Archive for February, 2006

>RV-related Action Items from RVAct
2/15/2006

Escapees RV Club is a long-standing partner of the RV Alliance for Camping and Travel (RVAct). The mission of this coalition of consumer and business organizations is to educate, organize, and mobilize members of the RV community into a grassroots force ready to act on important issues. The range of topics is vast, but the overriding objective of RVAct is to ensure that the voice of the RV community is heard on issues affecting the future of RV travel and camping. You can learn more about RVAct and check out their newsletter at www.rvact.com

We wanted to alert you to several action items currently on their slate:

Residents of Alabama: A reduction in ad valorem tax from 20% down to 15% on RVs (travel trailers and motorhomes) is being proposed in Senate bills SB 3 and SB 10. You can learn more about the issue, read a sample letter, and send your own personalized message by going to this link: http://capwiz.com/rvact/issues/alert/?alertid=8473701&type=ST
You may also call or email your state representatives, and tell them you support lowering the ad valorem tax on RVs.

Both Alabama and Mississippi are looking at legislation that supports RV friendly road sign markers. The “RV Friendly” logo—a bright yellow circle with the letters “RV” in it—lets motorists know that those businesses provide parking facilities that accommodate big rigs. To read more, or see sample support text:
Alabama residents:http://www.rvact.com/rvact/issues/alert/?alertid=8404076″>
http://www.rvact.com/rvact/issues/alert/?alertid=8404076

Finally, the following excerpt is from the Winter 2006 RVAct Newsletter:

Federal Commission Formed For Ongoing Study of Transportation Issues

On August 10, 2005, the President signed into law the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Highlights of this legislation for the RV community include provisions that prohibit the imposition of new tolls on existing highways with only a couple of exceptions. RV enthusiasts had strongly opposed new tolls. However, the reauthorization debate left several other major issues unresolved, and Congress mandated the creation of a twelve-member National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission to address these. The Commission will develop conceptual plans, with alternate approaches, to ensure the surface transportation system will continue to serve the needs of the American people and the appropriate policies and revenue sources are in place to pay for it. The RV industry will be working with the Commission to ensure that it is well aware of the unique needs and priorities of the RV community. The report of the Commission is due no later than July 1, 2007.

>DogFriendly.com, the Internet and print publisher of pet travel guides, announced today that the website has added, to its expanding directory, thousands of campgrounds, RV parks, and state and federal parks. This new guide has more than just a statement about pet policies such as “Pets Allowed” or “Pets Allowed — Six Foot Leash Required.” Everyone who travels with pets knows that this is not enough information

>RV Education 101, founded in 1999 by Mark and Dawn Polk, just made it easier for Recreation Vehicle (RV) consumers to learn about RVs with the release of three RV DVD Value Packs. Mark Polk, the producer and host said, “We took our individual Travel Trailer and Motorhome DVD titles and put them in sets with other titles that apply.” There are three to choose from and each value pack includes four RV training DVD’s, which equates to almost three hours of one-on-one RV instruction.

These DVD value packs provide a thorough understanding of how a Recreation Vehicle works and can be viewed as often as needed. Some of the topics included are; operating, maintaining, winterizing, storing, towing, safety cautions and warnings, and the RV essential items needed for the complete RV experience. Dawn Polk added, “Not only does this eliminate the guess work as to which titles should go together, but we save the RV consumer a significant amount of money with the box set discounts. All DVD titles are still available individually too.” Full Story…

How to Buy an RV, Before you Buy it An RV Education 101 E-book By Mark Polk