Saturday, April 14, 2012

We Have a Website and Help!!!

Our first workamping assignment as a couple has been rolling along.  

Kevin has made a lot of progress on cleaning up the campground.  He's still working on the mowing situation.  None of the lawn equipment here works and rather than buying a new mower the lender wanted us to get bids from landscape companies for the weekly maintenance.   Well, we have lots of trees and things to trim around so the bids aren't cheap.  Hopefully we can get things mowed this week.  So far it's not too bad, but if we get more rain it may become critical.

I've finally got a handle on the office operations.  We have installed Campground Master to manage the campground.  I think I will qualify as a Campground Master expert at the end of this.  And we've got the daily, weekly and monthly reports under control for the management company.  

We got a new computer and a new all-in-one printer, scanner, fax that have both made a huge difference in being able to do anything here.  Of course Kevin is complaining that I got a new computer and he can't get a new mower... lol

My big frustration for the week was finding out that there has been voicemail on the phone that we didn't know how to get into... or even that it existed.  Apparently when the management company took over they set up the phone service.  They had voicemail put on the line, but didn't tell us it was there or how to access it.  You think that might've been important for the folks on site to know.  I finally got in and called everyone who had left messages.  Unfortunately we lost out on a few reservations, but people were glad I took the time to call and apologize so maybe it will pay off down the road.

And for the headline news... 

We have a website!  Check us out at Branson View Campground.  I'm still working on the domain name, but at least we can point people to some sort of website!  Now if I can just figure out what is up with the online reservation stuff I think we will be in pretty good shape.  We also are on Twitter.  You can follow BransonViewRV and see what we're up to between posts.

We also found some office help.  I was reading blogs one day and noticed that someone I had been following was looking for a new workamping assignment.  A couple of emails and phone calls later, they are on their way to Branson.  They expect to arrive tomorrow and will start training on Monday.  So hopefully we can take Tuesday off without getting any knocks on the door from folks needing something in the office.  Lesson learned here is don't be afraid to put it out to the blog-sphere when you are looking for something!  You never know what it will yield.

Welcome our newest follower and soon to be employee, Ali Workentin!  Safe travels and we're looking forward to meeting you in person tomorrow.  

12 comments:

  1. Wow, sounds like you guys are working really hard. Hope they are compensating you accordingly. Glad you've found a workamper to help with the load. You'll certainly have lots of experience for your resume. Don't work too hard, you have to save some energy for Amazon :)

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    1. Does anyone ever really get compensated accordingly? We talked to Paul last week and plan to be back at Amazon sometime in October. Depends on if we decide to do the beet harvest in North Dakota or not. Carlsbad looked pretty cool! Any chance you guys might stop here on your way to Wisconsin?

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  2. The website looks pretty good so far. I know it's a work in progress. I like that it showed the Passport America rates and limitations. My only question was, are those really pull-through sites? They looked like back ins. :)

    I follow Ali's blog as well, and am happy to hear they have found a position. With their help the job shouldn't seem so overwhelming?

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    1. The sites really are pull throughs -- just doesn't look that way in the picture. lol That's why we're trying to get park map drawn... Knew I shouldn't have asked permission to get it drawn! Always better to ask forgiveness than permission...

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  3. WOW - You guys are justin butts.We need to chat about how you landed this gig where you get to set up their website, install CGM and other cool stuff. This looks like something that we would love to do.

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    1. This has been our crash course in campground management!

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  4. Hey, great job so far on the Web site! I'm doing a bit of Web design for others on the side, and I know it is a big job putting a site out live on the Web. It's always a work a progress! :) Congrats on all you are doing; it's a big job but sounds like you handling it very well.

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    1. I wouldn't call what I'm doing "web design." But at least we have something we can point potential guests to!

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  5. I KNEW IT! When Ali said they were headed to Branson I was sure it was to meet up with you two. We had breakfast with Ali and Ron last winter when they were passing through Benson, AZ. Lovely couple. Isn't blogging great?

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    1. Ali and Ron should be here this afternoon assuming the weather holds. So far we're missing all the really bad stuff. Hope you guys ducked the storms also!

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  6. Great job on the website. Fantastic view too! We almost stopped by today but wanted to get back 'home' before the rain started. We gotta get together soon. Email me when you think you'd have a little free time (GlendaLaine@gmail.com).

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  7. The website looks really great!! Good job!!

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