Issue 99 Campground

Joining with the RV industry to recognize the 100th Centennial Anniversary of the RV, the ARVC Business Forum held its annual Spring Meeting in Elkhart, IN, June 7-9.

Chaired by Chairman Ann Emerson, publisher of Woodall's, the Forum had a packed agenda including a tour of one of Keystone RVs' manufacturing facilities in Goshen, IN, meetings with Keystone's CEO Bob

Martin and other executives and meetings and dinner with Mark Lucas, President of Crossroads RV. Keystone and Crossroads are both divisions of Thor Industries. ARVC has a unique and mutually beneficial relationship with Thor's RV divisions and the Forum meetings were arranged by Shane Ott, Thor's park industry liaison and a member of the Business Forum.

Forum Endorses Capital Cities Campout Program As well as participating in the RV industry celebration at the RV Halll of Fame and Museum and the Thor visits, the Forum heard a report on a number of key national issues from ARVC Public Affairs Representative David Gorin.

In addition to discussing a variety of tax issues confronting small Continued page 2

ARVC Chairman David L. Berg

The Business Forum was created in 1999 as part of an ARVC strategic planning process that created the 20/20 Vision for the Future of the Park Industry. The group is comprised of executives from national companies engaged in various aspects of the park industry and is intended to provide the ARVC board with input and advice from companies with a national perspective.

an important dialogue between Forum members and ARVC leaders on some of the important issues facing ARVC and the park industry as well as the future direction, role and membership of the Business Forum. Forum members expressed a desire to play a more definitive role in the association's future and to work to expand the Forum membership.

In addition to Chairperson Emerson, other attenders included Vic Nolting and Rob Schutter of Leisure Systems, Inc., Pat Hittmeier of KOA, Eric Stromberg from Tengo Internet, Cindy Halley from Trailer Life and the Good Sam Club, Shane Ott of Thor Industries, David Gorin from Best Parks in America, Al Johnson and Chris Cutler of Recreational

Continued from Page 1 business, Gorin also presented a proposal from the Campground Association Management Professionals (CAMP) group seeking the Forum's support for a June 2011 National Capital Cities Campout to be conducted as part next year's Great Outdoors Month. CAMP President Rick Abare (ME) and member Don Bennett (NY) are spearheading the effort and have secured the support of Derrick Crandall, president of the American Recreation Coalition.

The Forum voted to support the program that envisions campouts in capital cities from Washington DC and across the country. ARVC has also indicated support for the program.

The Forum heard reports from ARVC CEO Linda Profaizer and Chairman Dave Berg and engaged in

Adventures Company, and Ian Steyn of Jellystone Castle Rock Campground in CO. ARVC Chairman Dave Berg, Past Chairman Mark Anderson and President and CEO Linda Profaizer also participated. Guests at the meeting included Steve Bibler from Woodall's Campground Management and Larry Weaver of Crossroads RV.

Hello, I am writing to you because campground people are the best!

I had some campers here overnight that are on a journey. They are raising money for Muscular Dystrophy, Breast Cancer, American Soldiers and are trying to get in the Guiness Book of Records.

There are 2 bicycles, 1 RV and 1 Wheelchair. They are traveling to California from Massachusetts. The gentleman in the wheelchair (Matt Eddy) is quadriplegic and on a ventilator and can only move 2 fingers. He is

rolling his wheelchair all the way to California.

I was very moved by their stories and could not bring myself to charging them for their stay. They are going to average 20 to 30 miles per day. I am hoping that we can spread the word to other campgrounds to offer them a complementary campsite as they roll through their neighborhoods.

I told them I was going to do everything in my power to keep them out of Walmart parking lots.

Along with Matt is an author of a book called ""My Forever Book"". It’’s kind of hard to explain the book other than you give it to your parent to fill out. It has all of the questions that you would like to ask your parent. Some of the proceeds from the book go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

You can read more about My Forever Book by going to www.myforeverbook.com.

David the author is a fantastic guy and he is riding his bike the whole way. Matt’s caregiver Ron Steenbruggen is riding along as well. He has been taking care of Matt for over 10 years. They have a young girl riding with them as well doing camera work, documenting and blogging. I cannot remember her name, but a real sweetheart.

