Continued Page 2

ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds has packed the InSites Convention and Expo in Orlando with more than 20 seminars and panel discussions, a tradeshow with more than 120 exhibiting companies, plus an optional excursion to learn how the Disney Company provides its guests with the ultimate in customer service at its Fort Wilderness campground

and in the Magic Kingdom through its “Innovation in Action” behind-the-scenes tour.

“We think this year’s convention will be one of the most informative we’ve ever had,” said Linda Profaizer, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, which organized the Nov. 9 – 12th event, which is currently taking place at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando.

Despite the economy, Profaizer said convention enrollments are ahead of last year’s figures, both for attendees and vendors, many of whom are facing increasing competition for private park business. InSites attendance is also getting a boost from ARVC’s celebration of the 40th anniversary of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts.

Park operators who arrived in Orlando in

advance of the convention had a chance to participate in two, 8-hour seminars.

“What you need to know about OSHA,” a daylong seminar by Dr. J.R. Harding, a disability expert, regarding proposed changes in Americans with Disabilities Act (ACT) regulations, which are slated to take effect Jan. 1.

“FUNdation day of recreation,” a daylong seminar where park operators learn how to develop their own arts and crafts classes, tie-dye t-shirt classes and other fun recreation programs.

The convention also features panel discussions, including a state of theindustry panel with ARVC

Linda Profaizer, President & CEO ARVC

David Gorin

Pat Hittmeier

Bob MacKinnon

Continued front page

President and CEO Linda Profaizer; Richard Coon, president of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA); Pat Hittmeier, COO of Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA); Vic Nolting, vice chair of

Leisure Systems Inc. (LSI); and Ron Beard, CPO of Ron Beard & Associates in Austin, Texas.

David Gorin and Aubrey King led a packed open forum updating the ARVC

Public Affairs Program, giving in depth information on what is going on in Washington relating to the campground industry.

Bob MacKinnon of Murrieta, Calif.-based GuestReviews.com

provided an update on ARVC’s GuestReviews program.

The InSites tradeshow starting at 2pm on the 11th will feature more than 120 exhibiting companies that provide products and services for every aspect of campground operations, from insurance to accommodations, retail operations and Wi-Fi service.

Daniel Gurley, Director of Membership ARVC

The David Gorin and Aubrey King forum produced many questions from the floor

August of this year marked the one year point that the National Association for RV Parks and Campgrounds has been in Colorado.It took a while to get acclimated to the change as us city dwellers moved to a more park-like setting. But we have settled in and have found it to be a great location to really get more involved in the outdoor community, and to do the work of the association.

I’m pleased to report that the staff has remained intact, with the exception of Micki Leak, our director of meetings, and is totally focused on moving the association forward. The only change has been the hiring of JP Events to handle the InSites Convention and Outdoor Hospitality Expo.

Toward the end of 2008, everyone wondered what 2009 would be like, and I’m pleased to say that it has turned out better than many expected. Our members report that the year was either up

modestly over last year, or flat -- which is the new “up.”

Weather seemed to be the major issue, rather than the economy with record-setting rains in the Northeast for June and July. Fortunately, those areas have recovered since August and enjoyed a great fall season.

This has been a very busy year for your association. We started the year with a loss of membership due to the change in status of the Texas Association, but we did maintain almost half the Texas membership. Overall ARVC has experienced an 84 percent membership renewal rate.

One of our major success stories has been the hiring of Jeff Crider Public Relations to handle our media program. Our 20-plus press releases have been picked up by well over 220 publications nationwide.

The 30 major publications, like the New York Times and Chicago Tribune, have produced more than 15 million positive impressions about the affordability of camping and the improvements underway in private parks across the country. One of our most popular releases had to do with ‘green” initiatives at RV parks. That release was picked up nationwide.We have had major exposure in USA Today,

The Today Show, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and the Miami Herald. Those members responding to requests for information on specific topics of the press releases received tremendous exposure. Plans are to continue the program for a full 12 months in 2010.

Several new member benefits were added this year including Poly Pak, providing customized litter and shopping bags; and National Background Investigations, providing background checks for a low fee.

One of the major new programs added late in the year is with Thor Industries. Three of the RV manufacturer's companies – Keystone RV, Airstream and Breckenridge – are offering specially-built RVs at great prices to be used as rental units in our member parks. Special pricing on the units is available only to members.

