Here’s a glimpse into the activities of KPOA (we’ll add new months at the top.)
SEPTEMBER
We launched our Hub, the new platform through which we’ll share with our members. If you’d like to join us there, please contact us.
AUGUST
Finished launching the membership drive for all membership categories. If you don’t have the email, please contact us.
More news on the topic of what is an ADA compliant website (between the asterisks):
*****
UPDATE: Justice Department Publishes Proposed Title II Rule to Strengthen Web and Mobile App Access for People with Disabilities ((via 8/4 email from usdoj@public.govdelivery.com).
On August 3, 2023, the Department of Justice published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to update the regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to better ensure web and mobile app accessibility for people with disabilities. The Department is seeking public feedback on its proposal, which aims to clarify how State and local governments can meet their existing ADA obligations as their activities increasingly shift online.
For a high-level summary of the NPRM, read the fact sheet. The Department has also published a press release. Members of the public can submit comments on the NPRM online by October 3, 2023. Comments may also be mailed to the Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, P.O. Box 440528, Somerville, MA 02144.
To find out more about the ADA, visit ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 1-800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY).
https://www.ada.gov/notices/2023/07/20/web-nprm/
*****
Assisted with several members on a variety of issues, including but not limited to ARVC benefits and questions about upcoming events.
Daily: Continuing to pound away at the new membership management tool that’s also going to be a cool portal through which our members can access considerable content (in due time) without needing to first meet with staff.
Daily: Organizing the incoming membership renewals for 2023-2024 Industry Suppliers and for 2024 Outdoor Hospitality membership categories.
Reminded members of the upcoming event we hope they will appreciate this fall, including our very own online gathering.
JUNE & JULY
The regular work of KPOA continued as normal: social media posts, member queries, membership queries, industry developments, etc.).
June started with expanding member publicity through influencers. Next up, we gained a much more stable office situation! Your executive director is not exactly settled in, but it’s great to have everything under one roof again.
We contributed a bit to this ARVC post (click here).
KPOA is stepping up to the 21st century by launching an membership portal! That means you will be able to pay online for your dues, registration fees, auction wins, chat with one another without going through KPOA’s office, list things for sale that other members might want, perform committee work in one central spot, access resource documents of various types, and so forth!
You will no longer need someone to answer a phone to simply take your credit card info, and you will no longer need to mail checks for payment of dues, registration, or winning auction bids.
With a whole lot of hard work, the system will be live for our supplier membership drive in mid-to-late July. Hopefully we can work out any kinks before we launch the park owner membership drive in early August. (This project consumed many hours of research, demos, analysis, and consideration across quite a few weeks; actually, the process started 8 years ago and has been reconsidered every couple of years, and lit up like the 4th of July back in the spring.)
Updated our Upcoming Events & Key Dates page, as well as many others as they relate to the upcoming membership drives and meetings.
As of 7/25, we’ve decided we need to offer two options to our prospective Industry Supplier, Associate and Outdoor Hospitality Members: the means to join now and the means to inform us of your intention to join when the online payment tool is activated.
On 7/25, the US Department of Justice advanced a proposed rule to strengthen web and mobile app access for people with disabilities. Click to read it.
MAY
For the parks, we posted in our private FB group 7 times.
Naturally, the consumer-driven marketing continues. This includes responding queries from consumers.
We held an online session to discuss the process by which we’ll be handling legislative affairs for 2024. Please find a link to the recording in the 5/15 email, and let us know if you are willing to serve on our Legislative Affairs Committee (LAC). So far, members are:
- Richard Lord (Louisburg, south of KC)
- Mark Atkinson (Merriam, suburb of KC)
- Aaron Dreher (Hays, northcentral / northwest)
- Karen Weber (Goodland (northwest)
- Mary Wares (Wichita)
The LAC then received their starting points for each bill we hope to inspire. (Reading this later and wishing you’d joined? It would be fabulous to have more representation, especially when need to be reaching out to the legislators! Please email CampKansas@ksrvparks.com if you’d like to serve.)