They have a sign on both sides of the RV "SIGN THE TRUCK, JUST A BUCK, WISH MATT LUCK". If you give them $1.00 or more, they hand you a marker to sign the side of their RV. Larger donations will be handed a larger marker to make their messsage stand out. They are a great bunch of people.

Thank you, James Leaming General Manager Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park - Sturbridge, MA

According to a press release issued by the theme park Sunday night, Will Koch died at home of what the family believes to be complications from diabetes. He was 48.

Park spokesperson Paula Werne says, "Will was not only our leader, he was our dear friend. Our park family is in mourning for this sweet man who worked tirelessly to bring fun and happiness to so many families in the 20 years he ran the park."

Will Koch was the Chief Executive Officer of Koch Development Corporation, the parent company of Holiday World Theme Park and Splashin' Safari Water Park.

Under his direction, the theme park introduced its first wooden roller coaster, The Raven in 1995. As enthusiasts discovered the park and coaster it gradually became more and more popular eventually winning the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Award for best coaster in 2000. That same year Holiday World opened its second wood coaster, The Legend, which was followed six years later by The Voyage.

As enthusiasts flocked to Santa Claus to ride The Raven, they discovered not only a great wood coaster but a pleasant, very clean, family-run park, with super-friendly

single season.

Koch is survived by his wife, Lori, and three children: Lauren, Leah, and William. He is also survived by his mother, Pat, and siblings Dan, Kristi, Philip and Natalie.

employees. As the word spread, Holiday World began to gather additional Golden Ticket Awards for park cleanliness, and employee friendliness.

Each year annual seasonal attendance at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari continued to grow.

In 2006 the park topped one million visitors in a

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Lincoln Boyhood Drama Association or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

A $323,500 rehabilitation building permit was issued Monday on behalf of the Kampgrounds of America location near Gaylord Opryland.

Cascade Ventures LLC will oversee flood-related repair work to KOA’s office building, convention center, four bath houses, 25 camping cabins, maintenance building and a double-wide trailer that serves as the manager’s residence.

A rehabilitation building permit for $192,000 was issued for a Metro Water Services building at 1810 Cement Plant Road.

Repair work will be conducted by Rock City Construction Co. Inc. Flooding Downtown Nashville

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Some campgrounds organize water war competitions that pit staff against guests and involve virtually everyone in the campground “There are three adjectives we like to hear. Awesome, sweet or wow! If I get one of those out of the adults or their kids, I’m doing my job. That’s how we run our business.” – Wisconsin campground owner Bud Styer Some people like to camp in a quiet place in the woods.

But quiet is not on the menu at the Wisconsin campgrounds that Bud Styer owns or manages on behalf of other park owners, which include Smokey Hollow Campground in Lodi; Merry Mac’s Campground in Merrimac; Baraboo Hills Campground in Baraboo; Tilleda Falls Campground in Tilleda; Rivers Edge Campground in Stevens Point; River Bend RV Resort in Watertown; and

Bud Styer

Harbour Village Campground in Sturgeon Bay. Styer caters to an active family crowd, the kind of people who will go through 14,000 water balloons in a weekend game of “water wars” in which everyone in the campground gets wet.

“There are three adjectives we like to hear,” Styer said.

“Awesome, sweet or wow! If I get one of those out of the adults or their kids, I’m doing my job. That’s how we run our business.”

But Styer isn’t the only campground operator who is tapping into his guests’ wild side.

Growing numbers of independently owned and operated campgrounds across the country, as well as many parks in the Jellystone Park CampResort and Kampgrounds of America (KOA) chains, offer a growing assortment of water-related activities, from spraygrounds and waterslides to their own “Wet and Wild” weekends.

“Camping enthusiasts always seek access to water, whether it’s in rivers, lakes, swimming pools or along the beach. But many parks find they can further enhance their appeal by

Pineland Camping Park's new PineZilla attraction offering fun, water-related activities,” said Linda Profaizer, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Williamsport, Md. is planning a “Wet and Wild

Week” Aug. 2nd to 8th.

