2010 Issue 3 - KOA Owners Association

Owners
News
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE KAMPGROUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
Volume 30
Issue 3
July/August/September
2010
• Contents •
Presidents Korner......................................................................... 2
2010 Owners Association Board.................................................. 4
2010 Disaster Relief Board.......................................................... 5
2010 Care Camps Board.............................................................. 6
State Associations Fall Meetings.................................................. 6
2010 State/Provincial Association Presidents.............................. 7
2010 Owners Association Awards Announcements................ 9-11
Our Accountants Story............................................................... 12
Owners Association Associate Members................................... 14
Go Have Fun-by Loren Smith..................................................... 16
The Insurance Korner................................................................. 20
Work Kamper Korner................................................................. 22
Mentors Korner........................................................................... 24
2010 Owners Association Convention Schedule........................ 28
Official Notice and Proxy Form for Annual Meeting.................... 30
Care Camps............................................................................... 32
Jokes Korner.............................................................................. 40
The Meaning of the Flag Draped Coffin..................................... 42
Disaster Relief 50/50 Auction Raffle Ticket................................ 45
Auction Item Form...................................................................... 47
www.koaowners.org
www.koaowners.org
1
Volume 30, Issue 3
President’s Message for OA
Newsletter Issue 3, 2010
Happy Fall Everyone!
It is hard to believe the
summer rush is over.
From the feedback
we’ve received it is clear
that many of us have
seen camper night’s
increase this year, and
that has been a welcome
experience. It’s been
a hot summer and I
bet everyone is ready for fall and the cooler weather.
With the fall comes the annual KOA Convention in
Savannah, GA.
This promises to be an awesome convention starting
with the incredible site and a lot of activities for all of us
to participate in. Everyone remember to drop off your
auction items at the OA/Care Camp tables when you
visit us to register for the OA side of the convention
activities and get your 2010 auction pin. You can also
pre-register your auction item before convention by
visiting www.koaowners.org.
I’m sure most you have heard of the unexpected
passing of Peter Warrick of Southeast Publications, and
we’ve also lost one of our staunchest members, Anita
Barrett of Hot Springs National Park KOA. Both of
these people had a passion for Care Camps and it would
be great if we could celebrate their lives by having the
best Care Camp Auction ever!
This year the OA office has been sending out e-blasts
with bits of news throughout the summer. Your Board
decided that a monthly e-blast would get pertinent
information to you all without waiting for the quarterly
newsletter. If you are not receiving those e-mails please
be sure to contact the OA office. The latest ones had
all the information for the Work Kamper of the Year
Award with criteria and questionnaire attached and
the criteria for the “We Are Family” award. Please
2
get your nominations into the Owners Association office
by October 1, 2010 via email to [email protected]
or [email protected]. Everything sent out in an e-blast
and in the newsletter can now be seen on the OA website
as well.
Your OA website is up and running and we have been
sending out website activities that we hope will increase
participation from all of you. This website is a hot bed
of information on your board and topics that you are
interested in. Please go out to the Resource tab and look
at the topics found in the ‘member’s forum’. We have
high hopes in offering you a source of information with
a question and answer section to help each other better.
You will find that we are posting the “Annual meeting”
announcement, criteria for the awards along with the
proxy form with a list of Board members whose terms
expire this year.
I am very pleased to announce that membership in the
OA has set an all time record. We hope this is an indication
that we have been representing owners in a manner that
is effective and timely, and we want to thank you for your
continued support. Please remember that we want to hear
from you when you have a need, concern or suggestion.
You can do that at any time, in numerous ways. The area
and annual meetings in Savannah are a perfect opportunity!
Don’t forget to attend your area meetings and the general
session of the association. Hello Georgia!
Tina Haith,
Owners Association, President
Owners News
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3
Volume 30, Issue 3
4
KOA Owners Association Board of Directors 2010
AREA 1
AREA 2
Tennessee, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Alabama,
Georgia, Florida, Kentucky,
Virginia, West Virginia
Ohio, Delaware,
New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Maine,
Vermont, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Maryland,
Connecticut, Rhode Island
Danny Goad 17139
Bowling Green KOA
1040 Edgewater Ln
Bowling Green, KY 42104
Phone: (270) 843-1919
Cell (270) 202-3559
Fax: (270) 843-1909
[email protected]
Vicki Cole 35-164
Shelby/Mansfield KOA
6787 Baker 47
Shelby, OH 44875-9103
Phone: (419) 347-1392
Fax: (419) 342-5353
[email protected]
Jerry Dale 42102
Manchester, TN KOA
586 Kampground Rd
Manchester, TN 37355
Phone: (931) 728-9750
Cell: (931) 581-2413
Fax: (931) 728-9777
[email protected]
AREA 3
AREA 4
Michigan, Illinois, Indiana,
Louisiana, Mississippi,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma,
Nebraska, Minnesota,
Texas, Arkansas
Wisconsin, Iowa
Carrol Murray 27-104
Carol Preble 43233
Treasurer
West Omaha KOA
14601 Hwy 6
Gretna, NE 68028
Phone: (402) 332-3010
Cell (402) 990-2018
Fax: (402) 332-0246
[email protected]
Rusk KOA
PO BOX 691
Rusk, TX 75785
Phone:(903) 683-6641
[email protected]
Cell (903) 284-1917
Karl Schmidt 38181
Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA
1980 Turnpike Rd
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Phone: (717) 367-7718
Fax: (717) 367-3412
[email protected]
Hope Perkins 14-133
Elkhart/Middlebury KOA
52867 State Rd 13
Middlebury, IN 46540
Phone: (574) 825-5932
Cell (574) 849-7706
Fax: (574) 825-1080
[email protected]
Tina Haith 36-133, President
AREA 5
AREA 6
AREA 7
Alaska, Washington, Oregon,
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming
Hawaii, California, Nevada,
Utah, Colorado, Arizona,
New Mexico
CANADA
David Witt 47103
Leavenworth KOA
11401 River Bend DR. US 2
Leavenworth, WA 98826
Phone: (509) 548-7709
Cell 509-670-1849
Fax: (509) 548-7709
[email protected]
Pamela Mendala 5275
Michael Kuper 55120
Cloverdale KOA
1166 ASTI Ridge RD,
PO BOX 600
Cloverdale, CA 95425
Phone: (707) 894-3337
Cell (707) 849-4697
Fax: (707) 894-9206
[email protected]
V. President
Thunder Bay KOA
162 Spruce River RD.
Thunder Bay, ON P7B5E4
Phone: (807) 683-6221
Cell (807) 251-5594
Fax(: (807) 683-6222
[email protected]
Steve Linde 26-122, Secretary
Sarah Martin 61-03
Yellowstone Park KOA
PO BOX 348
Westyellowstone, MT 59758
Phone: (406) 646-7606
Cell (406) 690-1701
Fax: (406) 896-8449
[email protected]
Buena Vista KOA
27700 County RD 303
Buena Vista, CO 81211
Phone: (719) 395-8313
Cell (719) 221-1347
Fax: w(719) 395-3103
[email protected]
Dave Barton 55-203
1000 Island/Ivy Lea KOA
514 1000 Islands Pkwy
Lansdowne, ON K0E 1L0
Phone (613) 659-2408
Cell (613) 539-2018
Fax: (613) 659-2992
[email protected]
Oklahoma City East KOA
6200 South Choctaw Rd
Choctaw, OK 73020
Phone: (405) 391-5000
Cell (405) 249-7801
Fax: (405) 391-5004
[email protected]
KOA INC. LIAISON
Jeff Sutherland
VP of Franchisee Service
PO BOX 3055
Billings, MT 59114
Phone: (800) 548-7104
[email protected]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
William Ranieri
3416 Primm Lane
Birmingham, AL 35216
Phone: (800) 678- 9976
Fax: (205) 823-2760
[email protected]
Owners News
Board members terms expiring this year
THE BOARD MEMBERS LISTED BELOW HAVE THEIR TERMS EXPIRING THIS YEAR AT THE CONVENTION
(THESE TERMS WILL BE FOR TWO YEARS AND EXTEND THROUGH 2012) If you wish to be considered for
one of the Area positions please send your information into the OA Office by October 15, 2010 in order for your
name to be placed on the ballot form..
AREA I – POSITION IS AVAILABLE Current director Jerry Dale running
AREA II – POSITION IS AVAILABLE Current director Karl Schmidt running
AREA III – POSITION IS AVAILABLE Current director will not running
AREA IV – POSITION IS AVAILABLE Current director will not be running
AREA V – POSITION IS AVAILABLE Current director will not be running
AREA VI – POSITION IS AVAILABLE Current director Pamela Mendala running
AREA VII – POSITION IS AVAILABLE Current director Mike Kuper running
All of the directors currently serving in their respective areas are eligible for re-election
KOA Disaster Relief Board 2009-2010
Area 3
Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, N. Dakota,
S. Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Iowa
Howard Stein 22-220
Bowling Green KOA
1040 Edgewater Ln.
Bowling Green, KY 42104
Phone: (270) 843-1919
Fax: (270) 843-1909
[email protected]
Port Huron KOA
5151 Lapeer Rd
Kimball, MI 48074
Phone: (810) 987-7075
Fax: (810) 987-7073
[email protected]
Area 2
Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania, Main, Vermont,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island
Rick Dillon 38-117
Area 4
Louisiana, Mississippi, Kansas,
Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas
Bellefonte State College KOA
2481 Jacksonville Rd.
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: (814) 355-7912
Fax: (814) 353-8207
[email protected]
Area 5
Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho,
Montana, Wyoming
Steve Linde 26-122
www.koaowners.org
(VACANCY)
Yellowstone Park KOA
PO Box 348
W. Yellowstone, MT 59758
Phone: (406) 646-7606
Fax: (406) 896-8449
[email protected]
Area 6
Hawaii, California, Nevada, Utah,
Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico
Tommy Martin 61-03
Buena Vista KOA
27700 County Rd 303
Buena Vista, CO 81211
Phone: (719) 395-8313
Fax: (719) 395-3103
[email protected]
Area 7
Canada
Jeff Stovold 55-252
Toronto North/Cookstown KOA
139 Reive Blvd
Cookstown, ON L0L 1L0
Phone: (705) 456-2120
Fax: (705) 458-1389
[email protected]
July/August/September 2010
Area 1
Tennessee, N. Carolina, S. Carolina,
Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky,
Virgnian, W. Virginia
Danny Goad 17-139
5
Volume 30, Issue 3
2010 KOA Care Camps Board
Mike Kuper, Chairman
Thunderbay KOA 55-120
162 Spruce River Rd
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E4
Phone: (807) 683-6221
Fax: (807) 683-6222
[email protected]
Jerry Dale, OA Rep
Manchester TN KOA 42-102
586 Kampground Rd
Manchester, TN 37355
Phone: (931) 728-9750
Fax: (931) 728-9777
[email protected]
Kim Carranza
Twin Falls KOA
5431 US Hwy 93
Jerome, ID 83338
Phone: (208) 324-4169
Fax: (208) 324-4376
[email protected]
Hope Perkins, OA Rep
Elkhart/Middlebury KOA
52867 State Rd 13
Middlebury, IN 46540
Phone: (574) 825-5932
Fax: (574) 825-1080
[email protected]
Owners Association Office
Administrator: Bill Ranieri
3416 Primm Ln
Birmingham, AL 35216
Phone: 208-324-4169
Fax: 208-324-4376
[email protected]
Daniel Parent
Cardinal KOA
609 Pittson Rd. RR 1
Cardinal, ON K0E 1E0
Phone: (613) 657-4536
Fax: (705) 730-0569
[email protected]