GuestReviews continues to be a popular program.

This year saw a 30 percent increase in the number of parks participating.

Currently 812 parks are registered. The basic program, a $150 value, remains free to ARVC members. It is a great tool

for members to know what their guests think about their experience at the park.

The totally new website at www.gocampingamerica.com was launched in September utilizing Google maps and including more member park information than ever. All parks receive a link to their website from their page on Go Camping America, plus a representative photo of their park, an ability to list events on an annual calendar and special packages available at the park.

We continue to have great working relationships with the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association and the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association. Both associations were affected to a greater extent by the economy than the accommodation side of the industry – our RV parks and campgrounds.

ARVC increased its communication efforts with all sectors. We created the ARVC Report in Advance, a bimonthly e-newsletter with up-to-the-minute industry happenings sent to all members who provide their e-mail addresses.

We began quarterly state summit meetings via conference calls with state executive directors and state presidents to keep up with what is going on across the country and to share specific information on industry issues.

Linda Profaizer, President & CEO ARVC

ARVC board members are in touch with state leaders monthly via phone and/or e-mail to find out if there are any issues in their states or issues with ARVC that need to be addressed.

One of the ARVC Foundation’s education programs – webinars – began to take off. More members seem to participate with each webinar held. We will have held five or six by year’s end.

This is an opportunity for parks to earn certified park operator (CPO) credits from the comfort of their homes or offices, and multiple people in one location can participate in the webinars which are either free or offered at a very low price. If you can’t make the time for the webinar, they are available to download or viewed at your convenience at www.arvc.org.

Our public affairs program started out the year dealing with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act and moved on to tax gap issues, the NFPA electrical code, a successful national issues conference in Washington, the Travel Promotion Act and health care reform among many other issues. Work was begun on revising the model code which was used several times this year to help states facing revised regulations covering RV parks and campgrounds.

We have certainly had challenges in 2009, but overall it has been a good year. Camping and RVing continues to be a popular vacation choice and there is nothing indicating that fact will change. Thank you for your membership. It continues to be a privilege to work for you and the leadership of ARVC.

JACKSON CENTER, Ohio -Thor Industries Inc. said Tuesday its chairman and CEO Wade F. B. Thompson has stepped aside due to illness and has been replaced on an interim basis by the company's vice chairman.

The company, which makes recreational vehicles and buses, didn't give any details about Thompson's health.

Thompson, 69, has been president and CEO and a director since the company's founding in 1980. He also owns 28.4 percent of Thor stock, according to a regulatory filing last week.

Peter B. Orthwein, 64, a co-founder and director of the company, was named interim chairman, CEO and president. He has been vice chairman since 1986.

BILLINGS, MT (November 10 , 2009) - Des Watts, one of the founding members of BIG4 Holiday Parks of Australia, is part of a contingent of Australian camping experts on a tour of the United States that will include a stop November 18-20 at Kampgrounds of America's annual Convention in Houston, Texas. There will be more than 10 BIG4 Holiday Parks represented at the KOA Convention this year. Des Watts, owner of several BIG4 Holiday Parks in Australia, was one of the original four park owners who, in 1978, decided to combine forces to better market their camping properties and amenities to Australians.

BIG4 Holiday Parks is now the leading chain of holiday parks in Australia, with more than 180 individually owned and operated parks. BIG4's Holiday Park Club membership stands at more than 176,000 members, and the parks host more than 4 million visitors each year.

Founder of BIG4 Holiday Parks to visit KOA Convention this month in Houston Texas

Continued next page

Jim Rogers, KOA CEO and Chairman

BIG4 provides a wide variety of high-quality accommodations throughout Australia, including full-service, luxury cabins The BIG4 contingent at the KOA Convention will also once again include BIG4 Chairman Rodger Powell. Powell also attended last year's KOA Convention in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

BIG4 Holiday Parks has had close ties with Kampgrounds of America for the past five years. KOA CEO and Chairman Jim Rogers and his wife, Sandy, recently returned from BIG4's National Conference in Alice Springs, Australia. Josh Bell, a member of the Bell family which owns both the San Diego Metro KOA in California and the Grand Canyon/Williams KOA in Arizona, was recently named General Manager of Park Systems for BIG4.

