2015 TACO Spring Newsletter

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TACO
Promoting RV Travel & Camping in Texas
Spring 2015
www.tacomembers.com
It’s Time To Get Inspired!
Come Hear
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Craig Dietz talk abo
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Despite being born without
limbs, Craig Dietz lives life
to the fullest bowling, skiing,
playing volleyball, hunting,
fishing, jamming on his drums
and his biggest passion is
swimming. Come hear Craig’s
story of perseverance and
overcoming life’s many
challenges, as told from his
unique perspective.
›› Winery Tour
& TRADE SHOW
April 26-28, 2015
Kerrville, TX
Early Bird
Regist
Already rations
Coming
Save $$ In
$!
THIS IS NO OR
CAMPGROUN DINARY
D CONVENTIO
N!
›› Governor’s Office on
Economic Development & Tourism
›› Amazing Speakers
MEETING
Guadalupe River RV Resort
›› Park Tour
›› Unique Vendors
2015 TACO SPRING
e
You just hav
to be there!
TEXAS CAMPGROUNDS
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Consider the Many Benefits of being a TACO Member!
STATE DIRECTORY
The RV Travel & Camping
Guide to Texas
The RV Travel & Camping Guide to Texas
is the #1 preferred camping guide in Texas
according to an independent nationwide
survey by Yesawich & Associates. The ‘TACO’
guide is the most widely distributed directory
in the state which is critical since many parks
are reporting that 60-70% of their business
is coming from within the state. Also found
was the fact that RVers are taking shorter trips
closer to home (Stay-cations!) – which makes
it more critical than ever to have your display
ad in the TACO guide. The entire guide is
online at the State Website.
STATE WEBSITE
TexasCampgrounds.com
The #1 camping website in Texas is
TexasCampgrounds.com. This site has
experienced unprecedented 20% monthover-month growth. The site presents TACO
member parks with complete listings and
banner advertisment to help travelers plan
their trips and see all the amazing events that
the Lone Star state has to offer. For parks
that actively use Google analytics to see
where their website traffic is being generated,
TexasCampgrounds.com always appears
in the Top Ten referring sites! The site also
features a robust Guest Reviews program that
allows members to get direct feedback from
their customers.
LODGING WEBSITE
AccessCamping.com
TexasCabinRentals.net is a rapidly growing site
where TACO members can have a full park
listing and banner advertisment to promote
rental accommodations.
CO-OP MARKETING
PROGRAMS
TexasCabinRentals.net
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› The association offers a wide variety of
cooperative efforts for parks to target their
message. This includes mailing park literature
weekly with the TACO Guide fulfillment
requests.
› Handing out park literature at RV
shows and listing parks in quarterly e-blasts
to consumers.
› We also provide free social media set up
for your website.
TACO LEGISLATION /
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
› One of the most important features to
being a TACO member is being a part of the
ongoing battles to protect RV park owners
and operators. Not only does TACO have an
attorney to advise TACO members on specific
issues but a legislative consultant in Austin
who keeps his ear to the ground at all times.
› This includes introducing key legislation to
enumerate parks in the penal code. Such was
the case with the Theft of Services bill and the
recently passed Trespass bill. These key pieces
of legislation allow parks to more effectively
run their businesses.
› TACO efforts were vital in getting a
later school start date passed in the Texas
legislature. This extended the camping season
for many parks that experienced significant
increase in their end of summer business.
› TACO worked directly with the state
comptroller to implement a set of forms to
allow parks to seek refunds of utility sales tax
on usage by monthly guests. Many TACO
members have gotten back thousands of
dollars with the largest refund check to date
being $42,000!
› TACO is spearheading an effort to get
better pricing on signs offered through
TXDOT and its contractors. In addition, TACO
has preserved the blue camping signs in many
areas. ALL of this is to the benefit of the
camping public and TACO members.
STATE SHOWS
› TACO offers a wide variety of opportunities
for members to broaden their industry
education and sharpen their park operations.
TACO Officers
& Directors
› The association hosts the largest industry
trade show in the Southwest every spring.
In addition to money-saving vendor
opportunities, park owners can attend a wide
variety of educational classes to gain the
latest insight to the industry.