Audrey Eberhart
Richmond In. KOA
3101 Cart Rd.
Richmond, IN 47374
Phone: (765) 962-1219
Fax: (765) 935-0817-call first
[email protected]
Ed Brennan
Wisconsin Dells KOA
S. 235A Stand Rock Rd.
Wis. Dells WI 53965
Phone: (608) 254-4177
Fax: 608-254-4177
[email protected]
John Downing
Rock Island KOA
2311 78th Ave West
Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone: (309) 787-0665
Fax: 309-787-1320
[email protected]
Mike Groseclose
Buckeye Lake KOA
4460 Walnut Rd.
Buckeye Lake, OH 43008
Phone: (740) 928-0706
Fax: (740) 928-0462
[email protected]
KOA Inc. Representative
Mike Gast
P.O. Box 30558
Billings, MT 59114
Phone: (800) 548-7104
Fax: (406) 248-7414
[email protected]
State/Provinicial Associations
Fall Meeting Dates
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6
Association
Location
Date
New York State
Association
November
convention
Illinois State
Association
Kankakee
KOA
October 26
Indiana State
Association
Richmond IN
KOA
September 29
Ohio State
Association
TBA
September 26
PA West & PA
Central
20’s Group in
Indian
September 20
Florida State
Association
Ft Myer/Pine
Island KOA
September
21-23
Texas State
Association
San Padre KOA
September 14th
Utah State
Association
Twin Falls/
Jerome ID KOA
October 14
Wisconsin State
Association
Wisconsin Dells
KOA
September 29
at 9AM
at 9AM
Owners News
CALIFORNIA/NEVADA
Clint Bell
San Diego KOA
111 North 2nd Ave
Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619) 427-3601
[email protected]
ILLINOIS
John Downing 13-156
Rock Island KOA
2311 78th Ave. W.
Rock Island, IL 61201
(309) 787-0665
[email protected]
LOUISIANA
Louise Bacot 18-105 (SICK 2010)
Baton Rouge East KOA
7628 Vincent Rd
Denham Springs, LA 70726
(225) 664-7281
[email protected]
MICHIGAN
Cathleen Kuebler 22-225
Traverse City KOA
9700 M37
Buckley, MI 49620
(231) 269-3203
[email protected]
MONTANA
Homer Staves 26-161
Whitefish/Kalispell KOA
5121 Highway 935
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-8967
[email protected]
OREGON
Michael Greig 37-176
Corvallis/Albany KOA
33775 Oakville Rd. SW
Albany, OR 37321
(541) 967-8521
[email protected]
NEW YORK
Wayne Hempel
Saugerties/Woodstock KOA
882 Rte 212
Saugerties, NY 12477
(845) 246-4089
[email protected]
ONTARIO CANADA
Richard Marcoux 55-208
1000 Island/Mallorytown KOA
1477 CR 2 PO Box 29
Mallorytown, ON K0E 1R0
CANADA
(613) 923-5339
[email protected]
OHIO
Garry Cole
Shelby/Mansfield KOA 35-164
6787 Baker 47
Shelby, OH 44875-9103
(419) 347-1392
[email protected]
PA-WEST
Gary Levesque 38-104
Philadelphia/West Chester KOA
PO Box 920
Unionville, PA 19375
(610) 486-0447
[email protected]
OKLAHOMA/KANSAS/MISSOURI/ARKANSAS
Lynn Barrett 4-106
Hot Springs AR KOA
838 McClendon Rd
Hot Springs, AR 71901
(501) 624-5912
[email protected]
PA CENTRAL
John Dillon 38-117
Bellefonte/State College KOA
2481 Jacksonville Rd
Bellefonte, PA 16823
(814) 355-7912
[email protected]
SOUTH CAROLINA
Bill Olendorf 40-113
Point South KOA
14 Kampground Rd
Yemassee, SC 29945
(843) 726-5733
[email protected]
UTAH
Kevin Wright 44103
Brigham City KOA
1040 W. 3600 South
Brigham City, UT 84302
(435) 723-5503
[email protected]
VIRGINIA
Denna Fout 46111 (2009)
Williamsburg KOA
4000 Newman Rd
Williamsburg, VA 23188
(757) 565-2907
[email protected]
WASHINGTON
Carey Keith 47-161
Seattle/Tacoma KOA
5801 S. 212th St.
Kent, WA 98032
(253) 872-8652
[email protected]
CANADA
James Brown 51124
Hinton Jasper KOA
4720 Vegas Rd NW
Calgary, AB T3A 1W3 CANADA
(780) 865-5062
[email protected]
MINNESOTA
Kim Hornbrook
Minneapolis SW KOA
3315 W. 166th St.
Jordan, MN 55352
(952) 492-6440
[email protected]
FLORIDA
Elliott Smith 9205
St. Augustine Beach KOA
525 W. Pope Rd
St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 806-1431
[email protected]
WISCONSIN
Jeff Irwin 49106
Madison KOA
4859 Cty Rd V
DeForest, WI 53532
(608) 846-4528
[email protected]
COLORADO
Tracy Hastings 6-124
Denver East/Strasburg KOA
1312 Monroe St.
Strasburg, CO 80136
(303) 622-9274
[email protected]
TEXAS
Marshal Gray 43111
Concho Valley KOA
6699 Knickerbocker Rd
San Angelo, TX 76904
(325) 656-6446
[email protected]
KENTUCKY/TENESSEE
Danny Goad (2009)
Bowling Green KOA 17139
1040 Edgewater Ln (temp)2010
Bowling Green, KY 42104
(270) 843-1919
[email protected]
INDIANA
Hope Perkins 14133
Elkhart/Middlebury KOA
52867 State Rd. 13
Middlebury, IN 46540
(574) 825-5932
[email protected]
SOUTH DAKOTA
Patty Gray-Miller 41-108
Deadwood KOA
PO Box 451
Deadwood, SD 57732
(605) 578-3830
[email protected]
NEW ENGLAND
Steve Jesseman
Lisbon/Littleton KOA
2154 Route 302
Lisbon, NH 03585.
(603) 838-5525
[email protected]
www.koaowners.org
July/August/September 2010
2010 State & Provincial Presidents
7
8
Owners News
Volume 30, Issue 3
“We are Family Award”
Nominations 2010
The KOA Owners Association is looking to receive nominations for this year’s recipient of the” We Are Family
Award” that will be presented at the Savannah, GA annual meeting.
The nominees should be a match for one or all of the following criteria, and it is not limited to the KOA Owners
Association membership.
The KOA Owners Association family member(s) who help other family members beyond the call of duty as well
as/or to those who consistently show
special qualities that contribute to the
whole KOA system.
THE FIRST DOCK OF ITS KIND... THE LAST DOCK YOU WILL EVER NEED.
The KOA Owners Association created
and first presented this award at the
convention in November 2000. At
which time there were three recipients:
1) Judy Whiting
2) Pat Hittmeier
3) Carol & Walt Preble
The following years was limited to one
outstanding KOA family member/
contributor
If you wish to nominate someone
please call the KOA Owners
Association office at 800-678-9976
and please include the specific reason
why you are nominating them for this
award. Please submit the nominating
information to the OA Headquarters
office by October 1, 2010.
Bill Ranieri
Executive Director
EZ DOCK
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Patented
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•Virtuallynomaintenance
•Strengthandflexibility
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modular design
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Plus, with our full line of slides, swim ladders, fishing piers, benches, and easy-to-use
boat and PWC lifts, EZ Dock can help you create your ideal waterfront environment.
Visit www.ez-dock.com or call 1-800-654-8168 to find the representative near you.
1-800-654-8168
www.koaowners.org
•Greatinvestment
•Universalaccessibility
(meets ADA guidelines)
•Environmentallyfriendly
•Safe,slip-resistantsurface
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July/August/September 2010
2001 – Jim & Jane Rose
2002 – Mike & Rowena Bell
2003 – Marv & Carol Linde
2004 – Loren Smith
2005 – no nominations
2006 – Jim & Audrey Eberhart
2007 – Jim Finch
2008 – Jerry & Barbara Dale
2009 – Mike & Kristi Kuper
www.ez-dock.com
9
Volume 30, Issue 3
Work
Kamper
of
the
Year
Criteria and Nominating Questionnaire
We, the Owners Association Board are pleased to announce the forthcoming “Outstanding Work Kamper of the
Year of 2010” award. Work Kampers may be nominated by the Owner/Manager of the employing KOA campground.
The nominee may be a single work kamper or a work kamper couple. The following Criteria must be met, and the
Questionnaire completed by the Owner/Manager of the nominating KOA campground.
This award will be presented at the upcoming Convention in Savannah in November. The award will include a cash
prize plus an acknowledgement plague. If you would like to nominate a Work kamper from your campground, please
submit the following information to the OA Headquarters office by October 1, 2010. This announcement will be sent to
all campgrounds in the system via email. The application will be linked to the OA website for you to download as well as
being published in the OA Newsletter as a hard copy.
As the nominating owner/manager, please review the following Criteria and Questionnaire:
CRITERIA:
1. The Work Kamper nominee must have had active employment at a KOA Campground during
this year of 2010. This will also allow for work kampers that are not full-timers, but work only
in the summer months.
2. Demonstrates loyalty to the KOA Organization by choice of campgrounds worked at.
3. Demonstrates loyalty and respect to their KOA owner/manager employer.
4. Honors and fulfills employee/employer commitment as agreed upon.
5. Demonstrates outstanding customer skills per the “Making it Great” program. The work
kamper nominee is an employee who goes above and beyond on the campground, is a team
player and gets along well with peers. Demonstrates positive energy and attitude proving to be
an asset to the campground.
6. Implements the Code of Conduct for Work kampers as developed at the Work Kamper
University.
Additional Points to consider: honesty, competence, dependability, friendliness & high customer satisfaction.
Willingness to take on projects, and implementing them to the appropriate outcome. Positive comments from
customers about the extra effort & treatment they receive from the workcamper.
