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February 2012 -- Volume 38 Number 7
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February 02, 2012 1459
Matt Zimmerman Named Keystone President and David Chupp Keystone COO

JACKSON CENTER, Ohio -- Thor Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO) announced that Bob Martin will become RV Group President effective February 1, 2012. Thor's six RV companies – Airstream, CrossRoads, Dutchmen, Heartland, Keystone RV and Thor Motor Coach – will report to Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin will report to Peter Orthwein, Thor's Chairman, President & CEO.

Mr. Martin, an 18-year industry veteran and Elkhart native, is currently President of Keystone RV, Thor's largest subsidiary.

In other management moves, Matt Zimmerman, currently Vice President of Sales for Keystone RV, succeeds Martin as President of Keystone. Mr. Zimmerman has been with Keystone 13 years in a variety of sales and management positions. In addition, David Chupp, currently Vice President of Finance for Keystone, has been named its Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Chupp joined Keystone in 2000.

"Bob, Matt, and David assume their new responsibilities with a history of success in their previous positions. These promotions will further strengthen Thor's leading position in the RV industry," commented Peter Orthwein, Thor's Chairman, President & CEO.

"I am privileged to have this opportunity to be associated with all the great Thor companies," said Bob Martin. "As the largest RV manufacturer in the world, Thor Industries has much to offer our customers, RV owners and the community. I look forward to working with all of Thor's RV companies in my new role to leverage the strength and capabilities of Thor Industries."

Source Thor Industries, Inc.

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January 30, 2012 1459
Cordeille Named Thetford CEO

Effective immediately, Stephane Cordeille has been promoted to chief executive officer of Thetford Corporation. The announcement was made January 24.

"Thetford is a global company with very similar operations in the US and Europe," said Cordeille. "Because of this, nothing changes for our customers and we will continue to make the best use of our global resources to the benefit of all our customers."

Cordeille has a long history with Thetford and is already known by many of Thetford's customers. He joined Thetford in 1988 as sales manager of its French subsidiary. He has served as director of sales & marketing and director of European operations before being named managing director of Thetford's RV Europe operations in 2004.

Prior to joining Thetford, Cordeille headed up the merchandising team for Gloria-Friskies, a unit of Nestle Corp. He has a degree in economics and attended the Business School of Exeter for commerce and management.

It was also announced that Peter Struijs was promoted to chief financial officer, worldwide. Struijs, who joined Thetford in 1999, has been the European director of finance and IT since 2006. Before that, he was the company's manager of finance. He holds a BA in business economics.

"These promotions indicate the strength of personnel at Thetford and the commitment of ownership to reward long-term performance and contribution to the company," said Michael J. Harris, president and COO of DKM (Thetford's parent company), referring to the promotions.

Thetford is a world leader in recreational products, including sanitation, refrigeration and other RV and marine products.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Thetford is the world's leading supplier of sanitation and refrigeration products for the RV, marine and heavy-duty truck industries. It is a privately-held company with eight manufacturing facilities in four nations.

Thetford subsidiaries include Norcold, America's leading manufacturer of gas-absorption refrigerators and freezers for the RV, marine and truck markets; Tecma, a producer of fine-china toilets and powerful waste-transfer systems based in Italy; and Thetford UK, a unit in England that manufactures Spinflo brand high-quality cooking and heating appliances as well as accessories.

Source Thetford Corporation

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January 23, 2012 1459
Job Fair Scheduled for Saturday, February 4th
Up to 130 Seasonal Positions Available at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort

SANTA CLAUS, Ind. -- Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort in Santa Claus, Indiana, is hosting a Job Fair on Saturday, February 4, 2012, at the Lake Rudolph office. The job fair will take place between 9:00 a.m. and Noon CST. Those interested in seasonal work this summer are invited to attend anytime during this 3-hour period and fill out an application.

Seasonal positions are available at Lake Rudolph in the following areas: Activities, Housekeeping, Blitzen Kitchen, Maintenance, Grounds, Call Center, Welcome Center, Camp Store, Lifeguards, Security, and Shuttle Drivers. Applicants may speak with representatives from each department and ask any questions.

All applicants are welcome. College students, high school students, retirees and others are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age, with some positions requiring applicants to be older. Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort is located on Highway 245. Those attending the job fair should arrive at the main entrance to the campground and will be directed where to park.

For those that are not able to attend the job fair, applications will be available at the Lake Rudolph office during regular business hours. A downloadable application is also available on the Employment page of the Lake Rudolph website. All applications must be returned by March 9, 2012.

Twice-named National RV Park of the Year, Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, opens daily on May 1, 2012. Reservations are being taken for the 2012 season. To make reservations visit www.LakeRudolph.com or call toll-free 1-877-478-3657.

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January 18, 2012 1459
Stag-Parkway Honors Winegard as a Vendor of the Year with Coveted ‘Peach’ Award

BURLINGTON, Iowa -– During the ‘Driving Success’ Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nev. Stag-Parkway recognized Winegard Company for its key contributions to the company’s overall success with its 2011 Partnership award, which has become known throughout the RV industry as the "Peach." This is Winegard’s fourth Peach Award.

