'We stand alone and our voice is small. –
We stand together and we will be heard.' Barbara Mozingo, NAM
Open Letter to Mr. Ray Novelli
and People Like Him
Every time your representatives try to coerce former members of someone else’s camping system to send you money - angry enems are created and entrenched. You will not win them over.
Make a valid offer to these people that they might join your system and have legitimate and enforceable expectations. Let the ones go who do not want anything to do with you. It’s good business. It’s that simple.
Look past the short term gain of a few hundred dollars you might get by tricking these people into sending you money. You will lose more than you gain.
A lot of old codgers who used to be afraid of you, Vopnford, etc., have become angry and courageous. They are actively searching for, and finding, allies in powerful places.
Wise up! You are doing great harm to the membership camping industry, to yourself, and to your enterprises.
Cut your losses and start building something positive.
Dan Hopper, Chmn
Company Tries to Extort Money
from Former TAI members
Former TAI members are reporting telephone contacts from a company representing themselves to own the former TAI contract and demanding money. Most of the people complaining seem to be older former members.
The threat goes something like this:
- If you don’t pay - we’ll sue.
(answer: give it your best shot.) - I’m going to call you every night until you send us your
money.
(answer: knock yourself out.)
You get the idea. If they can scare you into sending them money - they win.
HERE’S WHAT WE THINK NEEDS DONE NOW:
When you are contacted by these people do the following right away:
-
Write a detailed note of what was said in the conversation.
-
Send a copy of it
(and a copy of
to the address at the top of that page and of course, send a copy to us.
IF YOU LIVE IN A DIFFERENT STATE let us know.
We will help you file your complaint with the appropriate state and/or federal office.
There is help for you. — You are not alone
Travel America Blames Coast to Coast
for Problems
Mr. Ray Novelli alleges in a lawsuit that Coast to Coast is responsible for the financial problems of Travel America and several associates. He has presented a person who represents himself to be an 'Expert' on the needs, desires, and intentions of RV campground members. This alleged expert’s name is a Mr. Robert Mitchell. One could conclude, after reading some of the depositions of Mr. Mitchell, that his testimony appears self serving to his position as a highly paid consultant for certain campground developers and 'their' needs, wants, and desires.
The following article is offered by a different and highly respected author and advocate for campground members, Mrs. Janet Wilder, 'The Road Princess'.
Why Members Left Travel America
An Opinion by Janet R. Wilder 'The Road Princess'
I have read Mr. Mitchell’s deposition and would like to make the following comments:
Mitchell’s perspective is representative of the developer and campground owner. Though he purports to expertly represent the member’s perspective, he hasn’t a clue as to how members feel. His recitation of his qualifications and his curious narrative over several days of testimony reveals only a cursory interaction with actual campground members.
When Travel America withdrew from Camp Coast to Coast, the members who frequently used the Coast to Coast system and found themselves without a Coast to Coast Home Park were, to my knowledge and belief, grateful for Coast to Coast’s assistance in securing new home park memberships. Though this process may have had some financial benefit to Coast to Coast licensees, it was transparent to the members. Further, the percentage of members at membership campgrounds who would miss the Coast to Coast affiliation is rather small. Most of them enjoy their home park and rarely travel beyond its or sister park limits.
In 1996, Mr. Novelli was already enjoying a poor reputation among membership campers. His properties were reported to be in bankruptcy. This may appear to Mr. Mitchell’s expertise as 'good business practice,' but to the average member it was frightening.
President’s Club and All Seasons members were extremely unhappy with his organization and complained vehemently that they had been 'taken by high pressure salesmen.' During the summer of 1996, one would find All Seasons memberships for sale on the bulletin board of any given (non-Novelli) membership campground for next to nothing or for transfer fees only. People seemed to want to place as much distance between themselves and Novelli as possible. Additionally, Mr. Novelli’s reputation was not enhanced by his affiliation with Vopnford by assuming Thousand Adventures. In my opinion, which is based upon many conversations with fellow RVers during the summer of 1997 through late 1998, many members abandoned Travel America because they were reluctant to fork over any more money to what they perceived as an organization born of President’s Club, All Seasons, and Thousand Adventures, all of which enjoyed odious reputations at the time in question. There is no basis to Mr. Mitchell’s insulting insinuation that all members want is someone to make them feel 'warm and fuzzy'. We are intelligent adults who are capable of forming our own opinions. The majority of us adhere to the adage of 'once bitten-twice shy'.
I have been a participant in membership camping since 1990 and am a member of Thousand Trails/Naco, Wanderwood Resort (Camp Coast to Coast affiliate), RPI (through Naco), Campers’ Club of America and former Thousand Adventures member who did not continue with Travel America because of distrust of Mr. Novelli’s practices. I have been a full-time RVer for 4 years. I am the publisher of 'The Road Princess Gazette,' a quarterly newsletter about full-time RVing, just completing 5 years of publication. Since 1995 I have written columns for several RV related websites. I have frequently participated on the RV Newsgroup (Usenet) and am a contract writer for 'RV Companion Magazine.' I have been published in Escapees Magazine and enjoy some recognition for expertise in the RV Community. I have written several articles about membership camping and am a strong proponent of such organizations.
