Why Join A Chapter?

You may be one of more than nearly one million Good Sam Club members who aren't getting their money's worth. Sure, you're taking advantage of discounts on camping fees, RV parts and accessories and other benefits such as Emergency Road Service, Good Sam's credit card, RV financing, and VIP insurance.

But there's another membership benefit you're not utilizing - and it's priceless. It's the fun and fellowship associated with belonging to a Good Sam chapter.

In a nutshell, chapters are groups of members who like to camp together. But camping is only part of the fun. The camaraderie and the friendships often last a lifetime.

Two years after the formation of the Good Sam Club in 1966, some members in Utah decided they wanted more of a good thing, so they formed the Ute Salt Shakers, which today is Good Sam's oldest chapter. Now, more than 30 years later, Club members are still seeking friendships with other camping enthusiasts and are involved in almost 2000 active chapters chartered throughout the United States and Canada.

Bob and Jessie Clausen joined Good Sam a number of years ago and didn't become chapter members until they realized they were missing some fun.

According to Bob, they were driving by a campground and saw a Good Sam logo, several RVs and a lot of activity. "We pulled in, met everyone there who were all having so much fun, and within a year we were involved in the formation of a new chapter," Bob says. The Clausens' involvement didn't stop there. Bob went on to be State Director of Oregon. "We're trying to get more of the younger people, the families and those employed involved," Bob says. "We're trying a new approach by getting information out to appeal to these folks." The same holds true in other states and provinces throughout North America. One chapter got started because a Good Sam member felt left out. According to Past Nova Scotia Provincial Director, Darrell Backstrom, he had seen a few issues of Highways at campgrounds and read about all the fun Club members were having and asked, why can't we have fun here? "There was no such thing as Good Sam in our area a few years ago," says Backstrom, who soon joined Good Sam and started working to get more people involved. Now there are chapters and an annual Samboree.

Community service is a trademark of chapters. While having fun, chapters participate in local civic events and fundraisers and often get involved with such charities as Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics, and Dogs For the Deaf, the Good Sam endorsed charity for the hearing impaired. Each chapter chooses their own activities; they are free to get involved in as many or as few projects as they wish. Many chapters just enjoy spending time with each other at local campouts. Chapter members become extended families and the fellowship and fun follows. The pleasure most participants receive from the various get-togethers is the sense of sharing a common interest, swapping traveling adventures and keeping one another posted on the best routes to their destinations.

Good Sam chapters are not just for the retired RVer. In many states and provinces chapters are formed for young families and for working members who can only camp during the weekends. They are for people who want to create lifetime friendships with other Rvers, for those who want to have fun and get the most out of their RV and for those who want to be an integral part of the Good Sam Club.

Wyoming State Director, Brad Stromme, describes chapter memberships in the following way, "Chapters are where all of the things happen that caused you to join the Good Sam Club in the first place. Belonging to a chapter gets you into local community involvement, adventure into new things, fun, friendship with others with the same interests that you have - like travel, camping, supporting local charities and getting involved in your community's goals. It gives you a great opportunity to help others as a group.

People can always accomplish more and enjoy more things as a group than they can as individuals".

Joining a chapter is easy. Just contact one of our Vermont chapter presidents or the state director.

There may be several options and you'll want to see which feels right by attending some meetings or camp outs. The number one rule about being in a chapter is that you must be a Club member first. Once you have established a membership with the Good Sam Club, you are free to either join an existing chapter in your area or start a new chapter, as long as there is a minimum of five rigs. If there are no existing chapters in your community and you would like to start a chapter, there are many ways we can assist you in doing so. Ideas on how to attract other interested parties are available to you by calling Good Sam headquarters (800) 765-1912. Your state or provincial director will also assist you in organizing new chapters. Their names and contact information are listed monthly in each edition of Highways.

You'll find that joining a chapter is not only enjoyable, but also cost-effective as you use your Good Sam Club membership to its full extent. So join our chapter family and start enjoying more wonderful camping experiences.