Learning Center Hosts Hearing Safety Webinar

Dealers can learn the requirements for hearing protection and keeping employees safe by participating in a  free dealer webinar on March 14 at noon (Eastern) presented by the RV Learning Center. According to a press release, the webinar is offered through a strategic partnership with KPA. Register here.

Environment and Safety Engineer Amanda Rawls of KPA will lead participants through an in-depth look at the many important aspects of evaluating, mitigating and protecting against excessive noise. This webinar will cover OSHA regulations pertaining to hearing protection, common sources of dealership noise and prevention of hearing injuries.

If you cannot attend during the scheduled time, click to register and the materials will be emailed for later use.  Past webinars are also available online through the RV Learning Center on the following recent topics:

•                    Employment eligibility verification.

•                    Personal protective equipment.

•                    Accident mitigation.

•                    Forklift training requirements.

•                    California commission pay rules.

•                    Complying with the new health care law.

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Becky Ross at bross@kpaonline.com (866) 356-1735 or Karin Van Duyse at the RV Learning Center at kvanduyse@rvda.org(703) 591-7130.

 

Professional Certification Week is March 10-16

The RV Learning Center has designated next week, March 10-16, as RV Professional Certification Week.

According to a press release, certification candidates who prepared in advance and take the certification test during RV Professional Certification Week will receive a free, one-year subscription to RV Technician magazine. Even if dealer techs are not ready for testing, this week is also an opportune time to assess their training needs and begin preparing them for certification.

The release advised dealers to: “Take a moment during RV Professional Certification Week to talk to your staff about the importance of maintaining up-to-date skills through professional training. Certification is just the beginning. The rewards of education serve the industry, the dealer, and the individual employee over time, as increased professionalism makes our industry perform better. Consumers recognize the benefits of dealing with a business that uses certified employees and will often choose a dealership on that differentiating factor.”

“My sincere advice is that if you want to separate yourself from the competition, then train, train, and train some more,” said RVDA Chairman Jeff Hirsch. “Allow your people to separate your company from the pack.”

Dealers and employees reap multiple benefits from certification, including

• Higher rates of employee retention.

• Greater dealership profitability.

• A higher level of professionalism among staff.

• Enhanced customer service.

• Increased credibility with customers.

For individual employees, certification means:

• Greater self-confidence.

• A respected career path.

• Evidence of competence, dedication, accomplishment, and professionalism.

• A validation of their knowledge and skills set as an RV professional.

Learn more about certification and training opportunities for technicians, warranty administrators and service writer/advisors by listening to free recordings of recent informational web seminars. Thirty-minute web seminar recordings are available on the RV Learning Center’s website at www.rvlearningcenter.com. Three recordings are available:

• Technician Training Online and Technician Certification Preparation.

• An Introduction to the RV Learning Center’s Service Writer/Advisor Certification Program.

• An Introduction to the RV Learning Center’s Warranty Administrator Certification Program.

Free Webinar to Cover Employment Eligibility

A free webinar from the RV Learning Center will help dealers stay on top of changing requirements for DHS’s Employment Eligibility Verification forms and online reporting. According to a press release, the free webinar will be presented through a strategic partnership with KPA on March 7 at noon EST. To register, click here.

DHS has updated reporting and document retention requirements for employers, and this webinar will take dealers step-by-step through properly completing the forms and storing the records. Michael Pollard, a management and program analyst for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), will lead the webinar, discussing the importance of compliance and putting dealers at ease about how to work with the forms.

If you are unable to participate, go ahead and register to receive a link to a recording of the webinar along with the presentation slides. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Becky Ross at bross@kpaonline.com (866) 356-1735 or Karin Van Duyse at the RV Learning Center at kvanduyse@rvda.org(703) 591-7130.

RV Learning Center Offers ’13 Online Catalog

Dealers looking to get their staff ramped up for the busy season will find the resources they need online in the RV Learning Center’s 2013 catalog, according to a press release.

The catalog, new for 2013, is a complete compendium of all RV Learning Center resources.  Dealers will find the full color, user-friendly flip-book is easy to page through online and includes a complete table of contents that covers much more than just books and publications. Access to the catalog is provided on the RV Learning Center’s home page at rvlearningcenter.com.

At 33 pages, the catalog features all the offerings of the RV Learning Center, from Distance Learning Network programs, to certification for key dealership staff and technicians. Details about the RV Learning Center’s scholarship program are included, along with information about convention workshops and audio recordings, and the RV Training Calendar.

