Good Sam Club

The Good Sam Club is an international organization of recreational vehicle owners. Its stated primary goals are to make RVing safer and more enjoyable, and to save members money through Club-endorsed benefits and services. It claims over a million members.

Credited with the development of the Good Sam Club is Art Rouse, founder of TL Enterprises, a California-based publishing company responsible for Trailer Life Magazine, Motorhome Magazine, and Rider Magazine. Rouse and his two sons acquired the organization in 1968 and further developed member benefits and RV-related services for which the club is known. Rouse sold TL Enterprises in the 1980s and died on June 19, 2007 following head injuries suffered as a result of a fall, at 89 years old.

Good Sam Club is currently owned by the Affinity Group Inc., which also owns Trailer Life Publications, Motor Home Publications, Camping World, Woodalls RV park directory, and Camp Coast to Coast.

The name comes from the Bible parable of the Good Samaritan, which tells of a traveler from the region of Samaria who helped a person along the road who had been robbed and beaten.

There are 1,700 RV parks and campgrounds affiliated with the Good Sam organization which offer Club members discounts for staying in their parks. These RV parks have to meet a minimum standard of services and appearance to be considered for association. These parks are inspected annually by Good Sam representatives and secret inspectors, who also help the parks stay current with industry trends and the needs of RV'ers.

Good Sam also publishes information to help members find parks that provide stated levels of services.

Associated parks pay no revenue to Good Sam other than the cost of inspection and may advertise in the Good Sam publications at their discretion.

Good Sam Club is based in Englewood, Colorado.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/