Each year around this time suppliers re-examine their policy framework for the following year. Prices, discount structures, terms just to name a few! Often these policies are affected by experiences of the past –both good and bad.

In speaking with several of my fellow suppliers, I found that many have had similar experiences as myself during the past year – it seems that

2009 brought out the worst in some people, much to our disappointment!

The question here is – Is it time that Associations and Franchises set a ‘Code of Conduct’ for their members?

Speaking for myself, if I knew that a Campground had agreed to conduct business in a certain way, then that would go

a long way in assuring me that I was dealing with people of integrity.The same can be said in protecting Campground owners from unscrupulous suppliers.

As a member of ARVC (for example) I would have no hesitation in agreeing to a Supplier ‘Code of Conduct’ nor would I hesitate to do the same thing for the KOA or Leisure Industries franchise groups and others. Continued Page 2

For the Jumping Pillow Company, we spent a lot of time and effort during 2009 in procuring better component manufacturing prices This, we had hoped would allow us to absorb the cost increase of Airline travel and our new ‘Long Life’ material and enable us to go into 2010 without any price increase.

Unfortunately, because of a few bad experiences with Campground Owners (which cost us plenty) the hard work of keeping prices down has been negated by the unethical conduct of a handful of Campground Owners resulting in a small price increase.

It should be evident to all that those who do the right thing always end up paying for those who don’t.

To draw a parallel, when you buy a pair of shoes you pay 5% extra than you need to, just to pay for those who choose to steal the shoes. Same goes for credit cards – the interest rate for those who pay on time reflect an amount for those who don’t, and the list goes on.

I would like to chronicle my own experiences as a warning to other suppliers but I would get sued for sure!

Is it ‘Pie in the Sky’ to think that Associations and Franchises could and should take a more arbitrary roll in the conduct of their members?

By Gary WakerleyJumping Pillows LLC

2009 has been hectic to say the least! So we deserve a break and will publish the last issue for 2009 on December 16th resuming again on January 20th.

I am currently in Australia visiting relations so this and the next issue will be published from abroad. Thanks to internet technology it is a seamless process with the only issue being the 13 hour time difference. That just means late nights!

From Page 1

Recently, the issue of campground regulations sparked fireworks in the local news.

The city of Sioux Falls had an outdated, repressive ordinance concerning campground stays and regulations that had been sporadically enforced.

After citizens and campground owners came forward and loudly voiced their concerns about the unfairness of this ordinance, the City Council and the city planning department did what they are supposed to do: They listened and responded quickly to remedy the situation.

As a result of great governmental customer service, this situation ended in a win-win for all involved.

I want to commend Councilors Kermit Staggers and Greg Jamison for running the meeting on Nov. 23 with an attitude of respect and openness to each other and to the citizens who attended.

City Planner Mike Cooper introduced a user-friendly ordinance and asked for public input to ensure that the people who had suffered a hardship under the old rules were satisfied that this would be a fair city policy.

We need to strive in our city to bring citizens and government together to find solutions to our community concerns. The happy ending to the campground issue proves that it is possible.By unknown blog.

WI- A love-struck buck ran out of luck a week ago. The seven-point buck was killed when it rammed a 640-pound concrete statue of an elk in the backyard of Mark and Carol Brye's home in rural Viroqua.

Bucks often fight during the breeding season, commonly called the rut. Dominant bucks defend breeding territories and female deer by sparring

with subordinate bucks. Antler battles sometimes result in the death of one or both deer, but usually end with the biggest buck winning and the smaller buck high-tailing it out to another area.

Mark Brye, who owns Brye Plumbing in Viroqua, was still laughing about the suicidal buck he found near his elk statue last week. Full Article:www.lacrossetribune.com

Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources is trying to snag a slice of holiday spending with its first-ever gift cards selling for $10 to $1000.

The gift card is redeemable for:

Minnesota State Parks regular year-round ($25), one-day ($5), and all other vehicle entrance permits available at Minnesota state parks.

Campsites: advance reservations or walk-up registrations.

