“RV Doctor” Gary Bunzer Receives Award
Gary Bunzer, a contributing writer to Family Motor Coaching magazine whose monthly “House Calls” column provides technical advice to motorhome owners, recently was honored by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) with the 2010 National Education Service Award.
This annual award is presented to individuals who have been instrumental in the development of educational programs in the RV industry. Mr. Bunzer was recognized for his service on review committees for several textbooks as well as for his efforts to make technical education available fto technicians and consumers through magazines, books, and Web sites. “You will find no greater champion for education than Gary Bunzer,” said RVIA chairman of the board Jim Sheldon.
“I was surprised and humbled to receive the award,” Mr. Bunzer said. “There are many people behind the scenes, in concert with the Standards and Education Department at RVIA, working toward the common goal of providing excellent training for professional RV service technicians that simply benefits everyone at every level of the industry. The proverbial win/win/win; the manufacturer, the dealer, and, ultimately, every coach owner will benefit from having trained and certified technicians working in the service sector of the RV industry. I’m honored to have a small part in that effort.”
Other industry leaders recognized during the association’s annual meeting on June 9, 2010, in South Bend, Indiana, were Gregg Fore, Dicor Corporation, who received the Distinguished Service to the RV Industry Award; Sherman Goldenberg, publisher of RV Business, recipient of the David J. Humphreys RV Industry Unity Award; Jeff Christner, director of codes and standards at Forest River, who received the Distinguished Achievement in RV Standards Award; John Regan, Fabric Services, who was honored with the National Service Award; and Pete Liegl, Forest River, who received a special award for his contributions to the RV industry’s overall success.
Tales From The Road
Ever since the success of Anita Henehan’s first RV book, How to Run Away from Home After 50, she has wanted to follow it up with even more stories about RV adventuring, as well as tips for RV travelers. She has succeeded with her new book, Tales from the Road: Adventures of Mid-Life Runaways, an anecdote-filled collection of how to avoid disasters, what to be aware of, and what to take along to be safe and have the time of your life.
Since May 2000, Anita and Paul, her husband, have intermittently traveled North America in a 42-foot motorhome named “Merrily We Roll Along Two.” Tales from the Road relates their experiences and highlights humorous episodes, fascinating fiascos, and heartwarming tales contributed by fellow RVers. A section titled Favorite Places, which summarizes many of the Henehans’ travel experiences, occupies nearly half of the book. In addition, lists titled “Things We Learned the Hard Way,” “Things That Are Good to Know,” and “Things to Take with You” enlighten readers.
The book costs $14 plus shipping (Missouri residents add 8.241 percent sales tax) from Reflections Publishing, 4218 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63108; (314) 308-3785; e-mail: henehanmerrily@aol.com.
National Get Outdoors Day 2010
Hundreds of hosting organizations and partners made June 12, 2010, a day of outdoor fun for thousands of families during the third annual National Get Outdoors Day (GO-Day). The event once again was led by the USDA Forest Service and the American Recreation Coalition (ARC) and included 91 official GO-Day sites in more than 35 states, involving a varied mix of organizations in the natural resources, recreation, health care, youth services, and media fields.
According to GO-Day organizers, the mission of the event is to unify public and private-sector interests in efforts to influence American lifestyles, especially among youth, in ways that maximize the physical, mental, and other benefits derived from outdoor activities.
GO-Day 2010 sites offered traditional outdoor activities such as fishing, canoeing and kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, orienteering, and even archery. Some sites also included technology, recognizing the lure of digital photography and handheld GPS units used for geocaching. Partners offered water safety, conservation, recycling, wildlife safety, and outdoor ethics education, while hands-on learning experiences included casting, setting up tents, planting and caring for gardens, and even canning.
A key focus of GO-Day 2010 was to make outdoor recreation a part of healthy lifestyles, with many sites offering educational sessions on good nutrition, blood pressure checks, and information about reducing the risk of diabetes, skin cancer, and more.
GO-Day is a signature event of Great Outdoors Month, which is designated each year in June by a Presidential proclamation.