Kicking the Tires with Jeff Sims

Testing the Assumption: I'm Full Every Weekend!

2012-02-28T06:31:00.000-08:00

I'm full every weekend. Have you ever said that? When I hear that phrase, what I interpret it as is "I'm not full on weekdays." Usually it is used as an excuse, a reason why the person speaking doesn't need to belong to an association. The fact is, that by belonging and attending state meetings members can take advantage of the opportunity to network with other park operators and get new ideas.

For example, when I uttered those words to myself, a very interesting solution appeared. It drove me to visit three major hospitals in my area and, working with their Human Resources Department, I worked out a benefit for their employees to provide them a variety of benefits and discounts at my park.

Why did I do that? Think about it, hospitals are usually major employers in an area, they have three shifts of people, and many work weekends. Hospital staff have Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays off. It is a great market to boost low occupancy times while providing valuable R and R to these hard working, high stress professionals.

As an association member, when I attend meetings and seminars my goal is very simple and focused. All I need to do is to come away with one good idea to increase revenues and/or one good idea to curb expenses to make it all worthwhile. Typically, I come away with a whole lot more than just two actionable ideas. Make plans to attend your spring state meetings (review the meetings calendar on www.arvc.org ). Representatives from ARVC will be present at most of the state meetings this year. Bring your challenges and your ideas; we'll see you there.

"Old Tires & Tree Stumps"

2012-01-20T12:23:00.000-08:00

A couple of things that seem to accumulate around a park are old tires and tree stumps. The old tires are usually the result of when you change tires on your vehicle there's always that "one" that wasn't totally worn out and you might need it someday. The tree stumps are usually cut off high enough so you won't hit rocks with your chainsaw and believe that someday you will hire someone to come to your park and grind them out. Both are good intentions and poor execution because someday rarely arrives.

One day I got out my Sawzall and cut the tread portion of the tires into the shape of palm leaves about two feet long. The next step was to dry brush them with green paint. If you have never dry brushed, it is very simple. Dab your paint brush in the paint and using an old plastic coffee can lid (or any other surface) wipe most of the paint off. Then lightly brush over the top surface of the tire and not in the grooves. The tread design will give you somewhat of a leaf pattern. Then mount the leaf on top of the stump. It will be virtually indestructible.

Not all tires will work for this because of the steel belts. You don't want to have little steel wires poking out everywhere. If you have a great idea or solution you would like me to share, please send it to me at jsims arvc.org

Mirrors & Moisture

2011-12-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

I always found it frustrating for the mirrors in my shower houses to begin losing the silver around the borders and while functional, they didn't really look that good. I also didn't like getting a 1/2 point reduction from the directories when they rated my park. My conservative nature would never allow me to discard 52 perfectly good mirrors let alone the cost of replacement.

I found an inexpensive solution to my problem. Wheel paint! I went to my local auto parts store and for under $6 purchased a spray can of High Performance Wheel Paint. The label said it had improved resistance to chemicals, cleaning solvents, heat & chipping. Add a roll of masking tape (under $3) and some old newspapers, you can mask off a mirror in minutes.

I would spray the back of the mirror where the flaking had occurred to seal it and then spray the front which I had previously masked off a border. The finished product looked like they were in a frame.

If you have any ideas you would like me to pass on please send them to me at jsims@arvc.org.

Happy Holidays!

You Could Hear the Smiles!

2011-12-04T19:36:00.000-08:00

We just completed the Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo presented by ARVC in Savannah, GA. If you missed it, you missed something special. I had the opportunity to be a co host with Bob MacKinnon on the SPOT (Successful Park Operators Tour) for 2 days prior to the "Conference". We toured parks in GA & SC and spent one night on the road in Myrtle Beach. This was a great opportunity for our members to see all types of parks, visit with owners & managers of those parks and whole lot of networking and discussions on the coach.