Overnight accommodations ranging

from rustic camper cabins and tipis to modern suites: advance reservations or walk-up registrations.

Canoe, kayak, cross-country ski, snowshoe, snowtube, and other equipment rental at Minnesota State Parks-operated rental locations(does not include concessionaire- or partner-operated rental locations).

Green fees at Fort Ridgely State Park golf course.

Tours at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, Soudan Underground Mine State Park, and Hill Annex Mine State Park.

Apparel, outdoor-related books, games, and more in Minnesota State Parks gift shops.

A gift card is not valid for concessionaire-operated facilities; hunting, fishing, or other licenses; or registrations and other Minnesota DNR fees/services. Cards can be purchased on the Internet at www.stayatmnparks.com

Mark Anderson, owner and operator of Camp Chautauqua in Stow, was inducted recently into the Campground Owners of New York Hall of Fame during the association's 46th annual conference and trade show.

Anderson is a second-generation owner of Camp Chautauqua, a full-service campground and RV park located on the shores of Lake Chautauqua, now in its 41st year of business.

He manages the campground with his family, including wife Cella, sons Donald, Matt, and Roger, and daughter Kate.

He took over the campground when his father, Roger Anderson, also a CONY Hall of Fame member, passed away in 2004. Anderson was selected for induction by the association's board of directors in part for his many years in leadership roles, including chairmanships of various committees concerned with legislative issues and campground marketing, and for previously serving as both vice president and president of the Campground Owners of New York.

In addition to operating the family business, Anderson's achievements and service activities include: CONY "Go Camping America"

committee chairperson; New York representative to the national "Go Camping America" program; appointment to the Governor's Tourism Advisory Council; and election as a Northeast delegate to the board of directors for the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

Anderson serves as the chairman of the ARVC board of directors, which includes more than 3,700 privately operated campgrounds and RV parks across the United States in its membership.

During the conference awards banquet, Anderson was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Robert C. Klos Sr., a close friend, fellow CONY Hall of Fame member and former CONY executive administrator. Induction highlights included testimonials and personal anecdotes by colleagues including Robert Schutter, president and chief executive officer of Leisure Systems Inc. and fellow CONY Hall of Fame members. Anderson family members read letters of praise from friends and colleagues who could not be in attendance.

A letter of congratulations from Gov. David A. Paterson was also presented to Anderson.

Mark Anderson is the 13th person to be inducted into

CONY's Hall of Fame. Inductees are selected for their active involvement in the growth, promotion, improvement and development of privately owned campgrounds in New York state, as well

as through involvement in local and state tourism entities, and the promotion and advancement of the camping industry.Article and photo:http://post-journal.com

Bob Klos, left, former executive administrator of Campground Owners of New York, inducts Mark Anderson of Camp Chautauqua in the Campground Owners of New York Hall of Fame during the organization’s annual awards banquet held.

Overwhelming debt has driven the Manning Park Resort near Hope, B.C., into receivership, but the receiver appointed to return the operation to financial stability says it will be business as usual for guests of the resort this winter.

The Bowra Group will be managing the wilderness and ski resort east of Vancouver while it clears the $4.2 million debt accumulated by the owners, a company called Gibsons Pass.

"It's business as usual," said Bowra Group president David Bowra on Friday morning. "We will open on time. We are told the snow conditions are better than they have been in the last 15 years."

The resort's cross-country ski area is scheduled to open Dec. 5, and the downhill runs are to open on Dec. 18.

Gibsons Pass had a lengthy contract to run the year-round resort for the provincial government, but they managed to

accumulate too much debt to keep the small company viable, said Bowra.

Millions owed, campgrounds lost.

"Historically, the company had a lot of campground bundles it managed, and it lost several of those in past years through failing to pay its dues to the province," said Bowra. "So, that had a negative impact on overall revenues, and certainly on the bottom line as well.

"I'm told in its very best year it made a million dollars, and … I think there was one year going back a few years where there was literally no snow, and I'm sure the company lost money."

Suppliers are owed $1 million, the Canada Revenue Agency is owed $700,000 and a bank is owed $2.5 million, he said.