› In the fall, the association hosts a Parks on
Tour that allows park owners to visit other
parks and see how their fellow park operators
are handling day-to-day operations and what
plans they have for the future.
› TACO maintains a member’s only website
located at www.TACOMembers.com where
parks can find numerous vendors that
specialize in the campground industry. The
savings offered by these industry specific
companies can more than pay for the cost of
membership in the association.
› On TACOMembers.com there is a
password protected area where members
can obtain legal forms such as monthly guest
applications, monthly guest agreements,
typical park rules, etc. This tool and the
information it offers can be invaluable in
running a campground.
KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH
MEMBERS
› The TACO office understands the
challenges that face park operators today
in delivering a quality experience. When
park operators in Texas have a question they
can always call the state office and get a
response. Over the course of a year the TACO
office gets hundreds of calls from members
with questions ranging from park rule
violations, to non-payment, to work-camper
issues, to marketing concerns and all points
in between.
› Texas is known for its greatest export
– hospitality. Because of constant
communication with other park owners and
extensive research, the TACO office is able to
provide answers to member questions.
› A great source of communication is TACO
News. This quarterly publication features
insightful articles, trade member information
and spotlight write ups. Industry news is
disseminated on a timely basis through
this publication and also through monthly
member e-blasts.
› TACO staff is readily available at spring and
fall conferences, state RV shows, by email and
phone calls to the office.
ADDITIONAL MARKETING
OPPORTUNITIES
› For a small fee we have additional
marketing opportunities such as displaying
ads in the RV Travel and Camping Guide
to Texas.
› Banner ads on TexasCampgrounds.com;
www.TexasCabinRentals.net; and
www.AccessCamping.com.
› Featuring park status on
quarterly consumer blasts regarding
TexasCampgrounds.com.
› Various TACO member discounts from
TACO trade members, which are located on
the TACOMembers.com website.
TEXAS CAMPGROUNDS
EDITOR: MICHAEL MOORE
ARTWORK: DIANA MASK
DISTRIBUTION: TACO MEMBERS, TACO TRADE MEMBERS, TACO PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS
CONTACT: 910 S. CROWLEY RD, STE. 9-504
CROWLEY, TX 76036 | 877-518-1989
TEXAS CAMPGROUNDS
Regional Directors
Region 1
Lee Brown
Spring Creek Marina & RV Park
San Angelo, Texas
Region 2, Treasurer
Jacque Calverly
Texan RV Ranch
Arlington, TX
Region 3, Secretary
Terry Munoz
Thousand Trails
Lake Conroe, Texas
Region 4, Past President
Doug Shearer
Parkview Riverside RV Park
Rio Frio, Texas
Region 5, 1st Vice President
Gwen Craig
Rayford Crossing RV Resort
Spring, TX
Region 6
Ed Welliver
Oleander Acres
Mission, TX
Region 7
Cheryl McLaughlin
Hatch RV Park
Corpus Christi, Texas
Directors At Large
Director, President
Don Temple
Guadalupe River RV Resort
Kerrville, Texas
Director At Large
Bryan Kastleman
Hill Country RV Resort
New Braunfels, Texas
Director At Large
Earline Lund
Forest Retreat
Woodbridge, CA
––––––––––
Executive Director/CEO
Brian Schaeffer
TACO Office
Crowley, Texas
Legislative
Ron Hinkle
Legal
Cobb and Counsel
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Legislative Update
AUSTIN – The Texas Legislature is almost over
the half-way mark of the 140-day Legislative session.
To date, 1791 Senate bills have been filed and 3925
House bills have been filed. This up from the last
legislative report where 857 bills were filed in the Texas
Senate and 2108 bills were filed in the Texas House.
The deadline for having bills filed is at 5pm, Friday,
March 13, 2015.
It is expected with this extraordinary amount of
bills filed that it could surpass over 6,000 bills, not
counting resolutions.
Committees have been active and bills are
beginning to get scheduled for long hearings. The
two budget committees, Senate Finance and House
Appropriations, had been concluding their hearings
on state agency budgets. The House Appropriations
committee finalized their budget version this week and
plans to vote the final House version of the budget
next week. In the House version there is an additional
$2.2 billion for public schools and $1.5 billion for
transportation. There is no tax relief amount in the
House budget but those tax cuts will be decided in
the House Ways & Means Committee and plugged
into the House budget version later. The Senate will be
wrapping up its hearing soon.