“Wherever you are in the park and whatever you do that week, there is a very good chance you are going to get wet,” said park coowner Vicki Vitkun.

“We have water balloon fights. We do a water balloon pitch burst. We do Continued

Continued wet sponge ball fights, big water gun battles, volleyball in the pool, basketball in the pool.

Everything is wet. We even have a guest against staff watergun fight. So even the staff knows to beware that week because they’re going to get wet, too. It’s a week filled with constant laughter, screaming and shouting.”

Several KOA parks also offer “Wet and Wild” weekends at various times during the summer, such as July 16th to 18th at the KOA in Port Huron, Mich. and July 23rd to 25th at the Stockton / Delta KOA in Stockton, Calif.

Other parks are adding new water-related attractions. Pineland Camping Park in Arkdale, Wis., for example, just installed PineZilla, the world’s largest inflatable waterslide, which stands over four stories tall and features a 175-foot-long

slide with a 45-degree descent at the drop zone.

Meanwhile, the KOA in Rusk, Texas has installed a new Frisbee skills court.

“But watch out for the water hazards,” warns park owner Walter Preble. “Everyone gets wet.”

While Styer has “water wars” water balloon game stations at each of his Wisconsin parks, he said his water wars weekends are the most popular times of year at his parks. That’s

when he drives throughout each park using a specially designed hay wagon that has been outfitted with four water guns that can each shoot water up to 75-feet.

Of course, whenever he does this, Styer and his staff also risk coming under attack from campground guests, who arm themselves with everything from water balloons to pump action water guns.

Styer said his guests will spend an entire day filling

water balloons as they prepare for a water wars weekend. “I’ve had guys fill up their pickup trucks with water balloons. It becomes a feeding frenzy,” he said.

In fact, fun family activities take place every day during the summer at the parks under Styer’s management, which include everything “water wars” water balloon games to nighttime light parades and nighttime miniature golf. He even organizes sumo-wrestling competitions.

“It’s hilarious,” Styer said.

“You put on these big vinyl suits and you’re about 4feet in diameter when you have them on. And then you try to push the other guy out of the ring. But if you fall over, you’re like a turtle. And somebody from the audience will have to step in to set you back up on your feet.”

Bud Styer's converted hay wagon

these areas would lead to a more robust recovery in 2011 and beyond.

While the pace of RV industry recovery will depend on how the economic downturn affects the ability of consumers to purchase RVs, Curtin’s findings show that the desire to

RV wholesale shipments are expected to total approximately 230,300 units in 2010, an anticipated gain of 39 percent above the 2009 total of 165,700.

Shipments are projected to rise to 249,700 in 2011 according to a new forecast by RV industry analyst Dr. Richard Curtin, released at RVIA's Annual Membership Luncheon on June 9.

“The RV market is firmly on the road to recovery,” said RVIA Vice President of Administration Mac Bryan, who presented Curtin’s forecast to RVIA members. “This is a remarkable rebound given the length and depth of the Great Recession.”

The surge in shipments reflects the need for dealers to restock depleted inventories in advance of renewed strength in retail sales. The pace of progress is expected to moderate in the second

half of 2010 because of slow job and income growth, and questions about credit availability.

“While RVs have quickly accelerated to renewed peaks in past recoveries, the current journey will be longer and the road will not be as smooth or straight as in the past,” Bryan said. “A recovery that is slower and more variable will be the new normal for the RV industry.”

Three main areas are expected to affect the pace of recovery in RV sales: the financial health of consumers, changes in fiscal and monetary policies, and continued volatility in financial markets, according to Curtin’s forecast.

Consumer confidence will be affected by the pace of growth in jobs and incomes, home prices, and credit markets. However, Bryan told members, greater improvement than now expected in any of

own an RV is as strong as ever.

“The basic demand for RVs is deeply rooted in family values, the enduring appeal of the natural environment, and people’s desire to instill in the next generation their cherished traditions,” wrote Curtin in his forecast.

Daily & Vincent, The Bluegrass Brothers And Other National, AwardWinning Bands Will Perform For Campground Guests During The 12th Annual Premier Bluegrass Weekend June 11, 2010, Myrtle Beach, S.C. - Ocean Lakes Family Campground, a subsidiary of The Jackson Companies, will host some of the country's top Bluegrass artists August 27 and 28, 2010, during the 12th Annual Premier Bluegrass Weekend.

