The following letter was issued by RVIA President Craig Kirby on the eve of the Fourth of July weekend.
Good Afternoon Members,
I continue to be impressed with how resilient the RV industry has been and how you all have responded during difficult times over these last few months. In the face of all the uncertainty and challenges your individual businesses have faced in dealing with the pandemic, we have come together, manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and campgrounds, to support each other when it has been most critical. As a result, we were able to successfully relaunch the industry’s V-shaped recovery as the stay-at-home orders ended.
Despite the challenges over the last few months, we have made real progress toward improving as an industry. From best practice recommendations on model year change-over, adding the unit length to our RVs, and the critical movement toward passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, we are moving in the right direction. Our ability to rally together and improve is more important than ever, because together is the only path toward creating a world-class RV experience for our customers now and in the future.
The passage of the Great American Outdoors Act in the United States Senate is a monumental achievement that cannot be overstated. Simply put, the Great American Outdoors Act would be the largest investment in federal lands and the most significant piece of outdoor recreation legislation in over six decades. But we still have work to do. To those members of the industry who have contacted your Congressional representatives, a big thank you. We encourage the rest of you to please access RVAct to submit a letter and reach out to your reps – we are close to the goal line and your support makes all the difference. As more and more Americans decide to take up RVing, this investment is critical to continuing to deliver positive RV experiences.
As we celebrate Independence Day this coming weekend, I am thankful to be a part of an industry so woven into the fabric of this great nation. Recently, it can feel at times that we have lost touch with co-workers, our friends and family. But during these challenging times it is important to remember that RVs are enabling more and more Americans the freedom to explore nature, to have fun, to build lasting memories and drive deeper human connections. And that is something I hope all of you take pride in.
Be well, and I wish all of you a wonderful Independence Day Holiday.
Best,
Craig