Bell has spent the last year in Australia working as a liaison between BIG4 and KOA, primarily working on transitioning

BIG4 to KOA's KampSight campground operating system.

Kampgrounds of America recently signed an exclusive 10-year agreement with BIG4 to share intellectual property. "The agreement will accelerate the progress of these two world-leading outdoor hospitality organizations," said KOA Chairman and CEO Jim Rogers. As part of the agreement, BIG4 recently purchased the KampSight system from KOA and plans to develop the system to better fit BIG4's needs. BIG4 will call their system

PAM, for Park Accommodation Manager. "We're planning to give the operating system a face lift," Bell said of his new duties. "We've got 30 BIG4 Holiday Parks ready to go with PAM right now.

It's going to change the way Holiday Parks in Australia do business, and it all started with KOA. It's nice having a great partner like that in the States." While in the United States, the BIG4 group will also be visiting the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) Convention in Orlando, Florida, and a variety of campground locations.

Continued from previous page

DES MOINES - Four of the five groups expected to seek a state casino license handed over their proposals to state regulators Monday.

Projects from Lyon, Tama, Webster and Wapello counties met the Monday application deadline.

The new applications are just the beginning of a months-long process before the commission makes a decision on possible new licenses.

Commission Administrator Jack Ketterer said the next milestone is Jan. 7, the deadline for commitments for equity and financing for the projects.

He anticipates applicants will give presentations to the commission, and commissioners will visit the proposed sites this spring. In April or May, the commission likely will hold a public hearing with a final decision on licenses likely in early May.

Commissioners have said they will look at financing of the projects

closely, as well as the business effect new casinos would have on the 17-state licensed casinos already in operation.

"That's kind of the challenge that they've laid out for the applicants," Ketterer said.

Details of the proposals submitted Monday:

Tama County - The Signature Management Group of Iowa and Tama County Community Enrichment are proposing a $42 million project located along the new U.S. 30 bypass between Tama and Toledo.

The facility would include 500 slots with 18 table games, a 500-seat conference center and dining facilities that include a buffet, sit-down restaurant and sports bar.

It also includes a Holiday Inn Express, an RV park with an executive clubhouse, an outdoor amphitheater and a 90-acre all-terrain vehicle park.

The park could be used for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.Full Article:www.qctimes.com

In documents filed with the Securities Exchange Commission, as of November 6, 2009, the holders who signed the Institutional Consents have agreed to extend the interest payment date on their AGHI Notes to November 13, 2009.

As of October 28, 2009, the holders who signed the Other Consents have agreed to extend the interest payment date on their AGHI Notes to the date that is five business

days after the date of termination of the Institutional Consents, including any additional extensions of the Institutional Consents.

This is the seventh extension the company has received since the payment was originally due in September.

for full report:http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1322646/000110465909063576/a09-33125_18k.htm

NEWNAN, Ga., Nov. 6, 2009 – The Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA) is warning campground and RV park operators to be wary of investing in used park trailers that are being offered for sale by the General Services Administration.

Some 2,000 park trailers, which were built for the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for use as temporary housing for hurricane evacuees, are being auctioned by the General Services Administration (GSA).

However, these units have not been inspected by RPTIA and could pose various liability risks to park operators.

“Park operators should think twice before purchasing these used FEMA units,” Garpow said, adding, “It may not be in their best interest to purchase these units with the idea of using them as a rental product.”

In addition to lacking an RPTIA inspection seal, 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.“While the cost of these FEMA units being auctioned by the GSA looks like a financial winner, the possibility of losing a liability case over a public safety issue can place a long-term dent into you bottom line that could be very painful,” Garpow said.

Mike Atkinson, facilities development manager for Billings, Mont-based Kampgrounds of America Inc., said KOA guidelines prohibit its franchisees from investing in park trailers that do not have an RPTIA inspection seal.

Garpow said FEMA contracts to purchase recreational park trailers for emergency housing units required manufacturer to be responsible for verifying that these units were built to the requirements of the ANSI A119.5 Standard.

However, any inspection process that took place to

verify compliance before the units are placed into service were minimal at best. “FEMA encourages these contractors to be members of the RPTIA and also encourages them to use the RPTIA inspection program, but it stops short of making either of these a contractual requirement,” Garpow said.

