Testing the Assumption: I'm Full Every Weekend!

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"

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 jsimsarvc.org

Mirrors & Moisture

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!

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

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....

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?

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!"