Page 19 - Northeast In-Sites - The Newsletter of the Northeast Campground Association, Inc. - Number 131, May 2022

Mike Gurevich
~ Cherry Hill Park, MD
~ MAC President
Deborah Carter
~ Buttonwood Beach RV Resort, MD
~ MAC Executive Director
Mike Irons
~ Ole Mink Farm Recreation Resort, MD
~ NCA Representative

We just held our Spring MAC meeting via Zoom on Tuesday 3/1/22. Fourteen of our twenty-five member camp-
grounds were represented. In addition to talking to all of our members present (and via email for those who
couldn’t attend) we heard from Jeff Sims (ARVC), Cyndy Zbierski (NCA), Peter Pelland (Pelland Advertising) and
Guy Gagnon (Leavitt Recreation and Hospitality Insurance). Having experts in their fields speak to our members
about what’s going on, trends and insights, upcoming events, etc. was priceless.

Our legislature is busy at work - and so is Jeff Sims. We communicate almost daily it seems on various bills being
introduced! We’re delighted to be working with the Maryland Tourism Coalition on a bill that’s been introduced
to the Senate (SB622) and House (HB 1273), that offers a tax credit for Maryland residents who become “tour-
ists” in our own state. If it passes, it will be a huge boost to our local small tourism businesses across Maryland
and a tax credit for our residents. A true win-win.

A bill that just passed our Legislature troubles us. On the surface, a good bill – naming camping as part of the
agritourism industry (generally defined as activities that include visiting a working farm or any agricultural, hor-
ticultural or agribusiness operation to enjoy the rural setting, be educated, or be involved in a special activity).
This bill allows camping on farms. Each county in MD is going to set their own rules/regulations. Our main
concern is not competition, but rather a level playing field. Camping rules and regulations should be consistent
thru permitting, licensing, regulations, inspections, etc.

To give you a better idea of what concerns us, this is taken from a Maryland publication, the Delmarva Farmer
on 2/18/22: “Jeremy Willet is the kind of farmer who might be helped by such legislation. The owner of Willet
Family Farm in Westminster, which raises produce, poultry and other items, charges campers $50-$70 per night
to stay on his farm which touts “fireflies and the sound of bullfrogs at night.” The farm is listed on Hipcamp, an
Airbnb-like rental website for farms. Willet curtailed plans to expand his farm’s camping operation when Carroll
County’s government cracked down on him last year. He’s been trying to change the county zoning code ever
since. Non-farmers in the county who are nonetheless supportive of farming sometimes take issue with farm
camping because it doesn’t produce food, Willet said. But it’s an activity that keeps the farm solvent, and it’s
increasingly necessary in a state like Maryland where the cost of agricultural production is considerably higher
than most farming regions in the United States. Campers on his farm also spend money in the surrounding com-
munity, he said. He hands out a local guide promoting restaurants, breweries and other establishments.”

The Timonium RV Show (held on 2 weekends in February) was a great success. At our MAC booth we handed
out over 5,200 of our brand-new brochures (produced by Pelland Advertising), ran completely out of Maryland
Tourism & Travel materials and talked with campers from a number of states. Energy was high, sales were great
- the kind of show that makes you glad you were there.

Can’t close without thanking Cyndy Zbierski for all she does not just for NCA, but for the ARVC Foundation and
the Disaster Relief program. Both ARVC and NCA are to be congratulated on the exemplary working relationship
they have, due in large part to Cyndy.

Northeast In-Sites ~ May 2022 ~ CampNCA.org 19