Updates – Savannah

Several members of the ARVC Michigan Board of Directors attended ARVC’s Outdoor Hospitality Expo in Savannah and each of us saw and heard different things.  Following is a summary of updates:

Dave and Jill, White River RV Park & Campground.  ARVC Michigan Vice President
Unlike many of the attendees from Michigan, our participation at the ARVC National Hospitality Conference and Expo was that of an owner/operator of a campground, not necessarily involved with matters of the Association.  So we will share “snapshots” of our experience.

OPINION:    ARVC National is clearly in a transitional period.  Lot’s of good stuff, but at the crux, how do you increase presence and revenue of our national association?  Increase cost to existing members or broaden membership?  The course right now is to broaden membership.

THANKS:    Special thank yu’al to those who attended at their own expense to represent Michigan in matters of the Association; Joan Holtz, the Nagel family, the Wilcox family.  Everyone in attendance from Michigan is accounted !

COMMENT:    Tracie Fisher, Executive Director of ARVC Michigan was a terrific representative of Michigan campground owners during the conference.  Tate, thank you for understanding our challenge and your perseverance.

Joan Holz, Holiday Camping Resort.  ARVC Michigan Director, Chair of Marketing Committee, ARVC Council of Delegates Representative.
What a pleasure to be able to attend our National ARVC Convention this year.  Much like our own association in Michigan the National association is in transition with a new Executive Director and President.  This ongoing process is not always smooth or without mistakes.  We are all human, after all.  I feel it is vital to get the information out to our Michigan members regarding the Strategic Task Forces recommendations so our members that are interested will have a chance to comment to National with their own opinions.  This process began in Orlando at last year’s convention.  Many of us spent the entire day working on suggestions for National ARVC’s direction.  These committees have worked very hard and devoted their time to come up with these recommendations.  Not all agreed and this has to be crystal clear to our members that these are works in progress.  I’m sure ARVC will be having another survey in 2012 and I would hope to figure out how we could get more of our members to respond.  The response to these surveys are so minimal it’s pathetic.

National ARVC has come up with many new programs to give REAL $ value to membership.  I think we will need to use our constant contact and our news letter to continue to get this information out to our members and non-members.  We also need to include the information Bob Kern has about the Sony Bono law.  I would think any of our members that just want to play a little background music in their stores(providing the size) would be able to demand that the music companies stop calling them.  A person has a right to demand that telemarketers stop calling them.

Such a pleasure to spend some time with all of our Michigan ARVC members that attended this year’s convention.  We really are a strong association and now have more tools to grow our membership.  Lot’s of work ahead of us, but we can do this!  Love to all, Joni

Tim Wilcox, Gateway Park Campground, ARVC Michigan President
Greetings ARVC-MI Campground owners,

Wow, what a great National Convention! First I would like to thank everyone that attended the National Convention and represented all of the Michigan Campgrounds, your sacrifice must be commended.   This is the 4th National Convention that I have attended but it was the first as the President of Michigan and boy it was an eye opener for me. I had no idea how much time and effort that past members had to put in to this convention representing Michigan in meeting after meeting. I attended both of the National Board meetings, the State Presidents’ Meeting and our Region Caucasus.  Deb Nagel and Joni Holz attended the COD meeting (Council of Delegates), Tracie Fisher attended both days of the CAMP Meeting and the Foundation Board meeting. Many other members from our association attended meetings  and for that I thank you all.

Rest assured that the National Association and our Regional Reps Gary Cole and Bud Styer heard us loud and clear that the Michigan Campground owners are unhappy and things need to change. The ARVC Michigan Board of Directors have felt for many years that our Regional Reps and the National Board have not communicated very well or represented Michigan very well at the national level.  We told them enough is enough!  With that being said Gary Cole’s seat will be up for election next year and we’re looking for someone to fill that seat. The pay stinks,  the rewards are few and far but Michigan needs that seat so think about it.

The New National ARVC Board  members are: Chairman Rob Schutter of Leisure Systems Inc. in Milford, Ohio; First Vice Chairwoman Marcia Galvin of Normandy Farms in Foxboro, Mass.; second Vice Chairman Michael Gelfand of Terra Vista Management in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Secretary Terry Munoz of Thousand Trails-Lake Conroe in Willis, Texas; and Treasurer Patrick O’Neill of Camping on the Gulf in Destin, Fla. The past chairman is David L. Berg.  New ARVC board members include Mark Wineman of Kalyumet Campground in Lucinda, Pa.; Saundra Bryn of Desert’s Edge RV Village in Phoenix, Ariz.; and Tim Deputy of Sun N Fun RV Resort in Sarasota, Fla.

Now, I need your help!

The Michigan Board of Directors will be working on a position page regarding the Preliminary Strategic Task Force Report that was released about 3 weeks ago and are available on the member-only side of the ARVC.org web site. This document was reduced to 15 points that will require ARVC National Board action and or some by-law changes to our association. We want  your input, questions and comments.  If you will be attending the board meeting please let us know, a larger venue may be needed. The next meeting will be held on January 18, 2012 at Lansing Sanitary in Lansing MI. Please remember as you read the 15 Points Preliminary Strategic Task Force Report remember that this is only a working document.  This is not the final document; there are many ideas that do not work with our Michigan By-laws and we will communicate this strongly to our national association.