The "Conference" had so many quality educational seminars it was hard to choose which ones to attend. The "Expo" was just as fantastic. Quality vendors & products. I even had vendors tell me it was the best ARVC Expo they have been to in some time. The special events like the Low Country Boil were also chalked full of fun and surprises not to mention great food. The Foundation Auction was very successful & entertaining with David L. Berg & Dick Hartford auctioneering. Karl Littman, Foundation Fundraising Chair did a great job and even walked in the Disaster Relief Walk.

Some of the new ARVC Member exclusive benefits were unveiled as well. The new Direct TV program had people talking about how many thousands of dollars this one new program was going to save them. Paul Bambei unveiled the new "ARVC Blanket Music License" we are working on. This program has been needed for a long time and is very close to becoming a reality. I'll keep you informed.

I just got in to Erie, PA tonight getting ready for the PCOA Convention tomorrow. I haven't seen all the figures yet about the ARVC Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo but I can tell you this: There were smiles on peoples faces, there was a spring in their step and the enthusiasm and optimism was absolutely contagious. You could hear the smile in their voice.

Tired of Plugged Sewer Lines? Try 4x3x4

2011-11-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

No, this is not some new product to pour down your sewer lines. Sewer lines get plugged by a variety of obstacles like rocks, toys, etc. I have found one way to reduce the number of times I had to locate & dig up a plugged line. It's 4x3x4! 6 to 12 inches below the sewer cap cut out a foot of the 4 inch S&D (Sewer & Drain) PVC pipe. Install a 4x3 inch reducer coupling on each end with a piece of 3 inch S&D pipe in the middle. Keep the first coupling close enough to the surface so you can reach it. While it may not be pleasant, 98% of your plugs can be easily reached and removed without any digging or locating. If something will pass through the 3 inch line it more than likely will not become an obstruction further down the line.

While reaching into a plugged sewer line is not pleasant it sure beats digging. Wearing a protective glove inside an inverted trash bag you can reach in and pull out the offending obstruction. Flip the bag over as you pull it out and it's ready for the dumpster. This is a low cost, labor saving solution to plugged sewer lines. I recently purchased a 4x3 coupling for $2.49 and the 3 inch pipe was .41 cents per foot.

The worst thing I ever had stuck was a softball. I had to screw an eye screw into the softball to pull it out. I was delighted that it was not able to find its way further down the line.

If you have any tips you would like to share and have me pass along please send them to me at jsims@arvc.org.

I'm Forgetting Something....

2011-10-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

We’ve all done it. I would say to myself, “I’m going to remember to shut that valve off”. It was usually on one of my pools that I needed to add water to and would turn on the fresh water valve (with a backflow preventer) to fill the pool. Then the normal routine would set in, the next phone call, a guest wanting to check out, a restroom has an emergency, somebody just backed over an electric pedestal, etc. And lo and behold, the next thing I would do is go by a pool that was overflowing. It had completely slipped my mind.

I found a very inexpensive solution to my problem. I bought some of those plastic coiled wrist bands and attached a plastic tag to them. I labeled the tag and draped it on each valve so whoever turned on the valve had to wear the “bracelet”. I obviously was not concerned with attempting to make a fashion statement but it stopped 99% of the, “Oops, I forgot”.

Hospitals?

2011-08-15T06:46:00.001-07:00

In my park visits last year a ran across a park owner who said,"I don't need your association, I'm full every weekend." Having been involved in ARVC for most of my professional career I well know the importance of networking. Attending the ARVC convention is the perfect place and I always got a return on my investment of the cost of attending. Yes, attendance is an investment in your park.

I told the gentleman, "What you are really telling me is that you are not full on weekdays." I decided to give him an idea I had years ago at my park. I worked with the Human Resources Departments of three major hospitals and set up an employee discount at my park. Think about it. Hospitals are usually major employers in an area, have three shifts of people and they are not all off on weekends. Many are off on Monday & Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday and will provide you an opportunity to fill in low occupancy times.