Bowra said that's a lot of debt for a small operation, but he is confident he can return Manning Park to profitability and then turn the resort over to another management company.www.cbc.ca

The Manning Park Resort was taken over by receivers last week after it racked up $4.2 million in debt.

Newport Beach police are searching for a man who sexually assaulted a 15-year-old boy at knife point in a restroom.

The attacker was sitting at a picnic table at the Dunes RV Resort near Jamboree Road and Black Bay Drive on Friday when he saw the boy enter the restroom, the Newport Beach Police Department said.

The man followed the boy

inside and sexually assaulted him about 5:45 p.m, police said.

The attacker is described as white, 20 to 30 years old, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 180 pounds. He had a beard in the shape of an inverted triangle and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, khaki cargo pants, brown leather belt, silver ring and black gloves, according to police.

A plan to allow Class A recreational vehicles to stay for up to seven months at the Viking Creek development in Whitefish cleared a planning hurdle last week when the Whitefish City-County Planning Board recommended approval of the proposal.

Dan Averill, an owner of The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, is developing the Viking Creek project across the street from the lakeside lodge, and is seeking an amendment to the project’s planned unit development that would allow RVs on private lots where single-family homes eventually will be built.

Zoning regulations currently limit RV stays to 30 days.

In its approval, the board added a stipulation to include additional landscaping on the west side of the area where the RVs would be parked.Board member Karen Reeves said RVs essentially are “large tin boxes” that some people may not find attractive, and added that if the developer is going to put in “a glorified trailer park” then it needs to buffer it.

Scott Sorensen, the lone board member voting in opposition, wondered about requiring garage structures in which the RVs could be parked to keep them out of sight. Others felt the size of the garages would impede the views of other residents and neighbors in Crestwood.Article:www.dailyinterlake.com

It’s been swamped and it’s been battered.

But the city-owned Vineyards Campground & Cabins in Grapevine has emerged triumphant, getting itself named one of only two such RV and campground operations in Texas to receive an "A" rating in a national survey.

A total of 31 nationwide made the grade; most are privately operated.

The survey of 17,000 customers was conducted by GuestRated.com for the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

Flooding in 2007 covered the Grapevine site’s roads with mud and ruined the landscaping. A number of tent and RV sites were submerged. Cleanup cost more than $150,000, after Grapevine spent $2 million upgrading the facility and changing the name from Silver Lake Campground the year before, said Joe Moore, assistant director of the Grapevine Parks and Recreation Department.

Aside from electric hookups and hot showers, the grounds have free Wi-Fi. The rate for one of the seven tent sites is $24, and the 68 RV sites range from $26 to $34, and the five full-service cottages with full creature comforts run from $120 to $140. There are special discounts for Grapevine residents, active military, folks 62 or older and people with disabilities.

The Army Corps of Engineers built the original 52-acre campground in the early 1960s on the shores of Lake Grapevine, then leased it at no charge to the city along with 750 additional waterfront properties. A major condition is that all profits must be plowed back into the public venture.

By May, Vineyards expects to have 23 more RV sites and seven cabins, Moore said.

Texas’ other "A"-rated operation is Mill Creek Ranch & Cottage Resort in Canton.www.star-telegram.com

There are more jobs on the way to Goshen IN, as the embattled RV industry continues to pick itself back up.

Keystone RV announced this week they'll add a new factory for the popular Montana brand, and increase production of the product by 60 percent.

That means just a few months after they added 300 new jobs this fall 100 new jobs will be coming to the Maple City.

Keystone, like many other RV makers, has laid off hundreds in the last year or so as demand for larger, less fuel-efficient vehicles fell off.

They say their products are getting smaller and more compact to match demand from consumers.

The number of free public Wi-Fi or wireless local area network locations in the U.S. is 81 percent greater than the amount worldwide, according to a recent study.

Nearly half of those U.S. locations are cafes, bars and restaurants, while paid public Wi-Fi is more common in airports, travel centers, campgrounds, hotels and convention centers, according to the report

from online media company JiWire Inc.