*Nominations should be sent to the Owners Association headquarters office at 3416 Primm Ln., Birmingham, AL
35216; attention Bill Ranieri. Your nomination must be received by October 1, 2010. Or--KOA Owners Association
PO Box 361064
Birmingham, AL 35236
Phone: 800/678-9976
Fax: 205/823-2760
Email: [email protected] 10
Owners News
Nominating Questionnaire regarding the Work kamper Award candidate:
(If extra space is needed to answer the following questions, attach additional page)
Name of your Work kamper Nominee: ________________________________________________________________________
1) How long has the work kamper worked for you and your campground? ____________________________________________
2) What is the past experience and length of time that the work kamper has functioned in the role as a “work kamper”? ________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) What do you feel is their most outstanding attribute?____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4) Do they demonstrate a positive attitude regarding the “role” of being a work kamper? _________________________________
5) How would you rate their performance as related to their job description? __________________________________________
6) Are they supportive and respectful of the Owner/Manager? ______________________________________________________
7) Have they kept their job commitments? _____________________________________________________________________
8) Give an example of an instance of the work kamper “going above and beyond” in regards to the needs of your campground:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9) How do they demonstrate quality Work Ethics? _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10) What do you feel is their greatest customer skill? _____________________________________________________________
11) How do they utilize the elements in the KOA “Making it Great” program? _________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
12) Are they alert to the needs of the campers and respond quickly? _________________________________________________
13) How well do they deal with difficult campers? _______________________________________________________________
14) When they are interacting with their peers do they maintain a friendly, tolerant, and flexible attitude? ____________________
15) Do they offer assistance to a co-worker when they see the need and/or are asked? ___________________________________
16) How well do they implement the “KOA Work Kamper Code of Conduct”? ________________________________________
17) What instance really made this work kamper stand out? ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
18) Why do you feel this work kamper deserves this award? _______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
19) If this work kamper has received any written compliments from campers, co-workers, or other owners/managers; please
attach a copy of that compliment.
20) State your name and the nominating campground, email address, and a contact phone number. _________________________
July/August/September 2010
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
www.koaowners.org
11
Volume 30, Issue 3
ASK YOUR ACCOUNTANT
by Joseph Serpico, C.P.A.
There are currently so many tax issues that remain unresolved at this time and with Congress currently
not in session, we have no idea when these issues will be resolved. Therefore, this months issue will
cover a number of miscellaneous topics as best as we can provide at this time.
Mortgage Refinancing:
There’s not a day that goes by that most of us don’t receive some mail advertising or a phone call
that you should be refinancing your home. “Today’s rates are the lowest ever in history. Rates will be
increasing soon, so act fast.” You know how the story goes.
But have you tried to refinance your home and get those low rates? Let’s call it Mission Impossible! The
bank industry and the government have made it so hard for most people to achieve those low rates. The
banks find every reason under the sun to ding you with an added quarter point; or half a point above the
lowest rates. And before you know it; you’re looking at 4.5-5.0% or better.
Start with your credit score. The rating companies lower your score for all kinds of issues (and NOT
bad issues, either). Negative points against your score for applying for too many credit cards (regardless
of payment history); negative points if you have co-signed a loan for your kids college loans (negative
points, even if your child is still in school and no payments are due); have you co-signed on your kids
car loan(negative); have there been to many inquires about your credit from third parties (negative); are
you disputing a credit card charge (negative hit) regardless if your right or wrong. To get any kind of
reasonable rate you need to have at least a score of 740 or better from all 3 rating companies.
Then of course, there is the appraisal of your property. Chances are there are not a lot of house sales in
your area in recent months, so the appraiser has limited comparable sales results to value your home. So
now it’s a guess. And don’t try to pull to much money out of your house; they limit that to 80% of the
appraisal and not a penny more.
So yes these are the days of low, very low, mortgage rates. But who is lucky enough to get that low rate
they say exists? You have a better chance of winning the lottery.
Health Reform:
There still remain a thousand questions on how this reform will work; not much has been cleared up as
yet. But they have made it a little clearer on the time table of the various provisions being implemented.
The following are a few of the major issue:
2010 – Companies with 10 or less employees may get a tax credit of up to 35% of employer’s premium
costs if average worker earns $25,000 or less and employer contribution is at least 50%.
- Nursing Mothers: employers are required to provide nursing mother’s “reasonable break time”
plus employer must provide a place other than bathroom. Department of Labor will clarify
“reasonable”.
- Early retires; companies will be reimbursed up to 80% of cost of providing coverage to early
retires (55-64).
12
Owners News
2011 – Effective Jan 1, 2011 there is no elimination of coverage for dependents under age 26 if they are not
in school.
- No more lifetime limits on “essential health benefits” and no more exclusion of children under 19
due to pre-existing conditions.
- Employers must report on annual W-2 form the aggregate cost of employer health care benefits.
- Non prescription medications (other than insulin) can NO longer be reimbursed from Flexible
Spending accounts.
BowlingofGreen
mainSuch
road
2012 – Group health plans and self insured must provide participants a uniform summary
benefits.
andappropriate.
a soccer field
summary can not be longer than 4 pages and must be culturally and linguistically
2013 – Employer tax deduction for the Part D subsidy will be eliminated.
- Flexible spending accounts will be limited to an annual contribution of $2,500
- Employment wages greater than $200,000 ($250,000 for joint) will be assessed an extra 0.9 % in
payroll taxes
2014 – States must establish Health Insurance Exchanges to facilitate the purchase of qualified insurance
plans.
- Maximum tax credit for small employer premium costs increases from 35 to 50%
- Special reporting for employers with 100 or more employees
- The real reform takes hold in 2014; annual limits and pre-existing condition exclusions for anyone
is prohibited. And plan can no longer set eligibility rules based on health status, evidence of
insurability, medical history, etc. Lastly, waiting periods are limited to a maximum of 90 days.
Conversion of IRA to Roth IRA
Benefits to a Roth conversion which should be considered are: a) Roth withdrawals after 5 years are
withdrawn tax free of federal taxes; b) at 701/2 Roth owners do not have to take minimum distributions;
c) if your IRA account balance is lower than it had been in past years due to current economic conditions a
conversion may make sense; and d) if you expect federal tax rates to increase maybe another good reason
to convert. It should be noted too that if after a conversion you will have until October 15, 2011 to reverse
your decision should you later feel that the conversion wasn’t for you.
When considering this option, an account owner should consider the effects of changes in the federal
tax rate in the future: when you expect to withdraw the IRA funds for retirement: affects of state tax
implications; and where will cash come from to pay the current taxes on the conversion. This is not an easy
decision, but you need to carefully plan out a game plan on this opportunity. Please be sure to discuss your
individual situation with your tax advisor before taking any actions to your traditional IRA.
July/August/September 2010
This year you can convert your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA and spread the tax affect over 2 years (2011
and 2012, evenly); regardless of income limits. Normally, income greater than $100,000, prevented you
from such a conversion. Also, in the past you would have had to pay the entire tax in the current year of
conversion.
Joseph Serpico, C.P.A.
www.koaowners.org
13
Volume 30, Issue 3
Owners Association Associate Members
Call them first!
These companies pay $200 a year to support our association. Please remember to purchase their products
and patronize their businesses.
Allied Specialty Insurance
Rick D’Aprile
10451 Gulf Blvd
Treasure Island, FL 33706
Phone: (727) 367-6900
[email protected]
campground insurance
Anderson’s Brochures Distributors
Skip & Judy Deegans
PO Drawer 467
Lweisburg, WV 24901
Phone: (866) 645-1897
[email protected]
Campbell Insurance Agency
Craig & Kirk Campbell
PO Box 1695
Harrison, AR 72602
Phone: (870) 741-5423
Fax: (870) 741-4714
[email protected]
www.insuretheoutdoors.com
Insurance
Chadwick Mft. Co
Allen Smith
224 N Main St
Chadwick, IL 61014
Phone: (800) 732-4602
Fax: (815) 684-5160
[email protected]
www.chadwickmfg.com
Picnic Tables & Grills
Easton Corporation-RV Park Hook Ups
Kathleen Kullberg; Greg Storck
149 Warwick Court
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Phone: (800) 723-8009; (757) 258-8800
Fax: (757) 258-8805
[email protected]
www.marinapower.com
Electrical power hookups, digital electronic
meters, and light bollards. We also
custom build power substations and
we sell transformers, wire and panels.
Complementary electrical layout design is also
available.
14
Ez-Dock
Alissa Jones
878 E US Hwy 60
Monett, MO 65708
Phone: (417) 354-2650
Fax: (417) 235-2232
[email protected]
www.ez-dock.com
Provides modular floating dock systems for
business and personal waterfront properties.
Darrell Hess & Associates
Darrel Hess
367 Dellwood Rd.
Bldge E, Ste 2
Waynesville, SC 28786
Phone: (828) 452-1535
Fax: (828) 452-3180
[email protected]
www.CampgroundsForSale.com
Real Estate-RV parks & campgrounds
Gattuso Distributing, Inc.
Denise & Pat Gattuso
1576 Wald Rd
New Braunfels, TX 78132
Phone: (830) 620-1618
Fax: (830) 620-1642
[email protected]
www.gattusodistributing.com
Summer/Water Items
Gerber Manufacturing
Chuck Gerber
2917 Latham Dr.
Madison, WI
Phone: (800) 393-9923
Fax: (608) 271-1920
[email protected]
www.gerbertables.com
Picnic Tables, benches, grills
H.U.B. International
Aaron Linden
PO Box 6006
Sheridan, WY 82801
(800) 300-4370
[email protected]
Offering a myriad of insurance products on
a national scale.
Independence Bank
Miles Hamilton/Mym Cichoz
PO Box 2090
Havre, MT 59501
Phone: (800) 823-2274
Fax: (406) 262-2173
[email protected]
www.ibyourbank.com
Loan development programs
Jax LTD., Inc.
Cindy Levine
141 Cheshire Land
Minneapolis, MN 55441
Phone: (763) 449-9699
Fax: (763) 449-9695
[email protected]
www.jaxgames.com
The fun and games people. Exceptional family
games including the long –time favorite,
SEQUENCE game. Designed for providing
entertainment for family and friends.
Leavitt Recreation &
Hospitality Insurance
Stacy Torneton
1001 Lazelle St
Sturgis, SD 57785
Phone: (800) 525-2060
Fax: (605) 347-0296
[email protected]
www.lrhinsurance.com
Property and casualty insurance for RV parks
& campgrounds
McNeil & Company-Advensure
Steve Gulini
PO Box 5670
Cortland, NY
Phone: (800) 822-3747 x 124
Fax: (607) 756-6225
[email protected]
www.mcneilandcompany.com
Provides insurance and risk management for
RV parks and campgrounds
Miracle Recreation
Don Hemingway
878 E US Hwy 60
Monett, MO 65708
Phone: (417) 354-2640
Fax: (417) 235-2232
[email protected]
Water sports/docks
Owners News
Pacific Yurts
Pete Dolan
77456 Hwy 99 S.
Cottage Grove, OR 97427
Phone: (800) 944-0240
Fax: (541) 942-0508
[email protected]
www.yurts.com
The original designer & manufacturer of the
modern yurt, offers a unique alternative to
cabins 7 meeting halls for generating revenue.
The highest quality design, materials &
customer service backed by the industry leader
Southeast Publishing USA., Inc.
