May Newsletter
2016
Volunteer Thank You
We would like to thank all of those who have donated their time and/or money to Retrailia over the last few months. We really appreciate our members going above and beyond to promote the success of Retrailia. For those wishing to donate in some way please contact the parks or corporate office for more information. The parks are currently in need of light maintenance, cleaning and customer service help. The corporate office is currently in need of data entry, customer service, and collection calling. For those unable to donate time, our parks are in desperate need of the following items:
- Board games, puzzles, cards, etc.
- DVD movies
- Sports equipment (soccer balls, basketballs, volleyballs, nets, horseshoes, etc.)
- Pool supplies (chemicals)
- Craft supplies
- Office supplies (ink, paper, Wi-Fi equipment)
- Maintenance supplies (fertilizer, weed killer, hand tools, paint, etc.)
*If donating any of the above listed items we ask that they be in good to excellent condition. If you would like further information, please call the park to which you would like to donate for their specific needs. Items can be dropped off at the park or corporate office.
Volunteers Needed to Count Ballots
We are in need of volunteers to help count the ballots after Friday’s Special Meeting of Members. The meeting is scheduled from 6 pm to 8 pm at Wheeler Farm. The counting will take place at the corporate office immediately following the meeting. The Board of Directors has established guidelines to ensure the counting of votes is fair and accurate. There will be three members of the Board present and they are asking for at least three member volunteers to assist. If you would like to participate please email Diane Williams at Diane@retrailia.com or contact the corporate office at 801.255.8166.
Camp Hosts Needed
We are still looking for Camp Hosts at several of our parks. If you know of anyone that would be interested in working a seasonal job to make some extra money this summer please have them contact the corporate office.
We still have openings at Apple Garden, Lakeside and Echo Island.
Summer Events & Activities
The activities committee has planned some wonderful activities at the parks this season. We appreciate all the effort made by the committee and members to make this season memorable.
Contract Deadlines
In order to determine our financial standing and what the company can viably sustain we must determine our membership base. In order to do this, we have set a final deadline for all membership conversions. The final deadline is June 1st, 2016. After this date all previous members who have not contacted the corporate office to begin the conversion process, will be cancelled. Previous members will no longer receive the introductory rate and will be required to buy a new membership at the current retail rate.
If you have a membership with an affiliate program (Coast to Coast, Resort Parks International, or Adventure Outdoor Resorts), they will be notified of your membership termination. These affiliate programs require you to have a home park and if you do not keep your membership current it can affect access to these affiliates.
Please don’t miss out on your chance to retain your membership with Retrailia as well as access to affiliate programs. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your membership please contact the corporate office Monday through Friday, 9 AM-5PM at 801-255.8166 or by email at memberservices@retrailia.com.
Make Your Reservations Now!
Note: Reservations may now be booked up to 12 months in advance, as long as the departure date of the reservation does not go beyond the 12-month date. If you have questions about this or other reservations-related policies, please review the 2016 Member Policy Guide or contact the corporate office at 801.255.8166.
Reservation Help Videos: If you would like a quick refresher on the reservation system, click here to watch some short video tutorials. Please let us know of other tutorials you would like to see.
Park Highlight - Pleasant Creek Ranch
Mount Pleasant, located one hundred miles south of Salt Lake City and twenty-two miles northeast of Manti, Utah, is the largest city in Sanpete county as of 2012. Pleasant Creek Ranch was established in 1977 and is located a short distance off of Hwy 89. It is a wonderful place which boasts about its mature pines, shade trees and scrub oak. The park is home to a diverse set of wildlife and it is a common occurrence to have a deer visit you in your camp site. We recommend keeping your eyes open for an abundance of other small woodland creatures, making it a wonderful place to immerse yourself in nature’s beauty.