RPTIA members, on the other hand, pledge as a condition of their membership that they will construct any recreational Park trailers they build to be in conformance with the ANSI A119.5 Standard.

The RPTIA Inspection program to verify the pledge mandates a certification inspection as a pre-condition for a manufacturer’s membership and also imposes at least four

unannounced verification inspections annually to confirm, to the association, that the member firm still has the capability to build units meeting the standard as the manufacturer pledged.

All RPTIA inspections are accomplished by RPTIA independent third party agencies, who typically are the same firms used by government agencies to verify compliance with laws and regulations that cover public safety requirements. For more information, please contact William Garpow, executive director of the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA) at (770) 251-2672 or email him at wgarpow@rptia.com.

Ray, an RVer from Omaha, travels in his motorhome with a talkative but foul-mouthed parrot. One day in an RV campground near Tucson, Ariz., the bird's swearing got to be too much. So Ray grabbed it by the neck and yelled

"Stop it!" But only minutes later, the bird was swearing like a sailor again.

The next day, the bird yelled so loudly that the couple next door in a big fifth wheel stopped by to demand that Ray silence

the bird. Desperate, he locked the bird in a cabinet. It didn't help.

The next day, the parrot was even worse. So, as a last resort, Ray tossed it into his spacious Dometic freezer. After five minutes, all was quiet. Worried the bird might be freezing, Ray took it out.

"I'm sorry," confessed the suddenly polite bird. "I promise to never swear again."

Ray was astonished. He couldn't understand the change in attitude.

"By the way," asked the parrot, "what did the chicken do?"

The promotion, which is being offered as the Jellystone Park network celebrates its 40th anniversary, makes it easier for privately owned, family-friendly parks to join the 70-location national campground chain.

MILFORD, Ohio, Nov. 5, 2009 – Leisure Systems Inc. (LSI), the franchisor of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks, is temporarily waiving its $20,000 franchise initiation fee in an effort to make it easier for family-friendly campgrounds to join its network.

The promotion, which is being offered as the 70-location Jellystone Park chain celebrates its 40th anniversary, is being promoted as Peter Yesawich and other travel industry experts forecast continued growth in demand for family friendly vacations.

“Travel industry research shows continuing strong interest in family travel, and we believe that modifying our franchise offer will be an effective way to encourage high-

quality, family-oriented campgrounds to leverage our brand name and business model to grow their businesses,” said Rob Schutter, LSI President and CEO.

Campgrounds signing a seven-year franchise agreement will get: a 10-foot Yogi Bear statue; a Yogi Bear costume; a facility sign package; travel and expenses for two people to attend “CAMP” (LSI’s proprietary training program) and “CARE” (LSI’s recreation training program.)

As a special ARVC InSites promotion, LSI is also offering $1,000 worth of free Yogi Bear merchandise to each campground that signs a franchise agreement within 90 days of the Convention, which will be held November 9-12 in Orlando, FL. A campground must visit the LSI booth at the InSites tradeshow to be eligible.

To sweeten the deal further, all new franchisees joining the franchise in 2010 will also be eligible to win a Boo Boo costume, valued at $3100. Schutter said the promotions are available to private campgrounds and RV parks that meet LSI’s facility requirements which include a swimming pool, pavilion and playground. For more information, call

866-928-9644 or visit www.campjellystone.com and click on Franchise Opportunity.

About Jellystone Parks™Launched in 1969, the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort system is the second largest chain of campgrounds in the United States, boasting more than 70 campgrounds with over 15,000 campsites in 27 states and Canada. Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, which focus on the family market, are among the best campgrounds in the industry with a quality reputation for being fun, friendly, clean and service-oriented parks.

On average, they have higher revenue per site night and a longer average stay than that experienced by other campgrounds – independent or franchised.

Additionally, each Jellystone Park is themed with Yogi Bear elements providing instant recognition and consumer appeal. It is truly a place “Where You Camp With Friends.”®

Yogi Bear Jellystone Parks are franchised through Leisure Systems, Inc (LSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Park River Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information about Jellystone Parks, visit www.campjellystone.com.

Rob Schutter, LSI President and CEO. " promotions are available to private campgrounds and RV parks that meet LSI’s facility requirements'

RVIA's Outlook breakfast program is one of the most uplifting, energetic events on the RV industry's annual calendar.

