Reservations

Here's my take on concessionaires -- as a generalized statement.

Feds want to 'fix' -- 'manage' the budget ... so, in the interest of numbers, the Fed says we don't want to raise rates on a specific service (say it costs $20 per user), so, let's contract it out. SO, now the contractor comes in and pays a set fee to the Feds ... then the contractor goes in, keeps the fees the same for a year, then bumps to $25 ... that's 20% hike in these days of Feds imaginery 3% COLA ...

The Feds say, "now we don't have the costs of federal employees managing the service", so the Fed deducts that overhead from the budget and claim they reduced the budget. And, they also say, and look here, we now have "income" from the concessionaire fees. So, now they claim again the budget is further reduced. GOOD PR, right.

But, now the user -- that's us -- pay 20% more for our use ... which is essentially reducing our income - or our benefit - whatever you want to title this service, it's an addition reduction in what was once a benefit and has now become private business -- in addition, the Feds have claimed they have reduced the budget. SO it become a major uphill fight to change it back.

Some where in there is the fact that the service (that was run on a cost basis before) is now more expensive and become another income source for federal contractors which we all know are never the least expensive alternative .... IF the MCGs are ever privatized, or even placed on a private reservation system, any concept of this being a benefit will go out the window.

Wow, Thats why I like these forms. You get the straight talk. No politcaly correct BS. Ok the experiance of the people has spoken and that is that a private company is not what we want to oversee the MCG reservation policy. Can we agree we would like for all MCG to accept reservations? Can we agree that we need some common rules threw out the MCG system? What would be the best way to do the reservation system? Common for all branchs, by branch, by region, by base what? and what common rules would you like? Lenght of stay, How far in advance can reservation be made, deposit policy?



Next topic McCain vs Obama ( Hold on boys its going to get bumpy)

Quote: Common for all branchs, by branch, by region, by base what?

What is more the issue is that MCG policy becomes uniform and fair to each one that is entitled to the benefit instead of some long-term stay, some short-term stay, and some as long as you can manipulate yourself into the site.

And, secondarily to that, use the fees the each MCG generates to run that MCG instead of syphoning some of the money into pet projects (Golf?) and make the Camp Host responsible for meeting the budget -- make his job dependent on it. Then, we'd see clean, functional MCG sites that would be as full as is practical and generating enough revenue to operate effectively.

No one will easily convince me that MCGs can't operate as well as privates when MCGs have very little actual overhead in the form of no taxes, no land payment, no rent, no insurance etc ...

Well, there is only one way all MCG's are going to have anything close to common for reservations or anything else and that is with a directive from DOD. To allow each base commander to establish their own rules gives us what exists today. I would surmize that most base commanders have very input or concern about the operations of their MCG. This is usually delegated. And over time little deviations occur and eventually gross deviations become standards. That is why for something like the MCG's a detailed and intense DOD directive should be established and a mechanism for inspections and surveys be implemented which report directly to the DOD with the base commanders info'ed. The military is based on rules and conformity.

QUOTE: "To allow each base commander to establish their own rules gives us what exists today."

That's exactly right, and is what makes it so tough because each of us can't know what to expect at any given MCG ... so it's tough to make even rudimentary plans ...

Course, with this website, we now know more than in the past because it does give us a great resource --- so a thanks to Larry from M44, and from plenty of others I'm sure too. Even if he is getting richer than Midas from all the income it generates ! M44

OK, I'm ringing in.

I don’t think Larry is getting rich here. Look where he is at.

Those of you that are new here need to research some old topics. This subject has been explored a lot.

DoD does not like to micro manage the services. MWR, service’s wide, has been delegated to the Base Commanders. They don’t like to be micro managed. Until the time when all Branches of the Military are combined into a single entity we will have to live with the Base Commanders decision.

You were resourceful enough to find this great Military Campground tool and with a little study you will be proficient in weaving your way into the complex system of Military Campgrounds.

You are only tied down with an RV because you want to be. Of course that was said by a completely retired person.

FastEagle