Based on data from approximately 280,000 public Wi-Fi locations, as well as 2,633 people randomly selected in about 80 U.S. airports, the survey found that 26 percent of business travelers visit social networking sites, compared with twice as many personal travelers. About a third from each group look for local information.

Into every motorist's life, there comes a moment when the paved road turns unexpectedly to dirt, streetlights give way to starlight, and regardless of where you thought you were going, where you have arrived is the middle of nowhere.

For Roger Scott, that moment came as darkness fell Wednesday, as he was nosing his 28-foot Winnebago over a railroad crossing on Palm Avenue in Morgan Hill, not far from the Coyote Creek Golf Club. The only direction that made sense to Scott at the time was to go back the way he came, but because he was towing a 15-foot SUV, backing up was not an option.

Then Scott, 88, and Betty Nelson, his 81-year-old girlfriend, heard metal grinding on metal and felt their RV suddenly shudder to a stop. Scott stood on the tracks trying to see what had beached

his vehicle. "That's when I saw the headlight of a train coming," he said.

Nelson had dialed 911 from the passenger's seat of the RV while Scott poked around outside, but she spent several minutes explaining how they had arrived at their current predicament. At least five minutes went by before Nelson mentioned she was marooned on train tracks in a 43-foot metal barricade.

"The 911 lady kept saying 'What's the emergency?' " Scott explained later. "That went on for a little while. Finally, she said, 'Get out of the motor home and get way away from the tracks.' "Full Article:www.mercurynews.com

RVIA’s 47th Annual National RV Trade Show brings 2010 product lines, thousands of industry officials and a renewed sense of optimism to the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) in Louisville, December 1-3, 2009.

With pre-registration

numbers for show attendees higher than last year’s numbers – and RV dealer pre-registration a full 15 percent higher than at this time last year, industry members are feeling positive as they head to the show, which comes on the heels of encouraging sales this fall at consumer shows across the country.

For campgrounds & RV parks in the northern United States it is time to think about snow and ice. While many northern resorts close for the winter season there are increasingly more that stay open through the winter for camping, snowmobiling, or just to have the office or store open for local residents.

If you have a campground that is affected by snow and ice and you have anyone from the public on your property, than proper snow and ice removal is very important for their safety.

Proper removal of snow and ice is becoming more important for businesses as our society becomes more litigious each year. It was estimated by Snow Business Magazine that last year snow plowing and removal businesses saw a 17% increase in the amounts paid for claims against them. I seriously doubt that snow removal businesses are doing a much poorer job but rather our society is expecting more and more from people when it comes to keeping parking lots, sidewalks, and steps free from slipping hazards.

If you hire someone to do your snow and ice removal it is important to hire a dependable contractor who has the needed insurance to cover losses.

We suggest that you obtain proof of insurance from them showing that they have at least $1,000,000 of general liability coverage and auto liability insurance as well as having Worker’s Compensation insurance.

In addition, if you hire someone to handle this, you should have a signed contract that defines the desired level of service.

Some things the contract might address include:· Are you allowing the contractor to use his/her own judgment of when to salt or sand? · What times of day will the snow service provider be allowed to begin operations? · Will the contractor respond when they feel it is necessary or will you be responsible for contacting them? · Do you expect to meet with them after a storm for a final inspection and/or have a foreman inspect the contractor’s final job? · What things are they responsible for if they hit them while plowing? Curbing and parking barriers? · Who will put out markers/wands for the areas to be plowed and are there any special items that needs marking at the campground such as well heads, low site markers, etc.? · Do they keep a log of their work?

If you do your own snow

removal you are likely aware of the risks and necessity for continual maintenance of parking and walking areas during a storm. One thing that has become standard operating practice for snow removal companies in the past half dozen years is keeping a detailed log of their work.

If you are doing your own snow removal and someone slips on your property you are going to be held to the same standard as professional snow removal companies – which is to keep a log of your work.

The person(s) doing the snow and ice removal should keep a log noting the dates and specific time of the areas plowed. If sand, salt or other snow melting products are put down the amount put down should be noted as well.

