First of four, a summary:
- It was the largest attended event in many years
- The auction brought in over $10,000 (there were some really fun and cool items up for auction) … wooohooooo! Thank you!
- The speakers each provided very valuable insight, from presentations to the Expert Sessions, and the one that really stirred everyone was the one regarding the Colorado Wage Act.
- The pre-conference workshop was well attended, and everyone took home some nuggets of new knowledge.
- The sponsors made it happen! The Campground Connection, Pelland Advertising, Colorado Caliber, Wilcor, and Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance!
- We wrote two post-conference press releases that generated quite a bit of industry distribution, including these two examples:
Second of four, my Letter of THANKS and APPRECIATION to the Conference Attendees.
It was quite an honor to see so many in attendance at our conference. Has it already been a month? Oh my! Well, the month zoomed by for me but the memories still flood my thoughts. I revel at the images of seeing you.
For me most of the event went by without much one-on-one time but at one lunch I sat at a table to be able to visit better with some newcomers to our organization. Well, before I could get fully settled, they got up and went outside. Oh, conferences!
One can hope to find time to visit with everyone but it rarely works that way for me. There is a lot going on in the forefront but even more behind the scenes. For example, once when I looked up to get assistance from Katrina (my assistant) she was gone. She had been pulled over to the cabin to empty our contents for the cleaning crew (our stuff was already in loaded but conference lunch items were still in the frig). Yes, there are many unexpected developments that go on behind the scenes!
During and since that event, some of our long-standing members shared with me the amazement of what a change they see in CCLOA in the few short years since I was brought in. Well, none of it can be done without YOU! Yes, there’s been a lot of change in these few short years, and I think the energy that was present in that conference hall made me feel as though we’ve turned the corner … we’re now on solid ground … and our foundation can now handle additional growth!
Thank you so much for attending. To the four parks that planned to attend but had to bow out, I know you were there in spirit. Please know you were missed!
As for me, I’m humbled to see the changes that have come about. Thank you for responding so positively to Colorado’s professional trade association that was created just for you!
Sincerely,
Mary
Third of four, a nudge for you to mark your calendar in a permanent way so that you can attend next year’s conference. It’s set for March 4th and 5th, possibly with some workshops on the 3rd. The rest of the details will be announced here as they develop. We already have some industry supplier members lined up to attend!
And what’s finally fourth? A reminder that CCLOA is not out of the woods financially. Recall that Cathy Harbick of Arrowhead Point Campground & Cabins (Buena Vista) shared with everyone that her park asked their guests to donate to CCLOA? Those who did then received a discount at the campground’s espresso bar (a wildly popular revenue center). What does that inspire you to do? Perhaps the donation of a quarter to CCLOA for every load of laundry that’s done this summer or for every bag of ice that’s purchased? Or would your guests drop a quarter into a box as they took our otherwise free Camp Colorado Guide?
You know, one of our huge overheads is the shipping costs of our Camp Colorado Guide. That’s why we hope most of our members will come to the conference to get their stash, and then that they’ll also distribute a supply to your local visitor bureau, library, and businesses. Some of our parks go through thousands of our guides, while others, especially those who cater to seasonals, tend to need one per site. We get it. Mass distribution isn’t a requirement at all, but funding the project is an issue. In the few years I’ve been here, we went from recycling thousands of undistributed copies at the end of the year to doubling our printing and running out of supply early in the year!
Some of our parks who can’t make it to the conference, as well as some who want their supply in January, have been known to send a donation back to CCLOA to offset the shipping costs. Anything that can offset our costs is greatly appreciated.
We appreciate whatever ways you can find to comfortably assist your industry’s professional trade association so that it can do more for your industry … every dollar (or even every quarter!).
That’s a wrap for this conference. Now it’s time for us to start planning the 2020 conference! If you have suggestions, shoot them to me.
Colorado Campground & Lodging Owners Association (CCLOA) 