sponsored by...
for more sponsorship information contact Kera Tomlin at ktomlin@arvc.org
President's Corner
Important association updates by ARVC President/CEO,
Linda Profaizer.
We'd Like to Know How You Are Doing:
We know these can be tough, scary times. We'd like to know how you are coping with the economy, where you are marketing, any information on reservations compared to last year or current occupancy. You can go online to make comments at goodnews@arvc.org.com or newsofconcern@arvc.org or just email me directly at lprofaizer@arvc.org Thanks.
ORLANDO Makes Me Smile! InSites 2009 Convention & Outdoor Hospitality Expo
It’s obvious why the city’s tagline is ‘Orlando Makes Me Smile’. With some of the country’s finest family destinations like Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios, you can’t help BUT SMILE.
This year, join us in sunny Orlando, FL for InSites 2009 Convention & Outdoor Hospitality Expo, November 9-12th, in partnership with Leisure Systems Inc./Yogi Bear Jellystone Parks. We’re packing 4 days full of exciting educational seminars, idea bursting cracker barrel sessions, a sizzling hot tradeshow to show off the latest products out there and to top it off in keeping with Orlando’s theme, evening entertainment and social networking sure to crack a smile or two!
Bring the family and take in all that Orlando, FL has to offer all while gaining new insight, ideas and inspiration to make 2009 your park’s best camping year yet! We’ll also be celebrating Leisure Systems Inc/Yogi Bear Jellystone Parks 40th year anniversary!
Register early on www.arvc.org. Coming in March is a link to the Rosen Center Hotel for online hotel reservations for Insites 2009. Watch the ARVC Report and www.arvc.org for InSites 2009 updates including the entire convention schedule, educational seminars, various fun activities and MUCH more! Bring that smile to Orlando! See you at InSites 2009!
Marketing Corner
ARVC Marketing information and latest partnerships submitted by ARVC Marketing & Communications Director, Kera Tomlin.
Become a GoCampingAmerica.com Facebook Fan!
We have recently created a GoCampingAmerica.com Facebook page and we want you to become a FAN! All you have to do is create a profile for either yourself or your RV park and then make sure to become a fan of GoCampingAmerica.com. Help spread the enthusiasm and excitement of camping for joining us online! You’ll definitely stay connected. Please note that the page is still under construction and will be updated with photos, info and news stories periodically.
Feel free to share your park pics!
To become a Fan, Click Here
Plan-It Green Corner
Join ARVC in celebrating National Arbor Day
On April 21st, ARVC will be celebrating Arbor Day by planting trees at headquarters in Larkspur, CO with the Colorado Campground Association. Join ARVC in planting trees at your park by joining the National Arbor Day for only $10 and receive 10 free trees! To read more click here.
Take the Plan-It Green Pledge TODAY
If you are currently committed to giving back to the environment by recycling, conserving energy and water usage in your park, please sign up to become a Plan-It Green Park. Once you do, your listing on GoCamping America.com will include the Plan-It Green logo by your name, evidencing your commitment to preserving our nation's resources. Visit www.arvc.org/greenpledge.aspx to sign up TODAY!
In order to proudly display the Plan-It Green logo by your campground name on GCA, you must be able to honestly check off at least 3 of the following. . .
- We Proudly Adhere to Eco-Friendly Practices in Our Parks like:
- We currently offer recycling to our guests and recycle where possible
- Avoid using products or chemicals that are harmful to the environment
- We have evaluated our energy or water usage and have taken steps to conserve
- We currently use energy saving products in our campground like Compact Fluroscent Lighting or EnergyStar products if applicable
- We offer eco-friendly tips to our RVing & camping guests
- We are currently offsetting our carbon-footprint
- We offer 100% green energy to our guests
- We plant trees in our park to offset carbon emissions
- We continue to be mindful that our planet has a limited amount of energy , water and other natural resources
We Encourage Our Guests to:
- Respect the natural wildlife, plants and trees
- Use non-toxic biological tank treatment products
- Recycle and properly dispose of litter
- Conserve energy and other resources during their stay
Online Community Forum “PLAN-IT GREEN”
Interested in sharing ideas online about what your park is doing to be “GREEN”? How you ask? Well, now you can do so through ARVC’s Online Community, that’s how!!! To read more click here.