Approximate amounts of snow fall or ice accumulation should be

noted in the log. If there is anything unusual that is addressed, this should be noted in the log or you can just take a quick photo with your camera or phone.

When a campground or RV park has someone injured on snow or ice in their business it is almost certain that if the customer ends up filing a lawsuit that the plaintiffs attorney will ask to see a copy of the log. If no log is available it will paint a very ugly picture for the jury as there is plenty of evidence showing this is standard operating practice.

Campground, RV parks and resorts in the northern United States know that snow can be a lot of fun but that you need to be a little extra safe. Make sure to take the time to make your park a lot safer for your guests who may or may not be familiar with the risks of snow and ice.

Evergreen USA, RRG, Inc. www.evergreenusa.com

By: Lucas Hartford, CPCU, ARe, AU, AIS

I don’t know about you, but I’m still glazed over from the Thanksgiving celebration.

It reminds us how important family and friends are to our existence. Continuing, then, upon the theme of last week’s article in which we cited the many friends who are fellow marketeers (as in musketeers) in the Campground Industry, it is time to express our appreciation to others that have helped us in our efforts to penetrate this marvelous industry.

The very first show we attended 5 years ago (can it be that long ago?) was the PCOA show, which is rather natural considering that our office is in Pennsylvania.

Beverly Gruber was there to assist us then as she has been for all the years since. We look forward to seeing her again next week on December 7th for the 2009 version of the show in Lake Harmony, PA.

Our neighboring state, Ohio, has also produced a great deal of business for us, thanks primarily to the efforts of their Executive Director Kristy Smith and her capable staff and Ohio Association President, Vicki Cole. We look forward every year to their convention in Columbus in March.

If your campground is in the Northeast corridor of the US, you absolutely cannot miss attending the Northeast Conference held in Springfield, MA in March. After 2 years at the Mass Mutual Center, Executive Director David Tetrault and the Board of Directors decided to move the show into the comfortable Sheraton

Springfield Monarch Place Hotel, where it now resides. The Northeast Conference on Campgrounds may be the largest and most business friendly show in the Industry, largely due to the efforts of David and his terrific wife and daughter.We’d like to thank these friends who are Directors of state organizations. They are, in alphabetical order: Linda Alcorn of MO, Paula & Jack Carroll of MA, Bobby Cornwell of FL, Dana Gabriel of CARVC, Jay & Marji Otto of NJ, Wayne Purchase of MI, Gillian Rampley of OR, Brian Schaeffer of TX and Debbie Sipe of CA.

We were very fortunate to partner with Steve Brown, whose own business, MCPS Direct in Philadelphia has been in existence for over a decade. Steve is on the Advisory Board of MCPS in the Woodlands, TX and teaming up with him allowed us to attend the TACO, WACO and RV Up in Reno shows which he will repeat in 2010. Steve has been responsible for much of the recent growth of our business and several of his guest columns in this publication have been very informative.

If we are singing the praises of those who have helped us grow AND become our friends we must, of course, include

Dennis Macready and Gary Wakerley of the e-News. Deciding to advertise in this publication, a decision we made over a year ago, proved to be a critical marketing strategy. It enabled me write this column and inform readers about the credit and debit card industry and to gain a very positive reputation among campground owners.

Finally I’d like to thank those close to my own organization, starting with my late partner Lash LaRue and his widow, Cindy, who works with our organization. Lash was a dear friend, confidant and a great American. When he passed, Deanne Bower stepped into his shoes. Without her, I’m not sure I could have continued in this business. I’d also like to thank Daryle Walton who has been with us for over a year.

We’d like to wish ALL of our friends and their loved ones, the very best of holiday greetings. We look forward to even a better 2010. Art Lieberman is President of MCPS for Campgrounds, a credit card processor sponsored by Woodforest Bank NA. Art has been in the Credit Card industry for nearly 12 years. Art has been conducting webinars online and seminars on credit cards in many State and Regional Association Conventions. He can be contacted at art@mcpsforcampgrounds.com

By Art Lieberman

JACKSON CENTER, Ohio (AP) -- Recreation vehicle maker Thor Industries Inc. said Monday its profit more than quadrupled in the fiscal first quarter, lifted by cost cutting measures and a modest increase in RV sales.