4360 Peters Road
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33317
Phone: (800) 832-3292
Fax: (954) 583-4109
[email protected]
www.sepub.com
site maps, publishing, printing
Texas Meter & Device Co
Steve Swenke
PO Box 154099
Waco, TX 76715
Phone: (800) 247-5116
Fax: (254) 799-0266
[email protected]
www.texasmeter.com
Remanufactured and new electric meters and
metering equipment
Utility Supply
Wade Elliott
PO Box 267
Preston, WA 98050
Phone: (800) 800-2811
Fax: (425) 222-7845
[email protected]
www.go-usg.com
Distribution Panels
July/August/September 2010
Phelps Honey Wagon
Jaylene Shannon
158 Whiskey Spring Rd
Dillsburg, PA 17019
Phone: (800) 463-3707
Fax: (717) 502-1090
[email protected]
www.phelpshoneywagon.com
Make full service sites available without the
expense of an in-ground sewage system. Pump
your own portapotties or holding tanks.
R.J. Thomas Mfg
Pilot Rock
Robert Simonsen
PO Box 946
Cherokee, IA 51012
Phone: (800) 762-5002
Fax: (712) 225-5796
[email protected]
www.pilotrock.com
Picnic tables, benches, charcoal grills, campfire
rings, trash and recycling receptacles and lids,
latern poles, flag poles, bike racks, pet waste
stations, picnic table covers, fire starters, more.
Since 1959
www.koaowners.org
15
Volume 30, Issue 3
It’s Time to Have Fun!
Loren Smith
Prairie Kraft Specialties
Great Falls, Montana
You’ve watched thousands of campers do it every year.
They pack up their cars, trucks, campers and RVs full
of fishing gear and camping equipment, bundle up the
wife and kids and set off for “destinations unknown”.
They arrive hours later at your KOA campsite weary but
excited, ready to slough off the stress of the workweek
and take a week or two of well-deserved R&R. They
trade their computer screens for sunscreen, swap their
business suits for swimsuits, and happily give up their
invoices and spreadsheets in favor of a pup tent, a
sleeping bag, and a beautiful, immense blanket of
stars. This may come as a surprise to some of you
reading this, but I highly recommend that you do this
16
too! It doesn’t really matter what you do, whether it’s
a cross-country motorcycle trip, a float trip, a week on
a sunlit beach, or a visit with the grandkids. Just go!
We’ve have a busy and profitable summer at the Great
Falls Montana KOA Kampground. I know many of
you have also. Every year I look forward to the hustle
and bustle of the spring and summer. The campers
(and the income they bring) are a joy to see. It’s why
we’re in this business. However, summer is gone; fall
is here, and peak season is over for most of us (except
for you, snowbird!) and now we find ourselves at the
end of the “camping season”.
Owners News
my mother and father’s example and make the time
to get away.
While you are out there relaxing, an amazing thing
will happen. Suddenly and without warning, the
solution to that pesky problem that has been plaguing
you for weeks will miraculously appear in your mind!
You’ll think of new ideas and improvements for
your campground. You’ll discover a wealth of new
thoughts and new directions to take your business. It
truly is amazing, and it will happen when you least
expect it. That’s why I carry a piece of cardboard and
a pen with me when I go. When I have one of these
inspirations, I take a moment to jot down the idea on
my piece of cardboard so that I can remember it later.
You, of course, are free to use your Blackberrys,
PDAs, or whatever other electronic devices work for
you. Personally, Loren likes cardboard and a pen.
As many of you know, my mother and father owned
and operated the KOA Kampground in St. Mary,
Montana. They were there for twenty years and ran
an extremely busy campground, being on the east
edge of Glacier National Park. Here’s what they told
me many years ago. “We don’t know what it is, but
it’s very real. There’s a huge psychological let-down
at the end of a busy camping season. It seems like you
don’t have the energy or the desire to do anything.
That’s when you know it’s time to get away.” They
would always - no matter what - take two weeks off,
take a trip somewhere, usually to Canada. In my youth,
my parents made many extensive camping trips to the
Canadian Northwest Territories. Then they would
return, refreshed and ready to take on the challenges
of upgrading and enhancing their campground.
The title of this article is “It’s Time to Have Fun” and
it’s time to do that, but it’s also time to figure out ways
to improve your income for the next year. Thirty years
of experience have taught me that improvements for
next spring must be started this fall! We’re simply too
busy in the spring. There’s the frozen water line, snow
damage, and a thousand other trivial things to repair,
clean or replace. In today’s hyper-regulated business
world, you’ll need permits to do anything, as well as
drawings, sketches, etc. If you want your upgrade
to be operational by next spring (think making you
money!) start planning now.
In the 30-plus years we’ve been here at Great Falls,
I have seen this cycle play out again and again. All
at once, that great tide of campers streaming into
your campground slows to a seemingly mere trickle.
Along with a sense of relief, because of the hectic
pace of the last few months, there is a kind of malaise
that sets in, something psychological that is somewhat
disheartening. You don’t seem to have any real desire
or passion to embark upon those projects that you
know your campground needs. This is why I follow
When we visit you, our customers - many of whom
are reading this, the conversation inevitably turns to
one topic: Improving the Campground. Our business
motto is true: We help campgrounds make money.
That includes my own here in Great Falls. The
question we ask the owner is “What are your goals”.
The answer is always the same: “Make money, make
some more money, and have a little money left over
in my bank account after the mortgage payment!”
The camping business has one strong advantage
July/August/September 2010
Many of my fellow franchisees say “I can’t leave.
I’m the only one here!” That’s simply not true. You
can leave… if you want to. It’s simply a matter of
choosing to take the time. Allow a trusted Work
Kamper or an employee to watch the place while
you get away for a few days. Even if you’ve only
had a marginal season, I cannot stress enough the
importance of allowing your mind and body time
to rest, recuperate, and relax. It’s mandatory to be
successful in this business. Spring and summer are
hectic, busy and demanding, but now it’s beginning
to slow up, and we have a chance to catch our breath.
Take this opportunity to unwind and refocus on next
year’s goals. Seize the moment!
Loren says “It’s Time to Have Fun!” or, “How I Made Money During My Vacation!”
www.koaowners.org
17
Volume 30, Issue 3
relative to other businesses. In this industry, you
can operate on the income side of your business.
In the agricultural business (an industry I have the
pleasure of working closely with in addition to the
camping industry), the farmer’s income is dictated
by commodity grain prices, which are controlled by
worldwide events. When Vladimir Putin (Russia’s
prime minister) announced Russia would not export
wheat, America’s wheat prices went up. Thanks to
lots of rain recently, farms in Montana have had record
crops this season. These events are out of the control
of farmers. They have a very limited ability to control
you have the ability to change your pricing, which
changes your income. Do not be timid in this regard.
This is the time of year to have a little fun, and plan
the changes and improvements to your campground
that will let you make more money next year than
you did this year. If you do the same thing next year
that you did this year, you’ll see the same results. If
you want change, you have to make a change, and a
business that isn’t growing is dying.
their income. The agricultural industry attempts to
manage their businesses by controlling the expense
side of the balance sheet. We in the camping business
are very lucky in this respect. We can - and should manage our business by controlling the income side
of our business. This bears repeating. You make
money managing the income side of your business,
not the expense side. This doesn’t mean you should
be cavalier or reckless with your expenses; however,
checking account. Should you spend it on improving
your business or save it? In my opinion, you should
unequivocally save it – or buy something special for
yourself. After all, it’s why we work. Keep some
cash reserve in a Certificate of Deposit or government
bond, or even invest in some stocks and bonds. It’s
up to you. Independence Bank has a nice program
for CDs, and the interest is above average. Loren
always borrows money for improvements. I use cash
A few of my fellow franchisees had a “marginal
year”. Most had a good season and have cash in the
Loren says “It’s Time to Have Fun!” or, “How I Made Money During My Vacation!”
18
Owners News
An outfitter with horses and pack mules packed our
rafts and our gear (yes, some beer) into where Youngs
Creek and Danaher Creek come together. This is the
headwaters of the South Fork of the Flathead. From
here we floated and camped for the next 50 miles.
The horses and pack mules are necessary to take rafts
and gear to begin the float. Twenty-three miles on
a horse (his name was Salesh) was quite grueling;
however, I would probably do it again. Riding
horses, floating and fishing are not super-high on my
“to do” list. Perhaps it’s because it’s all around me,
and always has been. However, I enjoy going. I do
all the cooking.
Any improvement you do to your campground must
be funded from new money from your campers.
“Go-With-The-Flow” financing is how Loren funds
improvements. Remember; manage the income side
of your business, not the expense side. So if you pave
your parking lot (the Great Falls KOA could really
use this!), you increase pricing by a small amount,
perhaps fifty cents or a dollar. Then get a Go-WithThe-Flow loan, and use the money to pave. Over
the next couple of years, the increased pricing will,
in turn, pay off that small loan at the bank, and my
camping guests will have paid for the paving job.
My friend Jake owns an engineering consulting
company and he, like myself, found it “time to
The Great Falls KOA badly needs large RV sites (we have some fun”. Jake helped me solve many of my
have very few at this time). The project will be a Go- problems, and perhaps I solved some of Jake’s. Jake
With-The-Flow loan, and will be repaid with income convinced me to try fly fishing, and although I’m not
from those new sites - not the whole campground, wildly enthused, I did enjoy it. Yes, we caught lots of
just the new sites. Go-With-The-Flow financing is cutthroat trout. The South Fork of the Flathead River
very unique, and in my opinion terribly underutilized is without question the premier cutthroat trout fishery
by the KOA Kampground system. Almost all lending in the entire world. For Jake, that was why he went.
institutions express amazement at the flexibility of Loren went just to go have some fun, do the cooking
the program, and its reasonableness. There has been and “think”.
some misunderstanding and mistrust surrounding the
Go-With-The-Flow lending program. I have heard Jane and I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming
people say “Yeah, but – you have to send in money KOA Convention. In the mean-time, I’ve got to
from ALL of the lodges, or ALL of the cabins.” begin work on projects at the Great Falls KOA to
That’s not true; you can send in money from only the change and improve my business for the next year. I
new items you have added, be it Kabins, Kottages, saw Miles at Independence Bank the other day, and
Lodges, Tent Villages, Kamper Kitchens, big RV have begun the process to set up some Go-With-Thesites, or brand new computers in your store. For those Flow loans. If I had not gone on this trip (enduring
of you who have additional interest, Jane or I will be 23 miles on horseback!), I would not be underway
happy to visit with you in more detail about anything on these projects. By the way, I walked my horse at
specific to your campground.
least a fourth of the way, but we had a great time. See
you soon!
So what about these pictures? My friends Jake and
Gary floated the South Fork of the Flathead River. We
floated from the headwaters down to where the river
joins Hungry Horse Reservoir (for those of you who
are familiar). This area runs through the center of the
Scapegoat, Bob Marshall, and Great Bear Wilderness
Areas, south of Glacier National Park.