The park features a wonderful pool to help beat the summer heat, a pavilion that is great for a picnic and an open grass area for the kids to play. Activities outside the park include ATV trails, hunting, hiking, horseback riding & fishing. For the beginner or experienced ATV rider, finding remote locations inaccessible by trucks and jeeps is only part of the fun as you experience the Manti-La Sal Mountain Range. Hunting, with a variety of animals and agreeable terrain, Skyline Drive provides an ideal spot for hunting. Elk, moose and deer, as well as fowl, can be found in abundance. Horseback riding, the Sanpitch Recreation & Heritage Center, includes a new indoor Event Center and Equestrian Riding Arena. With a number of choice locations, you will enjoy the warmth of the summer sun and the crisp autumn air as you fish cool mountain streams and crystal blue lakes. From a simple nature walk to a more advanced hike, the Manti-La Sals let you explore all of nature’s possibilities at your own pace. On or off the paved road, biking provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy the unique sights and breathtaking landscape of Mount Pleasant. Walking along mountain trails you may find deer, moose and other animals, as well as deep green fields spotted with wildflowers. Look to the skies for hawks, eagles and a variety of other birds. Winter provides sledding, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and other winter activities. World Snow Kiting Championships are held every year near Mount Pleasant.
Sanpete county has many fun and enjoyable events that are put on each year. The Hub City Days and the Fourth of July Celebration include a parade down State street featuring local businesses and residents. The events include a breakfast at the city park, a carnival for the kids at the city park, a rodeo featuring local cowboys on the evening of the fourth and fireworks following the rodeo.
Mount Pleasant Pioneer Day is held the last Saturday in March (with rare exceptions). For a small fee, enjoy a box lunch, visit with others, and enjoy a wonderful program. Visit the Relic Home and Blacksmith Shop, and take the Main Street Tour. Mount Pleasant even boasts its own winery, which offers wine and cheese tasting every Saturday. Other fun activities include Lamb Days and the local weekly Live Radio Show.
Pleasant Creek Ranch has been managed by Carma & Don Davidson and their daughter Mel since 1989. Sadly, Don passed away in 2000, at which point Mel took over the park maintenance. As you can imagine the Davidsons have the park in their blood and do a wonderful job of making our members feel like Pleasant Creek Ranch is another home away from home.
Carma and Mel are a wealth of knowledge as to what the area has to offer and are always happy to take time out of their day to chat with you. Next time you’re in the park take a moment to say hi. They always greet our members and guests with a big smile and a happy demeanor.
Retrailia RV Resorts wants to give your boss a reason to pat you on the back!
Retrailia RV Resorts recently launched its Business Partner Network. This program is an excellent opportunity for companies in the Recreational Vehicle, ATV, Boating and outdoor-related industries to give their customers the added bonus of doing business with them by offering two free nights of camping at any of our beautiful parks.
The Business Partner Network program is fairly simple and easy for a prospective company to implement. The program works as follows: For every new Retrailia RV Resorts membership we sell that is generated from a referral that originates from said company, they will receive a check for either $100.00 or $200.00. Pretty simple right? We really want to make this simple for companies to implement; not only will they not have to give us any of their customer information but they can give their customers an added bonus for doing business with them.
The way Retrailia gathers potential leads for new memberships is by giving our partners’ employees and sales people the power to give away a free 2-night stay at any of our RV resorts with no hidden costs. When your customer or referral redeems their 2 nights of camping, we then collect their information for reservation purposes. This allows us to narrow the referrals down to the potential customers that are truly interested in our product. So, as you can see, we aren’t asking for our partners to give us any of their customer information; we are only asking our partners to give their clients a little something extra. For doing this we will give the referring company either a check for $200.00 for every referral that purchases either a new Retrailia Multi-Park membership or $100.00 for every Retrailia Single Park membership that originated from the referring organization.
Cash Donations & Fundraisers
As promised in last month’s newsletter, we wanted to provide members with a monthly donation update. The donations Retrailia has received to date:
$25.00-made by Mark & Connie Makin (for signage at Pleasant Creek Ranch)
$2.00-bank fee
$98.00 - Balance of Zions Bank Donation account
Retrailia has set up a separate bank account at Zions Bank that will be holding all the money earned from the different fund raising events as well as any unsolicited donations received. An accounting of those funds will be sent out in each monthly newsletter. Everyone will get to see what money came in and where it was spent.
If you would like to make a donation please click here: Make a Payment. You can also find the link under the Member’s Area of our website, www.retrailia.com. Please use the word "donation" in the payment for field.