I told the park owner that is just one example of things you can pick up by networking with members of an association. He replied, "Maybe I do need your association after all!"

Thanks for the Memories - Jay & Marji Otto

2011-07-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I received, like many in the industry, an email from Jay & Marji Otto, Executive Directors of the New Jersey Campground Owners Association (NJCOA) that they were going to retire and were cleaning out the file cabinets. they asked if anyone wanted some of the old programs from NCOA (now ARVC) days of which I responded, Yes. A few days later a package arrived at my home chalked full of association memories for me.

As I went through the package, which went back many years, I read the convention programs, looked at all the pictures and some brought genuine laughter while some caused tears to well up in my eyes. Many, many good friends that are no longer with us. I ran across a picture of Stan Martin whose name is now associated with one of the highest honors our industry bestows, The Stan Martin Award. I was the 6th recipient of this award in 1998 and when I looked at my friend's picture I was overwhelmed and humbled all over again just like the night I received this great honor.

The NCOA 1989 Convention Program really caught my eye. The President was Al Daniels whom I have always had a great deal of respect. The Keynote Speaker was Captain James Lovell, Jr. who was a world famous astronaut and a real American Hero known for the Apollo missions to the moon. More specifically, the Apollo 13 mission that he and his crew were able to get back to Earth in the crippled space module. I had the privilege to set beside him and visit. He even autographed the program for my children, Brandon & Amber. I was in awe. This past week we also watched as the space shuttle program came to it's conclusion.

I looked at the pictures of Jay & I and noticed how young we looked. I remember many great times with Jay & Marji through the years. I also remember Jay riding with me in Washington D.C. when I inadvertently got in the left lane in one of those turnabouts. I don't actually recall how many times we made the loop but I told Jay we were on the scenic route after the 5th go around. Somebody finally let us back over.

While I am happy for Jay & Marji, I really hate to see them retire. I think about all of those people in the industry that have passed the torch on through the years. Our industry is definitely better because of the high standards, professionalism and dedication that Jay & Marji Otto brought to ARVC. I will sure miss them but wish them all the best on a well deserved retirement.

Tornado in Sedalia, MO

2011-06-20T05:03:00.000-07:00

On May 25^th I went up my drive to get my newspaper and noticed something looked odd but in the darkness I couldn’t tell. When daylight broke I noticed one of the large trees in my yard was down. The recent storms across the country have kept most of southwest Missouri hunkered down. I’m sure everyone has heard about the disaster from an F5 tornado in Joplin, MO so a tree down in the front yard seemed pretty trivial.

Later on that day I received an email from Mary Arlington who owns High Plains Camping in Oakley, KS. She sent me a video and pictures of the damage done in Sedalia, MO and asked if was our good friends Norman & Linda Alcorn at Countryside Senior RV Park. The aerial photos didn’t pan down to the park

(I know the area well) but I did recognize TransCentral, a 14 bay diesel engine repair shop that the Alcorn’s own had took a direct hit which is located a few blocks north of their park. I immediately tried to contact them via phone, text message & email but as we all know, communications are severely hampered in a natural disaster. The not knowing made me sick in my gut. Linda is the Co-Director of the Missouri Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (MOARC) and has served the association for many years.

I loaded up my gear that night and headed to Sedalia before daybreak the next morning. I was about 20 miles south of Sedalia when I got a phone call from Larry Helms who is the MOARC President & ARVC Board Member and he said he had just talked with Linda and they were okay. What a relief! Put this in perspective. Not much earlier, portions of Larry’s park were 15 feet underwater. It just goes to show what the people in this industry are like. No matter what is happening in their world, they still show concern for each other.

When I got to Countryside Senior RV Park I found Norman. He said he got all the guests in his basement and other than some minor debris, the park was fine. Norman looked at me and said,” I can’t believe you drove all the way from Branson to check on us.” I said, “Norman, if it had happened to me, you would have done the same.” He smiled and said, “Yes I would.”

