Richard A. Coon Named New President of RVIA
Will Assume Duties January 2006

Richard A. Coon, a 30-year industry veteran with a long history of involvement in association leadership positions, has been chosen by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) to become its new president.

Coon, director of RV business for Cummins Power Generation, has been named president-elect and will succeed RVIA's widely admired president of the past three decades, David J. Humphreys. Coon will join Humphreys at RVIA's Reston, Va., headquarters on June 1, 2005 in preparation to assume the role of president, the association's highest staff position, when Humphreys retires on January 30, 2006.

The announcement was made at the RVIA Board of Directors meeting in Fountain Hills, Ariz., on March 1. The Board unanimously accepted the recommendation of the Presidential Search Committee, which has been active for more than a year.

Coon currently holds one of RVIA's highest elective offices- first vice chairman-and therefore was in line to be the association's next chairman of the board.

"We are delighted to have identified a new president who possesses a wealth of industry experience and the drive to build upon the many achievements and strong foundation laid by Dave Humphreys and his management staff over the past three decades," said Bruce Hertzke of Winnebago Industries, RVIA's chairman of the board and chairman of the Presidential Search Committee. "After a long search evaluating several highly qualified candidates, we felt that Richard Coon's proven record of success and knowledge of all industry segments is exactly what the Board of Directors is looking for in the position," said Hertzke.

An accomplished and articulate industry advocate as an RVIA member for three decades, Coon has directed every aspect of sales, marketing and OEM distribution during his 30-year affiliation with Cummins Power Generation and Onan. Most recently as director of RV business for Cummins Power Generation, he managed the $220 million annual revenue stream of the company's RV genset business with a staff of 70. His responsibilities included worldwide sales and marketing, product development, design and application engineering, strategic planning and customer relations.

Cummins Power Generation, based in Fridley, Minn., is a business unit of Cummins Inc. A global power leader, Cummins is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Cummins Power Generation manufactures generator sets for the RV market under its Onan brand name.

Coon was the catalyst behind offering RV owners the only nationwide bumper-to-bumper chassis warranty service network, known in the industry as the Cummins/Onan Coach Care Service. Since its inception in 2002, the network has grown to 29 service centers in 20 states, including the first of its kind located at an RV dealership.

"I am honored to have been selected to succeed our esteemed industry leader Dave Humphreys next January," said Coon. "Under his guidance, we have grown into a mature $14 billion-a-year industry and have enjoyed unprecedented industry unity enabling us to reach the highest ownership rates in our history. It is my goal to ensure that we continue doing the right things that brought us to this point, while exploring additional ways to move this industry even farther ahead in the future."

A graduate of Brigham Young University, Coon began his career in 1970 with Ford Motor Company, becoming the regional sales manager for the industrial engine and turbine division. After four years with Ford, he joined the Onan Corporation and moved his way up to positions that included consumer product sales manager, director of product management and distributor development manager. In 1980 he was promoted to general manager of Onan Worldwide Central Parts and Distribution. He became director of sales and marketing for Onan products engine division in 1987 and has served as director of RV business for Cummins Power Generation since 1989.

Coon has been a member of the RVIA Board of Directors since 2000. In addition to his service as first vice chairman, he has also held the offices of second vice chairman and treasurer. He has been chairman of the Awards Committee and Audit Committee and has been a member of the RV Service Training Council, Public & Legislative Affairs Committee, Public Relations Committee and Supplier Committee. He is currently chairing RVIA's 2005 Strategic Planning Committee.

The appointment of Richard Coon culminates an extensive search process that included two separate rounds of interviews. The Presidential Search Committee, chaired by Winnebago Chairman, CEO and President Bruce Hertzke, included RVIA's current President Dave Humphreys and the following RVIA board members: Mel Adams, president and CEO of Airxcel; Walt Bennett, executive VP and CFO of Thor Industries; Wilbur Bontrager, chairman and CEO of Jayco Inc.; Ron Doyle, president and CEO of Western RV; Norm Jacobson, director of sales and marketing for Lance Camper Manufacturing; Carl Pfalzgraf, executive VP of Atwood Mobile Products and Claire Skinner, chairman and CEO of Coachmen Industries.