RV makers like Thor have been hit hard during the recession, which gutted demand for the highly discretionary vehicles.

However, sales have begun to stabilize in recent

months as the economy shows signs of improvement, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.

Thor said its sales of both motorized RVs and RVs that can be towed improved. The company said it was profitable across all its business segments during the quarter. It also builds buses.

The company said it earned $23.4 million, or 42 cents per share, in the

three months ended Oct. 31, up from $5.1 million, or 9 cents per share, a year ago.

Sales rose 15 percent to $502.6 million from $438.8 million a year ago.Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of 35 cents per share on $501 million in sales, on average.

The earnings estimates typically exclude one-time items.Earlier this month, Thor said its chairman and CEO Wade F. B. Thompson was stepping

aside due to illness. Peter B. Orthwein, a co-founder and director of the company, was named interim chairman, CEO and president.

Shares of Thor slipped 2 cents to $28.22 in morning trading after rising as high as $28.90 earlier in the session. The stock has more than doubled so far this year.

The DTI announced the introduction of the statutory procedures in October 2004 as being ‘as simple as 1,2,3.’ The procedures were intended to impose minimum standards when dealing with dismissal and disciplinary matters and to encourage employers and employees to resolve their disputes in the workplace.

Our experience of the procedures over the last 8 months suggests that they be far from simple. We have set out below some of the pitfalls of the new regime.

“As long as you follow the statutory procedure your employees cannot claim unfair dismissal?”

Wrong! Employers are now faced with additional procedural hurdles that they must comply with in order to avoid a claim not only of unfair dismissal, but that it was automatically unfair. That is not the end of the matter - the normal principles of fairness continue to apply. Keeping to the procedures does not necessarily protect the employer against an unfair dismissal claim.

Does the statutory procedure only apply to disciplinary dismissals?

No. The new procedure applies to most situations where dismissal might be the outcome (with a

limited number of exceptions). Employers who make an employee redundant (other than under a collective redundancy) or look to dismiss an employee for lack of capability or following a business re-organization will need to comply with the statutory procedure. The procedure even applies where an employer decides not to renew a fixed term contract as this is deemed to be a dismissal by law.

Whilst many employers are used to having a procedure to deal with disciplinary matters, they are often not used to following any sort of procedure for other types of dismissal. This is where

an unwary employer can get caught out.

What do you have to do before dismissing an employee for redundancy?

The statutory procedure does not apply to collective redundancy situations that are where 20 or more redundancies are made within a 90-day period. However, where less than 20 employees are to be made redundant, an employer must set out in writing the circumstances that have led them to contemplate dismissing employees for redundancy. In this letter, the employer will need to set out the grounds for the decision to make

redundancies and include details of the selection criteria used or proposed and any alternative positions. After the employee has had a reasonable opportunity to consider the letter this should be followed by a meeting with the employee. After the meeting the employer must confirm their decision and, if they are dismissed, inform the employee of their right to appeal.

There is some debate about whether employees have the right to be accompanied at redundancy consultation meetings. Recently, the Employment Appeal

By Mitesh Patel

Continued next page

Tribunal decided in Taskforce (Finishing and Handling) Limited –v- Love that the right to be accompanied does not apply to redundancy meetings.

However, the Employment Act 2002 provides that meetings must be conducted in a manner that enables both employer and employee to explain their cases. It is argued by some that this includes the right to be accompanied. We will need further case law to clarify this.

What about warnings?

Another question we are frequently asked is what an employer should do about warnings. Warnings are outside the remit of the statutory disciplinary procedure.However, the procedure followed in relation to warnings is likely to be very relevant whenever an

Employment Tribunal considers a claim for unfair dismissal. The best advice is for employers to have given a series of warnings prior to dismissal in all but the most serious cases.

