Pictured Back Row l to r: Independence RV's Andy Vernak, Jeff Courterier, Ricky Stiles, Jim Burdick, Todd Simpson, Newmar's Matt Utley. Front Row l to r: Independence RV's Ed Nicklaus, Tony Lancaster, Don Snell and Newmar's CEO Dick Parks.

Click Illustration for Larger Image

Pictured l. to r. Newmar CEO and Chairman of the Board, Dick Parks presents the 2009 Mahlon Miller Service Excellence Award to Independence RV's Service Manager, Todd Simpson, President/Owner Ronnie Jordan and General Manager Chuck Simpson.

"The ten questions on the Newmar Customer Satisfaction survey cover the entire RV dealership experience, and an operation must receive high marks on all parts of the experience to earn this award," Parks said.

"Service is even more important today than it was five years ago…the way the market has been…customers have become savvier on the serviceability of a dealership. They're not buying just based on price, they want to know if the dealership can take care of them after the sale," said Newmar's Matt Utley. "Every single member of our service team knows that their first and foremost duty is to satisfy the customer - and they do. That's why we're being recognized with this 'best of the best' award for two years running," said Independence RV's Service Manager Todd Simpson. To even be considered for Newmar's top award, a dealer must score 90% or better in post-service customer surveys. To win, as did Independence RV, the dealer must beat out all other dealers throughout the United States and Canada. Independence RV is not new to awards - the dealership has been in the top tier of Newmar service providers for each of the past five years. This is the second time Independence RV has won the nation's top award.

by Independence RV

AARP The Magazine

AARP The Magazine, the world’s most highly circulated publication with 47 million readers, featured an RVing couple in the May/June 2010 issue in an article entitled “Retired and Loving It!”

The article focused on several couples at varying income levels who are enjoying their post-career lives despite the current economic mess. One of those couples is Jerry Shea and Mary Sullivan of Cambria, CA. After the bottom fell out of the California real estate market, the two sold their realty business and made plans to hit the road in their motorhome, criss-crossing the country to reconnect with friends and visit far-flung children.

Popular Mechanics Publicity Opportunity

Meanwhile, the editors of Popular Mechanics, another influential magazine, have requested that RVIA members regularly send all their product releases to the attention of associate editor Greg Anderson at [ e-mail ]. This includes product announcements, innovations, and any new and interesting gadgets that might intrigue the magazine's techno-savvy audience.

by RVIA

The RV industry could gain extended wholesale financing streams under the Dealer Floor Plan Program Extension and Improvement Act of 2010, introduced by Congressmen Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Fred Upton (R-MI). The legislation would improve the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Dealer Floor Plan Financing Pilot Program (DFP) that provides loan guarantees for titleable assets, including RVs.

The Act would improve the DFP by:

• extending the program for 5 years, until September 30, 2015;
• increasing the government guarantee to 90%; and
• giving the SBA the authority to revise the program to address barriers to participation by lending institutions and dealers after consulting with representatives from these industries.

“I’ve heard from dealers, manufacturers, and lenders back home that while the Dealer Floor Plan Financing Pilot Program is well-intentioned, it needs to be extended and the government guarantee needs to be raised,” said Donnelly. “This bill would make the changes the RV, auto, and marine industries and lenders have identified as necessary to increase participation in the program. I’m pleased to partner with my friend Congressman Upton on the important issue of increasing lending opportunities to Indiana and Michigan businesses.”

“Increasing the scope of the SBA’s Dealer Floor Plan Program would help attract lenders to the DFP program, thereby helping dealers gain additional floorplan opportunities,” said Dianne Farrell, RVIA’s vice president of government affairs. “RVIA and our industry will work diligently to help pass this legislation.”

Under the Dealer Floor Plan (DFP) Financing Pilot Program established in July 2009, the SBA provides loan guarantees for lines of credit through its 7(a) loan program. DFP loans are made through SBA lenders only for inventory that can be titled, such as autos, RVs, boats, and trailers. Currently, the DFP Pilot Program is set to expire on September 30, 2010, and the DFP loan guarantees range from 60-75 percent.

In February, Congressman Donnelly hosted an event with members of the RV, auto, and marine industries as well as lenders to discuss how the pilot program was going and what could be done to improve it. From these and other conversations with the affected industries, Donnelly and Upton heard that the program would be more successful if lenders knew the program would extend past September 2010, if the government’s guarantee was greater, and if industry-cited barriers to participation for both dealers and lenders were addressed

by RVIA

The county's unemployment rate fell slightly in June to 13.6 percent, down from 13.7 percent in May. Fayette County's unemployment rate rose from 13.5 percent last month to 14 percent, now the highest rate in the state, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

The city of Elkhart's unemployment rate also dropped in June, from 15.8 percent in May to 15.6 percent. East Chicago City's rate rose 2 percent in June and now leads the state in unemployment.

The state's overall unemployment rate was 10.1 percent in June, up slightly from 10 percent in May. The U.S. saw a 9.5 percent unemployment rate in June, down from 9.7 percent in May.

