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COBURG, ORE. Monaco RV, one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles, began a Sweepstakes promotion through each of their brand websites: Monaco www.monacocoach.com, Holiday Rambler www.holidayrambler.com and RVision. www.rvisiontowables.com. The sweepstakes is being promoted through Monaco RV’s social media sites including Facebook and Twitter, along with direct e-mail blasts. Banner ads advertising the sweepstakes are also running on several different sites on the web. The Sweepstakes runs through July 1 through August 31, with the grand prize of a 2010 Holiday Rambler Campmaster® travel trailer valued at $20,000.

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The Towable Give-Away Sweepstakes has generated a lot of traffic on our websites,” says Ryan Lee, Director of Marketing for Monaco RV. “We have been very pleased with the response and look forward to reaching more consumers, exposing them to our brands and the depth of products we have to offer.”

The ultra-light weight travel trailer Campmaster® from Holiday Rambler features an aerodynamic design and enclosed underbelly reduces unwanted air, turbulence and drag, providing excellent towability with today’s smaller SUV’s and Crossovers. The Campmaster® comes standard with high end features including aluminum wheels and a large exterior passthrough storage bay. A spacious kitchen features Mortise and Tenon hardwood cabinet doors, a microwave, 6 cubic-foot double door refrigerator and an oversize double kitchen sink with a high-rise faucet. The Campmaster® is available in five floorplans including two 23-foot models (21RB, 21RD) and two 30-foot models (28RDS, 28RLS). The 28RDS and 28 RLS feature full depth, flush-floor slide outs. Also available in the TailGater model (28RTS) which offers an exterior kitchen and entertainment center for outside convenience and entertaining. Available options include an exterior shower, 22-inch and 26” LCD flat screen TVs, free standing dinette and 8 cu. ft refrigerator.

For more information on the Campmaster® and the entire Holiday Rambler product line up, visit www.holidayrambler.com or call 800-245-4778.

In 2009, approximately 70,000 man-made fires burned out of control, resulting in damage to over 2 million acres of land, as well as injuries and destroyed property. Foremost® encourages you to keep our campgrounds safe this summer by following some of these fire safety tips.

“Carelessness with fire can do more damage than people think,” says Bill Pinchak, Grand Rapids claims manager for recreational vehicles. “It can destroy forests and wildlife and also cause injuries to you or your family. Camping equipment, like tents, sleeping bags, even your RV or travel trailer, can also be damaged.”

To stay safe this summer, follow these guidelines when building your campfire:

• Use existing fire rings, a fire mound or fire pans to build your fire
• Keep fires a safe distance from dwellings and vehicles
• Be aware of overhanging branches, dry leaves or other objects nearby that may catch fire
• Be aware of any unsafe weather conditions, such as high winds
• Pile any extra wood away from the fire
• Clear away any and all flammable material 10 feet around the fire, like trash, leaves or sticks
• Avoid using flammable liquids to start your fire
• Teach fire safety habits to children
• Keep your fire small
• Be sure your match is completely out
• Always monitor your fire – do not leave it unattended
• Keep water nearby in case the fire starts to spread – use water to completely extinguish the fire
• Shovel dirt onto the fire if you have no water
• Do not bury your coals-- they can smolder and catch something else on fire

Foremost Insurance Group (“Foremost”) is your source for personal property and casualty insurance. A part of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies®, Foremost has been a leader in the insurance industry since 1952. Foremost is headquartered in Caledonia, Michigan. To learn more about our products or share your feedback, visit www.Foremost.com, our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/foremostinsurance or our Twitter page at www.Twitter.com/foremost.

Click Illustration for Larger Image Remington Outdoor Foundation is supporting a second project at Oregon's Deschutes National Forest to restore the Metolius River and Whychus Creek.

Click Illustration for Larger Image One effort supported by Remington Outdoor Foundation and other partners is revitalizing the site of the 2002 Hayman Fire in Colorado's Pike National Forest.

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Remington Outdoor Foundation's first-year donation of $100,000 to the National Forest Foundation will be leveraged by more than $1 million in matching funds to help restore habitat at Colorado's Pike National Forest and the Deschutes National Forest in Oregon.

"Our support of the National Forest Foundation'sTreasured Landscapes, Unforgettable Experiences campaign enables us to help restore forest ecosystems, which is an important part of Remington Outdoor Foundation's conservation mission," said Jim Moore, president of the Remington Outdoor Foundation. "This investment in our National Forest System of $100,000 a year for three years will provide countless recreation and environmental benefits."

This country's 193-million-acre National Forest System provides clean air and water, diverse wildlife habitat and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. However, today's challenges to our national forests and grasslands, ranging from wildfire to invasive species to climate change, threaten these natural resources and wild places.