TACO will continue to work to get
a committee hearing on the bill
and ask as many TACO members as
possible to come and testify in favor
of the house bill.
TACO had its bill filed that creates NFPA-1194
standards for RV Park expansion and construction. The
bill is HB 3266 by Rep. Guillen, D-Rio Grande City. Rep.
Guillen is a big supporter of the RV Park and tourism
industry. Rep. Guillen also chairs the House Culture,
Recreation and Tourism Committee. This has been an
important committee in looking into legislation and
shaping policies for the Texas tourism industry. TACO is
appreciative and thankful for an experienced legislator
like Chairman Guillen to see the benefit of seeking
legislation to assist the RV Park Industry.
TACO will continue to work to get a committee
hearing on the bill and ask as many TACO members as
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TACO Board Member Cheryl and Michael from Hatch RV
Park with Representative Todd Hunter
possible to come and testify in favor of the house bill.
This will encourage Chairman Guillen that he is doing
a huge favor for our industry but also give strong voice
to the Legislature about the importance of the future
of TACO and the RV Park industry overall.
TACO will provide timely reports and notification
on the committee hearing so TACO members can have
time to plan to come to Austin for testimony in the
committee.
In other overall tourism industry news, there have
been some important bills filed that would significantly
change how school calendars operate, but, more
importantly, how schools instructional days are to be
changed.
Two bills, HB 2610 by Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian,
relating to the minimum number of minutes of
instruction for students to be provided by a school
district and the scheduling of the last day of school
for students by schools districts, and SB 1578 by Sen.
Lucio, D-Brownsville, relating to the first and last day
of instruction and the number of hours in a school day
on a public school.
These two bills will provide greater flexibility and
local control for school superintendents to devise their
school calendar with the goal of ensuring calendars
and schools days reflect the important need of the
education and excelled learning of the student. With
graduation rates in flux in some parts of the state
and the need to ensure Texas’ future has the kind of
educated students necessary for college or technical
school these types of important educational efforts like
longer school times are more important than ever.
Gain the advantage with AGS
for your RV Park or Campground.
The AGS Advantage
Customer Service
Other Site Map Providers:
Long delivery times, print mistakes
and more excuses!
Timely and superior
customer service
“You all have been so friendly and patient with us, you are at the top of our list for
advertising needs” =) ~ Harbor Village Resort
Benefits and Perks
Wallboards, Counter Pads, Phone
Directories and more - Standard with
every Guest Guide
Only a map (ad sheet) and a banner.
Little-to-no area promotion
We are “Happy Happy Happy” at BLRV with our new Guest Services Guides, wall board
with advertisers’ info and the rules you have printed for us. Thank you so much. We love
working with AGS for all our products and business needs. ~ Braunig Lake RV Resort
Business Investments
Investing up to $500 in your business
as a thank you for being a customer
Invests nothing in your business
I like the new Loyalty Cash. I ordered another $750 worth of merchandise!
~ Washington DC / Capitol KOA
Product Variety
Myriad of customer print formats
and sizes to promote the area and
businesses
Ad sheets with a map – no area
information or reasons for guest to
return or stay longer
This is our best site map to date in terms of advertisers, layout, and information
given to the customers! Way to go! ~ River’s End Campground
Mobile App
A mobile app enhances your guests
experience through local deals
Nothing that enhances the
guest’s experience
Web Analytics
More referrals to your website through
higher rankings on your web analytics
through AccessCamping.com
Google Analytics don’t lie!
Few to no referrals with low ranking
on your web analytics
Professional Design and Printed on
80#-100# coated paper stock
Design and printing errors on
70# or less, weight paper
Print / Paper Quality
10% of our business goes to multiple charities and the glory goes to God!
With the AGS advantage, You and Your Park
Can make a Positive Difference for Your Guests.