The Indiana counties with the highest unemployment in June were:
1. Fayette - 14 percent
2. Elkhart - 13.6 percent
3. Howard - 12.7 percent
4. Blackford - 12.6 percent
5. Henry - 12.4 percent

The Indiana cities with the highest unemployment in June were:
1. East Chicago - 15.8 percent
2. Elkhart - 15.6 percent
3. Kokomo - 14.2 percent
4. South Bend - 13.5 percent
5. Marion - 13.2 percent

by by: Tom Lange | The Elkhart Truth

GOSHEN -- Thor Industries has named its new RV start-up Redwood RV.

Under the leadership of Don Emahiser, the subsidiary is targeting the high-end fifth wheel market with plans to produce units that will start retailing for $65,000, according to a press release.

The new company has hired Dan Kreider as vice president of manufacturing, Ray Patterson as head engineer and Don Rheinheimer as senior consultant.

Redwood is close to finalizing a production location in Elkhart County.

by The Elkhart Truth

RV wholesale shipments were reported at 24,400 units in May in RVIA’s most recent survey of manufacturers, continuing a 10-month positive trend as the RV industry continues its recovery.

May 2010 shipments were 84 percent higher than May of last year. Overall, towable RVs continue to provide the greatest volume increase while motorhome totals reflect the greatest percentage gains. On a seasonally adjusted basis, this month’s total shipments presented an annual rate of more than 262,500 units, an increase of 6 percent over last month.

Year to date, total RV shipments have now reached 108,900 units through May this year, up 91.1 percent compared to this same period last year. All vehicle types have enjoyed growth in shipments this year with type A motorhomes continuing to experience the greatest percentage increase while conventional travel trailers have experienced the greatest unit increase.

The strong May shipment numbers mark a continuation of a months-long trend that reflects the positive RV market outlook provided by Richard Curtin in the latest issue of RV Roadsigns. Curtin predicted substantial gains over the next two years. Total shipments are expected to increase to 230,300 units by the end of this year and then rise to 249,700 units in 2011.

by RVIA

RVIA’s “National Explore America Family” – author Brad and Amy Herzog and their two young sons – are on the road for their 11th consecutive summer as RV travel spokespeople, celebrating the Centennial year of this family-friendly industry.

Interviewed in every market they’ve visited for RVIA since the media tour began June 4, the Herzogs’ RV travels have made television news in Detroit, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Providence, Springfield and Hartford so far. Newspaper coverage has appeared in additional markets including Boston and Pittsburgh.

Winnebago provided a Vista Type A motorhome for the tour, which will take the family to 13 states in total.

“The Herzogs’ special appeal to young families, combined with their knowledgeable advice on taking economical, convenient RV road trips, make their media tours extremely effective,” said RVIA Vice President and Chief Marketing Office Gary LaBella. “For 100 years, American families have been enjoying this kind of vacation. The Herzogs give the media compelling evidence of why RVing’s appeal never fades.”

Since their first RV trip, Brad and Amy have logged more than 110,000 miles, visiting all 48 contiguous states. Their sons, Luke, 9, and Jesse, 8, will be visiting their 46th , 47th and 48th states this summer.

“It was a life changing experience,” Brad Herzog told the Providence Journal, describing his year-long RV travels with his wife as newlyweds in 1996. “We had just thought of it as a way to get from A to B,” he said. “But driving with this big windshield, the movie of America is playing in front of you. And you can stop the film anytime you want and enter the picture.”

In addition to serving as an RVIA media spokesperson, Herzog also writes a popular on-the-road blog for GoRVing.com about his family’s RV journeys. Read recent accounts of their adventures at http://www.gorving.org/blog/ .

Inspired by his RV experiences, Brad Herzog has received critical and commercial acclaim for his travel memoirs – States of Mind and Small World – published by Simon Schuster. His new book, Turn Left at the Trojan Horse, is helping to garner media attention for the tour.

RVIA has joined with a coalition of 90 key recreation, conservation and medical organizations in working with the Obama Administration to hold a national town hall meeting and listening session on Health and the Great Outdoors in Chicago on August 23.

The session is part of the President’s Great Outdoors Initiative and will explore innovative ways to combine the healthcare and public lands interests to achieve healthier Americans and a new relevancy for conservation and recreation programs in the minds of the public.

“Our nation faces tremendous challenges with our public lands and waters and combating lifestyles that have led to rising obesity rates and stress,” said RVIA President Richard Coon. “The Great Outdoors Initiative and this town hall meeting will be a forum for examining ways we can come together to meet these challenges by connecting more people to the Great Outdoors, making them both healthier and interested in outdoor recreation.”

The listening session will have significant participation by outdoor recreation and healthcare interests, including physicians and public health agencies, and will showcase: existing pilots and demonstration programs which seek to increase the amount of healthy, active use of parks and other public spaces; systems in place and in development to increase awareness of attractive places for outdoor physical activities; systems in place and in development to provide the medical community with information regarding patient use of prescribed places and provide patients with incentives for outdoor activities; strategies for use of funds from doctors, hospitals, health insurance providers and others to build and operate infrastructure supporting healthy outdoor fun.