Where an employer is unsure of the likely outcome of a disciplinary hearing but one option could be dismissal, they will need to follow the statutory disciplinary procedure even if, in the end, only a warning is given.

Do you need to follow the procedure when dismissing an employee with less than one year’s service?

Dismissing employees with less than one year’s service without following the statutory procedure will not give them the right to claim automatic unfair dismissal, as they do not have the relevant period of continuous service.

Continued from previous page Further, failure to follow the statutory procedure does not by itself give rise to a claim in respect of which compensation can be awarded. Many employers have therefore ignored the statutory procedure when dismissing such employees.

However, if the employee has or might have other claims arising from their dismissal, which do not require a year’s service to bring them, such as for race, sex or disability discrimination or unlawful deduction from wages, the employer should ensure that they do follow the statutory procedure.

Further, if the employee is successful in one of the other claims and can show that the employer was at fault in not following the statutory procedure, the Employment Tribunal will increase the level of compensation paid to the employee by between 10

and 50 per cent. As compensation in discrimination claims is not capped, the cost of failing to follow the statutory procedure in such cases could be considerable. In view of this, unless an employer can be certain that the employee has no other claims, we would advise that they follow the statutory procedure when dismissing employees with less than one year’s service.

Many employers reviewed their disciplinary procedures in October 2004 but did not look at their other dismissal procedures.

Employers should ensure that they take on board its full implications.

Far from being as simple as 1,2,3, the statutory procedure is often confusing and difficult to apply.

Tight-fisted tourists have been using a cemetery as their campground in a desperate bid to save cash. A Northern Territory town's cemetery is now sporting an unusual feature among its headstones and flowers – "no camping" signs, the Northern Territory News reports.

While Darwin has been struggling with its usual backpacker brigade blocking up space by popular beach locales, Katherine has been copping irreverent campers setting up in the local cemetery.

It has had to take the unusual step of erecting

the signs to officially confirm it's not OK to pull up in your caravan and have a wash.

Katherine mayor Anne Shepherd said there had been a few tourists camping there during the dry season.

"They camp in an area where the ablution block is," she said.

The bemused mayor said she wasn't sure why people would choose to sleep there to save money.

Thrifty campers take note: Katherine Town Council can fine you $50 for ignoring the signs and setting up for the night.

A tourist is lucky to be alive after he was attacked by a crocodile after taking a dip in a croc-infested billabong in the Kakadu National Park in Australia.

The 57-year-old man suffered bone-deep puncture wounds to his right arm, the Northern Territory News reports.

He had been camping by the waterhole and ignored the park's crocodile warning signs erected in the area.

The man, who is travelling

through the NT from Western Australia, told police his lucky story of survival and how the croc latched on to his arm when he put it out in front of him in an attempt to protect himself.

Police said campers on the other side of the bank jumped in a boat and went out and dragged the man to safety.

His rescuers took him to his nearby campsite and provided medical treatment.

Now that we have covered the lunatic antics of some Australian campers I better set the record straight.

Crocodiles are only found in the very far north of Australia, mostly in remote areas. Travelers visiting my home country usually stick to the beautiful and heavy populated areas where many top campgrounds can be found. Dennis Macready: Editor

If you think it's safe to camp on the edge of the water, these pictures should make you think again. Taken in northeast Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, they show that the maneaters are never too far from the water's edge and they seem to like tents, the Northern Territory News reports.

The snaps come from Darwin resident Mark, who was out with an Aboriginal elder in 2007 when he took the pictures.

"We had two tents and when we woke in the morning we found the imprint on the sand ... the croc having watched one of the tents for quite a while,'' he said.

Crocodylus Park chief scientist Charlie Manolis said it was highly possible a croc had been lurking just metres from the camp.

"Crocs have been known to walk into people's camp sites, and grab bits of food after everyone's gone to bed - they've been known to walk out of the water and grab people sleeping in their tents,'' he said.

Mr Manolis said it was possible, in this case, that a croc had been sizing up the camp site.

"They're sit-and-wait predators - they sit and wait for something silly enough to walk down to the water.''