One effort supported by Remington Outdoor Foundation is revitalizing the Pike National Forest, the site of the 2002 Hayman Fire, Colorado's largest wildfire. The National Forest Foundation is working with community-based partners and the Forest Service to restore the Upper South Platte watershed (Denver's main water supply). Restoration work includes reducing sediment loads, enhancing and relocating trails, eradicating noxious weeds, planting trees and restoring wildlife habitat on approximately 45,000 acres burned in the Hayman Fire.

The National Forest Foundation expects to complete this project by 2012, the 10th anniversary of the Hayman wildfire. With its $50,000 grant, Remington Outdoor Foundation is helping leverage and match $350,000 from the U.S. Forest Service, $250,000 from Vail Resorts, $50,000 from the Gates Family Foundation, $50,000 from National Forest Foundation Chairman John Hendricks, and $250,000 from the National Forest Foundation for year one of the three-year restoration effort. Funds from this collaboration will be used to improve habitat for a variety of wildlife species including elk, deer, cutthroat trout and more.

Remington Outdoor Foundation is supporting a second project at Oregon's Deschutes National Forest with another $50,000 donation to restore the Metolius River and Whychus Creek. Over time, dam development and over-uses for irrigation and recreation have damaged the Metolius and Whychus and their historical fish habitat. Thanks to new fish passage systems, these streams will soon see the reintroduction of native salmon and steelhead migrating from the sea to freshwater to reproduce.

The National Forest Foundation has begun community-based efforts to restore these Deschutes National Forest watersheds and surrounding recreation sites thanks to Remington Outdoor Foundation's initial gift and another $168,000 generated from matching funds. These matches include $36,500 in private funds, $86,500 from the U.S. Forest Service, and a $45,000 grant from the county Resource Advisory Council.

"America's National Forests host millions of visitors each year, many of them enjoying the incredible hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities provided by our public lands," said Bill Possiel, National Forest Foundation president. "The Remington Outdoor Foundation is a natural partner for our efforts to perpetuate healthy national forests and grasslands, and we are extremely grateful for their partnership and support."

To learn more about Remington Outdoor Foundation's work with partners, visit their website, OutdoorRoadmap.com, which is poised to become the preeminent online source for information and services for hunters, target shooters and conservationists.

Stronger Laws, Better Data and Greater Focus Among Findings

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Recently, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) released a new report that provides the first comprehensive look at state activities and programs to address the growing problem of distracted driving. The report, "Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs," details a host of approaches states are implementing.

The survey found that states are aggressively pursuing solutions to distracted driving including: stronger laws, increased data collection, new education programs, public/private partnerships and a growing reliance on new media to spread the message.

State highway safety agencies from every state as well as the District of Columbia, Guam and American Samoa participated in the survey. Key findings are noted below.

• Distracted driving has emerged as a priority for state highway safety agencies. Twenty-seven states, D.C., and Guam indicated that distracted driving is included in their Strategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSPs). These plans reflect the statewide highway safety priorities of state safety-related agencies including Departments of Transportation, Departments of Motor Vehicles, as well as highway safety offices and many other state and local agencies. The detailed plans are only updated every few years; to already have more than half of the states listing distraction as a priority reflects the states' commitment on this serious issue. GHSA expects additional states to include distraction as SHSPs are updated.
• States have improved data collection efforts. In 2003, only 17 states collected information about distraction as a factor in crashes. Today, 43 states and D.C. report they collect this crucial data. Good data is a key component of a strong highway safety program, and GHSA is confident every state will include distraction in the near future.
• States are educating new drivers about distraction. In 2003, AAA reported that only five states had distinct distracted driving sections in their driver license manuals. Today, 32 states and D.C. have these sections. Additionally, distracted driving is a component of driver education in 18 states and D.C., and it is a question on the driver license test in 17 states and D.C.
• States have been passing a variety of distracted driving laws. Twenty-eight states, D.C. and Guam now ban text messaging by all drivers. The first state to do this was Washington in 2007, so states have been moving very quickly in this area. Seven states, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban hand-held cell phone use behind the wheel for all drivers. School bus drivers are prohibited from talking behind the wheel in 18 states and D.C.
• States are emphasizing public education. Thirty-seven states and D.C. have public information/education campaigns to warn about the dangers of driver distraction. Eight states noted they have initiated efforts to provide training or technical assistance to the judiciary on this topic.
• Public/private partnerships are increasing. Thirty-five states are working with other state agencies and private employers to address distracted driving. Sixteen states and D.C. have worked with other state agencies or private companies to develop distracted driving policies for their employees.
• States are using new technology to educate motorists. Fifteen states and D.C. are using social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook to promote anti-distracted driving messages.

To continue building momentum on distracted driving countermeasures as well as sharing best practices on a host of highway safety and technology issues, GHSA's 2010 Annual Meeting theme is "Technology and Highway Safety: What's Driving Our Future?" The conference takes place September 26-29 in Kansas City. More information is online at www.ghsa.org.

"Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs" was completed for GHSA by The Vermette Group in Ashburn, Virginia. Electronic copies are available online at www.ghsa.org. Printed copies will be mailed to GHSA Members.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org.