At the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors in April, President Obama established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a recreation and conservation agenda for the 21st century and to reconnect Americans with the great outdoors. The upcoming town hall meeting will be a critical step that will bring new thinking and new partnerships to this process.

by RVIA

As part of the 2010 Go RVing media buy, two RV road trip national sweepstakes events bear the Go RVing name. Sponsored by History.com and MLB.com, the contests have generated more than 150,000 entries to date.

The Go RVing Ultimate Roadtrip Sweepstakes, sponsored by History.com in conjunction with the network’s National Park Week promotion, was open for entries from March 23, 2010-June 15, 2010. The contest grand prize was a trip for four to one of three national park destinations of the winner’s choice: Little Big Horn National Monument, MT, Yosemite National Park, CA or Cape Canaveral, FL. The prize package included round trip airfare/airport shuttle for four, seven night rental of a standard 23’-25’ RV, seven nights camping accommodations, tickets/access to one or more activities at the destination, and $1,050 cash for spending.

The Go RVing Ultimate RV Roadtrip Sweeps sponsored by Major League Baseball (MLB) on MLB.com, is still active until July 17, 2010. Starting in San Francisco, the grand prize is a six day/five night trip for four to California to attend three regular season MLB games: Giants vs. Padres ( 8/14/10), Angels vs. Toronto ( 8/15/10), and Dodgers vs. Colorado ( 8/17/10). The trip includes round-trip airfare to San Francisco, an El Monte RV rental for the trip duration, and four tickets to each of the three specified games.

Approximately one-fourth entrants in both contests have opted in to be contacted by Go RVing at a later date.

“What makes promotions like these so valuable to Go RVing is the added exposure to RV-buying prospects through a partnership with a trusted name,” said Gary LaBella, RVIA’s vice president and chief marketing officer. “Through History and MLB eNewsletters, targeted emails, and promotions on their websites and social media outlets, their audiences are seeing Go RVing’s name and editorial messages tied to a source to which they already have an established relationship. It’s a win-win partnership.”

by RVIA

Click Illustration for Larger Image

"It was a disaster when we first showed up," Croce said. "When we first started to look at this park, it was in foreclosure, receivership and bankruptcy all at the same time."

To make matters worse, the campground's previous owner had not only failed to maintain the property and stripped it of its physical assets, but he had double- and triple-booked campsites and cabins to people from across the country and overseas, while pocketing the cash from these bogus reservations. Croce found out about the previous owner's misdeeds when he took over the property mid-2003. "We had people showing up with confirmed reservations for cabins that didn't exist," Croce said, adding that he spent $15,000 to $16,000 booking campsites and hotel rooms in other facilities nearby so that visitors would not have to suffer the consequences of the previous owner's misdeeds.

"I remember we had one lady who came from England. She had already paid for a cabin, which didn't exist. We put her up in a bed and breakfast hotel," Croce said.

But the problems didn't stop there. The previous owner also left town owing just about every vendor and utility company money. "The trash people almost threw me out of their office when I first showed up," Croce said. "The same thing happened with the propane company. They had all been burned by this guy. It took a lot of convincing to explain that we were different."

But in time, Croce succeeded in doing just that.

They joined the chamber of commerce, sponsored the local parade and other community events and informed everyone in the business community that they had no connection with the previous owner. Croce and his team also set about making more than $2 million in improvements to the park, which included upgrading the electrical and sewer services, renovating the clubhouse, general store and bathhouses, and purchasing 28 park model cabins and eight yurts, which the park uses as rental accommodations for people who don't have a tent or RV.

As a result of their efforts, Yosemite Pines has re-established positive working relationships with the businesses and service providers in Groveland and surrounding communities, and developed a successful business base that now includes more than 40 tour groups.

"We do a lot of business with the Dutch and the Germans. There are tour groups from Europe that love our park and send groups there all the time. We just had another group come in from India. They were all doctors and attorneys and they rented all of our park models for about a week."

The park is generating so much business, in fact, that it now generates more online reservations than any other campground in California, according to the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

"Newport Dunes RV Resort beats us in terms of actual revenue generation, but we have the highest actual number of reservations," Croce said, adding, "On a typical summer day, we probably have 1,000 people at Yosemite Pines."

The park's profitability has also increased, with revenue growing more than fivefold from $250,000 during its first year to $1.3 million or more, Croce said. "We told members of the Chamber of Commerce that we could bring more people to the Groveland area than any other business in town, which we successfully did," Croce said, adding that guests at his park patronize local businesses, providing a significant economic multiplier effect for the community as well as tens of thousands of dollars in tax revenue.

"We're real pleased with the success John Croce has had in transforming Yosemite Pines into a true vacation destination," said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds.

Sipe added that the private campground industry is attracting growing numbers of investors who are purchasing parks and transforming them into attractive weekend retreats or vacation destinations California residents as well as visitors from outside the state. "Entrepreneurs and investors are increasingly realizing that the campground business is a viable and growing niche within the travel and tourism industry," Sipe said, adding that the campground industry has been the most resilient segment of the tourism business during the recession.

For more information about Yosemite Pines RV Resort, please contact John Croce at (714) 756-2483 and visit his website at www.yosemitepinesrv.com.

by CalARVC