Member Referrals
No one is better qualified to spread the word about the benefits of membership in Retrailia RV Resorts than you, a dedicated member. As a valued member of our organization, you can play an active role in helping Retrailia RV Resorts grow its membership base by forwarding your referrals to our customer service department. Refer a friend, family member or co-worker to join Retrailia RV Resorts and we'll show our appreciation by awarding you with a $50 USD credit on your account to use towards your next year’s dues if they sign up for either a Single Park or Multi-Park membership. It’s our way of thanking you, your friends, family members and co-workers you refer will thank you too.
It’s Easy to Participate
A referral from a personal acquaintance is the most trusted form of recommendation. We appreciate you telling your friends and family members and co-workers about Retrailia RV Resorts. Click the button below to get started.
Guest Passes & Family Benefit Memberships (FBM) Are Still Available
Guest Passes
Guest Pass booklets are a great deal at $100 for 4 passes. These passes will give you the opportunity to share the parks with your friends, family and loved ones. If you’re interested in receiving more information, or buying a Guest Pass Booklet, please click the button below and we will contact you immediately.
There are only a limited number of booklets that were printed for the 2016 season so call now (801.255.8166) to purchase one (or more) before they're gone.
* Each guest pass is good for one site for one night. Expiration date is 60 months from the date of issue.
If you or your immediate family (parents or children) are interested in this membership please contact the corporate office to get started.
For more information on how the Family Benefit membership works, click here.
Please Contact Us With Any Questions
For any of our current or past members with questions please email us at Memberservices@Retrailia.com or call our corporate office at #801.255.8166.
11 Steps to Getting Your RV Ready for Camping Season
It’s official! Cabin Fever is settling in and dreaming of warmer weather is constantly on our minds. We can’t wait to hook up the RV and get away for the weekend. But before we can hitch up, there is a critical process you should do to make sure your RV survived the winter months and is ready for that first trip.
Here are 11 Steps to getting your RV ready for Camping Season:
1. Exterior:
Water leaks are the biggest problems that are found after the winter months. Check your roof and all the caulking around the windows, vents, air conditioners, and doors to make sure there are no cracks or missing caulk. Even the smallest cracks and holes can cause serious water damage to your RV.
2. Tires:
Inspect your tires for sidewall cracks or cracks between the treads. Any cracks should be treated seriously and replaced. Also, don’t forget to check your tire pressure. To find the right tire pressure recommended for your tires, refer to your owner’s manual from your manufacturer. There should also be a decal inside a cabinet that has the recommended pressure on it.
3. Clean Appliances:
Inspect all appliances, including the outside access covers for your water heater and refrigerator, for any foreign debris like spider webs, nests, dead insects or small critters. Do a thorough cleaning with household cleaners to clean up all the dust and dirt from being in storage. You can use LIGHT air pressure from a compressor to clean out the burner area but DO NOT BLOW HIGH PRESSURE UP THE REFRIGERATOR CHIMNEY!
4. Batteries:
Keep your batteries in good working order by inspecting them before each season. Before checking and cleaning your batteries, make sure to wear safety glasses and latex or protective gloves. Disconnect shore power and make sure all items in your RV are off and the main power switch is off.
After you’ve prepared yourself and your RV, check and clean corroded terminals, connections, and battery trays. Hot water and baking soda work well to clean batteries. Make sure to check battery fluid levels if possible. If you remove the battery for any reason, make sure to disconnect and reconnect it properly. The first of the season is also a great time to have your battery tested. Make sure to remove the battery properly and take it into a professional, to have the battery tested. If you need to replace your battery, make sure to replace multiple battery banks together. DO NOT add a new battery with a bank of old batteries (coach batteries and chassis batteries are banked separately).
5. Liquid Propane (L.P.):
Follow the following steps before checking your L.P.:
- Make sure all L.P. appliances and items are turned off.
- There is no smoking, open flames or sparks close by.
- The leak detector inside the RV is turned ON.
First, open the valves on your propane tanks. Smell around the area for any leaks. Next, check the valves and regulators by using a soapy water mixture. If you detect a leak, have a professional inspect and repair it for you. Sometimes the seals dry out over the winter months causing new leaks that didn’t exist before storage.