July/August/September 2010
for other investments, and to help in “bad camping
season years”.
Loren says “It’s Time to Have Fun!” or, “How I Made Money During My Vacation!”
www.koaowners.org
19
Volume 30, Issue 3
Insurance Corner
Inspecting your Kampground
Some common sense tips for you to look out for on your Kampground to limit your exposure to liability and
keep your insurance rates down.
It’s a little hard sometimes to know what needs to be done on a campground that you look at everyday. So when
you walk your grounds to see if there are any hazards for your guests or staff, try looking at everything as if you
were a visitor. Check your trees, walk over your sites and check the electrical posts, look over the fire pits and picnic
tables. Look closely at your bathroom doors, inside and out and make sure the hinges and locks are working.
Don’t forget to see if any of the faucet gaskets need replacing, water waste can cost big bucks.
Now take a close look at the trees on your property. Check carefully for low hanging and dead branches. Branches
that are over roads and sites should be at least 14 feet above the ground. Should you need to do some trimming
be sure to move any vehicle that may be in the way and that the site you are working at is empty. If you hire
out this task to a local contract be very sure to ask for a “Certificate of Insurance” from their insurance company.
The certificate of insurance is proof that they do have insurance and are reputable. Actually, anytime you need to
hire an outside contractor that comes into your park you should get them to show you their proof of insurance.
Checking their coverage limits is also a good idea and they should carry at least the same limits you carry on your
business.
Ask your State Association to have a Loss Prevention Seminar with a member from Philadelphia Insurance giving
the presentation. There needs to be a minimum of 10 campgrounds attending for them to give one. They will
also visit your park and give their inspection from the insurance outlook.
Remember – Proactive is a heck of a lot better then Reactive; it saves you time, money and keeps your customers
happy. What more can you ask for your season?
Stopform1099.or-Call to Action
THE PROBLEM
As a result of a new law signed this year, beginning with payments made in 2012, every business will be required
to issue to any vendor of services OR property to which the business has paid more than $600 a year for those
services or property, an information reporting form known as Form 1099. The Form 1099 must also be sent to
the Internal Revenue Service. In addition to issuing the forms, a business will have to get Taxpayer Identification
Numbers (TINs) from all of those vendors and withhold payments to any such vendor until it receives the TIN.
Penalties apply if you fail to issue the Forms 1099.
Under the existing law, businesses issue the Form 1099 only to individuals who provide services to a business.
The new law makes two changes: the Form 1099 must be issued to corporations of all sizes and shapes as well as
to individuals AND a Form 1099 must also be issued to individuals and corporations that provide property to a
business.
The payments that are included under this are not only those made directly by check but also those made by
other means such as credit cards, for example. Think about the airlines, hotels, rental cars, and restaurants that
20
Owners News
appear on your credit card bill. You might not think of them as vendors of goods and services, but that is what
they are. Also, if you are in the business of selling or distributing goods, all of your suppliers of products are also
vendors under the new law. (Under existing law there are regulations that provide narrow exceptions for some
types of vendors (telegrams, telephone, freight, storage) and some individual vendors that accept payment from
you by credit card and meet qualifications set forth by the IRS. Even if some regulatory exceptions are carried
over under the new law, you will still be the one responsible and liable for issuing the information report and it
will not be easy.)
And, of course, any business that pays you more than $600 will be sending you a Form 1099.
Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) has introduced S.3578 - Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act.
Representative Daniel Lungren (R-CA) has introduced H.R. 5141, The Small Business Paperwork Mandate
Elimination Act.
Both bills would repeal the provision.
TAKE ACTION
The message is simple. Tell your Senators and Representative to repeal this new requirement before it is
implemented. Go to (www.house.gov) to find your Representative by zip code and to send an email. Go to
(wwww.senate.gov) to send an email to your Senators.
When you send email, identify yourself as a
constituent in the header. For example: “Repeal Form
1099 Constituent from ZIP CODE XXXXX.”
Please repeal the new Form 1099 requirement found
in Section 9006 of Public Law 111-148. It requires me
to issue a tax information reporting form to virtually
all of my vendors. This is a significant direct increase
in the paperwork burden on me. Further, it is not
simply a matter of completing the form, but also
the work and time involved in obtaining the proper
tax identification number and dealing with backup
withholding requirements. While I am told the goal
is to get businesses to report all of their income, if I
do not issue these forms correctly, the penalties will
not fall on those businesses that might have been
underreporting income but on me, even though I am
running my business in a proper way!
www.koaowners.org
July/August/September 2010
You can create your own message or copy and paste
the following:
21
Volume 30, Issue 3
“WORKAMPER’S KORNER”
1) What do you do on your campground with your new hire that makes their experience as
a Work Kamper successful and rewarding and keeps them coming back?
Middlebury KOA- When a new work kamper arrives at Middlebury KOA we escort them to their
sites, welcome them to the family, and after they are settled we give them a full tour of the facilities
to make them familiar with their new ‘home’. We give them brochures of the surrounding area and fill
them in on all the wonderful things they can do on their time off!
Manchester KOA-we treat workers out to eat
regularly. If you take them to a restaurant you
can deduct 1/2 of the bill, but if you buy it and
bring it back to campground or have it catered
it’s a full deduction.
(ed. Note) If you would like to respond to this
question please forward your response to the OA
headquarters office an [email protected]
Bonnaroo Limo from Manchester KOA
Best Practices -Work Kampers
• Talk with your prospective work kamper in depth, ask a lot of questions and tell them everything about
your campground. Let them know your expectations and your goals for the up and coming season.
Make them feel like they’re part of a big family
• Good, honest contract. Don’t be cheep. Good training up front about being professional without
personal conflicts. Good customer service training. Team Building. Good staff meetings
• Give the work kamper a detailed job description. Emphasize the need for flexibility. Check references!!!
• A face to face meeting with prospective employees (when possible) has helped us to form a better
opinion of how they might fit in with our park. Staying in contact with newly hired employees with
e-mails, cards or phone calls during the months from the time they are hired until they arrive, has
formed more of a sense that they are wanted and belong even before they start work.
• Check references!! Also, look up and contact campgrounds listed as previous employers, even if they
aren’t listed as references. We use an employment application form to get this history instead of relying
on their resumes. The form also has a place to list any limitations that would keep them from doing
any aspect of their jobs--and a place to sign! Instead of paying a higher hourly wage, we have a $1 per
hour season end bonus. That keeps them from packing up when they get tired towards the end of the
season.
22
Owners News
General Comments on Work Kampers
• Being a year round campground, I am beginning to favor local employees over work kampers. I find it
costly to continually train and roll over employees every 4-6 months.
• We’ve found that there are good work kampers, but many more are just OK or bad. Many hear what
they want when you interview them and send them job descriptions and work agreements. Even though
we have them sign the work agreement, they often do not really want to do what they’ve agreed to. They
like the camping part, just not the work. We only hire full-time employees during the summer, so we may
see more of these problems than
MODULAR PLAY SYSTEMS • FREE-STANDING PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
others who employ part-time staff.
Also...I’ve actually had other KOA
owners give me good references,
only to find out later they were just
trying to get rid of the employees. We
need to support each other and not
play these kinds of games.
• I really do not believe I could run the
campground with out work kampers.
If I did the cost per hour for local help
would go thru the roof...I have tried to
hire a mix of work kampers and local
help...but the local help that is willing
to work for the rate of pay generally is
not worth hiring....or if they are they
take the job then get a better one as
soon as the season starts. and I pay
well above min wage..
• Work kampers should have a
qualifying test they take on jobs that
they say they are qualified to perform
not just say they can. Work kampers
should not omit on their resume a
campground where they worked and
did not receive a star. In that respect,
that campground will never be called
for a reference
www.koaowners.org
Shaping the Future of Play
Miracle Recreation is your single source for the most innovative
and highest quality playground equipment available.
Locate your nearest representative by calling 1-888-458-2752 or
visiting www.miracle-recreation.com.
TM
www.miracle-recreation.com
1-888-458-2752
S P O RT S A N D O U T D O O R P L AY E Q U I P ME N T
•
July/August/September 2010
• The list of experience items on the
KOA resume form is very ambiguous.
Applicants often indicate that they
have experience in all categories,
when in fact they may not have
actually worked in these areas. This
item needs to be redesigned to have
them check in a box how many yrs
of work FOR PAYthey have in each
category.
S I T E A MENITIES
23
Volume 30, Issue 3
Mentor’s Korner
LISTENING
Last time we had an article from Carol Preble of Rusk KOA discussing how to handle large groups and any of their
complaints. Mrs. Preble encouraged you to make it a priority to listen, really listen to what the customer was saying and
working to make them happy. This trait is as important to use with your employees as well as with the customer. In order
to develop an effective team on your campground it helps to hear what your employee is saying, take time to digest it then
move on to a resolution concerning their concerns or to implement their idea (s). As you read over the following three points
you will see that the first two points deal with helping your employees become a loyal part of your campground family. The
last point is aimed to help you with your growth.
First, listening to your people and your customer is important. Everyone has their ideas and convictions, but try not to
impose them on your employees with out due consideration. Listen to their ideas; you will make the decision based on
what you think is best; whether it’s your idea or theirs that is implemented. In order to adopt a particular focus means
you need to be on top of your business and on top of your people.
Second, don’t spend your time micromanaging-it makes it impossible to grow your business, and there is only so much
of you to go around. No one can be everywhere at all times and be effective. Practice delegating duties to those who
have strengths in a particular area; this is why you hired them after the interview. Look for people who have strengths
in areas that you are weak in. You don’t try and do the bathroom plumbing yourself, you look for someone who knows
what they are doing, and the same goes with your employees. Look for people whose skills strengthen your weaknesses
and your team will be awesome for you and with your customers.
Third keep contact with your mentors. There are a lot of people out there willing to help you, just ask for their input on
the issue of concern.1 The KOA family is one of the friendliest people out there and they look on each other as a family.
Everyone has times of uncertainty and frustration with a situation. You aren’t alone in this though you feel as if you are.
There are many owners who have walked in your shoes and they’ve not only found an answer, but are willing and eager to
share with you. Just reach for your directory of OA Board members and give your area directors a call.
However you look at things, listening is an art and always the biggest part of connecting with people. Those who are willing
to take the time to listen to others, employee or customer will be rewarded with loyalty from both groups.
1
.The Incidental Leader by Dany Levy. From “Open Book”
Simple Techniques to Keep Your Clients Happy
Promise only what you can keep. Know what you can really do, then deliver what you promise. The relationship
with your customer will be doomed if you give them false promises and expectations right from the start. A good and
loyal customer will be happy when you deliver - and go beyond -- their expectations.
Be reliable and consistently good. If you want your customers to patronize your campground again and again,
the only way is to provide a consistently good experience. If you set high standards of service right from the start, and
make sure that all your employees adhere to that same high standard.