There were a number of member queries, including these two:
- Connected a member to other members who have experience with electric metering. The member had two questions. It’s great to be a bridge to solutions!
- Researched and responded to a member who had concerns about the pet policies required by one of the industry’s insurance providers.
Visited with several industry suppliers who might join us for our next membership cycle (their benefits run from Sept. through Aug.).
APRIL
Finalized our bank account update. This is a bigger deal for geographically dispersed associations than it is for single-location, privately owned businesses.
For the parks, we posted in our private FB group 4 times.
The Board of Directors held a highly productive meeting where were outlined a few new directions for later this year and into 2024. A long desired development is that we now have a Legislative Affairs Committee (LAC). In the next KPOA Campfire email, the committee process will be explained & members will be invited to join. This is a grassroots effort to legally improve the management of Kansas’ privately owned outdoor hospitality businesses.
Attended the TIAK Board Meeting. Kelly McKenzie (Walt’s Four Season Campground & Country Store, Abilene) will now be our TIAK Delegate, and Aaron Dreher (Creek Side Resort, Hays) will be her backup, so their introductions were made and a bit of orientation took place afterward. For a while, I (Mary) will remain in the background since this duty usually needs more exposure than just one meeting.
The Governor awarded a huge increase in funding to tourism. For years, the budget line item was $1.6M. For 2023 it went up to $2.6M, and for next year it’s set at $4.8M. We are grateful our state is placing more value in tourism! The line item amount is considerably less than many other states, but we’re moving in the right direction.
Provided this update which was published in Woodall’s Campground Magazine: “KPOA enjoyed seeing 66% of its members at our annual meeting, and appreciated the enthusiasm shown to serving on the Board of Directors. The blend of fresh eyes and a bit of stabilizing historical perspectives, the Board is increasing its emphasis on legislative matters in Topeka. A new internal committee has been created to focus on those legislative matters. Additionally, Kelly McKenzie (Abilene) and Aaron Dreher (Hays) are taking on the matters of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas. Additionally, a hands-on introduction of campground owners to influencers and content creators proved to be very beneficial to most who participated. The association is regaining its strong and vibrant position.”
MARCH
Began coordinating plans with the new Board of Directors, and notified ARVC of our new Board of Directors.
For the parks, we posted in our private FB group 10 times.
Created and monitored our consumer-driven social media posts. We post sometimes daily, sometimes not quite seven a week, and occasionally more than once a day.
Lined up another online networking session: Connecting with Influencers.
Processed a large amount of association administrative duties with our bank, the Secretary of State’s office, and the IRS regarding our new address and the new signers on our bank account.
Elevated an ARVC issue presented by a member; I believe that’s been ironed out to the member’s satisfaction.
JANUARY & FEBRUARY
Launched the 2023 benefits for our outdoor hospitality members.
Our staff’s office moved 3 times so far and expects one more. The PO Box remains in place, as does an office at 313 S Pierre St., in Pierre SD 57501 (for those who aren’t familiar with us, our executive director has a mail collection service in Pierre regardless of where her business travels have her).
Hosted an online event in which introductions were made, connecting outdoor hospitality business owners to influencers, writer, and content creators.
Closed out the 2022 books and prepared for an electronic meeting of the Board of Directors.
Welcomed new Associate Members Autumn & Billy Howe, Brianna & Candy Pachero, and Sandra & Daryl Brunsell. They are hoping to create Prairie Palace into an RV park in Lindsborg. We had earlier met at the Campground Owners Expo in Branson in late 2022.
Outlined our plans for the 2/28 annual business meeting and networking event.
Participated in the Kansas Huddle (e-meetings with Tourism and with TIAK).
Filed our IRS tax return for 2022.
Welcomed new member Kyle & Vickie Kelly of Suncatcher Lake RV Park, in Leavenworth. We first met in Branson at the 2022 Campground Owners Expo.
Held our annual meeting at Walt’s Four Seasons Campground & Country Store in Abilene.