David J. Humphreys has served as president of RVIA since 1979, following ten years of service as RVIA's outside legal counsel. He is highly regarded in the association community and in Washington political circles and has received the highest awards bestowed by three different industries - the RV, travel & tourism and recreation industries. RV News magazine named Humphreys RV Industry Executive of the Decade in December 1989. Humphreys is retiring on his 70th birthday on January 30, 2006.

RVIA (rvia.org) is the national association representing more than 550 manufacturers and component suppliers producing approximately 98 percent of all RVs made in the United States.

Dutchmen Manufacturing Breaks Ground on New Production Facility

Dutchmen Manufacturing broke ground February 21st on a 90,000 sq. ft. building project on the corner of 1150W and US20 in Middlebury, Indiana. The new facility will replace Dutchmen's original production facility on County Line Road in Middlebury. Accompanying Richard Florea, president of Dutchmen Manufacturing, pictured on left, for the ground breaking ceremony was Steve Paul, vice president of sales, Jeff Newport, vice president of manufacturing, Mark Schwartzhoff, vice president of finance, George Doty, Middlebury plant manager and Randy Huffman, (pictured on right) president of NuWay Construction.

The new plant will accommodate an increased demand for Dutchmen's wood framed, aluminum sided travel trailers and fifth wheels that are sold under the Dutchmen and Four Winds brand names.

According to Florea, "Dealer demand for our Dutchmen and Four Winds brands have been strong over the last couple of years. We have outgrown our existing Middlebury facility. This new plant gives us the room to increase production as well as build larger units."

Employees of the original Dutchmen facility will be transferred to the new plant when it opens this summer. Dutchmen plans to hire as many as fifty employees as capacity is added. Dutchmen operates eleven other manufacturing plants in Goshen, Bristol and Syracuse, Indiana.

NuWay Construction, a design/build general contractor located in Goshen, was chosen for the project.

Florea also added, "We would like to thank The Lagrange County Commissioners for their support and assistance on this project. We are pleased that we are able to give our Middlebury employees a state-of-the-art facility that gives us the space we need for immediate production and provides flexibility for future expansion."

Dutchmen Manufacturing, Inc. is a subsidiary of Thor Industries. Dutchmen Manufacturing, Inc. is the manufacturer of Dutchmen, Denali, Four Winds, North Shore, Colorado, Grand Junction, Aerolite, Kodiak, Adirondack, Tundra, T@B, Victory Lane and Winners Circle towable brands of recreational vehicles.

RV/MH Heritage Foundation Accepting Proposals for New Hall of Fame

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The RV/MH Heritage Foundation has selected 6 local Elkhart County general contractors as potential bidders on the new facility for the RV/MH Hall of Fame. Contractors receiving invitations to submit bids include: Almac-Sotebeer Construction, Ancon Construction, D-J Construction, J.A. Wagner Construction, Mid States Construction, and Nuway Construction. All are Elkhart County based companies with in-house metal building franchises. Bids will be received by the foundation until March 9, 2005. The bids will be for the first phase 32,367 square feet of the building and for a 14,000 square foot second phase and an additional 14,900 square foot additional wing. The combined phases include all portions of the proposed facility except the 15,000 square foot conference and convention center, which will be completed at a later date.

The new Hall of Fame will be located on the I 80-90 Indiana Toll Road approximately four miles east of Elkhart and will have 2,000 feet of frontage on the highway for outstanding visibility a mile from an exit.

University of South Florida honors Don Wallace with President's Fellow Medallion

The University of South Florida recently awarded Tampa resident Don Wallace with the President's Fellow Medallion at their 74th Commencement Convocation at their Tampa campus.

The President's Fellow Medallion is awarded by Dr. Judy Genshaft and is given at her discretion to distinguished visitors and highly meritorious individuals. The University of Florida recognizes Mr. Wallace for his personal service and commitment to the Tampa Bay area community and to the University of South Florida. Wallace's contributions have worked to strengthen higher education and improve the quality of life in Tampa and throughout Florida.