It's an information-packed, fun-filled program designed to educate attendees on critical issues in an entertaining way. It's also a tremendous bargain...as in free!

The economy and the RV market may finally be getting better, but free is always good no matter what the economic conditions.

We hope you'll take advantage of this great deal.

"Outlook 2010: Let the Sun Shine" will kick off the National RV Trade Show on Tuesday morning, December 1, with a lineup of presentations that stress a strong message of optimism as the RV industry looks to rebound in 2010.

The event takes place in the Kentucky Exposition

Center (KEC) South Wing Mezzanine Ballroom at 6:45 a.m. As always, attendees should come early as lines form well before the doors open for this first-come, first-served program.

Hosted by RVIA Chairman of the Board Jim Sheldon, "Outlook 2010" will feature:

· "Radiant, Relevant, and Ready" with RVIA President Richard Coon sharing his thoughts on how RVIA has helped the industry weather the storm and prepare for a new beginning.

· Go RVing: "Spreading Sunshine in '09 and Beyond" with Go RVing Coalition Co-Chairmen Dicky Riegel and Tom Stinnett and RVIA Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Gary LaBella discussing how the Go RVing campaign stoked consumer demand in 2009.

The trio will also unveil new television spots and innovative website content

scheduled for launch early next year.

· RVIA Public Relations: "Keeping Our Image Bright" with RVIA Public Relations Committee Chairman B.J. Thompson and LaBella demonstrating how RVIA PR protected the image of the RV industry despite the year's gloomy news environment.

Designed to convey valuable and relevant

information as the show begins, "Outlook 2010" is the ideal way for manufacturers, dealers and their entire teams to start the day on December 1. Show attendees are urged to save the 6:45 to 9:00 a.m. time slot and avoid scheduling conflicting events to enable industry representatives at all levels to attend. Show badge registration will be available in the South Wing Lobby C Entrance prior to the event.

Speed: Up to 16 mphRange: Up to 25 MilesMotor: 350 watt brushless motorDriving Sytem: Powerful 48 volt front hub drive System built into the front wheel!Charging Time: 4-6 hours for penniesBattery: 48 volt 14 AH sealed lead battery acid

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.

Battery Charger: 110 volt smart charger, UL ListedTires: 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" HWeight: 93 lbs.Comes With: headlight, taillight, and horn. (Basket Optional)

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Travel Association today announced that projected modest 2010 increases in leisure, business and international inbound travel will enable the industry to add nearly 90,000 American jobs. Leisure travel is expected to rise 2.0 percent, business travel is projected to increase by 2.5 percent and international inbound travel will increase by 3.0 percent.

These job gains come on the heels of 400,000 combined travel industry job losses in 2008 and 2009."The travel industry shares President Obama's goal of putting Americans back to work.

Our industry is uniquely capable of adapting to economic upswings and quickly adding tens of thousands of jobs," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "What we announce today is based upon modest increases in travel.Given its immense

potential, we call on the Administration and Members of Congress to build a plan for economic recovery that drives significant increases in travel."

A federal economic recovery plan to significantly increase travel and create jobs would include:

Passage of the Travel Promotion Act to encourage millions of travelers to visit the United States;

Improvements in the visa and entry processes that have largely driven the decline in overseas travel to the United States post-9/11;

Funding for a "NextGen" air traffic control system

that will limit flight delays, cancellations and negative impact on the environment; and,Encouragement of meetings, events and incentive programs through tax deductions and other mechanisms.

The travel industry employs 7.7 million Americans, supporting one out of every eight non-farm jobs in the United States.

Domestic Travel OverviewDomestic leisure travel is expected to increase 2 percent in 2010, with a corresponding increase in leisure travel spending of nearly 5 percent.

Domestic business travel volume will grow 2.5 percent next year and business travel spending will increase 4 percent.

"Projected growth in leisure travel is an indicator of rising consumer confidence and disposable income," said Dr. Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research for the U.S. Travel Association.

"Following a difficult 2009, businesses have a heightened focus on the value and bottom-line benefits of travel.

We expect to see a slight increase in business travel next year based in part on pent-up demand for face-to-face meetings that drive growth and productivity."

International Inbound Travel: International inbound travel will increase nearly 3.0 percent in 2010; however, growth in overseas travel (excluding Canada and Mexico) will remain stable at about 1 percent.

