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RV Life on Wheels Conference will be held at LCSC on July 6-11
03-06-08
More than 400 people and 100 RVs will converge this summer on the Lewis-Clark State College campus for the annual RV Life on Wheels conference on July 6-11.
The event offers present and prospective RV owners the opportunity to learn the latest information about RVs and the RV lifestyle. Each year, Life on Wheels offers five conferences at college campuses in the United States and the conferences feature top instructors on recreational vehicles and the RV lifestyle.
The event was previously held at the University of Idaho campus in Moscow, but Life on Wheels and UI officials couldn’t agree on a contact for this summer and the event will now be held on the LCSC campus.
“We’re very excited to be one of only five national hosts for RV Life on Wheels,” LCSC President Dene K. Thomas said. “This event puts Lewis-Clark State College and the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley area on the map with an audience we have not attracted before.”
People attending the event will roll into Lewiston during the 4th of July weekend and classes will start on July 6. The conference offers more than 100 classes of interest to RVers and the RV lifestyle. There are classes for those thinking about purchasing an RV and beginners to those who fully enjoy the RV lifestyle and want to learn more travel and recreation tips. Class discussions also will cover different styles of RVs and tow rigs – their capabilities, repairs, and maintenance. RV lifestyle enhancement courses include topics such as working while you travel, healthy travel, RV insurance, travel locations (Mexico, Midwest, Alaska, snowbird roosts) – all concerned with making the lifestyle both interesting and rewarding.
“We are thrilled for the opportunity to host this conference at LCSC,” said LCSC’s Dean of Community Programs Kathy Martin, who played a key role in helping Life on Wheels find its new home at LCSC. “Sharing our beautiful campus facilities with 400 visitors allows us to bring awareness of our programs and services to another audience. It also strengthens our collaborations with the business community as this group of people impacts the economy by spending money locally. It's good for all of us.”
Organizers for the event estimated two years ago the event brought in close to $500,000 to the Moscow area. Several attendees chose to hotels and eat at area restaurants, which will provide a boost to the local economy.
LCSC officials say some of the RVs will be able to use some of the college parking lots available during the summer, but other arrangements will have to be made because there isn’t enough room for all of the RVs that will come for the conference.
“The staff at Continuing Education and Community Events has been talking with organizers of LOW for over a year about the possibility of moving the event to LCSC,” Martin said. “When the opening presented itself, President Thomas was very supportive for us to do what it takes to make it happen. There will be some adjustments for parking during this week, but we'll work with staff, students and the community to communicate available options.”
A two-day Personal Touch Pre-conference, for those new with RVs and other RV owners who are uncomfortable with the operation of their rigs, will be held immediately preceding the main conference. At that pre-conference, expert RV technicians work with individual owners in their own rigs. The pre-conference is held at the Granite Falls RV Park under actual RV living conditions.
The planning for some events during the week continues, and both the Lewiston and Clarkston Chambers are taking an active role as well.
The popularity of the program led to the development of satellite Life on Wheels conferences at colleges in four other states: Arizona, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Iowa. The Iowa conference, scheduled for May, has been cancelled this year, which could lead to more attending the Idaho conference.
For more information or to register for the conference, call toll free 1-866-569-4646, or visit www.rvlifeonwheels.com
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