As founder and CEO of Lazydays, the largest RV dealership in the world, Wallace embodies a entrepreneurial spirit, leadership and tenacity worthy of the President's Fellow Medallion. His generosity is evident through his support to many causes and organizations throughout the area, including the University of South Florida. Specifically, he and his wife Erika are active with USF Athletics and are supporters of the department's campaign for a new athletics training facility. Don is also a board member of the USF Foundation's Partnership for Athletics.

The University of South Florida is one of America's top metropolitan research universities. Curriculum is focused on formulating bold ideas and using research resources to create innovative solutions for a global community. As a premier national research university, the University of South Florida serves the metropolitan Tampa Bay region, Florida and the nation. For more information, please visit www.usf.edu.

CSA Certifies MOR/ryde® Pin Box System

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MOR/ryde International's Pin Box System for fifth wheels has passed load testing standards set by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

"CSA testing is becoming widely accepted in the U.S. in the RV and other industries," noted Jack Enfield, director of sales and marketing for MOR/ryde. "This testing certification gives our OEM customers added confidence in the durability, legitimacy and performance of our Pin Box System."

The CSA load test (Z240.1.2) is focused on the pin box's king pin and surrounding structure. The test takes into account five stress forces acting on the product: longitudinal tension (pulling), longitudinal compression (pushing), transverse thrust, vertical tension and horizontal compression. "In these five testing categories, the product must withstand forces up to three times the product rating without failing," said Joe Carroll, general manager of MOR/ryde's suspension group.

Typical pin box ratings range from 15,500 to 21,000 pounds. MOR/ryde policy is to post a pin box rating that does not exceed the frame rating for the fifth wheel on which it will be used. "While our pin boxes far exceed most fifth wheel frame ratings, we make sure the posted rating matches that of the frame. If we didn't do that, a consumer might not be aware of the lower frame capacity rating and accidentally overload the unit, which could result in major safety and reliability issues for the fifth wheel," Carroll said. "Long-time customers have advised us this is very important for their peace of mind."

Carroll noted that MOR/ryde has built its own CSA specified test rig so that testing can be done in-house. CSA requires that an independent engineering firm, which also does the calibration and certification of the test equipment, must witness all testing. "This in-house capability gives us valuable information about our own products and others in the industry," Carroll said. Every pin box MOR/ryde builds is tested according to the CSA standard before being shipped to the OEM. While such exhaustive testing is time consuming and expensive, it is consistent with MOR/ryde's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, Carroll added.

The MOR/ryde Pin Box System dampens the transmission of forces from the fifth wheel to the tow vehicle via the pin box. The rubber shear spring works in a horizontal planar motion, allowing it to effectively reduce road shock. With no air-filled springs to leak and no shock absorbers to replace, the rubber pin box has a long component life even under continuous use.

Founded in 1966 in Elkhart, Ind., MOR/ryde International designs and manufactures rubber suspension systems and ride enhancement products for versatile vehicle applications. Contact MOR/ryde at 574-293-1581 or visit the company's Web site at www.morryde.com.

Blue Ox Reups with Speedway to Continue as
Official Campground Sponsor Through 2007

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Blue Ox, a company specializing in steering, towing, hitching, and braking products, recently extended its contract with Bristol Motor Speedway and will continue to serve as the official campground sponsor of Bristol Motor Speedway. In 2005, the Blue Ox Campground located at Bristol Dragway will play host to more than 1,300 campers and RVs during the April and August events.

"Our partnership with Blue Ox, which began in 2004 has played a key role in our ability to better serve our fans who camp on property," said Jeff Byrd, BMS president and general manager. "We are pleased that Blue Ox chose to continue this partnership and we know that via this ongoing relationship we can continue to elevate the superior customer service our fans have come to expect."

More than 55 percent of Bristol race fans stay in campgrounds, both on and surrounding Speedway property during the race weekends according to a Bristol Chamber of Commerce survey.