Tickets are already on sale and VIP tickets are available from now until June 30. A VIP ticket that is purchased before June 30 allows people to get into the venue 15 minutes earlier for preferred seating.

The event kicks off Friday, August 27 at 4:00 p.m. in Ocean Lakes' 17,000square-foot air-conditioned recreation building, just a few dozen yards from the Atlantic Ocean. The

Saturday concerts will run from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. A adult wristband is $40 dollars in addition to the site fee and includes admission to both Friday and Saturday events.

Tickets for children ages 6 to 12 years old are available for $20, and those under 6 are free.

There are a total of 1,000 tickets available and they are only available to guests of Ocean Lakes Family Campground. For campsite reservations, call 1(800)722-1451 and for rental site reservations, call 1(800) 845-2229.

This year, Ocean Lakes Family Campground will welcome Daily & Vincent (Saturday), The Bluegrass Brothers (Saturday), The Larry Stephenson Band (Friday), Darren Beachley & the Legends of the Potomac (Friday), Idletymes (Friday), The Bluegrass Strangers (Friday/Saturday), and the Jeanette Williams Band (Saturday).

The performers coming to the campground are worldrenowned artists and several have been recognized by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America. Daily & Vincent, whose album, “Daily & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart in February, won four SPBGMA awards and were named the 2010 “Vocal Group of the Year” by the society.

The Bluegrass Brothers received the 2010 SPBGMA “Instrumental Group of the Year” award and Larry Stephenson is the five-time recipient of the “Male

Vocalist of the Year” award and was nominated in 2010 as well.

When families in attendance aren't watching these awardwinning performers, there will be a host of other fun events for them to choose from, including a Bluegrass poker run, minigolf tournament and golf car challenge.

Ocean Lakes Family Campground was awarded the title of 20082009 National "RV Park of the Year" by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. It is the largest campground Continued

Continued on the East Coast and one of the largest in the United States with over 310 acres of campsites and beach house rentals.

Tickets to the 12th Annual Premier Bluegrass Weekend can be purchased online at www.oceanlakes.com or by calling the ticket hotline at (843) 828-4856 Monday

The Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Natural Bridge, VA now has another option for physical outdoor family funa jumping pillow. Just in time for the 2010 camping season, guests of the park can bounce their way to laughter and fun.

Safer than trampolines, the jumping pillow is a giant pillow-shaped inflatable

thru Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Those who have questions about the show are asked to call (843) 828-4833.

For more information about Ocean Lakes Family Campground, visit www.oceanlakes.com or find the campground on Facebook.

pad that several children can enjoy at the same time.

Wrist bands are required for the jumping pillow and can be purchased with package deals that also include mini-golf and access to the new Yogi Bear’s Water Zone, all of which are sure to make the family’s outdoor experience unforgettable.

Next week we will reach a milestone!

One hundred issues later and we are still here. That is saying something in the publishing industry but Campground & RV Park E News has met a real need within the campground industry.

Our magazine format is unlike many and we trust our readers have accepted the flip page format and understand that it would have taken some time to get used to.

It is interesting to know that this year, for the first time ever, advertising revenue in online productions have

Dave O'Connor outstripped traditional print media. It is a sign of the times where the public are becoming more computer savvy and have less time on their hands.

publication more than twice. Management find it easy to log back on and read at their leisure.

contributors along with the original editor, Dave O'Connor for helping us establish the weekly news.

Proof of this is that our readership data shows more than a third of our readers open our

Publishers Macready and Wakerley from Industry E News LLC wish to thank all our readers and

Looking forward to the next 100 issues.

Editor Dennis Macready

The death toll from flash floods in the US state of Arkansas has risen to 20 after searchers discovered another body in remote woodland.

The weekend flood swept through the remote Ouachita National Forest in the state's south-west, catching campers unaware in the dead of night.

Searchers combing the debris in the Arkansas campground on Sunday found one more body, and Captain Michael Fletcher from the Arkansas State Police says searchers are still looking for more.

