RV View....

JOIN THE CLUB

RV Organizations Make Hitting the Road (and Camping) Easier Than Ever

RVers are, by nature, a generally gregarious lot. They typically like to socialize--comparing RV, camping, and road notes at campgrounds, restaurants, rest stops, gas stations, and other RVer hotspots across the continent. This sense of camaraderie is one of the main reasons RV clubs and other organizations tend to remain so popular with those living the RV lifestyle (whether part- or full-time).

“Club membership brings money saving benefits and programs which enhance members’ RVing lifestyle,” says Sue Bray, executive director of Good Sam Club. “By joining a club, RVers become an active part of a wonderful and friendly community, where they can share ideas, tips, and good times with millions of other people from all over the world who are pursuing their own RV travel dreams."

" Many times at RV events," she said, "I just stop and listen to people talking in a broad mixture of various accents from all over north America, sharing their news and stories. It doesn’t matter where they come from or what their backgrounds are--they are a part of the RV community and can make friends from all over the world with common interests and experiences.”

Finding a Club

A quick internet search for RV clubs and organizations reveals dozens of broad-ranging and quite narrow possibilities. Some good websites with general lists of RV organizations include:
*rv-clubs.us/rv-clubs.html
*rvbasics.com/rv-lifestyle/rv-clubs.html
*funroads.com/rv-clubs/directory
*rvusa.com/clubs.asp
*gorving.com/pubs/join_the_clubs.cfm

These lengthy lists and others found on the internet provide just a sampling of the seemingly endless options. Some clubs target specific brand owners, like the long-time popular Winnebago-Itasca Travelers (WIT) club for very loyal Winnebago and Itasca owners. Others cater to RVers in general, like multi-faceted Good Sam Club (see "It's Great to be a Good SAMaritan" below), the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA for short, but long on benefits and targeted at motorhome owners), or Family Campers & RVers (the great granddaddy of camping clubs, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year) which welcomes both tent campers and RVers and offers great programs for younger campers.

Others are attuned to special groups, like full-timers (Escapees is particularly popular for good reason), classic trailer and motor coach owners (Tin Can Tourists welcomes history buffs), campers from (or based in) specific states, or RVers with specific interests--from singles with Loners on Wheels or toy haulers out west with the California Off-Road Vehicle Association or the Friends of Oceano Dunes.

The advantages of belonging to these various clubs are many, including: discounts on camping, insurance, roadside assistance, RV (and dingy) service, RVs and RVing products, and more; gatherings, caravans, and other group-oriented trips; informative newsletters; camping directories and other publications; and so much more.

Join & Save

The discounts are the main reason many RVers join certain clubs. Many feature great deals on camping, ranging from flat rates at all member campgrounds to generous discounts and other deals. Passport America, Good Sam Club, Camp Club USA, Recreation USA, and Happy Camper are among many clubs offering substantial camping discounts to their members.

Share the Fun

Gatherings and group trips for gregarious RVers also draw many to organizations. For example, an Escapees “Escapade” was first held in 1979 for 24 families in Bakersfield, California. Now, two annual Escapades (one in the spring in the west and the other in the east come fall) will draw as many as 2,500 people (non-members welcome!).

Family Campers & RVers' annual National Campvention (in Sedalia, Missouri for 2009) and winter Retiree Rally (in Ladson, South Carolina in 2010) draw thousands of participants. Activities and events include seminars, pageants (a Teen Queen is crowned at the annual Campvention; a King and Queen at the Retiree Rally), sports, games, parades and more.

Good Sam’s “Caraventures” are widely varied, including the 40-day-plus “Alcan” adventure to and from Alaska through Canada. The club’s “Samborees” are equally popular, with several days of entertainment, food, and fun in one spot.

Special interest groups often have specific benefits or annual (or more frequent) rallies of some sort, including aforementioned Tin Can Tourists, the National African American RVers Association, the National Square Dance Campers Association, the North American Truck Camper Owners Association, Rainbow RV (for gays and lesbians), RVing Women, and many more. In addition, lots of RV-specific and region- or state-specific clubs frequently hold their own gatherings.

It’s Great to be a GOOD SAMaritan

As the largest RV owners club in the world, with almost one million member families, the Good Sam Club has a long history of being the club to join. RVing legend Art Rouse is credited with buying a small RV club and magazine in 1968 and turning it into what would become today’s multi-faceted Good Sam Club. Named for the “Good Samaritan” bible parable that tells of one traveler helping another on the road, Rouse (who passed away in 2007 at 89) and others developed many Good Sam member benefits and services over the years.

There are now more than 1,700 campground members in Good Sam and they must meet certain standards to remain in good standing. Good Sam RVers generally receive a 10% discount at member campgrounds, but that’s just the beginning of today’s widely varied offerings. The possibilities (some come with an additional fee) include: a subscription to respected Highways magazine; discounts on RV parts and accessories; Camping World coupons, and discounts; product testing privileges; trip routing; restaurant, travel, and other discounts; telephone and internet services; the popular Emergency Road Service, SamAlert (emailed recall alerts through the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration), and other on-road offerings (including access to a network of Standby Sams to assist fellow RVers). Still others include the Good Sam Extended Service Plan; insurance; preferred rates on RV financing and refinancing; credit cards; mail forwarding; a members-only website (including popular MyTripJournal.com personal travel websites); RV Caraventures; Samboree rallies; local chapters; volunteer opportunities (Good Sam’s Sue Bray says, “Good Sam Club members volunteer thousands of hours annually to help the community.”); and Washington, DC lobbying efforts to protect the privileges of RVers, like parking rights and user fees.

Good Sam members are also quite active in a variety of causes and programs, like Dogs for the Deaf. An official Good Sam charity since 1980, Good Sam members raise funds in a variety of ways, conduct many in-hom interviews of applicants for dogs, and spread the word about this wonderful service for the deaf.

Camping World President's Club members can join the Good Sam Club at a discount. Visit any SuperCenter, call 800-721-3219 or go to CampingWorld.com/goodsam to sign up.