"The decision to continue our sponsorship of the Blue Ox Campground and our partnership with Bristol Motor Speedway came naturally. After all, Blue Ox hitches and equipment can be found on many of the fans' RVs and campers as well as the drivers' motor coaches," said Jay Hesse, president of Blue Ox. "Our relationship with BMS has proven to be beneficial and we are looking forward to continuing our role in making fans' Bristol camping experience the best in racing."

The agreement will see Blue Ox as the official campground sponsor through 2007. Sponsorship elements in the agreement with Blue Ox include campground naming rights, signage opportunities and race weekend display space.

Camp USA Brings High Quality,
Privately Owned Motor Home Rentals and Service to Ft. Lauderdale

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Camp USA Motor Home Rental a Florida-based RV rental company specializing in high quality motor homes owned by private individuals, today announced the grand opening of a second location in Ft. Lauderdale at 2851 Hammondville Road, Pompano Beach, Florida.

"We're thrilled to be opening a new RV rental and service center in Ft. Lauderdale," said Robert Lemon, General Manager of Camp USA. "Now, visitors to Key West, Miami, or Homestead NASCAR can enjoy the same quality RV rental and service that visitors to Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World, Daytona NASCAR and Bush Gardens have been enjoying at our Orlando location."

In addition to Camp USA's signature rentals and sales of high end luxury diesel pushers, Class A Gas units, Class C units and Travel Trailers, the new Ft. Lauderdale location will offer RV service with mobile mechanics available 24 hours a day. "Most RV service facilities have a one to two month wait just to drop your RV off for service, and the wait to pick it back up can be even longer than that," said Lemon. "At Camp USA, we know that your motor home is important to you and have service customers in and out within a week. We even have a mobile service that will come to you." In addition, Camp USA offers statewide delivery of their rental units.

Camp USA was founded in 1999 in Ocala, Florida. In 2004 Camp USA moved its operations to Orlando to better serve visitors to Disney, Universal and Tampa and since then has more than doubled its fleet size to include over 40 privately owned RV's, with the largest percentage consisting of luxury diesel pusher coaches.

"We are always looking for new coaches that would otherwise be sitting in storage collecting dust and costing their owners money rather than making them money," said Alex Radwan and John Terman, Co-Founders of Camp USA. "We have a staff of highly trained individuals to serve every need of our unique business and we treat every RV as if it were our own and we were going to be the next renter."

For more information please visit: http://www.campusarv.com or call 1-800-971-8840.

RV & Camping Guide Available

The Pennsylvania RV and Camping Association (PRVCA) has released its 2005 Explore Pennsylvania. The 52 page publication is a must for all RV, camping and outdoor enthusiasts. The annual issue of Explore Pennsylvania has information for the RVing new-comer and the seasoned veteran alike. Feature articles include fun tips and helpful hints to help make your already enjoyable outdoor experience that much more. The guide also contains a full PRVCA membership directory connecting readers to campgrounds, dealers, suppliers, manufacturers and much more. The directory is divided into five districts, Southeastern, Northeastern, Central, Southwestern and Northwestern Pennsylvania. The guide also highlights local attractions, museums, festivals and events throughout the state.

PRVCA is a nonprofit corporation representing nearly 400 RV dealers, manufacturers, campgrounds, component part suppliers, lenders, insurance and service companies. PRVCA's mission is to enhance the recreation vehicle and camping industry through education and promotion by being a resource and partner to all segments of the recreation vehicle and camping industry. The organization is spearheaded by PRVCA chairman, Brad Bryant of Bryant's RV Showcase, and PRVCA executive vice president, Rebecca A. Lenington. PRVCA is also proud to sponsor America's Largest RV Show http://www.largestrvshow.com each year. The show is moving this year from the State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg to HERSHEYPARK® Entertainment Complex - GIANT CenterSM in Hershey, PA. 

Explore Pennsylvania is distributed at 16 RV shows throughout the East Coast, via the PRVCA website, at member locations, at visitor centers along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Northeast Extension and through Pennsylvania visitor's bureaus. For your copy Explore Pennsylvania please visit one of the above locations, call 1-888-303-2887, e-mail rvcamping@prvca.org or visit www.paRVing.com.