910 S. Crowley Rd • Suite 9-504 • Crowley, TX 76036
877-518-1989 • 817-426-9395 • F: 817-426-9397
[email protected] • www.agspub.com
2013-2014
“I’m so glad I switched
to AGS from another site
map company. I’ve gotten
more from my package
with them than I ever
thought I would!”
~ Joe Moore,
Vineyards Campground
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You can not afford to miss the
2015 TACO Spring Meeting!
What is your potential?
Our keynote speaker, Craig Dietz, without arms and legs, will inspire you to live life to the fullest.
Like Craig, you can seek out new opportunities to challenge yourself. Craig is currently a licensed
attorney who tools around the country in his van pursuing his biggest passion – swimming. As an
ESPN featured athlete he finished the 4.4 mile Great Chesapeake Bay Swim, the Midmar Mile Swim
in South Africa and the 1.5 mile “escape” from Alcatraz Swim. Want to know how to overcome life’s
challenges and find your true potential? Listen to Craig Dietz. What a unique perspective!
Do What Others Have Done – Let’s Have Some Fun!
How about a Texas Wine Country Tour?
On Sunday afternoon we will board a bus from the host park in Kerrville and head for
Fredericksburg to visit the Texas Wine Country Jellystone Resort to learn about fabulous
Texas wines. YES – there is a tasting room!
While the caravan is at Yogi’s Texas Wine Country
Jellystone we will tour this magnificent new facility and
chow down on some of Texas’ Best Bar-B-Que.
With live music and the tales of fellow
park operators under the setting Texas’
sun, you can’t possibly go wrong!
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Look What’s Included!
Registration fees include meals (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 2
dinners), coffee breaks, social mixers, CPO classes, the trade
show, wine country and park tour, special entertainment, the
auction and mega raffle entries. Plus some amazing opportunities
to network with successful park operators!
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Registration Fees Per Person
Early Registration (By 4/1/15)
Member . . . . . . . . . . $250.00
Non-Member . . . . . . $300.00
After 4/1/15 or at Convention
Member . . . . . . . . . . $295.00
Non-Member . . . . . . $350.00
The Valuable Information
& Fun Never Stops at
the Spring Meeting!
What Else Park Operators
Want to Know!
You need an ADA plan – how do you do it?
The Founder and CEO of RVing Accessibility Group, Mark Douglass has over 16 years’
experience as an avid RVer who has learned how to use his physical disability and
accessibility training to help educate the outdoor recreation industry on how to work
toward ADA compliance for the enjoyment of ALL persons, regardless of age, injury or
illness. RVing Accessibility Group also researches campgrounds that can provide a level
of accessibility that can be published for the disabled community as a resource for their
adventures.
Texas – It’s Like a Whole Other Country
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development & Tourism is a really big deal. Nate
Gieryn will be on hand to show you how they sell Texas. During this session you will
learn about the millions of dollars spent on promoting travel to and within Texas. You will
see how your presence on TexasCampgrounds.com is connected. Want to know where
your state stacks up in comparison to other Sunbelt states and how it affects your own
marketing – come and see!
Where you are dropping the ball on marketing and PR – LET’S FIX IT!
Jeff Crider, TACO’s publicist, will discuss good things and bad things he has observed in
campgrounds, RV parks and resorts from a marketing perspective. Jeff will also give you
the basics on what your marketing and PR strategy should be focusing on and how to
incorporate your marketing, PR and social media strategies into a comprehensive plan.
If you do the same old things you will get the same old results – let Jeff show you how to
shake it up!
Using Your Association – A Review & Preview
From marketing to public relations to legal and government affairs – TACO has been
very busy and will be even busier in the future promoting and protecting your business
interests. You need to know what has occurred in our industry and what we anticipate
affecting your business. Whether you are an old hand or a new comer this is where you
gain the knowledge to improve your business and stay on the cutting edge.
Managing Your Online Reputation
In this electronic age where everyone from grandkids to grandma’s have smart phones
and tablets you have to know what is being said about you online. This can literally make
or break your business. Guest Rated was founded by Bob MacKinnon, a former Walt
Disney Co. executive who spent over 30 years in resort management. He uses guest
satisfaction surveys to develop operating standards and improve park facilities and
services at campgrounds across the US and Canada. Let Bob show you how to protect
and enhance your online reputation.