Avoid giving customers the run-around. Customers complain for a variety of reasons, some of which you
may consider valid, while others trivial. Nonetheless, you need to make your customers feel that they are important to
your campground by listening to their complaints and to the extent possible, solving their problem quickly. Do not give
them the run-around, as this will only heighten their frustration. If you or your employees cannot immediately solve your
customer’s problem, assure the customer that you will be looking into the problem. Then have a follow-up system to
apprise the customer of the status of their complaints. You will have happy customers if they know that their opinion and
concerns are important to you.
24
Owners News
Open your lines of communication. Make it easy for your customers to contact you. Technology should be
used to provide logistical support, not create logistical blunders. Be sure to have a “contact us” form; or put the contact
numbers that customers can use to reach you on your campground webpage. If you are using voicemail, offer an
option that would allow your customers to speak to you or your employees. Be sure to return calls promptly, preferably
before the day ends.
Have a comprehensive customer service policy. Customers should be your number one priority. Hence,
your business must have clear guidelines on how to effectively please - not just serve - your customers. Your policy
should cover every touch points with the customer - e.g. giving customers as much information as you can, extending
them courtesy and respect, even admitting your mistakes. Make sure that your staff and are all aware (and practice)
your customer service guidelines.
Excerpts from PowerHomeBiz.com By Staff Writer Jenny Fulbright
Happy employees make happy customers.
There are ways to make your employees happy. Perhaps more importantly, there are ways to make your employees
feel proud.
.
One way the owners/managers can help boost job satisfaction and help their campground may be to “clarify expectations
for employees by helping employees see the ultimate outcomes the campground is working to achieve and how they
play a role in achieving those outcomes.”
If you want to inspire your customers, you first have to inspire your employees. To do that you have to make them feel
like they truly are a part of your company and not just worthless pawns. Encourage your staff to be generous with each
other and with your customers. That big happy smile of greeting shouldn’t be only for the customer, but for each other.
This helps set the tone of the day and gives everyone a sense of unity.
Help them to feel like they are on a mission and make them feel good about the work they do for you. Take the time
to compliment them, mention something that they did which you thought was great.
The Marks of a Good Employer and Boss
The goal of being a good employer and boss is that you get to create a happy and productive workplace. To be a good
boss sometimes costs more and requires greater patience, but the payoffs far outweigh any burdens:
• First benefit is that you make more money. The studies are showing that happy employees create happy customers
and happy customers create happy bank accounts
• Second is that you will instill loyalty and hard work. People like to work for people they like, and will work harder
and better. They will also have a better attitude and be willing to go the extra mile
• Third is that you can sleep at night – good bosses will set great examples.
And the thing is, it is not that difficult to be a good boss. It is really a matter of trying to do the right thing. How
about the boss who offered an employee all of the available overtime work one month because he knew she was in a
www.koaowners.org
July/August/September 2010
Treat people with respect. Give them something worthwhile to do. Inspire them to be knights in your kingdom... or at
least happy to be there for as long as they want to stay. That’s it. That’s all you really need to do to get things rolling
in the right direction.
25
Volume 30, Issue 3
The Marks of a Good Employer and boss (cont.)
bad financial situation? It didn’t cost him anything but it sure did gain him a lot. Or the boss who made sure that the
pregnant cashier was able to sit down while doing her job?
The little things you do will go a long way in the workplace.
A lot of good bosses have most of these traits in common:
•They are fair. The hallmark of the bad boss is that life under their tyrannical rule is haphazard and unfair. Some people
are favorites and others are not, some things make sense and many don’t. In contrast, the good boss is reasonable and
fair and treats people equally for the most part and people do not feel taken advantage of.
•They trust employees to be adults. The good boss will avoid micromanaging because he knows that this approach
seldom works and it demeans the employee. He knows that if someone needs a day off that they probably have a good
reason.
•They challenge you. It is not Pollyannaish, this being a good boss business. No one expects the good boss to be nothing
but a rah-rah cheerleader. Rather, the good boss leads the way, expects your best, and rewards you in kind with either
perks or compliments if you uphold your end of the bargain.
•They listen. They may not always agree, but they listen – whether it is to a suggestion on how to do things better or
why a raise is deserved.
•They are respectful. Usually, they remember to say “please” and “thank you” which is increasingly, and sadly, not as
common as before.
Excerpts from US Today “Ask an Expert” author Steve Strauss
KOA_Aug.pdf.pdf
8/12/10
8:18:20 AM
Stay Cool with a Kid Fun Wash
Meet the newest addition
To Our KOA Team
At Independence Bank, our KOA
relationship continues to grow.
Our goal is to provide campground
financing expertise and great customer
service to KOA Kampground Owners.
Please meet ...
Debbie Callahan
Debbie brings over 15 years of lending experience at
Independence Bank to her new position as Manager of our
KOA Department and she is looking forward to working with
you on all of your financial needs.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Debbie joins the Independence Bank KOA Team
of Chuck Celania, Miles Hamilton, Mym Cichosz,
and Carol Murch.
Don’t forget
to ask us about our
KOA Premier Savings Account &
Go-With-The-Flow Loan Financing!
Member FDIC
Havre, Montana
(406) 265-1241 • (800) 823-2274
www.ibyourbank.com
26
Owners News
Take Pride in Your KOA Campground
Eaton RV Park Hookups
In today’s market where competition is growing, being sure that you
have a strong brand image and brand
recognition is key to ensuring that
your current customers will come
back, and that new customers will
come stay with you! We can customize pedestals which will provide a
consistent look and make them
standout in the campground industry.
Eaton has the highest quality
weatherproof equipment on the
market. We can supply not only the
pedestals, but also the distribution
equipment and wire. A complimentary
electrical design is provided so you
can feel confident that the electrical
layout of the park is efficient and safe.
Call Today for More
Information
www.koaowners.org
1-800-723-8009
www.rvparkhookups.com
July/August/September 2010
Eaton has dedicated support to
help KOA campground owners with
technical help, replacement parts,
warranty, and customer service. We
also offer special discounts to KOA
campground owners and will ensure
you get the highest quality pedestals
that Eaton has to offer - while staying
within your budget! Proven Eaton
technology is currently in use at many
KOA locations throughout the country.
27
Volume 30, Issue 3
Owners Association Convention Schedule
Savannah, GA 2010
OA Board Meeting
When: Sunday, November 7, 11:00 am - 5:30 pm
Where: Westin Savannah Harbor - Riverscape Conference Room
OA Care Camps Auction Drop Off
When: Monday, November 8, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tuesday, November 9, 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
Wednesday, November 10, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Where: SCC Greene Boardroom
OA Care Camps Board Meeting
When: Monday, November 8, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Where: SCC Meeting Rooms 105-106 OA Area Meetings - Wednesday, November 10
Area 1 - 9:00 am - 10:00 am - SCC 101
Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia
Area 2 - 9:00 am - 10:00 am - SCC 102
Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maryland,
Connecticut, Rhode Island
Area 3 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am - SCC 101
Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa
Area 4 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am - SCC 102
Louisiana, Mississippi, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas
Area 5 - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - SCC 101
Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming
Area 6 - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - SCC 102
Hawaii, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico
Area 7 - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - SCC 103
Canada
OA Annual Meeting
When: Wednesday, November 10, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Where: SCC Oglethorpe Auditorium OA New/Old Board Meeting
When: Wednesday, November 10, 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm Where: SCC Oglethorpe Auditorium
KOA Dinner and OA Care Camps Auction
When: Wednesday November 10, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Where: SCC Chatham Ballroom B/C
Be sure to check the final program for any changes in the schedule
28
Owners News
2010 KOA Care Camps Auction Savannah GA
Hope you all plan to attend this year’s auction in Savannah GA. We are going to entertain you Vegas style.
This year there will be a few exciting changes to the auction. We are going to have silent auction tables set
up each day at the registration area. You will have all day to check your bids, but once that day is done so
are those items. We will have new auction items the next day to bid on. KOA Home Office will be hosting
the dinner on auction night and have planned some fantastic Vegas style entertainment! At the exciting live
auction, there is going to be a grand door prize. You won’t want to miss this event.
The OA will be handing out two drink tickets each to help you
with your bidding jitters. New this year, we ask that you
fill out an auction item form as soon as possible
and fax or e-mail it to the OA main office.
This will help us out with getting the
silent auction items listed well
before the convention. There
is a form in this newsletter or
on the OA website as well as
e-Kamp. This is going to be
an exciting fundraising event
for the KOA Care Camps.
Looking forward to seeing
you all there
Mike Kuper
Chairman KOA
Care Camps
www.koaowners.org
July/August/September 2010
Sincerely,
29
Volume 30, Issue 3
September 6, 2010
OFFICIAL NOTICE
In accordance with Article IV, Section 4, of the By-Laws of the KOA Owners Association, notice
is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Association will be held commencing at the Westin
Savannah Harbor Gulf Resort & Spa. The annual business meeting will take place on Wednesday
November 10, 2010. Such Association business as may be appropriate will be discussed and acted
upon.
For those who may not attend the Annual Meeting, an Official Proxy in accordance with
Article III, Section 3 of the By-Laws is included with this letter to the entire membership. Please
submit your proxy to the Association office by October, 16, 2009 if you will be unable to attend the
meeting.
KAMPGROUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION
William Ranieri, Executive Director
2008 for UTILITY SUPPLY---1/2 PAGE AD 4 COLOR AT PRINTERS
30
Owners News
KOA OWNERS ASSOCIATION PROXY FOR 2010 ANNUAL MEETING
Know all persons by these presents that the undersigned, a member in good standing of the Kampground
Owners Association, Inc. hereby appoints:
(full name) as his/her proxy, to represent the undersigned at the Area meetings on Wednesday Nov. 10, 2010
between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm; and at the Annual Meeting of the members of the corporation to be held on
Wednesday November 10, 2010 at approximately 3:30 p.m., or at any adjournment thereof and to vote for
the undersigned on any and all matters that may come before the meetings.
Member name:
Franchise #:
Campground name:
Signature:
Instructions to proxy:
NOTE: Proxies should be in the possession of the Secretary of the Kampground Owners Association not
later than 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 12, 2010 according to the by-laws. Accordingly, proxies should be
mailed to:
Kampground Owners Association
3416 Primm Lane
Birmingham, AL 35216
www.koaowners.org
July/August/September 2010
Date:
31
Volume 30, Issue 3
CONGRATULATIONS
CK&CWUW WINNER
Well everyone, it took a little bit to get all the totals in and sorted, but we’ve finally drawn the winner for the
prizes.
The winner of prize for CK&CWUW are Gettysburg KOA - John & Lorelle Bergeron who have won:
A Round Trip Airfare to Savannah GA and Convention
Registration for Two Jim Rogers KOA CEO as a Work
Kamper for one week & the 6’ Yellow Park Bench, Garbage
Receptacle and Umbrella
Congratulations and thank you for helping to make the Care
Camps program so successful. The winners are these great
children who are getting to go to camp.
A Tribute to
Anita Barrett
The KOA Owners Association is saddened to announce that Anita C. Barrett of Hot Springs National Park KOA
passed away from cancer on Wednesday, July 7, 2010. Many of you have known her and remember her as
a dynamic and caring person. She will be sorely missed by all.