How Other ARVC Member Parks Are Becoming GREEN
Email us and tell us what your park is doing to be green!! info@arvc.org
“We installed new water saver shower heads ($3.99 each). Then installed low consumption toilets. ($180.00 each). These two items cut approximately 30% of our water usage in the restroom/showers. The following year our hot water tank was acting up, we always seemed to run out of hot water and the guests told us so. So with very little research, I purchased our first Hot Water on Demand unit ($468.00) and installed it myself. The total cost was around $700.00 after plumbing and vent pipes. We now have a unit in our residence and also a rental house. The newer "energy compliant" units cost around $1000.00 each and have an electronic ignition. Ours are a pilot type unit, but still use far less energy than the standard hot water heaters.”
- Wolfe’s Leisure Time Campground, Lafayette, Indiana
Plan-It Green TIPS for GREENING Your Park
Get off junk mail lists. GreenDimes, www.greendimes.com, can get you started. They’ll even plant a tree for you!
Membership Corner
ARVC Membership information submitted by ARVC Membership Director, Daniel Gurley.
Announcing ARVC’s Newest Member Benefit Provider (MBP)
National Background Investigations, Inc.
A certified women’s business enterprise, provides customized background screening solutions integrating pre-employment, continuity and vendor screening into the HR process.
We are proud to partner with ARVC and invite you to visit us at www.nationalbackground.com or you may call us at 1-800-798-0079 for a consult on how we may best service your organization’s background screening needs!
Poly-Pak Industries
Getting ready for you season to start up? Are you looking for a way to keep your park in your customers' memory even after they pull out the front gate?
Poly-Pak Industries is offering 8 1/2 x 11 Litter Bags and 15 x 18 x 4 Shopping Bags to all ARVC members at a 20% discount! The 8 1/2 x 11 Litter Bag features the “Plan-It Green” logo and can be customized with the your park name, address & phone number. The 15 x 18 x 4 Shopping Bag features the “Go Camping America” logo and can also be customized.
All bags are made with 100% recycled film. Yet another ARVC program meeting the Plan-It Green guidelines!
It’s easy. It’s fast. Start advertising your park today! Look for a sample bag and an order form in your March ARVC Report!
For ordering information contact: Call Ceil at 800-969-1995 ext 6542 or email at
ctraina@poly-pak.com
Education Corner
Educational information submitted by ARVC Education Director, Cheryl Smith.
New ONLINE Learning Opportunity – ARVC Webinars!
Earn 1.5 CPO Credits.....Update Your Knowledge about Property & Liability Insurance in the 2009 Economy
This is the most requested webinar topic from our members!
ARVC and Evergreen USA Webinar (Internet Seminar)
with Lucas Hartford, President, Evergreen USA.
March 31st, 2009, 11:00 am EDT.
45 minutes of seminar, 15 minutes of Q&A
Since this is the first of 8 planned webinars, Evergreen and ARVC have joined together to offer this webinar for FREE to give you an idea about the value of online learning.
All you need to do is sign-up – please contact Cheryl Smith, Dir. of Education at csmith@arvc.org
YOU MUST SIGN-UP BY MARCH 30th!
If you've never participated in a Webinar, it's a seminar conducted on the Internet and you participate from the comfort of your home or office. Future webinars will have a nominal charge of $29.95! Topics to include (among others): ADA, Pool Regulations, New Social Media Technology, Recreation, New Marketing Ideas
In the News Corner
ARVC tracks news alerts and RSS feeds for the latest information concerning member parks, campgrounds and the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. Here is some of the most recent press coverage.
An SOS call for sputtering RV industry
By Roger Yu, USA TODAY COLLEGE PARK, Md. —
Ted and Kay Watts have been cruising the USA in their 300-square-foot recreational vehicle for 15 years, motoring up to eight months a year while keeping a permanent home in St. Charles, Mo. "Our goal is to see all the national parks and historic sites in the U.S.," Kay Watts says while hooking up her RV at Cherry Hill Park here. To read more click here.
Carbon footprint of RV vacation, 50% that of airline/car/hotel vacation
March 18, 2009. www.examiner.com , Keith Bennett
A recent study released by PKF Consulting shows that the carbon footprint from an RV vacation is roughly 50% of the footprint from an air/car/hotel vacation. Not only is RVing fun but now you know it is better for our environment. So be kind to the planet and take an RV vacation. The study is summarized below. The full study may be viewed at www.gorving.com. To read more click here.
If you have questions or concerns please contact ARVC at 1-800-395-2267