I have an Associate Degree as a Legal Assistant as well as 17 years experience in the legal field. I know how to read and digest a deposition and I have more than a layman’s appreciation for the validity of testimony.
Vopnford Indicted
The following article is quoted from the Omaha World Herald, Saturday, March 25, 2000:
Indictments Include Tax-Evasion Case
BY DEBORAH ALEXANDER WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Two people accused of failing to pay taxes on about $1.25 million in income from a camp-membership business in Blair, NE, have been indicted by a federal grand jury.
US Attorney Tom Monaghan said David Vopnford of Picayune, MS, and his ex-wife, Barbara Vopnford of Blair, are accused of failing to pay the taxes in 1994 and 1995 through their ownership of Thousand Adventures.
TA of Ohio Bankruptcy Defaults?
Travel America of Ohio (formerly Thousand Adventures of Ohio) appears to have defaulted on many of their obligations in the confirmed plan of reorganization in the Ohio bankruptcy of that company. The US Trustee’s attorney appears to have filed a request with the court to convert the bankruptcy - apparently to a Chapter 7 liquidation.
A hearing is set in Columbus, OH on 22 June 2000 at 2:00 PM to hear that issue.
Fraudulent Transfer Lawsuit
The Iowa Trustee's $1 million judgment against Travel America, First Nationwide and Ray Novelli, appears to have been set aside based on a technicality. It will now have to go to trial or negotiation between the Iowa Trustee and the defendants. No time frame for the trial or negotiations has been set yet.
We know you are interested in the outcome of this issue and will try to keep you posted.
Do the right thing — ANYWAY
There comes a time in each of our lives when we ask ourselves 'Is this world any better because I was here? Have I made a difference? Is that difference for the better?'
It is NEVER too late to try.
I ran across the following poem.
Don’t know who wrote it originally. It has made a difference for me:
-
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self centered.
Love and trust them anyway. -
If you do good, people will accuse you of having selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyway. -
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway. -
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway. -
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
-
The biggest men (or women ) with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men ( or women ) with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway. -
People favor underdogs, but follow the top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway. -
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway. -
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help them anyway. -
Give the world the best you have and....
Give the world your best anyway
The NAM Spotlight
These represent clear statements of what the costs and benefits are and promise a 'safe exit' if the member wishes to drop the membership. Contact us if you have a problem with any of these offers.
Southern Leisure RV Resort (LA):, Initiation Fee: $0.00. Annual Dues: $69.00, Nightly Fee $6.00, Coast to Coast and RPI optional. (318) 256-3453 (NEW Nr.) Ask for Bill Bain.
Timber Lodge RV Resort (TX): NAM does NOT recommend Timberlodge. They are using abusive tactics against former members. (January 20, 2008)
Sugar Beach Resorts (AL): Initiation Fee: $0.00. Annual Dues: $199.00. Coast to Coast is optional. This offering is for orphaned members at this special rate for either of two parks in (Wilderness RV Park [Alabama ] or King George RV Resort [Georgia]). They offer two weeks in and one week out. More than 300 members of TAI, All Seasons, etc. have accepted the offer so far. Call George Kalaris at (800) 852-1206. Tell them that the NAM sent you.
If you have never been a member of a campground before you can join this one for a total first year cost of $545. Second and successive year dues would be the same as above. They are not owned or controlled by TAI, Travel America, etc...
The Escapees RV Club: Initiation: $10.00 plus first year’s dues, Nightly Fee varies, Annual Dues: $50.00. The Escapees have a full network of support services for the serious RVer… folks who travel extensively or spend a lot of time RVing. Over 50,000 members enjoy discount long distance phone calls, mail forwarding service, group medical coverage, voice mail, and a dozen other support services. RV lifestyle education and social companionship are offered at more than 100 Escapee rallies held throughout the USA. Call (888)757-2582. Tell them we recommended them.
Passport America: No entry fees or hidden costs, only $39 per year for 50% off the nightly rate at hundreds of campgrounds across the US. Call (800) 681-6810 (Tell them we recommended them.) http://www.join2save.com
Flying ‘J’: The 'Flying J Real Value' membership is free.
You can pick up a Real Value brochure at any Flying J location, fill out the attached application and mail.
- As a member of this club, you receive:
- 1¢ per gallon discount on diesel and gasoline with every minimum 20-gallon purchase
- 5¢ per gallon discount on propane
- Free RV dump stations
- Special RV fueling islands
- Prepaid calling card privileges (5 min. free on sign up)
(435) 734-6428
http://www.flyingj.com
Fair Treatment for Members
of Campground Resorts!
Important — What YOU do COUNTs!
We want to hear from you now. We are collecting information about problems you have had with membership campground systems.
We have many stories about Thousand Adventures. Are they the only problem in the membership campground industry? Our experience, so far, suggests that they are not the only bad apples in the bucket.
We have stories about Pride, Elite, American Adventures, 5 Star, Outdoor Resorts, etc. Mail your stories to:
National Association for Members
4740 Silver Oak Street
Dayton, OH 45424-4650
or
Send us an email [ Click Here ]
NEVER GIVE UP !!!