Overseas travel visitation in 2010 will remain below 2000 levels (23.5 million versus 26.0 million, respectively). The concern about the lack of substantial growth next year from this market is that overseas travelers contribute significantly more to the U.S. economy, spending an average of $4,500 per person, per trip compared to about $900 per person, per trip for Canadian and Mexican travelers.

Roger Dow

By Larry

Why has the federal government, especially Congress and the White House, not brought out into more open discussion, the fact that the known oil reserves within the borders and jurisdiction of the United States, shale and otherwise, exceeds 3 trillion barrels? If our nation were to use 1 billion barrels per month, it would take 240 years to use our known reserves. This does not take into account the nation’s known gas reserves, which in and of themselves could run the whole country and most of the world for years and years.

The answer always comes back that environmental concerns are the reason for holding back more exploration. The states make the policy but they are being pressured by the feds on this matter. And to the extent that much of the reserves lie beneath federal land, the feds also have a control over the leases necessary to make exploration and recovery legal.

“Environmental concerns” mostly boil down to concerns that drilling will harm the environment and that the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane gases will cause the earth to warm.

What is not noted in the discussion, however, is the fact that both of these gases can be trapped and stored. CO2 is a commercial product, used in soda pop and many other products that fizz or bubble. Methane also has commercial applications.

As to drilling, back in the days of no regulation, putting down wells did indeed cause environmental damage.

Salt water was spewed out indiscriminately on the landscape. Oil was splashed about. Heavy equipment crushed everything around the wells.

The wells were poorly tended to and often abandoned without being properly sealed or filled. Those days are long gone.

With shale recovery has come the advent of horizontal drilling. One well drilled horizontally can do what five or more vertical wells do. The impact on the environment with well

managed exploration is just about zero.

I have maintained for a long time that what is actually behind the current energy policy of discouraging more domestic production of oil and gas is not environmental concern. Rather, it is a desire to create higher energy prices in order to make non fossil fuel viable. As long as oil and gas are plentiful and cheap the new forms of energy cannot compete because they cost too much.

In other words, the discussion is not entirely open and above board. It appears that we are being treated to some very bad economics mixed with shameless and irresponsible politics. “We” means all of us who use energy and pay taxes.

The federal government has four tools at its disposal: taxation of energy, regulation of energy

production and use, purchasing power, and leasing authority over federal lands where much of the oil and gas lies. For example, it can purchase enough fuel and pay high enough prices to push the cost of energy up. It can regulate the construction of refineries in such a manner that it takes 10 years to build a refinery because of the regulatory paperwork, studies and hurdles intended to make new refineries too costly to build. It can refuse leases.

It can tax energy use in many ways, including the new proposed Cap and Trade tax that would tax all emissions on buildings throughout the land.

So: get ready for more environmental talk this winter as the prices of heating oil go up and the supply of refined gasoline vacillates and the Congress gets into high gear about the need to tax you for what comes out of your chimney.

CAPE MAY NJ - South Jersey Legal services has filed a lawsuit on behalf of tenants at the Carol Lynn Resorts in Woodbine to have the seasonal campground declared a year-round residence.

The lawsuit, filed by the Carol Lynn Resorts Home Owners Association, claims that the campground has not been operating as a campground, but instead has operated as a mobile home park. About 50 residents live at the campground on a year-round basis.Those residents want to

stay on the property, which they lease, beyond the seasonal restrictions placed on campgrounds.

The issue led to a meeting earlier this year with State Sen. Jeff Van Drew in which the Department of Community Affairs grandfathered in the current tenants, meaning they will be allowed to stay, but no new tenants will be allowed to stay at the campground on a year-round basis.

The lawsuit names Carol Lynn Resorts, the borough of Woodbine and the state of New Jersey as defendants.

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index (ETI)™ increased for the second consecutive month. The ETI now stands at 89.3, up 0.7 percent from the revised September figure. The index is down 13.2 percent from a year ago.

"The Employment Trends Index has likely turned a corner in September, and the historical relationship between the index and employment suggests that job losses will end in early 2010," said Gad Levanon, Senior Economist at The Conference Board. "While

layoffs have certainly declined in recent months, we still expect to see employers adding hours to their existing workforce before hiring will strongly increase."

