b'Several Campground Associations Host Spring ShowsCARVC Conference Attracts WACO conference held from March 17-21, shine. associations lobbying efforts. 68 Attendees, 26 Vendors which has grown to be the largest state as- While some campground owners and The conferences expo included 40 ven-The Carolinas Association of RV Parks sociation conference in the U.S., still at- vendors were unable to attend, many new dors that offered a wide range of products. and Campgrounds (CARVC) annual con- tracted 274 individuals representing 87 owners and vendors made the trek to theference from Feb. 7-9 went very well, ac- campgrounds.sunshine state to experience the in-person LARVC Attracts 42 Attendees tocording to Dee Witting, executive director On the vendor side, more than 160 ven- conference. Annual Conference, Elects Boardof the association.dors took part in the conferences expo.The conference attracted 41 attendees The Louisiana Association of RV ParksIn total, the conference attracted 68 at- Many attendees and vendors noted to and 16 vendors, noted DelVescio. and Campgrounds (LARVC) held its an-tendees and 26 vendors.WoodallsCampgroundManagement Attendees were offered eight educa- nual conference from March 1-2 at theWe had five new campgrounds that (WCM) that they were excited to be back tional sessions on a variety of topics im- Yogi Bears Jellystone Park Camp-Resorthad never attended our conference be- at an in-person event.portant to the campground industry, team in Robert, La. fore, she highlighted.We also had a virtual component to building fun, and plenty of networking op- A total of 42 attendees, representing 11The conference included educational this conference so that individuals who portunities.campgrounds, took part in the conference.sessions and a trade show.were not comfortable attending still had Lisa Thibodaux, LARVCs executive direc-EverythingwedidfellwithinCDC accesstotheconferenceseducational After One Year Hiatus, ARVC tor, noted that four campgrounds fromguidelines and allowed attendees to par- content, noted Lori Severson, executive Michigan Meets In-Person Mississippi were represented. ticipate to the level that they were com- director of WACO. We took a lot of the With more than three dozen attendees Louisianas Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesserfortable with, Witting said.stuff that we dealt with in 2020, worked representing 39 parks, Greg Katt, execu- servedastheconferenceskeynoteCARVC also held its annual live and through it and made this event a positive tive director of the Association of RV Parks speaker.silent auctions during the event, with Wit- one. and Campgrounds of Michigan (ARVC Nine vendors took part in the confer-ting noting that both auctions did fairly Michigan), told WCMthat he was pleased ences expo. well. The money from the auctions will be Mid-Atlantic Conference Sees with how the in-person conference went.LARVChonoredPochesRVParkinused to hopefully help hire a lobbyist in Good Attendance Numbers I think it went fairly well considering Breaux Bridge with a plaque for the bestNorth Carolina.Joann DelVescio, executive director of everything that is going on right now, he printed brochure. the New Jersey Campground Owners As- noted. I think there is still a little bit of Board elections were also held. BelowWACO Hosts Successful sociation(NJCOA), told Woodalls Camp- reluctancy for some people, but for the are the results: In-Person Conference ground Management (WCM) that the 30th most part many people were happy to President:MauriceLeBlanc,YogiThe Wisconsin Association of Camp- annualMid-AtlanticCoastalStates come. Bears Jellystone Park Camp-Resort inground Owners (WACO) was barely able CampgroundConferenceandTrade Taking place March 21-23 at the Soar- Robert, La.to squeak in its annual convention before Show (MAC) held from March 2-4, was a ing Eagle Casino & Resortin Mount Pleas-Vice President: Gregory Domingue,everythingwasshutdownduetothe great event. ant, the conference was held in much Poches RV ParkCOVID crisis in 2020, which turned out to TypicallyheldattheDoverDowns larger rooms to accommodate for socialTreasurer/Secretary: Geralyn Myers,be the last major in-person conference of Hotel & Casino in Dover, Del., the MAC distancing,whilefoodservicewaspro- Myers Landingthe year for many park owners. headed for a warmer climate in 2021 and vided by Soaring Eagle staff membersMember: LeAnne Everhardt, Land-Fast-forward to 2021 and WACO was landed in Tampa, Fla., after NJCOAs board who were following all CDC guidelines. O-Pines Family Campgroundable to again host an in-person event al- of directors decided they wanted to hold The first two days of the conference of- Member:SeanVidrine,Paradisebeit smaller than normalmaking it one an in-person conference. fered a number of educational sessions, Ranchof the few state associations that hasnt After a dreary winter, the board choose along with a chance for attendees to swapMember: Kim Ayers, Leavitt Recre-missed a conference due to the current Tampa as the location for the conference, stories and share ideas. An auction on the ation & Hospitality Insurancecrisis.noted DelVescio. Personally, I was thrilled evening of March 22 raised almost $13,000Member: Doug Ainsworth, 7 Oaks RVStill, even though it was smaller, the at the thought of warm weather and sun- that will help fund scholarships and the Park Ben Quiggle WCM6 -May 2021Woodalls Campground Management'