A small P.E.I. business has been honoured for its fundraising efforts on behalf of the IWK Health Centre Foundation, winning the Outstanding Small Business Philanthropist Award from the Nova Scotia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

"This area is so rugged, there's so much debris, there's places you cannot get any equipment to," he said.

"And what we're going to do, we're just going to continue to search as long as we feel like there's someone in there."

Police would not give the sex or age of the latest victim but six young children and 12 adults are already known to have perished, swept from their beds in the dead of night by a lethal torrent of water.

"We're going to continue the search until we're satisfied."

summer of 2009, raised $13,044.

"We were absolutely thrilled to receive the award," said campground owner Marnie Noye.

Since 2004, Sun-N-Shade Campground in BordenCarleton has raised $39,299 for the IWK.

"It not only means a lot to my husband, Harold, and me, but I know it means a lot to everyone who has taken a big interest in our project and are so generous with their donations to the IWK."

In 2008, the business doubled its previous year's gift to the IWK by pulling in a whopping $11,323 and in the

Sun-N-Shade Campground raises funds for the IWK through music - a true passion for the Noye family. In 2004, the

Overnight downpours sparked the flash flood that sent a wall of water tumbling down swollen river valleys, washing out camp grounds and destroying hillside cabins, west of the state capital of Little Rock.

Search and rescue officials are scouring a 16kilometre stretch of the Little Missouri River in

boats and kayaks as the search enters its third straight day.

Bodies were recovered as much as 13 kilometres downstream from the Albert Pike campground on the Little Missouri River, which bore the brunt of the deluge.

Full Article: www.abc.net.au Photo: Mike Stone

couple built a 160-seat recreation hall - complete with a stage - so they could showcase bands from all over P.E.I. and beyond.

Each year thousands of campers are entertained; some visitors have even compared the experience to visiting Nashville.

Three to six nights a week, from spring until autumn, the Noyes host lively shows for audiences from all over the world.

In return, the Noyes ask for one thing - a donation to the IWK.

It is not uncommon for the Noyes to raise several hundred dollars in an evening.

Full Article: www.journalpioneer.com

The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.

Fuel for this car was sold in drug stores only.

Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.

Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!

The average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.

The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME. Ninety percent of all Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION! Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard.'

Sugar cost four cents a pound.

Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

The Five leading causes of death were: 1. Pneumonia and influenza 2. Tuberculosis 3. Diarrhea 4. Heart disease 5. Stroke Continued

Continued The American flag had 45 stars.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was only 30!!!!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day. Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives

buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'.

Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A. !

IT STAGGERS THE MIND.

Typically people employ drainage to get water away from buildings, using guttering and grading to protect foundations and slabs from sinking and from mold. It is equally important, however, to have good above ground drainage for all the water on the premises, whether the land is being used or not.

Good drainage prevents flooding, erosion and development of stagnant water. For property owners, drainage is one of those ever-present and sometimes nagging headaches: just when you think the problems are solved something else, such as a monster rain, comes along and creates new drainage problems.

Those pools of water invite mosquitoes and constitute a health threat if they become stagnant.

A good system will get the water off your property, thereby preventing both flooding and stagnant water. The flow rate will be efficient but not so strong as to create erosion or a torrent that

By Larry could sweep away people and animals. Rushing water as shallow as one foot is capable of knocking people off their feet. Two feet of water rushing across a road is enough to move the vehicle sideways.

Pools of water left behind after a rain event or snow melt indicate an uneven bottom. When the system is flowing these holes or drop-offs present a hazard for people, animals and vehicles because they cannot be seen. Ideally, above ground drainage should avoid roads, should have an even bottom (water flows just fine on level surfaces) and should be clearly marked as to depth.

Remember: there is a difference between drainage and flooding!

Water flowing willy-nilly is flooding. Water moving off your property in a safe and controlled manner into a proper destination such as ponds, lakes, creeks or rivers, is drainage.

A crowd of west-side residents persuaded the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission Wednesday night to unanimously reject a plan to construct a 620-slip recreational vehicle park with Park Model Homes on the southwest corner of Barney Street and Betty Avenue.

