"If we stay strong and unified, we will succeed beyond our wildest dreams"

Dave Humphreys, president of Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), carried forth the message to members at their Annual Meeting in Hawaii last month.

Following the second best wholesale shipment year in nearly two and a half decades, those attending the Annual Meeting were upbeat and plan for an expanding market this year and beyond.

Emphasizing the industry's growth is the fact that January 2003 wholesale shipments were more than eighteen percent higher than January last year. See Monthly Shipments.

Claire Skinner, Chairman of RVIA's Board of Directors as well as Chairman, CEO and President of Coachman Industries, Inc., opened the annual get together of RV manufacturers, suppliers and others saying, "As we enter 2003 much like we did 2002 -- cautiously optimistic about the year ahead and with sound reasons to be positive about the future. We're in a good position today and I believe we will sustain that position for years to come"

Skinner gave a run down of RVIA accomplishments over the past year and what's ahead for the Association. If you are not familiar with all that the RVIA does on your behalf you'll certainly want to read this story. Although Skinner mostly touched on industry projects and programs, the Association is involved with a multitude of issues in support of the recreation vehicle industry as a whole - both nationally and regionally.

Humphreys Stresses Unity
Stressing unity to future prosperity, Dave Humphreys, reported that RVIA will be working hard to strengthen its relationship with dealers. He said, "We're going to focus on things we both can agree on instead of putting forth efforts in areas we cannot.

Hertzke Announces New RVIA Strategic Plan
Bruce Hertzke, Chairman, CEO and President of Winnebago Industries, Inc., told attendees, a more concise Vision Statement, a re-ordered Vision Statement and some new goals to guide association activities during the next two years were approved by the Board of Directors at its March 8 meeting. The vote culminated months of review and consideration by, and an intense two-day meeting of, the RVIA Strategic Planning Committee in February.

Salesmanship
What do your sales reps really know?

If you are like most companies, you invest a lot of time, money and resources in various training programs, motivational speakers, video tapes and CD-ROMs, trade shows and manufacturer's meetings in order to provide critical information required to be successful in sales Training is an investment, but is it paying off for your company?

Heritage
John Crean
Industry Genius

A real Yankee Doodle Dandy as in the George M. Cohen song - born on the fourth of July in 1925, John Crean was four years old in the great depression of 1929 when his father made a homemade house car on an old truck chassis and moved the family from the dirt farm country of North Dakota to southern California looking for work.

The founder of Fleetwood, John's relationship to the RV  world began very early.