I then made the short drive over to TransCentral where I talked with Linda. She gave me the tour and recounted in vivid detail what happened. She was trying to get the employees behind a retaining wall and a panicked lady came in off the street wanting to know where to go. One of the staff grabbed the lady and jumped in one of their service vans in the shop. Linda just about waited too late herself and got into the restroom with several others as the tornado hit. Linda walked me through the aftermath of broken glass, twisted metal, uprooted trees, turned over tanker and unbelievably, no one was hurt. The mobile home court beside them looked like a bomb had gone off.

They were now just waiting on the insurance adjusters and seeing that there was nothing I could do I gave them both a hug thankful they were okay & headed back home. Norman & Linda’s fast thinking & actions saved lives. On the long drive home I got to thinking how thankful I am to be in an industry where people really care about each other. We are a big family.

ARVC's Jeff Sims - Video Interview

2011-05-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

ARVC's Director of Membership and Public Affairs, Jeff Sims, sat down with Evanne Schmarder to talk about his new ARVC (National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds) responsibilities, his recent epic park journey and his view on partnering with RV park and campground owners/operators - his customers.

ARVC is moving forward in so many positive ways. Be sure and check out all the Member Benefit Providers along with all the new directions ARVC is pursuing at http://www.arvc.org/. If you ever have questions, comments or need assistance please contact me at jsims@arvc.org or call me, Cell: 417-337-0451.

Bucket List Bull Riding

2011-05-05T10:42:00.000-07:00

This has been a hectic month of travel going to state association meetings. This past week at the TACO Convention I visited with Cap'n Kury from the Twin Elm Guest Ranch in Bandera, TX. We met last year at TACO and I was wearing a pair of bull fighter boots that I purchased at the ARVC auction back in the 90's that had been donated by TACO. For those of you who don't know what they are, they are tennis shoe cowboy boots made for bull fighters in a rodeo. The Cap'n recognized what they were immediately and we became good friends. His wife Victoria even tried to buy them from me.

He told me he had a new program for old guys like me that wanted to try their hand at bull riding called the Bucket List Bull Riding. Bulls weren't quite as rank. I immediately put that in my bucket list and then common sense kicked in about 8 seconds later and I took it back out of my bucket.

Last year I finally got the chance to work on something in my bucket list and personally visited 1,823 parks. I had always wanted to do that. Now in my new position with ARVC I have the opportunity to continue working for the industry that fuels my passion. There's the old saying, "The start stops most people." What's in your Bucket List?

Customer Service?

2011-03-31T07:05:00.000-07:00

There is the old saying that if you have to have a sign that says, "Customer Service" you probably don't have it. I arrived in Chicago O'Hare the other day to find my connecting flight had been cancelled. Also I found that I had not been re booked on the next flight. I made the trek thru the airport to find the Customer Service counter. I was 11th in line and when my turn came the customer service agent got up and said she was taking a break. There were now probably 50 people behind me by now and a guy way back there started shouting (he's probably still there). I was told I would have to spend the night in Chicago and I told her that wasn't an option for me, so I asked for my checked bag and was told the only way I could get it was if I had pills in it and it was a medical emergency. I told her I didn't and that I was not going to lie about it. Long story short, after 20 minutes of this nonsense she handed me a boarding pass for the next flight and guess what? It wasn't full. Side note: Rob Schutter with LSI & I crossed paths in WI and he asked me if I was flying again? He said he had started to encounter quirky things on his flights and it must have rubbed off on him. Yes Rob, I'm flying again.

March Madness?