Mills said the project was tabled so the developers could address issues about density. The only change was coloring the green spaces to make them stand out, she said.

Rockingham Realty Nevada 2 LLC requested the rezoning of 60 acres from rural homestead to mixed use for the development. The company also requested a major master plan amendment and conditional use permit.

She also criticized plans called for 12 acres of commercial development.

The RPC had reviewed proposed development standards for Park Model Homes in the zoning code.

The board considered the development at a March 10 meeting, but continued the item until Rockingham Realty representatives could host a neighborhood meeting June 2 at the Bob Ruud Community Center.

That neighborhood meeting failed to still some complaints. Seven people came to the microphone to voice concerns.

Commissioners were also given a petition in opposition, signed by 130 people.

"The potential to become a blight on this community is incredible," neighbor Lois Mills said.

"It's still too dense to be placed next to a low density housing area. Where's the buffer?" Mills asked.

"We lived 40 years in Las Vegas. We moved out here to get away from the lights, the inconvenience of all the noise and we wanted some peace and quiet in our elderly years," Shirley Jewell said.

She said there would be too little visitor parking.

"I have spoken to practically all the people in this neighborhood. Not one of them is in favor of this zoning change. They all want to keep the zoning the way it is," Harold Jewell said.

He questioned where the water would come from.

"We purchased this property to get away from the congested, overcrowded, cookie-cutter development.

This area was all zoned RH 4.5 and was designated on the master plan as low density development. We believed it would provide a quiet, rural setting where we could raise animals," Christine Leason said.

She estimated 620 units would translate into 6,237 vehicle trips per day.

County planner Steve Osborne said they estimate 10 vehicle trips per day per resident. But RPC member Mark Kimball said that's for a single-family resident.

The intention of this development is to provide facilities for residents that may keep them on the site, Kimball said.

Dave Richards, from CivilWise Services, representing Rockingham Realty, said there's a lot of open space, with a common area and a yard around each unit. It is

intended as an agerestricted community for people 55 years and older, Richards said.

"Pretty much all the amenities an RV park will provide, but this is intended for an extended stay. There will be no campers, motor homes allowed on the site.

They're specifically park models which are like a little cottage, a small home intended for one or two people," Richards said.

Full Article: www.pahrumpvalleytimes. com

SANTA ROSA BEACH — Thirty minutes after a family arrived at Grayton Beach campground Monday morning, their recreational vehicle caught fire.

First responders were called around 11:20 a.m.

Monday with a report of an RV fully engulfed in flames. The fire had begun to spread to the wooded area beside the campsite, according to a South Walton Fire District press release.

The family had not even set up the RV before the fire started. According to the release, the RV was a total loss.

Park officials have provided the family with a cottage to stay in until alternate plans can be arranged.

The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating.

Article; www..thedestinlog.com

By Art Lieberman On July 1st, only two short weeks away, the Processing Card Industry Regulations regarding encryption of pin-pads for debit cards goes into effect.

PCI Regulations state that pin-pads used for debit card transactions must be re-encrypted with “TRIPLE DES” encryption.

Campgrounds that use these devices in order to save money on transactions of debit cards will not be able to do these transactions after that date.

Most processors will process the cards as if they were credit cards – at the higher rates, or not allow them at all.

Triple DES encryption (abbreviated as TDES in the regulations) replaces the previous, less secure “Dkpt” encryption, used since 1989 by debit networks. Since only processors can re-encrypt pin-debit devices, campground owners MUST send their pin pads to these institutions.

This procedure is required in order to secure the information accepted by a pin pad. The new TDES encryption is 643 power more secure than the older method.

On June 22nd, next Tuesday, we will be once again running our FREE PCI compliance webinar

for campground owners.

Although we are aware that this is campground’s busiest time, we urge owners or managers of campgrounds to attend.

The 45 minutes that this involves could help you avoid tens of thousands of dollars in fines or, at the very least, an interruption in business. You may register by e-mailing us for an invitation at rvcreditcards@yahoo.com.

The webinar is, of course, designed for any customer of any processor of credit/debit cards.

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 13 years. Art has been conducting webinars online and seminars on credit cards in many State and Regional Association Conventions.