Camping World Employees "Hittin' the Road"
New Mobile Employee Program Introduced

Traveling is not a luxury for Camping World customers alone. Camping World employees can enjoy all the fun of traveling, with additional benefits. The great part is that it's all part of their job.

Camping World, the nation's leading retailer of RV camping supplies, accessories, and services, has introduced a new Mobile Employee Program (MEP) to the company. The "MEP" is comprised of employees who travel regularly across the country to work in the numerous Camping World locations.

"We are extremely pleased with the launch of our new program, " said Senior Vice President of Operations Peter Klein. "At Camping World, we take pride in each and every one of our nationwide locations. This program will further allow us to care for both the employees' and customers' needs at all of our locations."

Employees participating in the program enjoy program-specific benefits as well as the opportunity to work in different regions across the country. Benefits include: merchandise discounts, mileage expense reimbursements, per diem expense allowances, paid holidays, paid vacations, paid sick days, medical/dental/vision/prescription insurance plans, complimentary memberships, and much more.

"Our Mobile Employees are a tremendous asset to the Camping World family," continued Klein. "We want them to not only know how much we appreciate them, but also want to help them enjoy their jobs, so we offer an extensive variety of benefits. They are our 'eyes and ears' for each location, so we greatly value their places on our team."

Dometic® Helps DIY Network Breathe New Life Into A Classic Airstream

Dometic Corporation offers a wide range of products that can update and add new life to older RVs. Some of those available products will be showcased on DIY Network's Classic Rides television series. 10 episodes scheduled to air in the fall of 2005 will highlight the renovation of an Airstream travel trailer.

To help with the renovation, Dometic donated products including a 15,000 BTU Duo-Therm® rooftop air conditioner. The classic travel trailer will also make the switch from an old-style plastic toilet to a modern china toilet with the installation of a SeaLand® Traveler Lite toilet. The kitchen will be upgraded with the award-winning RM7401 refrigerator and a silver Dometic CDMW12 microwave that will help create delectable treats while on the road. Classic Rides will feature the installation of these products and the refurbishing process as the RV upgrade series unfolds.

Car buffs have been restoring classic cars for years and now are expanding into other modes of travel. DIY's half-hour series, Classic Rides, gives viewers step-by-step and detailed project-by-project information on restoring vintage motorcycles, classic scooters and those early travel trailers. The series airs on DIY Friday nights at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT and Saturdays at 10 a.m. ET.

DIY is the television source for know-how and how-to when it comes to any type of do-it-yourself project. DIY is one of the fastest growing digital networks ˆ now in more than 30 million homes ˆ and its companion Web site, visit www.DIYnetwork.com, consistently receives nearly 2 million unique visitors per month.

TengoInternet Adds Six New Customers in Key States
Growth in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas

TengoInternet, the oldest and largest wireless Internet service provider for the camping and hospitality industries, has announced the addition of six new customers in the company's key territories of Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas.

The six new customers are: Prince of Tucson RV Park in Tuscon, Arizona; RV Ranch at Grand Junction in Clifton, Colorado; Sundermeier RV Park & Conference Center in St. Charles, Missouri; Las Cruces KOA Camping in Las Cruces, New Mexico; Pine Lakes RV in Baytown; and Rayford Crossing RV Resort in The Woodlands, Texas.

"Campground owners, especially in existing service areas, are choosing TengoInternet to meet guest demand for Wi-Fi," said Eric Stumberg, president and CEO of TengoInternet. "Our excellent service experience, flexible contracts and marketing initiatives enable them to maximize the return on their investment in this amenity."

Jayco Jafari and the Chocolate Factory RV Rally
Puts Kids in the Candy Store

Hershey, Penn., will entice RVers with the promise of "Chocolate Galore" during the upcoming Jayco Jafari Travel Club rally. On August 3-7, kids of all ages will gather in Hershey for camping, tours and lots of chocolate.

"This is the club's first rally planned especially for children. As more and more younger families enter the RV lifestyle, we want to add events specially geared to meet their needs," said Arnold Rocco, Jafari international events manager. "We hope to have at least one event such as this every year."