Convention Lodging
Guadalupe River RV Resort
2605 Junction Hwy. • Kerrville, Texas 78028
Reservations: 1.800.582.1916
www.guadaluperiverrvresort.com
RV SITES – Bring your rig and see why this fabulous resort boasts high
ratings. Sites have cable TV, Wi-Fi & instant phone. TACO discount
rate is $30.00 per night. COTTAGES – Guadalupe River RV Resort has
1-bedroom ($79.00) & 2-bedroom units ($99.00) that are a real treat. If
they are full, the 5-star Inn of the Hills is highly recommended. TACO
discount rates on cottages is per night – reserve by April 10, 2015.
Inn of the Hills Resort
& Conference Center
1001 Junction Hwy. • Kerrville, Texas 78028
Reservations: 1.800.292.5690
www.innofthehills.com
HOTEL ROOMS – This magnificent 5-star facility is Hill County elegance at
its best. Amenities include the beautiful Conference Center – hosting the
TACO Trade Show. TACO’s discount rate is $94.00 single or double. To get
the discount rate, make your reservation by April 10, 2015 and tell them you
are part of the TACO convention.
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Blue Bridge Partners
with Athens Park Homes
Buffalo, New York - February 17, 2015
Blue Bridge Equipment Finance, a leading national
provider of specialized commercial financing services,
is proud to be the preferred financing provider for
Athens Park Homes; a quality builder of Park Model
RV’s and Cabins. Athens Park Homes is a Champion
Home Builders company with seven park model RV
manufacturing plants throughout the U.S. Through this
partnership, campground owners can purchase and
obtain financing in one seamless process as they expand
or upgrade their property.
“I believe most all campground owners now know
the value of adding rental cabins in their campgrounds,”
said Dick Grymonprez, Director of Park Model RV Sales
for Champion. “Not only is it a great source of revenue,
but it opens up their campground to a whole new
customer. Financing has always been difficult to obtain
for campground and resort owners wanting to take
advantage of this destination camping trend.”
“Many campground owners are trying to find
financing through a local bank or their credit union,
but often don’t have a lot of success through these
traditional lenders,” stated Jim Hofbauer, Director of
Manufactured Housing & Park Model Finance.
Blue Bridge has very competitive interest rates with
terms up to 60 months. They will also advance the
invoice plus 20% for qualified add-ons. “New to
the program will be up to 3 months of skip payments
based on your parks cash flow models,” said
Hofbauer. “We know that in some markets the rental
business can be seasonal so we want to help the
campground owner during times when their rentals
may be slower.”
A typical Athens Park Model RV can be built within
4 to 6 weeks and the peak rental season is approaching
quickly. For more information on Blue Bridge Financing
contact Jim Hofbauer at 904-318-5178 - jhofbauer@
bbfequipmentfinance.com.
For more information on Athens Park Homes contact
Dick Grymonprez at [email protected]
or view park model RV’s at www.athensparkhomes.com.
Tabco Services Acquires
Future Vision Cable Inc.
On January 1, 2015 Tabco
Services, LLC, dba Coba Systems, a
leading provider in small platform
cablw television, broadband and
wireless internet acquired Future
Vision Cable Inc.
The purchase of Future Cable
Vision Inc. in Mission, Texas further
increases our market share by over
3,000 homes passed.
Coba Systems for the near future
will work with existing staff and
billing to allow for an integration
of Future Cable Vision customers
into our billing and support systems.
“The continued support shows
both company’s desire to make the
transition as error free as possible,”
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stated Mr. Bruce Bridgewater,
President of Tabco Services, LLC.
Mr. Bridgewater and supporting
technical staff also announced
that over the next year Coba Systems
will continue to upgrade the
existing outdoor cable plant to
a full 1Ghz system allowing for
further channel additions, higher
sustained Internet service and
VOIP services.
Rick Martin/Future Cable Vision
DBA RAM Investments would like to
Thank ALL our past customers for
all their loyal support and patronage
over the past 25 years. I believe Coba
Systems will follow thru with the
upgrade they have listed.
God Bless everyone and once
again THANK YOU all past Future
Cable Vision customers.