The following people have made a donation to KOA Care Camps in her memory:
32
Wendell and Marie Smith
Bernard and Zina Nugent
KOA Franchisee Services Staff
Arnold and Gardial McKenzie
Melvin and Lynette Marr
Mr. & Mrs. Robertson
Ted and Judy Thornton & Family
John and Nancy Croll
KOA Office Staff
Mary W. Payne
Jane Novak
Carol Wetmiller
Karen Goodsmith
The Snyders
Lorna MacLeish
Arlene Schoessling
John and Irene Cyburt
Owners News
KOA Care Camps,
the
Charity Developed by the Owners Association
How many of you know the story that started the KOA Care Camp Program? It’s been a while, about 26
years, though actually more like 28.
Back in 1982 the Owners Association President was Jack Denton of the Phoenix KOA and. Dallas Smith
of Cut Bank KOA, MT, who was Chairman of Programs and Future Planning, suggested the Association
sponsor a charitable fund. At that time one of the KOA staff was getting involved with a new type of camp
for children with cancer. It was with that information that the OA Board decided to develop a program called
“Happiness is Camping” to help these children go to camp for a week.
It took two years to get all the paperwork finished and the Board then asked the management company
of Dick Gray & Associates to research various fund raising means and the promotional items to get it going.
In 1984 around $7,100 was raised for the “Happiness is Kamping” program and distributed to the 6 camps
that completed the application for a grant from it.
In 1985, John Cybert of Springfield MO KOA worked with other members to review the applications from
the 8 camps that applied that year. He also supervised the 8 KOA Owners who hand delivered the checks to
the camps in their areas. Later on around 1989; it’s was John and Irene Cybert who developed the 10 point
program for the distribution of funds to the cancer camps which is the basis for the application that the cancer
camps fill out. It was also in 1989 that a name change for the program was proposed by John Cybert to drop
“Happiness is Camping” to what we now know it as KOA Care Camps Program. He also recommended that
the board appoint 7 Trustees with one honorary member from KOA Inc. to work on the fundraising and review
the applications in the spring.
All this information is to point out to you that it is the charity program that belongs to you, the KOA
Owner. From the beginning you Owners have come up with this program, worked on ideas for fund raising
and many times it’s because of you that new camps came to know of the program and applied for a grant.
We do not advertise the KOA Care Camp Program. These cancer camps find out about us through word of
mouth and we welcome their applications. Today it’s 2010 and the need for these camps is expanding, not
shrinking. More and more children and teens are being diagnosed with some type of cancer. The emotional
and psychological benefits of attending one of these camps cannot be dismissed. The letters of testimonials
and thanks, from the campers, their parents and staff show that the benefits from attending are incredible.
So please, please, promote the KOA Care Camps program to your campers. Let them know how much
these children need their help. NO, KOA Care Camps is NOT the soul support for these camps; but we are
becoming an important contributor as the donations from other sources dwindle.
Yes, there are many worth while charities out there, but this program is YOURS. Only you know how
great camping can be for a child; so let’s work together and a little harder so that a camp doesn’t have to cut
their programs down because of lack of money.
Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who
receives them and they bless you, the giver.
Barbara De Angelis
July/August/September 2010
John and Irene Cybert from Springfield MO KOA were in the front for ideas on fund raising and reviewing
the applications for disbursement of funds to these camps and by 1989 there were now 14 cancer camps
who submitted applications to receive a portion of the $80,000 that was given out.
Compiled from the minutes of the KOA Owners Association by H. Gentry OA staff
www.koaowners.org
33
Volume 30, Issue 3
You made What?!
Early one morning just as she was waking up, Sue the wife of the manager for Washington DC
NE. KOA in MD was wondering what they could do different for
The 7th Come Kamp & Care With Us Weekend being held soon. Sue mentioned several times that she’s not
‘Martha Stewart” at all and crafts and such are foreign to her, but what came to mind was having the campers
help make a paper quilt for the Care Camp office.
Well, she excitedly went into the office and told her staff; who looked at her strangely, then they sat down
and figured out how to make this work. Well it sure worked as you can see by the photo below. The staff
spent some time cutting construction paper, ribbons and putting the corner holes in place so they were ready
on Friday.
As the staff registered the guests they mentioned that it was CK&CWUW and the money collected went
to help kids with cancer go to camp. Would you like to help us make this quilt by drawing on a block and
bringing it back to the store or to Saturday craft hour? Sue said that the campers were very interested and
took their squares in the color of their choice back to the campsite to work on, or hold on to till the craft hour.
Many happily finished their block and went back down to the store to have it tied together. They were getting
so many coming back that the paper quilt had to be hung so that the campers could tie their square on and
see how it was coming. Everyone, adults and children had to have a square to decorate; one woman even
went around her campsite to find what she needed to make her square.
All in all, this was one fantastic brain storm and everyone had a great time, from preparing the materials,
doing the squares and then figuring out how to mail it to the Care Camp Office.
When the paper tube was opened and we spread that quilt out it was really something. Sue, you may
not be “Martha Stewart” but this
brainstorm is a winner; may
all of your waking thoughts be
just as inventive as this one.
Congratulations to Washington
DC NE KOA, Staff and Campers
and especially Sue who thought
it up early one morning.
By H. Gentry, OA staff
34
Owners News
Cardinal KOA
Our Campers Are the Best!
We are very, very fortunate to have a family campground where there are lots of generous parents and
relatives who have all been touched by cancer in some way. Here are some of our successful events that we
do to raise funds for Care Camps:
First there is of course the Ice cream socials held every Saturday and sometimes Sunday’s on long
weekends.
Then we have found that a BBQ is enjoyed by all so every year tickets are sold for a BBQ prize which we draw
for at the end of the season. This year a Coleman travel BBQ (propane) with utensils is being raffled. Previous
years we have raffled full sized executive BBQs. Our choice this year seems to be more popular. We got it with
our Amex points. In previous years Home Depot has given us a large discount to assist us.
We have a 50/50 lady who sells tickets every weekend- she walks the campground from 2:00pm to 8:00pm
every Saturday meeting the campers (on long weekends she does Saturday and Sunday) and tells them about
care camps- 50% of the sales go to care camps and the other 50 to the winner - a lot of the winners then
donate more money back to the cause.
Care Camps is advertised on our activity schedules
Bingo is very popular and a portion of our bingo proceeds goes to care camps and often those who win donate
back (Dan talks it up when he is calling the numbers)
There are campers who love to donate gift baskets for which we sell tickets to the other campers for a chance
to win
The change bucket that sits on the counter encourages our staff to put all the small change left from selling
stuff in the store into it.
We have a chip wagon and the tips that are left go to care camps- a sign on the chip wagon encourages
people to donate their change.
Each year we set a goal for the amount we want to raise for care camps and then we track where we are
with our campers by posting the YTD numbers every weekend. They get very excited as the amount goes
up, especially in late summer when we are starting to reach the goal. When we reach the goal we have a
celebration and thank our campers for their generosity. Our campers are always coming up with great ideas to raise $ and it is truly a group effort. We did not do this
on our own; our campers are the ones that have made it possible.
So thank you to all of our wonderful campers
Dan & Karen Parent
Cardinal KOA Ottawa Canada
www.koaowners.org
July/August/September 2010
Of course there are our food sales (eg: hamburgers/hotdogs) with the proceeds going to care camps
35
Volume 30, Issue 3
BOONE KOA
Charge forward for Care Camps!
Our staffers here at the Boone, NC KOA were not satisfied with
the fundraising effort during the Come Kamp & Care With Us
Weekend, so we came up with an idea to supplement what we
had already raised. The event was collaboration between all
of us, but the original idea was put forth by Garry Horton (6th
year KOA staffer). We decided to host a Hotdog Cookout for
KOA Care Camps during the live music portion of our Memorial
Day weekend Sunday night entertainment. Our owner, Joan Harmon (pronounced Jo-Ann), jumped on
board immediately, while Lindsay Carter (me) and Russell
Paugh (2nd year KOA staffer) helped get things organized and
made sure the campers knew about the event. Our seasonal
campers, Bryce and Christine Winnett, helped out too. They
actually used to manage the KOA. As soon as word got out about our cause, some of our
seasonal and daily campers decided to pitch in and help. Some
made homemade chili and coleslaw, while others brought
southern sweet tea, things that no hot dog cookout should go
without! Tom and Donna Wogan (2nd year Work Kampers)
made pounds of free popcorn and helped with the organization
as well. Leftover Bluegrass, a local band and favorite at the Boone KOA,
played an outdoor concert while the KOA staff and volunteer
campers served the hot dogs, chili, slaw, and all the “fixins”,
accepting only donations for KOA Care Camps. We also handed
out free popcorn to those listening to the music, and two of our
familiar campers, Hannah and Sarah, even volunteered to put
on a last-minute clogging routine!
Our turnout was incredible. We are a small campground, but we
were able to raise around $500, which averages to $5 per site! Many campers spoke to us personally about their experiences
with children with cancer and how much it meant to them that
we were trying extra hard to raise money for the program. The
event was a huge success, and will probably be made into an
annual tradition! Newburgh/NYC N
KOA
Raising Money For
KOA Care Camps
Karen Miller
Newburgh/NYC North KOA
Manager
845-564-2836 X 204
We were able to generate the funds
by not only a one time generous
donation of $2,000.00 but also did,
I feel the same as usual. We did have
local contributor Big Lots who donated
seasonal merchandise in which we
raised $152.50 on our sidewalk sale.
The rest came from Ice Cream Social,
Care Camp Auction (it raised the
most), Horse Races, Bingo, Poker Run,
which was a 50/50 and the winner of
the highest hand donated the $125.00
winnings back to Care Kamps, by the
Maldenado Family.
Carolyn Wright heads up our Care
Kamp weekend and is very passionate
about raising money for the kids for
care kamps. She collects “goodies” all
year long to auction off. As you can
see what we do here is a big hit and
our campers came with very generous
hearts.
It all adds up to not only a good time
for but for a good cause!
Thanks for wanting to hear more about our story. We are
proud of ourselves and felt like sharing this event with KOAs
everywhere! Sincerely,
Lindsay
36
Owners News
Camp Sunshine and Wish Boats
Excerpts reprinted from ‘Camp Sunshine Times” Spring 2010
A Camp Tradition: “Keeping Hope Afloat” by Matthew M Hoidal, Esq., Ex. Director
One of the very special things with a child going to camp is the traditions that have sprung up that have a
very special meaning to them. And Camp Sunshine in Maine is no different.
When the camp was first started up in 1984 (the very same year that the KOA Care Camps Program was
started) the director of a nearby Girl Scout camp Doris Ham decided to volunteer at it. She brought a tradition
from her camp that has continued to this day and is central to Camp Sunshine experience.
The Girls Scouts would search the nearby woods for materials to make their Wish Boats, however the idea
didn’t quite seem safe for the children who would attend Camp Sunshine. So Doris’ husband Wally decided
to make a template out of wood that could be recreated for each Camp Sunshine session.
