Re: educating military campgrounds

Larry....As you know, all last winter season we were camphosts at Ft. Stewart, GA and we did alot of updating the info here on Holbrook Pond.....we also gave the website to all Rvers that entered the cg.....a few folks that are here as members were some of them.... We have use the site for over 2 yrs. now and love it.....In fact, Dock went to check info in the printed book and threw it out...stating nothing was right in it....so, my point being.....We're always singing your praises...

Lori

Larry....As you know, all last winter season we were camphosts at Ft. Stewart, GA and we did alot of updating the info here on Holbrook Pond.....we also gave the website to all Rvers that entered the cg.....a few folks that are here as members were some of them.... We have use the site for over 2 yrs. now and love it.....In fact, Dock went to check info in the printed book and threw it out...stating nothing was right in it....so, my point being.....We're always singing your praises...

Lori

Although I never made t to Holbrook, I heard you guys did a GREAT JOB there! Thank you for the praise and for helping to spread the word! The word about the website is still spreading, as we've had 16 new registered members in the past 21 hours. We get about 300 - 500 new website members each month!

I will make a comment here that I would challenge anyone to dispute. The government is not in the business to turn a profit; therefore, the lack of customer service and being "dumb founded" is not unusual when it comes to a military campground. Unlike a commercial campground, the governmental system typically does not have a monetary reward associated with producing a service that gets good reviews and patronage.

Secondly, the civil servants and/or military managers that are in charge of the campground system at each installation have little authority or budget power to make significant changes.

The money follows the trail of the installation's head honco. If he/she plays golf, then you will find a nice golf course there. If they are a gym rat, then there will be nice weight lifting equipment in place. Few, if any, are RVers.

So my suggestion is to start at the top and work down instead of at the bottom and try to work up. Come on folks, we spent careers in the military and know how hard it is to effect common sense change!

This reply is firstly in response to the topic.

Military Campgrounds are not Incorporated. Each is a stand alone portion of a larger organization, The Commands MWR Program. The Commanding Officer ensures the MWR facilities under his/her Command are disseminated to all authorized users. This web site is not connected to the Military in ANY way and is not in any one’s chain of command, so why should any Military Campground subscribe to it? Because it’s free? Not a good answer because if you take the time to subscribe to it it is not free anymore. Couldn’t you be charged with missuse & abuse for using your government time communicating with an unliciensed contractor? That’s what the owner of this web site would be doing if they actively solicit inputs from the government. There is all kinds of paperwork involved to get on a contractors list even if the service you provide is FREE. The freedom of information act allows the owner of this site free use of information found here on the world wide web. It dose not allow them to solicit it.

Interactive Comment Evaluation (ICE) is being used service wide now. It’s designed to be used for feedback - good or bad - so use it that way. Write them the same review you write for this web site. We can’t judge how that information will be used until we have some feedback ourselves.

Before coming across this web site my primary source of information on Military Campgrounds was Paths Across America ( www.armymwr.com/portal/travel/paths/green.asp ). I still use it often even though I know most of the information here is more accurate and up to date. I have had limited success at getting Military Campgrounds to at the least update the information on Paths Across America.

These Military Campgrounds we have available to us across this great country are in a very fragile environment. MRW is interpreted by many different Commanding Officers in many different ways. Almost all Commanding Officers in a position to be in charge of a MWR are only in that position one time in their military career so we are always dealing with a first timer.

FastEagle

Fast Eagle and Skyking make interesting points here ... something I often forget when I'm on this site is the fact it is a completely commercial site and has nothing to do with, nor is it sponsored by, the military. The nature of this site lends itself to it "becoming a part of the military" in spirit ...

We jump up and down and complain about some MCGs, and praise others. But, the majority of 'people in charge' of the MWR and MCG probably never see this site or even know about -- maybe a few that happen to RV too.

So, in reality we're enjoying the comradery, the communication, the evaluations, etc., as current and former brothers-in-arms (and sisters), but in fact are probably blowing in the wind insofar as making any positive changes in areas that we believe could use it ...

...but in fact are probably blowing in the wind insofar as making any positive changes in areas that we believe could use it ...

I COMPLETELY disagree. I receive NUMEROUS emails from the various military campgrounds. They come from MWR, the campground manager, MWR publicity, the camp hosts, and even installation commanders or deputy commanders. MANY military campground websites reference this website, with MANY telling their guests about us. At one military campground, when they get a phone call asking for directions, the customer is told to check put this website for the correct directions. I've received praise from a couple military campgrounds on how fast we post any changes made to their information. Another military campground praised this website because it's NOT affiliated with the government, or any specific service. This is a non-Army campground and they have problems getting "Paths Across America" to update their information. Even an Army campground has praised us since they also have problems getting the Army to update their own website, where we make changes quickly here.

I'm not trying to toot my horn here, but over 50% of the military campgrounds are aware of this website and are glad we're here. I've only received criticism from one military campground for "advertising" one of their campgrounds (which they didn't want anyone to know about ???). Everyone else views this website as a great benefit to their operation (it's also free advertising for them).

Even though we've recently added information on military vacation rentals, a Coast Guard location contacted me to correct some information about their cottage since they are getting MANY more calls about their rental since I've added it to the website. They thanked me for more than doubling their reservations for the upcoming 6 months! There's been MANY changes to many military campgrounds because of this forum, the reviews, and the monthly in-depth reviews. This website IS making a difference.

Yes, technically this is considered a "commercial" website, since some income is generated from the minimal advertising and the Directory software. But trust me, the income doesn't cover the expenses and time spent running it.