Founded in 2002 Coba Systems,
www.cobasystems.net along with
Coba Internet www.cobainternet.
com provides Microwave
communications, Cable Television
and WiFi systems for the past 13
years servicing over 72,000 users in
the RV, Hospitality, Energy Production
industries as well as Local and
Federal Governments.
For more information please
contact: Coba Systems, 5111 N 10th
Street #334, McAllen, TX 78504,
956-616-5060, inforequest@
cobasystems.net.
Visit TACOMembers.com and click on the Suppliers tab!
DIAMOND PARK HOMES
SHAWN BALLARD. . . . . 903-765-1128
Alba, TX
Park Model Manufacturer
www.DiamondParkHomes.com
MISSION MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION SYSTEMS INC.
PETER KEARNS. . . . . . .800-547-9147
Software, online reservations
www.CampgroundManager.com
STAG PARKWAY
CRAIG MELLOR. . . . . . 817-640-3137
Arlington, TX
Wholesale parts & distribution
www.stagparkway.com
ARK ASSURANCE GROUP
GARY PRICE. . . . . . . . . 903-509-2292
Tyler, TX
Property & liability insurance
www.arkassurance.com
DIGITALWAY SERVICES
TIM MURRY. . . . . . . . . 817-304-3595
Springtown, TX
Wi-Fi and Cable System Design
www.DigitalwayServices.com
MOORE’S
CAMPGROUND CONSULTING
JOE MOORE. . . . . . . . . 817-999-4108
COLLEYVILLE, TX
Professional Campground
Assessment
TENGO INTERNET
ERIC STUMBERG. . . . . 512-469-7660
Austin, TX
Wireless internet provider
www.tengointernet.com
ATLANTIC SERVICE & SUPPLY
TIM RUTLEDGE . . . . . . . 817-589-1265
Richland Hills, TX
Air Conditioning & Heating
www.atlanticservice.com
GERBER MANUFACTURING
JEFF URSO. . . . . . . . . . 800-393-9923
Madison, WI
Picnic tables, benches, etc.
www.gerbertables.com
PHILADELPHIA INSURANCE
LANCE GOFF. . . . . . . . 469-221-7932
Addison, TX
RV park insurance services
www.phly.com
TRVA RIO GRANDE VALLEY CHAPTER
LINN BACKUS . . . . . . . 956-755-9998
Alamo, TX
TRVA Chapter for Rio Grande Valley
www.rgvparks.org
B&B ELECTRICAL
MATT LINNELL. . . . . . . 888-391-3802
Keego Harbor, MI
RV pedestals and distribution equip
www.bbelec.com
GOOD SAM RV TRAVEL GUIDE
DAWN WATANABE. . . 800-323-9076
Ventura, CA
National Campground Directory
www.woodalls.com
PINNACLE PARK HOMES
ANDY DAVIS. . . . . . . . 229-574-5159
Ochlocknee, GA
Park model homes & cabins
www.PinnacleParkHomes.com
BAEHRE REAL ESTATE
RUSSELL BAEHRE. . . . . 830-896-5050
Kerrville, TX
RV park real estate
www.rvparksforsale.com
GUEST REVIEWS
BOB MACKINNON. . . . . 877-707-7080
Murietta, CA
Online guest rating system
www.guestreviews.com
TXAD INTERNET SERVICES
MICHAEL MOORE. . . . . 877-518-1989
Crowley, TX
Website design, hosting, & marketing
www.txadinternet.com
CAMCO
TOMMY DOYLE. . . . . . 336-668-7661
Greensboro, NC
Cg store display & merchandise
www.camco.net
HIGHLAND PRODUCTS GROUP
TRECIA DEMBY. . . . . . 888-417-2401
Boca Raton, FL
Cg picnic tables, grills, fire rings
www.theparkcatalog.com
CAVCO PARK MODELS & CABINS
TIM GAGE. . . . . . . . . . 602-763-5488
Phoenix, AZ
Park model manufacturer
www.parkmodels.com
HORIZON RV RESORTS
RANDY HENDRICKSON. . 805-253-1562
Westlake Village, CA
Property mgmt, acquisitions
www.HorizonRVResorts.com
COINMACH SERVICES
SAM SOLES
Corpus Christi, TX. . . . . 361-533-7427
Laundry machines
www.coinmach.com
MAXIMUM BUSINESS BROKERS
PLATINUM COTTAGES
DE-ANN AMES . . . . . . 903-675-2525
Malakoff, TX
park model manufacturer
www.platinumparkhomes.com
PPL MOTOR HOMES
DIANA LEBLANC. . . . . 800-755-4775
Houston, TX
RV consignment dealer
www.pplmotorhomes.com
TEXEN POWER CO.