RVers will stay at the Hershey Highmeadow Campground. They will be able to tour the Hershey Museum, Hershey Gardens, Hershey's Chocolate World and Hershey Park. Campers will have the opportunity to take an excursion to ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, an 11-acre walk-through zoo that is home to animals and living plants native to five regions of North America.

"Hershey offers a wealth of family activities, including water rides and one of America's great theme parks. Families will have many activities from which to choose," Rocco added.

Jafari membership is available to all Jayco brand RV owners. The travel club promotes family camping and the active use of RVs. Activities planned for each year include several internationally sponsored caravan trips and rallies. With nearly 100 local chapters across the United States and Canada, many local, regional and state activities take place each year. For more information, visit www.jaycorvclub.com .

Lazydays To Launch "RVLiving" Magazine

Renowned for success with affinity and lifestyle publishing the team of Rodale Custom Publishing and John Brown Publishing was selected for delivery of exceptional creative and service-oriented content.

Lazydays selected publishing partners Rodale Custom Publishing and John Brown Publishing to produce a new lifestyle magazine for the RV community, it was announced February 23. Launching in May 2005, Lazydays' RVLiving magazine promises to enter the RV publication market with a compelling mixture of entertaining, bright, upscale, lively and service-oriented editorial content targeted at existing RV owners as well as the emerging baby boomer market.

"Lazydays selected the partnership of Rodale and John Brown publishing for a number of reasons, starting with the presentation of a beautifully designed, captivating magazine that we know RV owners and enthusiasts will love," said Don Wallace, Lazydays' founder and CEO. "The two companies have an equally impressive amount of experience and success in both custom publishing and traditional magazine publishing that, frankly, no one else can match. It was vital for us to find a publishing team that understood our current customers and the fact that our customer base is in the midst of a major change. They also appreciate the importance of our brand equity and how it can be leveraged with a national audience. We could not be more pleased with our selection."

Published every two months for Lazydays' most valued customers, RV owners and enthusiasts, Lazydays RVLiving magazine targets the fastest growing segment of RV owners - the baby boomer generation. Affluent, well educated and sophisticated, this segment is bringing new life to the motor-home market.

"The RV community is clearly an upcoming force in the marketplace, as the demographic profile of RVers rapidly evolves," said Valerie Valente, Vice President of Rodale's Custom Marketing Solutions. "Our deep experience and success in lifestyle and affinity publishing makes us a perfect fit to partner with Lazydays, the industry leader, to help them reach this desirable segment of the market and also to help them achieve their long-term publishing and business goals."

Lazydays' RVLiving will inform, inspire, and entertain the community of people who are passionate about RVs. It's a magazine about Americans, seeing this great country and experiencing the freedom that RVs have to offer. It's about doing what you always wanted to do - and doing it right. The magazine is filled with the world's best RV stories, best destinations, the coolest new products and upgrades as well as the issues RV owners care about the most. Wrapped in a compelling design, Lazydays RVLiving is the new upscale and updated RV magazine that RV owners everywhere have been waiting for.

Ketelsen Campers Employee Earns Specialized Designation

Steve Conley, the Customer Financial Services Director of Ketelsen Campers, was recently designated an AFIP-Certified F&I Professional by The Association of Finance and Insurance Professionals.

Conley grew up in Denver and graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in pre-law. While at CU, he earned membership in the prestigious Pi Sigma Alpha, the national honor society for Political Science (for students with a GPA above 3.6). Conley has been invited to speak before local sales and civic groups and volunteers with the Special Olympics. But his real passion is road bike racing. He has completed a number of "century rides" (rides of 100 miles or more) for the benefit of local non-profit organizations. When Conley isn't on a bike, he can be found at local car events as a judge at concourse events or as a driving instructor for track events. Steve Conley has been in the automotive finance industry since 1987.

In order to qualify for Certified F&I Professional status, Mr. Conley was required to post a mark of 80% or higher on a rigorous regulation-based exam and agree in writing to abide by the AFIP Code of Ethics. AFIP is the sanctioning body for in-dealership financial services personnel in the United States, Canada and Europe.