In the very first session Doris helped the children decorate their Wish Boats that her husband had created.
The children took special care and a lot of time in decorating their special little boats, but several children
were upset to find out that the boats were just set adrift in the lake. So now the boats have a staple and string
attached for all launches.
On the last night of Camp the campers march down to the pond with all their family members, volunteers
and camp staff ready to set sail. They line the banks of the water, some stand, some crouch, and some are in
wheel chairs; and they launch their boats to the sounds of Greg Cooney’s “Camp Sunshine Forever”.
The moment is full of emotion, the innocent faces of the children reflected in the pond among the flickering
candle flames. When the music ends, the children blow out their candles and make their wishes. Wiping
away tears, they linger for a while and absorb the magic of the moment before making their way slowly
back up to Camp and the final Celebration show where the mood changes to laughter. This Camp Sunshine
tradition will carry on forever.
www.koaowners.org
July/August/September 2010
The Wish Boats are very special to the children of Camp Sunshine. They decorate and adorn these little
vessels with pirate flags, buttons and beads; with the final touch a little birthday candle plucked at the front
of the ship and a string tethered to the bow.
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Volume 30, Issue 3
Traditions;
Why do we have them?
Traditions are found in every culture and each has a meaning for why it was started and continued. Traditions are
comforting in times of uncertainty and no more so than those that are found in the various Cancer Camps that KOA
Care Camps assists.
The focus of these camps is to give children who have or had cancer some hope and a lot of fun. But there are times
for reflection as well, a time to be thankful, hopeful, to remember and to feel the love and support from everyone
around them.
Several Care Camps have shared their special traditions with us and I thought it would be nice to share some of
them with you. The bonfire at the start and ending of a camp session for many of these camps represent the light of
remembrance, hope, love and friendship.
Camp Rap-A-Hope (director Melissa McNichol) has the tradition of a very special bonfire at the opening and closing
of their camp. The ceremony begins at dusk with each camper and staff member being given an unlit candle. The
ceremony is hosted by the “Camp Spirits” and led by the “Spirit of Life Eternal” who shares the following message:
Spirit of Courage: To meet the unexpected things in life and face the fearful times
Spirit of Endurance: The inner strength which comes from heart & mind to meet the many physical trials
Spirit of Hope: Imagination & vision to see that you need not despair-never give up-lift your face to the heavens to the
see the possibilities & not the limitations in life.
Spirit of Acceptance: To accept things in life you cannot changes- the strength to change what you can and the wisdom
to know the difference
Spirit of Laughter: To fill your soul with joy as laughter heals the wounded soul.
Spirit of Faith: Believe in yourself-faith can move mountains and give you peace in your journey through life
Spirit of Love: The expression of kindness, appreciation and caring. The greatest gift of all.
After the ceremony, each candle is lit and placed in the ground around the unlit campfire. At this time the “Spirit
Eternal” touches each lit candle with a special pole, eventually spreading the light to the campfire. The Spirit explains
to the campers that while the candles were unlit it was dark. Then as each camper had their candles lit, their “light”
shown brightly and was given to make an even brighter light that warms us all with friendship forever.
Camp Rainbow Connection (director Catalina Castro) has their opening campfire along with a Remembrance Wreath.
Every year the staff places a remembrance symbol outside the dining hall. At their opening campfire the staff introduces
the symbol and the names of those campers/patients that were lost since the last camp are placed on it. The campers
are then invited to do the same- place the name of a loved one on the symbol. When camp ends the symbols is
taken and placed on the closing campfire. The next morning the ashes are collected and saved to be placed on the
opening campfire of the next year. In this way Camp Rainbow Connection helps to perpetuate the memory of the
loved ones whom they have remembered throughout the years. This has been done since year one and they are now
26 years old.
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Owners News
Camp Good Days and Special Times: (director Laura Osborn) hold a Candlelight Ceremony on the last
night of the program. Each camper and volunteer comes together and has a candle. Those who wish to
can share with the others what their experience at Camp Good Days has been like. This has become a
very special and favorite tradition at Camp Good Days.
Camp Fantastic (CEO Dave Smith) starts their camp session by planting a tree in honor and in memory of
all the campers who have come before them. Each camper is encouraged to pour a cup of dirt onto the
base of the newly-planted tree and they are welcome to say the name of a particular past camper they’d
like to honor. On the last night of camp, while around the bonfire they end it with a “Claim Honor”. This is
where the campers are invited to stand and recognize another camper or counselor who has had an impact
on them that week. This ceremony is an emotional one, so the staff concludes it with a spectacular fireworks display
and dance.
Camp Sanquinity (director Jill Koss) holds a candle lighting ceremony at the start of camp for the campers who have died
since camp last year. The staff put pictures of each camper on a glass candle holder so that everyone will remember
the camper by name and face. During the ceremony the candles are lit by campers who either were in their cabin
last year or by a camper who knew them from the clinic/hospital. The hospital chaplain leads this ceremony and it’s
become a very special part of their camp. The staff has had dying campers tell them who they want to light their
candle, as well as campers who say how important it is to know that they will be remembered.
And our last campground in this issue to be mentioned is Indian Summer Camp (EC director Shelby Dehner) At their
camp during their closing Campfire they recognize their “graduating campers” (age 18), by presenting them with a
wood burning stick and having each of them talk about what their experience at ISC has meant to them. Also, each
camper and volunteer writes a wish on a ‘memory stick” (popsicle stick) and they throw it into the campfire. The
smoke carries their wishes into the air and above.
Compiled by H. Gentry OA staff
“ Thunder Bay KOA holds
parade for Care Camps”
(Mike Kuper driving with
camping guest)
www.koaowners.org
July/August/September 2010
their annual golf cart and bike
39
Volume 30, Issue 3
Funnies
Sometimes it DOES
take a Rocket Scientist!!
(True Story)
Scientists at NASA built a gun specifically to
launch standard 4 pound dead chickens at the
windshields of airliners, military jets and the
space shuttle, all traveling at maximum velocity. The idea is to simulate the frequent incidents of
collisions with airborne fowl to test the strength of
the windshields.
British engineers heard about the gun and were
eager to test it on the windshields of their new high
speed trains. Arrangements were made, and a
gun was sent to the British engineers. When the gun was fired, the engineers stood
shocked as the chicken hurled out of the barrel,
crashed into the shatterproof shield, smashed it to
smithereens, blasted through the control console,
snapped the engineer’s back-rest in two, and
embedded itself in the back wall of the cabin, like
an arrow shot from a bow.
The horrified Brits sent NASA the disastrous
results of the experiment, along with the designs
of the windshield and begged the US scientists for
suggestions.
NASA responded with a one-line memo --
“Defrost the chicken!”
Alternative Stress
Management Technique
Just in case you are having a rough day, here is a
stress management technique recommended in all
the latest psychological journals. The funny thing is
that it really does work and will make you smile.
1. Picture yourself lying on your stomach on a warm
rock that hangs out over a crystal clear stream.
2. Picture yourself with both your hands dangling in
the cool running water.
3. Birds are sweetly singing in the cool mountain
air.
4. No one knows your secret place.
5. You are in total seclusion from that hectic place
called the world.
6. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the
air with a cascade of serenity.
7. The water is so crystal clear that you can easily
make out the face of the person you are holding
underwater.......................
There!! See? It really does work... You’re smiling
already. Feel free to share this if you know others who
might benefit from this technique..............
And You Thought You’ve Seen It All
And you get into the garage how?!!
Oops, loaded wrong
40
Rocks? What rocks?
A turtle car?
Now that’s a gas station!
Owners News
www.koaowners.org
41
July/August/September 2010
Volume 30, Issue 3
Meaning of Flag Draped Coffin
All Americans should be given this lesson. Those who think that America is an arrogant nation should really
reconsider that thought. Our founding fathers used God’s word and teachings to establish our Great Nation
and I think it’s high time Americans get re-educated about this Nation’s history. Pass it along and be proud of the country we live in and even more proud of those who serve to protect our
‘GOD GIVEN’ rights and freedoms. I hope you take the time to read this ... To understand what the flag draped coffin really means ... Here is how to understand the flag that laid upon it and is surrendered to so
many widows and widowers.
Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?
Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the
original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day!
The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.
The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.
The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of
their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.
The 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.
The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, ‘Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right
or wrong.’
The 6th fold is for where people’s hearts lie. It is with their heart that they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one
Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.
The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country
and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.
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Owners News
The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.
The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made
this country great has been molded.
The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons
and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.
The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the
Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their nations motto, ‘In God We Trust.’
After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George
Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed
by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights,
privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.
There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning. Share this with the children you love and all others who love what is referred to, the symbol of ‘ Liberty and Freedom.’
IN THE MEANTIME, MAY GOD PROTECT US ALWAYS.
ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
www.koaowners.org
July/August/September 2010
In the future, you’ll see flags folded and now you will know why.
43
44
Owners News
Volume 30, Issue 3
RAFFLE TICKETS ARE $50 EACH
I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE _____________# TICKETS AT $50 EACH
All tickets drawn----60 winners
$15,000 in cash prizes (based on sale of 600 tickets).
I understand that I need only fill out one form and the Owners Association will make multiple
copies and insert them in the raffle drawing container.
REMEMBER ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM
Name: ________________________________________________________________
Campground Name: _____________________________________________________
Franchise Number: ______________________________________________________
Street Address: __________________________________________________________
City: _______________________________ State/Province___________ Zip­­­­_________
Credit Card Number: ______________________________ _Exp Date:_____________
(Payment by check would be preferred)
Mail this form with check to (or fax if paying by credit card to 205-823-2760)
KOA Disaster Relief Program
3416 Primm Ln.
Birmingham, Al., 35216
1-800-678-9976
www.koaowners.org
July/August/September 2010
Telephone Number(s): ___________________________________________________
45
Volume 30, Issue 3
2008 FOR SOUTHEAST PUBLICATIONS – 1 PAGE 4 COLOR AT PRINTERS
46
Owners News
2010
KOA Owners Association
Care Camps Auction Item
Fax: 205/823-2760
Item Description_________________________________________
Estimated Value: $________________________________________
Franchise #_______________Campground Name:_______________
ITEM # _________________
SALE PRICE $ _________________
WINNING BIDDER #_________________
www.koaowners.org
July/August/September 2010
For OA office use only:
47
Volume 30, Issue 3
KOA Owners Association
3416 Primm Lane
Birmingham, AL 35216
KOA Owners Association Owners News
3416 Primm Lane
Birmingham, AL 35216
To submit articles or request advertising
information, write to the above address or
use the following contact information:
c/o Jim Ranieri
Telephone: 800-678-9976 or
205-824-0022
Fax: 205-823-2760
Email:[email protected]
Publication: Owners News is published
four times per year by the KOA Owners
Association.
Printing services are donated by
Southeast Publications USA, Inc.
Telephone: 800-832-3292
48
Owners News