TOM STUBBLEFIELD. . . 281-989-7440
Houston, TX
Electricity savings & audits
www.texenpower.com
UTILITY SUPPLY GROUP
WADE ELLIOT. . . . . . . .800-800-2811
Preston, WA
RV park utility products
www.Go-USG.com
TACOMEMBERS.COM
AGS PUBLISHING
MICHAEL MOORE. . . . . 877-518-1989
Crowley, TX
Guest guides, site maps and printing
www.agspub.com
TACO TRADE MEMBERS
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Remember to call a TACO Member first!
RED ROVER CAMPING
ROBERT BOUSE. . . . . . . 512-897-8122 WELCOME HOME RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Southern Pines, NC
KRISTI COLLIER . . . . . . 956-687-5115
New customer delivery service
McAllen, TX
www.RedRoverCamping.com
Rio Grande Valley Vacation Destination
CHAMPION ATHENS PARK HOMES
KAMPGROUNDS OF AMERICA
www.welcomehomergv.com
RMS NORTH AMERICA
DICK GRYMONPREZ. . 903-677-0108 CHRIS FAIRLEE. . . . . . . 406-254-7449 DAVID JONES. . . . . . . . 858-900-1823
YOUR ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS
Athens, TX
Billings, MT
La Jolla, CA
MARGARET LINNELL. . 248-391-2400
Quality park model builder
Franchisor of KOA’s
Front office & online reservations
www.athensparkhomes.com
www.koa.com
Lake Orion, MI
www.rms.com.au
RV site power panels, electric meters
COBA SYSTEMS
LEISURE SYSTEMS INC.
ROWLEY INSURANCE
www.yourelectricalsolutions.net
BRUCE BRIDGEWATER.800-928-6306 DAN O’CONNELL. . . . . 800-626-3720 KEN ROWLEY . . . . . . . 800-880-9397
McAllen, TX
Milford, OH
Austin, TX
Wi-Fi services & private cable
Franchisor Yogi Bear’s Jellystone
RV park insurance services
Be sure & visit
www.CobaSystems.net
ww.jellystonefranchise.com
www.rowleyinsurance.com
SOUTHEAST PUBLICATIONS
JERREL SCHORR. . . . 713-874-4634 BRIAN MCGUINN . . . . 800-832-3292
Houston, TX
Plantation, FL
Brokerage, RV parks in Texas only
Guest Guides, Printing & Marketing
Selling business since 1995
www.southeastpublications.com
the members
websites
for more
information!
H TACOMEMBERS.COM H
9
HUD Indefinitely
Delays Enforcement
of Park Model RV
Porch Restrictions
10
H TACO NEWS WINTER 2014-15 H
In a Memorandum dated January 20, 2015, HUD
Administrator Pamela Beck Danner announced that HUD
will not be enforcing its interpretation that park model
RV porches count toward the 400 square foot limit (as
measured) on those types of RVs until new regulations
defining RVs are published, which is something that
likely will not occur for many months.
This memorandum supersedes a Memorandum that
Administrator Danner promulgated on October 1, 2014. That
Memorandum sought to clarify the measuring process for
park model RVs, stating that factory-built porches do count
toward the 400 square foot park model RV limit and that
HUD would enforce to this measurement criteria starting on
April 1, 2015.
However, on December 2, 2014, the Manufactured
Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC) recommended that
HUD further delay enforcement to this measurement criterion
until new rules are published, which better and more clearly
define today’s RVs. By this most recent Memorandum, HUD
has accepted that MHCC recommendation, making the April
1, 2015 deadline for park model RVs moot.
