ice fishing, no matter what the temperature is out…“if there’s fire, people are using our sticks”!

A few years after the inception and the success that accompanied being featured on the Food Network’s “Unwrapped”, Joe developed the SMORPAK which combines everything needed to make s’mores in one convenient package.

Recently, SMORSTIX released two new products to its line; SMORPAK Party Pak and the SMORPAK Ultimate Pak. “We were getting requests from our customers that they needed to satisfy the whole gang at one sitting, so we came up with the Party Pack, it‘s a bigger version of the original SMORPAK” says Joe. “The Ulitmate Pak combines all of my favorite s’more recipes; Traditional, Peanut Butter Dream and the Frosty S’more. You get it all…peanut butter cups, mint patties…it’s

everything you need to make all three recipes” Joes says.

The majority of SMORSTIX production is handled by developmentally disabled employees of KUHN Employment Opportunities, a Connecticut based company that supports individuals with disabilities.

SMORSTIX strives to give back as much as possible to the communities that support its products. They have donated their products to camps for disabled children since the beginning.

2010 is on track to be an exciting year for SMORSTIX. Joe has been working on developing a new and innovative product that he is very excited about.

“We’re hoping to release it sometime in the spring” says Joe. With the success of the current SMORSTIX line and the anticipation of the upcoming products, SMORSTIX keeps us wanting s’more.

Visit www.smorstix.com to order online or contact SMORSTIX at 1-877SMORSTIX for more information.

The latest product to hit the campground industry is receiving major interest by owners who see these bikes as an opportunity for good revenue by renting them to campers.

The bikes are not only "green" environmentally

friendly but are safe and extremely economical with a battery charge range of up to 25 miles.

Campgrounds can purchase the bikes outright for as low as $1195 ensuring an excellent and fast return on investment.

Speed: Up to 16 mph Range: Up to 25 Miles Motor: 350 watt brushless motor Driving Sytem: Powerful 48 volt front hub drive System built into the front wheel!

Charging Time: 4-6 hours for pennies Battery: 48 volt 14 AH sealed lead battery acid

Battery Charger: 110 volt smart charger, UL Listed Tires: Front 16 x 2.5" and rear pneumatic 10 x 3.5" Color: White and Black (Custom Paint Jobs Also) Size: 40" L x 26.8 "Wx 5.7" H Weight: 93 lbs.

Comes With: headlight, taillight, and horn. (Basket Optional)

Americans, it seems, have been destined to be RVers since the earliest days that explorers set foot on this continent.

Adventurers at heart, settlers came in search of freedom and opportunities to grow and discover. And, discover they did – first by ship, then by horse, in groups by conestoga wagon trains, and ultimately, by motorized vehicles that became the RVs of today.

A century ago, the popularization of the automobile, improving roads, and America’s passion for exploration gave rise to massproduced, manufactured recreation vehicles, and the RV industry was born. In 2010, Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and the RV industry will mark this centennial with an array of special activities celebrating the 100-year journey of a uniquely American product.

Watch for more information on gorving.org.

In 1910, there were few gas stations, few paved roads and no highway system. But there were RVs. Through war and peace, booms and busts, fuel lines, fads and the cyber revolution, the RV lifestyle has endured and is still going strong, even in today’s challenging economic times.

“Think about how far we’ve come in the past 100 years in terms in technology, yet the reasons to RV remain the same,” says RVIA President Richard Coon.

“RVing has been able to thrive and grow because people still enjoy the freedom that it provides.”

The industry will celebrate its centennial in 2010 with a series of events that showcase today’s innovations and new products while emphasizing America’s century-long love affair with RVs. “Recognizing and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the RV industry is a unique opportunity to tell our story to the media and public,” says Coon.

1910 Marks Birth of Modern RV Industry The roots of RVing are as old as pioneers and covered wagons. But 1910 is the year that America’s leading RV historians — David Woodworth, Al Hesselbart and Roger White — cite as the beginning of what has become the modern RV industry.

“The first motorized campers were built in 1910,” says Woodworth, a preeminent collector of early RVs and RV camping memorabilia. “Before then,

people camped in private rail cars that were pulled to sidings along train routes. The year 1910 brought a new freedom to people who didn’t want to be limited by the rail system. RVs allowed them to go where they wanted, when they wanted.”

Hesselbart, archivist for the RV/MH Heritage Museum in Elkhart, Ind., also pinpoints 1910 as the birth of the RV industry.

“Camping has been around for centuries, but 1910 is when the first autorelated camping vehicles were built for commercial sale.”

Known as “auto campers” or “camping trailers” a century ago, these vehicles were a forerunner of today’s modern RVs. “There were one-offs [individual units] built prior to 1910,” says White, an associate curator for the Smithsonian Institution.

“But 1910 is a good benchmark for the industry.”

“The 1910 RVs offered minimal comforts compared to today’s homes-on-wheels,” says

Woodworth. “But they did provide the freedom to travel anywhere, to be able to get a good night’s sleep and enjoy home cooking.

One notable exception to today’s RV was the bathroom. In 1910, it was usually either yonder tree or yonder bush.”

Hesselbart points out that one brand of auto camper in those days was equipped with a bathroom onboard. “Pierce-Arrow’s ‘Touring Landau’ had a potted toilet,” he says.

A version of today’s Type B van camper, the PierceArrow “Touring Landau,” was unveiled at Madison Square Garden in 1910.

In addition to Pierce-Arrow, there were several other companies or auto-body builders producing motorized RVs. These companies and innovative products were featured in a Popular Mechanics issue in 1911, but Woodworth says the motorhomes highlighted in the article were actually built in 1910.

Camping trailers made by Los Angeles Trailer Works and Auto-Kamp Trailers also rolled off the assembly line beginning in 1910.

Hesselbart says the earliest RV on display at the RV/MH museum is a 1913 trailer, ancestor of the contemporary travel trailer.

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Continued from previous page An American Journey Continues As a society, Americans are driven to and by challenges. We itch to know what lies beyond the next curve in the road or over the crest of a distant hill. We are a curious people and our quests have resulted in inventions that help us answer that call to discover.

For American pioneers, the journey of discovery was equally as important as the

final destination. Unlike any other mode of transportation, traveling by RV on our highways, byways and the lesstraveled back roads allows us to discover our own gems along the way. Fly over at 50,000 feet and you miss the little details – speed by on a train at 100 mph and the scenery becomes a blur. RVs allow us the convenience of making our own travel routes, time schedules and to make detours and unexpected stops at sites along the way that catch our attention.

By the end of World War I, Americans were traveling in auto campers with tents, beds and cooking facilities.

After World War II, the RV industry flourished as more Americans sought mobility.

The Pierce Arrow Touring Landau (pictured above), an ancestor of a type B van camper, went into production in 1910.

Many of today's RV manufacturers started production in the 1950s and 1960s.

The 1913 Earl was an ancestor of the contemporary travel trailer.

The RV's evolutionary path included advances in aerodynamic design and interior comforts.

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