Two bikini-clad girls have been photographed swigging champagne on top of a croc trap in a crocodile-infested river.

The girls were photographed singing in the rain, using champagne bottles as microphones, while atop of the trap in Maningrida, in the Northern Territory, reports the Northern Territory News.

The image, taken last weekend, surfaced a day after the paper published a picture of two male tourists tempting fate by doing a similar thing at Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu National Park.

Park ranger and crocodile expert Garry Lindner said

the behaviour of the men was absurd.

"Crocs are attracted to the bait in the traps, so it is extremely dangerous to fool around like this," he said.

Another batch of travel trailers, once used as temporary housing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, is being auctioned this week.

A lot comprised of 407 trailers is up for bid at the Columbia staging area.

The auction, overseen by the United States General Services Administration, ends at 6 p.m. Friday.

It is the second such auction held at the Columbia site since October. A group of 367 trailers were sold on Oct. 30.

The Pine Belt served as home to five sites where trailers were funneled as needed throughout south Mississippi.

As the state recovered from Katrina’s devastation, the trailers were returned to the sites and stored.

Federal Emergency Management Administration officials estimated this summer that about 30,000 trailers remained parked at five staging areas: two in Lumberton and one in Purvis in Lamar County; one in Columbia in Marion County; and one in Carnes in Forrest County.Starting in late September, GSA rotated auctions through all five sites, selling 2,316 trailers.

Columbia will be the fourth of the five sites to have a second lot up for bid. Including earlier second-time visits to Lumberton, Hickory Grove and Carnes, this round of auctions will have accounted for another 1,803 trailers.

For more information on the Lumberton and Hickory Grove auctions, visit http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucindx.Editors note:RPTIA issued a warning on these trailers.

I just read the story in the last issue about the high winds and thunder storm that they had in Africa. Here is a little note about what we just had in Washington.

About the 22 of Nov. we experienced high winds (90+) on the coast again.

This one reminds me of the bad one we had in Dec. 07.

Many trees were downed by these winds. Several RV's were damaged in one RV Park also. Knowing that we often get some pretty severe winds in Nov and Dec, I place my guests in areas that a tree cannot get to.

This time I got lucky. The wind came from the west rather than the normal SSW direction.

I had a 40 ft beech pine come down, along with five other trees. The top just brushed one RV.

Had the RV been one space closer, it would have split it in half, and God knows what

would have happened to the people inside.

Park owners should look out for their guests when placing them in their sites if there are trees on the property. Most of us know when we tend to get high winds in an area and we should "keep a weather eye out" for these storms and make sure that our guests are in a safe area. This storm that hit the coast of Washington had no notice from the weather indicators.

Only after it hit did they say that we might have some high winds.

I feel that it is our responsibility to make sure, to the best of our ability, to place our guests are in as safe as possible space, or moved, when a sever storm is forecast.

These RV's do not offer any protection to even a smaller tree if it were to impact it.

Scott PietzDriftwood RV ParkLong Beach, Wa.

This week's featured Listing

Click on the image below to search the directory:Listings added

daily

Speed: Up to 16 mphRange: Up to 25 MilesMotor: 350 watt brushless motorDriving Sytem: Powerful 48 volt front hub drive System built into the front wheel!Charging Time: 4-6 hours for penniesBattery: 48 volt 14 AH sealed lead battery acid

The latest product to hit the campground industry is receiving major interest by owners who see these bikes as an opportunity for good revenue by renting them to campers.

The bikes are not only "green" environmentally

friendly but are safe and extremely economical with a battery charge range of up to 25 miles.

Campgrounds can purchase the bikes outright for as low as $1195 ensuring an excellent and fast return on investment.

Battery Charger: 110 volt smart charger, UL ListedTires: Front 16 x 2.5" and rear pneumatic 10 x 3.5"Color: White and Black (Custom Paint Jobs Also)Size: 40" L x 26.8 "Wx 5.7" HWeight: 93 lbs.Comes With: headlight, taillight, and horn. (Basket Optional)

http://www.jumpingpillowsusa.com/

http://www.jumpingpillowsusa.com/