“The issue was placed on the MHCC’s agenda as a
direct result of the political pressure from the campground
industry which mobilized park owners across the United
States to write to their Members of Congress to support
HR 5658, “The Recreational Vehicle Certainty Act,” and to
ask for a grandfather provision for park models already in
campgrounds,” said Paul Bambei, ARVC president and CEO.
“Our members embraced our call to action and played a
major role in HUD’s latest memorandum.” In total, nearly
800 park owners sent approximately 2700 electronic letters
to 335 Members of Congress in the ARVC grassroots
campaign for park owners.
At that same meeting, the MHCC also recommended
specific language to more clearly define RVs that are exempt
from HUD’s manufactured housing standards. That language
referred to the NFPA and ANSI standards to which RVs are
built as defining them as RVs, rather than a complicated set of
criteria that includes specific square footage requirements and
tow vehicle restrictions.
“While it remains to be seen how HUD will handle
the new RV definition recommendation, park model
manufacturers and especially RV campgrounds can rest
assured that, for now, porches on the chassis will not be
counted toward the 400 square foot limit on park model
RVs,” said Jeff Sims, director of state relations and program
advocacy for ARVC, the National Association of RV Parks and
Campgrounds. “The park model RVs that are in campgrounds
today and the park model RVs they buy tomorrow can have
porches that do not count toward the size limit. This also
means no state or local regulators should have issues with
park model RV porches either.”
“ARVC, RVDA and RVIA have closely coordinated efforts
since the October 1 Memorandum created a great deal of
uncertainty for the RV and campground industries,” said
Matt Wald, RVIA executive director of Park Model RVs. “We
are extremely grateful to Administrator Danner as well as
the MHCC for taking the time to understand the RV and
campground industry’s perspective on this issue and working
with us toward a consensus outcome where RVs are clearly
defined as recreational units and manufactured housing is
clearly defined as housing in a way that everyone knows
exactly where the line between them is. We look forward to
finalizing that consensus process in the coming months.”
RV & Mobile Home
Parks Still Full
Despite Slowdown
By Rye Druzin | Midland Reporter-Telegram
The RV and mobile home parks – which
accommodate those unable to find permanent
homes in Midland’s fierce housing market – are still
full despite the drop in the price of oil.
Managers and owners of RV and mobile home
parks have said that their properties have remained
rented despite eight months of falling oil prices and
budget cuts in the oil industry.
Tanya Howell of Howell’s RV Park said that, out
of 40 spots, five were vacant for three weeks. She
rented them at the end of February.
“I was getting very worried because I thought,
‘Oh, my goodness, this is not good,’ and I thought it
would be worse than just five spots,” she said.
The RV park is a secondary business for Howell
and her husband to provide additional income for
their children. She said that while the RV park is
back to full capacity, at a certain point the business
will become unaffordable.
“If we get to 50 percent occupancy . . .
it would be pointless to have (the park) anymore.”
Howell said.
Chase Gardaphe, owner of the 171-unit
Stonegate Manufactured Housing Community off
North Fairgrounds Road, said his lots are not only
full, but are still in high demand.
The third-generation manufactured housing
manager said Stonegate opened in January 2014
and filled up in about five months. He hasn’t seen
any effect on his community from the slowdown
in the oil industry and said that 95 percent of his
tenants own the manufactured homes they live in.
“We’ve only had a couple of people that have
moved out, but all of that was prior to oil and gas,
the pricing going down,” Gardaphe said. “We had
The TACO guide at a Louisiana RV Show
Passing out the TACO guide at the Houston RV Show
one guy transfer to East Texas, but it wasn’t that
they (were) shutting down their Midland office.”
Gardaphe said he is planning a new community
that will be bigger than the current one. He
maintains that no matter the economic situation,
housing is still being sought.
“Regardless of what happens, there’s still going
to be – and will always be – a demand for affordable
housing that is nicer than you’d expect,” he said.
Kelly Autry told a similar story from his place
as manager of the Airline Mobile Home Park near
Midland International Air & Space Port. He said he
currently is 99 percent full.
But despite the high occupancy rate, Autry said
phone calls from potential renters have dropped off
in the last few months.
“You don’t know month to month how that’s
going to be, especially for the RVs because they are
more of a temporary situation,” he said.
H TACOMEMBERS.COM H
11
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