This month’s increase in the Employment Trends Index™ was driven by positive contributions from four out of the eight components. The improving indicators were Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance, Number of Temporary Employees, Industrial Production and Real Manufacturing and Trade Sales.

By Lucas HartfordEvergreen has seen a rise in the number of fire departments that are charging for their services when a fire occurs – especially in rural areas with volunteer fire departments. It’s a sign of the times. Local property taxes fund a department’s capacity to respond, and additional service fees pay for the increased cost of responding.

So - what would it cost for a fire department to respond to a fire at a campground or RV Park?

Most towns and cities have local codes limiting what their fire department can charge. While some areas do not make a charge – many do. Some towns allow charges as high as $20,000 or more.

The majority limit their charges to $500 or $1,000 for the fire department to respond to a fire at a commercial building.

However, in the event of a significant fire, there are often multiple departments responding. Many fire departments have agreements for other fire departments to assist them in the case of large fires or to back up their stations while they are fighting a fire. It is not unusual in the case of a large fire to have half a dozen different fire departments fighting a fire

and another half a dozen that are not at the fire but on duty backing up those departments who are fighting the fire. That’s a dozen potential charges.

Here is an example of how these increased charges can add up. A camping resort in rural Wisconsin suffered a fire at their main office building. Their local volunteer fire department responded. They charged $500 for the initial response, plus an additional $150 for each truck on the scene for more than one hour. The fire took a few hours to extinguish and one truck was on scene throughout the night to extinguish the remaining embers.

Fortunately, the town had capped their maximum fire service charge at $1,500 so they were only charged $1,500 by their town. However, there were three other fire departments that also responded - one did not charge and the other two charged $1,000 each. Two other departments had to move a couple trucks from their town to the responding departments towns to provide coverage in case of another fire. One did not charge and the other charged $600. The total fire department service charge came to $4,100.

In this example, if this campground owner insured their property with Evergreen, the resort would have up to $25,000 of

coverage for Fire Department Service Charges available. This $25,000 of fire department service charge coverage is in addition to the building coverage limit so it does not reduce the amount of coverage they have to collect on the fire damage to their building.

As part of a regular review of your insurance coverages, do not overlook the importance of Fire Department Service Charges. Most standard commercial insurance

policies will pay up to $1,000 for this coverage, but each company is different. It is important to note that this coverage only responds for charges for calls to save or protect property from a covered peril (such as fire). As part of the Evergreen Protection Plus Endorsement, clients insuring their property with Evergreen benefit from $25,000 of coverage for fire department service charges. Evergreen USA RRG, Inc. www.evergreenusa.com

PENNSYLVANIA — The Pennsylvania State Park system outshone finalists from Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina to receive the prestigious National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management recently, even as the state’s budget battle delivered deep cuts totaling $9 million to its prize-winning state park and state forest system.

The award is given by the American Academy of Park and Recreation Management, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association. It honors excellence in long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development and professional development. Pennsylvania has 117 diverse state parks and three conservation areas.

The system’s nearly 300,000 acres and 1,800 full- and part-time employees host more than 35 million visitors each year. From January through July 2009, state parks saw more than 23.5 million visits, an increase of about

3.4 million visits, or almost 17 percent, over the same period in 2008. In response to the announcement of the award, acting Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) John Quigley said, “On behalf of the men and women working in our state park system, we are very proud to receive this award in recognition of our skills at managing our state parks and for our innovative approaches that have drawn people into our parks in new ways and connected them to nature through outdoor recreation.

“We strive to help citizens build a personal connection to conservation through our parks that can be life-changing, and that can help to ensure our natural resources are available for future generations,” he added. “We see ourselves not only as land protectors and recreation providers, but also as a model of best practices, conservation advocates and educators of our future stewards.”

But even as “America’s Best Idea” was being celebrated in the Ken Burns’ National Parks series on PBC, Pennsylvania’s “best idea” at the state level was learning it will have to absorb a 15 percent cut in funding, leading to potentially fewer programs, less employees, reduced hours and more.

The impacts are likely to be felt beyond park borders as well, since many park visitors spend money in surrounding communities. According to DCNR press secretary Christina Novak, the agency is currently reviewing all operations and services to determine how best to absorb the cuts. “We will likely see at least service reductions throughout the system,” she noted.

