---

quote:

We are at Rickreal now.....The turn out is good....We have 80 plus coaches registered and we figure that the end count could be at 100. There are seminars scheduled for Friday and Saturday .....Great food, lots of talking,,,and even a band on Saturday night.

Thank you Sean for what you said...it is so true...Their has been a change in our industry and it is real hard to get away from a business when we are working hard "just to stay alive"....but we are here along with Dick Wright and David Gregory. We know how important it is to go out and talk with you guys....answer questions...and hopefully give everyone a chance to see, feel and explore other options. Our bus's don't do anyone any good just sitting in a carport or garage...we need to be out using them and sharing idea's. So come on down....the sun is out...and I know its going to be a great weekend. Bob Lewis (Infinity Coach Inc.)

---

---

quote:

We have a conflicting commitment, so we will not be there.

However, we know some of the organizers and I spoke with them a couple weeks ago. The simple reason why there will be no exhibitors is that almost every company in the RV-related industry has been hit really hard by the downturn, and they simply can't afford it. Exhibitors not only have to pay for their exhibit space (even at a bus rally -- the extra tent or hall rental costs money, and that has to be recovered from the exhibitors), but also pay to get their wares to the rally, staff their booth, etc., and that also means taking a person away from the home office.

I know for a fact that many of these companies have had to lay people off just to stay alive, and that often means that the principals are having to stay home and man the shop.

Some of these folks will, of course, be in Rickreal anyway. So, for example, Dick Wright (Wrico) will be there, even with no booth, and the Gregory's (Southern Oregon Diesel) and Lewis's (Infinity Coach) -- you'll certainly be able to talk to them around the dinner table or out at their coaches.

I would guess that attendance will be down somewhat this year, just due to the economy, but I think you will have a good rally anyway. We'd be there if we did not have a conflict with our annual church conference.

---