Stag-Parkway recognized Winegard Company for its outstanding product quality and new technology, a strong commitment to dealer training, technical service, and superior communications efforts. Winegard was also commended on its commitment and support to the Complete Merchandising Solutions program.

"We have worked diligently as a company to establish ourselves as a leader in the industry," said Aaron Engberg, director of mobile product division for Winegard. "It is rewarding to have our hard efforts recognized by a respected leader such as Stag-Parkway and I am honored to accept this award for Winegard."

Winegard supplies a complete mobile product line up to Stag-Parkway, including TRAV’LER, RoadTrip and Carryout satellite TV antennas as well as Sensar and RoadStar over-the-air TV antennas, along with a wide variety of accessories.

Stag-Parkway’s product management team uses a 10-point scale to measure supplier performance across four important business metrics. The overall score is then added to a subjective component that helps the company arrive at the final group of recipients.

Source Winegard Company

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January 13, 2012 1459
Winnebago Announces Retirement Plans for Chairman Bob Olson

FOREST CITY, Iowa -- Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO) announced the retirement of Bob Olson from the position of Chairman of the Board effective on February 24, 2012.

Randy Potts, 53, will assume the role of Chairman of the Board in addition to his current positions of Chief Executive Officer and President, in accordance with the Company's succession plans. A 28-year veteran of Winnebago Industries, Potts joined the Company in 1983 as a senior tool designer. He has served in various engineering and management positions since that time. In January 2011, he was elected to the position of President and was elected to the additional role of Chief Executive Officer in June 2011. Potts has also served as Vice President, Manufacturing and Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning in which he was responsible for new business development for the Company. Potts is a graduate of Hawkeye Institute of Technology in Waterloo, Iowa.

Olson, 60, is a 43-year veteran of Winnebago Industries. While relinquishing his role as Chairman of the Board, he will remain a member of the board of directors and will also continue to serve in his role on the Executive Committee of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association and as Co-Chair of the Go-RVing Coalition. "I look forward to traveling more with my wife, Kathy, in our Winnebago Journey motor home as we experience the RV lifestyle we have promoted the last 43 years," said Olson. "I am also excited to continue to serve the Company as a member of the Board of Directors. Randy has done an outstanding job in leading Winnebago Industries since his promotions last year and I have every confidence in his ability to lead as we continue to move forward and grow in the future."

"Bob has successfully led Winnebago Industries through some of the most challenging times in our Company's history," said Potts. "We are greatly indebted to Bob for his exemplary service, his unwavering dedication and his passion for improving quality and performance in every area of our organization. I feel fortunate to have ready access to his expertise in his continued role as a member of our Board of Directors and look forward to moving forward with the vision he has helped to chart for the Company's future."

Source Winnebago Industries

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January 10, 2012 1459
Free Admission to All National Parks from January 14-16

WASHINGTON, DC--Start your new year with a free visit to a national park! All 397 national parks across the country will offer free admission from January 14 through 16 to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

You can literally walk in Dr. King's footsteps at Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Georgia, the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama, or the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC – jjust a few of the many national parks that have direct ties to Dr. King or the Civil Rights movement.

Other parks that will hold special events honoring Dr. King that weekend include the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC, Morristown National Historical Park in New Jersey, Fort Donelson National Battlefield in Tennessee, and Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, DC.

"Dr. King led the fight to realize his dream of a nation free of discrimination, where every citizen was able to enjoy the inalienable rights promised to all Americans,"? said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "Dr. King's story and those of so many others whose efforts changed our country are preserved in the national parks, places where history happened. I hope every American can take advantage of the upcoming fee free weekend and visit their parks to experience their history firsthand."?

Your nearest national park can also help you keep that New Year's resolution, whether it is to get more exercise, spend quality time with family and friends, try a new sport, learn some history, expand your horizons, or enjoy the natural world. There's something for everyone at a national park, even in the middle of winter. Choices include snow shoe hikes, canoe trips, campfire programs, film festivals, battle reenactments, and music jams. It is also a great time of year to view wildlife such as bison in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming or grey whales at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. A list of activities can be found at www.nps.gov.

The National Park Service will also waive admission fees on 14 other days in 2012 – National Parrk Week (April 21 to 29), Get Outdoors Day (June 9), National Public Lands Day (September 29), and the weekend of Veterans Day (November 10 to 12).

Source The National Park Service

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January 10, 2012 1459
Lifestyle Luxury Resort Vehicles Division Unveiled by EverGreen

MIDDLEBURY, Ind. – EverGreen Recreational Vehicles in Middlebury, Ind., announces the name of its much-anticipated high-end fifth wheel division: Lifestyle Luxury Resort Vehicles.

This stand-alone division is housed in its own separate 100,000-square-foot facility recently purchased in Middlebury. According to national sales manager Elliott Bond, Lifestyle LRV will eventually employ a large staff consisting almost entirely of former key Carriage employees.

The last several weeks have been full of activity with ongoing developments in the product and staff, Bond said, and there is a high amount of enthusiasm already circulating about the new Lifestyle LRV brand.

Source EverGreen Recreational Vehicles

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