The RV Learning Center is dedicated to providing dealers and their employees with innovative ways to operate RV dealerships through an array of education resources including publications, distance learning, live workshops, online products, training and certification programs for RV dealership personnel.

For more information on the Foundation’s RV Learning Center, visit www.rvlearningcenter.com, send an e-mail to info@rvda.org, or send a fax to (703) 359-0152. The RVDA Education Foundation is a tax exempt organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions may be tax deductible as charitable donations. Click Here to download a contribution form.

GLRVA Donating $10K for RV Learning Center

The Great Lakes Recreation Vehicle Association (GLRVA) donated $10,000 to the RV Learning Center, an educational institution serving RV dealers and staff.

According to a press release, the annual fundraising campaign allows investment in new technology to keep learning affordable, flexible and relevant.

Fundraising for 2013 began during the Convention/Expo and continues through June.

“It’s great to see the state RV associations continuing to invest in and promote education for our industry,” said RV Learning Center Chairman Jeff Pastore of Hartville RV Center in Hartville, Ohio. “As a member of GLRVA, I am appreciative of the emphasis that our organization has always placed on education and training. Great Lakes RVA’s substantial donation will be a great help in funding the programs, products and services the RV Learning Center offers. This shows what dealers can accomplish working together.”

GLRVA is a trade organization in Northeast Ohio that hosts the Annual Ohio RV Supershow. Their mission is to educate the public about recreation vehicles and the recreation vehicle lifestyle.

Donations to the RV Learning Center fund programs including webinars on current topics, training and certification for dealership staff, essential publications and learning guides and the Convention/Expo. Convenient online donations as well as a printable form that accommodates customized pledges and donations have simplified giving for 2013.

For more information go to www.rvlearningcenter.com.

RV Learning Center to Conduct Safety Webinar

The RV Learning Center, through a strategic alliance with KPA, is providing a free webinar on Feb. 21 to help dealers increase workplace safety by emphasizing “the importance of awareness and mindfulness on the part of management.”

According to a press release, dealers are invited to register for this no-cost training event by clicking here. Parts managers and service managers attending the webinar earn one Continuing Education Unit (CEU) for a 60-minute program.

Janet Wimmer, a regulatory analyst with KPA, will present the webinar, which will include suggestions for lists of items and behaviors that need attention. Wimmer has worked in the field of safety and environmental regulation since the 1970s and specializes in dealer services.

If unable to participate in the webinar, clicking here and you will receive links to the materials for later viewing. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Becky Ross at bross@kpaonline.com or (866) 356-1735 or Karin Van Duyse at the RV Learning Center at kvanduyse@rvda.org or (703) 591-7130.

KPA is a dealer services and Internet marketing provider for over 4,600 automotive, truck, and equipment dealerships and service companies. KPA provides consulting services and software for three industry-specific product lines: Environment & Safety, HR Management, and Internet Marketing. KPA joined the Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest growing companies in 2012.

For more information about the RV Learning Center, go to www.rvlearningcenter.com.

 

Newmar Pledges $25,000 to RV Learning Center

Nappanee, Ind.-based builder Newmar Corp. advanced its giving to the RV Learning Center this week, donating $25,000 for the 2013 annual campaign. To date, Newmar has donated $160,000 toward its overall pledge amount of $260,000.

According to a press release, Newmar’s pledge amount of $260,000 puts it into the “Major Gifts” category of donor, which is the highest level of giving.

“I am proud to be in an industry where dealers and manufacturers alike recognize the importance of supporting and nurturing education,” said RV Learning Center Chairman Jeff Pastore of Hartville RV in Ohio. “The Newmar Corp.’s sizable recent donation and the significance of its pledge amount are a great testament to Newmar’s corporate values. This is a great example of putting belief into action.”

The RV Learning Center kicked off its fundraiser in October. Donations are necessary to fund the Learning Center’s many educational programs designed specifically for RV dealership personnel. Emerging technology has transformed education and training, so donations to the RV Learning Center enable it to utilize leading technologies to maintain high standards while keeping training affordable and relevant for dealers and their staff.

For more information on the RV Learning Center, visit www.rvlearningcenter.com, e-mail info@rvda.org, or send a fax to (703) 359-0152.