2011-03-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

I've always heard the term "March Madness" as it relates to the game of basketball. Now, for me it is referring to that time of year when many State Associations hold their Annual Conventions & Meetings. This entire month will require many of the ARVC staff to be on the road, which gives us a chance to visit with you firsthand and listen to your needs & concerns. For me it is also a time to catch up with good friends and make some new ones along the way. I know for many parks that this is the time of year when you are gearing up for your season. It's easy to say, "I don't have the time." I have a saying, "If you want to be there, you will find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse." Hope to see you there.

The Electrician

2011-02-14T16:03:00.000-08:00

I flew out to Washington, D.C. this week to attend the Small Business Legislative Council’s (SBLC) Annual Membership Meeting. Very unique group made up of a wide variety of Associations.

Did you ever have that guest that used to be an electrician that took it upon himself to inspect your electric pedestal? A little frustrating to say the least. I used to be a private pilot and I always kept that image of the “electrician” in the back of my mind. I boarded a plane one time and told the flight attendant to have the Captain check the aircraft’s tires because one was flat. It really was and our flight was delayed while they fixed it. I always make it a habit not to discuss those things with the flight crew but that one had escaped them. When I use to take commercial flights it became so documented about the crazy things that happened that some of the ARVC members would call me to see what flight I was on so they could avoid it. I’m not kidding.

I haven’t flown anywhere in probably a decade. My new position with ARVC requires me to fly rather extensively so if you are on a flight somewhere around the country and you see my smiling face on the same flight just kick back & relax. We’ll get to where we’re going eventually. Someday I’ll write the book.

Groundhog Day

2011-02-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

Did you ever see the movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray who keeps living the same day over and over again? Sometimes running your park seems that way.

Having been involved in this industry since I was 10 years old there are some things that I have seen over and over again. For Example: When a group of park owners & operators get together you will always hear someone say, “ Yes, but my park is a little different”. They are correct. I have never seen two parks that were exactly alike. There are many categories we use to distinguish our parks in the industry. We use terms like ONS (Overnight Stop), Destination, Resort, Campground, RV Park, Snowbird, Long Term and the list could continue on & on.

So, how do we find the common ground for everyone in this industry? I believe it is each parksuniqueness that makes us alike. This is our commonality. I know what you’re thinking, yes but there are also Small, Medium, Large, & Mega Parks to consider, so let’s do that. I am not a respecter of size of the park. Granted, each has a set of problems & issues they face. It is all relative. A Small Parks problem is just as real as a Mega Parks & visa versa when you look at them as a percentage of investment, budget, manpower, etc.

I have learned something from every category in this industry. I got ideas that maybe wouldn’t necessarily work for me until I took that idea and molded it into something that fit my uniqueness. As the new ARVC Director of Membership & Public Affairs I will always be encouraging you to embrace the idea that it is our uniqueness that is our bond.

Still kicking the tires, Jeff

Dear ARVC Members: My Passion is Still Burning for this Industry!!!!

2011-02-02T13:39:00.000-08:00

I was involved in ARVC back when it was called NCOA and was located in Martinsville, IL. A lot of time has passed but I still have that passion deep down in my gut for the RV Park & Campground industry. I am excited to be the new Director of Membership & Public Affairs for ARVC. Derek Dick is the new Membership Manager and he and I worked closely together last year when Susie (my wife) & I visited 1,823 parks across the country on behalf of ARVC and the Affiliated State Associations.

What did we learn? It is important to listen to our members and what is important to them and find ways to make their job a little better, even a little more profitable. I was involved with my family in our park for 40 years. Have things changed over the years? Of course, especially when I remember seeing my first 20' trailer and wondering what is next. Sometimes I was so busy running my business I didn't have time to think about what's next. Then one day I heard about something called the internet. The units we accommodate have changed, the way we do business has changed and if you were like me, I did it kicking & screaming along the way.

Some things should never become outdated or go out of style. Derek & I want to provide you with 1st class customer service. I always asked my staff, "Is the customer an interruption in your work or the purpose of it?" You, the members of ARVC are the purpose of our work and we will work hard for you.

-Jeff Sims