6. Water:
Now it’s time to test your water pipes and lines. Before filling your RV with water, make sure the hot water heater bypass valve is in the “normal” position and all faucets are closed. It’s best to use your “City Water” connections to fill your RV up for the first time. You can also use your fresh water tank and pump too.
Turn on a hot and a cold water faucet during the filling, allowing the air to escape until the water flows steady. Inspect all faucets and pipes for leaks. Inspect the water heater over pressure safety valve and the water heater drain plug (outside of RV) for leaks. After the water runs steady, turn off faucets and disconnect from your “City Water” connection. Now, fill up fresh water in your onboard tanks. Reopen a hot and cold water faucet until water flow stops. Close the faucets. Switch the fresh water pump on. After the pump starts running, wait 20-30 minutes to hear if the pump cycles on again. If the pump cycles on, it indicates a pressure drop or leak. If the pump does not cycle on, the system should be ready to use. Make sure to run enough water through each faucet to be sure all RV antifreeze is removed. This process can be difficult so in doubt please call a professional.
7. Test Appliances:
After you have tested the L.P. and Water systems, and everything is up and running, it is time to test your appliances. Make sure your L.P. gas leak detector is on. Start by lighting a stove top burner, filling the L.P. lines. Next, you can light another L.P. fired item, like your refrigerator. Before testing your water heater, make sure it is full with water before igniting it.
8. Generator:
To get your generator ready, you will need to start it and also check certain functions on it. Getting your generator started can be tricky. Especially if your generator has sat for an extended period of time. The lack of fuel in the lines is usually the reason why your generator won’t start. If you have a prime feature, prime your generator until your indicator light turns on for the fuel pump. Run the pump for about 20 seconds to deliver fuel to the carburetor – the generator should start much quicker. If you do not have a prime feature on your generator, you will have to crank it until it starts. Let the starter rest to cool after about 15 seconds of cranking. Cycle the starter until it runs.
Once you have your generator started and it’s been running a while, check the oil level. Also, check the air filter for nests and to make sure it doesn’t need to be replaced.
9. Dump Hoses:
Sewer hoses have a limited lifespan. Inspect your sewer hose for any tears or holes before using it.
10. Waste Tank Valves:
Inspect the valve seal on your waste tank. Carefully work the handle in and out in short increments to make sure it is opening and closing properly. NOTE: Make sure your tank is empty before performing this inspection. You might want to take your RV to a dump station, hook it up and then inspect your waste tank valves. Valve seals can dry out causing them to stick, making them harder to operate. If your value seal is hard to open, you can purchase a valve lube in the parts department.
11. Awnings:
Roll out your awning(s) and inspect the fabric. Check for holes, tears, runs, or if anything has detached. If you’re having difficulties extending your awning(s), take it to a professional! The spring tension might need adjusted and they are tricky. DO NOT do this yourself.
Always remember, when in doubt, please call a professional!
Chicken Creole
If you would like to see your recipe highlighted in our newsletters, please submit them to the corporate office either via mail or email (contact information can be found at the bottom of this newsletter. Thank you.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours & 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, skinless boneless
- 2 15-ounce cans chicken broth
- 1 medium potato, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 carrot, sliced
- 1 stalk celery, sliced
- 1 cup peas
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 can of 5 refrigerator biscuits
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
Directions
Use a cast-iron Dutch oven, a stove top Dutch oven, or a large pot with a lid. Add oil to pot and heat to medium. Sauté the chicken breasts for about 20 minutes, turning after 10 minutes. Remove chicken to a cutting board. Add butter to pot. Sauté onions for about 5 minutes. Add flour and stir to moisten and make a rue. Add one can of broth and stir until the gravy is smooth. Add remaining vegetables, diced chicken, spices and 2nd can of broth.
Stir well, bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Take biscuits, cut each into 4 pieces, and place them on top of the stew. Put a lid on the pot and simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaves before serving.
Submitted by Danielle Johnson
Just For Fun
Campers of the Month
Retrailia RV Resorts Est. 9.17.2015
Retrailia RV Resorts
Email: Memberservices@retrailia.com
Website: http://retrailia.com/
Location: 411 West 7200 South, Midvale, UT, United States
Phone: 801.255.8166
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retrailia/