 

 

Learning Center Opens Scholarship Application

Applications are now available for the RV Learning Center’s scholarship program. According to a press release, deserving college undergraduates majoring in business, finance, economics, accounting or other RV industry-related subjects are eligible to apply for the $2,500 award.

A factor for awarding the scholarship may be an applicant’s background of RV industry employment or a desire to work in the RV business after completing post-secondary education.

Dealers are able to offer this opportunity to their team specifically through their employment in the RV industry. Posters publicizing the scholarship are available through the RV Learning Center so dealers can display them in the workplace to alert employees to the opportunity. Dealer principals, their family and dependents are not eligible.

Applicants must:

· Have a 2.8 or better cumulative grade point average, and a 1050 minimum SAT score (1575 minimum on the 2400 point scale). A minimum ACT composite score of 22 is also acceptable.

· Be a rising sophomore, junior or senior college undergraduate student.

· Complete a 500 word essay on their goals and objectives for attending college.

· Submit a copy of their Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) form which is available from guidance counselors or for download at no charge from the U.S. Department of Education at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

· Demonstrate the ability and willingness to fund a portion of their educational expenses on their own.

· Attend an accredited four-year college or university as a condition of receiving the scholarship.

The deadline for application is June 3. To obtain an application, poster, or more information, click here.

The scholarship program is possible through the generosity of the Newt and Joanne Kindlund family. The Kindlunds are the founders of Holiday RV Superstores — the first publicly-traded RV dealership. The Kindlunds sold the company in 1999. Newt Kindlund remains an active participant in RV industry affairs and currently serves on The RV Learning Center board. The Kindlund family has fully funded the $270,000 Foundation scholarship endowment.

For more information on the RV Learning Center, go to www.rvlearningcenter.com , send an e-mail to info@rvda.org, or fax to (703) 359-0152. The RV Learning Center is a tax-exempt organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions may be tax deductible as charitable donations.

Learning Center Will Host ‘Going Green’ Webinar

The RV Learning Center is sponsoring a webinar Thursday (Jan. 31) at noon EST for dealers interested in “going green” and learning the latest trends, techniques and safety concerns associated with reuse and recycling around the dealership. The January 31 webinar is free and dealers can sign up here.

Recycling products and parts used around the dealership whenever possible is important, but there are limits dealers need to know. The process comes with its own set of rules and regulations. In this webinar dealers will learn the proper ways to recycle the follow products: used oil, antifreeze, gasoline, parts washers, wheel weights and fluorescent lamps.

The webinar is produced by KPA, a Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) associate member, and will be led by Hannah Crawford, formerly of the Florida Department of Environmental protection and now part of the KPA team. She has 10 years of experience working for the state of Florida in various capacities and has extensive experience as a hazardous waste inspector.

If you are unable to attend the webinar at this time, register here and you will be sent a link to a recording of the webinar along with the presentation slides.

KPA is a dealer services and Internet marketing provider for over 4,600 automotive, truck, and equipment dealerships and service companies. KPA provides consulting services and software for three industry-specific product lines: Environment & Safety, HR Management, and Internet Marketing. KPA joined the Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest growing companies in 2012. For more information, visit www.kpaonline.com.

The RV Learning Center is supported by dealers, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and other RV industry members who are committed to dealership education and the high levels of customer service that is provided by educated employees. Certification programs, readiness testing, webinars, audio presentations, live workshops, and a wide variety of specialty publications are all part of the RV Learning Center’s offerings.

For more information about the RV Learning Center, go to www.rvlearningcenter.com. The RV Learning Center is a tax exempt organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions may be tax deductible as charitable donations.

Little Dealer, Little Prices Backs Learning Center

Little Dealer, Little Prices in Mesa, Ariz., donated $5,000 to the RV Learning Center, bringing the dealership’s lifetime contribution to $10,050.

According to a press release, Tte lifetime contribution by the dealership puts it into the Champion category of donor, recognizing those giving between $2,500 and $24,999. The current fundraising drive concludes at the end of the fiscal year in June.

RV Learning Center Chairman Jeff Pastore of Ohio-based Hartville RV said, “Debbie Brunoforte is out in front as usual. She is a leader we all know we can count on to promote giving back to the industry. I hope others will follow her dealership’s example of generosity and foresight. We need every dealer to step up and show their commitment to continuing education and training.”

For more information on the Foundation’s RV Learning Center, visit www.rvlearningcenter.com, send an e-mail to info@rvda.org, or send a fax to (703) 359-0152.

 

 

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