“Since we knew reductions were probable, we did put about 500 of our seasonal employees (State Parks and Forestry combined) on leave without pay about two months early to realize some cost savings. These are mostly the folks who do environmental and recreational programming and maintenance. We have taken some other steps like closing swimming areas and some campgrounds early this year. And, we have had a hiring freeze in place for more than a year.”

Potential impacts may include less environmental education programs, reduced maintenance such as cleaning bathrooms, mowing grass and maintaining trails, reduced office hours and shorter seasons for swimming areas and campgrounds.

In a letter protesting the cuts, Marci Mowery, president of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, wrote: “These budget cuts will have consequences for staff, park and forest survival, to the communities that benefit from their presence and for the millions of visitors who enjoy them each year. This is no way to treat a national award winner.”

To see an eight-minute video about Pennsylvania State Parks that was part of the award application, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us and choose the “Modern Day Legacy” icon on the homepage.By Sandy Longwww.theriverreporter.com

It would be nice if you could provide an editors page or a way one could speak back about an article.

I really like the way you have mixed the articles with the advertising. It allows one to continue to finish reading an article as well as cruise the add on that page. Thanks again for making that change.

It still seems to be a tough climate out there in the RV

industry. There is some improvement, but till the banks start letting out loans and the job market improves, it still looks to be lean times for us.

Hoping you and your staff have pleasant holidays and best wishes for your continuation of this publication.

Scott PietzDriftwood RV ParkLong Beach, Wa.

So, you own a campground that is closed for the season?

Now it’s time to relax, take a break forget about day-to-day operations-right?

Wrong! This is, in some cases, an even busier time than when you are open. It’s time for trade show to see what all is new for next year, prioritize what needs to be done and do it before re-opening next year, whether you do it yourself or go South and have someone else do the physical work.

One thing a lot of owners don’t think of is the administrative side, like saving on credit card processing. What better time to take a look and see if you can cut costs and get set-up for next year? Everyone needs to save where they can, since the lower the bottom line the more stable your livelihood, especially in an economy which is as unstable as the present one is.

You’re not closing or are just getting to your busy season?

What better time to look at where you can save than when you are actively working with figures fresh in your mind. How about taking a few minutes to check what rates you are paying for your credit card processing? This is one

thing most owners don’t think about since you are sooo busy making sure everything is running smoothly and getting headaches out of the way.

At the end of the day you are bushed and think, “I’ll do it tomorrow”, and since tomorrow never comes it keeps getting pushed to the back burner. This sometimes can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the course of the season.

No matter which scenario fits your situation, you are still responsible for knowing about PCI Compliance and the security regulations which will prevent breaches. You MUST make sure your campground is compliant. After all it is the campground owner, not the employees, that gets fined if there is a breach in your credit card processing. All it takes is a few seconds for a breach to occur which could cost thousands and thousands of dollars in fines, which, in many cases, could put you out of business. You think you are too small, “who will bother with me?” you’d be surprised. MOST breaches happen at places where people gather and what better place to gather than a campground?

We HAVE noticed that registrations for Our FREE webinar have declined since October 15th, when

many campgrounds closed. Should we assume that campground owners are not paying attention to PCI Compliance?

There is a website that lists all the breaches and updates since 2005, most of the places on the list is from disgruntled employees, however, some are internet initiated, and others are due to break-ins.

In this ever-changing way of stealing data “the bad guys” are always looking for new opportunities. As a campground owner you must stay “a step ahead” by keeping up with all new rules and regulations, on top of everything else in your busy life. Who says that owning a campground is an easy way of life!

Check with your processor about your credit card rates and ask if there are any methods they can suggest to help save you money on processing. And be sure to ask them about PCI Compliance regulations. If YOU get breached THEY get fined too.

Deanne Bower is Vice President of Sales and Marketing at MCPS for Campgrounds, a credit card processor sponsored by Woodforest Bank NA. Deanne has been working with MCPS President Art Lieberman for several years and has become an expert on pricing and marketing to Campgrounds. She can be contacted at deanne@mcpsforcampgrounds.com.

By Deanne Bower

This week's featured Listing

Click on the image below to search the directory:Listings added

daily

http://www.jumpingpillowsusa.com/

http://www.jumpingpillowsusa.com/