The Nation’s Largest RV Rally Celebrates Its 10th Year in Albuquerque, N.M., Featuring the Latest in RVs and Accessories, Plus New Eco-Friendly Initiatives and World Record Attempt, April 17-20

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (February 26, 2009) – Thousands of recreational vehicle (RV) enthusiasts plan on getting their kicks on Route 66 in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the nation’s largest RV rally – officially called The Rally – convening Fri., April 17 through Mon., April 20 in Albuquerque, N.M. Visitors to Albuquerque’s Expo New Mexico can find plenty of ways to enjoy the legendary Route 66, while experiencing the latest in recreational vehicles and accessories, live entertainment, family friendlyactivities, educational seminars and an annual attempt to break a world record.

The Rally is the event and vacation destination of the year for many of the estimated eight million U.S. RV owners. Thousands of RV enthusiasts, newbies and veterans alike will gather on the event grounds and explore the wildly popular RV lifestyle with industry experts from around the world.

New to The Rally are two eco-focused initiatives, providing RVers the opportunity to celebrate and explore “green” RVing. Attendees will be able to tune into “Reality RV” to watch and learn as conservation expert Brian Brawdy is challenged to show how many resources can be conserved in an RV. Additionally, the inaugural “Going Green” ideas contest invites Rally participants to submit green ideas to make RVs more environmentally friendly.

The concept of charity is paramount in the minds of The Rally’s organizers and attendees alike. In an effort to give back to The Rally’s host community, attendees will adopt the Rio Grande Community Farm in Albuquerque with a day of volunteer work planned for April 15. On April 18 and 19, The Rally will also host dog and cat adoptions courtesy of Albuquerque Mayor, Martin Chavez. The Rally’s official charity is the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps (http://www.holeinthewallcamps.org/), and many activities are planned to raise funds for them, including a morning walk and participation in arts and crafts activities.

Local Boy Scouts, both past and present, will be honored with free admission to The Rally on April 19 and are encouraged to bring memorabilia and wear their uniforms for an afternoon of camaraderie.

“As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we continue to add programs and events of value to The Rally, and this year is no exception,” said Sue Bray, vice president and executive director of the Good Sam Club. “The ‘Going Green’ ideas contest will bring conservation issues to the forefront of RVers minds. We also plan to honor our inaugural Good Sam Club RVer of the Year, Richard Daniels, who has used our vast network of RVers nationwide to rescue homeless dogs and cats in need. It just goes to show you what RVers can accomplish working together in an organization of this size.”

Rally-goers can learn more about the lifestyle by getting a close-up look at the latest RV models while strolling through hundreds of new rigs on display. Vehicles ranging from entry-level trailers to milliondollar coaches will be available outside for test drives or on-the-spot purchases. Additionally, The Rally’s indoor exhibit showcases hundreds of travel products and the latest high-tech RV accessories, gadgetsand gizmos to help RVers enjoy the great outdoors in style.

The entertainment lineup for The Rally boasts a number of big-name entertainers sure to delight guestsof all ages. Legendary pop singer Neil Sedaka will kick off the entertainment schedule on Fri., April 17.

Joining Sedaka is two-time Grammy Award winner Rita Coolidge on April 18; The Osmonds, who have broken records for sell-out performances once held by the Beatles and Elvis, on April 19; and Papa Doo Run Run, with their rendition of songs from the heyday of surf music in the ’60s and ’70s, on April 20.

During Sunday night’s entertainment, attendees will attempt to break the world record for “the most people wearing balloon hats,” to honor Albuquerque’s distinction as “the Hot Air Balloon Capital of the World.” Also returning is the popular Rally Dog Show, “Show Your Tricks on Route 66,” giving pet owners a chance to parade their pooches on April 18, while Livingston Cellars®, will host complimentarydaily wine sampling from noon to 5:00 p.m.

For over a decade, The Rally has been an annual event hosted by the million member family Good Sam Club, along with Camping World President’s Club, Camp Club USA, Coast to Coast Resorts, Woodall’s and Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines. All the organizations are either owned by or affiliated with Affinity, the nation’s largest provider of outdoor recreation clubs, services, med

The 2008 National Cleanup Day marks the 12th year the Good Sam Club has organized a national cleanup, with hundreds of its chapters cleaning state, provincial and national parks, highways, local roads, and waterways throughout North America. 

“The Good Sam Club was founded in 1966 by RVers to help other RVers on the road, and for 42 years we have lived up to its name,” said Sue Bray, executive director of the Good Sam Club. “Our members are true environmental stewards and we’re proud to help clean our most valuable resource, our public lands, for everyone to enjoy.” 

Each year about 275 of the Good Sam Club’s local chapters – some 11,000 volunteers – clean up thousands of miles of highways through the Adopt-A-Highway program in the United States and Canada. 

Good Sam chapters from across the continent will coordinate beach, river, highway and campground cleanups for their members. Many chapters also take advantage of their annual “Samborees,” state get-togethers, to clean the areas they use while camping on an ongoing basis. The MooseJaw Band City Sams in Saskatchewan have been cleaning a two mile stretch of Highway #4 twice a year for the last 10 years. This Chapter has 35 to 40 participants collecting a ton of trash at each cleanup. 

In Florida, 17 members of the Bay Area Sams cleaned a 33-acre park this past May. Upon completion, the chapter was recognized for its volunteer efforts and received a proclamation signed by the mayor and city council members. 

The Good Sam Club www.goodsamclub.com is partnering with the Take Pride in America® program, a U.S. Department of the Interior initiative that encourages Americans to volunteer on public lands. The Take Pride program will support 2008 National Cleanup Day activities by listing registered events on its Web site, www.takepride.gov, so that Good Sam volunteers can earn credits towards an “America the Beautiful” pass for the hours they volunteer on this project. 

Affinity, the nation’s largest provider of outdoor recreation clubs, services, media and events, is the parent company of the Good Sam Club. Affinity headquarters employees, located in Ventura, Calif., will hold their own beach cleanup at Buena Ventura State Beach to support Good Sam Club members and the annual Cleanup Day. 

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About The Good Sam Club 
The Good Sam Club, www.goodsamclub.com, is the world’s largest RV owner’s organization with more than one million member families. Founded in 1966, the Club offers its members a wide variety of services, including Extended Warranty on RVs (the Continued Service Plan), Emergency Road Service, RV Financing, Good Sam Credit Card and Life & Health Insurance, as well as member discounts at parks, campgrounds, and RV events. Good Sam Club members also receive a subscription to Highways, the Club’s popular RV travel magazine. Additionally, the Club represents more than 2,000 local RV chapters designed to bring RVers together from similar geographic regions for group camping excursions. Extremely committed to its RV members as well as to the environment, the club is a founder of the annual National Cleanup Day program and an advocate of public land access, Adopt-A-Highway and Adopt-A-Park programs, to name a few. The Good Sam Club is headquartered in Ventura, Calif., and is a subsidiary of Affinity. 

About Affinity 
Affinity, www.affinitygroup.com, is the nation’s largest provider of outdoor clubs, services, media and events that service the safety, security, comfort and convenience needs of the North American recreational vehicle (RV) and outdoor enthusiast market. By providing information, insights, and resources, the company champions the fun, freedom, and adventure of recreation in motion. The company works to enhance its customers’ recreational experiences and build the communities that share and promote their fun and adventurous lifestyles. 

Affinity is organized into four different business units – Affinity Media, Affinity Clubs, Affinity Events and Affinity Ventures. Their corporate headquarters are located in Ventura, Calif. Subsidiary operations and divisions can be found at multiple locations throughout the United States.