1. Home
  2. RVs: Motorhomes
  3. Motorhome News
  4. Good Sam Club Announces Recipients of 2009 RVer of the Year Award

Good Sam Club Announces Recipients of 2009 RVer of the Year Award

Originally Published in MotorHome Magazine

The Good Sam Club, the world’s largest recreational vehicle owners’ organization with
nearly one million member families, has announced the recipients of the Good Sam 2009 RVer
of the Year Award. Monty and Susan Scales, hurricane relief volunteers currently living in
San Leon, Texas, are recognized for their hands-on refurbishment work and volunteer
coordination in communities throughout the Gulf Coast region. The annual RVer of the Year
award recognizes a member of the RV community for achievements that benefit fellow RVers or
the community at large. Monty and Susan, Good Sam Club members currently living in a fifth
wheel parked in a campground in Texas, will be featured on the front cover of the January
2010 issue of Highways magazine. “Monty and Susan are a wonderful example of how our
members strive daily to make the world a better place,” said Sue Bray, executive director
of the Good Sam Club. “The Scaleses’ unflagging determination to help needy storm victims
and coordinate additional volunteer efforts inspired fellow members to select them as this
year’s winners. This is a true testament to the ideals of the Good Sam Club-helping our
fellow neighbors-and we are proud to honor members that embody this spirit.” The couple,
originally from Bloomington, Ind., enjoyed well-paying construction jobs, but that all
changed in 2005 when they saw the televised images of devastation from Hurricane Katrina.
Realizing that their construction talents could be put to better use, the couple quit their
jobs, borrowed a trailer and headed south. Four and a half years later, they are still on
the scene – only today they are helping hurricane victims in Texas. They’ve also worked in
New Orleans’ Ninth Ward and in Columbus, Ind., following the devastating floods of 2008.
After a disaster strikes, the Scaleses move into an area and look for people who need help.
Many times, these are homeowners who are not eligible or for various reasons have not
received government assistance. Through the support of various church groups and other
organizations, Susan and Monty find teams of volunteers, both skilled and unskilled, who
will help to rebuild, repair and remodel homes that have been damaged. Susan and Monty will
take a break from their busy schedule to accept the RVer of the Year Award at The Rally
2010, the nation’s largest RV rally, taking place in Louisville, Ky., July 22 through 25.
In 2008, the Good Sam Club honored Waynesboro, Ga., native Richard Daniels with the
first-ever RVer of the Year Award for his efforts to rescue injured and abandoned animals
and find them permanent homes. The program expanded in 2009 and fellow Good Sam members
were encouraged to vote for their favorite of five nominees through the club’s Web site. In
addition to Susan and Monty Scales, the other nominees for Good Sam’s 2009 RVer of the Year
were: Fred and Suzanne Dow, who traveled 250,000 miles researching 153 U.S. Forest Service
campgrounds; Tom Gonser, Chairman of Good Sam’s RV Owners Advisory Council, who led the
consumer efforts to develop model motorhome lemon law legislation; Becky and Johnny Torres,
who mentor Navajo youths from grade school through college; and Joe Works, owner of B&W
Hitches, who donated his employees’ time to build a baseball field, and make sidewalk
repairs throughout his community. To learn more about Susan and Monty Scales, read their
blog at www.msmission.blogspot.com. For more information on the Good Sam Club,
please visit www.goodsamclub.com.

Subscribe to Wildsam Magazine today, Camping World and Good Sam’s magazine of the open road.

Just $19.97 for a year’s subscription.

logo

Please login or register to view archived articles.

Sign In

Do not have an account? Create New Account

Menu