Task Force Summary

1. Communications could be improved if instead of the Supplier Council Representative sitting on the ARVC board, the Supplier Council Representative is given a seat on the Business Forum at no cost to the representative. The Supplier Council Representative would not be on the ARVC Board, but rather have a seat on the Business Forum. The Business Forum would continue to elect a chairperson of their Forum (which may or may not be the Supplier Council representative) and that chairperson wuld have a seat on the ARVC Board. All of the Supplier Council Dues would be given to the Business Forum to pay for that seat on the Business Forum.   This would reduce the ARVC Board by one person but still give vendors enough voice in the organization. We believe this would improve communications for vendors. 2. A portion of the ARVC dues that are retained by the affiliated states could be used as an incentive bonus to state executives.3. Provide for a cut off date for all affiliated states for gateway submittal, such as no later than August 1, prior to ARVC new fiscal year start of 10/1. ARVC will send dues bill to affiliated states by September 1, prior to ARVC new fiscal year start of 10/1.
Dues payment dates and percentages to be retained by affiliated states: Payment made to ARVC on or before 10/31, state retains 20%, by November 30, state retains 10%. If dues are received after November 30, no percentage is retained. This formula would be included in the bill ARVC sends to the affiliated states for RVC dues, i.e. if paid by 10/31 X is owed, by 11/10 “Y” is owed, and if paid after 11/30 full payment is due.

Dues collection inconsistencies currently exist and we suggest states align timing and structure and listing on invoices. Said language can be contained in negotiated affiliate agreement.

Consider new dues structure for more fairness to all members taking into consideration the current amount collected, based on net zero change but increasing on larger park cap and reducing on smaller park end of dues scale.

Remove cap of per space dues off of larger parks

4. ARVC a la cart dues for affiliated states: This issue was discussed and felt it was not a good idea to allow affiliates states to ask members to pick and choose. (state, regional, national)

5. Direct Membership: It was felt that ARVC should only have direct membership for non-affiliated states, or in an affiliated state that does not have a particular category for membership, and for large multi park – multi state park owners such as ELS and the details would be covered in a negotiated agreement between ARVC and the states. (ARVC collects dues and sends state share to them)

6. Should ARVC become an Association of State Associations? This would not work as the needs/interest of individual state associations and their leadership may be different from that of campground owners overall nationwide, who are our main concern and responsibility.

7. Create an ARVC Education Committee that would set goals and dates for completion for various projects to staff which would need to align with Foundation goals.

8. For new ARVC members, offer a payment plan for dues the first year only, such as 3 to 6 months to pay annual dues.

9. GCA to add all parks, all types, members and non members alike.

10. Create a new “Associate Member” category and an “ARVC Member Employee” category for $50/yr fee and tie to the Outdoor Hospitality Education Program.  This would provide special convention rates and access to education opportunities. The entire $50 cost of yearly associate or employee member dues would be credited toward their cost of annual convention fees or even could be credited toward purchased on line education opportunities.

Associate Full Time Student Membership for low yearly fee such as $25 allowing students access to educational opportunities and ability to attend convention (again fees credited toward convention fees or on line educational fees).

Associate Member would be for any outdoor industry related folks and possibly have a higher yearly rate such as $100 or more.  Could even be same as average ARVC dues $275.  This would allow our membership to grow and increase attendance at annual convention.  Some level of this fee (if higher) would be allowed to be credited toward annual convention fees.

Establish method (language) to prevent regular members from dropping full membership in ARVC and moving to associate or employee membership.

Managers and or owners would not qualify for the ARVC Member Employee category or Associate Member categories (requires bylaw change).

11. First 3 years No changes in National and State Roles & Responsibilities except how interacting with the following: Multiple Park, In-State Operators, Multiple Park, Multiple State Operators, Public Agency Parks.

12. After 3 years change how ARVC interacts the following: States with no association, states with current affiliated association, and states with multiple associations.

13. Public Agency Parks: States able to solicit all state and municipal parks preferably with ARVC dues, but not mandatory. ARVC has the right to solicit federal agency and US military parks. ARVC will share no less than 20% of the dues (with states) ARVC could collect states dues if park wished to be state member.

14. States with Current Affiliated Associations: State can choose to remain affiliated and keep 20% discount on dues or become cooperating, receiving reduced discounts to amounts previously defined and ARVC will then be able to accept direct membership but the dues will be at a premium rate above standard dues rate (perhaps 10 to 15% higher)

15. In states with multiple associations: ARVC will maintain existing relationship with current Affiliated Associations and honor the 20% discount. ARVC will continue to develop Cooperating relationships with other associations not to exceed a 15% discount. ARVC will accept direct membership but at the premium rate.

In the next few months you can expect bi monthly updates from Michigan regarding Promo, National Deals and updated to the Music Licensing agreements, Direct TV Agreements, ADA Lifts and other thinks that your board would like to inform you of.

I hope that everyone is having a restful and relaxing winter break,  Sincerely, Tim Wilcox

Tracie Fisher, ARVC Michigan Executive Director:
So much happened in Savannah it’s hard to squeeze it all in.  I attended CAMP meetings (Campground Association Management Professionals) for two days and learned an enormous amount.  CAMP is comprised of many of the state executive directors.

We talked a lot about ARVC and each state’s relationship with them.  There are many changes afoot, and truthfully – that is what we’ve asked for, sometimes, though, change can be difficult to assimilate.  We in Michigan want to have a say in the changes that transpire and this year we attended the National Conference with that mission in mind.  Each of us attended meetings and the trade show as a representative of Michigan.  We met people, asked questions and volunteered for projects.

We’ll be sharing what we’ve learned over the next several months.  We want to hear from all of our members.  Tell us what is important to you and help us develop our wish-list in talking to ARVC.  Call or email me any time at (989) 619-2608 – info@michcampgrounds.com.  Thanks very much and stay tuned.  Tracie Fisher